Cheng Hao didn't stay long, drank a bowl of rice porridge that could be seen, and after draping it neatly, he went to the front hall to hold a meeting.

The three lieutenant generals who were covered in the smell of blood strode over, and after seeing that Cheng Hao was safe and sound, the three iron-blooded men did not moisten their eyes, and Cheng Hao directly opened his mouth to divert their attention and said: "In the three days that I was unconscious, how was the battle going?" ”

Tang Ju, who was blackened by the war and exuded a scorching smell, said: "Big brother, after you fell into a coma, the soldiers of the whole army were full of grief and anger, fought bloodily, and repelled six Tatar attacks in succession, but... The casualties were really heavy, 7,000 men and horses, and so far, less than 500 are healthy, less than 2,000 are lightly wounded, and 700 are seriously injured... The gunpowder arrows and rolling wood and stones have been depleted, and two days ago, the beams and timbers of the people's houses have begun to be demolished. ”

Liu Wu, who was also embarrassed, couldn't help but say: "Big brother, there is another thing, I don't know whether to talk about it or not." ”

Cheng Hao knocked on the table and said, "We are all brothers, we don't pay so much attention to it, let's talk about it." ”

Liu Wu took out a piece of paper from his arms and handed it over. Cheng Hao took it and saw that it was a document shot into the city by Tatar arrows, which probably said: Wu Sangui has screwed off the head of Emperor Nanming, and the Qing Dynasty is about to dominate the world. If the remnants of the Muwen family are handed over and surrendered, the Qing army promises not to slaughter the city and spare all the people.

Hu Dayan slapped the table, and his eyes widened like copper bells and roared: "Put the fucking bullshit, can you believe the words of the Qing dog Tatar?" Yangzhou ten days is a lesson from the past! Besides, you still have to hand over your sister-in-law, and you don't dare to bully our Han family boys? ”

Tang Ju said: "As long as your voice is loud, whether this news is true or not, when we find out, it has already spread in the city." In addition, after more than half a month of food shortage, General Li's reinforcements were delayed, and it was inevitable that people would have different intentions. In the urgency of delay, I believe that we should stabilize the morale of the military. ”

Hu Dayan hurriedly asked, "How to be stable?" ”

Tang Ju said: "Let's draw a gourd in the same way." Find a reliable person, go out of the city at night, and shoot into the city with the news that reinforcements will arrive soon, and it should last a few more days. ”

Hu Da's eyes were happy, and he laughed and said, "Second Brother Tang, your method is like the thief who covers his ears and steals the bell." However, as long as I can defend the city, I will arrange it. "After that, I have to leave to prepare.

"Slowly, this method can only boost morale for three to five days, so what about after these few days, there are no reinforcements, what should I do? I'm afraid that when the time comes, the hearts of the people in the whole city will be cold, and the city will be self-defeating! Liu Wu said with a frown.

Hu Dayan walked around irritably, slapped the Yanling knife on his waist on the table and said, "Damn, what should I do, or let's raid at night?" ”

The two couldn't help but roll their eyes, this trick has been used twice, and people are not stupid, so they will definitely be wary.

Cheng Hao said: "This is talking about the remnants of the Muwen family, the Muwen family... Why haven't you heard of this family? Besides, how did they know about my wife? ”

Liu Wudao: "Big brother, you don't know, the night before yesterday, an assassin entered the city and wanted to assassinate you. At the last moment, my sister-in-law found the assassin, and in desperation, she grabbed the bell around her waist and smashed it, and the assassin collapsed to the ground as if he had lost his soul. But no one expected that there were two assassins who came, and the assassin did not dare to show his face until he saw the opportunity and escaped in the night. ”

"Assassins? Bell? After Cheng Hao pondered for a few sentences, he said: "Regardless of the truth or falsity of the news, the most important thing at present is the lack of food... Let's kill the horses, even if we can break through, but the life and death of the people in the whole city are just in the enemy's thoughts. If they are not of my race, their hearts will be different, as long as we are in one day, we can protect them for one more day... When you have something to eat, you don't have to think about it. Cheng Hao said.

The three of them stopped talking, and finally sighed and left. Killing a horse means that the last hope is dashed... Never die!

Cheng Hao asked Mu Wenling not to go out, and asked the servants to strengthen their vigilance to prevent those with hot heads from listening to the "rumors" of Tatars. Then go to patrol the city and the streets.

In the smoke of war, there are ruins, homeless people everywhere, wailing and crying or numbness, waiting for the silent gaze of dead like stagnant water... It is always the people who claim the king's hegemony, change the dynasty and reign in the world, and suffer the greatest grievances... And the greatest wish of the people is nothing more than to have a stuttering belly, a piece of clothing to cover their bodies, and a thatched hut to protect them from the wind and rain...

If the Tatars are true, the Southern Ming is already extinct ... What's the point of sticking to it yourself? By the suffering and the lives of the people of the city, in the name of their own loyalty?

Or is it to exchange one person for the safety of the whole city?

…

On the way, Cheng Hao had already found that many people looked at him strangely, and some gathered in groups and whispered.

Cheng Hao tightened his lips and clenched the hilt of the sword at his waist hard, killing the horse was just an urgent need, this difficult choice had to be done by himself after all, or forced to do it!

Three days later, the horse meat had been eaten, and even the horse skins and horses were drained, and in addition to the repulsion of two Tatar attacks, the soldiers and civilians who could fight suffered heavy casualties. There are more and more rumors in the city, which have evolved into: General Xia's wife, Mu Wenling is the reincarnation of the fox demon, confusing the world, and the Qing Dynasty is ordered by heaven to eliminate demons for the people and quell the chaos.

