天蒙蒙亮。

The sky was dimly lit.

丫鬟进来加炭火时，师师从睡梦中醒来。房间里暖得有些过分了，薰得她额角发烫，连日以来，她习惯了有些冰冷的军营，乍然回来矾楼，感觉都有些不适应起来。

Shi Shi woke up from her dream when the maid came in to add charcoal to the fire. The room was overly warm, causing her forehead to feel flushed. Having grown accustomed to the somewhat cold military camp in recent days, she felt a little unaccustomed to being back at Fan Lou.

“岑姑娘怎么样了？”她揉了揉额头，掀开披在身上的被子坐起来，还是昏昏沉沉的感觉。

"How is Cen Guniang?" She rubbed her forehead, threw back the quilt draped over her body, and sat up, still feeling drowsy.

“大夫说她、说她……”丫鬟有点欲言又止。

"The doctor said she, said she..." The maid hesitated.

“命保住了就行。”坐在床边的女子目光平静地望着丫鬟。两人相处的时日不短，平日里，丫鬟也知道自家姑娘对许多事情多少有点冷淡，有种看淡世情的感觉。但这次……毕竟不太一样。

"As long as her life is saved." The woman sitting on the edge of the bed looked at the maid with calm eyes. The two had been together for quite some time, and the maid usually knew that her mistress was somewhat indifferent to many things, giving off a sense of detachment from worldly affairs. But this time... it was different after all.

“岑姑娘的性命……无大碍了。”

"Cen Guniang's life... is no longer in danger."

“……她手没有了。”师师点了点头。令丫鬟说不出口的是这件事，但这事情师师原本就已经知道了。

"...She lost her hands." Shi Shi nodded. What the maid couldn't bring herself to say was this, but Shi Shi already knew.

昨天晚上，便是师师带着没有了双手的岑寄情回到矾楼的。

Last night, Shi Shi brought Cen Jiqing, who had lost both her hands, back to Fan Lou.

这段时日以来，或是师师的带动，或是城中的宣传，矾楼之中，也有些女子与师师一般去到城墙附近帮忙。岑寄情在矾楼也算是有些名声的红牌，她的性情素淡，与宁毅身边的聂云竹聂姑娘有些像，早先曾是医家女，疗伤救人比师师更加娴熟得多。昨日在封丘门前线，被一名女真士兵砍断了双手。

During this period, whether driven by Shi Shi or by the city's propaganda, some women in Fan Lou, like Shi Shi, went to help near the city walls. Cen Jiqing was also a well-known courtesan in Fan Lou, her temperament simple and elegant, somewhat like Nie Yunzhu, the girl by Ning Yi's side. She had previously been a medical practitioner and was much more skilled at healing and saving people than Shi Shi. Yesterday, on the front lines at Fengqiu Gate, she had her hands cut off by a Jurchen soldier.

也是因为她身为女子，才在那样的情况里被人救下。昨夜师师驾车带着她赶回矾楼时，半个身子也已经被血染红了，岑寄情的双手则只是得到了粗略的止血和包扎，整个人已只剩一丝游息。

It was because she was a woman that she was rescued in that situation. Last night, when Shi Shi drove her back to Fan Lou, half of her body was already stained red with blood, and Cen Jiqing's hands had only received rough hemostasis and bandaging, and she was barely clinging to life.

国难当头，兵凶战危，虽说绝大部分的大夫都被征调去了战场，但类似于矾楼这样的地方，还是能拥有比战场更好的医疗资源的。大夫在给岑寄情处理断臂伤势时，师师疲累地回到自己的院子里，稍微用热水洗了一下自己，半倚在床上，便睡着了。

In the face of national crisis, with the dangers of war, although the vast majority of doctors had been conscripted to the battlefield, places like Fan Lou still had better medical resources than the battlefield. While the doctor was treating Cen Jiqing's amputated arms, Shi Shi wearily returned to her courtyard, washed herself slightly with hot water, and fell asleep half-leaning on the bed.

天气寒冷，风雪时停时晴。距离女真人的攻城开始，已经过去了半个月的时间，距离女真人的猝然南下，则过去了三个多月。曾经的歌舞升平、繁华锦衣，在如今想来，依旧是那样的真实，仿佛眼前发生的只是一场难以脱离的梦魇。

The weather was cold, with intermittent snow and clear skies. It had been half a month since the Jurchens began their siege, and more than three months since their sudden southward advance. The former peace and prosperity, the luxurious clothes, seemed so real now, as if what was happening before her eyes was just a nightmare that was hard to escape.

