son-in-law

Chapter 643 The Great Wheel of Life and Death in the Ningdong Snow Sea (7)

Chapter 643 The Great Wheel of Life and Death in the Ningdong Snow Sea ([-])

The snow started falling again.Except for the cold wind that occasionally dances snowflakes, the large plains near Bianliang City are full of quiet and dead silence.

Battle after battle, bloodshed again and again, originally living on this land, millions of people have migrated, vacant and abandoned villages and towns have a strange and dead breath in the evening when the heavy snow falls, the birds have already Flying away, in the mountains and forests, a few animals are running in the snow. The squirrel hugs its hazelnut and stands at the edge of the forest, looking at the area that once belonged to humans.In the past few months, the bones of those who fell on this land have already been chilled.

Wolves appear occasionally.

Only in a few cases, a lonely team of horses ran through the snow, going from place to place, carrying their mission.

In less than half a year, this place has become a restricted area for strangers.

Moutuogang is ten miles away from Bianliang City Defense, and the road from this area to Bianliang City is still ruled by human breath.In the early morning, a loud bang sounded on the ice near Moutuogang.

A group of Jurchen warriors, holding iron balls or sledgehammers bound by chains, smashed on the ice near the camp, and white ice mist splashed in all directions.

The area where the Jurchen camped was originally the horse herding place of the Wu Dynasty.Moutuogang is surrounded by water on three sides, and the grassland is lush. After blocking the opening, it is easy to defend and difficult to attack.But after winter really came, the surrounding lake surface also began to freeze, especially in snowy days, the ice surface became thicker, and the three directions of the lake water were originally, at this time, the ice surface and the land were completely connected.

After Yao Pingzhong's night attack plan failed, not many people dared to attack the Jurchen camp anymore. However, after the ice was frozen, the Jurchen soldiers in Moutuogang broke through the edge of the ice and sent more people every day. patrolling tasks.Every morning, after the wrestlers smashed the edge of the lake, the patrolling soldiers went back and forth in groups of three.

The snow fell so heavily that people couldn't tell whether it was morning or noon. They only knew that it had been a long time since dawn, and patrolling soldiers came and went. Occasionally, they looked at the flat, stretching ice and snow lake in front of their vision. Everything seemed monotonous. Occasionally, the sounds of busyness in the barracks could be heard over the tall wooden walls.When the patrol passed by, a Jurchen soldier stopped and turned to look at the lake.

Heavy snow falls.

He took a few glances, and after a while, he caught up with the two companions in front of him.

Pushing our field of vision, there are white things on the ice hundreds of meters away from here. They are two figures lying on the ice and in the snow, and it is extremely difficult to be recognized in the clothes and snow. White clothes.One of them put down the cylinder in his hand, and even silently blocked the front end of the cylinder with one hand.

After the three people in the distance left, the rough long tube-shaped telescope was lifted up here again.The person next to him took out a small book, then a charcoal pencil, and wrote numbers on it with shaking hands.

"Another 120 five breaths... three people patrolling by... when sharing..."

Without an accurate timing tool, we can only roughly estimate the time. In such a snowy day, long-term lurking is also a huge burden for the two of them. They lie here to watch and record quietly, only occasionally moving slightly When the body is hungry, pull out the warmed jerky from the clothes, chew it slowly, but try not to move.

Sometimes, Costin flew through the heavy snow and flew into the sky, and that was the most difficult time for them.

At dusk, someone came quietly to replace them.

The two quietly retreated from the lake, carefully covering up their traces, entered the grove at the other end of Moutuogang, and then walked in silence.The temporary residence and meeting place is a cave in the mountains. Someone came to pick up the things they wrote down, talked a little bit, and sent some supplies.Before leaving, I told him as usual: "If it is not necessary, don't start a fire."

The fried rice and meat strips brought by the other party were already cold.But he took out a small iron pot that was wrapped in three layers and the outside was three layers from his arms. The broth in it was still warm, so he shared it with the two of them and drank it quickly, and then gave another order.

When you come out to perform this kind of task, the clothes on your body are still enough to keep you warm.One is a young man in his teens named Chen Hai, and the other is a middle-aged man in his 40s named Zheng. Chen Hai calls him Uncle Zheng.

