188: Xiaocheng Rebellion (twenty-eight) [two in one]
Shen Tang woke up with the smell of food.
Opening your eyes, there is a big leaf covering the top of your head.
What is this?
Shen Tang was stunned for a moment, then raised his hand to brush it away. Without the obstruction of the leaves, the brilliant golden light hanging above her head shone towards her, making it difficult to open her eyes. Shen Tang stood up with one arm on the ground, and then realized that she had My arms are weak and my stomach is growling.
At this time, a familiar man's voice came from above, vaguely filled with joy and relief: "Shen Xiaolang is finally awake."
Zhai Le smiled and joked: "I'm right, cook a pot of fragrant minced meat, and Brother Shen will naturally wake up if he feels hungry."
Shen Tang: "..."
When you hear this title, you don't even have to look up to know who it is.
Half sitting up, he asked, "Where are we now?"
When she just woke up, she was still a little confused.
"Still outside Xiaocheng."
Shen Tang asked: "Is there any news about Wuhui and them?
"Not yet." Qi Shan shook his head regretfully, and then said with relief, "But Chu Wuhui and Uncle Gong are both veterans of the battlefield. With the two of them joining forces, even the brave warrior last night couldn't keep anyone. Shen I don’t need to worry about their safety, young man.”
Shen Tang had no choice but to suppress his worries for the time being.
"Are you hungry?"
Shen Tang's face was pale and he looked like he had no energy. He weakly pursed his lips and said, "I'm hungry. I'm starved to death. I don't have any strength."
Qi Shan turned around and filled a bowl of meat porridge in a rough wooden bowl.
I took the bowl of meat porridge and was about to put it to my mouth and drink it all when the scene of yesterday's rebel camp suddenly appeared in my mind. What I could see was a chaotic scene. Cattle and sheep wrapped in flames were running around in the back camp. , the rebel soldiers tried their best to put out the fire but lost their lives in doing so.
The shrill screams rose into the sky amidst the swaying firelight, and the air was filled with the strange smell of burned wood and fat.
When she thought of that smell, Shen Tang instantly lost her appetite for a feast, and held the moderately warm meat porridge in her hands without saying a word.
Qishan asked: "But it's not to your liking?"
If it's not to his liking, he can only make do with it. His cooking skills are only at this level. If he wants to eat what he likes, he can only wait for Chu Yao's servant to come back.
Shen Tang replied: "I suddenly lost my appetite."
When Qi Shan saw her putting the wooden bowl aside, he didn't force her to drink it, but he could not help complaining in his heart - of course not complaining about Shen Tang, but complaining about Chu Yao. The former Shen Xiaolangjun could eat anything. When Chu Yao came, he learned to be picky about food!
so what?
This is all Chu Yao's fault!
Although Shen Tang didn't know what he was thinking, he didn't want to cause misunderstanding: "I suddenly remembered last night, and I don't want to touch meat for the time being."
After saying that, I felt that I was a bit pretentious. Under the current conditions, a mouthful of rice is a luxury that ordinary people cannot ask for, let alone a big bowl of meat porridge. The temperature is just right, and it was probably kept warm by Qi Shan. , ensuring she can taste it when she wakes up.
"That's it. It's because I was careless."
The meat porridge was not wasted and ended up in Zhai Le's stomach.
Only then did Shen Tang have time to observe the surrounding situation.
The group of people is in a hidden mountain col, surrounded by cliffs on three sides, and the only exit is across a stream. It is a good hiding place. Not far away, busy soldiers can be seen, and the clothes of these soldiers are very familiar... …
Shen Tang suddenly remembered something.
At this time, Captain Yang's loud voice sounded in my ears.
"The righteous man finally woke up."
Shen Tang suppressed the twitching of the corners of his mouth.
He said slightly unnaturally: "This soldier is so good..."
She finally remembered.
She had exhausted all her energy last night, and with the injuries from the battle, she was extremely exhausted. As soon as she arrived at a safe place, she fell asleep and had no dreams until dawn. The person who responded to them was the unlucky guy who had robbed her of tax money. ——Duwei Yang, the garrison at Xiaocheng!
"I don't dare to be a soldier, so just call me 'Lao Yang' as a martyr. I have heard about the righteous deeds from Mr. Zhai, and I admire them very much. It is true that a hero comes from a young age."
Lieutenant Yang has a Chinese character face, a beard, thick eyebrows, majestic black eyes, the pupils are set upward, and he looks a bit inhumane and arrogant. Outsiders would think that this person is stubborn and fierce. In appearance, at this time, he managed to squeeze out some kindness.
Who wouldn't say a word of discomfort after seeing this?
Shen Tang: "..."
She was asked to comment that this smile could scare a whole class of children to tears. It was frightening and frightening, but Shen Tang still got the goodwill shown by others. She put on a humble and obedient expression and said: "No. Do you dare to take it seriously?"
