Luoshui Dongliu

On the day when the Xiyan army attacked the city again, Yu Chiyuan came to supervise the battle in person.He climbed up the earth hill along the pontoon bridge, and then looked at the surrounding water and marshes, and he felt a sense of being separated from the world.Standing on the earth hill, not only can you see the stone-throwing high platform in the city, but also the figures of the guards on the high and low walls.

At that time, the Xiyan army was also divided into several teams, and they went ahead to build floating bridges along the way. Although they were shot dead and injured a lot by the city, they still approached the city inch by inch.

Before the battle, Yu Chiyuan had already ordered that the first soldiers to attack the city, whether dead or alive, would have twice as many acres of land as their homes; since most of the soldiers who went out this time were newly recruited rural soldiers, he ordered that after the battle, the enemy troops The head is counted as the result of the battle, and according to the merits, it can be rewarded with the rent of the previous year. These two rewards really aroused the enthusiasm of everyone.Most of the soldiers in the army joined the army from the township soldiers, and most of them had relatives by marriage.Yu Chiyuan followed the example of famous generals in ancient times and separated the coefficients of soldiers with close relatives in each department, and divided them into two teams on the left and front;But these soldiers, thinking about their loved ones, the front team refused to retreat when encountering obstacles, and the rear team did not wait and see and just moved forward.Yu Chiyuan also arranged for the generals in front of the battle to supervise the battle, only allowed to advance and not allowed to retreat.Everyone thought that this was also the last battle, and after a few months, they had gained some experience in coordinating each other's advances and retreats to take care of each other, and they were not as easy to panic as they were at first.After a few minutes, the whole situation was concentrated in one place, the siege team was like a tide ebbing and flowing, although the casualties were heavy, they only rushed towards the city.

Yu Chiyuan was on the hill, and saw that the siege troops seemed to be able to enter the city for a while, but they were beaten back after seeing each other again; this is the case on all fronts.This situation lasted for half a day, dead bodies piled up in the water below the city could be seen on the earth hill, Yu Chiyuan couldn't help but secretly annoyed, but he couldn't attack.After thinking about it for a while, he suddenly asked, "Where's the supervisor?"

The people around saw his dark complexion, his voice was stiff, and he couldn't help sweating even in the westerly wind.The general knew about Pei Yu's hemoptysis the day before yesterday, but now he asks the question knowingly, who dares to answer this unreasonable anger rashly.Yu Chiyuan saw that there was no one answering for a long while, and thought to himself that these people are very ignorant.When he was in the tent yesterday, he didn't expect that the siege of the city would be so difficult today. He only thought that it must be easy to capture, so he also showed contempt for Pei Yu; now he has to ask others, but how can he speak; They paved the way for him to step down a step obediently, but everyone kept silent, Yu Chiyuan couldn't help holding his breath.

But at this time, he didn't care about the many faces, he simply opened his mouth and said to the nearby general: "Go back to the supervising army and tell him the situation before the battle." Going forward, Yu Chiyuan only asked, "" Do you understand what that means?"

The general must have understood, he only hesitated and said: "But the situation of the supervisory army yesterday...today..."

Yu Chiyuan finally couldn't help but said angrily: "Baobao! I just want you to ask if you want to invite him to the front of the battle, but it's so long-winded!"

The general shrank back when he was reprimanded, and he said yes again and again, but he cried in his heart: "I don't know if the supervisor Pei's energy is exhausted at this time, and he can afford to worry about these things. If he asks, he won't be able to tell Ziwu Mao You, I still have to take this thunder." He was apprehensive, but he didn't dare to delay, so he hurriedly called someone to rush to the tent.

The screams of killing around the city can also be heard in the deep alleys of the city.The panic and fear that permeated the city was like a knife blade to the neck, and like the soft mud soaked in water, it was sharp but sticky.

In the main hall of Baima Temple, all the monks of He Temple closed their eyes and murmured sutras. Without the usual lingering cigarettes, the chanting sound seemed cold and weak.This ancient temple, which seems to be detached from the world, has been placed under the knife once again.The gold-plated Buddha enshrined in the temple also seems to be speechless, and the mortal fetuses in front of him, even if they pray so hard, they don't know who will decide their life and death.

