On the top of the city of Jinyang Mansion, Zhao Chen breathed a sigh of relief at his hands, shrank his shoulders, and looked up into the distance.
Although he was extremely sleepy, he still did not dare to relax at all.
Because tonight is not peaceful...
It's lively inside the city, and it's lively outside the city too.
Not long ago, more than ten people on fast horses came to the city, shouting for them to open the city gate.
It was said that Huwei Pass was lost, they rescued General Guan Changqing and were going to see Mr. Fu Yin.
Zhao Chen stood on the top of the city. Listening to these words, he felt that this man was just telling a joke.
What is the key to Huweiguan?
How can the loss of defense be silent?
There is no beacon fire and no smoke, there is not even a bubble, and Huweiguan is lost?
It's hard to say whether this is true or not. Even if it is true, how can these people save Guan Changqing among thousands of troops?
Zhao Chen didn't care about this.
But Jinyang Mansion is close to the border after all. Although the war has subsided for more than twenty years, it has never really let down its vigilance.
The captain who led them to defend the city did not refuse to open the city gate just because he felt it was impossible.
Instead, let them identify themselves and report later.
This thing is a coincidence. If we came here at another time, Fu Yin would have already taken a rest. Who would dare to disturb him easily?
It just so happened that something happened in the city tonight.
It was a nice big yard, but it felt like it had been hit by a disaster. It was completely demolished for no apparent reason.
Some people say they saw countless heavenly knives, and the waves were like long rivers...
Then someone said, "You probably haven't woken up yet."
This matter also caused quite a stir, even Zhao Chen on the top of the city heard someone talking about it.
Mainly because someone had something good to do and happened to be off duty all night, so I secretly went to find out the truth and came back to gossip with them.
However, everyone just took it for fun and was just curious, but no one really wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Because of this matter, Fu Yin can't rest and is working on it.
After all, we have to appease the people and tell them that no knives will be struck from heaven, so there is no need to worry about being pierced by thousands of knives while you sleep.
The people sent by the captain reported the matter to Mr. Fu Yin.
Mr. Fu Yin did not dare to neglect. Although he was very anxious, he came over quickly.
Then, not knowing what Fu Yin saw, he quickly ordered the city gate to be opened and brought in the dozen or so fast horses.
Zhao Chen on the top of the city didn't know what happened next.
Those are big things done by big men. As a small soldier, what he should do is to look into the distance under the fierce cold wind.
And because of this incident as a warning, Zhao Chen was always feeling uneasy today, so much so that no matter how sleepy he was, he did not dare to close his eyes and take a nap.
On the other hand, the comrade beside him had already retracted his head, huddled under the wall, and secretly squinted for several times.
Occasionally I open my eyes and see Zhao Cheng still looking there, and I smile:
"Aren't you sleepy tonight?"
Zhao Cheng was embarrassed to say that he was not at ease, lest others laugh at him for fearing life and death, and worrying that the Qing army would come to attack the city.
Then he said:
"Didn't the captain say that something is wrong tonight? Please be more alert..."
"He didn't say that one day, and as a result, he has been in peace for so many years.
"You don't really think that Huwei Pass has been lost, do you? I think they are just acquaintances with Mr. Fu Yin, and they deliberately said this so that Mr. Fu Yin would come to pick them up."
The colleague next to me yawned loudly.
Ha let out a big breath of heat:
"Okay, then just keep an eye on me. I'll keep my eyes open for a while. If the captain comes, remember to call me..."
"oh."
Zhao Chen nodded.
This situation is actually the norm.
Because Jinyang Mansion is located on the border, you have to be more vigilant and keep an eye on it at night to avoid attacks from the Qing Kingdom.
But everyone is fine with it for a day or two, and can barely hold on for a year or two.
But they have been keeping watch for more than twenty years, and there is not even a trace of the Qingguo army.
Huweiguan is like a high mountain, blocking the front of Jinyang Mansion and always standing erect.
Therefore, even if someone came just now and said that Huwei Pass had been lost, they didn't believe it.
Under such circumstances, slacking off is inevitable.
