The wind rose suddenly, the sand filled the sky, the smoke and dust were everywhere, and the yellow sky was bleak and desolate under the red sun. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 The horn sounded, the deafening war drums, mixed with the roars of the warriors, the momentum was magnificent, the sound moved the four fields, the beasts screamed for it, and the earth trembled for it.

The army marched to the battlefield in four groups. Shi Jiaheng led the middle route army out of the camp, ran directly to the outside of Xunbao City, and when they arrived near Xunbao City, the four teams of troops dispersed according to the original formation, and hid in a hidden place to wait for the arrival of Hou in the dark night.

The army with the smallest number of men was sparsely ambushed along the way.

The night was four, and the moon shyly peeked out of the clouds and mist half of its head, like a shy girl, with a gentle soft light. The moonlight shines through the clouds, shining the clouds like a veil, and hazy around the Moon Maiden's face, like a dream. The smoke treasure city is full of lights, fire trees and silver flowers, bright lights, a prosperous and lively scene. A few soldiers guarding outside the city were tired with weapons in their hands, dozing lazily, and the outside of the city was quiet, like a huge black net hiding murderous intentions waiting for its prey to obediently throw itself into the net.

The earth shook violently as if it was chilling, and the sound of horses' hooves shouting and killing in the distance was gradually approaching, Shi Jiaheng was calm and calm, sitting upright on the Diaoyutai platform, still standing still.

The Tuoba wolf army led by Tuoba Hui rushed over all the way like chopping melons and vegetables, and defeated the people led by Guo Li, and several remnants retreated into the city. Tuoba Hui wore a terrifying mask, majestic and burly, armed with a long sword, hideous and fierce, several guards were forced by its momentum, threw down their weapons, clamped their tails, and fled.

Tuoba Hui sneered and shouted loudly in Tuoba language, which everyone could not understand. The Tuoba soldiers shouted in unison, and a large number of men and horses stepped through the city gate and swarmed in.

When they walked a little farther, Shi Jiaheng stood up violently as if he was shocked, waved his big hand, and a soldier rushed over, covered the dark iron gate, and locked it firmly with a big iron chain. He rode a flame horse, rode forward, and looked at the city gate with a smile, with a chill in his smile.

Not long after Tuoba Hui rushed into the city, he suddenly felt that something was wrong, and there was no one in the city, and there was a sound behind him of the gate being heavily covered, like a bell, and it woke up his chaotic head, but his elm head still didn't understand what was going on.

Suddenly, a shout suddenly sounded outside the city, he listened quietly, and the people who shouted outside used the Tuoba language: "Listen to the people inside, our army is magnanimous and compassionate, as long as the people inside put down their weapons, promise not to come again, sign a letter of surrender, and are willing to fight with our dynasty into a jade silk, let you have a way to live, if you are stubborn and swear to resist to the death, then our army will not show mercy, and you will have no return." The shouts came from all directions, and in order to prevent them from hearing clearly, the people outside the city shouted dozens of times, but the people inside still responded loudly.

Tuoba Hui gritted his teeth and said nothing, it was not easy to rush hard, even if he rushed, the Han army outside was like a wolf and a tiger, and going out would definitely be a dead end. The rest of the people followed and shouted what to do.

The only way to stop the army is to sit and wait for reinforcements to come to save them, but they are afraid that there will be an ambush in the city, as long as they are captured as hostages, it is useless for reinforcements to come. He was so enraged that he almost broke his back molars, and the veteran generals who had fought with the Han army had warned him that these men were neither as strong as the Tuobas, nor as good as the horses, but they were like the most cunning hunters of the steppe, and even the wisest foxes could not escape the traps they had set.

Tuoba Hui ordered the whole army to sit down and rest on the spot, and sat cross-legged and silently drank the wine of regret in his heart.

The Tiansheng army outside has begun to set up tents and is ready to be trapped for a long time. In the second half of the night, when everyone was a little tired and sleepy, the city suddenly burst into flames, spreading with lightning speed, and the city of Xunbao suddenly became a hell furnace, a purgatory on earth, and the fire in the sky ruthlessly devoured every house, enveloping Tuoba Hui's army in it, screams and fleeing sounds one after another.