Captain Yang's impression of Shen Tang has improved a lot!
Such young people who are capable and upright, who serve the people rather than benefit themselves, who are young but not proud, and who are humble and courteous, are rare to see!
Especially when Shen Tang asked him about the situation in Xiaocheng and the rebels, and whether the rebels would withdraw after their supplies of food and grass were burned, Captain Yang admired Shen Tang even more.
He tried his best to smile kindly and stroked his beard: "I have sent people to investigate. Once there is an intention to withdraw, I will immediately send a message to the garrison in the city, and then we will attack from both inside and outside!"
In fact, Captain Yang wanted to send troops for a night attack last night.
Considering that our own number was too small, the situation in the rebel camp was unclear, and the risk of a sneak attack was too high, we gave up on Zhai Huan's persuasion.
Shen Tang: "Attacking from both inside and outside? But I think the top priority should be to evacuate the people as soon as possible, in the style of the rebels, wait for them to recover, and wait for the people's perhaps thunderous revenge."
Captain Yang was also worried about this. Just as he was about to speak, he heard the sound of horse hoofbeats approaching quickly. It turned out that the scouts he had sent out were coming back. Seeing the pale complexion of the scouts, he rarely softened his expression: "No hurry, take your time. Speak slowly."
From Captain Yang's point of view, even if it is not good news, it is not bad news, and there is always a relaxed smile on his lips.
Who knows——
The scout's information came like a bolt from the blue.
He chopped his head until his head went blank.
More than two hours ago, the rebels increased their troops by 20,000!
Captain Yang stood up in a panic, his voice broken with urgency.
"An additional 20,000 troops? Where did the 20,000 troops come from?"
However, the scout was afraid of revealing his identity and did not dare to inquire too much. At this time, he was still confused about all the questions. Hot sweat broke out on his forehead in anxiety, for fear that Captain Yang would suddenly kill someone. Qi Shan, Shen Tang, Zhai Le and Zhai who had just approached Huan, the four of them were instantly livid.
I thought that the night attack burned down the rebel camp's supplies of food and grass, which would give me a chance to breathe. Even if it didn't work, I could squeeze out a few days and take the opportunity to transfer the people of Xiaocheng. But at this juncture, 20,000 additional troops appeared, and 20,000 troops and horses appeared. Did it fall from the sky???
Captain Yang knew the weight of these 20,000 troops better than anyone else. He was so panicked that his hands and feet were cold, and he murmured: "There has been no movement before..."
Zhai Huan: "The war situation is changing rapidly. If we had all the information, the rebels would not be in the situation they are today."
Shen Tang was worried about the people in the city.
"What...what should we do now?"
With the current lineup of the rebels, even a blind person can see that Xiaocheng cannot be defended. If you are optimistic, you will break the city tomorrow; if you are pessimistic, you will break the city in the afternoon, and it will only take these two days.
Now we can only hope that the general will not be a bloodthirsty person.
but--
Sometimes whether to massacre a city or not, the general's will is not important, what is important is the will of the general's immediate superior. If someone wants to "kill the chicken to scare the monkeys", no matter how kind the general is, he has to give the order. Then think about the madness of Zheng Qiao's family... not much hope.
Zheng Qiao used extremely bloody methods when he captured Sibao County. Now it is the turn of the two ruthless brothers who have been tortured by him for many years - alas, there is a generation gap between the brain circuits of normal people and psychopaths. It is extremely difficult for the former to predict the latter. What kind of shameful thing would he do?
For a time, a sad and solemn atmosphere enveloped everyone.
Can people really only seek happiness for themselves?
Captain Yang clenched his fists and gritted his teeth: "If Xiaocheng is doomed, I will fight the traitors to the last drop of blood!"
He was already determined to die.
Zhai Le's expression moved slightly, and he wanted to persuade Captain Yang to think again, but Captain Yang's relatives and family members were all in the city. It was useless to say anything at this moment, so he simply turned off his voice and remained silent.
Shen Tang hinted: "How about sneaking into the city to save people?"
Captain Yang knew what she meant.
With his strength as a tenth-level Zuo Shu Zhang, whether he chooses to surrender to save his family or sneak into the city to save people, theoretically there is a high probability of saving the blood of his relatives. Even if the situation is bad, he can save a few, so that the entire family will not be left to die... …
but--
He glanced at the tired and desperate faces of the soldiers around him. There was a bit of hesitation in the grief, but he still shook his head firmly.
Captain Yang said: "This is not feasible."
Shen Tang asked: "Why?"
Captain Yang smiled bitterly: "One person's power is limited. He can save three to five people but not three to five thousand. The soldiers chose me. They endured hardships all the way and did not choose to run away. They were not only worried about their families but also trusted me. They believed in me, and I How can we abandon them?"
Shen Tang was stunned.
