Chapter 11 Friends and enemies

It was quiet in the camp. Today, although there are snakemen attacking the South Gate, the Snakemen army in Shandu is probably running out of steam, and the Chinese army has been able to repel their attacks with ease. There is nothing to be excited about. It was not yet daylight, and the soldiers who had just fought a battle went back to their camp to rest, while those who had rested were going out.

When I reached the tent of Lord Wu's army, I jumped off my horse and said, "Chu Xiuhong, commander of the Dragon Scale Army, has come to hand in his order."

The herald at the gate said, "General Chu, please." He repeated it aloud: "Chu Xiuhong, commander of the Dragon Scale Army, has come to hand in his order."

As soon as I entered the camp, I was shocked. There were already quite a few people, mostly generals of the central Army and the Right Army, standing in a row to join the army. Zhang Longyou was also there. To my surprise, even the normally invisible high-speed train was there. He was still wearing the big hat with the veil on it, and presumably he was privileged and still in a wheelchair. The Marquis was sitting tall, with the two soldiers standing behind him and a troop of his own guards standing beside him. I stepped forward, knelt down and said, "Chu Xiuhong, commander of the Dragon Scale Army, has come to hand in the order."

That's the second time. At this time, I only feel that there is unspeakable injustice in my heart. Maybe the real mole is among them, and I'm being used as a scapegoat.

A steady stream of people came to collect the order. The Serpents attacked the south, west and north gates. Comparatively speaking, the battle was fiercest at the West gate. Luan Peng and Chai Shengxiang two people defend the city quite well, although the right army and after the military strength is similar, after the loss of the army is far more than the right army. In any case, this war of attrition is unlikely to last long. If the Northern Gate attacks tomorrow, I wonder if the Serpents will find a way to break the fire mines.

After paying orders in turn, the Marquis rearranged the city defense. The South Gate no longer needed so many men, but the North Gate was in danger. Not only were two thousand soldiers drawn from the rear army to the central Army to return to the North Gate, but two thousand soldiers were also drawn from the central Army to defend the North Gate.

At this order, Lu Gongxing went out and said, "Your majesty, the battle will be fought at the North Gate at the end of the day. The Snake people there have already advanced and advanced in an orderly manner. I am afraid that adding four thousand soldiers will not help.

Marquis Wu smiled faintly and said, "General Lu, I have been informed of the situation of the battle at the North Gate. Although the enemy there is large in number, the offensive is not strong. If the enemy leaves at the first attack, it must be a feint.

Indeed, if the Serpents of the North Gate were pressed, they would suffer great losses, even if the defenders had fire and thunder bombs, but they would probably be able to break into the city in the end. But when the Serpents were defeated, they all retreated, which is a little suspicious. Is the snake man's focus on the south gate? Or are they really just a diversion, feinting at three gates while the real focus is on the unchallenged east gate?

If you keep thinking like this, it's really crazy. I no longer dared to think of the Serpents as wild beasts, for their attacks now seemed more and more like the art of war. In one case the attack subsided, but in the whole it was more difficult to discern its purpose.

Chai Shengxiang came out and said, "Please tell me, Sir, the two of us at the west Gate are enough to protect ourselves. We may as well send the two thousand men drawn from the Central Army to the North Gate to help in the battle."

Marquis Wu thoughtfully said: "Good."

At this moment, Deyang stood up from his chair and said, "Your Majesty, today we were attacked by snake men at the north gate. We have lost nearly half of our grain and supplies. If this goes on, the whole army may not be able to support it for half a month."

One of his arms was bandaged, much like mine, so the Lord told him to sit, not to stand. But he wasn't as hot as I was, and after two sentences he was out of breath.

My heart sank when he spoke of provisions. Though everyone thought of it, no one wanted to talk about it. The three armies could fight, but if they knew they were running out of food, their morale would drop. Before the siege of high Eagle City, the city of the Republican Army at first united, highly motivated. After two months the food ran out, and the morale of the city fell. When people starve to death, most of the city has no will to fight. If the Republicans had not known that the Imperial army would destroy the city, they would have surrendered it. With that in mind, everyone knows what happens when food runs out.

But it was impossible not to mention it. After all, even the withdrawal had failed, and the next question was first to hold on, and then to escape from the town. We all looked at the Marquis, only hope that this extraordinary general can have a strange plan to let one hundred thousand army smoothly class.

Marquis Wu raised his head and said, "General don't worry too much. Three days ago, I ordered my men to go to Wuyang City to adjust grain. They will be back tomorrow."

I do not know how much grain can be brought back from Wuyang City, but it is good news after all, at least in the retreat did not have to worry about grain. We all looked at him with surprise and delight. It was unexpected that he had already made arrangements.

Lu Gongxing said, "You can tell me that the fire thunder shells made by Zhang in the army are very powerful and are very effective in attack and defense. At last, you have put them into actual combat and found them very effective. I hope you can order people to speed up the production and dispatch all your troops."

All the armies, except the central army, were a little puzzled. They had not seen a firebomb, had they? Lord Wu looked at Zhang Longyou, who was standing beside him, and said, "Zhang joined the army. Now how many lightning bombs can he make in a day?"