The thick walls were a natural barrier that shielded the curious and surprised gazes of the Han soldiers, who could not see the horrific scene inside, and the mere sound of shouts and begs for mercy coming from inside the city made them shudder.

Shi Jiaheng looked at the rising smoke on the city tower and the fire that rushed out of the sky, he was shocked and anxious, but he didn't dare to open the city gate rashly to rescue him, he was afraid that it was the enemy's trick to lure the enemy, and maybe he would gradually stop when he saw that they were unmoved.

Are they going to burn through the walls and escape? But he was deeply caught by the north wind blowing wildly, and doing so was nothing more than igniting a fire****.

The fire in the city really got bigger and bigger, the fire reflected the turbid sky covered by yellow sand, the Tiansheng army outside the city was stunned, and the cry for help inside the city was heartbreaking, although they couldn't understand it, but the fear of death was like a blood-sucking worm that drilled into everyone's body, which made people shudder.

Shi Jiaheng didn't understand why the other party wanted to ****, could it be that Tuoba people knew that there was no way out, and they would rather die together than surrender? Would you rather be a broken jade than a complete tile? To destroy Xunbao City in such a way that is almost against the way of heaven and humanity, such a sacrifice is too tragic and not worth it.

The soldiers' eyes gradually changed from surprise to fear, and some soldiers could not even listen to it, and trembled. Shi Jiaheng's face turned pale, his dream of surrendering without a fight was shattered, I didn't kill Beren, but Beren died because of me. He was full of pride in making meritorious contributions, turned into a puddle of ice water, and poured him into a cold heart, war, the first time he was tired of war, the first time he was tired of the battlefield, the first time he felt repentant for the killing, the first time he had a feeling of wanting to escape, the cruel human nature was bloody, and it was the unbearable weight of his life.

He finally couldn't bear the tragedy and ran to the commander Ding Yao to ask for the city gate to be opened, but the rest of the generals shook their heads hesitantly. Ding Yao couldn't figure out the other party's intentions, and he didn't dare to agree rashly, and everyone argued and didn't give the order until dawn.

After a night of fire, a strong smell of charred corpses came from the city, and the troops led by Tuoba Hui burned countless people to death and burn them. Shi Jiaheng couldn't bear it anymore and blurted out: "The general should hurry up and open the city to save people, if Tuoba Hui is really burned to death." At that time, Tuoba was in a hurry, and what should he do if he gathered the strength of the whole clan to raise troops to take revenge? ”

Ding Yao thought about it, his words were not completely alarmist, their original intention was to capture Tuoba Hui alive, and they didn't want to kill them all, after all, Tuoba people have a barbaric character, not as gentle as the Han people, and they completely disregard their lives when they fight, if they really have this grudge against them, it is not a good thing. He was suddenly shocked again, and hurriedly ordered the city to be opened to save people. I am afraid that there is a conspiracy in Tuoba's move, and the person who leads the troops wears a terrifying mask, and no one knows whether he is Tuoba Hui, and if there is fraud in it...... There was a chill on his body, could it be that he was turning the tiger away from the mountain? He hurriedly sent people back to Shengle City to inquire about the situation.

Yan Qingshuang, who witnessed this tragedy with her own eyes, also hid in the dense forest, she didn't know what happened, but the sound of thousands of living beings disappearing was like a steel nail piercing through the bones, and her senses were out of order, and her intuition was lost.

At this moment when the hearer was sad and the listener was in tears, a discordant laughter floated in, and the unbridled laughter made her extremely disgusted, and her heart was on fire, and she followed the laughter to find it.

There was a torch not far away, one person stood with his back to her and his back hand, and one person behind him held a torch and waited beside them, and a dozen people dressed in Han costumes opposite them knelt straight and straight, and the first one raised his head and replied in Tuoba language: "Congratulations, master, the great thing has been accomplished." ”

The person who was originally facing away from her slowly turned around, Yan Qingshuang saw clearly by the light of the torch and was shocked, took a step back, and made a slight sound, and then several people around the person shouted loudly, and the torch shone in the direction where she was standing.

It's really a coincidence that the book is not written, and the person who smiled at him in the firelight was the yellow-faced man who gave her a letter of appointment.