Whether it was Captain Yang's eyes or his expression, it was clear that he was ready to give up this life.
Seeing that everyone was unhappy, Zhai Le said: "Don't be so pessimistic! Maybe, maybe there won't be a massacre of the city? Such bloody and brutal things don't happen often..."
The two sides are fighting, and if one side wins and attacks the helpless civilians, it will be despised and cause public outrage.
As long as the winner wants to lose face, he usually won't do this.
at the same time--
The main tent of the rebel camp changed its owner.
The previously arrogant bearded man sat obediently at the lower left corner, and opposite him sat the barbaric man he couldn't stand, at the lower right corner.
Sitting on the main tent was what he called the "old guy".
That is his biological father.
However, this biological father had a slumped face since he came here. His eyes were not eyes and his nose was not a nose. In front of all the generals, he was singled out and reprimanded for half an hour. The reprimand included but was not limited to Last night’s fire attack...
Oh, and settle old scores.
Just as the bearded man guessed, all the blame was thrown at him. The real culprit was innocent and was still playing with a few round and shiny pearls in his hands.
Seeing his son's face full of dissatisfaction, the old general threw a string of Buddhist beads at the bearded man: "Do you understand?"
The bearded man said perfunctorily: "I understand."
As for what the old guy was scolding?
He didn't remember it at all.
It's definitely a case of changing the content without changing the medicine.
When he responded, he saw a strange and cold mocking smile on the face of the barbarian opposite, and he instantly felt angry.
"why are you laughing?"
"It's nothing, it's just a pity that my sworn brother has such a beautiful family."
The bearded man almost exploded when he heard this.
He scolded: "You beast, you actually covet your brother and sister-in-law?"
The other generals in the main tent had strange expressions. The old general was so angry that he grabbed something and threw it at the bearded man: "You are a beast! How can you talk to your sworn brother if you are unfilial and disloyal? A Nian has always respected himself and loved himself. He can Are you attracted to those warblers of yours?"
The bearded man was not happy when he heard this.
What does it mean for that savage to respect and love himself?
In other words, is he being dissolute and frivolous?
What happened to his Yingying Yanyan?
What man doesn't have three or five women in his backyard?
Young man: "Father."
There was a bit of pleading in his eyes.
Although the people present were either members of the old general's personal corps, officials, or trusted confidants, all of whom were members of his own family, it was not a good thing to be praised for exposing family scandals.
When the old general looked at the young man, his anger immediately dropped by half.
He waved his hand tiredly: "Okay, for the sake of Anian's plea, I won't argue with you, an unfilial son, so take him down!"
Looking at his father's confidants walking towards him, the bearded man's face turned livid: "Don't arrest me, I can leave on my own, general!"
He thought he was being grounded and warned by the old man.
Unexpectedly, he was taken to an open space.
There were still black marks from last night's burning in the open space. The soldiers set up a pile of firewood and placed a super large pottery urn.
He didn't understand what medicine was sold in the gourd.
"What is this for?"
After a while, he knew it.
His concubine was dragged over like a chicken by two soldiers. The concubine had never seen this battle before. She was so frightened that she kept calling him for help. The bearded man was anxious and angry, and scolded: "Let go. She! Do you want your life?"
Dare to touch his woman?
But no one paid attention to him.
He wanted to step forward and kick the soldiers away, but he was first grabbed by the old men's henchmen on his left and right, and was immediately unable to move.
A match was lit and the pottery jar was filled with water.
The bearded man was dumbfounded and his head went blank.
Vaguely, he realized something, and suddenly turned his head to look in the direction of the main tent, and shouted loudly. The sound was smoothly transmitted to the main tent, but no one responded. After a while, he heard the woman's high-pitched begging for mercy, and the splashing in the water. movement.
As time went by, the sound became more and more shrill and horrifying.
I don’t know how much time passed, but the voice gradually became lower and disappeared.
The young man always sits upright on the lower right side.
But no one was paying attention. His hands hanging on his knees slowly, slowly, clenched into fists. The veins on the back of his hands stretched out, and his nails dug into the soft flesh of his palms, pinching out drops of blood.
Others also listened quietly.
Not long after, the bearded man was brought in.
His face was pale and he was sweating on his forehead.
The whole person seemed to have had all his bones taken away, and he sat limply on the ground, with his head hanging down, not knowing what he was thinking.
After a while, he murmured to his father: "Why?"
From the outside, the old general is a kind-looking middle-aged man. Although he is very old, he is still burly, without the rickets and leanness that an old man of this age should have: "Because he was sent by the thieves of Xiaocheng to lurk around you. The secret agent."
The bearded man subconsciously replied.
"she is not!"
That concubine is obviously his nanny’s eldest daughter!
The family background is extremely innocent, a Geng country person!
It has nothing to do with Xiaocheng!
------Digression-----
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