Luoshui Dongliu

After the sky brightened, the soldiers at the top of the city could see clearly that the enemy troops under the city had followed the previous trenches and dug down the city again; while the long horizontal trenches were filled with soil.All the people in the camp were already on the west side of the city. Looking at this scene, they knew that there was going to be a fierce battle near the city.

Zhao Shen went to the city in the middle of the night, and he could clearly see the situation below the city.During that night, the city defenses underwent a major change, the barriers around the city were lost, and it was a fluke that the giant cart did not reach the city, and everyone had no idea.

Zhao Shen's eyes were frightening, he turned his head to look down the city, secretly grasped the hilt of his sword and said, "Set up roadblocks inside the two southwestern gates, and fill up the exit of the bunker passage outside the city." He ordered the guards to say, "You just pass on the order, and I'll be there soon." Go and see."

Li Shoude said: "Call the mobile soldiers in the city to go to the city to defend."

After a long while, Zhao Shen said: "No. This group of people can't move. Let them be divided into teams of ten to guard at the entrances of the streets and alleys, and fortifications must be built in the city."

The tone of these words was calm, but everyone was startled when they heard it; everyone knew what it meant to be prepared to be mobile and to set up defenses in the city, but this verse was precisely what everyone had been unwilling to do in the past few months. I didn't even dare to think about it.After a long while, it was Cheng Chude who said: "General, this is...to prepare for street fighting?" He is the most senior person, and only he can clearly ask this question.Zhao Shen looked at the crowd for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was as clear as a nail chiseled into the rock wall of the grotto, and he said: "Yes." When the word came out, it seemed that the city was only hearing the wind for a moment.However, only for a moment, all the generals present said in a deep voice: "Follow the general's order!"

When Zhao Shen went down to the city, he saw Zhou Gan standing in front of him, and said to him in a low voice, "You hold my tiger talisman and send that man out of the city."

He didn't call his name, but Zhou Qian also knew who he was talking about, last night he felt in a trance that there seemed to be a twists and turns between the two of them, now when he heard this, he felt that it happened suddenly, he couldn't help asking: "Where does the general want him to go? "

Hearing this, Zhao Shen couldn't help but said silently: "That's right, but where do I want him to go?" After Lu You left, he had to hide his name and wander around for the rest of his life; Zhao Shen sighed in his heart: How is this his original intention?However, even if he returns to the beginning, he will still make the same choice.He and Lu Youzhi seemed to be destined for doom, step by step down the narrow road of fate, and finally had only a mediocre ending.

Zhao Shen's throat was dry, he didn't know what it was like.I'm afraid that if I think about it more, my mind will be shaken, and I'm even more afraid that the current situation will cause confusion in his mind and make mistakes, so he just gritted his teeth and said: "I just asked you to do it, don't be long-winded."

Zhou Gan was stunned for a moment, parted his lips, and finally said: "But at this moment, the enemy army is so close to the city, I'm afraid..."

Zhao Shen was about to speak, but he saw a guard rushing all the way, and before he got close, he reported: "General, there are soldiers in the northern city..." Halfway through the sentence, he couldn't speak, took a deep breath for a long time, and finally stopped He continued, "Because they were dissatisfied with the supply of grain and rice, dozens of people gathered together..."

Zhao Shen was startled, and there was a buzzing in his ears.It is a taboo in the army for soldiers to make troubles over food and pay, and many accidents have occurred because of this.It's just that although the food and grass in the city are unsustainable right now, there is no shortage of rations, but I don't know why.Guessing in his mind, he calmed down for a moment, and asked, "Where is General Yu?"

The guard said: "It's in Beicheng."

Zhao Shen turned his head and said to Zhou Gan: "You immediately go to each city to pass on my order to the guards. No matter what happens in the city at the moment, they are not allowed to disregard the city defense and act arbitrarily. Those who leave their posts without permission will be beheaded. I'm going to the North City , you ask General Cheng to come to Xicheng to replace me."

Zhou Gan also listened to Cai Cai's words, and understood that this was an urgent matter, he quickly responded: "Yes." But when he saw that there was no one following Zhao Shen, he couldn't help saying: "General, be careful."

Another person led the horse from the side, Zhao Shen took the rein and got on the horse, nodded slightly and said: "Go quickly."

Before the horse arrived in Beicheng, Yu Wenlue had already greeted him from afar.Zhao Shen saw that the person next to him was not a guard, but after a closer look, it turned out to be Yang Dutong.Zhao Shen came to him, dismounted from his horse and asked, "How is it?"

Yu Wenlue said: "There are soldiers who are provoking quarrels on the grounds that they have food and rice, and they are making noise in the camp below the city. I have prepared it, and I just ask the general to show me."