At this time, he had changed his posture, looking radiant and beaming, he looked at her with a smile and said: "Oh, Yan Qingshuang Yan girl, this is the third time we have met, in the words of your Han people, we are really destined." ”

Yan Qingshuang didn't want to pay attention to him, looked at him in disgust, snorted, turned around and left, and the yellow-faced man instructed the rest of him: "Wait for me here." Quickly caught up a few steps, grabbed her and said good-naturedly: "Hey, Miss Yan, don't be in such a hurry to go, let's talk about the old days." ”

Yan Qingshuang said angrily: "Let go!" If you don't let go, be careful that I cut off your arm. ”

The yellow-faced man said with a hippie smile: "If you don't leave, I'll let it go." ”

Yan Qingshuang angrily stretched out his hand and twisted his chin, and said murderously: "You think I really don't dare to kill you, huh?" ”

The yellow-faced man smiled: "Peony flowers die, ghosts are also romantic, I am willing to die in your hands." ”

Yan Qingshuang raised her hand and slapped it over, scolding: "Indecent." The yellow-faced man turned around and dodged, deliberately teasing and teasing her, pretending to be in the palm, holding his cheeks with both hands, and said happily: "Hitting is love and scolding is love." You beat me because you have affection for me, since this is the case, you come with me, I will treat you well, let you wear gold and silver, and enjoy endless glory and wealth. ”

She took a sip and turned to leave, but the yellow-faced man suddenly put away his smile and said, "Marry me, you will definitely not regret it." ”

She looked murderous, and fiercely shouted with a knife: "Look for death." ”

She was about to rush forward and slash him a few times, but the man with the torch behind her rushed over and whispered a few words to the yellow-faced man, his face changed greatly, and he wanted to leave, but he was reluctant to her. He stretched out his hand, full of anticipation, and said sincerely, "Come, come with me." "The voice is low and seductive.

Yan Qingshuang pulled out the silver knife at her waist and scolded unceremoniously: "Get out!" ”

The yellow-faced man's face changed a few times, and the man behind him said anxiously: "Master, the big thing is important." ”

He nodded, then smiled and said gently, "Good things are not in a hurry. Sooner or later you will be mine, you wait for me, and one day, I will make you proud to be my woman. ”

He looked at her reluctantly, his tender gaze and sad look made her hairs stand on end, and cold sweat flowed. He looked at it, then relentlessly and ran away with his subordinates.

Yan Qingshuang's silver knife was put into the sheath, and he said to his back that was gradually drifting away: "Self-inflicted." Arrogant and ignorant, dream your big dreams. ”

The fire burned for two days and two nights, and the prosperous and wealthy Fubao City was burned to ruins by a fire, and the people who returned to the city couldn't help but cry when they saw their devastated homes. Most of the generals of the Tuoba army had been reduced to piles of powder, and there were no bones left in the dirt, and they had finally merged with the city of Smoked Treasure, and no one could take it from them anymore.

When the news came, Tuoba Jue learned that his beloved eldest son was buried in the fire, and he was furious, and in a fit of anger, he actually died with a whimper, and Tuoba's throne actually fell into the hands of Tuoba Protector.

Tuoba Hu is far more knowledgeable about current affairs than Tuoba Hui, this time Tuoba Army's vitality is greatly damaged, he has an unstable foundation, so chaotic, he decisively chooses to make peace and surrender. He ordered his men to carry a large number of gold, silver, horses, and countless treasures, prayed for peace, and signed a truce between the two sides. At this point, in the battle of Xunbao, the Tiansheng army won a complete victory with almost no damage.

The morale of the Tiansheng army was high, but Shi Jiaheng was depressed. He often visited Tuoba wounded soldiers in the wounded barracks, and the burn medicine in the barracks was not enough to treat all the wounded, and the burns were more difficult to treat than knife wounds, and every day there were injuries and deaths due to infection. The pain and despair in their eyes suffocated him. He suddenly fell into confusion, refused all celebratory feasts under the pretext of illness, and tortured incessantly for countless sleepless nights, as if he had a new understanding of life and death and war.

Time passed in a hurry, a **** early horseback to go out for a walk, until the evening came back, as soon as he entered his camp, there were soldiers to pass the order of Shi Lie's summons to him.

He lifted the curtain and entered the tent in a trance, still immersed in his own thoughts.

Shi Lie put down the book in his hand, the goat's whiskers hanging down his slender chin were a little messy, and his eyes, which were usually as fierce as thunder and lightning, were tiredly wrapped in reddish eyes, and he looked at his son for a while, with complex emotions in his eyes.

