The happy life of the devil and the devil

"My lord, the results of the battle have been counted."

"How?" Ling Yucheng put down his pen and got up.Looking down from the top of the mountain, there are dots of bonfires here and there, and the night wind blows indistinct screams from time to time, which stop abruptly after only half a sound. It is soldiers cleaning up the battlefield after the war. The enemy on the ground made up the last knife.The smell of blood is still strong, but the smell of hot meat has rolled with the steam, adding a bit of warmth to the cold night in the northern country.

"Beheaded more than 7000 people and captured 1000 people." He Liu followed him step by step, "Among them [-] young men and [-] strong women—it's really crazy. After winning the last battle, they even killed women. This is not how you grab things when you are on the battlefield!"

"What about capturing and killing the enemy chieftain?"

"The chiefs of the Nine Divisions of Haixi have now confirmed that five people were killed...Three of them died under the arrow of the adults. Two people were captured, and at least three have escaped. The identities of the rest have not yet been confirmed."

Ling Yucheng looked around while listening.Most of the Xuanjiawei soldiers who had been on the road for a day and a night, and fought hard for another day, buried their heads in their meals. Some of them were still stuffing their mouths with horse meat, their eyelids slowly drooped, and they slept on their comrades, unconscious.Almost everyone was slightly or seriously injured, with bandages stretched across their bodies, the smell of blood and medicine mixed together, coupled with the smell of meat wafting from the pot, it was so strong and weird that it was indescribable.

Seeing him coming, the soldiers who were halfway through eating woke up their comrades and stood up, and the greetings were all in one voice.Ling Yucheng nodded back one by one, asked a few questions about the results of the battle, listened to the excited answers of the soldiers, and smiled and praised from time to time.After inspecting more than half a circle, I saw a few recruits shivering to the side with pale faces, as far away as possible from the cooking pot, and deliberately walked around the fire:

"Niu Erzhuang?" He quickly searched the names and resumes of these newcomers in his memory, "How many did you kill today? Seeing your injuries, you were desperate before."

"Sir, my lord," Niu Erzhuang froze into a log when he came into close contact with the usually unattainable general, his lips were trembling so that he couldn't utter a word, "I killed three of you! A small injury is nothing, it would be better to be beaten in prison!"

"Do it well." Ling Yucheng nodded, and turned to a particularly pale recruit next to Niu Erzhuang: "How is the little scholar? It's the first time on the battlefield, are you afraid?"

"Return to your lord," Xiao Liang tried to stand up straight, but he was stuffed with two mouthfuls of horse meat just now, and he vomited for the third time today, and his legs were still shaking like playing a lute, "When our army rushed down I have already won. If I am still afraid like this, I am too sorry for the adult's teaching. It's just a small incompetence. I fell off the horse as soon as I rushed down the hill. If it wasn't for the big cow to block the villain, the villain would not be able to do anything today. Stand here."

"You started practicing martial arts only after entering the Xuanjia Guards. It's not easy to do this." Ling Yucheng nodded, and continued to patrol the fires one by one.He walked all the way to a tent at the end of the camp, and then he stopped suddenly, and the soft smile that had been hanging on his lips just now faded away:

"How about our casualties?"

"Ten recruits were killed in battle, 25 were seriously injured, and the rest were slightly injured." Speaking of this topic, He Liu's voice dropped uncontrollably, "Our old brothers... four died and 15 were seriously injured. "

"You need to take care of the compensation well." Ling Yucheng ordered sadly, then bowed his head and entered the tent.Because of the order to pack lightly, almost all the tents were left at the campsite last night. The only three military tents on the top of the mountain were neatly filled with wounded soldiers. There was Yang Qiu's irritable shouting and cursing.

"grown ups!"

"grown ups……"

"grown ups--"

"Lie down." Ling Yucheng stepped forward quickly, pressed down with both hands, and glanced at the pale faces that had lost too much blood, "Apu, Ouyang, Qiying, Lei Po..."

"My lord, I'm afraid I won't be able to follow my lord." The veteran whose name was first called by him exhausted his last bit of strength to prop himself up, and smiled wryly: "It's the first time I came here to fight with my lord, and it's so embarrassing. ..."

"Who said you couldn't do it!" Ling Yucheng's heart was sour and hot. They are both people who have lived and died for a long time. Whether such an injury can survive or not, they both know each other well.The wounded man named Apu, named Wang Pu, was originally a horse thief on the border of Jianmen Pass.He went to Beiliang with Yuan Shao, and Apu stood up and said: "Wolves travel thousands of miles to eat meat, dogs travel thousands of miles to eat shit, anyway, I have decided to follow the adults!" Pulled more than a dozen old brothers without looking back He plunged into the mountains outside the pass, and when he set up the banner outside Jianmen Pass, he ran to the flag without hesitation.But now, now...

