Chapter 10 second quarter
After Ma Kuo arrived at the front line, he went to the command headquarters and had two conversations with Zhong Shidao. He told Zhong Shidao everything he knew about the Liao and Jin situations and the court's intentions, and conveyed Zhao Long's words.Ma Kuo is used to the characteristics of simple and concise speech in the army, and hates the "teeth-gritting" chat the most, so although Shi Dao Zhong is in a depressed mood, he still listens to all his words and digests them.Regarding Yao Pingzhong's question, he just nodded his head, expressing that he knew it well. In all his relationship with the Yao family, he would never be able to openly admit his mistakes.To be able to nod his head and acquiesce in Zhao Long's opinion, to a large extent, it shows that he can do good things like others.Regarding Liu Yanqing's question, he was shocked after hearing it.Depending on the degree to which they are directly threatened, people tend to pay more attention to the arrogant challenger than to the incompetent stalker.The experienced teacher Zhong also made the same mistake, always regarded Yao Gu as his main opponent, but did not think of Liu Yanqing.Now Zhao Long's warning sounded the alarm for him. After contacting various signs, he realized that Tong Guan's effort on Liu Yanqing was indeed with ulterior motives.Therefore, in the military meeting, he tried his best to oppose Liu Yanqing's division of the West Route Army.But after the military meeting, he himself was already in the position of having no fists and no courage, so he had no choice but to do anything to Liu Yanqing.Zhong Shidao asked Ma Kuo to send a letter to Tokyo to pay tribute to Liu Kai and tell him the situation here.He said, "Let Uncle Xin know that things in the military are not what they used to be."This contains the hope that Liu Kai will use his position as a servant to have the opportunity to speak to the officials to change the current situation.He also advised Zhao Long to take good care of his illness in Beijing and stop thinking about coming to the front line for the time being. "There is no use in the army. When you come here, you just idle your hands. There is nothing to do. Why don't you come? When you really need him, here will send a message to drive quickly." In addition, no further specifics were raised. His questions and demands fully indicated that he was in an extremely depressed state of mind.
Ma Kuo went to see his father in the middle army of the seed division, and exchanged two completely different estimates of the battle situation between Tokyo and the front.Because his letter did not play the role he hoped, and Liu Kai was unable to participate in the battle, Ma Zheng was very disappointed.Then Ma Kuo went to the Xihe Army to visit his old friends, brought Yao Pingzhong a message from his elder brother Yao Youzhong, and exchanged his views on the battle situation with his old comrades.
Because of being deprived of power, Zhong Shidao became depressed.Due to the Li Xiaozhong incident, the morale of the soldiers was low, and the officers, including his father, were worried about the war situation.But the optimistic and lively Ma Kuo did not allow himself to be infected with this negative complex, as if he was not infected with the plague of victory when he was in Tokyo.In an atmosphere that is not very favorable, he must cheer up, look more at the good, hopeful, and promising side, and work hard to create conditions for it.He understood that the pessimistic atmosphere hanging over the army meant defeat, and his own vigorous actions could, within certain limits, clear this atmosphere and cheer everyone up.He is full of confidence in himself.
The men Yang Kesheng took back from the front line were placed in a relatively safe third line.He visited several families in succession, and had a sincere conversation with them in order to learn about the situation behind the enemy lines, which aroused his great interest and attention.He thought that there was also a battlefield where he could use his talents, and at the same time, he passed away the idea of crossing the river to learn more about the enemy's situation.This is another act of pretending to be disrespectful to Xuan Fusi.If he made a statement in advance, it would cause all kinds of criticism and obstruction, and he would also risk being betrayed to the enemy. He had enough estimates of the ghost tricks of his colleagues.If he is preparing in secret, once the results are made public, he will attract all kinds of slander, and some people will even slander him for collaborating with the enemy, all of which can be expected.
But he doesn't care about these, he is just waiting for the opportunity, and once the time is ripe, he will put it into practice.The best way to deal with the colleagues of Xuanfu Division is to ignore them.
