Shanhe Festival 302. Self-immolation, famous generals are no longer famous

In the morning, Biancheng had returned to its former peace and tranquility, but it was no longer as prosperous and noisy as before. The empty streets were empty except for the patrolling Mohist soldiers. There were no noisy crowds of people or vendors, and no shops or restaurants on both sides of the street that were open to welcome customers. The huge Biancheng seemed incredibly quiet and empty.

Mo Xiuyao was invited to the study room by Zhang Qilan and others early in the morning. Ye Li took Zhuo Jinglinhan and Qin Feng for a walk around the city. Looking at the empty streets, he was silent for a moment and asked, "Those people at the execution ground yesterday..." Qin Feng and the other two looked at each other, and Qin Feng said, "Princess, the prince has ordered all the people to be expelled from Biancheng."

Hearing this, Ye Li felt slightly relieved. At least there was no real massacre in the city.

"All driven out of Biancheng? Where did those people go?" Ye Li asked after thinking for a while. Qin Feng said: "I saved my life, so it's always good to go anywhere. However... Lei Tengfeng was defeated and only 20,000 to 30,000 people were left retreating westward. Those civilians also went in that direction. I'm afraid that many of them will be recruited into the army by Lei Tengfeng, and when they go to the battlefield..."

Ye Li said calmly, "Once on the battlefield, they are enemies. Spread the news that Long Yang used the people of Da Chu as human shields on the top of the city wall of Biancheng. It doesn't matter if it's exaggerated." The three looked at Ye Li in confusion. Ye Li said, "The matter of those prisoners and the fact that the prince wanted to kill civilians must not be hidden. With this as an excuse, it will be better for the reputation of the prince and the Mo family army." Once the news that Long Yang used the people of Da Chu as human shields on the top of the city wall spread, Mo Xiuyao's behavior became easier to understand. Whether it was revenge or a moment of anger, it was easier to make people ignore Mo Xiuyao's own behavior, not to mention that King Ding didn't massacre the city in the end.

Zhuo Jing responded and went to do the work. Ye Li took Qin Feng and Lin Han to continue walking forward. "Where is Long Yang?"

Qin Feng hesitated for a moment and said, "It is in the big prison in the west of the city. The prince has ordered heavy soldiers to guard it."

"Let's go and take a look." Ye Li said softly.

Mo Xiuyao really hated Long Yang. The place where Long Yang was imprisoned was not a solid prison. It was a small building facing the execution ground in the west of the city. From the window of the small building, you can see the execution ground outside the city. No one knows how many people were killed in the execution ground outside the city last night. But Long Yang must know, because he was forced to watch the captives die one by one from beginning to end. Even after the execution, the cell that Mo Xiuyao found for him was not facing the execution ground. I am afraid that I could smell the bloody smell from the execution ground all night last night.

The soldiers guarding downstairs did not stop Ye Li. Ye Li waved her hand to stop the others from following her, and only took Qin Feng and Lin Han up the small building. After just one night, Long Yang had become completely different from yesterday. Long Yang, who was already in his seventies, had a back that was once strong and finally bent. Overnight, the wrinkles on his face became more and more, and at a glance, he seemed to have aged more than ten years. The sparse white hair was scattered on his head, and his old and cloudy eyes looked dim.

Anyone can see that Long Yang is in great pain. His pain is not physical, but his heart is tormented by guilt and regret. He is already a 70-year-old man, no longer as hard-hearted and ruthless as he was in his youth. Seeing the Xiling soldiers die one by one because of his mistakes, he wishes he could take their place.

"Ahem...Princess Ding?" Hearing the footsteps coming up the stairs, Long Yang turned around with some difficulty. He saw the young woman standing at the stairs. The beautiful woman in a green dress, without the brilliance of pearls and jade, nor the elegance of brocade and silk. Her beautiful face was calm and had a kind of majesty that ordinary ladies and noble ladies could not match. Long Yang did not expect that the world-famous Princess Ding would be a young woman who seemed to be less than 20 years old, but in this place of Biancheng, the only woman who could come and go freely and had such an imposing manner was Princess Ding.