"Who said you can't follow me anymore. An Xin takes good care of your injuries and comes back when you recover. If you can't play again—" Glancing at the empty area under Ouyang's right knee, and Qi Yingqi's left arm that was elbowed off, "Those who can lead soldiers should go to the camp to train recruits. I don't want to lead soldiers anymore. Xuanjiawei's property is still short of people. It's better to use you than outsiders. Anyway, in the future, you will see a doctor, take medicine, or even marry a wife and raise children. There is always someone in the army who will decide for you..."

"My lord," Apu shook his head lightly, looking beyond Ling Yucheng to the outside of the tent, "What about them?"

Following his gaze, Ling Yucheng's pupils shrank involuntarily.Outside the half-opened tent door, there were more than a dozen lifeless human bodies lying silently. Ling Yucheng recognized the oldest, Sun Dong, who had been with him for more than seven years. The eldest son was five years old this year; Yuan Chongquan was only 16 years old—no, he was 17 years old in the next year, and he once said with a smile that he could marry a wife when he went back. Since then, someone has been cooking and mending clothes...

"I will bring the soldiers who died in battle back to Qingzhou. The military temple in Qingzhou has been completed, and they will be buried behind the military temple. People will go to the graves during the Qingming and Winter Solstice. In the future, all soldiers of the Xuanjia Guard, no matter whether they have sons or family members, will be there. There is a share of incense in the temple..."

"Heh..." A red mark suddenly appeared on Apu's pale and bleeding face, "Thank you, my lord..." He tilted his head to the side, and his voice suddenly stopped.Seven or eight voices around shouted out at the same time, but no matter how much they called out, he never heard a single answer.

"Apu!" He Liu rushed up from behind, burst into tears, and searched the tent in vain, "Why are you going now, we agreed to drink the most powerful burning knife together after the war, and we agreed that you After marrying a mother-in-law and having a baby, you want to call me a godfather...the luggage is left behind, you go now, as a brother, you don't even have clothes for you to bury—”

"Why not..." Gently pushed him away with both hands, Ling Yucheng hung his head and stood silently for a moment, took off the cloak, gently covered Apu's peaceful sleeping face, and pulled it to the top of his head little by little. "How can you say that you have no clothes, and you are in the same robe..."

"Wang Yu Xingshi, repair my spear and fight with you..." He Liu followed up almost instinctively.Even illiterate recruits can hear this poem sung to the point of familiarity. It is the military song they have been here for ten years since they came here from northern Xinjiang. The enemy's swords and guns put the corpses of the comrades into the grave... From entering the camp to the grave, this song "No Clothes" penetrated deeply into the bone marrow and blood of every soldier.

"Is there no clothes? Same Ze with Zi." In the next moment, a low singing voice joined in, and the wounded soldiers who were seriously injured and lying on the felt blanket, regardless of whether they were recruits or veterans, tried their best to raise their heads and sang in a low voice, Soon, the singing spread out from the tent in circles, "Wang Yu Xingshi, repair my spear and halberd, and work with you..."

The singing voice is more bleak and louder than the other.After arriving, beside the dotted bonfire on the top of the mountain, all the officers and soldiers of Xuanjia Guards, regardless of whether they were recruits or veterans, supported each other and stood on the ground, and the singing was blown down to the foot of the mountain by the cold wind: "Is it said that you have no clothes? You have the same clothes as your son. Wang Yu Xingshi, cultivate our armored soldiers, and walk with you..."

It was a celebration of united efforts after a great victory, and it was also a lament for the beasts to their dead compatriots.

"My lord, Li Zhongcheng, General of the Black Water, seeks an audience."

After patrolling around, Ling Yucheng returned to the camp and continued to write the battle report for Yuan Shao.The so-called camp is a slightly flat stone in the shelter from the wind, with a horse mattress spread on it-the ancients said, "You can wait by relying on horses." Leaned.Before writing a few words, another guard came to report, and raised his head, Li Zhongcheng stood more than a foot away awkwardly, rubbing his callused palms from time to time, his face full of "I have something to talk to you, I have something to be alone with you" talk" look.

"My lord, the last general is here to express his thanks." When we walked together to a secluded place, Li Zhongcheng couldn't wait to say, "Just now, the results of the battle were reported, and the number of soldiers captured by the Black Water Guard was as many as two thousand today. Our men were able to Returning home is all due to the mighty power of your lord, and I will be grateful in the end!"

"You don't have to be like this." Ling Yucheng really wanted to say politely, "As a subject of Beiliang, it is also necessary to save the people." The words turned on the tip of his tongue twice, but he couldn't say it.After pondering for a while, he changed the topic: "Your Majesty has worked hard in this battle today. Are the soldiers under his command suffering heavy casualties?"

