Chapter 9 Section 9: Small boat (9)

He respectfully kowtowed again: "Brothers have left the camp privately, General please punish." Bai Yi's lips were tight, and it took a while before he shouted in a low voice: "Leaving the camp without permission, not obeying the military order, five marks with the military stick, you come to the Chinese Army's personal barracks to receive the punishment after dark. But since you have told the truth, you must You go out of town and bury him." "The great general's kindness and punishment have been accepted, thank you great general." Shi Chang kowtowed again.

The sergeants carried the stretcher and walked a few steps, when Bai Yi suddenly stopped them again: "Are you from Chuwei's hometown?" "Yes." Shi Chang replied, "We are all from Chuwei's hometown, from Liuyuan City." "I heard that Chu Wei's hometown has a custom of burial in his hometown. When he is buried, his feet should face the direction of his hometown. In this way, when his soul sits up, he can see the direction of his hometown at a glance, and he can find his way home. , go back and have a look." Bai Yi whispered, "So when you bury, remember to face the south."

After saying this, he turned his horse's head and left, and the soldiers kowtowed to his back. Xi Yan sighed lowly, and led the horse to catch up with the slow-moving Bai Yi: "You seem to be old and talkative, and you will tell others such things... But in this battle, people who cannot return to their hometown It's really too much..." "It's not a big deal once the generals are successful. Those who go into battle must be prepared to be shrouded in horse leather. The leader of the army must not be soft-hearted." Bai Yi said in a low voice, "But for all people, there is no People can escape grief, after all, they are watching a living person fall with their own eyes. There are still family members in their hometown, but they can never go back. The battlefield is not a chessboard after all."

"Has the result of the casualties come out? I have already sealed the number of casualties in my Tang camp and sent someone to your account." Bai Yi nodded: "It's worse than expected. With 70,000 troops, 23,000 were killed and 19,000 were injured. The remaining soldiers who can be used as a source of troops are only Thirty thousand people are less than 30,000 people, including those who were slightly injured. There are 23,000 people outside the city who have not been buried, and people in the city are still dying. Even if we send all the people out to bury the dead, it is not It can be done in a day or two. Besides, we didn't bring enough tools."

"Let them be exposed to the sun and rain?" "I'm thinking about this, but what's more important is that we lack medicine. If we can't get supplies as soon as possible, the number of deaths will increase." Bai Yi's voice was low. "I'm afraid it won't be enough to mobilize medicines from your country and our country. The fastest way now is to get support from the imperial capital. Please lead the troops into Tianqi to make a pilgrimage to the emperor. Did you send it?" "It was sent out the day before yesterday, and Kuaima Jibao should have arrived yesterday," Bai Yi was silent for a moment, "but there has been no reply yet."

Xi Yan nodded, he understood the meaning of Bai Yi's silence.The petition presented by the courtiers is another important matter such as asking for instructions to lead troops into the imperial capital. It seems unrealistic to expect immediate permission.However, in the process of waiting, I am afraid that someone will die every moment. A black horse came galloping from behind at high speed, and a sergeant in black rolled off the saddle in front of Bai Yi and half knelt down: "General, we have captured Ye Zhengshu, the charioteer guard stationed at Shangyang Pass!" "Ye Zhengshu?" Xi Yan was slightly surprised.He had heard this name before. Ye Zhengshu, the chariot guard of the Yulin Heavenly Army, was a courtier of the imperial family. He was ordered to lead six thousand well-equipped cavalry to guard the Shangyang Pass. He was once the number two person in the Shangyang Pass.However, after Ying Wuyi crossed the natural barrier and took the imperial capital directly, Ye Zhengshu's 6,000 troops had no time to come back to help, let alone contend with Ying Wuyi's Red Brigade Thunder Riders.Soon he was removed from power, and Ying Wuyi ordered Emperor Xi to withdraw the 6,000 Feather Forest Heavenly Army in Shangyang Pass and replace them with red brigade guards. At this time, Ye Zhengshu was a general without soldiers, and no one cared about him. Dead or alive.Xi Yan did not expect that such a person could be captured from the city after the city of Shangyangguan was broken.

He glanced at Bai Yi, but saw Bai Yi's gloomy eyes suddenly light up. "Bring him here!" Bai Yi ordered. The grey-haired, disheveled old man was quickly brought to Bai Yi's horse, with his head bowed, his clothes ragged, and his body exuding a disgusting stench, as if he had been captured from some filthy place.Although no rope was given, Chu Wei's sergeant did not treat Ye Zhengshu preferentially. He kicked him behind the crook of the leg and forced him to kneel in front of Bai Yi's horse.Bai Yi raised his hand slightly, stopping any further movements of the soldiers.

"Is it Mr. Ye Zhengshu, the car and rider guard?" Bai Yi was expressionless, looking straight ahead, without looking at Ye Zhengshu. The old man didn't speak, just kowtowed, thumping non-stop, like a kowtowing bug that children were playing with in their hands. "Master Ye!" Bai Yi was slightly angry.