Delong

Chapter 148: A Journey Through the Sea of ​​Bitterness (15)

There was constant noise in Yunnei City, the trampling of horses, the clashing of swords and armor, the rumble of collapsing buildings, the sound of scolding, shouting, and crying, one after another, accompanied by the whistling and impacting sounds of arrows from outside the city , shouting and killing, forming an indescribable background sound.

Under this sound, some people are frightened, some are cheered up, some are confused, some are thinking, and some are sleeping and eating.

The person sleeping was Fu Longwei, who was on duty at night. He was snoring constantly in the wing of the Sheriff's Mansion, but the usual harsh snoring had already been drowned out by the noise from the outside world. Zhang Xing brought Qin Bao under such circumstances. , Wang Zhen, Xiao Zhou and other seven or eight Fulong guards, plus a dozen Jinwu guards squatted on the porch outside the wing room of Datong shop to eat.

A bowl of millet porridge with soy sauce, two baked pancakes, and a piece of jerky. The millet porridge was boiled very badly, the pancakes were baked very crispy, and the jerky was also oily. Vice Changjian Zhang tasted delicious.

Of course, not everyone has jerky... Fulongwei has it, but Jinwuwei only has the team leader Ding Quan, and the rest are just millet porridge and pancakes.

But this is not the worst treatment in this place. In the corner of the courtyard of this wing, next to the well, a high-ranking Beiya eunuch took care of a stove with two maids and two eunuchs. A broken earthen jar, inside the earthen jar is a jar of millet porridge... The water was made by myself, and the millet was made together. This is the rations for the five of them and eight other palace members for the whole day today. I also need to find these Fulongwei to borrow.

What's more, according to the decree, the father-in-laws can still get a large bowl of millet porridge, because they can go to battle when necessary, and the maids only have half a bowl.

The porridge was ready, because Fulongwei and Jinwuwei hadn't finished their meal and had their bowls ready, so they could only stare blankly, and then took the only remaining bowl and let the father-in-law surnamed Yu fill the porridge first .

Eunuch Yu was holding the porridge, and sat down beside Zhang Xing cautiously, and began to drink it slowly, but after taking a few sips, he probably couldn't get used to this kind of porridge with soy sauce added directly, so he couldn't hold back, so he served it. Hold the bowl and ask seriously: "Zhang Changjian, it is said that you escaped back during the Second Conquest of Dongyi... Was it also in this mess at that time? Or is this already considered good?"

As soon as this remark came out, the surrounding people, whether it was Fulongwei, Jinwuwei, or the palace people far away, all looked up together.

"Almost." Zhang Xing chewed a mouthful of pancakes, thoughtfully. "It was pretty good at the beginning. It can make a fire, and the helmet can be used as a pot, so there are hot porridge to drink and hot pancakes to eat."

"Then why didn't many people escape back?" Eunuch Yu couldn't help being curious.

"Because it's just the same at the beginning." Zhang Xing shook his head in agreement. "Afterwards it started to rain. Once it rained, the fire couldn't be lit. We could only add cold water to pancakes... At this time, people began to die directly. Some people got sick from drinking rainwater and couldn't get up after sleeping; some were too tired. Yes, walking and rolling directly into the river ditch without screaming; there are also those who fought desperately for a few pancakes... Now that I think about it, it is fortunate that it is early spring, otherwise the weather would be hotter and colder, I am afraid They were all going to die of illness or freezing to death on the road, but fortunately they were defeated so quickly and still had enough food on their bodies, otherwise they would have to eat people."

This Eunuch Yu, who has always been in charge of the Beiya writing and has always been important, was fascinated by this. He spilled a little porridge on his hand and hurried to lick it. , will something happen too?"

"In case of snow, or a sudden drop in temperature, it's a good thing." Zhang Xing swallowed the last bite of pancake, sincerely comforting. "Because once it snows, the Wu people are outside the city, and there are so many people, it's even more unbearable, so they will definitely retreat."

"Oh!" Eunuch Yu was taken aback, and quickly lowered his head to drink the porridge.

"Master Zhang." At this moment, Ding Quanfu, the general of the Jinwu Guard, spoke again cautiously. "I heard that there are only seventeen or eight days left of food in the city?"

The ears of the people around them became even more straight.

