On the seventh day of the lunar month, Changzhou City.

Tomorrow is the Laba Festival, and in more than half a month, it will be the Chinese New Year's Eve, but there is not much festive atmosphere inside and outside Changzhou, but there are still various scars that have experienced a series of battles and bitter battles not long ago.

There are still mottled marks on the high walls, which were hewn by arrows, wood, stones and other offensive and defensive weapons, and a house next to the southern wall has long been in ruins, some of which were destroyed by the war, but more of them were forcibly dismantled by the soldiers into weapons such as rolling stones in order to defend the city walls; In addition, there is a shortage of food in the city, and the life of the people is becoming more and more difficult.

But compared with these, what makes people feel that the war has not yet been far away is the two battalions of soldiers and horses stationed outside Changzhou, and the garrison of tens of thousands of officers and soldiers, always reminding everyone in the city all the time that the threat of war has not yet been lifted, and everyone can not have the slightest luck and relaxation.

Three miles south of Changzhou City, the Shandong Army and the Huainan Army were clearly stationed here, although it was not tense, but only from the vigilant appearance of the soldiers on both sides looking at each other in the air, it can be seen that the relationship between the two armies was already very tense, and it seemed that the two armies were going to start a battle before the arrival of the Fang La counter-army. If it weren't for someone forcibly suppressing the behavior of the soldiers......

Even in such an environment, the Huainan army is still lazy and noisy, and from time to time you can hear bursts of frolicking and fighting, and even cursing and complaining when Guan Pu is playing money.

In comparison, the Shandong military camp a few miles away is much more solemn, even if there is a sound constantly coming out, it is also the shouting and shouting of the soldiers in the regular exercises, and the neat shouts sometimes reach the opposite military camp, which can make many people tremble.

The difference in strength between the two sides is completely visible to the naked eye, but Huainan, whose combat strength is much weaker, dares to put on a posture of confrontation with the Shandong army, which is really a bit strange, not only many officers and men in the Shandong army are difficult to understand, but even the soldiers and civilians of Changzhou as bystanders are very strange, and the reason for this is only the forbearance of some people.

When a gust of north wind blew with a deep chill, the soldiers who were only training in single clothes shivered, seeing this, Dong Ping, who was checking the attitude of the soldiers in front, waved his hand and shouted: "Stop!" That's all for today, let's go back to the camp to warm up. ”

Then the soldiers were as if they had been pardoned, and after answering the order, they quickly dispersed and returned to their accounts. Although there was no such thing as a brazier in the tent there, it was much warmer to hide in some shelter than to stand outside and blow the wind. And after a while, someone will bring hot food, so that the chill will be dispelled even more.

To be honest, as northern soldiers from Shandong, they really didn't think that the winter in the south would be so unbearable, the cold actually penetrated from the bones, and the whole army did not have a few sets of heavy clothes to keep out the cold, and the situation was even worse.

Dong Ping also glanced at the Huainan military camp not far away with some concern, and then turned his eyes to Changzhou City in front of him, thinking in his heart: "Song Gongming can always get something this time...... Just thinking about it, he saw a few people coming out of the city and quickly rushed here, it was Song Jiang who brought people back.

Dong Ping, who was anxious to know the result, couldn't wait in the camp at this time, so he strode out of the gate immediately, and when the other party came to him, he quickly asked: "What, would the city like to provide us with some warm clothes first?" ”

In fact, the Shandong army had prepared all kinds of logistical support earlier, whether it was arrows, armor, food, and clothing. However, when they marched to Changzhou before, because they learned that the military situation at the front was urgent, they temporarily threw the most cumbersome winter clothes on the road. This is because I wanted to rush to Changzhou as soon as possible to rescue, and secondly, I also felt that the winter in the south of the Yangtze River may not be how cold.

But after more than half a month, the temperature plummeted, the climate became extremely cold, and the army stayed outside Changzhou for a long time, and the soldiers were offended, and now there are hundreds of people in the camp who fell ill after being cold, and the situation is very worrying.

The Huainan army on the side was prepared and was not affected by this, but the relationship between the two sides was tense, and it was impossible for the other party to provide warm clothes for the Shandong army, so in desperation, Dong Ping could only hit the Changzhou Mansion with his idea, hoping to get some clothes from them.

