Sitting in the military tent, listening to the howling north wind outside, Shi Weizheng, the magistrate of Wuyang County, lived like a year.

After six days in the snow, the brothers reached the limit of their endurance and anger. Every morning when he woke up, Wei Zheng could see frozen crows at the door of the military tent. This morning was the worst, and there were three rounds of dense circles around the tent, more than 700 of them. The jet-black zombies contrast sharply with the snow outside, making them look creepy.

Who did the good deeds, Wei Zheng had no intention of pursuing. He just smiled and shook his head, and put the matter behind him. Liyang City was already close at hand, and he didn't want any more troubles at this time. In addition, Wei Zheng also understood that it was his insistence on cooperating with the imperial court to recover Liyang that caused public anger, and it was not just ordinary soldiers who wanted him to look good. Even some low-ranking officers who can usually speak a few words, at this moment, I am afraid that he will be frozen to death by the wind and snow tonight like a jackdaw outside the tent.

Indeed, Wei Zheng understood everything, he understood the resentment in the stomachs of the soldiers, and he also understood the panic and despair in the stomachs of the officers, but he had no way out. His long history was hired by Wuyang County Shou Yuan Treasure with heavy gold and courtesy, to a certain extent, Yuan Treasure is equivalent to his lord of Wei Zheng, and he is equivalent to Yuan Jun Shou's retainer. The death of a confidant is the standard for the husband to stand in the world. Since he has been hired by Yuan Bao, he has to share his worries for the other party. So no matter whether he can take Li Yang back or not, whether he is the opponent of the thief or not, he must fight with all his might.

If he dies in battle, he will fulfill his promise with his life. From now on, there is no need to feel guilty about watching Yuan Baobao being arrested and imprisoned by the imperial court, and there is no need to feel sorry for the future and future of the Great Sui Dynasty. In this world, it is always easier for certain people to die than to live. Death is a form of liberation, a being that is free from any responsibility. And to be alive is destined to carry responsibilities.

Now in the barracks, Wei Zheng is not the only one who has the intention of fighting to the death. Fanshui County Cheng Bao Wensheng, treasurer Wu Yanzu and others all have similar ideas. The thief army slipped under the noses of everyone, slipped to Jijun, and then defeated Liyangcang bloodlessly. This crime is too great, and I am afraid that in the end, no one can escape the fate of redemption by death. If you can fight the rogues vigorously, no matter whether you win or lose, everyone will do their best. If he was lucky enough not to die in battle, in front of the envoys who came to the court to ask for guilt, he could still confidently shout "wronged". After all, everyone took the initiative to chase and kill them, and they were much stronger than the guys around them who didn't move! Besides, in such a bad weather, the officials of Wuyang County still wanted to be loyal to the country and did not hide back in the city to keep warm. This spirit of dedication is at least worthy of the praise of the imperial court! Even if you don't recognize everyone's loyalty, for the sake of hard work without merit......

"It's a blessing or a curse, it's a curse that can't be avoided! Let's disperse, anyway, if we go for another day, we will arrive at Liyang City! Not wanting to look at the faces of the colleagues in the audience like mourning, Cheng Weide of Guixiang County stretched his waist and suggested in a low voice.

Among the high-ranking officials in Wuyang County, he was the only optimist. Although he was in a hurry to burn the fire when he was fooled at first, it only took one night to return to his original appearance. These days, everyone's future is uncertain, and their faces are gloomy. But this person has been well fed and slept soundly, as if he is fully sure that he can stay out of the situation. A few colleagues looked puzzled, and privately went to Wei Deshen's tent to ask for advice. Cheng Wei Deshen of Guixiang County was like a monk who had attained the Tao, just smiling and not mentioning how to get rid of the crime.

"Let's go to sleep first, and I'll look at the map again!" Hearing Wei Deshen's proposal, Wei Zheng nodded and responded in a low voice. On the night of the "disappearance" of the current rogue, Chu Wanjun, the chief secretary of Guangchu, went to the neighboring county to collect supplies for the army, and never returned. Since then, Wei Zheng has become the only core of this county army. Everyone does everything according to their own eyes.