Zhang Longyou went out and gave a salute: "Now fifty craftsmen are working fast to make a thousand small size fire thunder bombs and 300 medium size fire thunder bombs. Although the north gate is occupied by the Serpent people, the quantity of sulfur is sufficient, but the saltpeter is very rare. I hope your Majesty will order someone to expedite this matter."

The gunpowder formula of Zhang Longyou was sulfur, wall nitre and charcoal. The sulfur was originally obtained from a fire cloud hole outside the north gate. There were already an army of snake people stationed outside the north gate, so it was impossible to get it any more. Only the nitrate powder is scraped from the wall, and only decades of old houses have wall nitrate, after the butcher city, house falling beam crumbling, there is no room to scrape the wall nitrate.

Wu Hou said, "How long will the present stock last?"

Zhang Longyou said, "There are still more than 50 jin of nitrate powder, and it is possible to make more than 100 jin of gunpowder. It takes two ounces of powder to make the trumpet thunder ball. We can only make five hundred more."

There are fifteen hundred of them. There are now more than 90,000 men in the army. How should we divide these 1,500 fire and thunder shells? Lu Gongxing used at least 200 or 300 in the North Gate battle. It seems that this firebomb is not enough to defeat the enemy.

The marquis did not speak. He might have wanted to use the firebolt to set the stage, but I don't know what he's thinking right now.

After a while, he said, "Zhang join the army, please return."

Chang Longyou gave a gift and returned to the army. Once he entered the shogunate, he seemed to be transformed into a new man.

Lord Wu put his hand on the table and said, "Generals, the Snake People have surrounded Gaohua City on three sides, and only the East gate is not hostile. If you wait, you will be trapped in a lonely city. I wonder if any general has a good idea. Let me know."

The soldiers and generals standing below were silent, even Chai Sheng-sang, who had spoken so boldly yesterday. Presumably none of us could think of a good way to do it. Perhaps the Snake Man loosened the east gate just to make us feel like we had a way out and lose our determination to fight to the end. The serpents grew more and more like cunning enemies, and no one dared to look down upon them, so that this gap was more like a snare than a trap.

Lu Gongxing opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but he did not. A hush fell over the tent, and no one dared to speak. At this time, Buwu stood up and said, "Report to your majesty, today's plan is only to withdraw from the east gate."

The East Gate is not necessarily a safe place to retreat. But in this state, to wait in the city is to die. There were other towns around High Eagle, but most of them had fled the Imperial army to the south, and could not get there to replenish their supplies. But the journey from the East Gate to the Di Lu will be much longer, and it will be necessary to resupply the baggage at Wuyang City. It's probably the only way to do it right now.

After a long time, the marquis said, "Generals, go back and hold fast. Tomorrow the left will take the lead from the east gate. The whole army must withdraw from the city within a day."

We all stood up straight and saluted the Lord. I do not know why, I seem to see a very desolate look, let a person feel that he is not like a powerful general, just an ordinary old man.

We came out of camp and were mounting our horses back to the garrison. Only Luan Peng and Chai Shengxiang of the right army came to hand in the order, but it was not my turn. Only because I was ordered to help defend the North gate, I also came to hand in the order.

I was about to mount my horse when the eagle, one of the escorts of the Lord Wu, came out and said, "General Xiuhong of the Dragon Scale Army, your majesty has ordered you to come in to discuss something."

I was surprised. What does the Lord mean by asking me to stay? Is it, perhaps, because you doubt me? I was a little uneasy, but Chai Shengxiang said, "General Chu, you are a popular man in front of the king. Lord Shen himself was in charge of the Dragon Scale Army. You are almost as good as Lord Shen."

His words were full of jealousy. Perhaps he thought that the Lord saw something in me and wanted to promote me again. The man was so jealous that he was really just a brave man. I did not fight with him, just said: "General Chai made fun of." Follow the eagle into the tent.

All the men inside had withdrawn, and I was the only general left in the account, except the Marquis and his soldiers. I can not help but also a little soft legs, involuntarily knelt down, way: "Jun Hou."

Wu Hou smiled and said, "General Chu, where did you go after the meeting yesterday?"

My heart gave a sudden jump. Yesterday, I sent white Wei and purple Polygonum out of the city, that also let people doubt it? Perhaps they would suspect that they had taken intelligence out of the city to inform the Serpents. If the Lord thinks so, then my whole mouth is not clear.

I knelt down and walked two steps on my knees. "Please tell me, I have two concubines who are going to the Wuyang City. I will send them out and then return to the camp. As soon as we return to camp, we will receive orders to reinforce the North Gate."

Marquis Wu said, "General Chu, please rise. Wu joined the army, General Chu said, but is it true?"

The side of an army dressed in a long gown came to stand beside me, a bow: "General Chu since yesterday after the meeting, sent two women out of the city, not to other places, after returning to the team will be ordered to attack, defend the city without the intention of war, so there is no suspicious place."

Is he Wookeqing? I couldn't help looking at him. The man was young and shrewd.

Marquis Wu smiled faintly and said, "Wu joins the army, you retire."

This Wookeqing is stalking me? I couldn't help feeling a little annoyed. But if he hadn't followed me, I wouldn't be able to tell where I was right now. However, in send white Wei they leave, that very fast kiss, he is not also see in the eye?