But when he asked this sentence, he had already seen the bitter look on Song Jiang's face, which made his heart sink: "Why, don't they want to help my Shandong soldiers survive this difficulty?" ”

Song Jiang clenched his fists and bent over: "Song Jiang is incompetent, which has disappointed the capital eunuch." Governor Fan said that there is also a shortage of materials in the city now, and the people are not only short of food and clothing, but many people do not even have a place to live, so he really can't take out clothes to support us. ”

"Hmph, I don't think it's that they can't get something, it's that they won't be able to!" Chao Gai, who heard this statement on the side, immediately swept his eyes to the Huainan military camp: "And nine times out of ten, Peng Yongzhen is making trouble behind his back." He was really sure that we didn't dare to attack them, so he used all the tricks. ”

"Heavenly King, you can't say that, Changzhou City is really difficult now, I and several brothers have seen it, how many people are homeless, they are more miserable than our soldiers......" Song Jiang hurriedly said comfortingly. After a pause, he said: "Why don't I go to the Huainan army to discuss with them again, and exchange food for some warm clothes, so that the sick brother will not be in trouble." ”

"No, doing this is drinking to quench your thirst!" Dong Ping immediately shook his head: "No one knows how long they will spend time with us, if there is a shortage of food, the situation will only get worse." ”

"If you want me to say that it is better to go over and take their clothes directly, I have already seen that they are not pleasing to the eye!" Shi Wengong didn't know when he also came over, and said with a gloomy face.

As soon as these words came out, they immediately won the approval of many generals, but before Dong Ping, who was the main general, could speak, Song Jiang and Lu Junyi had already shouted in unison: "Don't be reckless!" ”

Subsequently, Song Jiangcai said bitterly: "I know that everyone is unhappy in their hearts, but at this time, we must not mess with our own temperament, otherwise the grievances we have suffered during this period of time will be in vain." Then Peng Yongzhen just wants to use such means to force us to do it, so that we can confirm that we have a bad intention, and then he will go to Jinling to report, and Zhu Mian will send this matter to the imperial court with added fuel and vinegar, and we will be completely washed away. You may not care about yourself, but you should also think about the soldiers, for Sun Chahar, if we are affected by our impulsiveness, our sins will be great. ”

The people who were still angry finally calmed down after he mentioned Sun Tu. In fact, if it weren't for Sun Tu's sake, they would have led the army to attack by leaving them in Changzhou long before the Huainan army, and even threatening to block them with troops.

To put it mildly, the situation of this Shandong army is really difficult now, not only is there a problem in logistics support, but also the reputation is very bad, even the people of Changzhou who have just been rescued by them have a certain hostility towards them, which is naturally someone deliberately spreading the relationship between them and killing Xie Mo. Xie Mo's reputation is not only in the Jinling area, but also in the entire Jiangnan River, and since everyone believes that it was the Shandong army that killed him, they naturally will not give them a good face.

In addition, there is a Huainan army on the side, so they can't even leave to find Sun Tu, and they are really in a dilemma.

Of course, if other generals had been in charge, they would have acted regardless of this aggrieved situation, only because of the full persuasion of Song Jiang, Lu Junyi and others, and Dong Ping's consideration of the overall situation, this did not further expand the situation, and only confronted the Huainan Army here.

But after the situation became worse and worse, even Dong Ping couldn't hold it back, and after everyone stopped because of Song Jiang's words, he also darkened his face and said: "If it's just us generals who suffer some hardships, we can withstand it." But the brothers below may not be able to bear it, in the past half a month, there have been three or four hundred people with cold, if it continues like this, the number of diseases will only increase exponentially, if there is a death, how can we explain to Sun Xuan? ”

"But ......" Song Jiang wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Dong Ping waving his hand: "In my opinion, with Sun Xuanzhi's consistent style of loving soldiers like sons, even if he is here, he will never ignore the interests of the soldiers for his own sake and let them suffer from the cold." This time it's been long enough to drag it out any longer. I have decided that this will be a showdown with the Huainan Army, if they dare to drag us again, it will be a big deal to break up! ”

"Good! Dong Dujian, we have been waiting for this sentence for too long, these bastards from Huainan can't fight, but they always want to provoke our brothers, and they should let them know that our Shandong army is powerful! Chao Gai immediately responded with all his might.

With his statement, some other generals also shouted: "I can't bear it anymore, if I endure it any longer, I will become a turtle." I don't want to be a turtle, let them know how good we are today! ”

The atmosphere was together, even Song Jiang couldn't stop it anymore, so he could only say with a bitter face: "Brothers, endure for a few more days...... I believe that things can always be solved, and Sun Chan will definitely come to help us solve the problem......"

"I can't bear it! Whoever dares to go with me and stand up with Peng Yongzhen to make it clear, let's go over! The idea was set, Dong Ping had no worries, and immediately strode towards the Huainan military camp.

Just when everyone responded and followed, and Song Jiang was so anxious that his face was about to sweat, several horsemen and horses faintly appeared in the north, galloping towards the Shandong military camp at a very fast speed. This fell into Song Jiang's eyes, which made him suddenly happy: "Dong Du is slow to supervise, it was Sun Zhanzhi who sent someone to come......"