Luoshui Dongliu

In a corner of the city, Xie Rang and Li Shoude were whispering in private.Li Shoude said: "I speak too seriously in the daytime."

Xie Rang said: "General Zhao will not annoy you because of this."

Li Shoude said with a smile: "I'm not worried about anyone because I'm on official business. Besides, I always know who my master is. What I'm worried about..." He pondered for a moment and said, "He can't bear the casualties of his subordinates, but he can't Indulge in this. Under the rain of blood, anyone can bear it, but he alone can't. How can you only hurt your opponent to bleed without being stained with your own blood."

Xie Rang said: "He's not someone who can't afford to learn, he can't think clearly at the moment, let me persuade him." Turning his head and seeing the lights in the camp in the distance, he couldn't help being dazed.The world is so contradictory and cruel, if you want to keep something, you have to lose something; Zhao Shen is still young although he has been through battles for a long time, and he is not as open-minded as an old man like him: in fact, life and death are day and night. It is the rotation of the world; besides, the heaven and the earth carry people in shape, the old people live, and the people die. Compared with the difficulty of living in this world, the peace and tranquility after death, what is the leisurely leisure in another world? It is not a relief from the burden of life.

He was lost in thought, but he heard Li Shoude sighing beside him: "If you talk about being transparent, few people in the world can do it. Unless you do a few rolls in this world, then people are indeed transparent, but the edges and corners are smoothed There is nothing more to worry about, what is the meaning of being alive."

Xie Rang smiled and said, "What are you expressing emotion here?"

Li Shoude sighed: "I have seen the old general in my dreams these few days."

Xie Rang's expression changed slightly: "What?"

Li Shoude said: "It's all about what happened in Beicheng back then. How to besiege, how to climb the city, how to disarm, how... In the past 20 years, I have never recalled it so clearly."

After hearing this, Xie Rang said indifferently: "What do you do with this matter again?"

Li Shoude said: "The old general's killing of Zhu Wen's rebels caused a great storm, and the world criticized him for his cruelty, but is he really a bloodthirsty demon king who caressing about human lives? You and I followed him at that time, and we know the difficulties most clearly. Although Zhu Wen was forced to surrender due to the situation, he still had plans in his heart, and many of his generals were also dissatisfied. At that time, someone informed by letter that Zhu Wen's past made people talk in the court. City. Emperor Jing, who has never been out of the deep palace, how would he know the risk of doing so. Zhu Wen has [-] troops, ten times the number of ours, and they are in their territory. If there is chaos, it will be a big change, old general This is the way to preemptively strike before the holy will arrives."

Xie Rang lowered his eyes and said: "I remember that he couldn't sleep well before he raised this matter. Cheng Chude saw him waking up frequently at night, and once advised him not to be so ruthless, but to cherish the reputation behind him. I remember him saying..."

Li Shoude interjected: "He said that anyone who can live and work in troubled times is not a murderer, and his reputation after death is free to be judged by those behind him."

Xie Rang said: "After that incident, I only feel that his temperament has changed a little, and he no longer deliberately restrains himself from sensual pleasures. I don't know if it's because he has seen through life and death. In fact, people who are close to him like you and I know that he is cruel. A person who is just obsessed with the things that concern him too much.”

When Zhao Shen returned to the city, it was past midnight.The heavy rain has stopped, only the patter of rain falling sporadically.After walking a few steps, Xie Rang was still waiting at the side, and he couldn't help saying: "There is nothing important tonight, why is the master still here?" After finishing speaking, he turned his head and remembered what he said to him just before going down the city, Seeing that Xie Rang's half-length robe was wet by the rain at this time, and the water stains were still not dry, he felt even more regretful, and said, "I didn't speak for the master just now, and there is something wrong with being impatient, please bear with me." It's over, it's not right after thinking about it, and said: "It's not for Chang Shi either."

Hearing what he said, Xie Rang felt a little sore in his heart, and was about to speak, but Zhao Shen said again: "In the end, it's because I didn't plan properly and lacked courage that I hurt my subordinates like this."

He usually runs the army strictly, and when he talks about official business, he always smiles in awe. Even though his subordinates see him young, they are also a little in awe.Xie Rang watched Zhao Shen join the army since he was young, and knew that he was a cold-faced and warm-hearted person.What is the general feeling uncomfortable at this time, how could he not understand, so he said: "This is exactly what I want to tell the general."

Saying that, he raised his hand and gave way, leading Zhao Shen to walk slowly in the camp, saying: "The general blames himself like this, but he has despised the hearts of the soldiers."