Marquis Wu thought deeply and said, "General Chu, get up."

Does that mean my Lord no longer suspects me?

I stood up and looked at the Marquis. Behind my back, I could only feel sweat running down. The marquis's face also looked blank. Remember when studying in military school, read the march seven to say: "with this to win." It did not seem to be of much use at the time, but when it came to it, one knew that a good spy could make the difference between victory and defeat.

There must be a Snake-man mole in the army, but who is this guy?

Out of the camp, I jumped on my horse and was about to return to the right army when someone behind me said, "General Chu."

I looked back and the Wookie came out of camp. His long gown, more like a scholar. I have no feelings for him. The Lord has sent him to spy on me. I will not like him in any way. But if it hadn't been for him, I'd probably have been killed as a spy by now.

I nodded in the horse, said: "Wu join the army good."

"General Chu," he said, "Please don't blame me."

I nodded. "That's none of your business. Even his own brother would have done the same."

Wookeqing clapped off his horse, and the horse came up and walked beside me. He said: "General Chu, I did not believe that you would be a traitor, but this is the king Hou's personal order, I can only follow the order."

I said: "Wu joined the army needless to say, I also know."

Holding the REINS in his hand, he hung his head and watched the horse go slowly along the road. From time to time there were pools of dried blood on the road, black pieces like sheets of thinned leather.

He looked up and said, "But there must be a mole."

I nodded. "Yes, I've thought of that too, so that day the kite attack will fail miserably, and the elite Serpents from last night will suddenly appear at the North Gate."

Wu Ke clear: "General Chu, do you think we have a chance to win?"

I was silent. It was a very difficult question to answer. If the cavalry were to break through, I suppose it would be possible for the cavalry to do so, but it would not be possible for the infantry to escape, and that would be a great rout. For Lord Wu, it was better to fight until the whole army was destroyed than to consent to such an escape. If there were a chance of victory, it would not be impossible, if Lloyd's plan had been successful. But this opportunity has been lost, and now that the Serpents are encircled, we leave the East gate open for the purpose of distracting our troops.

I thought for a moment and said, "It's hard. If I were a general, I am afraid I would have lost my helmet and fled."

Wookeqing nodded. "Yes," he said. "If we had retreated as soon as the first Serpents arrived, the Serpents would have dared not pursue us."

I sighed. Perhaps we would have retreated if we had not been led by a warrior who claimed to have won every battle. Sometimes, the name like invisible shackles, but let people tied hands and feet.

I didn't want to talk about it any more, so I said, "By the way, have you made any progress in investigating the traitor?"

Wuke Qingdao took his horse and looked at me. "General Chu," he said, "This is what I came for."

His face was very serious. My heart was shocked. I pulled the REINS and said, "What can I do?"

Wookeqing looked around. We have come out of the barracks of the soldiers, surrounded by only a few ruins. He said: "You are suspicious of a man." Back to camp, gold Qianshi and newly appointed left sentry guard Wu Wanling, right sentry guard guard Yu generation outside the right camp waiting for me. Yu Dai was recommended by Jin Qianshi. Although I did not know him well, I could see that he was smart and capable. Although he was young, his behavior was quite commendable.

I pulled the horse, Jin Qianshi helped me down, way: "Command, you come back."

I said: "The army is OK?"

"There was some noise among the army," Kim said.

I was taken aback and said, "What's wrong?"

Jin Qianshi said, "Today the rations of the baggage battalion have been reduced by one third compared with the usual. The right army has not said anything yet. The Dragon Scale army is a little indignant."

Our food had been dry cakes, six a day, and a piece of dried beef every ten days. Subtract a third, and that leaves four a day. The dry cake was not good enough for some soldiers with big appetites. Now there is much less, no wonder those in the army who eat more are clamouring.

I said, "The Dragon Scale Army has less food too?"

Kim said: "Yes, equal treatment." His face was a little depressed. Probably when he was under Shen Xiping, the Dragon Scale Army had a lot of priorities. Now to be equated with ordinary soldiers, it is hard to accept.

I sighed. Lord Wu wants to take over the Dragon Scale Army for his own use. Although a batch of grain will arrive from Wuyang City tomorrow, how much will it be? A drop in the bucket is of no avail.

"General King," I said, "Please explain to the brothers. There is no use talking at this time. By the way, how much grain do I have?"

"You have ten cakes a day," said Jin.

I said: "I have six enough, the other four for them."

Jin Qianshi said, "Governor, are you enough?"

I smiled and said, "I don't seem to be a git." I used to share several of them a day, and six of them would be enough for me.

If these four pieces of bread were given to more than three hundred people, they would not have done much, but at least they would have encouraged the soldiers. Kim said, That s good. I have eight cakes a day, and I take out two. General Wu and General Yu, what about you?"

Wu Wanling and Yu Dai way: "General Jin said, we are the same."

At this time, I could not help but "snort" laugh out loud. They looked at each other and said what they had said wrong. I laughed until I was almost out of breath and said, "They only said we were talking about military affairs. If we knew we were talking so solemnly, we would save ten pieces of cake without making them laugh their heads off."

They began to laugh, too.