"Don't worry, my lord, the children didn't suffer much damage." Li Zhongcheng grinned, "After killing so many bastards, only 300 people died. The last general has never fought so smoothly! ——My lord, At the end there will be an unfeeling request..."

"Ok?"

"The eldest son of the last general is 13 years old this year. He can already ride a fast horse and draw a strong bow. The last time he hunted alone, he killed a wolf. If the adults don't give up, the last general wants to send the dog to the adults as a guard. So I can learn some skills from my lord, and I beg my lord to give you some face."

"...your son?" Ling Yucheng stared at him deeply, Li Zhongcheng's tall body bowed slightly, trying to make himself appear shorter than Ling Yucheng, his eyes staring at him were full of anxiety. "The son is too humble. As the general of the Black Water Guard, you are in charge of an army alone. Wouldn't it be better for your son to follow his father?"

"My lord is just joking..." Li Zhongcheng smiled wryly, "Before I fought such a big defeat, I don't know if I can keep the position of the last general. In case everything is lost, the child is lucky to follow the adult, it is better than following the lord." My father is better. If the adults don’t take him in, the last general...the sons of the last general’s uncles have never lived past the age of 15..."

So, was the eldest son sent here as a proof of allegiance for the sake of the eldest son and the status of General Blackwater Guard?I don't know whether it is luck or misfortune to have such a father——

"I see." He raised his hand resolutely, interrupting Li Zhongcheng's increasingly mournful self-report, "This is a big matter, I have to ask for an order to make a decision. In addition—" He slightly lowered his head and looked at Li Zhongcheng, speaking firmly, "To Here, there is no such thing as the son of the son, and everything is treated the same as ordinary soldiers, how can the son be willing?"

"Of course, of course!" Li Zhongcheng burst into ecstasy, and hurriedly agreed, "How can goshawks on the grassland grow without wind and rain, adults just let go and beat the dogs!"

"That's good—" the voice suddenly paused, and the two people who were standing opposite each other turned their heads to look down the mountain almost at the same time——with only such a turn of their heads, the piercing sound of the police whistle had already pierced the deep night!

"What's the matter?" Ling Yucheng concentrated on identifying the rhythm of the whistle, and raised his voice as he walked quickly: "Come on, bring the horse!"

As soon as the police whistle was raised, there were guards rushing towards Ling Yucheng's scattered resting horses, quickly put on the saddle and tightened their girths.When Ling Yucheng walked quickly to the crossing down the mountain, the horses with complete saddles and bridles were already waiting there. Ling Yucheng got on the horses and rushed down surrounded by the guards who had gathered urgently.

There was almost no need to search for the accident site. Amidst the endless sound of police whistles, dots of torches had gathered like a long queue.When Ling Yucheng arrived, he saw [-] or [-] black-clothed cavalry soldiers lined up in a strict formation. The front row held long knives slightly spread out, and the back row had flat ends. The icy cold light pointed forward unwaveringly.Twenty paces away, a group of Black Water Guardsmen held their swords and guns at the same time, cursing with sullen faces.A woman was lying on her back on the open space between the two formations. Her ragged clothes were almost torn clean, and her body was stained with blood. It was obvious that she had died of breath.

Ling Yucheng's expression darkened, and he quickly glanced around.In the darkness, countless Haixi prisoners of war could be seen vaguely supporting each other, standing up, standing on tiptoe and watching here.A group of men who were close to him gathered closely, their expressions were half fear and half hatred, and they were obviously a little confused. They were at a loss watching the confrontation between the two armies chasing and killing them during the day.In the crowd, the woman's heart-piercing cry could be heard faintly, and her mouth was covered after only half a sound.

"What's going on here?" The sound of horseshoes was like rain, and Li Zhongcheng quickly rushed up from behind. As soon as he got close, he was forced to shiver by Ling Yucheng's never-before-seen gloomy eyes. "Insulting women, using knives and guns with friendly troops--couldn't I have passed on a military order before?"

This sentence was sent out in Tie Le language, and there was a slight commotion among the soldiers with knives and guns on both sides. Half of them quietly lowered their weapons, and the other half asked anxiously in a low voice, and then imitated the words of their comrades. Actions.Ling Yucheng saw all this from the corner of his eye, and stared at Li Zhongcheng for a moment, his eyes were full of condescending and sharp questioning: After the victory, will the Black Water Guard still obey his military orders?

How dare you say no!

The cold sweat on Li Zhongcheng's back couldn't stop oozing out.The precarious position of the eldest son is still in the hands of others, not to mention Ling Yucheng's identity...he dares to say a word of no, at best he said that the battle was over and the bridge was demolished, and at worst he was directly labeled as rebellious and he would not be wronged!

