Chang Kuo looked at his daughter for a while, then said seriously: "Ningning, Hezhou is not a place you can go."
Chang Suining also asked seriously, "Why can Dad go?"
"Because my father is a general." Chang Kuo said: "Even if he is not in the court, a general still has the duty to protect the people. This is the bounden duty of a soldier."
"Those who join the military have a duty, and so do ordinary people. To repel the enemy in times of danger is a human's duty and a natural instinct." The girl's voice was not loud, but clear and powerful: "General, father, no one can stop my instinct to repel the enemy."
The girl did not obey at all, and had no awareness that her father was her God. She did not discuss or make any requests, but instead talked with her father about the nature of being a human being.
She was wearing an ordinary military uniform. She was dusty from the journey and her lips were slightly chapped, but her eyes were still bright. At this moment, the stars were twinkling above her head, as if the stars and the moon were draped over her body, taking away her embarrassment and turning her into a shining sword.
Tough, sharp, and dazzling.
The dazzling color of the sharp edge reminded Chang Kuo of the Sun Sword, His Highness's sword, which was currently on display in Xuan Ce's mansion.
At this moment, he seemed to be suddenly struck by the meteor that just flashed by. The feeling of impact instantly penetrated into the depths of his soul, and it seemed that some familiar sense of connection suddenly awakened at this moment.
Chang Kuo stood there, stunned for a moment.
"The governor's wife and her son who are defending Hezhou City are not soldiers. The governor's wife and children can kill the enemy, so can the general's daughter."
Under the starlight, the girl stood straight like a soldier waiting for inspection, with a firm gaze and a powerful voice.
"Sui Ning is lucky to have more than one skill. He can use a bow as an archer, can ride a warhorse as a cavalryman, and is also good at swords and spears. He is brave and not afraid of pain. He can be a personal soldier under the general's command. I am willing to work with the general to repel the enemy!"
When their eyes met, Chang Kuo's eyes suddenly became hot for no reason. He calmed down his voice which seemed to have been lost for a while and said, "Okay... since this soldier is so capable, I will accept him today!"
The girl's eyes brightened, and she raised her hands and folded them in front of her, bowing to him.
Chang Ren was inexplicably excited: "I am willing to fight the enemy together with the general!"
Chang Mao, who was standing by, also took two steps forward and said with great excitement, "...I am willing to help the general to defeat the enemy!"
Chang Kuo looked over: "..."
What are they doing here? Chang Suining looked at them and said, "You can't go."
She had other plans.
But I still need to discuss this with Mr. Chang first.
Chang Suining ordered Chang Ren and the other man to keep watch, and whispered his plan to Chang Kuo.
After hearing this, Chang Kuo's face turned red with a hint of blue, blue with a hint of white, and white with a hint of black.
Chang Suining saw this and thought that with this face, he could open a dyeing factory right there, no, he could open hundreds of them all over the world.
"Father, you should put the overall situation first." She advised at the right time: "One more plan will increase your chances of success."
"..." Chang Kuo's expression changed several times, "But this person has a weird personality... He may not agree."
"Just leave these to me, as long as Father agrees."
After a long while, Chang Kuo nodded almost imperceptibly.
Chang Suining borrowed a piece of paper and pen, wrote a letter, and gave it to Chang Ren and the other man: "This trip is urgent, be careful on the road."
"yes!"
The two men responded calmly, bowed solemnly and then left.
"...Is this one of the two plans my daughter just mentioned?" Chang Kuo asked with mixed feelings.
Chang Suining thought for a moment and nodded: "Yes."
"What's the remaining plan?"
"We have to leave some time to talk on the way." Chang Suining said calmly, "Otherwise, if my father kidnaps me and sends me back, where can I go to seek justice?"
Chang Kuo was helpless: "Kid, is your father the kind of person who doesn't keep his word? Why should you be so defensive against your father?"
Chang Suining didn't comment: "Father always said that we should be on guard against others."