Jin Qianshi laughed and said, "What the fuck! We have a pile of treasure, and even when we go back to the Imperial capital, we can be counted as a small rich man. Now we are like beggars with nothing to eat."

He and I got to know each other well, and he began to speak freely, unlike when I first came to Dragonscale, when he always spoke to me deferentially.

Though he said it in jest, we all fell silent. Food is the lifeblood of the army. If there is a shortage of food, what is the point of defending the city? Three months after our siege, we have seen the horrors of the eating of the Vultures. Is it gonna be our turn?

After a while, Wu Wanling said, "Governor, what do snake people eat?"

His words were also understated, just to divert the conversation, but Kim Cheon-seok was suddenly shocked. I saw a different look on his face and said, "General Kim, what happened?"

Jin Qianshi said, "Commander, what do snake people eat?"

His words seemed to echo those of Wu Wanling, but in a very unusual tone. I looked up and saw him, Wu Wanling and Yu Dai all looking at me with burning eyes. I said slowly, "Yeah, what do they eat?"

The number of serpents may be as high as a hundred thousand. However hungry they may be, they must eat, and they must have a great camp of baggage. If we can burn their baggage, the Snake-men will lose their supplies and the siege will be broken. I looked at them, and they must have thought about it, and their faces lit up.

"Are there any serpents left outside the city?" I asked.

Jin Qianshi understood what I meant. He said, "General Luan and General Chai fought hard today. Hundreds of snake bodies were left outside the city, and many are still there."

The Snake men also swept up the battlefield after the war, but they did not dare to collect the dead snake men in the city. Many remained there. Some of the soldiers of the Right army were sweeping up the battlefield and burning the dead snake men in a pile. The great siege car was also hauled into the city. If such a huge piece of wood were brought back to the capital, the emperor would be pleased to make it into a pillar of the palace. Before the southern expedition of Marquis Wu, the emperor was in the construction of Changle Palace on the Tianhe River, as the autumn hunting palace. But now, I'm stuck here, wondering what I can do with it.

Four of us went to the edge of the city, Jin Qianxi called two soldiers patrolling on the city, asking them to bring two ropes, he and Yu Dai two people let down the city, picked up a dead snake man, one tied the head, the other tied the tail, tied, pulled up.

Jin Qianshi and Yu Dai both went up to the city. Jin Qianshi came up, convenient way: "Head, come on."

I nodded, from the waist felt out of the Biib knife, way: "you help well."

They straightened the body of the snake man, with his belly up. The snake man was draped in soft armor. I cut the rope around it and frowned. "These soft armor fit me well, as if they were made for the figure of the snake man. Can a snake man do that?"

They didn't say anything. Presumably, no one knows what this is all about.

The Snake-man's belly was bluish white, with only a few small scales, which, unlike the back, were almost like a draped armor. The snake man's neck was badly mangled, with a head almost severed, and a long, thin tongue sticking out of his mouth. I thrust my Babie knife under the neck of the snake man's body and pulled at it so hard that the sharp edge seemed to cut through the soft mud, and the snake man's body opened through the middle like a trunk.

Just opened, only feel a stench straight up, I bear the brunt of the smoke almost to vomit. I turned my head away from the stench of steaming and heard them all scream.

I turned around and saw all three of them staring into the snake man's belly, their faces turning white as if they had been enchanted.

What's the matter? I looked down and saw what was inside the snake man's stomach. Just see, I can not help but a panic.

Inside the snake man's stomach were pieces of dark purple flesh, among which was a hand and some hair. The most terrifying thing was that among the pieces of meat, there was a human head!

The skin of his head was like flour, which had been scalded, and it was a ragged heap. His eyelids were rotten, but his two eyes stood out, and you could see the horror in them.

After a while, Yu Dai panicked and said, "They eat people!"

Although I knew that snake people ate people, I never knew that they ate people for a living. As I looked at the mess of flesh and bones in the snake man's stomach, I felt sick. I rubbed my knife against the snake man's body and withdrew it from its sheath, thinking that I must wash it with wine afterwards.

Suddenly there was a noise from the east. All that noise could be heard at such a distance. I turned and said, "What's the matter?"

Kim said, I don t know. It looks like the East Gate. Could it be the Serpents?"

I frowned. I dare not leave the West Gate without my master's command. "Just wait," I said.

Jin called several soldiers to come and threw the body of the snake man into the fire. He clapped his hands and said, "Don't let anything happen."

The noise grew louder and nearer, and it was now distinguishable as a call. Listen to the sound. It's rhythmic. It's not a panic scream. What could be so exciting? Was the grain delivered one day earlier than what the marquis said?

We stood at the head of the city, irrepressible wondering what had happened.

As the cry drew nearer, it became clear that it was indeed not a cry of surprise, but a shout of joy. "I'll go and have a look," Kim said.

He went up to the archery where the glass was, and looked. I said, "General King, what the hell is going on?"

Jin Qianshi poked his head out on the archery and said, "I can't see clearly. There is a troop walking towards the Chinese army."

To the central Army? I frowned. Who dares to move his troops into the Central Army without permission? Besides, what is there to cheer about?

Suddenly, my mind lit up and called out: "General Jin, does that army have a flag?"