The abbot of the temple is not in the main hall at the moment.He brushed the scroll of paper on the desk with his skinny palm, and felt that against the backdrop of his own wrinkled and aged skin, the paper appeared whiter and smoother, and the ink on it stretched out, more like a long eyebrow on the sideburns of the person in front of him.

According to his usual concern about the war, the person in front of him must have gotten information about the current situation from the monks in the temple.The silence at this time, I don't know if it is because of the despair of fear of being powerless.The abbot sighed slightly and said, "The benefactor is very focused."

The man couldn't make any expression on his face, only saw the sadness in his eyes, and shook his head slightly.

The abbot said: "What is the plan of the benefactor?"

Lu You was in this ancient temple, but he felt as if he could hear the fighting of swords and soldiers in his chest all the time; the sound got closer day by day, until today, when it overlapped with the shouts of killing from around the city, Lu You felt a sudden pain in his chest. Shocking, he couldn't tell which part was fighting on the battlefield and which part was his own heartbeat.

At this time the abbot asked each other like this, his heart sank, and he lost his mind and suddenly fell into a black silence.After another shock, he already understood what the darkness he was thinking of was.He couldn't help saying: "Master, this question...how to do it, I have already got it."

He said calmly like this, but a sharp flash flashed across his mind, the white light flashed across Zhao Shen's face in an instant, it was so clear, as if it was right in front of his eyes.I couldn't help feeling a pain in my heart, and I lowered my head again.I just heard the host say: "Does the benefactor only care about General Zhao?"

Lu Youzhi was terrified and couldn't help but suddenly raised his head, only to see the abbot nodded and sighed: "That's true."

The astonishment in Lu Youzhi's eyes narrowed for a moment, and he said, "Master, please enlighten me."

The abbot didn't answer, but looked at the scroll on the case and said, "I've seen the word benefactor before." Seeing that Lu Youzhi was silent, he continued, "It was at the place of Master Huiming in Longhua Mountain. There was another benefactor that day. Now, there is still a comment on that handwriting."

Lu Youzhi was silent for a moment, and said, "Is that the supervisor in the Xiyan Army?" His tone was so flat that it was almost rigid, but he saw the corners of his lips pursed, pulling the burn marks, as if he was laughing.

The abbot couldn't help raising his eyebrows slightly when he said what he said, and said: "It seems that the relationship between the benefactor and that gentleman is indeed quite deep." Seeing that Lu Youzhi seemed to be deliberately indifferent to this question, he didn't ask further questions.From the moment he recognized the handwriting, he recalled Pei Yu's gaffe when he saw the handwriting that day; based on his experience, although the reason for this matter was not clear, he could guess to a certain extent.That is a matter in the world, and he shouldn't be entangled with others, but there is always inexplicable compassion in his heart, and he said for a while, "The benefactor used to be afraid that he would be disturbed by knots in his heart, but now that he is in a place outside the three realms, it is better to go back to the other place." One step, and those troubles can be thrown away." He had already decided to take this man in, and the reason for persuading him to become a monk was just to make it easier to keep safe.

But Lu Youzhi said in a low voice: "I thank the master for his kindness, but the master said that one should get rid of worldly thoughts in practice—only in my section, there is too much kindness or resentment."

Yu Chiyuan didn't wait too long, and the soldiers who went back to the camp to find Pei Yu asked for advice turned back and reported: "The supervising army said that the troops should be concentrated, and that at this moment he must think of all the generals he can think of. The tactics are not important, the important thing is What matters is will and morale."

This is true, in fact, Yu Chiyuan also knows that this time is like striking iron head-on, and there is not much skill to use, so it is just a fluke to ask Pei Yu, if he has any strange tricks.Now after hearing this, I have nothing to say, but I still can't help feeling disappointed.Thinking of what Pei Yu said yesterday that the heavy hammer should be ready to hit the car, but he didn't listen to the previous underestimation of the enemy, he was a little embarrassed for a while.After thinking for a while, he called several generals, rearranged the attack line, and sent people to dispatch the siege machinery.But how to use the wading, several generals talked about it, and they couldn't make a conclusion for a while.

