Chapter 598: Winter Snow Sea, the Great Wheel of Life and Death (7)
The snow began to fall again. Except for the occasional cold wind that danced the snowflakes, the vast plains near Bianliang City were filled with a sense of silence and death.
Battle after battle, bloodshed again and again, millions of people who originally lived in this land have migrated, leaving vacant and abandoned villages and towns with a strange and dead atmosphere in the dusk when heavy snow falls, and the birds have long since
Flying away, a few animals are running in the snow in the mountains and forests. The squirrel is holding its hazelnut and standing at the edge of the woods, looking at the area that once belonged to humans. In the past few months, the animals that have fallen on this land have
People's bones have long been cold.
Wolves appear occasionally.
Only in a few cases, a lonely horse team runs through the snow, going from one place to another, carrying their mission.
In less than half a year, this place has become a forbidden area for strangers.
Moutuogang is ten miles away from Bianliang City. The road from this area to Bianliang City is still dominated by the breath of human beings. In the early morning, a loud "bang--" sounded on the ice near Moutuogang.
On the surface.
A group of Jurchen warriors wielded iron balls or sledgehammers bound by chains and swung them on the ice near the camp, causing white ice mist to splash out.
This area where the Jurchens camped was originally a place where horses were herded by the Wu Dynasty. Moutuogang is surrounded by water on three sides and has lush pastures. After blocking the opening, it is easy to defend and difficult to attack. However, after winter really comes, the surrounding lakes also begin to freeze.
, especially in snowy days, the ice surface becomes thicker, and the ice surface and the land are completely connected in the three directions of the lake.
After Yao Pingzhong's night attack plan failed, not many people dared to attack the Jurchen camp. However, after the ice formed, Moutuogang's Jurchen soldiers broke open the edge of the ice and sent more troops every day.
The task of patrolling. Every morning, after the warriors break open the edge of the lake, the patrolling soldiers go back and forth in teams of three.
The snow was so heavy that one could not tell whether it was morning or noon. All one knew was that it had been dawn for a long time, and the patrolling soldiers came and went. Occasionally, I looked at the flat, stretching lake of ice and snow in front of my field of vision. Everything seemed monotonous.
The busy sounds in the military camp occasionally came through the tall wooden walls. When the patrol passed by, a Jurchen soldier stopped and turned to look at the lake.
Heavy snow is falling.
He glanced for a few times, and after a moment, he caught up with the two companions in front of him.
We pushed forward and saw something white on the ice hundreds of meters away. They were two figures lying on the ice in the snow. They were wearing clothes that were extremely difficult to recognize in the snow.
One of them in white clothes put down the tube in his hand, and even silently blocked the front end of the tube with one hand.
After the three people in the distance left, the rough cylindrical telescope was raised again. The man next to him took out a small book and then a charcoal pen, and wrote numbers on it with shaking hands.
"Another one hundred and twenty-five breaths...when the three patrols passed by...and shared..."
Without accurate timing tools, we can only roughly estimate the time. In such a snowy day, long-term lurking is also a huge burden for the two of them. They lie here quietly watching and recording, with only occasional small movements.
When your body is hungry, pull out the warmed dried meat from your clothes and chew it slowly, but try not to move as much as possible.
Sometimes, Hai Dongqing flies through the heavy snow and flies into the sky. That is the most difficult time for them.
At dusk, someone quietly came over to take their place.
The two people quietly retreated from the lake, carefully covering their traces, and entered the small woods at the end of Moutuogang. After that, they also walked in silence. The temporary residence and meeting place was a cave in the mountain. Someone came to pick up the things they had written down.
, also had a brief chat, and delivered some supplies. Before leaving, he told me as usual: "Don't light a fire if it's not necessary."
The fried rice, meat strips and other items that the other party brought were already cold. However, he took out a small iron kettle wrapped with three layers inside and three outside. The broth in it was still warm, and they shared it between the two of them.
He asked to drink it quickly, and then gave another warning.
When I go out to perform this kind of mission, my clothes are enough to keep me warm. One of them is a young man in his teens named Chen Hai, and the other is a middle-aged man in his forties named Zheng. Chen Hai calls him
Uncle Zheng.