"Sleep, Xuancheng, if you see another strange soldier, we won't have to live!" Cheng Baowen of Fanshui County shrugged his shoulders and made a joke without being deep or shallow. If Wei Zheng hadn't seen through the plan of the rogues to get out of their shells a few days ago, maybe everyone would still be spending time with a group of empty camps. In that way, although you will be held accountable, at least you can still have fun before the disaster comes. Unlike now, no matter how you go, it is a dead end, and there is no light in the future.

Wei Zheng smiled and explained to everyone very patiently, "I'm afraid of what tricks the enemy army will play, since Zuo appeared in front of us this afternoon, there has been no movement of the enemy army. And Liyang City is less than fifty miles here, and for the use of troops, it is absolutely unreasonable for the two armies to withdraw all the scouts when they are about to fight! ”

He didn't go to sleep, and no one was embarrassed to rest first. Glancing at the map a few times, he yawned and said, "That's not simple, they have few people, and they are ready to wait for help!" Anyway, the grain in Liyang Cang, those thousand thieves eat it with their bellies open, and it is enough to eat for two hundred years! ”

"General Wang Wei's men and horses have begun to explore the ice on the river!" Wei Zheng glanced up at the person who spoke, and continued to explain, "The Liukou is not afraid of us, but he may not dare to fight with the government soldiers. Thousands of people are trapped in the lonely city, even if Sun Wu is resurrected, he may not be able to hold it. If I were them, I would just set a fire and abandon the city. Anyway, the goal has been achieved, and it makes no difference whether you keep Liyang or not! ”

"It's really ruthless, fortunately, you Wei Xuancheng is not a thief's military advisor!" Wu Yanzu, the treasurer of Wuyang County, grinned and commented with a wry smile. At this moment, everyone understands in their hearts that once Liyang Cang is lost, the life of the old general Feng Xiaoci has been cut off. The officials and subordinates of Wuyang, Qinghe, Jijun, and Weijun were also almost completely ruined. If the thieves come up with another poisonous plan to burn down the granary, the last glimmer of hope for everyone will be wiped out. At that time, no matter how innocent he is, he will inevitably be thrown out as a top cylinder to appease the wrath.

Wei Zheng also smiled, his face showing a little desolation, "It's not that I'm ruthless." When the two armies fight, naturally all the tricks are used. Back then, Bai Qikeng killed 400,000 Zhao soldiers, in the eyes of later generations, of course, he was ruthless and deserved to be punished by God. But for the Qin State at that time, it completely cut off the enemy's hope of a comeback. ”

"But what can we do? At this moment, Liyang Cang is in the hands of thieves after all! Whether he wants to leave or stay, it's all his own business. If you want me to say, it's better to raise enough spirits and see the moves! ”

"yes, we're worried about a fart. The thieves refuse to look at us, and we are pitiful! ”

All the colleagues gossiped, and every sentence was full of gloom.

Wei Zheng didn't want everyone to continue to suffer with him, so he got up with a smile, "It makes sense, sleep, sleep, nourish your spirits, and see you tomorrow!" Anyway, when we arrive at the city of Liyang, General Wang Wei should also arrive. At that time, the troops will be together, and General Wang will have his own exquisite arrangements! ”

Thinking that it was possible to share some military merits from Wang Wei to atone for the crime of negligence, the officials were in a somewhat better mood. Sighing one by one, they slowly walked towards the door of the military tent.

Walking to the door, Cheng Wei Deshen of Guixiang County hesitated for a moment, and then stopped for another reason, "I still have an official document that has not been processed, if Xuancheng is free tonight, can you help take a look?" ”

"Just put it on my desk!" Wei Zheng, who was sending everyone out, was absent-minded and agreed casually.

Seeing the backs of his colleagues disappear into the inky night, Wuyang County Magistrate Shi Weizheng sighed softly, turned around and continued to study the enemy's movements. That is, the last night of Anshengjue, and they did what they wanted. Tomorrow, when I see someone coming from the south bank of the Yellow River, I don't know if the other party has a holy decree to condemn sin on him?