Nowadays, although people like school officials are still wary, when it comes to the soldiers under their control, most of them are wives and children.
Standing here is not to protect our country, but more to make a living.
If you can cheat, you can naturally steal a little bit...
Zhao Chen himself was actually the same. He shook his head, feeling that he was probably too nervous.
"Master Fu Yin may have taken them in just because they knew each other...
"General Guan Da, how could he be defeated?"
He smiled, turned around and was about to squint for a while, but suddenly he felt something was wrong.
Maybe the wind was a little stronger, maybe it was the ground shaking slightly, or maybe it was dark in the distance, as if the wind and snow were coming more quickly.
Zhao Chen stared into the distance, his eyes opening wider and wider. Suddenly, he pushed his comrade beside him hard.
The man groaned, stood up quickly, and looked into the distance, but the focus in his eyes was not on the distance at all. He kept scanning the surroundings with the corner of his eye, but after looking around, he didn't notice their captain.
I couldn’t help but be stunned:
"Why are you pushing me? Isn't the school captain here?"
"Come...come...come!!"
Zhao Chen stretched out his hand and pointed into the distance:
"Look...what is that?"
Before the comrades beside them could clearly see the situation ahead, they suddenly heard footsteps approaching quickly. It was their captain. Seeing that his face was more serious than ever before, he shouted loudly:
"Light the beacon!!!"
A fear so intense that it was suffocating came over my heart in an instant.
Zhao Chen felt that his mind was blank.
Light the beacon...
These four words mean that Qingguo is coming!?
Zhao Chen looked at the saber at his waist, and then at the military jacket on his body that had been worn and washed over and over again. It had long since faded and turned white.
Everyone was dumbfounded on the spot.
There is also a strong urge to escape.
But when he saw that his comrade, who was still sleeping in a daze just now, was already moving, he finally realized what he was doing.
Now is not the time to think wildly.
Moreover, even if I run, where can I run?
If I can run, can my parents? Can my wife? There are three children at home. The eldest is only seven years old this year, and the youngest is just three months old.
How to run this?
Not to mention there are relatives and dependents...
Can’t run!!
Zhao Chen's eyes were a little red, and he gritted his teeth, as if he could bite the fear in his heart and prevent it from turning against the guest.
He followed his comrades around him and lit the smoke.
Then move the ordnance.
A large box of arrows, shields, crossbows...
On the top of the city, the young captain's face, which was red from the cold, showed no trace of a smile.
He calmly distributed ordnance.
Zhao Chen also got a bow and hung a quiver on his waist.
Looking at the bow in his hand, he reacted for a moment before remembering how to use it.
He has also practiced, and his archery skills are actually pretty good.
As long as you stand behind the wall and shoot arrows from a distance... I think it's safe for the time being.
Zhao Chen had already found his position, but the captain's orders were still continuing. He found a group of strong men and followed him down to carry the stones.
This is to prevent the opponent from using ladders to attack the city and throwing stones from high places to knock the opponent down.
The ladder is very high. If you are hit by a stone and then fall down, it will be particularly painful.
Zhao Cheng was thinking in his mind when he heard footsteps coming again.
Looking towards where the sound came from, it was a woman who came first.
She is good-looking and stands out in her red dress, but her face is a little pale.
While moving, I was supported by a young man beside me.
These two people looked very strange. They were not wearing official uniforms and were obviously not members of the military.
Could it be that ordinary people came here to watch the fun?
Zhao Chen admired his own brain a little.
At this time, you can still think about such unreasonable things...
What kind of common people would go to the city wall to watch such excitement?
The next moment, Zhao Chen was sure that these two people were not ordinary people.
Because Mr. Fu Yin was following behind the two men, following step by step, looking very humble.
A big shot... such a young big shot?
Zhao Chen felt a little complicated.
He didn't know why they could become big shots at such a young age, and what kind of abilities they had... He just hoped that the next battle would not be influenced by them.
Zhao Chen knew the abilities of their captain.
Although he is younger, he is very powerful.
But what if these big shots, relying on their high position and power, force the captain to listen to them... What should they do?