"In another fifteen or six days, the Wu people will retreat." Zhang Xing didn't have the intention to scare these people, nor did he have the intention to verify what he really didn't know, but just told the truth. "Otherwise, it will be blocked by reinforcements from the North, and there will be no armor left."

Ding Quan nodded. With his cleverness, of course he would not continue to ask "What if I can't keep it for fifteen or six days?"
Seeing that no one said anything, Zhang Xing didn't bother to say anything. He just continued to drink the porridge. What to do now.

Speaking of which, the arrow above the city gate yesterday seemed to have changed something, but nothing seemed to have changed.

After the saint returned to the county that day, he never went out to interfere with military affairs. He just hugged the empress and several young princes and princesses and wept bitterly. It is said that his eyes were swollen from crying last night, and he even said that the heavens would kill their father and son... Servants Being so cautious and pessimistic is probably due to the fact that he couldn't hide from the movement last night and was infected.

However, from Zhang Xing’s point of view, it’s okay to just cry. Anyway, leave the matter to the outsiders and generals. There is no need for him, a sage, to point fingers, and the situation will be worry-free... The generals are experienced, and the soldiers are all forbidden troops. The elite, the so-called best generals, the best soldiers, the best armor, and a complete city wall and the residents of the city as civilian husbands, how can they not guard for half a month?
The Wu tribe came over in a hurry, obviously not ready to attack the city... As for myself, as Fulongwei, quietly be a handsome man in front of the imperial court, pretending to roll out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood, I can survive no matter what through this.

Just as he was thinking about it, another father-in-law suddenly turned in and shouted from a distance: "Zhang Changjian, it's hard work for you to go, Niu Dugong asked you to go to the city and call two ministers to come to the imperial court to discuss matters."

Very polite.

Of course, Zhang Xing also knew that this was not the time to complain, so he quickly got up and responded, and immediately called Qin Bao to divide into two teams to search for people... When the city generals Wei Chi and Duan Wei found them easily, by the way After watching the situation in the city, he went up to the hall in a grand manner, stood inside the gate, and watched from the sidelines.

Looking at it now, the sage's eyes were probably swollen from crying last night, but he should have used some method to reduce the swelling, but the traces could not be covered up. Instead, there were two red marks left, which seemed to be concealed.

The two ministers were also stunned when they saw this scene, but they could only pretend not to know it together with the ministers who entered in advance.

"I saw it yesterday, and the Wu tribe's soldiers and horses are in a difficult situation." The saint asked with his eyes open when he saw all the people. "The situation is tense, do you have a strategy?"

Everyone remained silent, Zhang Xing naturally watched coldly.

"Ask Zhu Qing's family!" The saint couldn't hurry, obviously a little anxious. "What can I do?"

"I'm still talking about it the day before yesterday." Sima Changying stood up and faced each other with a serious face. "Once the city is broken, everything will be destroyed. Instead of this, it is better to gather the elite and break through as soon as possible!"

"No." Prime Minister Su Wei immediately refuted. "There are more witch cavalry. Once you go out, your majesty will be in danger. Didn't you see the arrow yesterday?"

The emperor nodded immediately: "That's right."

Sima Changying let out a long sigh, and without even looking at Su Wei, he just bowed his hands to the saint sincerely: "Your Majesty, the faithfulness of my subjects can be learned from the sun, because seeing that arrow, I feel that the city may not be safe..."

The saint hesitated for a moment.

"As long as the city is well guarded, why not be able to protect it?" Shang Shuwei of the Ministry of Punishment interrupted the other party coldly. "Soldiers come to block the water and cover the earth. It takes time for him to form an formation. There are more practitioners in our army, so we need to concentrate and deal with it. There is absolutely no reason to abandon the city just because they have that arrow..."

"Wei Shangshu's words are reasonable." Duan Wei, Minister of the Ministry of War, also spoke forcefully. "What's more, we still have Dugong Niu, Bai Changjian, and Fulongwei and Fulongyin. We really don't mean to be afraid of that arrow. From my point of view, there are only two important things to do at this time. One One is to boost the morale of the city, and the other is to try to summon reinforcements... As long as the city is safe, Du Lan will definitely retreat when the outside army arrives."

