Chapter 6 SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS

We repulsed the Serpents twice in a row. With a little confidence in the army and the discovery of their weakness, the city was full of torches, even though it was broad daylight.

However, Shen Xiping's death is still hanging on our heads like an ominous charm.

The Forward battalion suffered heavy losses in today's battle. After the war, the Imperial army's losses were estimated to be 60 to 40 percent greater than those of the Serpents. In other words, six imperial soldiers for four Snake-man heads. If it were normal to defend the city like this, it would be a great defeat. But the army was filled with bursts of joy, as if we really had fought a great victory. Many middle and senior generals of the army on the right came to the Marquis Wu for orders to attack the snake man at night, but the Marquis Wu was not allowed to, but the Marquis ordered Shen Xiping's coffin to be moved back to the camp. On the way, the whole army mourned for Shen Xiping.

Shen Xiping's body was supported by several surviving officers of the Longyan Army. The army on the right led Luan Peng to the front, and Marquis Wu himself pressed the front and carried him to his original tent on the right army. It was common for a general to die in battle, and Shen Xiping himself knew this fate. Along the way, we silently watched Shen Xiping's coffin carried by, hearts will mourn for this famous courage.

Imperial funerals were modest, especially for soldiers. However, the empire believed that everyone's soul was in the head, and if the head was lost, the soul could not return to its place. Therefore, Shen Xiping was not buried, and Marquis Wu did not say when he would be buried. Perhaps Lord Wu hoped that he could recapture Shen Xiping's head and bring it back to the Imperial capital after repelling the Snake Man -- but this hope seemed to be a delusion before the flood of the Snake Man's attacks.

When Shen Xiping's body was carried into the right army garrison on the west side of the city, the right army sent out a cry.

Shen Xiping's army, if compared with Lu Jingyu's, was almost a typical example of poor military discipline. Even other Imperial armies felt a great headache when they saw Shen Xiping's army. But it was strange that Shen Xiping's troops, like a regiment of scattered sand, immediately had iron discipline, no less than Lu Jingyu's left army.

Perhaps the way of running an army is not invariable, I thought with some emotion. Personally, I prefer the strategy of running the army through land and fishing, but this does not hurt my respect for Shen Xiping.

One day, I will be a general, too. Watching Shen Xiping's coffin go away, I swore in the bottom of my heart. The Vanguard Battalion is playing a central role in today's battle to defend the city. The Forward battalion did not suffer much loss in this defence, but only a few dozen men. In addition to Wang Dong, two soldiers in my battalion were killed. Of course, they did not enjoy the same honor as Shen Xiping. They were carried by our brothers in the battalion and buried in an open space in the city.

It had become a graveyard for the dead of the war, and the ashes of Republicans and civilians killed in the slaughter of the city, among them the dead of the Imperial Army, were scattered at random.

At least Shen Xiping's bones can return to his hometown, but you can't even return to your hometown.

I poured a jug of wine on the grave, but a pang of bitterness ran through my heart.

In front of the grave, there are some simple wooden boards, on which the names of the people in the grave are written. In a few years these planks will rot away, and then no one will know who is buried in them.

I put aside the jug from which the wine had been poured, and knelt down with the remaining fifty-four. Nearby, several other centurions of the Forward battalion were burying their dead. I don't know who is singing the funeral song of the empire, the death of the country, almost everyone joined in.

Over the graveyard, like a faint thunder, is the song of death:

When he was dead, he was buried in the mountains,

The mountains are so Weiwei, the sky so green,

There are trees in the mountains, but the country is broken.

There are thousands of dead bodies behind that heavenly victory, right? In the twilight of the army, do you feel guilty about those who died? Rivers and mountains change color, in return for a new dynasty new Lord, but to fight to the death of tens of thousands of people and soldiers. What do those people get in return? Even if the emperor came to power in the beginning, the political peace, the people live in peace and contentment, but for this, really have to pay such a big price?

A pang ran through my heart.

Far away, the twilight was fading and another day was coming to an end. He returned to his tent and prepared to change the gauze around his waist. Just walked to the gate of the camp, only to hear someone say: "General Chu!"

That's Chang Longyou.

I turned my head and saw that he was wearing an army gown, which made him look like a middle-ranking officer. The army rank is higher than me, he within a day, from my battalion soldier to my commander, I am good temper also a little jealous. I want to pretend not to hear, Zhang Longyou has come to me, gave a big gift, said: "General Chu, Zhang Longyou see."

