Chapter 180 Eight Old Beans

When Zhang Sigou was full, Shi Meng came in and removed the food from the table and replaced it with two cups of tea.

Qin Lei then asked, "Lao Zhang, can you tell me your reason?" The Lone King was curiously tight. Then he said to Shi Meng, who was about to retreat: "You can listen to it too." ”

Shi Meng nodded, sat on the side and waited for Zhang Sigou to speak.

Zhang Sigou stroked his stomach and said, "I haven't asked the prince to forgive the villain for his gaffe on the way here." ”

Qin Lei smiled: "Lone knows that your old Zhang is a person with a heart." ”

Zhang Sigou scratched his head and sighed: "I know that those ships were prepared by the marshal to avenge the south, and when I saw them, I remembered those things seventeen years ago. As he spoke, he reached out and touched it in his arms for a long time, and took out a coarse cloth bag one inch square.

Zhang Sigou stretched out his rough right hand and untied the small cloth bag. Pour the contents into his right hand and spread them out for Qin Lei to see. Through the dim light, Qin Lei saw that there were eight black beans in his palm, which seemed to be very old.

Zhang Sigou looked at the eight beans with a strange face, and was speechless for a long time.

Qin Lei didn't urge, quietly drank tea, and waited for him to return.

After a while, Zhang Sigou hissed: "Lord Wang, are you willing to listen to me tell the story of these beans?" ”

Qin Lei smiled and said, "Listen up." ”

Only then did Zhang Sigou open the floodgates of memories and tell Qin Lei about the past that he didn't want to think about anymore, but how many times he dreamed back at midnight......

When the Battle of Shuicheng broke out, Zhang Sigou had been a soldier for six years, and at that time his position was team leader.

Shi Meng said in his heart, the seventeen-year team rate, and suddenly looked at him with an eye of appreciation for cultural relics.

Fortunately, Shi Meng sat under the lamp, dark. No one can see clearly.

And Zhang Sigou was already immersed in memories, and his eyes were obviously looking at the past rather than the present.

How tragic was that battle? Zhang Sigou couldn't describe it in words, he only knew that after nine months, there were only seven of the 5,000 brothers in the forward battalion where he was located. These seven people formed a team, and the team rate was Zhang Sigou.

Before the city was broken, the previous Marshal Bo Xiang asked his 100 battalions, and each battalion sent one person to transfer, which was also regarded as retaining a little blood for each battalion. And the quota of the forward battalion of the Chinese army will be produced from Zhang Sigou and the seven of them.

Nine months of corpses, blood, and purgatory torment have long consumed all the loyalty, honor, pride, faith, and even shame in people. Everyone wants to escape from this hell on earth, and everyone knows that those who remain are going to be martyred for this city.

So the seven people decided to draw lots, and Zhang Sigou took out a handful of beans from his body, which was all the rations of their team, and he kept it at the rate of his team. These beans are generally the size, but there are black and green, Zhang Sigou picked out six black and one green, carefully packed the rest, spread out to the robe in a circle to check, and after everyone read it, he said in a deep voice: "Life and death have a fate, go to stay in the sky, those who get black stay, those who get green go, if there is regret, you must not be born!" ”

The other six people followed in a low voice: "If you regret it, you must not be reborn!" ”

Zhang Sigou put all seven beans into an empty jar, shook them vigorously, and asked the other six people to touch one each. When everyone touched it, they clutched it tightly in their hands, as if they were going to pinch the beans flat. After everyone touched it, Zhang Sigou also touched one.

Seven people put their clenched fists together, and under Zhang Sigou's command, they opened their palms at the same time, and the only green bean appeared in Zhang Sigou's hand, and the other six people had black beans in their hands.

Qin Lei and Shi Meng looked at the beans that Zhang Sigou was still holding in their hands, and they had already guessed the truth of the matter in their hearts, but they still counted them again: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven...... Eight

Count again, it's still eight. Qin Lei said in a deep voice: "You are out of a thousand." "Not a question, but an affirmation. Shi Meng was even more indignant.

Zhang Sigou stretched out his other hand, took out a slightly lighter color from it and put it in his sleeve, then looked at the remaining seven black beans on the table, and said astringently: "These are the seven beans in the jar at that time." ”

Qin Lei said softly: "In the process of putting it, you hid the only mung bean into your sleeve, but in fact, you only put six black beans in it. And in that jar, there was already a black bean, right? ”

Zhang Sigou nodded and said miserably: "In the process of holding the jar, the villain used a drop of raw lacquer to repair the feather arrow and glued a black bean to the mouth of the jar. So there was no sound when it was dangling, and they all thought it was an empty jar. ”

Needless to say, in the process of putting the beans in, he pulled the black beans off the glue again, so that there were seven black beans in the jar. When everyone takes out one, and when it's time for him, he will re-glue the black bean and replace the mung bean.

Zhang Sigou's throat trembled, and he said miserably: "They all trust me so much, no one wants to check whether there are thousands, but each of them takes out a small thing of his own, so that I have the opportunity to send it to their house and miss it." That's the only thing they ask of me. ”

Speaking of this, he finally couldn't control it, covered his cheeks with his hands, and hissed: "So I survived, but they all died." Muddy tears fell down his rough hands, presumably bitter and long-lasting.