One day, he went to Fan Village, where the command post of the West Route Army was located, to convey a mission.Although he was a staff member who was looked down upon, he was still a person sent by the Xuanfu Department of the authoritative organization, so he was warmly received by Xin Xingzong, the commander of the West Route Army.Xin Xingzong's ability to be an official far exceeds his ability to fight.Ma Kuo was very uncomfortable hearing and seeing Xin Xingzong's uninterrupted laughter of various scales accompanied by various excessive expressions.His smile only floated on the superficial layer, neither went deep into the skin, let alone came from the heart.Ma Kuo had seen this kind of smile on the faces of shopkeepers who hoped to make a deal from him in some shops in Tokyo.This made him vigilant. Could it be that the mission he brought down could allow Xin Xingzong to make a deal?No, this is an ordinary task that will not bring him special benefits.It seems that in the past few years, Xin Xingzong has become accustomed to this way of receiving higher-level officials. This is a "new thing" that was created after Ma Kuo left the Western Army. It did not exist in the army in the past, and Xin Xingzong himself does not seem to be like this. of.This makes Ma Kuo feel strange and harsh.
After the official business was over, Xin Xingzong insisted on hosting a banquet for Ma Kuo.He tried his best to decline, saying that he still had to convey the same task to the East Route Army Command, and he really didn't have time to eat.
"Xuan Zan doesn't want to stay here, so he must go to Dongtou Yang's house with an empty stomach to eat. Why is he so generous?" Even if he said such a jealous sentence, he still didn't forget to pair it with a dish that made him very hopeful. The courteous smile that left Ma Kuo behind.
"Where did Commander Xin come from? I brought dry food here, and I ate two steamed buns right away, and I took care of this half day. Everyone is in a hurry, why can't I keep coming to disturb you?"
"We have been friends for ten years, and we don't count the friendship with Zungong." Seeing that he couldn't keep it anymore, Xin Xingzong took Ma Kuo's hand and sent him all the way outside the camp gate. Leaving a step back, he laughed and said, "I let Xuanzan pass this time, so don't allow it to be an example next time, let's make it clear first."
When Xin Xingzong's impression was connected with what he heard about Liu Yanqing, Ma Kuo's uncomfortable feeling was further amplified.On horseback, he really ate two steamed buns, untied the skin bag, and drank a bag of water happily (in the command post, with such disgust, he took the tea that Xin Xingzong had prepared for him) Seeing it as the water from the stolen spring, I don’t want to drink it).Suddenly he heard shouts and women's screams.Since the beginning of the war, the residents on the front line have all retreated. It is unusual to find a trace of a woman and her screams here and now.The closer he got, the more clearly he could hear.
"You can do whatever the masters tell you to do. If you want to be stubborn, I'll beat you to death, cut you to pieces, and see if you dare to talk loudly!"
"If you are disobedient every day, I will beat you and hang you for a day," said the second voice. Mud. Only then will you know how powerful you are!"
"Stop talking to that bitch," said the commanding voice, "take my knife and cut her up just now!"
What answered them was a burst of curses from "dog robber" and "thief robber", a voice determined to risk their lives to maintain human dignity.What followed was the crackling sound of furious whips hitting flesh.
Ma Kuo immediately understood what had happened.
As soon as he dismounted, he rushed to a farmhouse before he had time to fasten it, and kicked open the door.He saw four or five soldiers besieging a young woman.She was hung high by them with a thick rope hanging from the roof beams, and the bright red blood dripped down from her shattered spine, arms, and legs, and dripped all over the floor.
"What are the thieves doing here?" Ma Kuo shouted angrily.
The soldiers ravaged the capital, and a pockmarked man at the head put aside the women, brandished a knife, and shouted viciously:
"Where did you come from, a little wild bastard? If you don't open your dog's eyes to see, the master is interrogating spies, what a shit!"
They are indeed carrying out a lawful cloak to engage in this heinous business.If it was the first time for them to do this, they would probably still be a little timid, but now that they have done this kind of thing many times, they themselves have been deceived by this excuse, and they really think that they are exercising the sacred rights bestowed on them by the court.They have placed themselves in the position of legal murderers, robbers, and professional executioners, and they will no longer feel ashamed.
"Is there such a person who interrogates spies?" Ma Kuo sneered, "Follow me to see your Commander Xin."
"Just go, what are you afraid of?" The pockmarked man still replied confidently, but he had already seen that nothing could deter this boy's strong intervention.He winked sinisterly to the left and right, and his party members swarmed up with swords and whips, shouting in disorder: "This kid is impatient, he hit the knife edge of the master, discipline him to cut seventeen or eight more!" Mouth."