The two ministers expressed their opinions together, plus Prime Minister Su Wei, three to one, and the sage Ben Sheng was obviously afraid... If there was any worry about losing face before, now he is absolutely afraid to go out... So, stick to it The strategy of waiting for help was strengthened again, and everyone naturally spoke up and expressed their agreement.

Unexpectedly, Sima Changying also nodded: "It would be great if it could boost morale, but don't forget that when crossing the river from Pujin, the soldiers rushed to bribe the superiors in order to stay in Guanzhong. People don't want to go north, so many people escaped after encountering the autumn rain upstairs...It can be seen that the morale of the city may not be very high, and some soldiers even have resentment...Your Majesty, you must do your best to boost the morale before you can defend."

No one could refute what he said, and everyone below Su Wei just went to see the saint.

On the other hand, Zhang Xing, who was stuck inside the door, stood still with his saber in his hand, his heart moved slightly.

"I understand." The saint quickly responded. "How can I take pity on the officials and nobles now? I have made up my mind. I will personally inspect the soldiers who were replaced last night in the city later, and promise them the officials and nobles in public... Anyone who defends the city with a strong and tenacious heart will have merit. To the sixth rank, there will be more rewards and meritorious deeds."

The hall seemed more and more relieved.

But soon, Prime Minister Su Wei reacted like everyone else, and raised his head in astonishment: "The sage said that the flat land can be added to the sixth grade?"

Zhang Xing couldn't help but glanced at the black ribbon on his waist, and then he was speechless. He had already realized what Sima Changying's words meant just now... This old boy obviously not only became cautious after that day, but also had evil intentions. Yes, it's a bit blackened... Play hard to get, nothing more than this.

Just think about it, there are nearly 1 pure fighters, directly added to the sixth rank, how many people are there in the whole world?Ten million? There are three sixth grades in [-] people?What is that?Still an official?Is it really possible?

"Yes." The saint said seriously. "I thought about it for a while, it's about the survival of the Great Wei, the continuation of the country's surname, and it's not too much to increase the flat land to the sixth rank!"

Su Wei hesitated to speak.

"Su Xianggong." Sima Changying suddenly said. "It doesn't matter, whether it is the sixth rank or the seventh rank, it is nothing more than a military rank, no matter what... The so-called six ranks on the flat land, as long as they are restrained in the army, it will only cost an extra 3 people in the future. It’s all about grade salary... Besides, the whole world belongs to His Majesty, and if there is a little hesitation at this time, if the army’s morale is a little loose, what six grades and five grades will look ridiculous... If you want me to say, even the Zhu Kingdom can also be added, let alone Sixth rank? Sixth rank, His Majesty has already considered it carefully, considering that the fifth rank is the threshold for entering the hall, so there is a special room for it."

The saint nodded again and again.

Su Wei was completely at a loss for words.

Zhang Xingze was speechless - how could these people deceive themselves here?Only names and utensils cannot be faked by others!If it's really about spending more money to give [-] people six-rank salaries, why don't you just agree with the soldiers to reward you as soon as you go out?Why do we have to use the official rank of the sixth grade to express it?
If this matter can be implemented, Da Wei will also be half dead.

On the other hand, if it can't be implemented, Da Wei should have kicked half of his legs...but kicked and kicked. After yesterday's scene, Zhang Xing has a kind of calmness of staying out of the matter, and he can see it more clearly. It's just that the sage's mentality has collapsed for a while, so what's the reason with a person whose mentality has collapsed?
Just as they were thinking about it, the two ministers looked at each other, Duan Wei obviously dodged for a while, but Wei Chi responded seriously: "Your Majesty, we don't understand this kind of thing...but since you have said this, you must win the trust of the army in the future, otherwise you will return sooner or later." will change."

"Understood!" The saint was a little anxious. "Is there still words?"

"After this battle, the three counties of Yanmen, Loufan, and Mayi will definitely be exhausted... Your Majesty, please exempt the three counties from rent and tax for a year, and pardon all the sinners in the three counties, and allow them to contribute with the army." Duan Wei hurriedly said no. Loose nonsense.

"This is natural." The saint became more and more anxious.

