"Delay the time of the camp until midnight." Li Yanzhao observed for a long time and said.

At this time, dozens of meters in front of the lurking place, more than 200 pits have been excavated. At the bottom of the pit, according to Li Yanzhao's suggestion, a dense and sharp wooden stick was inserted. It is a pity that the conditions here are limited, otherwise, if these sticks are poisoned, those enemy troops who dare to pursue will surely suffer greatly.

When the time of the attack was set, Li Yanzhao also made some calculations. Finally, I finally made up my mind to launch the sneak attack at the end of the day. But it is really the most sleepy time of the day and the most difficult time for people to concentrate. Even if the enemy battalion has made arrangements for its own sneak attack, at this time, there must be very few thieves and rebels who can react immediately.

I have made the most cautious plan for this illegal camp. However, if the other party has made arrangements, can he and these cavalrymen of the two counties escape the catastrophe?

The crowd is still making final preparations. Check bows and arrows, find a stone to sharpen your sword, and put your thoughts on fire. Some veterans who had been through a hundred battles even looked indifferent, nibbling on dry food with indifferent expressions. even joked again and again, and even died to be a full ghost. However, most of the recruits who first entered the battle battle were not able to laugh at all. A tense and solemn atmosphere enveloped them throughout.

Ma Ping stopped nibbling on Hu Cake. Instead, he crept up a tree, sat on a branch, and looked at the enemy camp two miles away, which was still brightly lit. Li Yanzhao looked at him, but he didn't know what he was thinking.

Li Yanzhao did the same, and climbed the same tree in a few clicks, and then found a branch to sit down on his own. When Ma Ping saw him coming up, he raised his eyes to look at him, but he didn't speak.

Li Yanzhao didn't know what to say, so the two aliens sitting on the branch were silent with big eyes and small eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, Ma Ping did not look up to see the enemy camp. He turned his head and stared at Li Yanzhao, I don't know if it was to relieve the embarrassment and boredom at this time, or to recall his past career as a horseman, the glorious years, anyway, this riding lieutenant, who usually acts extremely domineering, spoke slowly to Li Yanzhao.

"Ma has joined the army since the early years of Yongjia and followed Xipinggong's subordinates to fight everywhere. Yongjiashi, with the army on the expedition, in the Guannei battle Wang Mi, and then went to the Guanwai to fight Liu Cong, defeated. In the fifth year of Jianxing, Liu Yao forced the emperor to move the capital, and when Xiping heard about it, he ordered the generals to lead more than 10,000 troops and go east to the country. We waited for Sima Han Pu of Taifu to enter Nan'an in the east, but the Zhuqiang in the rear colluded with Liu Yao and cut off my way back. Liu Yao's army was powerful, and our army held on to it for more than 100 days, and the grain and grass were all gone. There is no food and grass inside, and there are no reinforcements outside. Han Sima thought that with such a Jedi, our army was bound to be unable to escape. So they killed the oxen pulling the cart, and the whole army had a full meal. Han Sima held his sword and said to us, "Our army has no food and grass today, and we can't count on reinforcements. I am determined to die here. When the country is in trouble, how can the courtiers be a spectator? When going to the country, take the full name of the festival. but I have suffered from the princes who have followed me. However, in this Jedi, it is better to sit back and fight with all your might. It is not known whether there is any vitality. I hope that all the kings will move forward and kill the enemy bravely. I should cheer you on. If the armies are defeated, then I will also take up my sword and return to it, only to die for the ears of the country. 'Defeat before a battle is a taboo for soldiers. However, that time, with the encouragement of Han Sima, all the armies were forging ahead, and I was among them. Everyone knows that there is no way out, and everyone looks like a mad tiger. Liu Yaojun couldn't resist it, and there were many people watching the battle, but they didn't dare to move forward when they saw this. When the battle reached a stalemate, it was the Furong general Zhang Lang who led the Jincheng army to arrive, and under the front and rear attacks, Liu Yao's army was defeated. Our army has beheaded thousands of ranks, and I myself have been beheaded by the second level, and I have accumulated merit to obtain the official position of this captain. ”

It's been four years, but Ma Ping still sighs when he mentions it, as if it happened yesterday. Then his expression darkened: "The four brothers who played with me from childhood to adulthood all died in that battle. There were two of them who were there to protect me. But I survived, and they never saw their relatives and wives again. Ma was promoted, but he did not have any joy of promotion. As soon as those brothers left, Ma was alone. Even if he becomes a general one day, he will only be alone. Ma Ping muttered about the call, his expression desolate and indifferent. Li Yanzhao wanted to say something to consol, but he didn't know what to say when the words came to his lips. After a long time, I couldn't say a word.