"Uncle Zheng, do you think we can put these things down every day if they come in handy?"
"Go to bed early." Uncle Zheng said very few words and his voice was not high, "How did I know."
"The Jurchens are too cruel..."
After Chen Hai said this, he stopped talking.
The investigation team was put together by Ning Yi. They were selected during the process of strengthening the wall and clearing the country and later after the Wu Dynasty army was dispersed. Some of them were the talent reserve before Zhuji, some were hunters, or they were proficient in wild survival skills.
He is a person with extraordinary talents. Chen Hai has been in good health since he was a child, and he is lively and lively. According to rumors from all over the country, he can walk naked in the snow in the winter. When the Jurchens came, his village did not escape.
In the first wave of massacres, his parents died under the butcher's knife, but he managed to survive. Later, Ning Yi absorbed him.
The next morning, they woke up, ate something cold, and went to take over. The snow was falling, sometimes heavy and sometimes light. After returning to receive new orders, they would also change places slightly. They also vaguely knew
, they were not the only ones responsible for investigating the Jurchen camp.
The person who came to contact them should be an official - at least an official. The broth he brought in his arms every day could make Chen Hai feel warm, because he vaguely knew that there might not be any other official who could do this.
things.
He had known Uncle Zheng not long ago. Although Uncle Zheng was relatively taciturn, he should have been a powerful hunter in the past. Occasionally he would give him some advice on hiding and hunting. For several days, he lurked in such a harsh environment.
If you only have one companion, you will unconsciously regard the other person as your only friend, relative, or elder in the world.
That day is November 20th.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! At noon that day, they quietly changed their positions while observing. The snow had been falling for so long, and the ice on the lake was actually quite solid. Chen Hai
Occasionally I would reach out and knock, but nothing would happen. I probably encountered a relatively thin spot on this day.
They had been lying there all morning. When the soldiers patrolling the lake shore passed by, Uncle Zheng was observing with a telescope, and a thin voice rang out from under him.
The two of them stood there and slowly looked over. Uncle Zheng stretched out his hand to sweep away the snow, and fine lines stretched out from under his body.
Both of them knew that they couldn't mess around at this time. Uncle Zheng, who had a silent personality, waved his hand slightly to signal Chen Hai to move to one side, and he moved to the other side.
The ice collapsed.
Uncle Zheng fell into the water, came up again, and fluttered twice. In the distance, the patrolman was still walking past. Chen Hai, who had not fallen in, carefully stretched out his hand. Uncle Zheng took his hand, and when he exerted force,
, fine lines began to appear under Chen Hai's body. The other party realized something and let go of his hand. He subconsciously turned his head and looked in the direction of the Jurchen military camp. After falling into the water, he should not be able to see anyone, but he had stopped.
Flapping and making noises.
In the wind and snow, there were faint voices of Jurchens speaking. They were also looking this way, but because they were too far away and blocked by the wind and snow, they could not see that an ice cave had appeared here.
Although he was in his forties, Uncle Zheng was actually an old man by the definition of Wu Dynasty. Chen Hai lay on the side and stretched out his hands desperately.
"Give me your hand, I can get it..." He gritted his teeth and whispered.
The old man in the lake trembled and took off the telescope from his neck. He stretched out his hand and gently placed the telescope on the ice. Then he untied the small package behind his back - Uncle Zheng carried this small package with him.
It seemed to be all his belongings - he wanted to hand over the small package, but halfway through, the package fell into the water.
"..." Chen Hai opened his mouth wide and opened his mouth desperately. He was already crying. His tears blurred his vision, but he could not make any sound. Two months ago, the Jurchens came to their village and killed him.
His father and his mother hid him in the firewood pile. He heard many movements and sounds. The last thing he heard was his mother's short scream. After surviving, he went out from the firewood pile and his mother
He died outside the door of the firewood shed, half of his body covered in black mud, with no clothes on his body, half of his body covered in red blood and black mud. This is how he cried in the firewood pile.
He vaguely knew what was happening outside, but he did not dare to go out. His mother did not cry or call for help from beginning to end. Only when she was killed in the end, she couldn't help but scream. He sat next to his mother's body,
She cried with her mouth wide open, a fist could be stuffed into her mouth, but no sound came out.