"I think that Dongyi might as well be pardoned...promise not to go east again." The uncle Xiao Yu, who theoretically became a husband, but knew that he was just a temporary worker, suddenly came out and offered to speak. "The two Eastern Expeditions, the people suffered unspeakably, and the soldiers were all afraid of dying in vain... If His Majesty can publicly pardon Dongyi, the morale of the army will definitely be boosted."

To be honest, Zhang Xing didn't care much about this issue.Because he felt that Dongyi would still fight sooner or later, but on the other hand, after the current incident, the Wu clan had openly rebelled, and it was impossible to fight Dongyi immediately.Therefore, public commitment to pardon is dispensable.

But how?

Considering that the sage's tossing started from the Eastern Expedition to the Eastern Barbarians, it is not uncommon for some peace-loving people in the court to be dissatisfied... In fact, there are indeed a large number of people who oppose the Eastern Region and the Jianghuai area. According to the voice of Zheng, the upper ranks in the army tend to march eastward, while the lower ranks generally fear it.

Therefore, this person may not be regarded as carrying private goods, even if it is, it is also a private goods with something to say and a reasonable one.

"Then pardon it!" The saint hesitated for a while, but it seemed that his mentality had completely collapsed, and even [-] sixth-rank officials came out, let alone this kind of thing, so he finally agreed. "Is there any more?"

"Your Majesty, please pardon the Wu Clan and Dulan Khan." Xiao Yu continued to speak earnestly. "And ask Princess Yu Chengyi and Tuli Khan to persuade Dulan Khan to return."

The hall became more and more silent.

But soon, following a loud noise outside, many people in the hall were startled, and the saint still took the initiative to speak: "Is it too late?"

"I object!" Wei Chi said suddenly. "This is absolutely impossible..."

At the same time, before he had time to hear the following, Zhang Xing saw Niu Dugong raised his hand towards him, he immediately understood, and then turned out of the hall expressionlessly.

When I asked outside, they all said that the movement just now was in the direction of the west city. After running to the west city, I found out that it was not a big deal. It was just that the Wu people started to hit the wood, and it had already been poured on oil and burned.

In this way, when he came back, he found that the meeting in the hall had already been disbanded, because the saints had started to go out to give lectures, so he simply took the opportunity to be lazy, circled the guard of honor of the saints from a distance, walked around the bare city by himself, and listened Looking for Li Ding while cheering like a tsunami from everywhere.

After wandering around for half a day and inquiring for a long time, I just met Li Ding head-on in a bare alley behind a street corner. Heap Lifu.

"Are you in charge of the distribution of military rations?" Zhang Xing walked forward, unavoidably speechless.

"Yes." Li Ding behind the desk was a little embarrassed, and he didn't know whether it was the embarrassment of yesterday's event or the current scene.

"Very good." Zhang Xing folded his hands and sighed. "Safety."

Li Ding nodded immediately: "Indeed..."

Zhang Xing was slightly surprised.

"Don't you understand yet?" Li Ding continued to pretend to keep accounts, while trying to laugh dryly. "The saint only wants the royal family to be protected. Under such circumstances, it is impossible to use troops and dangers. What if it is on the city wall?"

Zhang Xing thought about it for a while, and there seemed to be nothing to say about this matter. Didn't he see that he was going to fish until the end?Only when he thought of the fundamentals of his trip, he was a little solemn, leaned forward and said in a low voice: "I have something to ask fourth brother, in terms of practice, after yesterday's incident, I feel..."

Li Ding put down his pen and looked up, and realized almost instantly: "Do you feel that you have suddenly connected to a meridian? All the eight meridians are like this, don't care... which one is it?"

"From the top of the skull to the soles of the feet, qi and blood surged... I didn't dare to ask the other people in Fulongwei, but I feel that it should be the pulse." Zhang Xing blurted out.

Is the rushing of the Chongmai called the Chongmai?

"That's right." Li Ding thought for a while and nodded immediately. "Chongmai corresponds to the sea of ​​blood. It must be what you saw yesterday, and it naturally surged up on a whim... It can be seen that what happened yesterday has greatly touched you."

Zhang Xing was embarrassed for a moment, and then quickly cupped his hands: "I haven't thanked Brother Li for worrying about yesterday."

"It's okay." Li Ding shook his head again and again. "You have to be careful yourself... don't tell others, otherwise they will all be watching the sunset and the river. It is always a way of saying that you watch the saint lose his temper... That is to say, it is also said that the blood surges after watching the army formation .”