"That's it, it was my fault to tell you these irrelevant things before the war." Ma Ping sorted out his thoughts and turned back. "You young man, full of wisdom and courage, the future is limitless. However, on the battle array, the sword has no eyes, and you must protect yourself. After saying this, Ma Ping jumped off the tree by himself, urging everyone to make final preparations for the attack.

Hearing Ma Ping's last words, Li Yanzhao looked stunned for a long time before he came back to his senses, jumped off the tree, and turned around to urge the ten people under him to prepare.

Li Yanzhao approached and saw that Cao Jian was pulling arrows out of the quiver one by one, carefully examining the arrows and tail feathers; Liu Jiwu had already sharpened the ring head knife in his hand, carefully wiped it a few times, and then slowly inserted it into the scabbard; Qin Dayong was already fully clothed, and at this time he was leading his horse, looking at the direction of the enemy camp without saying a word; Cui Yang, Han Wencan, Wang Qiang, and Zhang Xing were neatly dressed and gathered together to talk to each other. Ding Yue and Liao Rulong were bored. Ding Yue played with a wooden stick in his hand, but Liao Rulong was writing and painting on the ground, Li Yanzhao did not disturb their meditation before the war, and did not go over to see what Liao Rulong was drawing.

Although everyone was not as calm as those veterans before the war, Li Yanzhao was already satisfied with them when they first entered the battlefield. After all, when he first came to the battle array, even he himself was beating a drum in his heart. Although these people under his command can also see that they are extremely nervous. However, it is much better than being timid.

Not long after, Li Yanzhao's heart was cold. Where did Niu Erzhuang go? He stood up and looked left and right, but when he looked around, he couldn't see Niu Erzhuang's figure.

Li Yanzhao couldn't help but chuckle in his heart. If Niu Erzhuang can't find it, he will inevitably be charged with escaping. Even if he returns to the team in the future, it is inevitable that he will be involved in military law. Li Yanzhao believed that Niu Erzhuang would not be a coward who abandoned his brother and ran away alone, but now that no one is seen, he can't help but become anxious, where to find it?

Li Yanzhao suppressed his desire to report this matter to Ma Ping, if it was reported, not to mention whether it could be found or not, the matter would have become a big problem, and naturally it would not be able to be good.

Li Yanzhao walked to Cao Jian's side, whispered a few words to him, and then entrusted his horse to Cao Jian's care, and quietly walked out of the area where the horsemen rested.

Li Yanzhao walked anxiously, groping into the forest. His heart was full of Niu Erzhuang's innocent smile in the past. This honest and loyal young man has never caused trouble for him, whether he is working, doing things or practicing, and he has always been very relieved of this honest young man. However, at this critical juncture, the young man was gone. In all fairness, if Li Yanzhao was in charge of the army, he might still let him go, but in this situation, everything is out of his control. Thinking that maybe one day in the future, he might be ordered to find Niu Erzhuang in person, and then send him to military justice, and it is even very likely that he will be executed in person, and even be beheaded in public. Li Yanzhao's heart tightened for a while. The brother with whom he lived day and night fell into that situation, and he did not want to accept it in any way.

In a moment of thought, Li Yanzhao had left the gathering place of the horsemen more than thirty feet away, and when he looked around, he seemed to see a figure in the grass beside the road, sitting on the trunk of a tree with his head in his hands, his shoulders swaying from time to time.

Li Yanzhao walked lightly and quietly walked into the man, but heard him sobbing from time to time. The man sat with a strong figure, and the clothes on his shoulders and arms bulging with muscles, not Niu Erzhuang, but who was it?