He turned his eyes and found that many people around him were looking at each other.
Apparently they all have the same concerns.
At this moment, another group of people climbed onto the city wall.
The leader was a pale man, walking like a dragon and a tiger, with a mighty posture, but he looked quite weak.
When he saw the two young men in front of him, his steps suddenly stopped, and then he knelt on the ground with a plop:
"See the eldest princess!"
The eldest princess!!
Zhao Chen's heart suddenly tightened, this girl turned out to be the eldest princess?
I just stared at the eldest princess's face... Will she be angry because of this and kill my head?
Zhao Chen quickly lowered his head, and then heard the sound of falling to his knees. Apparently after hearing this, his colleagues around him also knelt down one after another.
Just listen to the eldest princess speak softly:
"Everyone, get up. War is coming, and red tape can be dispensed with."
After hearing this, everyone around them started to get up.
Zhao Chen also quickly got up with everyone, then bent his bow and arrows, wanting to show his best side to the big shots.
The group of people in the distance are now getting closer and closer, but they still have not reached the city. As the saying goes, they have to wait until they reach the end of the mountain. If they want to reach there, they will need at least one stick of incense.
But at this time, the sound of galloping horses can already be heard, like thunder in the distance, and low pressure is gradually approaching.
At this moment, I heard the eldest princess say:
“The army of the Qing Kingdom went south and first captured Huwei Pass by conspiracy.
"Now they are attacking all night long, trying to capture Jinyang Mansion and kill our parents and relatives.
"They absolutely cannot succeed in this matter.
"For the parents and relatives behind me, for the land under my feet, and for the golden cicada.
"I sincerely ask you all soldiers to fight with me and defend the city to the death!!!"
"Swear to defend the city to the death!!!"
"Swear to defend the city to the death!!!"
"Swear to defend the city to the death!!!"
Shouts like a mountain roared from the top of the city, one after another.
Zhao Chen also roared angrily, and the fear in his heart seemed to be dispelled by these few words.
Even the eldest princess has to live and die with them... What do they have to fear?
At this moment, great courage surged into my heart, and the trembling arms that had been holding their bows surged with new strength, becoming as steady as a rock.
"Okay, we are united and our military spirit is available!"
A rough voice sounded.
Zhao Chen could tell that this was the middle-aged man who came up later.
"General Guan...you have suffered."
The eldest princess sighed:
"Tian Shang Que is just a river and lake, but I didn't expect that they would dare to attack the imperial court... so much so that the tired general suffered for half a year."
"Princess, this is not the place to talk. Let's go in and talk."
This was the voice of Master Fu Yin, and these important people entered the tower.
It was only then that Zhao Chen let go of the hand that had been holding the bow and felt his arms twitching.
Subconsciously, he stretched out his hand to rub it, and saw his comrade not far away making the same move as him.
The two people looked at each other and smiled, then continued to look into the distance.
I should have been worried and frightened at first, but when I thought about the eldest princess not far away, I thought... there would be no problem.
When I was comforting myself in this way, I felt as if there was an extra person beside me.
He turned his head suddenly, but there was no trace.
Looking up again, he found that he had reached the wall stacks at some point.
Zhao Chen recognized it at a glance. This was the young man beside the eldest princess.
He kept supporting the eldest princess, not only holding her wrists, but also holding her waist...
It's really enviable.
Is he the consort?
He is indeed very handsome.
Just the way he is dressed, he doesn't look much like him, but more like an ordinary Jianghu person.
Zhao Chen has met many Jianghu people. Although the clothes are not the same, the temperament on his body cannot be fake.
How old is the eldest princess exactly? There is no news of marriage.
It turns out that he found a charlatan to be his consort?
Can the emperor agree?
Zhao Chen was thinking wildly when he saw the young man casually untied the wine gourd around his waist, raised his head and took a sip, then suddenly turned to look at him.
Zhao Chen felt nervous and quickly lowered his head.
I heard the man laugh and say:
"You keep staring at me, do you want to drink?"
"ah?"
Zhao Chen was stunned. It was a good thing that he didn't listen to these words. But when he heard them, it really aroused the alcohol bug in his stomach.