His salute was too big. It was from a subordinate to a superior. I bluffed and said, "Mr. Zhang, don't mention it.

Zhang Longyou said, "Longyou dare not forget the great kindness of General Chu. If there were no general, I would have been beheaded by Deyang yesterday. Would there be today?"

I was scared all the way back. He joined the army at the same rank as Deyang, but he was already in the shogunate, and it was not difficult to get into trouble with Deyang. I said: "You don't blame the Lord De Yang."

He laughed and said, "Of course, it's not your fault. General Chu can rest assured."

He assured me, but I dared not trust him. I said, "Mr. Zhang, are you coming back to pick up your things?" I would have told him to carry the things to my camp, but he has not done so, and will soon go to the Lord.

Chang Longyou said: "I have some stove and medicine to carry over."

"Has your majesty not given you guards yet?"

He said: "Not yet, but your marquis said, tomorrow I will be assigned an escort."

I said: "I accompany you to take things." Not he refused, turned his head to Qi Lie way: "Small fierce, you back to the camp to burn some water for me, I accompany Mr. Zhang to go back."

Zhang Longyou said: "General Chu, you still don't call me Mr. Zhang, call me Zhang Longyou is."

I laughed and said, "How dare you?"

The German baggage battalion and the forward battalion are in the same battalion. When they reached the baggage camp, they heard the cries of women who had been taken captive and were being held here. The women were kept in large wooden cages and looked unkempt and dull. In fact, these women are one in a hundred beauty, only beauty can live up to now.

When I walked past those women, I could not bear it. I could only pretend not to hear anything and just walked through. Zhang Longyou also seems to have some heart, muttered: "The two armies fighting, the most bitter, or plain people ah."

I was almost surprised when the words came out of his mouth. No sooner had he replied than he hurried past.

His tent had been burned and riddled with holes. As soon as Zhang Longyou reached the tent, a soldier of the baggage battalion said, "Zhang Dei, why are you back?" He was surprised to see me following him. Chang just smiled and said, "Take something." On the other side of the soldier but small voice: "Don't talk nonsense, they are in front of the king of the army, with us German great men."

Both soldiers watched in awe as I followed Chang Longyou into the dungeon. They probably think that my rank is lower than Chang Longyou, maybe I was used by Chang Longyou to do business. In fact, a centurion is a step lower than joining the army, but the vanguard battalion is special, except for the Marquis himself, no one can command.

As soon as they entered Zhang Longyou's tent, one of the soldiers, half lying on the bed, got up and said, "Master Zhang Zhang"

He must have heard the conversation outside in his busy schedule. Zhang Longyou said, "Xiao Zhu, nothing's wrong. I'll take something. You can sleep."

Where did that little Zhu dare to sleep, already stood aside. Life is really wonderful, two days ago, Zhang Longyou is still in the camp, may also be their nerd long nerd short call to drink, can be appreciated by the Marquis, it seems that people also have a majesty.

Zhang Longyou didn't have much, just a few strange stoves and POTS, and two bags of sand. I picked up a stove, the bottom of which was burning black, and beside it was a cracked pot. I packed it up, picked it up and said, "Are you ready?"

Zhang Longyou is carrying the two bags of things on his back, said: "OK, OK, nothing else."

There are many waggons in the baggage camp. We borrowed one and loaded it, and I helped him pull it out of the baggage-camp side by side. I suddenly felt a little silly. It seems that Zhang Longyou is not the kind of person who will be unfavorable to German Yang. Even if he has a heart of revenge, he may not do anything. I am also paranoid. But since I said I was going to help Chang Longyou take things, I can't escape halfway. I said, "Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Longyou said: "You come again, General Chu, you don't call me Sir."

I said, "OK, Chang Longyou, what do you want those stoves for?"

Chang Longyou said, "That's the Dan furnace. I am a disciple of the Danding School of the Upper Qing Dynasty."

Shangqing Danding school, is now one of the two grand master Zhenguizi belongs to that school. In the past, the school of Tianji Master did not believe in this kind of burning, and believed that Dan Fang must be made by people themselves, so it was the right way to cultivate Da Dan Fang. Therefore, they were called the "Qingxu Tuanna school". Zhengui Zi was exactly the opposite of Tianji Master. Over the years, although the two schools of Grand masters did not have to wrestle with each other as much as the ordinary people, they could not help fighting each other in secret. However, in the past hundred years, although the Qing Xu Tuna school of Dharma masters did not rise in a day, generations of dharma masters have lived to a high age, can be regarded as a man of honor. However, few of the masters of the Danding School in the Upper Qing Dynasty even lived beyond the age of 40. Now few people believe in them anymore. Since Master Tianji was awarded the title of prince Shao Bao, the Danding school of the Upper Qing Dynasty has been declining, and the Qing Xu Tuna school has been unified in the court. If it were not for the emperor now and then to let the true Guizi into medicine to strengthen the essence of the Yuan, the Qing Dan Ding school would have died out.

