Luoshui Dongliu

In the second half of the night, the torches at the top of the city were extinguished early.After two days of continuous onslaught outside the city, the soldiers were exhausted, Yu Chiyuan withdrew half of the infantry back, and the rest rested where they were, only a few Shichang and his men patrolled at night in front of the formation.

The rain has stopped, but the wind still doesn't stop. The soldiers on the night watch all bowed their backs and shivered.When the leader of the team saw this, he couldn't help cursing: "Everyone, be more vigilant, what are you doing?"

A soldier said with a bitter face: "But the weather is so wet and cold, my legs and feet are freezing and I can't move."

Na Shichang was even angrier when he heard this, and went to raise his hand to hit him, but someone beside him suddenly shouted, "See what's on the city wall?"

Everyone hurriedly turned to look, and there were shadows in the dark night, and outside the tall city wall, there were densely packed black shadows lying down. It seemed that they descended from the city, at least there were two or three hundred people.Na Shi was startled and said, "Could it be that the enemy army has left the city?"

The rest of the Xiyan soldiers on patrol also noticed something strange and hurriedly reported it to the higher authorities.When the general here came, he saw that the torches had been lit on the earth mountain, and he couldn't help saying angrily: "Tamper! Are you afraid that the enemy will not find this place when they come down to the city? Why did you light the fire and put it out!"

The soldiers below heard this and put out the fire in a hurry.The general snatched up to the mound and squinted his eyes, only to see people's shadows all along the several zhang high city wall, he couldn't help but said: "This must be a sneak attack inside the city at night."

Both sides said: "Hurry up and gather the team?"

The general thought of the fierceness of the defenders in the city, who used to regard life and death as nothing, and couldn't help but shudder.He didn't want his subordinates to see that he was timid, but he panicked a little in his heart, and said to himself: "It will be a big trouble when they really touch the general." Then he sent an order, "Ask the archers to line up."

Someone said: "The bow and arrow may not have enough range."

The general pondered: "You can't tell them to come closer." Then he said, "The archers move forward a little bit. Tell them, if the enemy army comes down from the city to kill them, think about who will suffer first!"

The archers have orders, and no one dares to slack off.The general was worried, and sent a group of infantry to carry the arrows for him, and said: "The archers will listen to the orders and shoot ten thousand arrows, and they will kill all the enemy troops on the city wall by surprise."

But he said that the archers were lying in front of the formation, and they saw the dark figures on the city, but they couldn't see clearly in detail.The leader said: "Simply don't care about his waist, legs and head, just shoot the arrow. I don't believe that he can be fierce when he shoots into a hedgehog."

Everyone said yes, each set up their quiver, twitched their arrows and drew their bows, and when the leader shouted, "Let the arrows go", the sound of piercing through the air became one.The night was so dark and foggy, even if you aimed deliberately, you couldn't see clearly, so when you simply opened your eyes, you felt that the difference was not much, so you just shot.On the other hand, the figures in the city are lined up closely next to each other, even if they shoot indiscriminately, very few of them miss.The arrows and feathers intertwined in the air, and it took half an hour before they gradually calmed down.

Only then did the crowd take a closer look, and a soldier wondered: "These people carry dozens of arrows on their backs, how come no one has fallen into the city?"

The sky gradually brightened, the wind gusts overnight, and the dark clouds slowly dissipate a little.Looking again with the light of the morning, I saw those figures were rising above the city at the same time.Everyone couldn't help but wondered: "Well, what's going on? Could it be that they are invulnerable?"

The leader held his breath, pushed the soldiers aside, and took a few steps forward.Suddenly, dozens of people leaned out from the top of the city, pulling and dragging.I saw the figures I saw just now, with ropes tied around their waists and their limbs stretched wide.The sky was already dark at night, and no torches were lit on the earth hill, but now there was some light, and everyone could see clearly what kind of enemy army it was, and it turned out to be a straw dummy.