Ye Li nodded and said softly, "General Longyang, nice to meet you."

Long Yang smiled bitterly, "How can I talk about the honor of meeting a defeated general? Yesterday... thank you, Princess, for saving the lives of the people in Biancheng."

"I'm not doing this for the people of Biancheng." Ye Li walked to a chair not far from Long Yang and sat down, replying calmly. Long Yang shook his head and said, "No matter what the reason was, it is a fact that the princess saved them. This old man... the old lady is old and confused, and almost killed these innocent people. This old man naturally has to thank the princess." As he said this, Long Yang stood up and bowed to Ye Li. He was already a dying man, so he naturally didn't care much about those fame and wealth. He didn't think it was a loss of face to kneel down to a young woman in her early twenties.

Ye Li was startled, and glanced at Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing who were standing beside him. The two hurried forward, one on each side, to help Long Yang up and put him back to the chair he was sitting on before. Long Yang sat down and took a breath, then looked at Ye Li and said, "Princess, you came here at this time, what do you want to say to me?" Long Yang's spirit and physical strength were very bad. Not only was he tired and exhausted in the past few days, but he also spent the whole night fighting and looking out the window at the execution ground without closing his eyes last night, which made a 70-year-old man extremely tired. Even though the Mohist army did not harm Long Yang, and even did not have any food, Long Yang's face and body still became extremely weak.

Ye Li nodded, and after a moment's silence, he said, "General Zhu Yan and Zhu Ling have both died in battle."

Long Yang smiled helplessly and said, "I expected this. Zhu Yan has been cheating all his life. He was depressed for 20 years. It's a good thing for him to die on the battlefield. He is luckier than me. It's a pity for Zhu Ling... He was thrown into the Jingguo Army by his grandfather when he was just over ten years old. He worked hard for more than ten years before taking over the leadership of the Jingguo Army. ..."Shaking his head and sighing, Long Yang looked at Ye Li and said, "At first I heard that the princess defeated Lei Tengfeng's army of hundreds of thousands by herself. We thought that Lei Tengfeng was arrogant and looked down on others, so he suffered such a defeat. Now it seems that I am arrogant. The princess is indeed no worse than a famous general. Just... I admire you very much for being able to find the National Defense Army in just a few days."

"That's enough of my tricks. Thank you for your praise, General."

There was silence for a moment, and then Long Yang asked, "How did Zhu Yan die?"

"General Zhu...died for his country by jumping off the city wall after the city was breached." Ye Li said in a low voice.

"Good... I have no regrets if I die a worthy death." Long Yang nodded. He looked at Ye Li and said, "Actually, even if the princess didn't come today, I would still like to see her." Ye Li said in a deep voice, "General Long Yang, just tell me what you want to say." Long Yang sighed, looked at the empty execution ground not far from the window and said, "I'm sure the princess has heard that when I was young, I was also a ruthless and murderous person." Ye Li nodded and said, "That's right, General Long Yang's name as the Western Region Killer God is not only well-known in the Western Region, but also in the Central Plains."

Long Yang shook his head and said, "What Western Region Killer God? When I was young, I didn't believe in heaven, gods, or fate, and I committed many murders. I have been idle for more than 20 years and only then did I realize my mistakes. But I never thought... that all my murders would come back to haunt me when I was old. I lost my wife in middle age and am now childless and alone in my old age. I guess there are some reasons for this."

Ye Li was silent for a moment, then looked up at Long Yang and said, "I understand what General Long Yang means."

Long Yang nodded, "Although I am old, I have a good eye for people. The princess is peaceful by nature and not a murderous person. But Prince Ding... Although I have only met him a few times, Prince Ding's eyebrows seem calm and indifferent, but in fact, his eyebrows are like knives, and there is murderous aura in his eyes. I'm afraid it's not a good sign. I heard that the princess came from a famous scholarly family in Da Chu, so she must know that war between two armies is inevitable in the world. However, wantonly killing innocent people is against the harmony of heaven." Ye Li frowned, with a little displeasure in her eyes, and said lightly: "General Long, the prince did not hurt any ordinary people in Biancheng."

