Luoshui Dongliu

There were only two candles burning in the tent, Lu Youzhi lay on Zhao Shen's lap and seemed to be asleep, not making a sound.Seeing his exhausted state, Zhao Shen felt apologetic.No matter how careful he was, he couldn't care less when he was in the depths of distraction. After all, Lu Youzhi had just been beaten, and this torment might be unbearable.

For a while, he couldn't help but put his hand into Lu You's shirt, but when he heard Lu Youzhi moan, Zhao Shen stopped his hand and asked, "What's the matter?"

Lu Youzhi smiled slightly, shook his head and said, "It's nothing." He rested his head on Zhao Shen's lap, feeling soft in his heart, and hoped that this moment would never change.He was dazed for a moment, then suddenly remembered something, he stood up and said, "I've been pressing on your leg, and your legs and feet are so numb that you won't be able to ride a horse tomorrow."

But Zhao Shen held him down and said, "Don't get up, I... will stay with you for a while longer."

Lu Youzhi rolled his eyes, as if he had guessed something, he asked, "What are you going to do?"

Zhao Shen said indifferently: "The court refuses to send reinforcements, the only way now is to go out of the city to ask for help." He said this way, his subordinates inadvertently added three points of strength, Lu Youzhi suffered a little pain, and his confused and lingering thoughts suddenly suddenly He also woke up, and couldn't help asking: "Who do you want to go to?"

Zhao Shendao: "There are not many troops nearby... I think, Liu Ao in Yangcheng..."

Lu Youzhi said decisively: "You would like to listen to me." After speaking, he put his hands on the ground and was about to struggle to get up.

Seeing his solemn expression, Zhao Shen's heart skipped a beat.Not in a hurry to answer right now, he pulled out his hand and straightened Lu Youzhi's coat, helped him up again, and said, "Let me tell you to relax."

Lu Youzhi said: "No, I have to say this seriously." He looked around, got up and took a chess pot, picked out several chess pieces, put them on the ground, and pointed out: "This is Luocheng, where can you ask for help?" Outer Yecheng, Yangcheng, and Xudu." He picked up one of the horns and threw it back into the jar, "Yecheng cannot be broken, but there is no return."

Zhao Shendao: "I can save this, Gao Yuanchong will detain me and send someone else here. He is worried that he can't get rid of me."

Lu Youzhi said: "You took Yangcheng and abandoned Xudu because Gao Yuan'an is the prime minister's younger brother and was once contradicted by you, and Liu Ao is your father's old friend?"

Zhao Shen said: "Yes."

Lu Youzhi said: "But Liu Ao will definitely not answer you."

Zhao Shen frowned and said, "Why?"

Lu Youzhi said: "Liu Ao has always been wise and safe, what is the friendship between him and your father worth? Besides," he swiped his finger, "if they win Luocheng, where will the Xiyan army go?"

Zhao Shendao: "Naturally it is the direction of Yecheng." Before he finished speaking, he understood, "You said that Yangcheng is not on the way to march, but Xudu is close to me?"

Lu Youzhi smiled slightly: "Exactly, it's useless for you to go out to ask for help at this moment. It's useless to pull old feelings. If you want to persuade properly, you must say good words in everything. It has nothing to do with you. Why should he help you bear the interests?"

Zhao Shenyou hesitated and said: "But if Gao Yuanan wanted to sit and watch me fight with the enemy, he came to take advantage of it after two strokes were exhausted, and he may not send troops at this moment, not to mention, his festival with my Zhao family..."

Lu Youzhi said: "In the past, the festival was not a concern. It was all due to conflicts of interests, and it was not a grudge. It's the first half of what you said..." He thought for a moment and said, "This is a gamble."

Zhao Shen asked, "What are you betting on?"

Lu Youzhi said coldly: "Bet on the dissatisfaction between the Gao brothers, bet he will be sad to see you dead!"

Zhao Shen couldn't help being startled when he heard this.After a while, he said silently, "What should I say to him?"

Lu Youzhi shook his head and said: "Just talk about the truth of the lips and teeth, don't talk about anything else." Seeing Zhao Shen's face was serious, he persuaded, "At this moment, only Gao Yuan'an has the courage to send troops. I have heard of his behavior, treachery is treachery. But he is not a villain. Gao Yuanchong sees death because he can't forget the idea of ​​attacking your cavalry, but he doesn't care about it. So the festival of sitting on the mountain and watching tigers fight may not be as important as you think."

The next day, Zhao Shen gathered his confidantes, bureaucrats and staff who had been with him for a long time in the main tent.Seeing his solemn expression, everyone knew that he had already made up his mind last night.