Seeing Zhao Shen's puzzled expression, he continued, "Why is the general defending the city? It is to prevent the city from being destroyed and ruined by falling to the enemy, and so that his subordinates will not be enslaved and humiliated by being captured. Am I right?" See Zhao Shen nodded slightly, and then said in a long voice, "And this is also the reason why the soldiers are willing to defend the city with the general." After a short pause, he continued, "The general blames himself, it is the responsibility of the soldiers to defend the city together." The casualties are counted on their own heads; but the soldiers fought to the death, is it not for the integrity of not wanting to kneel to the enemy, to fulfill the duty of soldiers to protect the land and protect the people? If you look at it rationally, don't you underestimate the ambition of your subordinates?"

He uttered this passage, the tone of his voice was neither urgent nor high, but it sounded like Zhao Shen's heart was pouring with infinite blood, he said, "Is that really the case?"

Xie Rang smiled and said: "General, do you not believe in the soldiers, or in yourself? Although it is difficult to hold on to the city, but if you can be with your brothers in the same robe, no one will be afraid of death." After speaking, he raised his hand and said, "General and four Look down."

Even though it was late at night, the soldiers on standby outside the camp were still in good order; it could also be seen that the passing soldiers carrying the wounded and straightening their weapons, although they were all in a hurry and looked serious, they were orderly and did not show any signs of panic.Xie Rang said: "Strict orders and strict laws can indeed make soldiers dare not retreat in front of the battle, but they can't appease people's hearts. Now what can make the army calm after a tragic battle, the general should understand."

Zhao Shen stared silently for a moment, then turned to look at the tall city wall behind him.This Guancheng is in the hands of the Zhao family, and it has stood on the land of the Central Plains for decades. Every inch of land in the city is the dignity and glory of generations of soldiers.This kind of dignity and glory has never been bent because of the majesty of the superior, and has never been shaken by the brilliance of foreign enemies. Even after thousands of years, the former battlefields and martial arts have been buried by the dust of time. This iron-blooded strength Still like the hard bricks and stones on the city wall, it stands upright, silent and solemn.

In the next two or three days, the two armies saw each other in the city.The scale of the long ditch under the city has just been formed, but the excavation is not deep enough. Soldiers have to squat halfway in it to hide their heads and faces; when they stand up, they can just stretch their long weapons through the fortifications.This fortification was not perfect at first, so many gaps were simply left, and the crossbow brackets were placed between them.

The Xiyan army moved forward along the trench, and the soldiers boarded out of the trench and advanced to the bunker without encountering resistance.He just looked up and found that there were more roadblocks blocking the way in front of him. Behind the roadblocks, there was only a mound of low wall-like fortifications running horizontally, which was half a person's height above the ground.

Seeing that the siege team seemed to have retreated inside the bunker, it seemed that the defenders were scared out of their wits.Facing this obstacle, they thought they had a way to deal with it, and they didn't pay much attention to it. The soldiers in the front hadn't completely wiped it out, and the soldiers in the rear couldn't wait to charge.Just as the whole team was meeting, crossbow arrows were suddenly fired in front of them one after another. The officer in charge of the team hurriedly shouted "raise the shield" before he paid attention to the situation of the fortifications in front of him.I saw the holes dug up and down on the earth wall, which were the size of a bowl; every other section there was a gate, and it was faintly visible that there seemed to be crossbow arrows inside.

Seeing this scene, the leader couldn't help but hate: "The people in the Dongyan Army are all drilled in the soil, how can they like to make things that can be used in the dark?"

They had suffered from backstabbing before, so now that they saw the opening on the wall, they were naturally extra careful.In this case, the offensive and defensive exchanges have been going on for more than half a day. The officer in charge of the Xiyan army said: "It's almost the end of the test at this time." , "General Yuchi and the military supervisor please show me how to deal with it here."

After half a day, the little schoolboy came back out of breath, ran to the general and said a few words, everyone couldn't help but said happily: "Okay, okay!"

It was past noon here, and the soldiers defending the city in the long ditch hadn't seen the attack from the other side for a long time, they were puzzled, and at the same time they were busy taking a breath in the gap.Someone was resting with his back against the wall of the ditch, but suddenly he was startled and asked, "Why is the ground shaking all the way?"

A veteran listened to the ground and said, "It sounds like a horse's hooves, and it's almost here."

Before the words fell, the soldiers who had already looked out shouted loudly: "The enemy's cavalry is coming!"