On the top of the city, Yuangui laughed. Seeing the soldiers dragging a straw man up, he pulled out a feathered arrow from the top, took off the longbow behind his back and set up an arrow, and aimed at the outside of the city from a distance.When the guards on both sides saw it, they hurriedly said, "No, general!"

The enemy army under the city was deceived by such means in the middle of the night, and their seven orifices must have been annoyed; if they hurt his life again, it would really make people jealous and desperate.Yuan Gui has always been used to being straightforward and casual, but everyone is afraid that he will get carried away and get carried away.

Yuangui just pretended not to hear about it, and stared at it for a long while, but retracted his bow and said with a smile: "Forget it, no matter how effortless the arrows came, I am reluctant to return them." Everyone knew that he wished it was a joke, and they couldn't help showing their faces. laugh it out.

The soldiers came up to collect the straw men, and someone pinched their fingers and said: "This man has dozens of roots, two hundred grass men, this is a huge number!"

Seeing the joy of the crowd, Yuan Gui turned around and said with a smile, "Don't tell me this is bluffing, but this is..." Before he could finish speaking, he saw Zhao Shen standing by the wall, wondering, "What's wrong with the general?"

Zhao Shen straightened his body and said to everyone: "Put the grass man on the edge of the city first, count the arrows and put them in the warehouse. When the count is clear, go ask the master book." He raised his hand and called Cang Cao who came from the city, and then instructed, " Check it out first, in such a strong wind, don't tell him to wait in vain." Turning his head to Yuan Gui, he said, "Follow me to the stables, I'll take a look at Qing Zhui."

Yuan Gui didn't say much, so he followed him to the city.When the soldiers coming and going saw the two of them, they saluted, and all the nobles waved their hands.After standing at the foot of the city, Yuan Guifang breathed a sigh of relief, walked towards Zhao Shen and said, "Is the general sick?" His eyes diverged, and his footsteps faltered.He followed the general so closely that he was afraid that he would step into the air; when he raised his eyes and saw Zhou Gan waiting not far away, he wanted to wave to him.

But Zhao Shen said in a low voice, "Don't shout."

Yuan Gui said: "It's obvious that you are suffering from the cold and fever..."

Zhao Shen interrupted: "Are you a medical officer?"

Yuan Gui might as well be like this, he was taken aback for a moment, then he realized that Zhao Shen was afraid that the people in the camp would see him ill and their morale would be disturbed.This is Zhao Shen's usual temperament, but such a look, how reassuring, he couldn't help saying: "If the symptoms are delayed..."

Zhao Shen felt his whole body was hot and disturbed at first, he said angrily, "Shut up! What a big deal, you look like a girl."

Even though he said that, his top-heavy feet were already shaking a little.Yesterday, during the day, it was just a slight stuffy nose and headache, but in the evening, it had already developed a fever.He only thought that it was okay if the weather was more uncomfortable than this in the past, but he didn't know how he was physically and mentally exhausted now, as if the bowstring was stretched to the limit, how could it be compared to before.More importantly, considering the current situation of the battle, he blindly defended with no way out, and took the initiative to attack and seize the earth mountain as evidence, and perhaps the situation could be reversed.Re-entering the night is to see the outcome, he has to grit his teeth and bear it no matter what.

Seeing that Yuan Gui seemed to have been taken aback, he didn't make another sound for a while, and said in a calm tone, "I'll go and see Qing Zhui."

There were not many idlers in the stables, and the horsemen were all incorporated into the team, and the cavalry and soldiers took care of each other on weekdays.War horses are wild, and they have to be taken out for a walk on weekdays, but here Qing Zhui hasn't galloped freely for several days, and his temper can only be seen to be irritable.The war horse is psychic, and when it sees its master, it can't help but raise its head and tail, and flick the mane on its back.

Zhao Shen went forward to take the reins and checked the saddle and girth.Qing Zhui has turned his neck towards him, and sprayed all the hot air from his nose on his hands.The hot air was like curling white smoke in this cold morning, Zhao Shen only felt that the white air was steaming with water droplets on his eyelashes, and the pain all over his body disappeared for a while.Suddenly he grabbed the horse's mane, let out a soft scold, stepped into the stirrup, and was already on the horse's back.Qing Zhui neighed for a long time, and walked around the stable several times before slowing down.Zhao Shen leaned over the horse's neck and whispered a few words with a smile, the horse seemed to be able to understand human speech, and actually lowered its head several times, as if nodding.