But, how can I nod my head?
I dare not drink the nobleman's wine.
Just as he was about to shake his head and say he didn't dare, he heard the man say:
"then."
When he looked up, the wine gourd was already in front of him.
Zhao Chen hurriedly held the bow in his arms and went to catch the wine gourd with both hands.
After holding it firmly, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Wouldn’t it be inappropriate to return it to the other party?
Zhao Chen hesitated and said:
"Thank you."
After finishing speaking, he raised the wine gourd high, not daring to touch his lips, and carefully poured out a strand of wine. As soon as the wine was in his mouth, he knew it was really good wine.
It was the best wine I had ever drunk in my life.
I swallowed it in one gulp and couldn't help but take another sip.
After these two sips of wine, I felt a little high-spirited for a moment.
My heart was even more courageous, and I couldn't help but raise my head to look at the noble man.
I saw him looking at the Qingguo army in the distance, and immediately asked:
"You didn't go in to discuss matters with your lords?"
"What's there to discuss... If you fall into someone else's scheme, no matter whether you win or lose in this battle, you will suffer a dumb loss.
"Even if we take back Huwei Pass, what will happen?"
When the young man on the wall said this, he shook his head and smiled, somewhat mocking himself:
"The plan that Qi Tianyue and I thought was just a link in the opponent's chess.
"It's so ridiculous to abandon the sky and the moon...use the world as a chessboard and all living beings as pawns, but in the end, you are also a discarded pawn in the palm of others that can be discarded at any time.
"What a fine gentleman!"
Zhao Chen listened, but didn't understand it at all.
Who is Qi Tianyue?
Who is Jun Hezai?
Why do you say that the outcome of this battle will be a dumb loss?
He thought for a moment and said:
"I feel that winning is winning... just like what the eldest princess said, protect the people behind you, your loved ones at home, and the land under your feet.
"When the Qing Kingdom invades, we should repel them."
The young man on the wall seemed stunned for a moment after hearing this.
He looked back at Zhao Chen and smiled:
"What's your name?"
"The younger one's name is Zhao Chen."
"Zhao Chen..."
The man chewed for a while and nodded:
"You are right, winning is winning and losing is losing.
"You have to guard what you should guard first, and then worry about other gains and losses..."
"You claim to be smart in vain, you are not as clear-minded as this little brother."
The eldest princess's voice suddenly came from behind.
Zhao Chen's whole body tensed up after hearing this, and he quickly knelt down.
The eldest princess looked at him and said softly:
"Get up, I just said that red tape can be avoided."
"Thank you, Princess."
Zhao Chen felt like there was a layer of sweat on his forehead in this cold winter month.
But he saw the eldest princess' eyes sinking and falling on the wine gourd in his hand:
"Is this his bar?"
"Exactly."
Zhao Chen quickly handed it over with both hands: "The villain took two sips and never touched the gourd..."
The eldest princess smiled and took it casually:
"If he gives you something to drink, just drink it. You don't need to let me know about this kind of thing."
As he said that, he brought the gourd to him and smelled it:
"Indulge?"
What is indulgence?
"Why did you come to my place instead of discussing with them how to retreat from the enemy? Disturbing my purity... and stealing my wine."
The young man on the wall suddenly spoke, and Zhao Chen felt his heart lift.
Although this may not sound like much, the smell of disgust is too strong.
Even if he is a prince-in-law, he can't dislike the princess so much, right?
What's more, the marriage has not been announced yet... Is it a consort or not?
Is he really not afraid that the eldest princess will have his head chopped off in a rage?
I wanted to remind him not to talk nonsense and annoy the princess again, but I felt that at this moment, there was no room for me to interrupt.
Then he heard the eldest princess say softly:
"Aren't you our strategy to defeat the enemy?
"The Qing Kingdom came too fast, and their troops are about to be at the gates. It will take a day or two at the earliest for the borrowed troops to come back...
"With the current military strength of the entire Jinyang Mansion, this city is in danger.
"But if you take action... you can not only turn the crisis around, but you can even seize the Tiger Pass.