When he turned around, he saw that Cheng Wei Deshen of Guixiang County was still standing at the door of the military tent, looking at him with a smile. Wei Zheng was stunned, shrugged his shoulders, and asked in a somewhat sneering tone, "Does Deshen have anything else to teach?" Or do I have to read your letter tonight? Remember that in the past few days, you have been the one who slept the most soundly! ”

"The sleepiness is over, and I accidentally come back to the spirit." Wei Deshen could hear the annoyance in his words, but he was not angry at all, "Let's enter the military tent and say!" While I still want to talk! ”

Hearing this, Wei Zheng was slightly stunned. took the initiative to open the curtain of the military tent and made a gesture of please. Wei Deshen didn't push back, and walked in front of Wei Zheng with a big grin. looked around, then walked to the main seat behind the handsome case and sat down, and lifted the dirty boots onto the handsome case.

The more abnormal his behavior was, the more Wei Zheng did not dare to do it. calmly accompanied the side to see what kind of wild medicine was going to be sold in the other party's gourd. After testing Wei Zheng's patience for a while, Cheng Wei Deshen of Guixiang County was finally satisfied. smiled and put away his boots from the handsome case, and teased in a low voice, "Xuanguo is so self-contained." I'm not angry at all! Wasn't you impatient just now? Why do you want to be respectful? ”

Wei Zheng's mind turned quickly, and he had already determined that the more abnormal Wei Deshen's behavior was, the more he had any tricks waiting for him. He smiled very humbly and laughed at himself: "If Wei Deshen takes off his boots and throws them outside the tent, I can also help you pick them up." But if you don't have Huang Shigong's clever plan to reward me later......."

"Sure enough, it's Wei Xuancheng, I didn't misread you!" Wei Deshen laughed, jumped up from the fall, and reached out to pat Wei Zheng's shoulder. "I don't have any clever plans for you, but I can guarantee that no matter whether we can beat Liyang or not, you and I will have no fault!"

"Deshen is comforting me again!" Wei Zheng's face froze at first, and then quickly turned into a wry smile, "As a long history, Wei is naturally familiar with national law. According to the laws of the Great Sui, you and I ......."

"The laws of the Great Sui were set in the prosperous times, but now they are in trouble!" Wei Deshen put away his smile and sighed loudly, "Actually, I figured it out from the second day we started marching. The imperial court will not hold us accountable, and the Yuanjun guard has enough ways to exonerate us. It's just that he doesn't have a real battle with the thieves, Wei is really unwilling in his heart, he is really unwilling! ”

Wei Zheng was even more confused by this, his eyes widened, and his eyes were full of disbelief. If they don't have to bear any responsibility, wouldn't they encourage officials to sweep the snow in front of their doors? But faintly, he felt that Wei Deshen's words seemed to be reasonable, but he couldn't tell where the specific truth was.

At this time, Wei Zheng was just a newcomer who had just entered the official career, how could he understand the mysterious truths in the officialdom of the Great Sui. Wei Deshen saw that his face was full of confusion and didn't want to tease him anymore, so he sighed again and asked in a low voice, "Haven't you shown up, the master book has not come back since he went to raise supplies for the army?" And the disaster has been happening for so many days, and Yuan Junshou doesn't even have a letter to ask? ”

These points are indeed suspicious, but thinking of the recent weather conditions, Wei Zheng took the initiative to defend the Wuyang County Shouyuan Treasure and the main bookkeeper Chu Wanjun: "The snow is so heavy, even if the Yuan County Shou has something to tell me to wait, it will be difficult for the messenger to come over." As for the reserve book, if it weren't for him transporting the supplies of the army to the south bank of the Yellow River, General Wang would not have been able to send troops so quickly! ”

"Huh!" Wei Deshen smiled and shook his head, "Brother Xuancheng, if you talk about planning the right thing, you really make Wei admire." But when it comes to officialdom experience, you're really too far behind. It is also against the wind and snow, and the master book is carrying a heavy load, how can it be faster than us? The only one who can go faster than us can be the house slave of the county keeper. And the reason why General Wang took the initiative to kill the Yellow River was probably not because he accepted the bribe from the prince, but because he was stabbed by some people in the court? ”

"What do you mean?" Wei Zheng instantly straightened up and asked with a frown. He was pulled up by Yuan Baobao, and he couldn't tolerate the slightest disrespect for Engong in his heart. And Wei Deshen's words are clearly implying that Yuan Baobao colluded with the courtiers and covered the sky with one hand.