Seeing Ye Li's unhappy expression, Long Yang smiled and nodded, saying, "That's why I want to thank the princess. If it weren't for the princess, I'm afraid that Biancheng would have been a river of blood and the wronged souls would be crying endlessly."

Ye Li frowned and asked, "What exactly does General Longyang want to tell me?"

Long Yang looked at Ye Li steadily and said in a deep voice, "Please advise the prince. The number of casualties on the battlefield is destiny. But killing innocent people outside the battlefield is not what a general or a king should do." Ye Li's heart moved slightly, and she looked at Long Yang calmly. Long Yang turned his head and looked out the window, his face was sad, "When a man is about to die, his words are good. I am not saying this for Xiling, it is purely what I have gained in this half of my life. If you let the blood cover your eyes, one day the blood will cover your heart. The battlefield has always been a place that can turn living people into ghosts."

Ye Li lowered her eyes, but her mind was in a mess. She understood what Long Yang meant. The battlefield was indeed a place where evil thoughts in people's hearts could be magnified to the maximum extent. Ye Li always knew that Mo Xiu Yao was not what he seemed. Whether it was the gentleness, calmness and indifference at the beginning. Or the occasional willfulness and carefreeness later. How could a person who had suffered such a heavy blow and injury, a person who had endured humiliation for so many years and even had his personality completely changed, be so calm and at ease in his heart? At least if it were her, she couldn't do it.

Mo Xiuyao had hatred in his heart, but he was able to suppress such hatred. He also had hatred in his heart, but he just watched Mo Jingqi die in front of him without any revenge. This makes it easy for people to think that his hatred is not deep, or that he has gradually let go of his open-mindedness. But Ye Li knows that Mo Xiuyao has never been a person who is open-minded and repays grievances with kindness.

This time, Mo Xiuyao's sudden outburst was not reasonable. Long Yang's behavior of using the people of Da Chu as human shields was indeed wrong, but if it were an ordinary person, he would have wanted to capture Long Yang and cut him into pieces to vent his anger. But Mo Xiuyao wanted Long Yang to live and watch the Xiling soldiers and even the people of Xiling die one by one. He wanted Long Yang to live a life worse than death. He was not angry at Long Yang's behavior, but he hated Long Yang, extremely resentful. But in fact, there was no hatred between Long Yang and Mo Xiuyao. The fighting on the battlefield was not hatred.

Long Yang saw all of this, and Ye Li could certainly understand it. So, Long Yang was regretting. He didn't really regret using the people as human shields, but he regretted that his actions had actually aroused the murderous intent in Mo Xiuyao's heart, and might even have released a bloodthirsty devil.

Ye Li looked at the old man in front of her who looked old but full of worry, and said seriously: "He won't become that kind of person. He will be fine."

Long Yang nodded and said, "I believe that the princess can do it. It is the blessing of Prince Ding to have Princess Ding as his wife." Ye Li smiled and said softly, "It is also my blessing to meet him." It doesn't really matter who is whose blessing. But Ye Li believes that Mo Xiu Yao is the right person for her. Even if there may be someone more handsome, more powerful and more capable than Mo Xiu Yao in this world, there is only one Mo Xiu Yao.

At this point, the two of them smiled at each other. The atmosphere in the small building was unusually peaceful, not like the two sides were enemies.

Ye Li was about to speak when she heard steady footsteps from downstairs. Qin Feng, who was standing at the stairs, looked down and gestured to Ye Li. Ye Li stood up and walked to the stairs. The person who was coming up from downstairs had also come up. When he saw Ye Li, he was slightly startled and smiled, "Ah Li."

Ye Li reached out her hand, held Mo Xiuyao's hand, and led him into the small building, smiling and saying, "Why are you here?" Mo Xiuyao looked down at her and said softly, "After finishing my work, I wanted to take you for a walk. They said you were out." Ye Li smiled and said, "I was free this morning and came out for a walk. It was just right for me to visit General Long. You've been busy this early in the morning. Why don't you sit down and rest for a while?"