Li Yanzhao quietly approached and called: "Erzhuang, Erzhuang!" ”

Niu Erzhuang raised his head violently when he heard this, and saw that it was Li Yanzhao, and immediately lowered his head, wiped his face with his cuffs, and said in his mouth: "Li, Li Shichang, why are you here." ”

Li Yanzhao could see it clearly, and when he looked up, Niu Erzhuang's humble face was full of tears. He was also at a loss for a while, and he didn't know how to persuade him. After thinking for a while, he couldn't help but say to Niu Erzhuang: "Erzhuang, are you homesick?" ”

Niu Erzhuang had already forcibly stopped sobbing, and was about to get up and follow Li Yanzhao back to the place where everyone gathered, when he heard Li Yanzhao's words, his nose was sour, and his tears couldn't stop flowing.

"Chief Li Shi, I miss my mother......" Niu Erzhuang sobbed while wiping his tears. I miss my mother, I want to go back to see her, I don't want to fight anymore, I'm afraid that my mother will be sad if I die...... I still want to eat my mother's baked cakes, my mother's legs and feet are not good when it's cold, I want to be by her side, and I can also help her beat her legs...... Woohoo......"

Seeing the tall and strong man in front of him, he confided in front of him at this time, crying like a child, Li Yanzhao also lost his former majesty, holding his shoulders, caressing his back like a brother from time to time, and wiping away the tears on his face with his sleeve.

Niu Erzhuang's words aroused the reverie in Li Yanzhao's heart, and he didn't blame this young man at all. Even if he practiced for a long time, after all, he was new to the battle, and he had never seen the cruelty of war, but he knew that if he fought a war, he would die, and if he died, his mother would be heartbroken. Looking at the world, where is there no war? How many mothers lose their sons, wives lose their husbands, and children lose their fathers? If such a troubled era does not end, such a loss, such a human tragedy, it will continue and continue to be staged. This rebellion of the Bald Ministry was just a small beginning. In the future, he and his subordinates will face more enemies, more difficult battles, and greater sacrifices. Perhaps, on the way to realize his grand wish to pacify the troubled times, everyone in front of him, even himself, will fall and become a stepping stone for others to inherit forever.

Thinking of this, Li Yanzhao couldn't help but sigh with emotion, and Niu Erzhuang beside him was still sobbing freely. Li Yanzhao looked at him helplessly, thought for a moment, and his eyes became firm.

"Erzhuang, the temporary separation between you and your mother today is for a better reunion tomorrow." Li Yanzhao looked at Niu Erzhuang with firm eyes and said slowly. Seeing Li Yanzhao's firm eyes, Niu Erzhuang gradually stopped sobbing. looked at Li Yanzhao with a focused expression, and looked at the chief who had been leading them all the time.

"When you enlisted in the army before, I remember that I said that the stable life of your family today is not easy to come by. is brutally exploited by the Hu people all the time, and even the safety of his family's lives cannot be guaranteed, isn't it? Now that they have come to Liangzhou, their family life has settled down, no one oppresses them, no one slaughters them at every turn like the Hu people, and the family has also divided the fields, as long as they work hard, they can have no worries about food and clothing. I waited to join the army, but for what? Isn't it just to protect our families? ”

Niu Erzhuang listened attentively and nodded again and again.

"And now? The leader of the bald department launched a rebellion, which has turned Xiping County upside down, and Linqiang City has been broken, do you know how many families have been ruined and killed? We are here today to deal with these rebels, and if you leave today, I will leave, and everyone will leave. When the day comes, the rebels and rebels invade our Guangwu, so what? Including you and me, can these thousands of people still be saved? Their food for the winter will be snatched away by the rebels, and they will be taken captive as slaves by the rebels, and what will you do with yourself then? Where will your mother rest? ”

Hearing this, Niu Erzhuang had already changed color, his hands couldn't help clenching into fists, and on his arms, green tendons burst out, obviously thinking of this scene, he was angry.

Looking at Niu Erzhuang, who was trembling and angry, Li Yanzhao knew that his words had already played a role. He patted Niu Erzhuang's back and said gently: "Let's fight with everyone, the right is to defend our own family." Kill more, live, and when you triumph, your mother will be proud of you. ”

Seeing a determined look on Niu Erzhuang's tear-stained face, Li Yanzhao smiled and stretched out his hand to pull Niu Erzhuang: "Let's go, go back and prepare, let's set off to kill the thief!" ”

Niu Erzhuang also waved his clenched fist and muttered, "Kill the thief!" ”