Shi Meng's face was already very unkind, and he was about to reprimand Zhang Sigou for his shamelessness, but he heard Qin Lei sigh and say: "Old Zhang, although you did something wrong in this matter, except for the six people under the spring, no one is qualified to accuse you of anything." Shi Meng saw that the prince had determined this matter, so he had to swallow the words that came to his mouth again.

Zhang Sigou raised his head and looked at Qin Lei in surprise, he thought that Qin Lei would either stand on the moral plane and scold him, or look at him like an ant without making any evaluation.

Wiping away a handful of tears, Zhang Sigou laughed miserably: "Since then, these eight beans seem to grow in my heart, day and night, I can't eat or sleep, I want to stay in the barracks to avenge them, and I want to get to know myself as soon as possible." For a long time, I was going crazy. ”

Qin Lei looked at him without any sarcasm, and said softly: "At that time, Gu believes that he may not be able to make the same choice for you. ”

Zhang Sigou looked at Qin Lei with wide eyes, and listened to him continue: "Whether to die frankly and without any struggle, or to live with the whipping of the soul, this is a question in itself. ”

Qin Lei cast his gaze into the dark night outside the cabin, and said softly, "Isn't the Lonely King in torment? Lone knew that every time he gave an order, he would not know how many families were broken and how many innocent people were sinned. You are the ones who went through the Jingzhou Mansion last month, and you should know this. This was also said to Shi Meng, and he was busy listening quietly.

Zhang Sigou and Shi Meng nodded in unison, and that night, every time a Maitreya disciple was arrested, his entire family and even innocent neighbors also suffered.

Qin Lei's face was as silent as night, and he continued: "I don't want to say how many benefits this will bring to Jiangbei, and the absolute benefits outweigh the disadvantages. I just want to say......

Qin Lei paused for a long time before he said slowly: "I'm really in pain, whenever I think of the wronged souls of those who died in vain, I feel that my hands are full of blood, and when I close my eyes, it seems that they are about to ask for their lives." I don't want to kill people, I don't want to be burdened with blood debts......"

said and laughed at himself: "The three of us all have insomnia, which can be described as sympathy." ”

Shi Meng thought that he was the only one like this, he stared at Qin Lei with wide eyes, and his heart was much better.

Zhang Sigou listened quietly, hoping to get a cure for his mental illness.

Qin Lei's gaze swept over the two people with different expressions, and his gaze suddenly said resolutely: "But if I were given a chance to do it again, Lone would still choose this kind of torment and give this order." ”

A bolt of lightning swept through Zhang Sigou's heart, and he asked himself: What if you give me a chance? How would I do that? I soon had an answer in my heart, and I went out of a thousand again.

Qin Lei turned his gaze to Shi Meng, Shi Meng felt as if he had been plunged into his heart by two sharp swords, and he didn't dare to move, and Qin Lei's unique magnetic voice sounded in his ears: "Why do you suffer so much but never regret it?" Because I think it's worth it! ”

"Since the day you called me 'Instructor', Lone is no longer alone, Lone is all of you. Those of you who put your loyalty, trust, and your life on the lonely! "In fact, as the days go by, there are more than a few hundred people at the beginning.

Qin Lei's fists were clenched tightly, still staring at Shi Meng intently, and he had already thrown Zhang Sigou on the side out of the clouds.

"So Lone reminds himself every moment that no matter what you do, don't let your own temperament be, but consider whether it is good for this palace and for those of you who trust me and rely on me!"

said a little Xiao Suo: "As for Lonely's personal feelings, they are all illusory, and life is real." ”

Shi Meng's tiger eyes contained tears, and his throat trembled. As Qin Lei's confidant, he knew everything except whether Qin Lei liked Qiao Yunsheng or not. How could he not know that once Qin Lei fell, himself, Wan'er, and the three clan brothers, Guan Tao, Xu Ge, Shen Bing, Shen Qing, etc., all these people who followed him would be wiped out.

Only if Qin Lei is good, they will be good, and if Qin Lei is not good, they will be even worse. It's that simple.

And Qin Lei's situation seems to be infinitely beautiful, but it is actually extremely dangerous. The court boss regards him as an outcast, the brothers still have to fight openly and secretly, and the bloody killing hidden in the shadows does not know when to launch a fatal blow, he is fine in the south, if he leaves, the contradictions that he is pressing will definitely break out. And so on and so forth, all of these need to be dealt with by Qin Lei. Now can be said to be the time when Qin Lei is the most tired, the most sad, and the most in need of help.

Zhu Gui and Cheng Siyuan helped to smash Fancheng, stirred up the grand meeting of the Maitreya Sect, and wiped out the leaders. Shi Yong's reconciliation is worry-free, not to mention, taking Maicheng is a great contribution. And his partner Manan also got the list of all the Maitreya disciples in Jingzhou City, whether explicit or covert, although Manan generously said that the two of them obtained it together, but in fact he knew very well in his heart.