Seeing Long Yang sitting at the window, Mo Xiu Yao's half-closed eyes flashed a hint of coldness, but he did not mean to resist Ye Li. He let her pull him to sit next to him. The two people who wanted to fight to the death yesterday naturally had nothing to say to each other. Mo Xiu Yao simply did not mean to talk to Long Yang, just pretending that he did not exist, holding Ye Li's hand and asked softly: "A Li, is there any place you want to go? We will set off in two days. I heard that there are several places in Biancheng that are really worth seeing."

Ye Li smiled and said, "Let's go and see which place you think is good. As I remember, Longshan Academy is in the city?"

Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly, nodded somewhat unhappily and said, "Not bad, but it's a pity that several famous teachers of Longshan Academy were taken away by Lei Tengfeng. Only some scholars were left. There are some ancient books that they said they didn't have time to take away. Ah Li can take a look and ask someone to send them back to grandpa and uncles if there are any that he likes."

Ye Li smiled and said, "You are thoughtful. However... just pick some that grandpa and his family will like. The rest should be left in Biancheng. They will be useful in the future." Of course, the useful ones are not to be returned to the people of Longshan Academy. Since the Mo family army has occupied Biancheng, it is impossible to rule for a long time without the people. Although Mo Xiuyao has now expelled all the people in Biancheng, there must be people here in the future. As one of the three major academies in the world, if Longshan Academy is restored, it will also be very beneficial to the rule of Prince Ding's Mansion.

Mo Xiuyao naturally understood what Ye Li meant, and smiled slightly, saying, "Ali, whatever you say is fine. But if Ali is interested in Longshan Academy... there is another person in Biancheng who I will have someone bring to see Ali later." Ye Li was somewhat helpless. What did she mean by "she is interested in Longshan Academy?" But she was somewhat interested in what Mo Xiuyao said, and raised her eyebrows slightly, asking, "Which other lady from Longshan Academy stayed in Biancheng and did not leave?"

Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows and smiled, "The principal of Longshan Academy, Mr. Xiuting Chen Xiufu."

Upon hearing this, not only Ye Li, but also Long Yang showed a trace of surprise. Mr. Xiuting's name is far less famous than Mr. Qingyun and the Xu family's reputation, but this does not mean that Mr. Xiuting's talent is much worse than Mr. Qingyun. It's just that compared to Da Chu, Xiling has always been a place that values ​​martial arts over literature. There are not as many literati as in Da Chu, and the status of the literati is far less lofty than in Da Chu. And this Mr. Xiuting really does not get involved in government affairs, but is just focused on teaching and educating people. Just look at Xiling, which is considered a barbarian like Nanzhao and Beirong in the eyes of the Central Plains people, but can make Longshan Academy one of the three major academies in the world, which is enough to illustrate the talent and knowledge of Mr. Xiuting. Moreover, Longshan Academy has a different ancient heritage from Lishan Academy. Longshan Academy was developed in the hands of Mr. Xiuting.

"Why is this gentleman still in Biancheng? Still here now?" Ye Li asked curiously.

Mo Xiuyao nodded and smiled, "Of course." Even if he really wanted to kill everyone in Biancheng, he hadn't really lost his mind. He knew what kind of people he couldn't kill or let go. And in Biancheng, there were only a few people of such value. Long before Biancheng was captured, Mo Xiuyao had already ordered Qilin to control them, so they couldn't leave even if they left first. "Shall we go and take a look?" Mo Xiuyao asked softly, "I heard that gentleman is quite noisy."

Ye Li stood up as well. They didn't have much time to stay in Biancheng, so they naturally had to seize the time to take a look.

Mo Xiuyao let go of Ye Li's hand and said with a smile, "I still have a few words to say to General Longyang. Ah Li, can you go downstairs and wait for me?"

Ye Li glanced at Long Yang who was sitting in front of the window, nodded and said softly: "I'll wait for you downstairs."

