[Cehua] The wind and rain are like dark

Li Jin and the others broke through the siege for a while, but the Spikes behind him never gave up their pursuit. After chasing for a while, they gradually stopped their pursuit.The horse under his crotch was sweating profusely, snorting hotly, even a horse like Ta Yan Wuzhao was almost exhausted at this time.Li Jin reined in his horse, followed by Xu Shengbin and Chen Minghua.

"That's not right, it shouldn't come out so easily."

"Go! What are you thinking about so much!" Li Jin turned his head and scolded, "It's important to hurry—forget it, let's stop for now."

Even though it was night, Li Jin could still see his pale face.He didn't say anything, he just ordered to be careful and wait for orders, take a rest on the side of the road, and then go on the road later, in fact, waves of uneasiness had already surfaced in his heart.Although the Spike Army failed to intercept the encirclement successfully, it was because they were caught off guard, but if they send troops to chase them now, they will only have a dead end.Right now, the Wolf Fang Army gave up their pursuit, which is the best thing for them, but another kind of worry has quietly gathered like a cloud - the Wolf Fang Army does not send people to chase and kill, there are no more than two reasons, one is The Spike Army also adheres to the so-called principle that the poor should not be oppressed, but since the Spike Army has besieged the city for several days, they still understand that the siege must be lacking, leaving a gap for them, this principle must not make sense; the second possible reason is that they The most worrying thing is that they have been besieged in the city for several months, and the battle reports are extremely unclear. They don't know much about the situation in the cities outside, and they are definitely not as thorough as the Spike Army.Before leaving the city, Zhou Shousong and several lieutenants had already discussed together. They believed that the direction to the southeast should not have been invaded by the Spike Army. A little further away, Pei Zhilin, the censor, led troops to guard.The cities in these places are deep and deep, and there are many soldiers and generals. If soldiers and horses can be borrowed to rescue them, there may still be a glimmer of hope.But now that the Spike Army didn't pursue them, Li Jin couldn't help but feel extremely worried, fearing that something unknown had happened to the place they were going to.

Although I think so, I still have to go.Li Jin didn't dare to stay, and after a short rest, he called everyone to get on their horses and leave.He knew very well in his heart that even if he successfully borrowed reinforcements, it was still a question of whether he could enter the city alive when he returned.He promised He Xiaoxiao, Zhou Shousong, and all the soldiers and people in the city that he would go back alive.It's just that he knew in his heart that when he left the city, the food and grass in the army were about to run out, and in a few days, there would be a famine more terrible than the enemy army.This is only in the army, and the plague is rampant in the city, I am afraid that it has long been a hell on earth.But it's useless to think too much at this time, he can only lead everyone to hurry up and ask for help elsewhere.

He Xiaoxiao was trapped in the room by the guards, unable to go out.At first, he was startled and anxious, and he kept asking the guards who ordered him to imprison him, but he got no answer without exception.The soldiers sent to guard him were obviously well-trained, and they only obeyed the words of the man who gave the order, no matter how soft or hard they were, they would not confide a word to him.At first, He Xiaoxiao still wondered if some terrible accident had happened in the army, but even so, it didn't make sense at all, he was an insignificant person, even if there was an accident, there was absolutely no need to guard him like this, let alone , each meal is served as usual.He knew in his heart that the camp had already run out of food, not to mention that every time he saw the sergeant who brought him food, his face was blue and yellow, and he looked like he had been hungry for a long time, but he never complained about his food.He was restless and could only repeatedly say that he wanted to see Zhou Shousong, but he was ignored by everyone.

He Xiaoxiao had no choice but to refuse to eat the food delivered after a few days.They can restrict his movements, but they can't force him to eat.This did work, the guarding soldiers saw that he had not eaten for three or two days, and his whole body was gradually weakening, so they didn't dare to neglect him, so they went to report quietly.

The night outside seemed extremely dark.The number of torches burning in the camp at night was also reduced because there was no excess oil.The heat is everywhere, even if you just sit in the house, you can feel the wet and hot sweat flowing down the sticky cheeks.There is a leap in August this year, and the palpitating heat seems to be prolonged indefinitely.He Xiaoxiao sat motionless in the shadow, only felt that the room exuded a sultry and sour atmosphere. There was a painting in front of him, and the pen rested on the inkstone, the ink in the inkstone had dried up for a long time.In the past few days, he refused to eat, and he often yelled to see Zhou Shousong, but he never got an answer. He was exhausted.