But these are all side matters, Yu Chiyuan knows that it is useless to be anxious at this time, it would be even more inappropriate if it is exposed again; he also does not want to stay so close to the city on Tushan, and simply go back to the camp.

Just after entering the camp, I saw a guard leading someone, who turned out to be a messenger from Hangu Pass.

Seeing that he was sent by his confidant in the rear, Yu Chiyuan asked, "What's the matter?"

The messenger bowed down and said: "The grand master passed on the message. The young man hastened to report to the general, and it will be a few days sooner than the official news from the court."

Yu Chiyuan was slightly puzzled when he heard this, and asked, "What are you talking about?"

The messenger said: "It's about the guard of Luo City in front of the general. He said he is going to surrender."

Yu Chiyuan said to himself: "This call for surrender is weird! This is obviously a document for surrender, and why spread it to the various places under his rule..." He asked for a while, "What else do you say?"

The messenger said: "Say that if you surrender, the lives of all the people will be saved."

When Yu Chiyuan heard this, his eyes flashed for a moment, and he realized the intention of passing on the call in his heart—this is the meaning of asking everyone in the world to bear witness; The intention is just to ignore, and Zhao Shenben is not submissive; who knows that such a situation has happened now.After thinking about it carefully, he also guessed that Pei Yu must have gone to lobby the Grand Master, and he couldn't help sneering: "The Grand Master doesn't know that even if he makes such a gesture, Zhao Shen may not buy it. I don't think he will surrender even if he commits suicide. "

But he listened to the envoy and said: "Don't worry, general. It is also said in the proclamation that if the enemy general is injured, his close friends will be slaughtered."

Yu Chiyuan was taken aback for a moment when he heard that, then he nodded and said "Oh" in a long voice.Then he asked again, "When will the official news arrive?"

The messenger said, "Maybe another three or four days."

Yu Chiyuan thought to himself: "There is a buffer." He saw the words passed down by the grand master, so he knew whether Yuchi was determined to subdue the Zhao family in Luocheng; —He fought here for several months and even lost his younger brother's life, but in the end he changed to stand side by side with Zhao Shen, the more he thought about it, the more he found it difficult to swallow.Now that he had received the news in advance, he couldn't help thinking, wanting to capture Luo City and dispose of Zhao Shen before the order passed on to him.

Thinking of this, I unconsciously became anxious.While sending the messenger away, he couldn't bear it anymore, and sent an order: "Before the battle, you can only advance and not retreat. If you can't take Luocheng within three days, you will come to see me."

Towards evening, the city is another scene.Hundreds of cavalry in the city lined up under the north gate, Zhao Shen and Yuan Gui rode at the head of the line.Yuan Gui was holding a long lance, but Qing Zhui had no saber or arrow hanging on his side.Everyone was speechless, they only heard Zhao Shen say to Yuangui: "When the sky gets darker, you can leave the city." Then he said, "After breaking through the siege, go east, go to Xudu to find Gao Yuan'an, don't get mad. "

Yuan Gui muffled: "Yes."

Zhao Shen asked him to lead the cavalry to break out of the siege a few days ago, he was unwilling in his heart; but he put aside his angry words, thinking about the interests of the people, he had to obey.Seeing his expression, Zhao Shen also felt a tightness in his heart; if he wanted to see the only remaining cavalry under his command break through the siege, he would have to cut off a blood tie with his own hands; The heroic prestige of his cavalry for decades is connected to his dream of swaying his white horse and light fur; but now that he has a foreboding of the future of Los Angeles, he can only push the other end of this bond out of the mud, as if leaving a trace. entrusted to this world.

Zhao Shen gritted his teeth slightly, he didn't want to hesitate any longer, raised his hand and patted Yuan Gui's horse's neck lightly, said: "You should be careful."

Yuangui saw the orderly formation in a blink of an eye, and said in his heart: "That's it, if I show me any more melancholy, it will only waste morale in vain." He yanked the rein in his hand, and suddenly said loudly: "What the general entrusted to me, I will do." Never dare to be self-willed; but I still think of the time when you and I were self-willed—"

They have known each other for many years, and they have never confessed that they are inseparable.No matter how many words you want to say, it is superfluous to mention them at this time.Zhao Shen also tightened the rein of the horse, and replied with a smile: "I only hope that everything will go smoothly for you on this journey."

