Novoland: Eagle Flag Chapter 3: Shangyang blood eight

September 27th, it just fell into the night.

The Chu Wei Army outside the Shangyang Pass is in the tent.

Almost all the commanders of the princes' army were present, but the middle seat was empty, and Bai Yi did not come. Fei An's cold eyes looked out through the gap in the curtain at the door, and a little bit of autumn wind came in. In just a few days, it became cold at Shangyang Pass, and hoarfrost fell for several days in a row, feeling like late autumn. Gang Wuwei and Gu Yueyi looked at each other and shook their heads, while Cheng Kui stared at Xi Yan, who also shook his head and smiled.

Tomorrow is the day when Bai Yi agreed to destroy the city, but Bai Yi has been quiet these days, and no one can guess his thoughts. Gang Wuwei then sent a letter to ask all the generals to come to ask Bai Yi together, but only Xie Zihou from Bai Yi's shogunate came out to greet him, saying that General Bai had rested in the afternoon and hadn't woken up yet. The generals discussed for a long time, but they couldn't come to any conclusion. They were anxious and displeased with Bai Yi's arrogance and indifference, but it was inconvenient for him to do so due to his reputation. Cheng Kui gritted his teeth and patted the armrest of the seat, his eyes widened, and he swallowed back the swear words that came to his lips several times.

It was Gu Yueyi who broke the silence: "General Xi, among us only you and General Bai have been friends for many years. General Bai hasn't seen anyone for several days, and General Xi didn't say anything just now. Can we really attack the city tomorrow? Our army is completely unprepared, and the soldiers are uneasy. Will General Xi be willing to solve our doubts for us?"

His expression was humble, as if to please.

It is inconvenient for Xi Yan to remain silent, but he can only smile wryly: "General Gu, I am a talkative person, and I don't have the habit of keeping secrets. We risked our lives and came here to fight against Li Gong. We are comrades who depend on each other for life and death. It’s a pity that since the day I met General Bai, I haven’t understood what he thinks in his heart. If you want me to clear up your doubts, I’m also full of doubts.”

"The terrain of Shangyang Pass is dangerous, and Li Jun's red brigade is stronger than infantry combat. Defending the city is their strong point." Gang Wuwei shook his head and sighed, "If it is not for the pre-planned strategy and formation of troops, it is not easy to break the city. .”

"Tomorrow there will be a battle to destroy the city with 100,000 people. It's too late to deploy troops now. We'll just wait for General Bai's miracle." Fei An said coldly.

Cheng Kui opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. He sighed heavily and patted the armrest of the seat.

"It's useless to attack the city without advance preparation." Gu Yueyi thought for a while, then shook his head, "I don't think General Bai would do such a thing. Could it be the so-called seven-day agreement, Is it just a suspicious strategy that makes Ying Wuyi panic and uneasy?"

Xi Yan shook his head: "No, tomorrow will definitely attack the city. Although I never understand what General Bai is thinking, but I have known him for so many years, he will follow his words and do what he says, even for the enemy. There are no exceptions. So he has been with Li Covenant for seven days, and before midnight tomorrow, he will definitely climb to the top of Shangyang Pass. Unless..."

"Unless what?" Gu Yueyi asked.

"Unless this is the first time he has missed and broke the precedent." Xi Yan spread his hands.

"Anyone will miss the first time." Fei And said.

Xi Yan laughed loudly: "General Fei is right. If it wasn't for the two armies fighting in front of each other, I would like to set up a game. Let's place a bet to see if Bai Yi can keep his reputation as the number one general in East China this time." .”

Fei An raised his eyebrows and glanced at Xi Yan.

Gu Yueyi froze for a moment, then smiled: "I see General Xi's meaning, is he still betting on General Bai's side?"

"Looking at my friendship with him for many years, I must help this village." Xi Yan said casually.

The curtain was raised, and a Chu Wei soldier in white armor came in with a bent back, holding a wooden tray covered with white linen.

"See you generals." The sergeant glanced around and was about to leave after saluting.

"Are you looking for General Bai?" Xi Yan stopped him. He recognized the sergeant as a doctor commander who accompanied the army and also served as a secretary.

"What's the smell? It smells so bad!" Cheng Kui frowned and slapped his nose fiercely.

Everyone could smell the strong stench coming from Wu Zuo's body.