"Uncle Zheng, do you think it will come in handy if we record these every day?"

"Go to bed earlier." Uncle Zheng said very little, and his voice was not high, "How would I know?"

"The Jurchens are too cruel..."

After Chen Hai finished speaking, he stopped talking.

The reconnaissance team was put together by Ning Yi, who were selected during the process of strengthening the walls and clearing the fields and after the Wu Dynasty army was dispersed.Some are the talent reserves before Zhuji, and there are also hunters, or talented people who are proficient in wild survival skills.Chen Hai has been in good health since he was a child, and he is lively and lively. There are rumors from all over the world that he can walk bare buttocks in the snow in the winter. When the Jurchens came, his village did not escape the first wave of massacres. Under the butcher's knife, he survived by chance, and later, Ning Yi absorbed him.

The next morning, they woke up, ate something cold and hard, and then went to take over.There is a lot of snow, sometimes big and sometimes small, and after returning to receive new orders, they will change places a little bit.They vaguely knew that they were not the only ones in charge of investigating the Jurchen camp.

The person who came to contact them should be an official—or at least an official.The broth he simmers in his arms every day can make Chen Hai feel warm, because he vaguely knows that there may be no other official who can do such a thing.

He had known Uncle Zheng not long ago. Although Uncle Zheng was relatively taciturn, he should have been a formidable hunter in the past. Occasionally he would give him some advice on hiding and hunting. There is only one companion, and unconsciously, they will regard each other as the only friend, relative, or elder in the world.

That day was November [-]th.

At noon that day, they quietly changed positions while they were observing.It has been snowing for so long, and the ice on the lake is actually quite solid. Chen Hai would reach out and tap occasionally, but nothing would happen.The day was probably met in relatively thin places.

They had been lying in that area all morning. When the soldiers patrolling the lakeside passed by, Uncle Zheng was watching with a telescope, and a small voice sounded from under him.

The two froze there, looking over slowly, Uncle Zheng stretched out his hand to sweep the snow, fine lines stretched out from under his body.

Both of them knew that they should not mess around at this time, and Uncle Zheng was originally silent, so he waved his hand slightly to signal Chen Hai to move to one side, and he moved to the other side.

The ice broke.

Uncle Zheng fell into the water and came up again, thumping slightly.In the distance, the patrollers were still walking past, Chen Hai who didn't fall down carefully stretched out his hand, Uncle Zheng took his hand, when he exerted force, fine lines began to appear under Chen Hai's body.The other party realized something and let go of his hand. He subconsciously turned his head and looked in the direction of the Jurchen military camp. He fell into the water. He should not be able to see anyone, but he had stopped thumping and making noises.

In the wind and snow, there was the faint voice of the Jurchen talking, and they were also looking at this side, but because they were too far apart and blocked by the wind and snow, they couldn't see that an ice hole had appeared here.

Although he is over 40 years old, Uncle Zheng is actually an old man by the definition of the Wu Dynasty.Chen Hai lay on the side, desperately stretching out his hand.

"Give me your hand, I can do it..." He gritted his teeth and whispered.

Trembling, the old man in the lake took off the binoculars around his neck, stretched out his hand, and gently placed the binoculars on the ice.Then he unwrapped the small package on his back—Uncle Zheng carried this small package with him, it seemed to be all his belongings—he wanted to pass the small package over, but halfway through, the package fell into the water.

"..." Chen Hai opened his mouth wide, opening his mouth desperately, he was already crying, his vision was blurred by tears, but he couldn't make any sound.Two months ago, when the Jurchens came to their village, they killed his father, and his mother hid him in a pile of firewood. He heard many movements and sounds, and the last thing he heard was his mother's short cry screams.After surviving, he went out from the firewood pile. His mother died outside the door of the firewood house. Half of her body was covered in black mud, with no clothes on her body, and half of her body was covered by red blood and black mud.That's how he cried in the firewood pile.

He vaguely knew what was going on outside, but he didn't dare to go out.His mother didn't cry or call for help from the beginning to the end, only when she was finally killed, she couldn't help but let out that scream.He sat beside his mother's body, crying with his mouth open enough to fit a fist, but no sound came out.

Some people, when they are so sad, can't cry.