这一切，都不真实——这些天里，好多次从睡梦中醒来，师师的脑海中都会浮现出这样的念头，那些凶神恶煞的敌人、血流成河的场景，即便发生在眼前，事后想来，师师都忍不住在心里觉得：这不是真的吧？这样的念头，或许此时便在无数汴梁人脑海中盘旋。

None of this is real – these days, waking up from dreams many times, Shi Shi's mind would be filled with such thoughts, those fierce and evil enemies, the scenes of rivers of blood, even if they happened before her eyes, afterwards, Shi Shi couldn't help but think in her heart: This isn't real, is it? Such thoughts may be swirling in the minds of countless Bianliang people at this moment.

原本是一家顶梁柱的父亲，某一天上了城池，忽然间就再也回不来了。曾经是吃粮拿饷的丈夫，陡然间，也化为这座城市噩耗的一部分。曾经是明眸皓齿、素手纤纤的美丽女子，再见到时，也已经丢失了一双手臂，浑身浴血……这短短的时日里，无数人存在的痕迹、留存在他人脑海中的记忆，划上了句点。师师曾经在成长中见过许多的坎坷，在交际逢迎中见过世道的黑暗，但对于这陡然间扑倒眼前的事实，仍旧觉得恍如噩梦。

The father who was once the pillar of a family went to the city one day and suddenly never came back. The husband who once received grain and salary suddenly became part of the city's bad news. The beautiful woman who once had bright eyes and white teeth and slender hands, when seen again, had lost her arms and was covered in blood... In this short period, the traces of countless people's existence, the memories left in the minds of others, came to an end. Shi Shi had seen many ups and downs in her growth and the darkness of the world in her social interactions, but she still felt like it was a nightmare when faced with the sudden reality.

然而这一切终究是真实发生的。女真人的突如其来，打破了这片江山的美梦，如今在惨烈的战事中，他们几乎就要拿下这座城池了。

But all of this ultimately happened. The sudden arrival of the Jurchens shattered the beautiful dream of this land, and now, in the bloody war, they were about to take this city.

早些天里，对于女真人的凶狠残暴，对于己方军民奋战消息的宣传几乎未曾停下，也确实鼓舞了城中的士气，然而当守城者死亡的影响逐渐在城内扩大，悲伤、怯弱、甚至于绝望的情绪也开始在城内发酵了。

In the earlier days, the propaganda about the Jurchens' ferocity and the fierce battles of their own soldiers and civilians had hardly stopped, and it did boost the morale of the city, but as the impact of the deaths of the defenders gradually spread within the city, emotions of sadness, timidity, and even despair began to ferment.

一个人的死亡，影响和波及到的，不会只有区区的一两个人，他有家庭、有亲朋，有这样那样的社会关系。一个人的死去，都会引动几十个人的圈子，更何况此时在几十人的范围内，死去的，恐怕还不止是一个两个人。

The death of one person does not only affect one or two people. He has family, friends, and various social relationships. The death of one person can trigger a circle of dozens of people, not to mention that in the scope of dozens of people, more than one or two people may have died.

人们开始害怕了，大量的悲伤、噩耗，战局激烈的传言，使得家中还有青壮的人，哭着喊着求着不敢再让家人赴死，也有些已经去了城墙上的，人们活动着尝试着看能不能将他们撤下来，或是调往别处。有关系的人，则都已经开始谋求后路——女真人太狠了，这是不破汴梁誓不罢休的架势啦。

People began to be afraid. The large amount of sadness, bad news, and rumors of intense battles made those who still had young and strong men in their families cry and beg not to let their family members go to their deaths again. Some who had already gone to the city walls were trying to see if they could withdraw them or transfer them elsewhere. People with connections had already begun to seek a way out – the Jurchens were too ruthless, and they seemed determined not to give up without breaking Bianliang.

矾楼处于汴梁消息圈的中央，对于这些东西，是最为敏锐的。不过在师师而言，她已经是上过战场的人，反而不再考虑这么多了。

Fan Lou was in the center of Bianliang's information circle and was most sensitive to these things. However, for Shi Shi, who had already been on the battlefield, she no longer thought about it so much.