Just heard Zhao Shen said: "You all know that the prime minister can't send troops now, so he has to rely on us to find a way. I will go to Xudu General Gao Yuan'an in person. During this period, the affairs of the city depend on you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Shoude shouted loudly from the audience: "The general is already in danger alone when he goes out to ask for help, and now he says he wants to go to Xudu, absolutely not!"

Everyone also responded one after another, some said that Gao Yuanan would not come to rescue, some said that this person was naughty and untrustworthy.Zhao Shen waited for them to finish talking, and said: "I came to you today, not to ask for your consent, but to care about what to do."

As soon as he said this, everyone looked at each other in blank dismay. After a while, someone coughed lightly. It turned out to be the veteran Cheng Chude.Just listen to Cheng Chude said: "Xu Du is also quite close to Luocheng, and it takes a few days to go back and forth quickly. Even if it fails, it will not delay a lot of effort. Besides, the prime minister will not send troops. The guards everywhere are only the prime minister, and they must wait and see. Gao Yuanan is in the prime minister The words there are good, if he is moved by the words, maybe he will go to the prime minister to persuade him, and it will also turn our situation around." He is the oldest in the army, and his speech has its own weight.Everyone has always known that Zhao Shen must do what he says, now that the old general speaks again, what he said has some truth, so they don't bother anymore.

Someone said: "The general is going here to be safe, and he needs to bring more troops."

Cheng Chude hurriedly said: "It's not good if there are too many people to attract attention. I think the general chooses a dozen capable soldiers from the cavalry to accompany him, and then brings a brave general to protect him."

Hearing this, Zhao Shen glanced down and landed on Yuan Gui, and said with a smile, "The other day you said that I was holding a bow and a spear, and thousands of troops were marching towards him, does that still count?"

Yuan Gui got up and responded with a smile: "A man who promises a lot, of course it counts. Yuan Gui is willing to drive for the general."

Xie Rang nodded and said: "This is very appropriate. When the Xiyan army starts their breakfast, they will leave the city from the northeast of the city. The camps there are not densely packed, and they will pass by quickly." He said: "Listen this morning. The scout reported that the Xiyan army seems to have a supervising army, and Yu Chiyuan may not be able to surround him like this without fighting. The general is determined to go, so he must hurry up and come back before the Xiyan army moves."

Zhao Shendao: "Exactly, there is absolutely no room for any mistakes in the defense of this city." After finishing speaking, he got up and raised his voice: "General order!"

The generals froze, and only listened to Zhao Shen said: "Sun Wuda, Gu Yanbin, Li Meng, Yu Wenlue, you lead the left and right troops to garrison the four gates, and there are three shifts a day so that there are no empty posts; Zhao Yong, Zhao Ce, go to the city with archers to inspect , at any time; the cavalry should not move lightly, only for unexpected needs. The old general Cheng is in charge of military affairs, and the chief secretary and long history must assist him."

All the generals had already stood up in response, and said one by one: "Yes!"

Zhao Shen's voice was majestic, and he said again: "A strong enemy is at the front, and the military discipline must be strict. Anyone who violates the order and does not obey will be executed!"

All the generals said in unison: "Follow the general's order!"

Zhao Shen looked around at the crowd, bowed deeply, and said, "Please everyone!"

Everyone panicked and said: "Why is this so, general?"

Zhao Shen said: "Before it was the command, now it is Zhao Shen who is thanking. My Zhao family has guarded Luocheng for decades, and I dare not let it go to me. I am going out of the city to ask for help. Everything in the city depends on everyone."

Everyone's hearts were hot, Cheng Chude came out and said: "General, don't worry, I will wait in the city for good news from the general."

After the generals dispersed, Zhao Shen took Yuan Gui and selected 12 soldiers from the cavalry, all of whom were good commanders and weapons.Zhao Shen ordered them to prepare their mail armor and ride their horses to drink, while Yuan Gui stayed to inspect the equipment carefully.

On that side, Xie Rang led someone to open the warehouse to find a pair of saddle bridles, and said to Zhao Shen, "General, take this to Gao Yuan'an."

Zhao Shenqi said: "Isn't this given by the Prime Minister when he came back from Woye Town?"

Xie Rang said with a smile: "Exactly, presenting this thing to him is to mention the friendship between the generals back then, and secondly," he lowered his voice slightly, "the general must also lower his posture in front of him."

Zhao Shen pursed his lips, nodded but did not make a sound.

During the day, everyone was busy preparing not to mention it.In the evening, Zhao Shen went to the stables to see Qing Zhui again, that war horse also had human nature, it was jumping happily with its head up and its hoofs up.Zhou Gan smiled and said, "Qing Zhui is just like the little one, he can't hold back anymore."

Zhao Shen smiled slightly, took Qing Zhui's mane with his hands, and said to Zhou Gan: "You stay in the camp, don't come with me."