I said: "Disrespect, so you are a man of the law. Then why did you join the army?"

Zhang Longyou said, "My refined Dan should be a red sand, which is very rare in the North. It comes from the southern Xinjiang. I heard that you want to invade the south, so I came here."

I laughed: "Alchemy? Do you want to be a fairy?"

Chang Longyou shook his head and said, "I don't believe that. My master wanted me to be the next generation of mages, but I didn't want to."

I said: "You do not believe what into the Qing Dan Ding school?"

Zhang Longyou said, "I really like the Dan Ding style. I think there must be some mystery handed down from ancient times, but we know how but not why, I want to study this, maybe, "he said, his face a little light, as if a little excited," maybe, I Longyou Chang will be remembered in history."

Although it was rude to laugh out loud now, I laughed uncontrollably. He didn't pay any attention to it. I felt a little sorry for myself, so I said, "What were you doing yesterday that made so much noise?"

Zhang Longyou said, "Yesterday, I wanted to burn Wucai Dan, but I accidentally let an open flame into the furnace and it caught fire."

I frowned. "Was it that loud?"

Zhang Longyou said: "The five Dan is to be kept in the furnace, I did not seal it, the open flame went in, and the furnace exploded. Fortunately, I had only made twenty of them, and the stove had only burst, not blown up. Otherwise, I would not have been killed by Lord De Yang, and I would have been killed myself."

"Can the five talents Dan blow people up?"

Chang Longyou said, "Yes. I have a teacher uncle, was blown up by the five talent Dan. He mixed five hundred pills in one furnace, and half the room blew up."

I stopped and said, "Do these five talents have so much power? How is it made? Is it easy to test?"

Zhang Longyou saw me stop, the car "clanging" a ring, anxious to say: "careful, careful my Dan furnace."

I said, "Tell me quickly, what is it made of?"

Zhang Longyou a little confused tunnel: "It is the sulfur, wall nitrate and honey plus wood ash, and then several herbs, refined out of a pill, can cure food. What's wrong?"

I said, "How long will it take to make that?"

Zhang Longyou held the car, a little confused to see me, the way: "General Chu, you also want to alchemy?"

I'm in a hurry. This Zhang Longyou at this time mother-in-law, I said: "I don't want alchemy. Tell me quickly, how long will it take to make the five talents Dan?"

"Seven days."

I almost fell to the ground. Seven days to make something like that? After seven days, the Serpents will have broken through the city. I was a little depressed, said: "That's too late."

Chang Longyou said, "Do you want to use it in battle?"

Zhang Longyou was called by them "nerd", "nerd", but I found him very keen. I said: "Yes, you said twenty Dan has so much power, if more refined, to throw out the war, is not very powerful? But you said it would take seven days to perfect, but I'm afraid it's too difficult."

Chang Longyou said: "You only want the kind of medicine that will burn when touched by fire? The one that does not need refining is worthy."

Surprised and delighted, I laid the cart on the ground and said, "How do you match it? Tell me quickly."

"Watch out for my stove!" cried Chang Longyou. He held up the cart and said, "I made it myself. You only need to grind the sulfur, saltpeter and charcoal to a fine level, and then mix together one part of the charcoal, six parts of the sulfur and six parts of the nitrate. But you must be careful not to touch the iron."

I said: "Great, you immediately help me with one out."

Chang Longyou's camp is still very simple. He did not dare to grind it in the tent, but he gave me a kilogram each of sulfur powder and nitrate powder and said, "Grind the charcoal powder yourself. Be careful, this medicine is very strong, and if caught in an open flame, it will burn quickly."

I took the two heavy bags of powder, said: "Zhang Longyou, Mr. Zhang, if this medicine really works, you can make a first."

He said: "You don't think too easily, it is powder, the wind blows away, not much use."

I laughed. "I have my uses."

As I walked out of his tent, I turned to him and said, "Did you have a name for this medicine?"