Zhao Shen rubbed against Qing Zhui's ears for a while, then dismounted.As soon as he landed, he felt that his physical strength was exhausted, and his heart palpitations and shortness of breath were severe.Even so, there was a burst of joy in his heart.Turning his head to Yuangui, he smiled and said, "Have you made arrangements according to what I said? You will leave the city tonight."

He only moved a few times, and sweat was already dripping on his forehead.Yuan Gui also knew that seizing the earth mountain was the only hope for the survival of the city, Zhao Shen would do such a thing desperately.But no matter how healthy he is usually and how strong his mind is, in this situation, he shouldn't be in battle after all.After struggling for a long time, he said: "Actually, if the general believes in this matter, I'll just go. If you can't take down the mountain, you will cut off my head!" He had stabilized his mind for a while, but before he finished speaking, his voice He was almost trembling, and couldn't help but said: "General, don't try to be brave, just in case..."

Just as Zhao Shen made some movements, the sick flush on his cheeks became more serious.He listened silently, and when his panting subsided, he suddenly smiled, put his hand on Qing Zhui's neck, and said, "Stop talking. It's not that I don't believe you, it's just that I should bear it, so what if I don't."

Not to mention coping with the offensive outside the city, the soldiers inside the city counted the number of arrow feathers, allocated the rations of various ministries, the soldiers on the city changed their defenses, the high platforms in the city were reinforced, the cavalry prepared for battle, and everyone was too busy to touch the ground.When the cooking started in the evening, Zhao Shen was going to the cavalry camp. When Yuan Gui saw him, no one else mentioned it, he just said: "General, don't be busy watching, let's go and have a rest first." Without waiting for Zhao Shen to answer, hang down The first said in a low voice, "There are still two hours until we leave the city after dark, the general needs to save some energy."

Zhao Shendao: "You have to read it before the battle to rest assured."

Before the conversation was over, Yuan Gui said: "The general is still holding on at this moment, don't you want to lead the brothers tonight to complete the work?"

He was always loud and rough, but Zhao Shen was taken aback when he heard such a low and pleading tone, thought for a while, nodded and said, "That's fine. But you must prepare carefully."

Yuan Gui said, "Don't worry, General."

When Zhao Shen returned to the tent, Zhou Qian had already packed up the bow, arrow and straight knife.Seeing him, Zhou Gan wondered, "I was about to prepare the general and send it away. How did the general come back?"

Zhao Shen said: "I'll take a rest."

During the day, he worked hard and tried his best to communicate as usual.Zhou Qian was young and careless after all, although the general looked strange, he didn't care.I only heard him say to "rest" at this moment, but it never happened before the war.I didn't know why for a while, so I said, "Has the general fed?"

This fever usually lasts from noon to night, and it is worse than in the morning. Zhao Shen, who has no appetite, replied vaguely, "You send the sword and arrow." He saw Zhou Qian coming out with something in his hands. At the tent door, Fang leaned his head on the couch.He didn't know that at this time, it was actually the most taboo to stop and rest, and the rest of the breath in the rush was actually dissipated.After being dazed for a while, when I opened my eyes again, I felt a dry pain in my throat as if on fire. Seeing a water bowl in front of the desk, I took it and drank it.In the autumn weather, the water was cool enough after half a day, his body was hot, the cold water poured into his throat, his stomach convulsed suddenly, and at the same time he was a little dizzy. come out.

He hadn't eaten during the day, and now, apart from the half bowl of water, all he vomited was yellow-green bile.Zhao Shen was bitter in his mouth, his temples were thumping, seeing the filth on the ground in front of him, he felt disgusted in his heart, but his whole body was weak and he couldn't struggle.