Until Shi Jiaheng woke up from his own world and saluted his father. Shi Liecai said in a low voice, "Sit." ”

Shi Jiaheng sat upright and hung his head, never noticing the worry and reluctance in his father's eyes.

Shi Lie looked at his son's haggard expression and said with concern: "I heard that you haven't been in good health for a few days and have gone out to herd the horse again, why don't you rest?" ”

Shi Jiaheng was depressed in his heart and hung his head silently.

Shi Lie pondered for a moment, and found that there were no better words to express, so he still said directly: "The compensation for Tuoba's defeat has been delivered, you can rest for a few days first, and you don't have to wait for the holy oracle to come." Go to the south to pick up your mother and sister first, and I will ask Zhu Kai to lead a group of good hands to send the dozen boxes of financial gifts to Chang'an, and the last two boxes will be left for emergencies, and the remaining boxes will be handed over to the prime minister by you personally. ”

Shi Jiaheng was stunned for a moment, then widened his eyes and asked in astonishment: "Is this a bribe?" ”

Shi Lie knew that his son would have this question, and sighed helplessly: "This is the rule of officialdom and the rule of the prime minister." I got the exact news from the palace, because of this great victory, you have become famous in Chang'an, and the emperor has decided to transfer you to the Yuan New Palace to take charge of the Shenjie army, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, not my work but your own hard work. You have military merits, and you are hand-picked by the emperor, which is far stronger than those children of families who inherit the ancestral system but are not mixed with military ranks. What's more, I owe something to your brother, so I will naturally favor him in the future, but fortunately, he is happy to know his fate and be at peace with your brother, and I am very comforted. You are smart and knowledgeable, and you are better than your brother in terms of martial arts, and the burden of the Shi family will depend on you in the future. ”

He walked up to his son with emotion, his eyes were full of love, almost unspeakable, and he said in a loud voice: "You are also older, and you should no longer be a young man who does not know the taste of sorrow." In this life, people are bound by too many things, and it is inevitable that they will do something against their will, even if they are the son of heaven, there are many helpless, and it is difficult to do what they want. I just hope that you will be cautious, not pedantic but not too slippery, and we will also do some of the etiquette. ”

Although he knew that his father's words were reasonable, he still felt like a thousand pounds of stone in his heart. Soldiers fighting with their lives outside the court can finally be recognized by the imperial court only for the boxes of gold and silver sent to the homes of high-ranking officials in exchange for their blood, even if the father who has made great military achievements must not bend to this dark rule, but he must also tolerate this rule with tolerance and indifference as a sign of his growing up. His breathing became more and more difficult, and he made a final rebuttal heavily: "But the reconstruction of the smoked treasure, the resettlement of the people still needs silver taels." ”

Shi Lie sighed and said: "It's a shame that we are tight, but fortunately, the saint has a lot of rewards, you and I have taken out all the money except for the family, in short, we can't suffer the people and soldiers, only we take some risks and grievances, your mother will understand." You must hide this from your brother, he has a bullish temper, and he can't hide things in his heart, it's not as steady as you, I'm really afraid that he will get drunk and shout out, and people will catch the handle. ”

"My son knows what to expect." Shi Jiaheng no longer struggles, he also knows that this is a responsibility that he can't escape, as his father said, the steel shoulders he honed in the army will eventually bear the pain that ordinary people can't bear.

"In the future, you will be alone in Chang'an, without your father and brother by your side, you can only rely on yourself. Officialdom matters, open and secret fighting, the enemy and me are inseparable, you have to be cautious in words and deeds, think twice about everything, although you must know how to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, but some courtiers must do their responsibilities even if there is danger, even if we Shi people can't do it. ”

Shi Lie stared at this son deeply, as if this was the last time he would look at his son's face in this life, and his thin and handsome face still had a bit of youthful youth. He is not yet twenty years old, but he has to go to Chang'an, the tiger's lair, to fight for his family and the battle situation. Everyone in this world is struggling to survive, no one can be detached, personnel hardships, no one can be an exception.

This is Shi Lie's most emotional words to his son as a father, Shi Jiaheng was moved, but felt that his every word was like bitter sand buried in his mouth.