Chang Longyou was supporting the stove. He looked up and said, "This medicine will burn. I call it gunpowder."

Back to the forward camp camp, I just entered the door, Qi Lie way: "General Chu, you come back, General road is looking for you."

I put the packets aside. "What's up?" I asked.

"There seems to be something important to discuss," Qillie said. He has given permission to go to his camp as soon as you return."

Is there something urgent? Worried, I turned and went out of the camp. When he went out, he turned to Qi Lie and said, "Small Lie, you find me charcoal, grind it into powder, the finer the better. About a catty."

Qi Lie a little puzzled, said: "Want that to do what?"

I didn't explain, so I went to Lu Gong Xing's camp.

Lu Gongxing summoned us at this time, what on earth will happen?

The snake does not know when to attack, the front battalion is responsible for the defense of the Chinese army. Perhaps, the road Gongxing in order to prepare for the next plan.

As soon as we reached Lu Gongxing's tent, we were still at the door when we heard Paul calling out: "No! Our forward battalion would rather die than retreat!"

His voice was loud, but a little angry. A little surprised, I pushed back the curtain and went in.

Lu Gongxing's tent was as big as ours, and there were sixteen centurions in it now, including Lu Gongxing. It was a little crowded. Paul was standing there, his face flushed.

Road Gong line saw me come in, nodded, but the mouth is still on Pu 'an Li said: "General Pu, act on occasion, not to show weakness to the enemy. Our army did not have enough food and supplies this time. If it is trapped in the lonely city, it will have to wait for death. I think it would be better for us to stand down and surrender the empty city of Gao Vulture to the Serpent Men, and then we can regroup and fight the Serpent Men again."

"What's the matter?" I whispered to the seventh battalion's centurion, Qian Wenyi, who was also a civilian.

Qian Wenyi small voice: "The road control wants to report to the marquis, asked to retire, want to ask for the opinion of all centurions in the forward camp."

Although I don't have much say in military aircraft matters, I think the situation is too serious to get involved with the Snake Man, and I agree with leaving the army.

Pu Anli way: "Grain is not a small matter, but can be sent out to bet grain. Now that the Serpents are near the city, we are still able to defend it. If we do not defeat them or retreat, if they come after us, will we not lose our army?"

Boorish as he was, he was right. If we leave the city of Vulture and the Serpors pursue us, we will not stand a chance.

Lu Gongdao: "Although General Pu's words are not wrong, I have already thought about it. Snake people are afraid of fire. If the rear army sets fire barriers along the way, snake people will not dare to approach. Now, General, by a show of hands, how many agree to fight the Serpents in the city?"

He raised his hand and said, "My brothers, if we retreat at this time, the reputation of the forward battalion will be ruined in our hands. If we go back, how can we face the generals of the predecessors?"

His words were very persuasive, and five or six hands went up. But there were 17 of them. That was a minority. Lu Gong said, "In that case, the majority is in favor of withdrawal. I will immediately report to the Marquis that the forward battalion agrees to withdraw."

Paul sat down a little sulkily. Then I heard the centurion of the thirteenth battalion, Lloyd Keating, saying, "Control of the roads. I do not agree to fight with the Serpents in the city, but I do not agree to withdraw at once."

Lu Gongxing frowned and said, "General Law, what do you think?"

Lloyd was my first five cadets. In his class of graduates, is known as "earth fire water wind" one of the four outstanding students. "Fire", "Water" and "Wind" are all children of families. After graduation, they all started as junior officers in the court. Now they are all middle generals in the army of the Marquis of Wen. However, according to the wind assessment in the forward camp, among the twenty centurions, only those with both courage and wisdom could be of great use. In addition to Lu Gongxing, it was Lao Guoji. Like Pu Anli and myself, there was only one wind assessment with courage and no plan. Lauk Kee's words, Lu Gong Xing also want to listen.

"I don't think it's necessary or wise to argue with the Serpents about the city," said Lloyd. But at this point, just as General Pu said, we can not retreat. In addition to not good back to the Chinese people to confess, if those snake people chase, it is really a very annoying thing. This is something that needs to be discussed in the long run."

I'm kind of funny. His "playing the long game" was really an equivocal word. How will he play the long game now? Lu Gong said, "In that case, how many people agree to leave now?"

"Hubbub" a while, raised ten hands, I also raised his hand. Lu Gong Gong said, "Good. Ten agree to leave, six oppose, and one takes the long view. In this case, from this day Forward has agreed to withdraw, and I have told the Lord that we shall all return to rest and be ready to meet the Serpents."