Of course, these are not the key points.
The key point is that the so-called first and second plans were just nonsense she had just said... If you want the donkey to run obediently, then you have to hang a carrot, right?
But it’s not a big problem. As for strategies, you can just think about them slowly on the way. As long as you have the brain, you can always come up with one.
"Okay, let's be on guard!" Chang Kuo laughed twice, and without asking any more questions, he waved his hand and said, "Let's go, roast some cakes with Dad."
Chang Suining followed with a smile.
It has been a long time since the days when I roasted fire and ate cakes with Lao Chang.
The flames were scorching, heating her limbs and awakening her blood.
If she had the feeling of carrying a coffin back home when she met Lao Chang on the way back to Beijing with Wei Shuyi, then at this moment, sitting in front of the fire, she felt like she was alive again.
Even though the road ahead will be difficult and dangerous, my hometown is where my heart is at peace.
At this moment, she was sitting in front of the fire in her hometown, accompanied by her former comrades, with a long sword at her hand and a war horse behind her, and she was truly reborn.
Be it glory or humiliation, the past can be thrown into the fire and burned into ashes and dust.
There is no need to mention the past. From now on, she will let the world get to know a person named Chang Suining again.
…
The raging flames lit up the sky.
When the first ray of light appeared in the east, Chang Kuo had already set off with less than 20,000 troops.
Compared to yesterday, there is a new face of personal soldier beside him now.
The horse's hooves crushed the thin morning light, breaking through the icy air of all things in winter and heading towards the uneven places.
…
In Hezhou City, where the gates were tightly closed, there was no sign of civilians on the streets and no one dared to go out.
The sun was high in the sky at noon, but it could not dispel the silence and fear all around.
Inside the governor's mansion, a young man had just finished changing his wound medicine and was getting dressed when a man in armor quickly walked in and saluted with a solemn expression, "Second Master!"
"Uncle Peng." The young man immediately put on his clothes, stood up, and asked seriously, "How is it?"
They ordered their soldiers to break out in two groups, report the battle situation in Hezhou, ask for reinforcements to save the city, and gather information.
The officer surnamed Peng did not answer the young man, but said, "I have arranged a team of elite soldiers... Please ask the second and third officers and their wives to follow them out of the city secretly and leave Hezhou as soon as possible!"
"Leave?" The young man's face changed, and he said firmly: "I won't leave! If I leave, who will guard this Hezhou City!"
"My dear, please listen to what I have to say!" Peng said anxiously, hiding his grief and anger: "Among the soldiers who went to inquire about the news, only one returned... He found out that a large army had indeed left the Shouzhou camp, but their marching route was not to support Hezhou. They actually went towards Yangzhou!"
"Yangzhou?" The young man was stunned: "Why is this..."
"Why else could it be? He must want to take back Yangzhou from the rear while Xu Zhengye is doing his best to attack Hezhou!"
The boy didn't know how to react for a moment, and asked uncertainly: "General Peng, is there such a way to fight...?"
Or, is this correct?
Is this as it should be?
"What a bullshit way of fighting!" Peng Canjun could no longer suppress his anger: "It must be Li Yi's idea. This guy only dares to evade and sneak behind the scenes, and never dares to fight Xu Zhengye head-on!"
If we talk about stupidity, this person is stupid with a malicious touch! The young man's face turned pale: "Uncle Peng means... they gave up Hezhou, right?"
So, there will be no reinforcements?
Peng Canjun grabbed his arm and said, "My dear, please come with me. If it's any later, I'm afraid you won't be able to leave!"
After being pulled for two steps, the boy suddenly came to his senses and pulled his hand away: "No, I can't walk!"
Peng Canjun: "The court no longer cares about the life or death of Hezhou, so who are you going to defend?"
"Defend for the people of Hezhou!"
This is a calm and powerful female voice.
"Madam!" General Peng turned around and saluted quickly.