In the blurred field of vision, the old man didn't take back the extended hand, he gave him a thumbs up with the last of his strength, and shook it slightly in the air.

The sound of making equipment came from the Jurchen barracks, and several patrolling soldiers left.

The old man had already sunk, and when his body surfaced again, Chen Hai knew that by then, the icy weather would have sealed the opening, and this winter, the old man would never see this world again...

That night, the official who brought him the broth took him back to the valley of Xiacun. The valley was lively and everyone was doing their things. He was arranged in a small room and someone brought him There was food, but he couldn't eat it.Not long after, someone came over and asked him about the details of Uncle Zheng's death. He repeated it mechanically, and the other party said: "Someone will come later, please tell Brother Chen again, and they will write it down."

"Write it down... what..." Chen Hai asked mechanically.

"Write it down... about Uncle Zheng, and tell others about it later."

"Why... tell others?"

"Because..." The other party pondered for a while, and someone knocked on the door suddenly, as if to report what had happened. After hearing the report, the person nodded and came back again, "In order...to let others remember him..."

"He's dead..." Chen Hai shook his head.

"Well, brother Chen, I know you are very sad, and we are also very sad, but I still have something to do here, and the person who comes will explain it to you."

"What's so sad about you, you don't know him, you don't even know him!" Chen Hai choked up and roared out.

The other party's eyes seemed to be a little embarrassed, but he finally left.After a while, someone came in again. Chen Hai wanted to lose his temper, but he saw that the person named Ning Yi was following that person. Chen Hai knew that this was a high official.

The person who came in ahead prepared pens, inks, papers and inkstones, and the senior official named Ning Yi and his followers were blocked by him with a wave of his hand.The senior official looked at him for a while before sitting down beside him.

"I've heard about Uncle Zheng, I'll come and see you."

Chen Hai shook his head, but did not speak.

The other party said: "He will ask you, and we will write down more detailed things so that people will remember him." This kind of cliché made Chen Hai feel angry, he gritted his teeth and stared at the other party: "Uncle Zheng, he , Who is it? Where is he from? When he was dying, he gave me that burden, and he definitely, definitely asked me to hand it over, so who am I handing it over now!"

"That's for you." The other party said, "Zheng Yiquan is just like you. His family members are all dead. His wife died five years ago. His son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren died when the Jurchen ..."

The other party shook his head and let out a long sigh of relief: "... Huh. So, no matter what is in the baggage, it should be for you."

Chen Hai was stunned for a while, tears fell, and more anger came up: "It's because of this, it's because of this, you...you chose us, right? It's because of this that you chose us to die, right? Do you know how my family members died? How my father died, how my mother died..."

"I know all about it." Chen Hai hadn't finished crying when the other party interrupted him, "It's because of this that I chose you... Of course not all of you, but a large part of it."

Chen Hai was so angry that his teeth were shaking: "You people, hide behind, you people..."

"I sent you to the most dangerous place, but I didn't 'hide' behind." Ning Yi emphasized, he unbuttoned his clothes, then exposed the scars on his chest and arms, and walked towards the place where he was going to write The man pushed his head to the side, "They didn't hide behind!" There was also a shocking scar on the side of the man's neck.

"There are indeed people hiding, but none of the people in this place today are 'behind'." Ning Yi looked at him and said, "I know the things around you, and I have seen many people die. Frankly speaking, the choice When you go to that kind of place, it is because you have hatred in your heart that you can do those things. Even when you die, you will think about not letting those guys go. I chose you because of this, but there is no way, only Only in this way can things be done. I randomly send someone over there. They were not cautious enough, they were caught by the Jurchens, and they were not firm enough. Our affairs were exposed little by little. In the end, everyone died, and the Jurchens broke through the Bian Liang, if I kill more people, will I be fair to you?"

"But...he's dead..."

"The continuation of civilization is not based on blood." Ning Yi said something he didn't understand in a low voice, "Jurchen came, many people died, and many people disappeared. Zheng Yiquan's blood did not stay, But when you were dying, you were by your side, so you passed it on. The Jurchens killed so many people along the way, and some of them were left behind, so that later people would know that there was a group of such people. However, after death, civilization will be passed on. People cannot be resurrected after death, if there is really no way, after death, try to pass on the story as much as possible.”