"What else could I mean. Yuan Junshou not only saved you and others, but also saved me. It's too late for Wei to thank someone, how can he be resentful! Wei Deshen sneered a few times, and then sat half of the ** diagonally on the handsome case. Our Yuanjun Shou and the former Ji County Taishou Yuanwu are the same clan, and Yuanwu is a thief, and his reputation is ruined. And our Yuanjun Shou has not been affected in the slightest, not even the suspicion of the imperial court, Xuan Cheng, don't you think it's strange? ”

Ji Jun Taishou Yuan Wuben was defeated and killed, and the old and young of the family were copied as slaves of the Yuwen family, Wei Zheng had seen it clearly last year. At that time, he was also worried about the proprietor's Yuan Treasure, lest the other party be implicated. But the rebellion proved to be handled fairly by the imperial court. Not only did he not get the Yuan Treasure, but he also issued an order to praise him for his great contribution to abiding by his duty at that time and preventing the traitors from entering Wuyang County.

, of course, Wei Zheng also knew that the so-called bloody battle with the traitor did not exist. Yang Xuangan's rebels were busy attacking the eastern capital, and they did not expand to the north at all. At that time, he was still very happy, and felt that the imperial court was to appease the place, so he gave credit to everyone. At this moment, listening to Wei Deshen's old story, I finally understood the three flavors, it turned out that it was not the court that was fair, but the county guard was good at dancing with long sleeves and straightened out the relationship between the top and bottom, so he could calmly escape.

Since the great crime of being involved in the rebellion is not a crime, and occasionally being defeated by the thief army, of course, with some effort, you can escape? Thinking of this section, Wei Zheng couldn't help but sigh deeply with Wei De, "I knew this earlier, why should I let the reserve master go to the local place to raise supplies for the army!" Asking for a letter from Yuanjun Shou is better than how much gold and silver! ”

"You can't say that!" Wei Deshen shook his head lightly, "Some powerful ministers in the court have always bought and sold fairly, and Tong Su is not bullied. When Lord Yuan asked them for help, he would definitely promise a large amount of money. The soft ones raised by the master book are just enough to top this pit! If Yuanjun Shouguang asks for help, he doesn't give any benefit afterwards. The next time he encounters a hurdle, no one will come forward to help him get through. ”

It turns out that it is already so! Wei Zheng shook his head first, then nodded, and had nothing to say. He didn't know whether he should be glad that he had escaped, or be angry at the corruption of the Great Sui Dynasty. Local officials do not compare their political achievements, but they compare who gives more gifts to their superiors. In the end, aren't all these gifts distributed to the people, making the local people more and more miserable? If this goes on for a long time, can this Great Sui still be considered a court?

"Brother Xuancheng, it's not me saying you, the knowledge in your belly is only suitable for the prosperous age. And in this troubled world, learning and character are useless! Wei Deshen patted Wei Zheng's shoulder again, and said seriously, "It took me half a lifetime to realize this truth." Looking at my colleagues in Wuyang, that is, you, you are still worthy of telling me the truth! ”

He didn't use much force, but Wei Zheng was slapped back a few steps before he regained his footing. "Hey!" First sighed loudly, and then whispered: "In this case, what are we going to do with Liyang, turn around as soon as possible, why bother to let the brothers suffer this sin in the snow?" ”

"Look, you still have to pretend! Otherwise, how can the county keeper make a fool of himself from the outside! Wei Deshen sneered, "I understand what he means, it is to fight a battle, no matter whether he wins or loses, he will let the court have a head to say." It is too much to be overlooked for a while, and to be deceived by the rogue. Braving the snow to chase and kill, the courage to do anything is a merit. In the end, the merits and demerits are compensated, and the world is peaceful! ”

"The world is peaceful, the world is peaceful!" Wei Zheng smiled bitterly, took a few steps forward, tore off the map that had been laid on the handsome case, crumpled it into a paper ball, and threw it into the corner of the tent. "I know how this battle is going to be fought, isn't it just fooling? Tomorrow morning, I will definitely cheer up the brothers and give our Wuyang County Magistrate a good face! ”

Anyway, I don't want to bother with the war anymore. pulled Wei Deshen to rest separately. This sleep is extremely reassuring, extremely depressed, I can't wait to sleep for a long time, it is better than watching the country sink, watching what I care about, what I have worked hard for, step by step towards destruction.

When it was almost dawn, Wei Zheng, who was asleep, heard a horn. Too lazy to take care of it, he rolled over and continued to fall asleep.