Yu Dai suddenly said, "Is it General Lu?"

He already knows what I mean. Today is the tenth day, but also the deadline for Lu Jing Yu to kill Cang Yue Gong. I thought he would not come back, if the return is really Lu Jing Yu, then he has captured the Lord Cangyue?

Kim probably heard our conversation and shouted from the archery: "Yes! Right! It was General Lu!" In fact, he did not need to say more, but the soldiers' cries were clearly heard, and the rising chorus was "General Lu, General Lu."

Is Lu Jingyu back?

We were taken aback, but we were pleasantly surprised.

Lu Jing Yu has been on his way for ten days. During these ten days, each wave of the Snake Man's attacks has been higher and higher. Although no one openly said, but secretly some people must think that because the Marquis rebuked the generals, the soldiers have no fighting heart, and will not fight, brought them to the present situation. Many people secretly think that if they had the land, they would have defeated the snake people and won the battle.

Perhaps because the land classics and fish are not there, it is easier to be legendary. Shen Xiping was killed in the First World War only. How much better could Lu Jingyu be than Shen Xiping?

Wu Wanling way: "General Lu but the head of the moon brought back?"

Ten days ago, Marquis Wu ordered Lu Jing Yu to bring back the head of the Lord of the moon. If the land passes by the fish empty-handed, I am afraid that the military order will not be lenient. My heart is not worried, way: "it should be smooth, otherwise the general is afraid not to come back."

They didn't say anything, and probably thought so. Jin Qianshi ran down the archery and said, "Commander, let's go and have a look."

Leave the defense area without permission, that is also a big crime, but the west gate and the camp of the army is not far away, the Marquis put the army in the city, is originally in order to receive four doors, if fast, back and forth but a meal kung fu. I said, "You guys go to one and see what's going on."

Yu Dai said, "I will go!" He didn't say another word, and turned and ran down town. Jin Qianshi is coming to me, the way: "Yu general, hurry back, we wait for you in the camp message."

Yu Dai did not look back and said, "All right." He had taken his horse, and had led it away towards the central army.

Looking at his back, gold Qianshi way: "Xiaoyu is I brought from the left army, he most worship land by fishing."

I smiled. In fact, not only Yu Dynasty, Lu Jingyu can be said to be the idol of the army. Everyone admired him very much. I used to admire the two people most, one was Marquis Wu, the other was Lu Jingyu. During these ten days of defending the city, Lord Wu had suffered many defeats, which did not help his reputation. Lu Jingyu had left before the Snake Men attacked, and he had nothing to do with our defeat. His freeing of the Republican women and children from the city only made him more popular and kind.

But there was a creeping unease in my heart.

The news of land's return from fishing, like a handful of salt thrown into the frying pan, boiled up everywhere. Many people are greatly relieved to think that with Lu Jingyu back to command the left army, the war will certainly improve.

This over-optimistic view filled the entire army with excitement. The right army and the left army did not always get along. When Shen Xiping was in command of the Right army, the two armies were almost comrades, but now most of the people of the right army were talking about it.

Perhaps, the old division tired of war, soldiers also hope to be able to smooth class division, for the army of grievances, now also do not value it.

When they entered Longscale, the soldiers sat or stood idly in the camp, mostly talking in small groups. There had been many women captured in the Dragonscale army, almost every one of them. When the Serpents attacked, they sent the baggages away, set them free, and some were killed. If the women had remained in the camp, there would have been more trouble. I frowned and said, "General Kim, is the army always that lazy?" Jin Qianshi way: "Always so, Lord Shen in this, but the battlefield will never be like this."

I invited Wu Wanling here because I wanted to use his strength to rectify the discipline of the army. If an army has no iron-like discipline and operates independently, no matter how strong its combat effectiveness is, it will be useless. In the military academy, Lu Jingyu once told us the story of Luo Hao among the twelve generals of the founding of the Great Emperor. Luo Hao was second only to Natian among the twelve generals. His troops were all southerners, and he was small. If he had an individual fighting force, he was only average. But Luo Hao Yi Army, known as the "Iron Blade Mountain," terrorized the enemy. Another general Li Si Jin borrow three thousand people to help keep Luo Hao, the three thousand people to Li Si Jin camp when it was raining, Li Si Jin more than ten thousand people are hiding to the side of the rain, only three thousand Luo Hao army, because did not receive the order to disband, in the rain one also dare not move. After the rain Li Si - jin returned to the school field point soldiers, see a surprise. I remember the adoring look on Lu Jingyu's face when he told us this story.

"An army without iron discipline is not a strong army." I remember him saying that to us several times.

As we walked into the camp, the soldiers, still lazy, nodded when they saw us. Jin Qianshi shouted: "Assemble!"

At his command, the soldiers gathered into three neat lines. It seems that Shen Xiping's army also has its own characteristics. Although the army discipline is not good, the Dragon Scale Army is like a rabble. Once ordered, it has the appearance of a strong army.

Jin Qianshi way: "Head, you say a few words to the brothers."

I have only been in the Dragon Scale Army for a few days, and I haven't talked to them much. Most of the orders are delivered by Jin Qianshi, who must also think that I should establish authority.