"If you win him, if you win him, let him go to Hades' banquet tonight."
The situation suddenly became simplistic, and now it was just a matter of one knife versus three knives and a whip.Ma Kuo had already made preparations. Before they rushed up, he had drawn out his knife and stood firmly on his heels, close to the earth wall, so as not to be attacked by the front and back.He leaned sideways lightly, dodged the knife that came first from the left, and then met the knife that the pockmarked man slashed at him, and made a sharp stroke with the back of the knife. The back of the knife touched the blade, making a "clank" , A few sparks burst out, and immediately shook the strong man's knife to the ground.
"What a great guy!" The man roared, before he could raise his knife in time, he turned around and left.The rest of the gangsters also took the back door and fled together.
Ma Kuo drove them out of the house, and Zhou Tun went around to figure out the "strategic position" he was in first, which is a habit that a well-trained soldier has developed long ago.Then he turned around and came in, broke the rope with the tip of a knife, gently lowered the injured woman on the pit, asked her to straighten her clothes, asked her to take a breath, and then asked:
"Is sister-in-law a native here? How did she fall into the hands of these strong men?"
The young woman seemed to have used up all the fortitude she had used to deal with the threat and torture of the strong man, and suddenly burst into tears weakly and uncontrollably.She kept rubbing her swollen and numb wrists with both hands alternately, and it took a while before she replied:
"My family lives in Hebei," she raised her finger with difficulty to point in that direction, "I just returned to Denan a few days ago."
"Aren't your bosses together?"
"My man, take me back to the south," the woman raised her head and glanced at Ma Kuo. With undoubted discernment, she judged at the first glance that this is a man who is completely trustworthy, and she couldn't help sobbing again , Said: "Later, he went back and forth twice from the north to the south, and brought his parents-in-law, brothers, and uncles back to the south. Two days ago, he crossed the river to pick up my brothers and sisters from my natal family. disciples just..."
"They brought you here under the pretext of interrogating spies." Ma Kuo's eyes sparkled.It is the most despicable thing among all atrocities to play up the banner of the government even though they are robbers.Ma Kuo helped her finish the sentence, which was hindered by sobs and could not be finished.
The woman nodded and whimpered again.
"Early this morning," she said again through gritted teeth, "this group of gangsters ran straight to my house. The pockmarked man grabbed my hair by the bun and asked in a straight voice: 'Say, tell, your man Where did you go? I only fall on you.' I couldn't help but tie me up with a rope. All the men in the family went foraging, only the mother-in-law was at home, and she begged bitterly. Where did they listen to her? , kicked her over with one foot, whipped her wildly, and yelled, "I have brought up a spy, and I need to be tortured carefully." Then he dragged me to this empty room, tortured her, and threatened, "Your man has surrendered to the enemy and will never come back. You obeyed us at a young age and guaranteed food and clothing." I cried and cursed, bit their fingers, and they hung me up and beat me." She said Then he threw his hands on his back, and showed Ma Kuo his bloody hand, "Look, military master, they beat me like this. If the military master didn't save me, I would fight them."
Ma Kuo thought for a while, picked up the knife left by the pockmarked man, and saw clearly the words engraved on the handle.Pointing to a burden placed on the pit, he asked:
"Is this sister-in-law's?"
"They rummaged through them under the pretext of searching, but what's there to rummage about? They didn't even have an earthen jar. Only these two pieces of clothes and my pair of hairpins were packed. My family's evidence is evidence of collaboration with the enemy and must be handed over to officials." The woman learned from the pain and couldn't help crying again.
"Sister-in-law is very angry," Ma Kuo comforted her, "I will accompany you to find their leader."
Ma Kuo helped the woman onto the horse, led it by himself, and lived in Fancun.When they arrived at the gate of the command post, they ran inside to find Xin Xingzong without waiting for the sentry to report.
"Xuan Zan has gone and come back again, so I must have taught me," Xin Xingzong held up his wine glass, and Yin Kan invited, "This is the mellow wine bestowed by the imperial court. I finally got a bottle. Don't talk about it, let's have a drink first. This time Xuan Zan cannot escape."
Before his last laugh was formed, it was washed away by Ma Kuo's anger.
"Commander Xin," Ma Kuo asked loudly in front of his subordinates, "look at what your subordinates are doing! Right under your eyes and nose, you are interrogating spies, committing crimes, and robbing women under the pretext of insulting women. As a General, do you care about these things or not?"