There was a slight knock at the door, as if someone was talking in a low voice outside.The sound pierced him like the tip of a needle, and he really wanted to jump up, or shout out loudly, but his throat hurt like a tear, and he was so hungry that he had no energy, so he could only sit still and watch helplessly. Watching Zhou Shousong push the door and walk in.

The door closed behind Zhou Shousong, and the room fell into darkness again.

"Mr. He, are you looking for me?"

He moved his lips, but couldn't say a word.No, maybe he said a few words intermittently, but he could no longer hear them, but he knew in his heart that all he could say was just a few words.Junior brother, junior sister, and the lives of several Wanhua disciples from the same sect.These thoughts have been circling in his mind for too long, apart from Li Jin, they are the only ones.Li Jin had already broken out of the city, and He Xiaoxiao knew in his heart that it was only at this time that the cruelty and ruthlessness of the war finally began to show its sharp fangs, Li Jin had already left him, life and death were fate, if the fate was not over, he promised himself If he is a man, he will definitely return safely and solve this crisis; but the fellow disciples of Wanhua Valley are so close to him, but no matter what, they can't be seen or rescued.

There seemed to be some noisy noise buzzing in his ears, which could not go away, and he tried his best to distinguish Zhou Shousong's voice from the crowd of voices.He heard Zhou Shousong's voice, as soft as ever, not like a soldier who has been fighting for many years, but the voice was calm, almost cruel.

"No, Mr. He, you can't go to the city."

"I...I'm going." He finally heard his own voice, hoarse and stubborn, "I must go. General Zhou, my younger brother and younger sister are still in the city...in the city..."

"Mr. He is worried about the plague in the city?" Zhou Shousong's tone was still calm, but there was a hint of indisputability, "What I am worried about is the same as Mr. He is worried about."

"...I can't... leave them behind." He Xiaoxiao seemed to be awakened suddenly, and he turned to look at Zhou Shousong.There was no lamp in the room, and it all depended on the faint light coming in from outside. Zhou Shousong was still standing against the light. Although He Xiaoxiao couldn't see the expression on his face clearly, but for no reason, he just knew that Zhou Shousong's face was bright. The expression at this moment is soft and cold, although there may be a little compassion, but there is no sign of wavering.He Xiaoxiao got up from behind the painting table. He didn't stand up, but crawled up to Zhou Shousong on his knees, grabbing his clothes with both hands.

"General Zhou, I know that the current war is difficult, it shouldn't be like this...but...but they are all me..."

"...Mr. He, why are you doing this?" Zhou Shousong put his hands under He Xiaoxiao's arms, trying to help him up, but He Xiaoxiao just didn't move. It's not hard-hearted either. I know what you're thinking. Mr. He clearly knows everything in his heart, why bother to force it? There is no food in the camp, and the soldiers are digging rats for food. Your fellow apprentice Even if junior sister enters the camp, she will still starve."

He Xiaoxiao didn't seem to be able to hear Zhou Shousong's words, but just clenched Zhou Shousong's clothes with both hands, begging unceasingly.He understood Zhou Shousong's meaning in his heart, the isolated city was already crumbling, and the only hope was that Li Jin, who had left the city, could seek reinforcements from the surrounding cities.The only thing the strategists and soldiers who stay in the city can do is to stick to it.But the food in the camp was exhausted, and luckily, there was no plague yet.If the people from the city were brought in again, if the plague spread among the defenders, the city would be destroyed without attack.

What Zhou Shousong said just now was to save him some face, and he didn't say everything.But just as Zhou Shousong said, people are not grass and trees, and no one has a heart of stone. It seems that at present, he knows everything about the principle of taking care of the overall situation, but he still has no way to practice this principle. In the city without saying a word.He knew that such a request of his was simply unreasonable at this time of crisis in this lonely city. Compared with all these lives, one or two lives of his juniors and juniors were nothing worth mentioning.But one or two lives are everything to him.These thoughts are like flames that have been scorching the tip of his heart, making him miserable.Behind these thoughts, there are some things that were fleeting in his mind, but he didn't dare to think about them at all--Li Jin has already left the city, he is the son of Tiance Mansion, Gouli Country, with a gun in his hand, With the armor on his shoulders, he should run for righteousness and serve his life. Even if there are countless dangers and possible deaths in front of him, He Xiaoxiao can't keep it.Must come back, must come back.This was Li Jin's own promise, but how many things in this world would be fulfilled by God's will if the person who made the vow sincerely answered it?