He looked at Chen Hai, but Chen Hai didn't speak any more.After a while, he raised his head, took a breath, and sat down on the stool behind him, with his mouth open, weeping silently.Ning Yi closed his eyes and stood for a moment, then walked over, and when he passed by the recorder, he tapped on the small table: "As I have already said, don't ask too much... It's uncomfortable enough..."

That night, Chen Hai saw the old man's thumbs up in his dream. He woke up from the dream, and could not fall asleep with his eyes open on the warm bed that he hadn't seen for a long time.Thinking of the figures he saw in Moutuogang, he knew that countless people would die, and everything was just the beginning.

Pushing open the window, the snow stopped temporarily. He thought of the old man, his parents, and the people in the village, who had died in this field in the past few months.The old man fell quietly at the bottom of the lake.They all seem to be standing quietly in a certain place, and the heavy snow is spreading out towards the surrounding world with the valley as the center, and their figures also seem to be spreading around, there are really too many of them...

The moonlight in the night sky is like water.The moonlight is like water, shining on countless black clothes.

He found that he couldn't sleep in that bed anymore, and he went back to Moutuogang the next day. Before reaching the lake, the Jurchen camp was full of murderous aura...

***************

It was noon, Xin Suanzao Gate, when the old man walked up the city wall, he was surrounded by running defenders.

People carrying buckets are rushing up the city wall one after another, pouring water on the outer wall before going down, and so on.The soldiers have already erected their shields and prepared objects for defending the city, such as yaksha rings, rolling logs and stones.Countless city guards are ready to stretch out on the city wall.

Above the city, the strong wind was blowing very cold, but at this time the cold was no longer something to worry about, Qin Yuyuan walked towards the center of the tower not far away, and the same two old people had already arrived there, the leader was Li Gang, and the other was It's the teacher's way of the Western Army. The way of the teacher has not recovered from his serious illness, but at this time, he can only struggle to survive.

Looking outside, it was the camp where the Jurchens were stationed during the siege—during this period, some siege and stone throwing equipment were displayed there, but there were not many of them.However, at this time, the atmosphere on the battlefield has begun to change.

More siege equipment and troops have yet to arrive, but the scouts outside the city have received news that the Jurchens' general attack is approaching.

For this period of time, the Jurchens have devoted themselves to making equipment, and everyone in the city knows about it.Zhong Shidao once considered the strategy of taking the initiative to attack when he was ill. However, with the incident of Yao Pingzhong, no one dared to undertake such a plan anymore. The army, not long ago, also suffered a defeat on the plain outside Bianliang City, and at this time it was retreating nearby to rectify its defense.

When the Western Army first arrived, people had high expectations for the combat effectiveness of the Western Army, and felt that the Western Army would be able to turn the tide once it arrived.Yao Pingzhong's failure broke this expectation, and people can continue to look forward to Zhong Shidao. However, under such expectations, when Zhong Shizhong led the army to arrive, Zhong Shidao couldn't blindly let him stay still. As a result, the two sides launched a confrontation After the killing, the Zhong family's army also returned in defeat.Although the Zhong family army still retains more than [-] combat strength under the opportunity of the Zhongshi, but at least the high-level people have fully understood that even the strongest Western army in the Wu Dynasty, the Jurchen who is ruling the world at this time In front of the cavalry, it is really hard to win.

In fact, at the beginning, perhaps only Zhong Shidao himself saw this soberly. After he arrived in the capital, he held down Yao's army and kept preventing the army from attacking recklessly. , can frighten Wanyan Zongwang and make him retreat, or concentrate all his strength to fight against him.It's a pity that when he entered the city, his prestige was too high, Zhou Zhe couldn't see it, and finally put him under house arrest, and then agreed to Yao Pingzhong's plan.Later, when the way of the teacher was released, the 20 army was defeated, and this old man who was still sober despite his illness would never recover.

At this time in Bianliang City, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty gathered, and there were still quite a few people who really knew how to fight.However, the Ministry of War, starting from the highest Tong Guan, saw the aura of the Jurchens, and dared not accept the responsibility of defending the city at all. They only said that they had retreated from Taiyuan and could no longer convince the public because of their crimes.This kind of vision proves his "knowledge soldier". If he doesn't answer, others will understand, and the few qualified people dare not answer again.