Some people, when they are extremely sad, cannot cry.
In the blurred field of vision, the old man's outstretched hand did not retract. He used his last strength to give him a thumbs up and waved it slightly in the air.
The sound of forging equipment in the Jurchen military camp was heard, and several patrolling soldiers left.
The old man had already sunk. When his body came up again, Chen Hai knew that by then, the cold weather had sealed the hole. This winter, the old man would never see the world again...
That night, the official who delivered the broth to him took him back to the Xia Cun Valley. The valley was bustling with people doing their things. He was placed in a small room and someone brought him the soup.
He asked for the meal, but he couldn't eat it. Soon after, someone came over and asked him again about the details of Uncle Zheng's death. He told him again mechanically, and the other party said: "Someone will come over later. Please tell me again, brother Chen. They will
Write things down."
"Write down...what..." Chen Hai asked mechanically.
"Write it down... Uncle Zheng's matter, and tell others about it later."
"Why...should you tell others?"
"Because..." The other party thought about it for a moment, and suddenly there was a knock on the door, as if to report what happened. After listening to the report, the person nodded and came back, "In order to... let others remember him..."
"He is already dead..." Chen Hai shook his head.
"Well, Brother Chen, I know you are very sad, and we are also very sad, but I still have something to do here, and the people who come will explain it to you."
"What are you sad about? You don't know him. You don't even know him!" Chen Hai choked and shouted.
The other person's eyes seemed a little troubled, but he finally left. After a while, someone came in again. Chen Hai wanted to lose his temper, but he saw the man named Ning Yi coming behind that person. Chen Hai knew that,
This is a high official.
The man who came in from the front had prepared pen, ink, paper and inkstone. The senior official named Ning Yi and his entourage were blocked by him with a wave of his hand. The senior official looked at him for a while before sitting down next to him.
"I heard something about Uncle Zheng. I came to see you."
Chen Hai shook his head and said nothing.
The other party said: "He will ask you more detailed things, and we will write them down so that people can remember him." This cliché made Chen Hai feel angry. He gritted his teeth and stared at the other party: "Uncle Zheng, he
, who is he? Where is he from? When he was about to die, he gave me that baggage. He must have asked me to hand it over to him. Who should I hand it over to now!"
"That's for you." The other party said, "Zheng Yiquan is just like you. His family members are all dead. His wife died five years ago. His son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren were all alive when the Jurchens came.
…”
The other party shook his head and breathed a long sigh of relief: "...Phew. So, no matter what is in the bag, it should be for you."
Chen Hai was stunned for a long time, tears fell, and more anger came up: "It's because of this, it's because of this, you... you chose us, right? It's because of this, you chose us to die, right?
You know how everyone in my family died, right? How my father died, how my mother died..."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "I know it all." Before Chen Hai finished crying, the other party interrupted him, "That's why I chose you... Of course not."
All, but a lot of it.”
Chen Hai was so angry that his teeth were chattering: "You people, hide behind, you people..."
"I sent you to the most dangerous place, but I didn't 'hide' behind." Ning Yi emphasized. He unbuttoned his clothes, then exposed the scars on his chest and arms, and then walked towards the person who was about to write something.
The man pushed his head to one side and said, "They are not hiding behind either!" There was actually a shocking scar on the side of the man's neck.
"It is true that some people are hiding, but no one in this place today is 'behind'." Ning Yi looked at him and said, "I know what is going on around you, and I have seen many people die. Frankly speaking, choosing
You go to that kind of place just because you hold back the hatred in your heart, so you can do those things. Even when you die, you will still think about not letting those guys go. I chose you just because of this, but there is no other way.
Only in this way can things be done. I randomly sent someone over, but they were not cautious enough and were caught by the Jurchens. They were not resolute enough, and our affairs were exposed bit by bit. In the end, everyone died, and the Jurchens conquered Bian.
Liang, if you kill more people, will I be fair to you?"
"But...he is already dead..."
"The inheritance of civilization does not rely on blood." Ning Yi whispered something he didn't quite understand, "When the Jurchens came, many people died, and many people's entire clan was gone. Zheng Yiquan's bloodline did not remain.