"It was the severed arm left by those weird people who broke into the formation a few days ago. I thought that those people behaved strangely and seemed to have no feeling when they were injured, so I picked up this severed arm and wiped it with lime. Go back and discuss with your colleagues. Unexpectedly," Wu Zuo looked embarrassed, "a strange thing happened."

"Strange thing?" Gu Yueyi asked.

"Originally, it was pickled with lime, so it would not be a problem to store it for a few months, but looking at it today, it is already rotten. So I want to report to General Bai." Wu Zuo said.

"Huh?" Gu Yueyi resisted the stench and stepped forward, "Give me a look."

Wu Zuo hesitated for a moment, but still lifted the white linen on the tray. The strong stench made people almost faint in an instant, and he couldn't help but press the armrest of the seat, wanting to stand up and avoid it. The severed arm on the tray was unusually thick and strong, almost half the length of an ordinary person's arm, but now it was rotten to the bone, the bone was separated from the dark red muscle, and it was dripping with stinky water. Take a look. Also frightening.

"How could this be?" Gu Yueyi was startled and uneasy, he knew that lime pickled bones would be dehydrated, and in such a gradually colder weather, they definitely did not rot so quickly. He thought of the black servant that night, although the generals of the army felt ashamed afterwards and were sent away by only five people, but they couldn't explain why. There have long been rumors of secret Taoist priests hidden in Li **. In the battle of Baluyuan, the Li army used the wind barriers and flames of the secret way.

"A piece of rotten meat, did you bring us a bad dinner?" Xi Yan's voice suddenly came. He had already stood by Gu Yueyi's side, patted his shoulder, and waved his hand to order Wu Zuo to leave.

"It's really weird." Gu Yueyi whispered.

"There's really no need to think too much about such unreasonable things." Xi Yan said indifferently.

Xie Zihou opened the curtain and walked into the tent.

He took off the hood of his cloak and shivered slightly. A gust of wind swept across outside the tent like a howling ghost, the ground was hardened by the freezing cold, and even the velvet jacket couldn't withstand the cold. In the tent, however, a charcoal basin was lit, and the fire was so large that it made people feel hot and dry. Bai Yi was sitting at the table without armor, carefully playing with a clay pot filled with soil.

"General." Xie Zihou approached and looked at the pot.

He knew that Bai Yi was also skilled in modeling, and he often made models of terrain sand tables and siege equipment, so he thought this was another new toy, but it might not be for siege of land when he was playing with it in Bai Yi's hands weapon. But the pottery pot was inconspicuous, just like a few copper pots on the market. Xie Zihou has been in Bai Yi's shogunate for nearly five years. He thinks he has unique insights into ordnance, but he can't figure out the use of this pot.

"Zihou, haven't the generals left yet?" Bai Yi concentrated his attention, nodded slightly, and didn't look at Xie Zihou.

"Not yet, they are all talking in the big tent, probably won't see the general, and are unwilling to leave."

"Leave them alone." Bai Yi said casually.

Bai Yi's hands didn't stop at all. Xie Zihou held his breath and watched as he first loosened the soil in the clay pot, removed the stones, then poured clean water on it, sprinkled a bag of things in it, and then covered it with a layer of soil. His fingers were covered with mud, but he didn't mind.

"General, who is this?" Xie Zihou finally couldn't help being curious.

Bai Yi was slightly taken aback: "It's the autumn rose seeds brought by Xiyan. I've already planted two pots, and the rest of the seeds are here. I hope I can see them bloom before the weather really cools down."

Looking at Xie Zihou's bewildered look, Bai Yi picked up two other pots from under the charcoal fire and put them in front of him: "This was planted a few days ago, and it sprouted so quickly unexpectedly. Roses are indeed a different variety."

It was only then that Xie Zihou believed that Bai Yi was really playing with flowers and plants, smiled wryly, and bowed down: "General, you are planting flowers here, but you have suffered for those of us who stand in the way."

"You generals are not satisfied if you don't see me?"

Xie Zihou shook his head and smiled wryly: "I've exhausted my lips and tongue, and the generals don't believe that you haven't woken up from your afternoon nap. General Chun Guocheng has a bad temper, saying that our army is afraid of war, and the general is timid. He almost described us as Cover up the accomplices of the traitor."

"Cheng Kui is a straightforward person. It doesn't matter how much he scolds, it's just a quick talk. I'm worried about Fei An and Gang Wuwei. Fei An has a vicious personality and always waits and sees our army. The general has been a famous general for decades, so he really thinks that we are rude, and I am afraid it will end badly." Bai Yi said lightly.