I stood in front of the line, looked at them and said, "Brothers, keep soldiers for a thousand days, but use them for a time. From today on, the Dragon Scale Army will intensify its drills and be completely reformed by General Wu Wanling. No one in the battalion will make any noise. If anyone breaks the rules, he will be punished."

Although my words were a little harsh, they probably didn't think so. Shen Xiping over before, squama army drift at ordinary times, once occupied, discipline strict to cruel. I said this in a much weaker tone than Shen Xiping had at that time. But the soldiers, who were probably too loose to expect such a remark from me, stood erect with an expression of everything.

Jin Chishi said, "Brothers, whatever we do, we must not lose the reputation of the Dragon Scale Army. When Lord Shen was here, our Dragon Scale army was the strongest. When Lord Shen is gone, we are still the strongest army."

The soldiers stood up straight. No matter how bad their discipline, they still value the honor of a soldier more than anything else.

"General King," I said, "From now on, you and General Wu will have an hour each day to drill for the boys. We must show Lord Shen's heavenly spirit that the Dragon Scale Army will never fail."

Jin Qianshi stood upright and said, "Yes!"

There was a little excitement on his face, too. I can't help but smile a little bitter in my heart, maybe Jin Qianshi thinks I am now like this is worthy of being a brave general, but he probably never thought, no matter how strong we practice, what is the use?

When you know that there is no chance to win, still want to fight, the kind of stubbornness to know that it can not be done, also counts as a kind of courage. I lowered my head, afraid to look any further at the high spirits of the Dragonscale soldiers.

Jin Qianshi took them to walk twice exercise, worthy of a strong soldier, although usually look a few with the mob, but when the drill, advance and retreat, a trace of chaos. After the exercise, Jin Qian Shi carried a long knife and led them to do some stabbing. The 100 men in the Dragon Scale Army used long swords, which were more suitable for attacking, but not conducive to a long battle, because long swords were too heavy after all. After the training, a little more than half of the men were out of breath. Jin Qianshi face as usual, is still Shouting, also not impatient. There was no fancy movement in his knife technique, a knife was a knife, plain and simple. If it is only a natural is not strange, but dozens, hundreds of knives Qi qi split down, such as the power is really like lightning strike, thunder thunder anger.

Jin Qianshi may not have other outstanding places, but Shen Xiping can bring him to the sentry officer, also can not look down on ah. I thought in silence. Now the Longyan Army has Jin Qianshi, who is in charge of training, Wu Wanling, who is in charge of disciplining the army, and Yu Dai, who is smart and able. If I can give it a month or two, I will be able to double the fighting power of the Longyan Army, and maybe it will surpass the vanguard battalion. The problem with the forward battalion was that it was too loosely commanded. Each of its twenty battalions had its own system, and the centurions had so many contradictions that the centurions alone were divided into three groups that it was difficult for them to exert their strength. However, the former Dragon Scale Army pursued too much attack force and had poor defense. If they could not move the enemy camp during the charge, they would fall into the situation of single troops fighting. Shen Xiping was killed in the first World War. Otherwise, even if the Dragon Scale Army, with thousands of selected soldiers, cannot win, it will not be difficult to protect themselves. But although the Longscale had five sentinels, the sentinels were direct subordinates to the commander, and had none of the multiple disadvantages of the forward battalion.

As I was thinking, I rode straight in at the gate of the camp, and it was Yu Dai on his horse. The horse ran very fast. As soon as he entered the camp gate, Yu reined in the REINS and the horse stood up. Jin Qianshi stood, put up the knife, the drill soldiers stand. He handed the knife to a soldier on the side and met him and said, "General Yu, what happened?"

Yu Dai jumped off his horse and said, "Hurry up and prepare. The marquis will probably order troops soon."

Are the Serpents coming now? Though I knew I was in the middle of the city and could not see out of it, I could not help looking out. There was some noise outside, but it was calm.

Yu Dai gasped for breath and ran to me. As he ran, he said, "Commander, you may have fallen out with General Lu."

'What? That really took me by surprise. Lu Jingyu has always been a subordinate of Marquis Wu. Before, Marquis Wu ordered me to arrest him, but he did not resist. Why would it fall out as soon as we get back? I said, "What is it? Be clear."

Yu Dai took a breath, and just as he was about to say it, he rode straight in at the gate of the camp, only to find thunder and drum. He held a commander's order in his hand and shouted, "Dragon Scale!"

His voice, already loud, thundered. I immediately stood up, knelt down and said, "Chu Xiuhong, commander of the Dragon Scale Army, listens to orders."

Thunder drum throw next will say: "You have orders, fire to the east gate to participate in defense, no one out of the city."

Emergency at the east gate? I took it and said, "Yes, Sir."

Just then, the thunder drum had run out, probably to go somewhere to give the order. I turned back and said, "General Kim, tell my brothers to mount and set off."

Someone on the side of my horse, I pressed a single hand on the horse, people jumped on the horse, way: "General Yu, you come over."

Yu Dai also jumped on his horse again. He gave me a whip and came to me, saying, "Governor."

I said, "What's going on? What does your majesty mean by ordering us to defend the East Gate?"