Everyone hurriedly took their positions, and a messenger shouted: "The straight swordsmen are ready—"

Those who came to attack the long ditch were heavy cavalry from the Xiyan Army.The armor and riding gear are all made of iron.The war horse weighs dozens of catties just for the clothes, not to mention the cavalry it carries.A war horse capable of carrying such a heavy load is tall and stable, with huge strides.That centaur's armor weighs a thousand catties.The horseshoes kicked loudly, as if heavy stones were hitting the ground.The sound was like a burst of rapids, and the loess flying under the hooves was wrapped.Such a heavy device, no matter how strong the war horse is, it is difficult to gallop.Even though the soldiers on horseback pressed their legs between their legs all the way, hot air was blowing from the horse's nose, and the horse's head was moving vigorously, it was still a long time before the battle.

However, just like this, the people who are facing the battle feel that they are fighting with all their heart and soul.Although the cavalry in Luocheng were brave, they relied on their agility to come and go like the wind. The soldiers didn't pay much attention to heavy armor, and most of the horses were protected by leather.At this time, everyone saw that even the horse's head was covered with iron armor, and the ferocious beast pattern on the armor was clearly visible even though they were far away.

Everyone in the long ditch could feel the ground around them trembling slightly, pulsating in a straight line with their heartbeats; the soldier watching saw a line of sand and dust coming straight down the city in the distance, and he stared at the front row of cavalry horseshoes , Calculating the distance, with sweat all over his head, he reported to the general who gave the order: "Five miles...three miles..." The soldiers with straight knives all stepped on the edge of the ditch, bowed forward, and held the sword in their hands. The handle of the knife was about to be soaked in sweat and dripping water.

The soldiers watching in the trench suddenly shouted: "Here we are!"

The general then waved the flag in his hand, and the soldiers on the hatchback shouted: "Kill!"

The soldiers with knives in the trench leaped out. At this time, the enemy army on the opposite side was stepping forward. There was a flash of cold light, and the front hoofs of the horses in the front row were all chopped off.Some used too much force, the horse's leg broke, the white broken bone poked out of the horse's leg, and the sharp blade of the straight knife curled up.Although the front legs of the war horse were broken, the forward momentum was still there. The weight of several hundred catties, even the man and the horse, fell sideways forward, knocking the soldiers of the Dongyan Army straight into the air.There are horses that follow closely behind and cannot dodge in time, and they all collide in one place.

The Zhao family started out with cavalry, so they naturally know what cavalry are afraid of.Horses are armored, so they are naturally invulnerable, but the horse's legs are not protected.At this time, the defenders unexpectedly disturbed the horses in front, and although the cavalry followed carefully to avoid being cut down again, the enemy's charge formation could no longer be maintained.Going around in chaos, there is no response, and they can only fight on their own.But even so, the cavalry arrived with a bang, the horses were tall and stomped forward, and several fortifications in front of the long ditch were destroyed in an instant.Some horses jumped up with a heavy load, and they were able to jump over the long ditch.

The soldiers in the ditch saw the horse on their heads passing by across the ditch, they turned their spears and stabbed at the horse's leg.Unable to avoid the cavalry coming behind, the heavy horseshoes collapsed, and the light infantry had no power to parry.For a while, there were screams and screams in the ditch, and it was a mess.

The Xiyan army on the opposite side saw it, and couldn't help but feel excited, but rushed to the front of the formation, but they didn't know where the defenders rushed out from, trying to stop the attack.In this case, although the heavy armored cavalry repeatedly destroyed the fortifications in front of the formation, the infantry could not follow up vigorously afterwards, and eventually gained power but failed to gain.On the other side, the cavalry waded through the long ditch, but it was difficult to respond to each other, and they inevitably fell into a situation of being divided and surrounded.However, with such a heavy armored long lance, it is difficult for the soldiers of the Dongyan Army to approach.Suddenly, a soldier poked the ground with a long spear, jumped on the enemy's horseback, drew a straight knife and began to fight hand-to-hand.When the soldiers in the ditch saw such a desperate move, their morale was boosted again.

After two or three days of confrontation, the fortifications in front of the formation were damaged more and more.While the soldiers want to stop the enemy attacking from the opposite side, they are also eager to repair the gap.But at this moment, there was nowhere to find anything to fill, and it was the corpses of the fallen soldiers who dragged over to repair the fortification in a hurry.In this hot weather, the stench of decaying corpses is so suffocating.

During the intermission of the battle, an elderly soldier laughed and said: "This is unbearable, where can I find some beard powder and sprinkle it in front of the battle to drive away the evil spirits."

A young soldier was puzzled and asked, "What is Hu Fen?"

Everyone laughed and said: "You are still a doll, so naturally you don't know what it is. It is the white powder that girls put on their faces, it is really smooth and fragrant."

So he doesn't shy away from rough words, and if he can easily tease for a while at this moment, maybe he will turn his head and fight for life and death again.