"The general will never deliberately be arrogant to others, since he is also worried about the dissatisfaction of Fei An and Gang Wuwei, why do he avoid it?"

Bai Yi was silent for a moment: "I want to show my dignity to make them feel uneasy, so they can't feel too familiar."

"How do you say it?" Xie Zihou bowed, which meant to ask for advice.

"The breakthrough of Shangyang Pass is just around the corner. At that time, the armies of the princes must hope to advance the apocalypse to meet the emperor. One is to establish our own power in the imperial capital, and the other is to show our merits in front of the royal family. But those of us who ride horses and carry swords want to enter the imperial capital , presumably the royal family will not be happy to see it. Among all the countries, our military strength is the strongest, and we are also the closest to the royal family. The royal family will definitely rely on our army to appease the princes and protect the peace of Tianqi City. At that time, the relationship between us and the various armies, It will be more subtle." Bai Yi said in a low voice, "So instead of being like brothers, it is better to keep a distance from the army and stand our ground. Make them guard against our army in their hearts, and then they will be more careful, so as not to Act rashly."

"If the royal family directly ordered the Qin King's army to retreat, the general thought that the army would not agree?"

"Absolutely not. In the history of my Dayin dynasty, Ying Wuyi was the first prince to establish power in the imperial capital, and he was only one person. We have driven away Ying Wuyi now, but there are six The princes want to enter the imperial capital. It's like a lion and six wolves." Bai Yi said, "For the discerning people in the royal family, it's hard to say whether a lion or six wolves is better. If I were someone in the royal family who came forward to appease, I would definitely deal with the princes, and the best strategy is to unite with our country and deter the rest of the princes."

Xie Zihou was silent for a while, then nodded slightly: "The general's thinking is really far-reaching. It's just that tomorrow is the appointment, and for breaking the city..."

He hesitated and said nothing. Based on his experience, storming Shangyang Pass undoubtedly requires prior rehearsal and cooperation. Given the high risk of Shangyang Pass, it is almost impossible to ascend the city, and neither water nor fire will work. A class of siege equipment forcibly hit the city gate. In this way, the sergeant will inevitably be exposed to the rain of arrows and rolling stones, and dispatching is the key to reducing casualties. But now even if the troops were deployed immediately, it would be too late.

Bai Yi waved his muddy hands: "Sit down. If you want to, you will not succeed. It is a taboo for the leader to not calm down before the battle. If my plan is slightly wrong, ten people will die before the battle." Hundreds of people. Do you know Shili Shuanghong in Xiatang?"

Xie Zihou sat opposite him and shook his head.

Bai Yi looked at the pottery pot with flower seeds, with a slight smile: "The roses in the world bloom when the flowers bloom in the warm spring. Only in the Xiatang area, there is a kind of autumn flowering rose. Roses. But autumn roses are actually a genus of chrysanthemums, but the flower shape is similar to roses, and it is a rare deep red. There is a Ziliang Street in Nanhuai City, and this kind of flowers are planted on the side facing the river bank. Days, ten miles of frost, taking a boat down the river, at a glance, it is like ice and fire blending, it is one of the grand sights of Nanhuai, but in our Chuwei, we have never heard of anyone planting this kind of autumn rose."

"Unexpectedly, the general also has experience in planting flowers."

Bai Yi was silent for a moment, then smiled: "Zihou, am I a very boring person? You have been with me for five years, and I am always tense like an arrow on a string. I don't like anything, and I don't hate anything. Occasionally blowing the blowpipe is also a heavy heart."

Xie Zihou hesitated a little, bowed and said, "Yes."

"Actually, I wasn't like this at the beginning," Bai Yi said in a low voice, "Twenty years ago, Xi Yan and I were friends, we were both unknown, and we thought about opening a shop in the streets of the imperial capital to sell flowers and earn some money to spend. At that time, Xi Yan also said that to open a store, you must have a unique skill, and you can flourish if you don’t have it, so he studied it for a summer, and planted a blue-edged rose called Haiji blue.”

Bai Yi fell silent, staring at the dancing candles on the table in a trance.