It is already possible for him to lose Li Jin, and he must never lose his junior brother and sister again.

"General Zhou...General Zhou..." He heard himself making a strange choked sound, "Please... Even if they are hungry here, they are better than outside..."

"Mr. He," Zhou Shousong's voice was still soft, with heavy helplessness, "Do you have to tell me everything before you can understand what I mean? You have been in the camp for a long time, so you probably don't know the situation in the city. ... I know that you have a deep relationship with your fellow disciples, but in the current situation, I advise you not to think about it."

He Xiaoxiao's fingers twitched involuntarily, he wanted to grab something, but Zhou Shousong had already resolutely and gently pulled out the hem of He Xiaoxiao's clothes, and took a few steps back.

"Mr. He, if you want to open something, the war is ruthless, it's the same wherever you change it."

Zhou Shousong turned around to pull the door latch, hardened his heart and turned a deaf ear to He Xiaoxiao's low, choking sobs, until He Xiaoxiao's hoarse voice from behind was like a blunt and heavy knife cutting through the stagnant heaviness around him.

"...then why... why until now, the things that are sent to me every day are still..."

Zhou Shousong was silent for a while.He Xiaoxiao seemed to hear him sigh.Footsteps rubbing against the ground made a slight sound, it seemed that Zhou Shousong turned half sideways and glanced at himself.

"In that case, Mr. He, I'm telling you the truth. Li Jin went out of the city to ask for help, and he has a heavy responsibility. You are him... When he returns at the end of the day, he must not let him see that you have died in the city. As the lord of the city General, so many soldiers listen to my orders and are not afraid of death. I will not hurt the hearts of the soldiers. Don't worry, as long as there is food to satisfy your hunger, you will never starve to death. Instead of worrying every day, why don't you Calm down and wait for him to lead the troops back." Zhou Shousong paused suddenly while he was talking, and He Xiaoxiao heard his tone change instantly, it was still soft, but much colder, "Even if they don't care that they might bring in the plague, Let your younger brothers and sisters come in here, it's the same... without their rations. If you insist on not eating for the sake of your younger brothers and sisters, Zhou will have to use other means to force you to submit. At that time, although Zhou will still treat you The same respect, but the behavior is not so good-looking."

He Xiaoxiao stared straight at him, but the light in the room was too dim, so he couldn't see Zhou Shousong's expression clearly.

"...Since you have said such a thing, let's finish it at once. Mr. He, take another ten thousand steps and say that even if you insist on a hunger strike to death and force me to submit, it is absolutely impossible. Zhou doesn't want to hurt the hearts of those who have made meritorious service. But in order not to hurt their hearts, I will definitely not take the lives of my lieutenant officers and soldiers—joking with the entire Jianghuai hinterland. Mr. He has followed my army for so long, and he must know where the Spike Army went. , Burning, killing and looting, a piece of scorched earth, if this city falls, we will be ashamed, not only the court, but also the people of the world. Mr. He, Mr. Zhou knows that you are not an ignorant person. If you can understand Mr. Zhou's difficulties , don’t threaten Zhou with death—it’s useless. Even though Zhou Shousong himself is not hard-hearted, at this moment, Zhou Shousong, the lord of the city, has no choice but to be hard-hearted. Mr. He, take care of yourself .”

His words were like a heavy hammer coming towards him, causing He Xiaoxiao to crumble.Those words of Li Jin in the old days suddenly came screaming and swarming up, and those hidden in the depths of memory, the unknown fear and faint curiosity about the true face of the war, were all revealed at this moment the painful mystery--in this way Heartbroken, so desperate.Li Jin has said many times, Xiao Xiao, you have never seen war, life and death.He didn't understand it then, but now he finally understands it.He Xiaoxiao struggled, and wanted to say something, but no matter what, he couldn't.He can't speak ill of Zhou Shousong, but should be grateful to him for protecting himself well, and even taking Li Jin's thoughts into consideration-but he can't thank him at all, as long as he imagines the scene in the city for a while, he will be grateful no matter what stand up.However, Zhou Shousong's words were cold and heartless, but they were so loud that he couldn't even refute a word.

There was a knock at the door, it seemed that Zhou Shousong had gone out.There were several intermittent conversations outside, but He Xiaoxiao couldn't hear them either.He stretched out his trembling hands and brushed the messy hair back.There was no lamp in the room, and no one was there, and he didn't want to wipe the tears that were streaming down his face.