But when he was about to die, you were by your side, so you passed him on. The Jurchens killed so many people along the way, and some of their stories were left behind to let later people know that there was a group of such people who survived.
But if you die, civilization will be passed on. People cannot be resurrected after death. If there is really no other way, just die and pass on the story as much as possible."
He looked at Chen Hai, who didn't speak anymore. After a long while, he raised his head, took a breath, and sat down on the stool behind him. He just opened his mouth and cried silently. Ning Yi closed his eyes and stood
After a while, he walked over and knocked on the small table as he passed by the recorder: "As I've already said, don't ask too many questions...it's uncomfortable enough..."
That night, Chen Hai saw the old man's thumbs up in his dream. He woke up from his dream and couldn't sleep with his eyes open on the warm bed that he had not seen for a long time. Thinking of the figures he saw in Moutuogang, he knew,
Countless people will die, and everything is just the beginning.
When he opened the window, the snow stopped temporarily. He thought of the old man, his parents, and the people in the village. The people who had died in this wilderness in the past few months. The old man stood quietly.
The bottom of the lake. They all seemed to be standing quietly somewhere. The heavy snow spread out toward the surrounding world with the valley as the center. Their figures also seemed to spread out around. There were so many of them...
The moonlight in the night sky is like water. The moonlight is like water, illuminating countless silk clothes.
He found that he could no longer sleep soundly on that bed. The next day he went back to Moutuogang. Before he reached the lake, the Jurchen camp was filled with murderous intent...
***************
It was noon, at Xin Suanzao Gate, and when the old man walked onto the city wall, he was surrounded by running defenders.
People carrying buckets of water are rushing up to the city wall in batches, pouring water on the outer wall and then going down again, and so on. The soldiers have put up their shields and prepared Yaksha hammers, rolling logs, rocks and other defensive objects. Countless defenders.
The city is ready to stretch out on the city wall.
Above the city, it was very cold due to the strong wind. However, the cold was no longer something to worry about at this time. Qin Siyuan walked towards the center of the city tower not far away. The same two old people had already arrived there. The leader was Li Gang, and the other
This is the cultivation method of the Western Army. The serious illness of the cultivation method has not been cured, but at this time, it can only endure with hardship.
Looking outside, it was the camp where the Jurchens were stationed when they attacked the city. During this period, some siege and stone-throwing equipment were displayed there, but there were not many. However, at this time, the atmosphere in the position had begun.
There have been changes.
More siege equipment and the army have not yet arrived, but the scouts outside the city have received news that the Jurchens' general attack is approaching.
During this period of time, everyone in the city knew that the Jurchens had been working hard to make instruments. Zhong Shidao had considered taking the initiative during his illness, but after Yao Pingzhong's incident, no one dared to take the risk anymore.
He started such a plan, and the 30,000 clan troops brought by Zhongshi Dao's clan brother Zhongshi had also suffered a defeat on the plain outside Bianliang City not long ago. At this time, they were huddled nearby to reorganize their defenses.
.
When the Western Army first arrived, people had high expectations for the Western Army's combat effectiveness. There was a strong feeling that the Western Army would be able to turn the tide as soon as it arrived. Yao Pingzhong's failure shattered this expectation, and people can continue to look forward to the cultivation of teachers.
However, under such expectations, when Zhong Shizhong led his army, Zhong Shidao could not just let him stand still. As a result, after a battle between the two sides, the Zhong Family Army also returned defeated. Although Zhong Shizhong's army
Seeing the opportunity, the Zhong family army still retained a combat strength of more than 20,000 people, but at least the senior people had fully understood that even the strongest Western Army of the Wu Dynasty was really in trouble in front of the Jurchen cavalry that dominated the world at this time.
Indescribable.
In fact, at the beginning, perhaps only Zhong Shidao himself could clearly see this. After he arrived in the capital, he held down the Yao family army and prevented the army from recklessly attacking. He only hoped that his subordinates would join up with all King Qin's troops.