"At that time, Xi Yan and I never thought that we would become famous generals, but we never thought that there would be a day when tit-for-tat. The current situation in troubled times is too compelling... There is no choice." Bai Yi sighed in a low voice, "Now I am a person who has to calculate even my allies and take the first step in everything, so I can only be so boring and dry."

"The general's hard work on state affairs is really exhausting." Xie Zihou said with emotion, "But I think famous ministers and generals are better than employing people properly and commanding and dispatching. With all due respect, the general is just working **** his own, after all, it will not last long. way."

Bai Yi smiled, a little tired: "Zihou, you don't understand."

He was silent for a while: "It's not that I don't trust others, but it's hard to find someone who is like me. I served in Chuwei State, and I am determined to keep the land of Dayin."

Xie Zihou was stunned for a moment: "The general is loyal and patriotic. He is an army of benevolence and righteousness. All the princes admire him."

"Zihou, after all, you don't understand people's hearts, and you don't really understand the world." Bai Yi shook his head, "Is there anyone really loyal to the royal family nowadays? Try to get your own position in the troubled times, just like those people in the big tent now!"

Xie Zihou nodded: "I have also heard of the prince's heart of tiger and wolf. If Ying Wuyi is a lion, it is indeed not an exaggeration to compare them with a wolf."

"What they did was right." Bai Yi sighed in a low voice, "Zihou, I ask you to be the seat of my shogunate, not so much for your strategy, but for your innocence. This In this era, the old emperor should no longer exist.”

Xie Zihou turned pale with fright. He never expected that such words would come out of Bai Yi's mouth.

"I don't think it's up to me to say such outrageous words?" Bai Yi gently stroked those pots.

Xie Zihou sat staring blankly at Bai Yi, not knowing what to say.

Bai Yi's expression was indifferent, and he spoke softly, as if he was talking about something completely unrelated to himself: "The change of dynasty is a natural thing. If you want to always control the power of the entire empire and become the co-lord of the princes, then you must There is a strong leader. It is a pity that even though our Bai family is huge, it is still a family. It is not easy to choose a master who can deter East China from the members of a family. Slowly away from the master's house, in the end, the rest of the master's house are all pampered and pampered descendants. They have never held a sword, never killed a person, and they don't even understand the balance of the world and the strangling of power. They rely on the prestige of their ancestors to sit Maintain their rule on the throne of the Taiqing Palace, but ten years, one hundred years, one thousand years, when the power and prestige of the ancestors can no longer continue, this imperial dynasty will be destroyed. People who are raised in Jinxiu will never be able to Defeat a lion like Ying Wuyi who was born in the mountains!"

Bai Yi took a long breath: "This is the fate of the emperor. The might of Emperor Qiangwei continued to Emperor Fengyan. It is already the last glory. When that glory is gone, it can no longer be sustained. A country ruled by sheep and a country ruled by lions, whose people will be happy?"

Xie Zihou was at a loss for words.

"The one who is ruled by the lion will be happy." Bai Yi replied on his behalf, "Although the lion will eat its people, it will also protect its people. These are his food. The world is one. The big flock, the shepherd, must not be a sheep.”

Xie Zihou felt a huge pressure on his chest and he could barely breathe. For so many years, Bai Yi has never told him what he thinks, and Xie Zihou also knows that he is serving the most famous general who is most loyal to the emperor. But the answer to the mystery was suddenly revealed when he had no time to react. Bai Yi did not only have the word "loyalty" in his heart.

"The general has guarded the royal family for so many years...for..." Xie Zihou reluctantly said this, and suddenly stood up and bowed down, "If the general has other ambitions, Zihou is a general who was promoted from the countryside, and he can only I can swear to die with the general, but please tell the general directly, so that the son can feel at ease, even if he dies, he will not regret it."

Bai Yi smiled, and gently tugged his arm to make him stand up: "Zihou, you misunderstood me. The reason I suddenly said these words to you today is because I don't know what will happen to me tonight. The decisive battle will be It's time to start."

Xie Zihou's face changed drastically: "Just tonight?"

"Just tonight." Bai Yi nodded, "Back then, Xi Yan and I met Ying Wuyi for the first time in Qiuye Mountain City. He was still a young prince loyal to the royal family, and we were teenagers. But Xi Yan and I Yandu firmly believes that one day, this man's red-flagged horse will wash over Donglu like a tide. In the battle of Suoheshan and Baluyuan, I was forced by domestic pressure to send troops to fight for the king. In fact, I didn't want to be there for the decisive battle. It was time to face him. At that time, the allied forces of the princes were in a state of disunity, and I really didn't have the confidence to fight Ying Wuyi. But I knew that the decisive battle between me and this person was inevitable, and I planned to After so many years, I have been waiting for this battle for a long time."