"My lord, calm down!" In panic, he bowed deeply on the horse's back, and immediately turned to his sergeant, raised his eyebrows and said, "What are you doing! Put that guy down!" He galloped forward and lashed his head and face with several whips. go down.

"Put down your weapon!" Seeing the soldiers of the Black Water Guard facing him lower their swords and guns, Ling Yucheng shouted the order.With a bang, the cavalry in the front put their swords back into their sheaths, and the cavalry in the back unsheathed their arrow feathers, and carried their guns back, their movements were uniform as one person.All of a sudden, most of the atmosphere in the arena eased up, and even the prisoners who were watching from a distance quietly relaxed their clenched fists.

"Who touched this woman just now? Stand up!"

In the stern glance, the soldiers of Xuanjiawei looked calmly and looked back at their commander without flinching; the Black Water Guard who had just taken a knife and fired a gun just scattered away, leaving only two or three dressed in different clothes. The messy guy with the smell of fresh blood on his body stood there, looking more and more trembling.

"Your Excellency, look... After winning the battle, the people below will make some women have fun..." Li Zhongcheng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, turned his horse's head around to laugh with him, "Anyway, these savages are damned!" prisoners of war..."

"While marching, rape women, what should be the crime?"

"My lord—wherever he goes, he abuses his people and rapes women. This is called a treacherous army, and the offenders will be killed!" Immediately, a high-pitched voice followed up, followed by an interpreter fluently repeating in Tiele I said it again, and then I staggered and shouted it again in Bohai dialect.

"These people, will the son deal with them personally, or will I deal with them?"

"My lord, these are all meritorious soldiers, please spare their lives! The final general will turn around and give them a severe lesson and let them take their crimes and make meritorious deeds—"

"Isn't the prince going to deal with it?"

"My lord..." Hearing Ling Yucheng's tone became more serious, Li Zhongcheng gritted his teeth, and pulled out his machete cruelly: "Come on! These guys violated the military order and raped women, and they should be executed according to the law—I'll chop them all up!" !” The guards around rushed forward in response, two or three serving one, and pushed down the black water guard soldiers who had caused trouble to the ground, the knife light flashed, and the gushing blood instantly lit everyone's eyes red.

"... Humph." Ling Yucheng's face softened slightly, and he turned his head to his side, "Who blew the whistle just now?—Come out!"

"My lord, it was the villain who reported to the police." The pure black formation parted left and right, and a cavalryman with the appearance of a small captain came out more and more, and rolled off the saddle, "The villain saw them violating orders and humiliating women, so he went up and scolded them to stop them, but Being beaten by them relying on the number of people, I was in a hurry, so I whistled to gather people... Your Excellency, forgive me!"

"So you led the crowd to confront them?" Facing his subordinates, he naturally used Xia Wen for this question and answer. Heishuiwei couldn't understand a word from Li Zhongcheng down, and just watched helplessly. Looking at the two men, seeing Ling Yucheng's voice became more and more serious, the team leader knelt down on the ground, his face pale, "Why don't you leave the scene and report immediately? If you start a melee, there are so many Haixi prisoners of war here. Huh, have you ever thought about the consequences?—Heavy responsibility for the Forty Army Batons, and the official position will be demoted!"

"Yes!"

The heavy gun barrel slammed down with the sound of the wind. After three or five sticks, each stick brought splashes of blood and shattered clothes and flesh.Different from the commotion of beheading the soldiers of the Black Water Guard just now, this time it was really silent. Everyone held their breaths as they watched the team leader dug his fingers deep into the ground, not even daring to groan.After the forty sticks were beaten, Ling Yucheng rode his horse and slowly walked around the open space in the field, and suddenly raised his breath and raised his voice, the voice was like ice and jade, and it spread far away:

"I'll say it again, those who disobey orders will be executed! Those who fight privately will be executed! Those who rape women will be executed!" He said, and the military interpreter repeated loudly in Tiele and Bohai dialects, "Whoever dares to violate military orders will be punished." A few heads will be your fate!"

"As for you," he turned his horse's head around, and the nearest Haixi prisoner quickly knelt down on the ground, his forehead pressed against the ground, and circled around. There were no prisoners who dared to stand up. According to the national law, the whole family should be beheaded. Your Majesty is merciful and allows you to be slaves to make atonement—if anyone dares to escape and resist, I have already killed thousands of people today, and I don’t mind killing thousands more!"

With a shout, the assembled Xuanjiawei soldiers separated the prisoners from men and women, from young to old, and blasted them into different camps like driving sheep.Under the firelight, the shivering Haixi savages followed obediently, and when they got close to the Black Water Guard soldiers, they even got closer to the Xuanjia Guard who was leading them.

The author has something to say: Huh...