A woman in her forties walked in, accompanied by a boy of about twelve or thirteen years old.
The woman had an ordinary appearance, with a slightly sickly face. Over the past few days, her hair had turned gray, but her eyes were stern without being angry.
"Xu Zhengye claimed to be helping the world, but his actions were no different from those of a bandit. Wherever he went, he would forcibly recruit men and seize their property, causing refugees to spread all over the place and causing widespread complaints."
"He comes from a wealthy family, and is willing to treat the nobles and gentry with courtesy, and talk about great undertakings with them over wine, but he regards ordinary people as grass and ants! I'm afraid that the words of supporting the prince are just a pretext for him to start a rebellion. This person has evil ambitions and is a real traitor who harms the country!"
"If Xu Zhengye is willing to treat the people well, I will be labeled as a traitor's accomplice and open the gates of Hezhou today to welcome Xu's army into the city!"
"However, my husband and Dalang died defending Hezhou. Were they loyal to the court?"
When the woman spoke of this, tears welled up in her eyes, but her tone remained strong: "Because they know very well that if Hezhou is lost, the people of the city will become refugees to be trampled on by anyone, and soon, the people of the entire Huainan Road may be homeless!"
The young man clenched his fists and said, "Mother is right. Before my father died, he told me to guard the door of our home. I will do so until the last moment!"
Officer Peng was about to say something else when he heard hurried footsteps outside.
"Report!"
"Twenty miles outside the city, Xu's army has been spotted again. They are led by Ge Zong and are heading towards Hezhou!"
Peng Canjun cursed: "...Sure enough, it comes again!"
There have been five or six battles of varying sizes in recent days, and Ge Zong is a capable and powerful general under Xu Zhengye.
This time Xu Zhengye ordered this man to attack the city, and it was obvious that he was determined to win! "Ah Hui, how many troops do we have left?" The woman looked at the young man.
The young man's eyes trembled slightly: "Excluding the seriously injured, there are only 8,000 people left who can fight."
The word 'only' is both disturbing and sad.
"How many of them came?"
The soldier who came to report the news looked a little panicked: "There are about 100,000...!"
"We must take Hezhou." The woman's eyes darkened, but then they became calm and clear: "Ah Hui, are you willing to join me to fight the enemy?"
The young man Yun Hui was shocked: "Mother!"
Of course he should go, but how can my mother go!
"I want to go with my mother too!" said the twelve-year-old boy immediately.
The woman looked at her youngest son and nodded, "Okay, let's go together."
"Madam!" Peng kneeled down and advised with tears in his eyes: "…The governor has lost his eldest son. Madam, you should leave a trace of blood for him! I am willing to defend the city with the second son. Please take the third son away with you!"
The young boy Yun Gui said decisively: "I won't leave! I want to defend the city with my second brother and mother!"
As the son of a governor, the twelve-year-old boy was able to understand what he would face next, and was also aware of the importance of the word "defending the city".
"Bloodline..." The woman looked at the two children and said softly, "If we can defend Hezhou today, it would be the best. If we can't, Erlang and Sanlang and I will shed our blood and stay in Hezhou forever. This is the way to keep my husband's bloodline alive."
General Peng was shocked, tears rolled down his eyes, he bowed his head to the ground and said nothing.
The young boy Yun Hui met his mother's eyes without any hesitation.
The young man tied a white linen cloth on his forehead, and the mother and her two children all came out wearing armor.
Hearing the noise outside, the people in the city pushed open the door and walked out, escorting the Yun family mother and son and eight thousand soldiers to the front of the city.
The city gate opened and then slowly closed, with soldiers outside and civilians inside.
When the city gates closed and the figures of the soldiers disappeared from their sight, some people burst into tears.
"Second brother, is it true that no reinforcements will come?" Yun Gui asked his brother in a low voice while sitting on his horse, holding a spear that was almost as tall as him.