It is conceivable that this is a rumor spread by Tatar spies who sneaked into the city, you must know: no matter how strong the fortress is, it will be broken from the inside!

Although he killed several people who spread public opinion one after another, telling the people that this was a trick of the enemy, it had little effect.

On the city wall, Hu Dayan, who had a broken arm, was furious, howling to go out of the city and fight to the death. There were only thirteen bloody soldiers around who could still stand up.

Tang Ju, who was also bloodstained, was silent, Liu Wu had been shot off the city wall by a Tatar arrow two days ago, and he didn't know whether he was alive or dead.

Cheng Hao wiped the Yanling knife over and over again, and he no longer knew how many Tatar soldiers he had cut with this knife. Behind him is Mu Wenling, who is dressed as a soldier. He didn't dare to leave Mu Wenling at home now, and the devil knew what those people who were instigated would do.

has reached this moment, in fact, everyone understands in their hearts that there will be no reinforcements coming, only those who die in battle or surrender.

Suddenly, a long-feathered arrow shot into the sky above the castle tower, and with a bang, it exploded into a firework.

Several people hurriedly looked under the city wall, only to see that in the first-line heavenly canyon that could only allow two people to pass side by side, a steady stream of Tatar soldiers poured in, and lined up under them.

Suddenly, a shout sounded from inside the city, and they rushed up to the city wall, and their faces changed greatly, and they hurriedly put Mu Wenling up, Cheng Hao pouted, and the one who should come will always come.

A group of people shouted to hand over Mu Wenling, the demon girl. Cheng Hao shook her hand, stood up and walked to the person in the lead, and said loudly: "You have to think about it, once you hand her over, it means that you are no longer the people of the Ming Dynasty, but the people who grovel and become barbarians and Tatars." Think about it, how will you see the ancestors and ancestors under the Nine Springs in the future! ”

The man in the lead couldn't help but look at him, took a few steps back, and before he could speak, a soldier shouted: "General Xia, look, it's General Liu!" ”

Cheng Hao was startled, and hurriedly looked down at the city, only to see two soldiers carrying a stretcher, and it was Liu Wu dressed as a Tatar!

Hu Dayan immediately shouted and scolded, and the soldiers were also indignant!

Liu Wu's face was pale, a little afraid to look at them in the city, he was silent for a moment, and still said: "Listen to the people on the city tower, Nanming has perished, and General Li Dingguo has also died of illness... The Qing Dynasty is about to dominate the world, as long as you lay down your arms and surrender in Kaecheng, the Qing Dynasty will definitely treat you well, think about your grandmother, wife and children, and still looking forward to your return at home. ”

At this time, a loud laugh sounded, and a Duolun brother riding a tall horse walked to the front of the battle and said: "General Xia Yunge, we Manchu respect brave and loyal people, as long as you surrender and hand over the remnants of the Muwen family, I guarantee the safety of you and your family, otherwise, I will feed your mother to the tiger with my own hands!" ”

As he spoke, with a wave of his hand, two soldiers escorted a gray-haired woman to the front of the battle. When Cheng Hao saw it, a wave of memories immediately poured out, it was a memory about grandma!

Cheng Hao burst into tears in an instant, he didn't expect to see his grandma here... Wait a minute! Who am I? Where am I? Isn't Grandma dead?

…

Holding the main hall of the martial arts.

Next door to the side hall where Cheng Hao was, there were several black-robed people sitting cross-legged, and at this moment, they were transmitting energy to the yellow light circle on Cheng Hao's head, when suddenly a violent wave shook, and one person said urgently: "Not good!" This kid is a big scorching cultivator, with strong mental strength, it seems that it has touched the obsession in his heart, and the Mingxin Circle is almost unable to suppress him, what should I do? ”

Another said, "What? Big scorching heat repair! These bunnies, why don't you tell us... Anyway, I suggest opening the Heart Refining Circle directly. ”

Another said: "No, he's still a newcomer, I'm afraid he will plant demons." Why don't we strengthen the Mingxin Circle and try to suppress it with all our might. ”

"Okay, let's do it first."

The others echoed one after another, and suddenly everyone began to concentrate on playing one rune after another, but they didn't notice that the corners of one person's mouth were slightly upturned, and there was another one hidden in the rune.

And Cheng Hao, who was lying on the ground next door and was about to wake up, fell into a coma again...

…

Conscious again, Cheng Hao found that he was still in the city tower, surrounded by a bloody robe guarded, next to Mu Wenling, outside was a group of people who were instigated, and under the city wall were Duolunge, Liu Wu and his mother who was escorted by soldiers.

Brother Duolun laughed at this time: "Just joking with General Xia, whether you surrender or not, I will support your mother as my own mother." As for Mrs. Sister-in-law, I have no ill intentions, I just want the bell that Mrs. Sister-in-law carries with me, as long as you hand it over to me, I promise not to hurt the people at all. ”

The people behind him suddenly exploded, and there was a lot of discussion, asking for the bell to be given to him.

Mu Wenling took off the bell on his waist and put it in Cheng Hao's hand, saying that a bell is just worth it for the safety of the people in the city.

Cheng Hao looked at the expressions of Hu Dayan and the other soldiers again, and found that there was a trace of strange brilliance, which was the desire for life!

But Cheng Hao always felt a little weird, and he couldn't say where it was weird.