The so-called "showing down" is to ask for "showing" whether to repress.Zhao Shen was a little suspicious at first, he caught a glimpse of Yang Dutong at the side who seemed hesitant to speak, and said, "Tell me, what's going on."

Yang Dutong took half a step back, bowed his head and said, "It's a soldier in my battalion. Because I'm dissatisfied that kudzu roots and tubers are always added to the meals these days, so... I have some complaints."

Hearing this, Zhao Shen couldn't help but angrily said: "Who told you to do this? This is embezzlement!"

Yu Wen said roughly: "The food and grass in the city are empty, if you want to sustain it for a long time, you have to be flexible."

Zhao Shen was about to speak, but he heard Yang Dutong murmur: "Actually, the soldiers are dissatisfied... because...there is a difference in supply..."

Zhao Shen couldn't help but shudder, although the words were vague, he already guessed eight or nine.Presumably, Yu Wenlue must have only treated Yang Dutong harshly, those who came from the former Gao family.Zhao Shen also knew that Yu Wenlue had always disliked these people. Regarding Gao Huai's incident before, he had taken the opportunity to punish Yang Dutong, but he never oppressed him for no reason, so Zhao Shen never said anything.Besides, in terms of seniority, Yu Wenlue is more profound than Gu Yanbin and Sun Wuda. He has always been stubborn and self-reliant, and he has always only bought into Zhao's face. Zhao Shen always respects him, but he doesn't want him to did such a thing.

But Yu Wenlue has already said: "General Zhao has treated you with the utmost benevolence and righteousness. I have not sent you any urgent missions at this time. So what if you don't have a bite of rice? But you have to fight like a hero. Regarding this matter, what do you think the soldiers in my city will eat?"

Yu Wenlue wanted to say more, but he heard Zhao Shen yell: "Shut up." When he heard Yu Wenlue's words, which one of Yu Wenlue's words spread to the army was not intended to cause trouble, he felt anxious and couldn't help saying, "General Yu, you are confused .”

Yu Wenlue saw that the general was protecting the foreign soldiers, and he felt even more angry, saying: "Why did you treat them like this, the general? How did Gao treat each other before? , not as good as that day..."

His words were unrestrained, Zhao Shen saw that he still didn't take it seriously, his face was livid, and he stopped and said: "Is it just for acting? If you don't want to be frank, the soldiers will be chilled. If you lead troops like this, you want to provoke mutiny?"

Yu Wenlue was startled when he heard the word "mutiny".But the words have already arrived here, so they can't stop, just said: "if the general says so, it means that I have disturbed the army's peace of mind. I will bear the responsibility for any crimes."

Zhao Shen gritted his teeth and said, "You bear it? This is the crime of beheading, can you bear it?"

Yu Wenlue was about to say more, but Zhao Shen raised his hand and tied the rein, turned his head and said, "Stop talking, let me see."

After saying that, he walked away quickly, Yu Wenlue gritted his teeth and stomped his feet with a "cough" and followed, leaving only Yang Dutong still on the spot in a daze.This incident started in his camp when he got up in the morning, at the beginning it was just a few soldiers complaining, but then dozens of people gathered in one place to respond.Before he could do anything, Yu Wenlue had reported it to Zhao Shen.Although Yang Dutong usually kept silent, he knew in his mind that if this matter was not handled properly, it would cause great changes.He recalled the previous episode, and knew that Zhao Shen treated them all honestly; recalling the panic on Zhao Shen's expression just now, he couldn't help blaming himself for his ineffective handling of this matter.The enemy's combat power outside the defender's imperial city was almost at its peak, and Yang Dutong didn't dare to think about it if there was another disturbance in the city.When he came back to his senses, he saw that Zhao and Yu had gone far away, another thought suddenly flashed in his mind, and he couldn't help being shocked again.In the daze, he suppressed his heart palpitations and thought for a moment, finally made up his mind.

When Zhao Shen rushed to the Beicheng camp, he saw dozens of soldiers gathered in one place.Counting those in Yangdu Tongying under Beicheng, there are nearly 300 people who belonged to the Gao family.At this moment, no one was making any noise, but they were all standing in the open space in front of the camp, while the others watched silently behind, the atmosphere was very depressed.Seeing that the Lord was coming, the crowd seemed to shrink to one place again.

Zhao Shen remained calm and said steadily, "What's going on?"

Everyone saw that he came here alone, followed by Yu Wenlue, his tone was calm, but there was no trace of happiness or anger on his face, and no one responded for a while.He heard Zhao Shen say again: "It's okay, just explain the matter to me."