Yuan Gui looked sideways at the queue and said, "General and brothers, let's say something."

Zhao Shen pursed his lips slightly, but he already took a step forward.He glanced at it, and saw everyone's eyes burning.When night falls, the setting sun has already fallen into the ground, and the last ray of light shines brightly in people's eyes like golden light.His chest was throbbing, and suddenly he raised his voice: "I hope to have a meeting with you in the future!" After saying that, he turned his horse's head and shouted straight to the city: "Kaicheng!"

The team took advantage of the darkness and filed out. Zhao Shen got off his horse and watched the cavalry disappear into the night.Zhou Gan stepped forward and said, "General, should you go to the city to have a look?"

Zhao Shen shook his head slightly and said, "You don't need to look at it. The defense line of the enemy's siege is still tight. I'll go back to the west city."

During this night, the Xiyan army launched a small boat in the direction of Luocheng, loaded with wormwood and ignited it.The fire boat slammed into the gap in the city wall along the water flow and wind, and in the dark night, the suddenly bright flames reflected the water surface.The soldiers on the city carried stones and threw them down the city. Most of the ships were overturned and broken by the stones before reaching the edge of the city. However, even though the wormwood fell into the water, it was soaked in oil and kept burning.The defenders used long poles to extinguish the fireball in the water, or to push it aside.Those wormwood that turned and drifted away, looked so bright from afar.Since ancient times, the tribes in the Central Plains fought along the river, and after the war, the martyrs were buried in water, and they often used flowers and trees to light the boats and rafts to feed the souls of the dead; Boundless, still water flows deep, but silent.

After the Xiyan army's offensive retreated, Li Meng in the south city also breathed a sigh of relief.Just now, the attack on the south side of the city was the most violent, and when it was extremely urgent, they had to send someone to invite Zhao Shen.At this time the crisis is temporarily resolved, Li Meng also has time to talk to Zhao Shen.

During this night, the southern city was restless, and the situation of the cavalry in the north who sneaked out of the city at night to break out of the siege was also unknown.Li Meng knew that it was useless to ask, so he simply said: "The cavalry is well-trained, and the enemy's eyes are all on the southwest, so there is nothing wrong with it." These words are half comforting, and half encouraging himself, Zhao Shen listened Yes, he smiled and said, "That's all I wish."

Seeing that the enemy army had already retreated, Li Meng felt that the wind was tight all night, and at this moment there was a cold war all over his body.Zhao Shen said: "Go and drink a bowl of hot soup to keep out the cold."

Li Meng smiled and said, "I just find it troublesome."

At that time the city was flooded, the army had to cook in hanging cauldrons; the salt was exhausted, Zhao Shen saw that Li Meng's face was swollen, he was silent for a moment, and suddenly said: "The cavalry can break through the siege, but you have to be trapped in the isolated city."

Li Meng was taken aback for a moment, and then said: "General, don't say such a thing. No matter what the prospects are, I'm willing to wait here. The soldiers don't complain, and the general shouldn't blame themselves indiscriminately."

Although his temperament is always a little resolute, these words are from the heart.For a moment I thought: no matter how tragic it is, even if the city is massacred, so what?But suddenly he heard Zhao Shen say: "When the city falls, you hold my head, and the enemy army probably won't be too embarrassing."

Li Meng was thinking about this, when he heard Zhao Shen's words, he couldn't help blurting out in surprise: "Why did you say that, General?"

He looked at Zhao Shen, the stern face was reflected by the lingering fire on the water outside the city.At this moment, Li Meng seemed to have seen Zhao Jing who was at the top of the city that night - he was just a young man at that time, and now nearly twenty years have passed since then, but this scene suddenly overlapped before his eyes.He thought about Zhao Jing's ending in a daze, his heart beat wildly and he felt ominous, but he couldn't say a word for a long while.

Zhao Shen didn't seem to pay attention to what he said, but said: "There are not many people who are still here now."

The author has something to say:

The grand master's bad move is the result of Gao Cheng's words to recruit Wang Sizheng to surrender