Paul got up and walked out of the camp with his gang. At the door, he spat back at us and said, "Coward! Bo Anli good man, ashamed to be with you!"

Although his official position is under Lu Gongxing, but his father is also a general, Lu Gongxing can not say much. The people went out, and I was about to exit. The road said, "General Chu, please stay."

When the others had dispersed, Lu Gongxing said to me, "General Chu, please accompany me to see the Marquis."

I was a little worried. "General Lu," I said, "I am only a centurion. I have no right to see you."

The road reveres the way: "No harm, accompany me to walk."

We took two horses, two people out of the camp, to the Marquis of the Chinese army camp. Lu Gongxing suddenly said, "General Chu, thank you for supporting me. I thought you would oppose the withdrawal."

"If we had a chance," I said, "I should have beaten them before we left. But now it seems very difficult to attack them with fire, even if they are afraid of fire."

My mind, but still thinking of Chang Longyou that gunpowder. Snake people are afraid of fire, and gunpowder may be their Nemesis. But I have not tried. In my humble position, I dare not say anything about military affairs.

Lu Gong Xing looked up at the sky, said: "Pu Anli thought is too simple, it seems that once found the snake people fear fire, they will play it safe. In fact, the rainy season in southern Xinjiang is coming."

Rainy season!

The two words hit me like a hammer. Indeed, unlike the imperial capital, southern Xinjiang rains a lot after the start of spring. We sent our troops in winter, but there was not much rain on our journey. We besieged Gaoying City for two months, but there was not much rain. But once it enters the rainy season, the rain in southern Xinjiang is continuous, it is said that there will be two or three months in a row, then, how to use fire attack? I'm afraid we can't even set the fire barrier when we retreat. No wonder Lu Gongxing is thinking of withdrawing. Now is the last chance for the whole division to retreat.

I said, "Why don't you tell them that?"

With a wry smile, he said, "How can we talk about this now? My Lord must have sensed it. I saw it in his face. He was resigning. But I wonder if he will give up his reputation and quit as soon as possible. Otherwise, I'm afraid he won't be able to quit at all."

I said nothing. Indeed, the situation is so stormy that I really don't know what to do next. I don't know where I threw away my little confidence in gunpowder.

Arriving at the army tent, I waited outside, Lu Gong marched to report to the marquis. When he came out, he was dejected. I said, "What did you say?"

He sighed and said, "Your Majesty does not agree to withdraw."

I said, "Yes. As for the marquis, General Shen Xiping's head is still under the command of the enemy. How do you tell him to tell the people when he returns?"

Lu Gongxing sighed deeply and said, "That's probably the reason. But if we don't retreat soon, many more will die. Who do the families of the soldiers who died in the line of battle ask for their names?"

He jumped on his horse and walked on in silence. The setting sun is in the sky, but the clouds are dense in the sky. It was cold in early spring, and the leather was a little hard, but not enough to hinder the movement of the hands and feet.

I wound the long rope over the battlements, lowered one end and said, "Watch."

Qi Lie small voice: "General Chu, you really want to go? Is it all right with you?"

I pressed the waist, said: "Nothing."

On his waist was some more ecstasy powder from the medical officer. The medical officer said, forget fruit powder can not be used, but the pain relief is miraculous, in addition to the waist a little hard, other no discomfort.

If Shen Xiping's head could not be brought back, the Marquis was afraid that the whole army would be destroyed rather than retreat. I knew, grudgingly, that at best we could hold the city, and that the hope of striking back at the Serpents and defeating them was too remote. Now, I am afraid there is only this way, so that Lord Wu can have a step down.

Only in this way can nearly 100,000 Imperial troops return to the Imperial capital.

Qi Lie said, "I will go, too."

I sank face, said: "Nonsense, it is a matter of near-death, you can only hinder."

As I was travelling light, I carried only a Babie knife, and a packet of powder I had just made. I didn't have time to try it. I don't know if it worked. I took hold of the rope, tested the strength, held on to the rope with both hands, and hung on the wall.

It was the waning moon, and it was too dark to see anything clearly. There were several torches above the city, and soldiers were patrolling at night. Although the snake man never attacked at night, Lord Wu did not take it lightly. This is the Forward Battalion area, and tonight is the fifth Battalion's night.

When he was lowered into the city, he suddenly felt confused. I looked at Qi Liyue. He looked sad as if he thought I was dead. I cursed: "Xiao Lie, don't put on that face, as if I was doomed."