, could scare Wanyan Zongwang into retreating, or concentrate all his strength to fight with him. Unfortunately, his prestige was too great when he entered the city, and Zhou Zhe couldn't stand it, so he finally placed him under house arrest, and then agreed to Yao Pingzhong's plan. Later, he
After unleashing the Master's Way, the 200,000-strong army was defeated, and the old man who was still conscious despite being ill could no longer recover.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! At this time, in Bianliang City, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty gathered, and there were still many people who really knew the military. However, the Ministry of War, starting from the highest Tong Guan,
Seeing the momentum of the Jurchens, he did not dare to take on the responsibility of defending the city. He only said that he had retired from Taiyuan and was facing sins and could no longer convince the public. This kind of look proved his "knowledge of soldiers", and he did not take it.
, others understood, and the few qualified people did not dare to take it anymore.
The emperor's silent attitude in recent times has allowed the two prime ministers to control the power, but in fact they may have received everyone's wait and see. In the end, the two prime ministers only have the power to appoint at will among the middle-level officers. In this way,
They can only use the tactics to defend the city in a disciplined manner, and cannot do too many dangerous things.
In short, we can only keep it.
The wind blew, and the three old men, all over sixty years old, stood in the wind and snow, waiting for the arrival of Zongwang's army. Only Qin Siyuan, after a long period of solemnity, gradually laughed out, and the laughter was heroic,
It was not consistent with his usual image. But Li Gang gradually started to laugh, and then Zhong Shidao also started to laugh.
"You and I are here today. When faced with this matter, it will come to light!" Li Gang said with a smile.
In the distance, the banner of Zongwang's army came.
*******************
Xia Cun Valley. The news has spread.
In the room, Hongti and Juaner were sewing the linings of some clothes. In the open space outside the door, Qin Shaoqian, Han Jing, Yue Fei, Qi Xinyong, Yuwen Feidu and many others gathered here, looking at the man named Xiaohei.
The boy put on those things.
When the armor made of iron and steel plates was completely worn on his body, the young man's whole body almost turned into a walking iron armor.
This was not the first time the young man had worn this. When he swung his fist across the air, the snowflakes flying in the air whirled and whirled. Behind him, the armored war horse let out a soft cry, and behind him, a
More than a hundred heavy armored cavalry were all dressed up.
"It's okay." Ning Yi whispered. Not far away, Qin Shaoqian touched the armor on the horse, shook his head and sighed.
Putting on his helmet and holding his sword, the young man jumped onto his horse with a bang.
Soon after, there was movement in the valley. As evening approached, everyone gathered up and down the entire valley. Piles of bonfires spread. Ning Yi, Qin Shaoqian and other generals appeared above the valley.
On the high platform, Qin Shaoqian raised his wine glass to the people in the entire valley. Then, he slowly fell down from left to right.
"Today this cup is dedicated to the heaven and earth, the gods and ghosts, the dead, and you and me here. Zong Wang has officially sent out troops to attack Bianliang today. Everyone, the time is coming..."
The bonfire was blazing, and the whole valley was in mourning. Everyone was listening to his words in silence.
The wind and snow were floating in the sky, and for a moment it seemed that I didn't dare to come near this place...
*******************
Taiyuan.
At night, Qin Shaohe, who was ill, woke up from his sleep. In the dark room, his concubine fell asleep beside the bed. He kept his eyes open for a long time, and only when he couldn't help coughing, he woke her up.
"Master, you're awake, do you want some water?" the concubine asked, and then said, "The city defense is fine, don't worry."
"I had a dream. I dreamed about my father." He said weakly.
"My father-in-law is in Bianliang, which is better than here. Don't worry."
"Yeah." Qin Shaohe nodded slightly, then smiled and said:
"Zhan Mei, I think I may never see my father again..."
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The sea of snow spread, day and night came and went, and on November 22nd, morning came.
This morning in Bianliang City was extremely quiet. Except for the falling snowflakes, it seemed that no one had woken up. Fanlou's carriage passed through the quiet streets and arrived near the city wall. The sky was slightly white. Shishi got off the carriage.
She often comes here to help recently, but this time, the atmosphere in the military camp is a little different.
Before she had time to distinguish the change in the atmosphere, the sound of a horn came faintly and suddenly through the huge wall in the distance. A huge object was passing by in the sky. There was a muffled sound, the slightly bright sky and the
In the drifting snow, it seemed as if a wind suddenly passed by. Shishi's body shrank. She felt that the earth was moving, and someone shouted "Ah" in the distance——