He looked up and sighed: "A man is born in the world, and when a hero meets, he hates it sooner or later! I'm not 100% sure about this battle, and I may lose both in the end. I ask you for something."

"Zihou is terrified! The general orders, Zihou will obey orders! Even if he dies without a place to bury him, he wants to feel at ease."

Bai Yi nodded slightly: "If I die in battle, it will inevitably cause changes in the domestic situation. Now in my Chuwei Kingdom, the ministers monopolize the power, and the king is unable to command..."

Xie Zihou promised boldly: "If the general dies, but Zihou dies, he will definitely defend the country's lord and kill the rebels!"

"No, with your current ability, you can't do it." Bai Yi waved his hand and stared at the candle, "But I also have my preparations. After you return to my study, go to my study and find a book in the cracks between the bookshelves. There is a letter I left for you, which contains my arrangement for this matter. You may not understand some of these things, but you must implement them step by step, and the rhythm cannot be wrong. This whole set of plans is intertwined, and you There will be a great opportunity to turn out to inherit my power and protect the king."

Bai Yi turned his head and stared into Xie Zihou's eyes: "Remember! You can't make any mistakes! You only have one chance."

Xie Zihou felt as if ice had slipped across his back, his whole body shook, and he knelt down on one knee to salute: "Zihou understands!"

"Very good." Bai Yi looked exhausted, leaned back on the chair and looked up at the ceiling, whispering, "The decisive battle is about to begin, I have heard the sound."

"When? What's the sound?" Xie Zihou raised his head and looked around, but he didn't hear any strange sound.

"Listen, the sound of the wind," Bai Yi said in a low voice, "the wind is blowing!"

The curtain of the tent was lifted suddenly, and a gust of cold wind rushed in. Bai Yi got up, put on the unpretentious white cloak, straightened the neckline, and strode to the curtain: "Pro-barracks! Prepare to send orders!"

"Yes!" Someone outside the curtain shouted in unison.

The wind lifted the curtain again, and a group of black-clothed saber-carrying military academy members had already half-kneeled quietly outside the tent. Bai Yi nodded slightly, and the military academy immediately scattered and left.

Xie Zihou chased Bai Yi out of the tent, and stood together with Bai Yi in the howling cold wind. The wind became more violent, and the direction of the wind also changed. Cut with a cold knife. Bai Yi looked at the flags on the military tent fluttering in the wind, as if they would be torn apart at any moment, and nodded slightly. It was only then that Xie Zihou realized that when Bai Yi asked him to listen, there was really a special sound. The sound of the flag waving suddenly changed.

Bai Yi turned his head, and was about to leave with big strides, but stopped and patted Xie Zihou on the shoulder: "I didn't finish my sentence just now, of course the old emperor shouldn't exist, and the change of dynasty is also the general trend of the world. But every time of turmoil, a whole generation of people will be killed or injured. Every power transfer is bloodbathed. I don’t want to see it. So even if protecting the royal family is going against the trend, I am determined to go on like this.”

"Some things, I just don't like the kind of person. Xi Yan once said that I am the stupidest at the key point, maybe he is right." Bai Yi actually smiled, "Zihou, you stay in the camp Guardian. If I can’t come back, please bring those three pots of flowers back to Chuwei. See if the autumn roses can bloom in Chuwei. I’ve never heard of anyone planting autumn roses in Chuwei.”

"General..." Xie Zihou wanted to ask to accompany him.

Bai Yi has already interrupted him: "Remember the letter in Banbi, don't worry about me. I'm afraid there are not many people in East Lu who can kill me, even if they are lions from Liguo!"

He turned and left, the smile faded away, leaving a expressionless face, and a kind of coldness like a famous sword that had been honed over the years suddenly burst out in his eyes.

In the central tent of the Chu Guards, Xi Yan stood with his hands behind his back in the middle of the barracks open space, looking at the battle flags fluttering at the gate, the entire Chu Guards battalion suddenly started to move around him, everyone who came out to watch after being startled The generals stared at this sudden change in dumbfounded.

Xi Yan smiled and said, "It's started, Bai Yi, the wind has never let you down!"