And what did this guy who boasted of being the number one general of the palace of Long County all day long? As soon as he sent the best-in-class that he had caught by mistake to the palace, he didn't leave with peace of mind. Later, I finally did another errand, but I was sluggish until now, and I had to distract the prince.

Thinking of this, Shi Meng cut off the stool, knelt on the ground ordinarily, and began to cry.

"Silence!" Qin Lei bluffed, and Shi Meng's crying stopped abruptly, but Qin Lei didn't let him get up, he knelt there honestly, and didn't even dare to raise his head.

Qin Lei vented, feeling much better in his heart, and the suppressed irritability he had been suffering from was greatly relieved. It's sad that if you want to complain, you have to go to the lake away from the crowd and say it to an unrelated veteran and an unobtrusive subordinate.

What else? In front of momentary heroes like Qin Youcai, Qiao Yuanshan, and Lu Yanwu, Qin Lei can only remain strong forever and cannot reveal a trace of weakness, otherwise he will not be able to suppress and become elbows and armpits.

He turned his gaze back to Zhang Sigou and said with a smile: "Old Zhang, you understand now that no one is sweeter than anyone else, and no one is a more bastard than anyone, right?" ”

Zhang Sigou said with emotion: "I used to think that I was the most depressed person in this world, but today I know that everyone is not quiet in their hearts. "In other words, I'm much more balanced.

Shi Meng couldn't help it after all, and whispered: "Your situation is different, you are not righteous!" ”

To go on, Qin Lei glared, and he obediently retracted his head.

Qin Lei said to Zhang Sigou: "As long as you think it's worth it, you can do it, this world is about who lives long and who lives well, not who is more bastard!" "Although countless people have done this, I am afraid that only Qin Lei in the world will speak out shamelessly and generously.

Zhang Sigou listened very comfortably and nodded fiercely.

Qin Lei suddenly smiled and said: "Babbling for a long time, what the Lone King wants to know, you haven't said anything yet." ”

Zhang Sigou said embarrassedly: "I have been relying on the Zhennan Army as this team leader, because I feel ashamed and don't want to climb up, so I want to lead good soldiers and train good soldiers. ”

Qin Lei nodded, and asked again: "That day, Xiao Chu said that you charged behind and retreated first, what is going on?" ”

Zhang Sigou explained with a strange face: "This wave of Zhennan Army, including the adjutant general of our army, are all young people who have never been on the battlefield. Treat the military drills again and again as if they were real things, our marshals are diligent in training, I have old arms and legs, and I am full of problems, how can I compete with the young people, or I can't wait to go south, I have to fold in the military exercises. So every time I don't come out of the martial arts, I fall behind, and when the team turns around and retreats, I don't naturally become the leader of the team again? ”

Qin Lei smiled: "It turns out that this mallet has been misunderstood. He said and said: "At that time, your old boy temporarily changed his hexagram, did you think that Lone and your general were drinking?" ”

Zhang Sigou didn't prevaricate, nodded and said: "The reason why I signed up for the forward team is because I don't want my apprentices and grandchildren to lose in the first battle, and I feel that the prince is the one who can take us south." So when I thought you were going back on your word and violating the ban you had set, I was disappointed. ”

Qin Lei laughed and said, "What now? ”

Zhang Sigou smiled embarrassedly: "I feel very hopeful!" ”

Qin Lei nodded, kicked Shi Meng, who was lying on the ground, and ordered, "Take that logo." Shi Meng hurried out, that thing was in the cart, the cart was in the barracks, three miles away from here.

When Shi Meng left, Qin Lei said to Zhang Sigou: "Don't think twice about it in the future, if you feel that you owe them, you have to live their share, and you have to get wonderful." ”

Zhang Sigou nodded and said, "I have to live for them next." Then he asked, "How is that exciting?" ”

"Teach and train the soldiers well, first be the first in the Zhennan Army, and then be the first in Daqin. As long as you can do it, when Wang Shi goes south, Lone will let you lead the vanguard. I don't know where he was that day or what he was doing then, but Qin Lei dared to say this, which shows how much his self-confidence has swelled during this time in the south.

Waiting for Shi Meng to pant and run back, he presented a small wooden box with an elegant and solemn appearance with both hands.

Qin Lei opened it with his own hands, took out a small shield-shaped brass plaque lying on the brocade inside, and said with a smile: "This is the identification that represents your identity as a non-commissioned officer." ”

Zhang Sigou took it with trembling hands, and saw that there were two swords interlaced on the small shield, and the military flag of the Zhennan Army was also branded above, with six words engraved below: South, South, South, South.

Turning it over again, I saw his affiliation, name and position engraved on the back: Zhang Sigou, the leading non-commissioned officer of the first team of the front part of the infantry army pioneer battalion on the east road of the army in the south of Daqin Town.

There is also a small line at the bottom: number 000001

Qin Lei personally wore it on his left chest for him, and said solemnly: "Congratulations, the first non-commissioned officer chief of Great Qin." ”