Yu said, "I do not know the details, but outside the camp, I heard that the Lord was furious with you. He scolded General Lu bitterly in the account, seeming to say that 'there is a backbone', but I do not know what happened. Listen to the Chinese army brothers said, General Lu came back with a dozen people, it seems that there is no head. Not long after entering the tent, they heard the king angry, ordered someone to send forward battalion. I have been listening to your orders. I am sure something has changed. I will be back at once."

"Is it because General Lu failed to bring back the head of the Lord of the Moon?" "I muttered. Wu Hou ruled the army in a very tough way. He disobeyed military orders, even though he was a senior official, he could not escape punishment. Lu Jingyu was raised by Marquis Wu, can be said to be his adopted son, will not know the heart of Marquis Wu. The last time the land by fishing mistakenly let go of the moon, Marquis ordered him to go out to catch up, it is a net, actually is to let him escape. If Lu Jing Yu can not bring back the head of the Cang moon, it will be his head is not protected, even if the Marquis of Lu Jing Yu love more than father and son, he will not dare to come back. Perhaps, is the Lu Jing Yu care too much, rather than their own life to protect also want to come back. If so, I will plead for Lu Jingyu in front of the Marquis, even though I know it is of no avail. After all, playing it by ear, this is not the time to kill a general over such a trifle.

Yu Dai said nothing, and he probably thought so. Marquis Wu ordered us to defend the East gate. It must be to prevent a rebellion by the thousand iron warriors brought back by Lu Jing Yu.

Unlike the central army and the right army, the Lu Jingyu army treated all its subordinates equally, unlike Marquis Wu and Shen Xiping, who set up their own forward battalions and Dragon scale armies in the army. But he had a thousand cuirassiers under him, the strongest of the Left, though not named. It was this same Cuirassers that he had taken away last time. If this army were to rise, let alone at the eastern gate where the Left Army belonged, it was not clear whether the Left army would join the rebellion or not. Of course, they could not be expected to quell the rebellion.

I laughed bitterly. It was me who captured Lu Jingyu last time. Even if Lu Jingyu himself did not blame me, his men did not have a good impression on me. So when I sent the Polygonum Baiwei out of the city, both guards gave me a look. If the thousand cuirass do make trouble, the left army will not be involved. As long as they do nothing, my 300-strong Dragon Scale army will surely die.

In your heart, I will always be a chess piece is not too important. The thought of this makes my heart ache. In fact, I should have thought that in this game, Marquis Wu could abandon even the baryon like Lu Jingyu, not to mention the pawn like me. As soon as they reached the East Gate defence area, they found the left army already standing in formation. Fortunately, this front is open to the outside world, so the left army is not fighting.

As soon as we arrived, He Zhong greeted us and said, "Officer He Zhong of the left army, which general is He Zhong?"

I clapped my horse and said, "General He, it's me."

He saw me, the way: "is Chu general ah, you come just in time."

I jumped off my horse and said, "General Ho, what's the matter?"

He Zhongdao: "The soldiers brought back by General Lu are making noise outside the city."

I couldn't help frowning. Lu Jing Yu has always been known to lead troops with strict discipline, after ten days, the elite of the left army have become like this? I said, "Where is General Lu?"

He Zhongdao: "He is still there."

I said, "Didn't General Lu confess to the one thousand cuirassiers when he went to see your majesty?"

He seemed to want to say something, but he was about to say something, but he just said, "General Chu, see for yourself."

I turned to the Dragon Scale. "Uptown!" Then he went to the end of the city.

On the top of the city, I saw the soldiers of the left army one by one as if facing the enemy, but they seemed to look at the city in a daze. I said: "What about General Bu?"

He Zhongdao: "Accompanied your lordship to see the emperor. Alas, I am afraid you can not say"

I said, "You are not a man who only accepts military orders and does not recognize human feelings. Did General Lu ever bring back the traitor Cangyue?"

He Zhong paused and said, "The belt is brought, just."

The hemming and hawing of He Zhong really makes me sick. By this time I had reached the end of the city, and when I looked down at the edge, I gasped.

Under the city, it was dark, and there were six or seven thousand men!

It was a thousand horsemen, the standard of the Left, but behind them were men in strange armour, Republicans, it seemed!

I was taken aback and said, "What's going on here?"

He has not said what, I said: "General Lu is he is to bring the Republican Army back?"

He Zhong nodded.

The total number of Republican troops brought back by land and fishing was more than 5,000. Perhaps, this is all the remnants of the Republican Army, have Lu Jingyu already contained the remnants of the Republican Army? If so, he has done a great service. I said, "General Lu is taking in the Republicans."

Before I had finished the sentence, I knew I was guessing. The Republican troops were clamoring, some of them carrying a republican flag, Shouting something, and in any case did not seem to have come to surrender. I said, "Don't you?"

I was going to say whether the Lu Jin Yu was captured by the Republican Army and forced back to the city. But I also knew that as soon as I said this, I was afraid that the left army soldiers who regarded Lu Jingyu as a man of God would turn their eyes away. Moreover, I do not believe that Lu Jingyu is the kind of man who will surrender easily. The one thousand cuirassiers he took away were unharmed. It seems that he will not be captured because of defeat. And even if we wanted to make money, we wouldn't bring back the Republicans in a big way.