And the emperor's silent attitude during this period of time made it possible for the left and right prime ministers to control the power, but what they actually got was probably everyone's wait and see.In the end, the Second Prime Minister only had the right to appoint the middle-level officers at will. In this way, they could only use the tactics of defending the city in a well-behaved manner, and they could not play too many dangerous things.

In short, just keep it.

The wind blew over, and the three old men, all over [-] years old, stood in the wind and snow, waiting for the arrival of Zongwang's army.Only Qin Yuyuan, after a long period of solemnity, gradually laughed out. The heroic laughter did not match his usual image.But Li Gang gradually laughed too, and then Zhong Shidao also laughed.

"You and I are here today. Faced with this matter, we should understand!" Li Gang said with a smile.

In the distance, the banner of Zongwang's army came.

*****************

Summer Village Valley.The news has come.

In the room, Hongti and Juan'er are mending the lining of some clothes.In the open space outside the door, Qin Shaoqian, Han Jing, Yue Fei, Qi Xinyong, Yuwen Feidu and many other people gathered here, watching the boy named Xiao Hei put on those things.

When the armor made of iron sheets and steel sheets was completely worn on the body, the boy's whole body almost turned into a pair of walking iron armor.

It wasn't the first time the boy wore this. When he swung his fist sweepingly, the snowflakes flying in the air whizzed and swirled for it.Behind him, the armored war horse let out a soft cry, and behind him, more than 100 armored heavy cavalry were all dressed.

"It's okay." Ning Yi said in a low voice, not far away, Qin Shaoqian stroked the iron armor on the horse, shook his head and sighed.

Putting on the helmet and holding the Guan knife, the young man jumped onto his horse with a bang.

Not long after, the valley started to move. In the evening, all the people gathered up and down the valley, piles of bonfires spread, and all the generals including Ning Yi and Qin Shaoqian appeared at the top of the valley. On the high platform, Qin Shaoqian raised his wine glass to the people in the whole valley.Then, from left to right, slowly fell down.

"Today's cup is a sacrifice to the heaven and earth, gods and ghosts, the dead, and you and me who are here. Zongwang has officially sent troops to attack Bianliang today. Everyone, the time is coming..."

The bonfire was raging, and the valley was full of chills. Everyone was listening to him in silence.

Floating in the sky full of wind and snow, for a while it seemed like he didn't dare to approach here...

*****************

Taiyuan.

At night, Qin Shaohe, who was ill, woke up from his sleep, and the concubine fell asleep beside the bed in the dark room.He kept his eyes open for a long time, until he couldn't help coughing, and then woke up the other party.

"Master, you're awake, do you want some water?" The concubine asked, and then said, "The city defense is fine, don't worry."

"I had a dream. I dreamed of my father." He said weakly.

"My father-in-law is in Bianliang, it's better than here, don't worry."

"Yes." Qin Shaohe nodded slightly, then he smiled and said:

"Zhanmei, I think, maybe I won't see my father..."

*****************

The sea of ​​snow spread, day and night came and went, and on November 22, morning came.

This morning in Bianliang City was extraordinarily quiet, except for the falling snowflakes, it seemed that no one had woken up. The carriage in the Fanlou passed through the quiet streets and alleys, and when it came near the city wall, the sky was just turning pale.Shishi got off the carriage.She often came here to help recently, but this time, the atmosphere in the barracks was a little different.

Before she could discern the change in the atmosphere, the sound of horns came faintly and abruptly through the huge wall in the distance.Huge objects are passing across the sky.There was a muffled bang, in the bright sky and snow, it seemed as if a wind passed by suddenly, Shi Shi's body shrank, she felt the ground was moving, and someone shouted "Ah" in the distance——

boom--

——Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom

The sound of the siege reached its peak in an instant, and the terrifying sound flooded the city, shaking everything it touched...

The gate of hell is open...

　This chapter is [-] words - I'm wondering whether to add a hundred more words - it can be worth two chapters, um, have I finished all the changes in June...

In the next month, let's update all the year's work!Ha ha.

(End of this chapter)