"How can there be such a thing!" Xin Xingzong also changed his color. Based on the intuition of the bastard, his first thought was to deny and beat him up, "Did the murderer get it? There is no real evidence for the praise, so you can't be tricked." Charged with decapitation!"
"This is a witness," Ma Kuo pushed the woman forward. The purple blood clots stuck to her clothes and skin. This is enough to explain the truth, but to deal with an old fox like Xin Xingzong, Witnesses are not enough.
"This is physical evidence." Ma Kuo pointed to the burden and the knife again, and said decisively: "I took this knife from the strong men with my own hands, and the handle is clearly engraved with 'Fan Qiong, the sixth deputy general of the Shengjie Army. 'Nine words, the commander must read carefully!"
"It's what this Fan Huo did again." Xin Xingzong was secretly surprised and thought, "I think this Fan Huo relied on his friendship with Liu Taiwei and a group of people under him to help him. One bully. Uncle Hui can do nothing for him, but as a general, how dare I tease him?" But on the surface, he also pretended to be filled with righteous indignation, and cursed viciously:
"What annoyance, what annoyance! This Shengjie army has lived in Chenzhou Mansion for a year, and it has become a mess. It is easy to tighten the control, and I don't want to make trouble again today. Fan Qiong must have escaped for such a lawless deed. Go to Liu Taiwei's command and take shelter under him. I'm going to take him to rectify the law anyway." Then he smiled at Ma Kuo and said, "Don't worry about praise, this is what Sheng Jiejun did in Chenzhou Prefecture Why, my lord, Ma Dujian, also witnessed it with his own eyes. Although this army is transferred to the brother's jurisdiction, it still communicates with Liu Taiwei. It can't be said that the crime of lax military management is entirely borne by the brother. I beg to praise Haihan! "
"Commander, don't say whether you forgive me or not," Ma Kuo said angrily, "it's not between you and me. Our army's discipline is so lax, and if something goes wrong, how can we fight against the enemy in the future? If the commander manipulates them, the future It will be difficult to lead the army. This Fan Qiong must be taken from Liu Taiwei without favoritism, and severely punished." Then he pushed the woman forward and said, "This lady just crossed from Hebei ten days ago. Returning from Henan, my heart is towards the imperial court. When encountering violence suddenly, she resists the festival and is unyielding. She is admirable. I will hand her over to the commander today. The commander will make arrangements for her in the future. For the righteous people in the south, we must be one Protection. If someone asks them again, I will not agree."
"Don't worry about a hundred praises!" Xin Xingzong patted his chest and assured, "I will send two soldiers to escort her back to recover from her injuries, and then I will have some gold, silver, wine and food to calm her down. From now on, if anyone dares to bully her, discipline him to death. The place of burial. I, Xin Xingzong, follow what I say, and never ambiguously. Just wait and see for Xuanzan! Come on!"
Two soldiers came in.Xin Xingzong said:
"Okay! I'll send the two of you to find a car, take this lady home, and heal her to suppress her shock. Then pass on my general order, whoever dares to bully her again will be killed."
"Wait a minute!" Ma Kuo was afraid that there would be accidents, so he borrowed a pen and paper on the spot, wrote down his name, folded it, handed it to the woman, and said: "With Commander Xin's order, I'm sorry that no one will come back." Dare to annoy you. If you have something to do, come to Commander Xin, and Commander Xin will decide with you."
"I will make the decision with you, my lady, don't worry." Xin Xingzong said with an inappropriate smile.
"If Commander Xin doesn't have time to spare," Ma Kuo fixed his eyes on Xin Xingzong, "I'll ask you to take this note to me as a family member. I'll take care of this business."
Xin Xingzong pretended not to see Ma Kuo's face, and after sending the woman out of the camp gate, he added:
"The eighth general, Fan Qiong, I will report to Lieutenant Liu, get it, and set up the military law. If you keep such people in the army, how can you become a king's division? I said that they should be dealt with. done."
"It's your sixth lieutenant general who won the Czech Army." Ma Kuo corrected him severely.
"It's the sixth lieutenant general." He hastily corrected, then sent Ma Kuo graciously out of the village entrance, and touched Yu Suanni's neck.He praised "good horse" and took the opportunity to laugh with a flattering smile that obviously wanted to calm his master's anger.
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