I thought about it with a splitting headache and said, "General Ho, what's going on?"

What in the sigh, the way: "General Lu want to and republican army allied forces a place, he will be brought back to see the Lord Moon."

I said: "Is the god of the moon to surrender?"

He Zhongdao: "No, together."

He put the word "join hands" very heavy, meaning that the Republican army did not surrender, but to join hands with our army. If I had heard this a few days ago, it would have been a demonic remark provoking the public. It would have been impossible. But now, hearing this, I felt sorrowful.

We don't seem to be cornered yet, but we're not far off it. Cang month at this time to put forward a coalition, it is also to see that we dare not rashly move swords. This is really a good way to show his power, lure his benefit, and seek life in the midst of death. If we can succeed in the battle, then the fate of the moon and those defeated soldiers, the situation is difficult to support, will surely be wiped out one day in the future. At this point he suggested that the allied forces would provide a breathing space, and that the Lord, while daring not to waste his forces on fighting the Republicans, needed more strength.

On the surface, this proposal was also mutually beneficial, but quite feasible. After the war, the Duke of Cangyue kept his former vassal status, which was not necessarily forbidden by the Emperor. However, raising tigers, if let Cang Yue Gong retain this force, there will be a day in the future, Wuhou will not fail to consider this.

I said, "What is the attitude of General Lu?"

He Zhong sighed and said, "I don't know what your excellency's attitude is. When he came back, he said only two or three words to me, and then he took someone to see the king. Alas, if you behead the moon in your anger, I am afraid that outside the city, there will be another attack."

At this moment, one of the Republican officers at the foot of the city urged his horse, and when he reached the foot of the city, he cried: "Now, listen here, how is my grand duke? If you don't answer, we'll storm the city."

I can't help but be a little amused. This republican army, though not small, was half as small as that of the Left army, and they were defeated generals, and they were on their way out of the city.

He Zhong came to the edge of the city and said, "Officer He Zhong in the lower left army, please calm down. Your majesty and your lordship will answer to your general. If the general is determined to attack the city, try it."

His words were gentle but faintly menacing. The man paused for a moment and said, "General Ho, don't think we're scary. There are 5,023 men in our army today, and every one of them is dying."

He turned his horse's head and walked towards the camp.

He also turned his head, a little decadent to look at me, way: "Chu general, you say you will agree to the requirements of the moon?"

I'm a little lost. If I am the Marquis, I will agree to the requirements of the moon?

At that moment, there was a sudden noise behind him. Some shouted "Sir" and others shouted "General Lu". He Zhongxiang was stabbed by a needle and rushed down the city. Jin Qianshi said: "Commander, we also want to go down?"

I looked around. The soldiers at the head of the city were confused. "We will watch from the city," I said, "to keep our brothers' spirits up."

Most of the Left soldiers were very excited. This situation is like a pot of hot oil, once a spark flies into, I am afraid it will burn up immediately. If the left army mutinied, it would be like a drop in the ocean and would be swallowed up by the flood. But as long as there is no spark, the pan of oil, no matter how hot, will always cool down.

A group of Left soldiers came round them, cheering everywhere they went. Yu Dai was a little nervous and said, "Governor, your Excellency has come."

At this time, the city head left army also issued a seismic cheer, Lu Jing Yu and another old man walked on the head of the city.

Lu Jingyu was blindingly white in battle armor, but the old man next to him was dressed in earthy yellow robes. Lu Jing Yu saw me, slightly terrified, immediately came to the road: "is General Chu Ah."

I half knelt down and said, "General Lu, Chu Xiuhong, commander of the Dragon Scale Army at the end, will be ordered by the emperor Marquis to come and defend the East gate. No one is allowed to leave the city."

Lu Jing Yu smiled and said, "It is no longer necessary. Somebody, open the gates."

He had a big smile. No one has laughed like this since we were attacked by the Snake Man. His laughter was contagious to the soldiers beside him, who began to laugh and lost their arms.

I stood up, said: "General Lu, in the Jun Hou will be before, the end will not be awol, so the gate is not awol."

Lu Jingyu also stood still, looked at me, nodded slowly and said, "That's right. The emperor's messenger should be here soon."

As if his words were fulfilled, Lei Gu rode to the east gate at a gallop and said, "Chu Xiuhong, commander of the Dragon Scale Army, reports the order."

I went down to the city, knelt down in front of the thunder drum horse, said: "The end will be Chu Xiu red."

Lei Drum pulled up his horse and said, "You have an order. The guard at the east gate has been removed. The Dragon Scale Army is ready to return to their camp."

'he said, holding out another order and holding it out to me. I'll put them in one place, and they'll fit perfectly. I gave the two orders back to Thunder Drum and said, "I will obey the order."

Marquis Wu finally reached an understanding with Lu Jing Yu! With the surrender of the order, I did not feel a burst of joy. Somehow, despite all the time spent fighting the Republicans, there was still no hatred for them. Perhaps it is because they, like the rest of us, are mere pawns. Between pieces, what can be said?

Meanwhile, some of the city officials were lowering the drawbridge and opening the gate. Looking at the gate slowly opened, I could not help but a blank in my heart.