Only when the footsteps of people coming downstairs completely disappeared did Mo Xiuyao turn around and look at Long Yang at the window. The gentle smile on his face had long since disappeared, and his gloomy eyes were filled with a sharp edge and murderous intent. "If I hear you say some nonsense to Ah Li again, I will make you regret it!"

Although he didn't hear what Long Yang said to A'li, the worry that flashed across A'li's face when he came up just now didn't escape Mo Xiuyao's eyes. Long Yang must have said something to A'li that shouldn't have been said, which made A'li worried about him.

Long Yang looked at him calmly, no longer feeling the heart-wrenching pain and hatred he felt yesterday, and smiled faintly, "Prince Ding is so lucky to have such a princess."

Mo Xiuyao snorted coldly, staring at him with sinister eyes. Long Yang shook his head and smiled, "Don't worry, my lord. What can I say to the princess? It's just a casual chat. Besides... we don't have to see each other again in the future..." At this point, Long Yang sighed a little sadly.

Mo Xiuyao stared at Long Yang for a long while, then suddenly laughed softly, "Long Yang, don't count on Lei Zhenting to come back. Even if he comes back, he can't save Xiling. I have placed 400,000 troops on the border waiting for him. There are also hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers from Nanzhao. Do you think the garrisons from various places will have time to come back for rescue? And the small countries in the Western Regions that you suppressed back then, do you think they will take this opportunity to take revenge? Xiling... is hopeless!"

Long Yang was stunned. It took him a long while to come back to his senses. He finally laughed helplessly, but his laughter was extremely sad and mournful. "As expected of you, Prince Ding. You have been planning for several years... It is true that if you don't take action, it will be fine. Once you take action, it will be extraordinary. Forget it... I am old and it is time for me to die. I can't control what happens in the future... Prince Ding, please..."

Outside the door downstairs, seeing Mo Xiuyao walking out, Ye Li greeted him with a smile. Mo Xiuyao put his arm around her slender waist and whispered, "Are we going to visit Mr. Xiuting now?" Ye Li blinked and asked worriedly, "Will Mr. Xiuting really not kick us out?" Scholars are always a bit proud. With what Mo Xiuyao did in Biancheng, let alone kicking them out, Ye Li would not be surprised even if Mr. Xiuting rushed towards them with a knife.

Mo Xiuyao snorted and walked forward holding Ye Li in his arms, "Who dares?"

Ye Li turned around to look at the small building with its windows open and asked, "What did you say to General Long Yang? How do you plan to deal with him?"

Mo Xiuyao's eyes flickered, and he smiled faintly: "Tell him not to talk nonsense to A'li in the future. A'li, don't worry about me."

Ye Li was startled, and she reached out to hold his hand on her waist and whispered, "Don't worry, we will be together no matter what." Mo Xiuyao's expression eased, and the smile on his face became more gentle, "Don't worry, Ah Li, I am not interested in arguing with a half-dead old man. As long as he doesn't make trouble, I will ignore him."

Ye Li smiled and said, "Aren't you more important than him in my eyes? Xiuyao, I don't care how you deal with him." As a soldier, Long Yang's dedication to the country is indeed worthy of her admiration, but Long Yang has a lot of blood debts, plus his actions in Biancheng this time, even if Mo Xiuyao executes him, she will not say anything. The fall of a generation of famous generals is regrettable, but Long Yang is not innocent.

The two walked further and further away until a soldier caught up with them and said with some breathlessness: "My Lord, Princess, Long Yang set himself on fire."

Ye Li was startled, "What's going on?" Turning back, they could no longer see the hut where Long Yang was imprisoned. But they could still see thick smoke in that direction.

The soldier paused and said, "General Longyang poured wine on himself and set himself on fire."

－－－－－－－A side note－－－－－－－

These chapters are too heavy, aren't they? The way Long Yang died... Shake~ I really didn't mean it~

First of all, Long Yang's death is not a so-called cannon fodder. Although his behavior in the war is not acceptable, Feng himself has no ill feelings towards him or Zhu Yan. It can only be said that... the situation of the war between the two armies forced him to do so. Although they are the protagonist's enemies, they are not villains...