Zhou Gan was taken aback for a moment, and said anxiously: "General..."

Zhao Shen swept his eyes towards the direction of the bed tent and said in a low voice, "You are so kind to take care of me, I will go with you and I will probably be a normal effort."

Seeing his solemn expression, Zhou Gan felt unwilling but understood the seriousness, and said, "Understood."

Zhao Shen grabbed the horse's mane and said to himself, "Whether life or death is a matter of life, ten days will tell."

It was night, and Lu Youzhi was in his tent, stroking the strings of his pipa in a trance.After Zhao Shenchen got up and left, he felt pain in his waist and legs.It was the first time for him to experience this, who knew it was so difficult, even sitting was uncomfortable, and he could only lean on the couch for most of the day.He was worried about Zhao Shen's affairs, he was restless all day, he put the pipa horizontally by his hand, stroked the strings inch by inch, lost in thought.

He was just thinking about cruising, when suddenly he heard Zhao Shen behind him saying: "Why are you so preoccupied?"

Lu Youzhi came back to his senses, put down the pipa and turned around to get up, who knew that the movement was too violent and tugged at the inside, he could not help but "hiss" hiss.

Zhao Shen asked: "What's the matter?" Seeing that Lu Youzhi's face turned red, he guessed five or six points, but he didn't fully understand, so he wanted to go forward to check.Lu Youzhi knew that he was not a veteran of the game, and he couldn't see the point, but he was ashamed to tell the truth, so he said: "Don't look at it, it's not a problem."

Zhao Shen tugged and saw that Lu Youzhi didn't want to, so he had to say: "You should rest well these days, and I will leave Zhou Gan to take care of you."

Lu Youzhi lowered his eyes and said, "Go tomorrow?"

Zhao Shen said: "Yes."

They didn't speak for a moment, Lu Youzhi saw Zhao Shen's cheek like an ax chisel under the shadow of the light, and knew he was going, maybe it was thousands of miles away, maybe it was Yin and Yang separated, after all, he could only do his best and obey the destiny.However, there is only a single log as a bridge in front of him, even if there are steep mountains, deep valleys, broken walls and cliffs, at this point, he can only move forward.Thinking of this, I didn't want to make a lot of melancholy looks, looked down and saw the pipa on the ground, and said: "The general will go out tomorrow, and I can't see you off, so I will use the pipa to march for the general."

After finishing speaking, he picked up the pipa and hugged it horizontally in his arms. On the case, he chose bamboo slices cut from paper to make a plectrum. He held down the strings with one hand and plucked it with the other.The strings of the qin suddenly made a sound, like knocking a chime.At the beginning, the tune was like the autumn wind sweeping the leaves, and then it was like the hunting of flags, from slow to fast, until it was like the sound of drums gathered in front of the tent.Zhao Shenwan stepped on the ground as if seeing a general lined up.The strings of the zither were plucked more and more urgently, like a thunderstorm and thunderstorm, all the troops rushed to the front of the battle, the tones were repeated, and the heroic spirit rushed into the sky, it was the death of a hundred battles and the return of a strong man.Zhao Shen only felt his heart agitated, unexpectedly the sound of the zither stopped abruptly, but the lingering sound still lingered.

There are actually only three strings on this pipa, and Lu Youzhi hasn't practiced his fingering for a long time, and his fingering is unfamiliar. However, this song has a profound meaning, and this setback is sonorous and solemn in tune with the meaning of the song.A good pipa has firm sound quality and pure timbre, and its sound can be heard for miles at night.Hearing the faint sound of the pipa in the barracks, like Yi Shui's tragic song, everyone couldn't help but feel that they should be generous.

Zhao Shen's chest rose and fell, and he paused for a long time before asking, "What song is this?"

Lu Youzhi said solemnly: "General order."

Zhao Shen's chest was throbbing, and he sighed, "I understand your heart."

During this time, Zhou Gan brought a wooden barrel of hot water to the door. Lu Youzhi knew that this was a military rule, and he had to take a bath the night before the battle.Seeing that Zhou Gan Zhiqu stayed outside and didn't come in, he got up and helped Zhao Shen wash up.He stroked the scar on Zhao Shen's shoulder and back with water, his heart felt a little sour, he just thought to himself, if there is a chance for another life, he only wishes to be born in peace and happiness, to be an ordinary person, and not to suffer all kinds of hardships.

For a while, he helped Zhao Shen tie up his hair, and it was too ugly outside.Zhao Shen said in a low voice: "I'll go outside to put on my armor, you and I... see you someday."

Lu Youzhi suppressed the thousands of emotions in his heart, and said with a smile: "General, take care."

Zhao Shen was silent for a moment, then bowed deeply and said: "Thank you!" After saying that, he turned and left without looking back.