"Understood." Zhang Xing nodded and continued to ask. "Actually, there is one more thing..."

"Do you want to ask, since you have access to the Qi Meridian, why haven't you realized the true energy skills like other people?"

"Yes."

"This is a common thing." Li Ding continued to sit there and explain. "The true qi skill corresponding to the pulse is often manifested after the qi and blood surge...It is often more courageous as you fight, or it is not easy to get tired... If you go to battle and kill a few people, you may not be able to notice the difference immediately, but Sitting in the city, naturally you can’t notice it.”

Zhang Xing suddenly realized that Dare to Love is still a passive skill under emotion, but he was instantly relieved.

And just as he was about to ask again, suddenly there was another tsunami-like cheer from behind him, but he finally laughed: "From the sixth rank on the ground, Li Silang originally started from the fifth rank. I'm afraid he will finally enter the house this time?"

"What's the point of this great Wei's entry into the hall?" Li Ding picked up his pen again, sighed faintly, and then immediately became alert. "Be careful... everything is like this. When you think he is stable, he is about to fall unstoppably. You think he can't stand at all, but there are many things supporting him... To put it bluntly, The general trend is hard to follow, you and I are in the current situation, we still can't do the general trend, we are just drifting with the tide for the time being!"

It's quite philosophical.

But Zhang Xing was just speechless: "I'm just here to make fun of you. What about the general situation and the small situation, we have to wait until this time to get rid of the siege, right?"

Li Ding was taken aback for a moment, but also smiled dryly, then dropped the pen on the table, and then coldly waited for the next wave of mountains and tsunami together with Zhang Xing.

Of course, you have to pay attention to fishing, especially outside.

In the evening, Zhang Xing returned to the Sheriff's Mansion, and immediately got an unexpected news from an unexpected partner.

"You applied in the afternoon, and you want to go out of the city?" Zhang Xing looked at Qin Bao in front of him, speechless. "Being a messenger to meet the Youzhou army on the bitter sea in the northeast? But going out of the city at this time, wouldn't it be a waste of life?"

"Niu Dugong personally sent our messengers out!" Qin Bao replied calmly, as if he had a plan in mind. "A group of 30 people, scattered to seven or eight places in all directions, don't worry about the besieging army outside."

"But besides the army outside the city, there must be countless tribes attacking the city and conquering the territory separately. If any one is hit, they will die." Zhang Xing became more and more speechless. "What kind of dizzy medicine are you taking? If something happens to you, what will your old lady and Yueniang do?"

As he said so, Zhang Xing had already come to his senses: "It's because His Majesty promised to raise the rank six, and then this messenger's errand specially added special rewards, right? You want to win a big one? Just be a Your Majesty?"

Qin Bao's face turned red slightly, but he still tried his best to say: "I was prepared to fight my life to get ahead... This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Zhang Xing was completely helpless, and could only lower his voice and exasperately said, "Do you still feel that you have some ability, anyway, you can't die? But who told you that the saint will keep his promise?"

Qin Bao asked back: "In broad daylight, the sage personally defended his words, how could he not keep his promise?"

Zhang Xing didn't know how to explain it at all... Li Ding knew what was going on as soon as he heard it, but Qin Bao couldn't explain it at all.

And Qin Bao also realized something, immediately gave up arguing, and whispered to each other: "This time I made my own claim behind my back...but I have already agreed in front of Niu Dugong, and it has been listed on the list. In order to reward gold and silver, it is impossible to backtrack... Otherwise, I am afraid that I don’t have to worry about the witch cavalry, and I will die at Niu Dugong first."

This is the meaning of what has been done. If it is true, the military law will really not care about a little white ribbon.

"I'll go with you." Zhang Xing thought for a while, and felt a little weak when he touched the compass behind his waist. "I won't let you die without understanding."

Qin Bao immediately wanted to speak.

"Shut up!" Zhang Xing panicked for a moment, stomping his feet on the spot, and then felt a surge of true energy penetrate directly from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and then spread out, causing the surrounding area to immediately overflow with cold air. "Take me to meet Duke Niu!"

Qin Bao was just surprised to see the cold air manifesting around the other party, and was stunned for a moment.

PS: Good night everyone.

(End of this chapter)