"It will happen." Yun Hui said to his brother, and also said loudly to the soldiers: "The imperial army will arrive soon, we must hold out until the last moment, until the reinforcements arrive!"
"yes!"
All the soldiers responded in unison, and their morale was greatly boosted.
General Peng looked at Yun Hui.
Yun Hui smiled at him.
We cannot lose morale before the battle even begins.
Or, he still had a glimmer of hope in his heart. He had sent two groups of soldiers to gather information, but no one from the other group returned. What if there was new information but they just didn't have time to report it back? He knew that this idea was a bit naive, but the dead have always been the greatest. As a dying person, shouldn't he be allowed to be naive?
The young man rode his horse and led his army to gallop towards the enemy.
The two armies started fighting five miles outside the city. One side was determined to win, while the other side was in high spirits and fought hard.
Horse hooves raised dust and blood filled the air; the mixture of the two dyed the world into a dim and tragic painting.
No matter how high the morale was, as their comrades fell, the Hezhou army still showed the disadvantage of being outnumbered.
Ge Zong, the leader of the army, was confident of victory and did not need to do anything himself. He sat high on his horse, looked at the blood-soaked boy, and asked his subordinates beside him: "Is that the son of the governor of Hezhou?"
"That's right, General!"
"He is a man of courage." Ge Zong said, "The general is in need of people now. Tell them that they will not be killed if they surrender."
Soon someone in Xu's army shouted "Those who surrender will not be killed."
"In our army today, there are only heroes who died in battle, and no cowards who surrendered to the evil bandits!" The young man, whose eyes were red with anger, swung his sword and killed another enemy soldier.
Ge Zong sneered: "Young people are ignorant after all... their stubbornness is misplaced."
As he spoke, his gaze turned and fell on the woman in armor killing the enemy: "Why is there another woman?"
"That should be the widow of the governor of Hezhou."
"A widow." Ge Zong raised his eyebrows and said, "The general has always hated these women whose identities are unclear. The court is not the place for them to appear, and the battlefield is certainly not the place... Women are born with evil spirits, and they will ruin the country's fortune and feng shui."
The subordinates standing by naturally knew who he was referring to, and could only respond with "yes" for a moment.
"It's unlucky to see a widow making a scene on the battlefield." Ge Zong said, drawing the bow in his hand.
The arrow flew away, but when it approached Madam Yun, it was blocked by a man and a horse.
The figure on the horse was very small and fell off the horse after being hit by the arrow.
Madam Yun's pupils trembled: "A Gui!"
She tried to move forward, but was blocked by an enemy soldier brandishing a gun.
Yun Hui rode forward, jumped off the horse, and half lifted his brother up: "Ah Gui!"
The young boy who blocked an arrow for his mother, with blood gushing out of his mouth, leaned against his brother and asked with uneven breathing: "Second brother, are the reinforcements... coming soon?"
Yun Hui was trembling all over. He wanted to tell his brother that he lied and there were no reinforcements! But he heard his brother whisper in front of him: "Second brother, I seem to hear the sound of reinforcements..."
At this moment, Yun Hui's eyes were red and his heart was broken, and all the resentment turned into anger.
There was no such thing as reinforcements! That was all his naive fantasy! The next moment, an enemy soldier swung his sword at him.
He suddenly stood up, protected his brother, grasped the opponent's long sword with both hands, and let out an unwilling roar through his clenched teeth, forcing the opponent to retreat several steps.
His hands were covered in blood, and using his hands to block the knife was undoubtedly a stupid method, but at this point, he no longer cared. He had no rules, no reason, and no hope.
The other party was shocked by his ferocity at first, but soon came to his senses, pulled back the knife, raised it, and was about to chop it down.
"call out--"
Suddenly a cold wind blew by.
The man holding the knife trembled and suddenly stopped.
An arrow flew from nowhere and pierced his forehead.
A big chapter of 4,500 words! I will add a few words and ask for a monthly ticket. Good night!
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