After a long while, a soldier in the crowd took a step forward, saluted first, then straightened his body and said, "I want to ask, is the change of food in this camp an order from the general?"

Zhao Shen looked at him and said, "No."

The soldier paused for a moment, and said: "I think the general knows why we are here."

Zhao Shen scanned the camp with his eyes, then nodded for a while and said: "I didn't take this matter into consideration, I can't help everyone."

It was really unexpected for him to admit that he made a mistake like this, and they couldn't help but didn't know what to say.Suddenly someone from the side said: "Why do you say that, general? It is difficult to defend the city now, and no one can tighten their belts. We really want to compete, and we are not fighting for a morsel of food."

Yang Dutong rushed here at this time, and he didn't feel very good when he heard this.Although this incident happened suddenly, it is also reasonable.At this time, the heavy troops are pressing down like a huge boulder hanging above the head, and lives are at stake.Counting the past events before and after the soldiers, the world always says that it is bad for the generals to control people's hearts, but they forget that this is a time of panic; even a little disturbance has the risk of causing serious disasters.People's hearts are not always made of iron, and besides, the two places of origin of the army and soldiers are placed in one place and face each other day by day. Although the previous discord subsided for a while, at this time there will be waves again.

Yang Dutong was thinking about it, and he heard Zhao Shen say: "Since everyone has said this, please put the overall situation first."

The soldiers looked at each other, and someone said: "We are not provoking for no reason - we just guard the city and work hard, how can we be different like a concubine?" Lai hurriedly said, "What nonsense!"

Only then did the crowd see him arrive, and after a moment of silence, a soldier whispered beside him: "Dutong, what's missing at this time is a bowl of food, but what about later?" In the end, he was worried that Zhao Shen would be treated as cannon fodder one day due to his relatives and relatives.

He also heard people say: "The general is willing to wait for an explanation for me, and everyone will feel at ease."

Before Zhao Shen could speak, Yu Wenlue couldn't help but said: "General Zhao used to lead you well, but you have become rampant, but you still have laws and dignity?" He turned to Yang Dutong and shouted, "How did you lead soldiers in the past? of?"

Gao Huai used to be the leader of the soldiers and horses of the Gao family, so who cares about the honest Yang Du.At this time, when Yu Wenlue said this, Yang Dutong had nothing to say.Yu Wenlue didn't think there was anything wrong with him at first, and felt that these people were so presumptuous because they saw Zhao Shen's character, so the more they talked, the more angry they became.The soldiers were usually dissatisfied with his strictness everywhere, but now seeing his arrogance again, all kinds of things in the past came to their heads.Someone couldn't help asking: "Does it mean that the general thinks that we should be treated harshly?" These dozens of people gathered together, and hundreds of people watched behind them. Take a step.

Seeing this, Yu Wenlue couldn't help asking angrily: "Are you rebelling?" He actually had already prepared manpower in the camp, and now he only hated these people with different ambitions, and keeping them would be a future trouble, so he whispered to Zhao Shen: "General ?”

Zhao Shen looked at his eyes and knew what he was thinking, and said in a low voice: "How can anyone beat his own people?" After speaking, he took a step forward and said in a deep voice: "I have no selfishness in my heart. , and I don’t want to treat you badly. Please forgive me for the negligence here.”

If the lord had said this on a normal day, who would have said more; but at this moment, the words have already caught up with each other, and everyone feels that even if the matter is at this point, even if they are trying to settle accounts in the future, they must be clear at this moment That counts.A soldier said: "I'm not waiting to embarrass the general, but to make an explanation—who should this matter happen to?"

This sentence hits the nail on the head.Yu Wenlue didn't realize what was going on, but Zhao Shen's heart was twisted, he caught a glimpse of Yu Wenlue stepping forward from the corner of his eye, as if he was about to speak.This is the crime of embezzlement of soldiers. If he defends it, it will be a joke to be impartial; but if Yu Wenlue is attacked because of this-no matter how close or close, it will not cool the hearts of his own subordinates.What's more, dealing with Yu Wenlue at this time is tantamount to calming the morale of the army with his subordinates, which he absolutely refuses to do.Zhao Shen was overwhelmed in his heart, half of his body was already standing in front of Wen Lue, and he said, "The fault here is all on my shoulders."

He himself knew that when he said this, everyone would inevitably slander him, but in the current situation, it was difficult to think of a way out.For a moment, everyone's faces were stiff, and the atmosphere was very gloomy.After a moment of silence, someone suddenly said: "Don't be embarrassed, General, this is because I can't help you."