Qi Lie smiled sadly and said, "General, be careful."

Between the moat and the wall was a land three feet wide. During the day, an attack by the Serpents made the roots of the wall cratered and heaped with stones. I lowered the rope to the bottom, my foot hit the dirt, and with a push I flung it outward like a pebble tied to a long rope, releasing the rope in my hand. Seeing that I had crossed the moat, I let go of the rope and fell to the ground, silently.

I would have been a little proud of my lightness if it hadn't been at such a time, but of course I couldn't boast about myself now. I looked back and saw that the rope was being pulled back. Qi Liyue must have known that I had crossed the moat. Only it looked like a snake swimming up the wall.

I promised him that I would be back before morning, whether it was a matter of success or failure, and he would shoot the rope for me to grab and climb up the city. I didn't tell him what to do if he didn't come back.

I hope I'm lucky. I looked up at the sky, the hook of the moon has reached the horizon, the night is deep. This weather, the best for the camp, but the Imperial army, now probably no one dare to steal the snake camp.

The Serpent's camp is two miles away. During the day, they had set up a temporary camp seven or eight hundred paces away from the city. When I passed through the camp, I saw a mess everywhere. Shen Xiping's right army was not disciplined enough, but it was not in such a mess.

Two li, that's not very long. Beyond this field is a large forest. There is such a large flat land in front of Gaohucheng, which is rare in southern Xinjiang. Therefore, the first generation of the city owners chose this place to build the city. If anyone attacked it, they could see it from a distance. There are some towns in southern Xinjiang surrounded by dense woods on three sides. We have been ambushed several times, and often we were unconscious when we reached the middle of the city. When I reached the wood, I glanced back at the city of High Eagle. In the dim light of the stars and the moon, I could only see a faint outline, but it was still. I don't know why, there is a sudden sadness welling up in my heart.

Am I really not going to come back?

I bowed my head and walked forward.

I don't know why, when I feel sad, it is not my parents, not the brothers in the army, but the woman.

The woman playing the pipa, whom I met once at the banquet of the Lord Wu.

In the woods the moonlight grew darker and it was impossible to see much. The road could only be seen a slightly white trace, and I walked carefully forward, but still a little bump. After a short walk, there was suddenly some light ahead.

The early insect sounds are boiling in the ear. I pulled away a branch, and suddenly I heard some soft noises behind me.

Someone!

I jumped and caught a thick branch above my head, on which I was already crouching. The sequence of movements was silent, and even he was somewhat pleased.

As I crouched down, someone whispered, "What is it?"

As if in response to his voice, there was a "whoosh" of some bird flying near me. Although the man's voice was very soft, I could tell at once that it was Qin Quan.

Qin Quan, an outpost officer of the Dragon Scale Army.

"It's the Owl," said a voice on the side.

The man's voice was no one's, but it must have been one of the Dragonscale.

Are they also coming to steal Shen Xiping's head? I wish they would succeed, and save me the risk.

Qin Quan suddenly said: "How can there be fire in the snake camp?"

I suddenly remembered. I had never thought of that before. I only thought that there must be torches in the camp. But Serpents are afraid of fire.

Above them, I felt only a little worried.

The man: "Never mind that, let's go."

They had crept forward.

There were five of them. Qin Quan and that man were the leaders, and the other three followed them.

Should we call them?

I am hesitating, Qin Quan they have arrived at the edge of the snake people camp. I was about to catch up when, suddenly, two dark shadows fell behind them.

It's the snake man!

Qin right they immediately noticed, walking in the back of the two people just turned around, jumped from the tree two snake people have a entangled in their necks.

At a distance I could hear the sound of their pain, but soon came the crack of bones. I could almost see the green torsos of the snake men tightening around their necks like a thick rope, tightening inch by inch until they broke.

That must be the Serpentine patrol. A chill ran down my back like a caterpillar. These serpents even sent out patrol battalions. Are they still domesticated beasts? That's almost human.

Qin Quan took the lead. He "choked" and pulled out his knife. He rushed towards the snake man, perhaps trying to rescue him from under the two snake men. The two snake men were also carrying knives. When Qin Quan rushed to them, one of the snake men's knives had been violently cut down, but Qin Quan seemed afraid to use the knife but touched it hard. The snake man turned sideways and jumped up suddenly.