At this time Zhou Gan came back from the outside room, and when he stepped in, he was startled by the situation, and blurted out: "General?"

Zhao Shen just said: "Clean up this." Seeing Zhou Gan approaching, he asked again, "Is my armor dirty?"

Zhou Gan hurriedly said: "Never, never." Seeing Zhao Shen gritted his teeth and frowned, his complexion was pale, and he panicked, he said, "I'll call the medical officer." He was about to leave, but Zhao Shen yelled in a low voice behind him. : "What is your name as a medical officer at this time!"

Zhou Qiancai remembered that the battle was approaching, and his mind went blank for a moment. He didn't know what to do for a while, so he said, "General, go to the inner room first, and I will clean it up now."

Lu Youzhi heard the tossing outside, and then walked to the door. It might as well raise the curtain, Zhao Shen has already fallen headfirst on his shoulder.Lu Youzhi was swayed by Zhao Shen's armored weight, and he took a step back. He was startled, but he managed to stand firm.After helping Zhao Shen, Fang felt his hands were hot, he couldn't help saying: "Ah Shen?"

Zhao Shen still had a clear mind, tried his best to stand up straight and said, "I'll take it easy."

Lu Youzhi helped him to sit down, and he understood eight or nine in his heart.He picked up the water bowl and came over, Zhao Shen glanced at it, shook his head and said, "No."

Lu Youzhi pulled his wrist, stretched out his fingers to rest on the pulse, only felt the pulse fluttering, but it was weak and weak.He knew a little bit about medical theory and knew that it was probably wind evil invading the body, so he thought for a while and said, "Get some hot soup."

Zhao Shen paused for a while while propping his forehead, cold sweat almost dripped down his palms.When he raised his head again, he tried to smile and said, "It's just that I drank too much water, it's okay." Then he said, "How long has it been?"

Lu Youzhi looked at the engraving in the tent and said, "It's almost time."

When Zhao Shen heard the words, he supported the table and was about to stand up.Lu Youzhi asked, "What are you doing?"

Zhao Shendao: "The cavalry is going out of the city." After saying that, he pushed Lu Youzhi to get up.But as soon as he stood up, he felt dizzy, the curtains and furnishings in front of him were turning around, and he quickly closed his eyes.When he opened his eyes again, he felt darkness in front of him. He subconsciously raised his hand to help him, but when his fingertips passed by, there was nothingness around him.

Lu Youzhi saw that he couldn't stand shaking, and his fingers seemed to tremble when his arms were swinging.I haven't seen him for a day or two, how could he become so sick, he was terrified, and shouted in a desperate voice: "You don't want to die! You will only tire others like this!"

Zhou Gan heard the internal account call him, but when Fang entered the account, he heard Lu Youzhi ask Zhao Shen: "Which one do you only want to send?"

Zhao Shen said in a low voice, "Let Yu Wenlue choose a group of people to go."

At this time, Lu Youzhi saw Zhou Qian coming in, turned around and said to him seriously: "You go to the cavalry and send an order, call General Yuangui and wait for orders first. Then tell the city to prepare the straw man used last night, and let it go out as soon as it gets dark. You will come back after passing this order, and I will explain the other things to you."

When Zhou Gan came in, he felt something unusual, but he never expected that Lu Youzhi would say these things, and his tone was solemn, it was definitely not a joke.I was busy looking for where Zhao Shen was, but I saw Zhao Shen leaning on the case and said to him: "Just do what you said when joining the army."

Zhou Qian was even more surprised. Lu Youzhi still seemed hesitant when he saw him, and said in a deep voice, "Why, you refuse to pass on the order? Then I will go in person."

Zhou Qian knew Lu Youzhi himself, and he had always seen how gentle and modest he was, but now although there was no stern look on his face, the firmness in his eyes seemed to carry a great pressure.When he heard Zhao Shen say that Lu Youzhi's old rank in the army, he already knew it in his heart, he also suppressed his startled expression, straightened up and saluted, "Decree."

The author has something to say:

Well, a big guy is sickly...maybe a little thunderous...