Everyone saw that it was Yang Dutong who spoke, and they couldn't help being surprised.I saw Yang Dutong walking forward tremblingly, saying: "This matter... I am the one who withheld the military rations."

His voice was not high, and there was a slight tremolo, but it was like a sudden thunder on the ground, and everyone present was stunned for a moment.But I heard him continue: "I... fear that there will be nothing when the city breaks down, so I thought of hiding some food for emergency. I can't help the general and you..." His lips moved for a moment, and he suddenly said to the crowd, "My selfish intentions caused chaos in the army, and I didn't hide my face to live on," he turned to Zhao Shen and shouted, "I beg the general to take care of the family of the last general!" , I saw a spray of red mist, and the body fell down.

When Yang Dutong fell, his eyes were blood red, and the scenery and figures were shaking from time to time. In a trance, he heard someone lying beside him calling him and pressing his neck with his hand.Yang Dutong only felt that his soul seemed to be drifting away from his body, but he clearly knew in his heart that it was Zhao Shen who was standing in front of him.With the last ounce of energy, he said in a low voice: "I don't want to see chaos in the camp, I will bear the responsibility for this. The general saved my father and son, and now I am willing to repay it. It's just that the general doesn't want me to die in vain. , the survival of my whole family depends on the safety of this city..."

The sound was already weak, but now it became lower and lower until the hairspring broke and there was no more sound.Zhao Shen's palm was still pressing on the cleft of the neck, his palm was full of blood but turned cold, he felt a choking breath in his chest, and his ribs were throbbing.After a while, Fang stood up and looked at everyone without saying a word.After a while, Fang heard him say: "The whole story of this matter has been clarified."

This happened suddenly, no one expected it to end like this, and people felt even more shocked in their stunned state.Seeing Zhao Shen's solemn expression at this time, half of his clothes were stained with blood, they were also a little in awe, they all said: "If we have nothing else to wait for, we should all defend the city with the general."

Zhao Shen looked around at the crowd and said, "That's how it is."

The gathered crowd retreated to the side for a while, and some soldiers came to clean up the scene.A guard approached Zhao Shen and asked in a low voice, "General?"

The blood on Zhao Shen's palms burned from his fingertips into his lungs like a raging fire, and his heart and liver seemed to be steaming on the flames. He tried his best to keep a steady voice and said: "Bury Yang Dutong with honor, and his family will treat everyone generously." After finishing speaking, Suddenly turned around and left.Walking straight to the horse post and untying the horse's reins, Fang felt that his fingers were all stiff.He suddenly heard a thud behind him, and turned around to see Yu Wenlue kneeling on the ground.

Zhao Shen said: "Get up, I am not the one you should kneel." Seeing that Yu Wen didn't move, he turned his back to him and said, "If you really feel remorse, then use it for what should be used."

Yu Wenlue's expression was also awe-inspiring, and said: "The general should blame me. I know that Yang Dutong was exhausted to death, but from today, my life is not mine. Yang Dutong's painstaking efforts, I can only I can repay you like this." After saying that, he stood up, seeing that Zhao Shen still didn't look at him, he gave a slight bow, turned his head and left.

Zhao Shen's cheek muscles were tense, and he raised his hand to untie the horse's rein, but he couldn't break the knot for a long time.A burst of unnamed karmic fire rose in his heart, he suddenly pulled out his sword and swung it down, cutting off the rein with one sword.The knot was loosened suddenly, Qing Zhui lost the restraint, he couldn't help but to raise his head and neck, and his front hooves swept up.Hearing the long hiss of the steed, there seemed to be an echo in the empty camp, which lingered for a long time.

The author has something to say:

The root of kudzu root is mentioned in the "Book of Zhou-Li Qianzhe Biography". When Li Qianzhe was in Sichuan, the military rations were scarce and he used kudzu root to make up for the army. After checking that Henan is also a kudzu root production area, he used it directly. In fact, the principle of sweet potatoes and potatoes is the same.

The food problem is still quite troublesome in the city defense battle.The example of the siege/struggle in Changchun is tragic enough. At that time, one of the factors that prompted Zeng/Zesheng to decide to uprising was that the direct line of the committee/chairman ate rice, and his 60th army could only eat sorghum, and there was not enough sorghum rice. You have to go to the citizens' homes to rob; in addition, the lack of food in the besieged city has to be mixed with "giving up the people to support the army", which is even more morally entangled.He felt that he didn't have the level to write this matter clearly, so he simply let the civilians be expelled before the siege of Los Angeles to join their relatives.It is said that there are cannibals in Changchun, and it is even more famous in Suiyang and Songshan.From my point of view, this is quite difficult to accept, and ostriches can't write.