It was similar to what I had done, but he grabbed the branch a little lower than I did, and therefore a little faster. Presumably, Qin Quan wanted to escape from the heads of those snake people.

Indeed, the exit is sealed, so there is only death to live.

The snake man did not expect Qin Quan to have such a trick, a little gawked at him, even did not come forward. At this moment, a few more Snake-men burst out of the tent, and two other Dragonscale soldiers came a step behind. One of them let out a long scream as the Snake-man cut him almost from shoulder to side. At this sound, Qin Quan's hand on the branch eased, and he jumped backwards from the branch. Only slowly, the snake man stood up at once and struck Qin Quan's vest with a knife.

When the snake man stood upright, he was already as tall as three men. The snake man grasped the branch with one hand and was suddenly taller than Qin Quan. The knife hit him in the back of the heart. He was about to jump out with the force of the branch, but the knife cut him down like a stone, and he fell heavily to the ground.

The snake man had fallen to the ground, his lower body on the ground, and was about the height of a man again. It swam over and grabbed Qin Quan's foot. Qin Quan got a knife in his back, but the snake man was still struggling. The snake man's knife pressed down on his back and cut down hard.

Qin Quan gave a shrill cry. The knife was broad and large, just like the knife used to cut meat in the kitchen. It cut through his soft armor and sank into his back. Qin Quan's back was opened like a bag. The snake man put his left hand into Qin Quan's body and felt it inside. Qin Quan just kept twitching. The snake man felt a round thing inside him and threw it into his mouth.

There was a loud "hum" in my head.

The snake man actually ate Qin Quan's heart! In the very faint light of the moon through the trees, only the dark liquid could be seen running from the mouth of the snake man.

In the city of Vultures, I had known that Snake men ate men, and that even the Republicans had eaten men in the end, but this was the first time I had seen such bloody cannibalism. I bit my lip, trying not to howl.

The snake man chewed for a while and then swam away with the body of Qin Quan.

All five Dragon Scale armies, barely able to fight back, were wiped out in an almost instant.

The Serpents, dragging five mutilated bodies, made no sound, and retreated quietly back into the camp, with only the faint smell of blood around them.

There was not a snake man around. Perhaps, it is Qin Quan they were killed, those snake people also thought that no one would come, the defense is also lax.

The horizon is already a little bright, if I don't hurry, then I have no chance. And this opportunity, can be said to be Qin right five people with their lives.

I gritted my teeth, turned and jumped off the branch. Go forward.

I dare not like Qin Quan, walking on the road, I almost every step close to the tree, try not to make a sound.

The Snake-man camps were messy and had no fences, but they looked exactly like the Imperial Army. As I got closer, I found that the torches were really only bright, very weak lights, and I did not know what they were for.

Perhaps the snake people were afraid of the burning fire, but in the morning when the snake people attacked, Zhang Longyou set fire to one of the snake people. Although the fire was very big, the other snake people were far away, so why did they run away in fear?

Puzzled as I was, I had to let the question go.

There was not even a Serpent in front of his camp. The whole camp seemed to be dead, and when the serpents who had been on patrol entered, they seemed swallowed up, and there was no sound.

Do you want to go in?

The death of Qin Quan just now still makes me palpitation, let me rush in, I really hesitate a little. The Snake-man's tent looks peaceful, but who knows what it looks like inside.

It was almost dawn and dawn was beginning to show on the horizon, but the moon was already slanting to the west and the sky was getting darker overhead. It was the darkest hour before dawn, and there was a deathly silence in the Serpent's camp.

As a rule of thumb, if it's this quiet, it's either the most disciplined or an empty battalion.

Of course I can't believe the snake man escaped all at once, but the silence is strange. I was careful not to make a sound.

The flagpole with Shen Xiping's head was in the middle of the camp. The flagpole was very high and stood on a very large shelf. I wonder how the snake man could make such things. On the flagpole, the flag was waving in the wind, and it was too dark to see the pattern on it.

I looked around, but there was still no sound. I reached under the flagpole and touched it. There was a thick rope on it. It was the rope from which the flag was hung, for the flag was blown up and the rope was stretched straight.

I carefully drew out the Bibb knife, press on the rope, gently pick, the rope broke.

It was Shen Xiping's head that fell off. It was the flag that crashed down with the wind.

I froze and cursed myself for being stupid. It is never a rope that binds the head and the flag, but I cut the rope that holds the flag. I sprang to my feet and took hold of the end of the rope which was rising rapidly from the falling banner.

If I didn't grasp it, the pulley on top of the flagpole made a grating creak sound, almost like a terrible drum band playing in the middle of the night. I had just lashed the end of the rope to the pole, when there was a roar from the Serpentine camp, which had been as silent as death, mixed with some stiff Imperial language, and a voice called, "Flag!"

I couldn't help laughing. What am I supposed to do with that weird flag of the snake man? Besides, it's too heavy to escape the Serpentine camp. But before I could laugh out loud, a long gun flew over me with a "whoop" and shot straight at my face.

What a blast!

I was surprised, too. Of course, Shen Xiping's lance had that much power, but even an ordinary soldier among the snakes had that power.

I let go of the end of the gun, took hold of it by the tail, and was about to wrestle it back, when I felt a great force attached to it. I did not exert too much force, and the handle of the gun came out of my hand with a bang, and struck the stone base of the flagpole. Sparks shot from the stone, and half of the point of the gun went into the stone.

From one camp to another, the snake men were emerging. Snake people don't feel disheveled, of course, but watching them come out of the tent made me shudder.

By this time the snake men had formed a large circle at the flagpole. Some of the snake men with long spears rushed at me. The snake man had missed his shot and had taken another spear from somewhere. Seven or eight snake men rushed at me at once.

There was no way out.

That was my first thought. If it falls into the snake man's hands, will the heart be ripped out like Qin Quan's?

I could not help thinking, but a long spear was thrust into my chest, and behind me several serpents were thrust at me.

Anyway, I don't want to sit here and die, and even if I die, I'll take a few with me. I put the Babie's sword in my left hand, and with my right hand I caught hold of the lance, and the man, leaning on his lance, came a few steps nearer to the snake-man. The lance was under my side, and the knife of my left hand turned in a circle and cut it off.

The snake man did not expect me to do this at all. It was like a desperate man. His hands were still clasped to the gun, which I had caught in my grip, and if he drew it into his arms, he would pull me in too, and make my blow more powerful.

Snake Man may not be that smart, but he must know this.

I was now so close to the snake man that I could see some blood dripping from his mouth, and I did not know what he had eaten. I let out a loud roar and hit him on the top of the head.

Maybe this will be my last cut. This cut will kill him, and those serpents behind me will Pierce me right through. But I don't care about anything now. I'm going to kill one before I die.

The Serpent's eyes were still cold. Suddenly, I felt my body light, the whole person actually flew up.

The snake man actually raised his gun.

I was hanging from the top of my rifle, and I rose from the ground, my Babie knife in my hand, and the long spears behind me, piercing through my feet.

The power of the snake man was truly astonishing.

I know that if you hang on the head of a gun, you are in the position of being slaughtered. By this time the spear had reached over the snake-man's head, but suddenly it was released and the man fell, and the snake-man seemed to have exhausted his strength.

If it fell to the ground, it would be cut to pieces before I knew it. I glanced down out of the corner of my eye. The serpents who had attacked me had not yet returned their guns, but I saw them. I let go and jumped down.

The spears behind me were crossed, and the snakes must have been surprised when I stepped on the point where they crossed. I felt my feet suddenly lifted again, and without waiting for them to give a strong jump, I jumped to the flagpole.

The flagpole was not far from me, but I could not see very well now. The jump was not quite right; it missed by a foot or two. I stretched out my right hand, trying to hold on to it, when, suddenly, the tips of my fingers touched the rope which I had tied to it at random, and I caught it. My right hand made two quick turns, and the rope circled around my wrist, and by this time my man had passed the flagpole, but my right hand had caught the rope, and I swung back.

I bit the Babie knife in my mouth and waited for the men to swing back, holding the flagstaff with my left hand. The flagpole, as thick as my arm, felt strangely solid. I caught it with my left hand, and with the tip of my left foot I touched the flagpole, and with my right hand I had turned the rope a little tighter.

Finally up the flagpole.

As I scrambled up on hands and knees, I heard a cry from below and a creak overhead. It was the flag, slipping down after the rope had been loosened.

The flag must have been heavy, and as I climbed, I felt it hanging from my hand, as if someone were holding me to ease my climb.

In the middle of the climb, the flag is already dark hanging over my head, blown by the wind straight "crackle". I seized it, took the knife out of my mouth with my left hand, and was about to cut the rope, when I heard another exclamation, and looked round, and saw all the snake men down there, black and dark, looking up at me with their heads up, I don't know how many.

It's a little scary in the daytime, but it's even weirder now.