稍稍梳洗停当，师师去看了一眼仍在昏睡中的岑寄情。她在战场边上半个月，对于打扮样貌，已没有过多修饰，只是她本身气质仍在。虽然外表还显得柔弱，但见惯刀枪鲜血之后，身上更像是多了一股坚韧的气势，犹如野草从石缝中长出来。李蕴也在屋外，看了看她，欲言又止。

After washing up a bit, Shi Shi went to see Cen Jiqing, who was still sleeping. Having been on the edge of the battlefield for half a month, she no longer put much effort into her appearance, but her own temperament remained. Although she still looked weak on the outside, after seeing knives, guns, and blood, she seemed to have an added tenacity, like a weed growing out of a crack in the stone. Li Yun was also outside the house, looked at her, and hesitated to speak.

若是以往，看

In the past, seeing

到一个人双手被活生生砍断的情景，矾楼中的姑娘没一个能够受得了，就连昨晚，师师领着人抱了全身是血的岑寄情进来后，一掀开遮盖的衣服，看见岑寄情竟双臂齐断、满身血污，当场便有人被吓得晕了过去，李蕴都觉得有些吃不消，唯有师师还在疲倦而冷静地安排着一切，等到大夫来了，方才回去睡觉。

The sight of someone's hands being cut off alive would have been unbearable for any of the girls in Fan Lou. Even last night, when Shi Shi led people to carry Cen Jiqing, who was covered in blood, after lifting the covering clothes and seeing that Cen Jiqing's arms were completely severed and covered in blood, someone fainted on the spot. Li Yun felt a little overwhelmed, but only Shi Shi was still tired and calmly arranging everything, and only went back to sleep after the doctor arrived.

天色还未大亮，但今日停了风雪，只会比往日里更加寒冷——因为师师知道，女真人的攻城，就又方便些了。从矾楼往东北面看去，一股黑色的烟柱在远处升上灰蒙蒙的天际，那是连日以来，焚烧尸体的烟尘。没有人知道今日会不会破城，但师师稍微收拾了东西，准备再去伤兵营那边，之后，贺蕾儿找了过来。

The sky was not yet bright, but the snow had stopped today, which would only make it colder than usual – because Shi Shi knew that the Jurchens would find it easier to attack the city again. Looking northeast from Fan Lou, a column of black smoke rose into the gray sky in the distance, the dust from burning corpses for days. No one knew if the city would fall today, but Shi Shi packed up a few things, preparing to go to the wounded soldier camp again, when He Leier came looking for her.

“师师……师师姐，你在战场上……他怎么样了？”

"Shi Shi... Sister Shi Shi, on the battlefield... how is he?"

这位在矾楼地位不算太高的女子惦念着薛长功的事情，过来跟师师打听消息。

This woman, who didn't have a very high status in Fan Lou, was concerned about Xue Changgong and came to ask Shi Shi for news.

“这些天他都没有来，我担心他出事，不是说……女真人晚上不攻城吗……”

"He hasn't come these days, I'm worried something happened to him. Didn't they say... the Jurchens don't attack at night..."

“我准备了一些他喜欢吃的糕点……也想去送给他，但是他说过不让我去……而且我怕……”

"I prepared some pastries he likes to eat... I also wanted to send them to him, but he said not to let me go... and I'm afraid..."

“……师师姐，我也是听别人说的，女真人是铁了心了，一定要破城，很多人都在找出路……”

"...Sister Shi Shi, I also heard others say that the Jurchens are determined to break the city, and many people are looking for a way out..."

“他被分在酸枣门，但好歹是个将军……师师姐，你……你可不可以去找找他，替我把糕点带给他……”

"He was assigned to Suanzao Gate, but he's a general after all... Sister Shi Shi, can you... can you find him for me and take the pastries to him..."

贺蕾儿长得还不错，但在矾楼中混不到多高的地位，也是因为她拥有的只有长相。此时满腹心事地来找师师倾诉，絮絮叨叨的，说的也都是些胆小又自私的事情。她想要去找薛长功，又怕战场的凶险，想要讨好对方，能想到的也仅仅是送些糕点，想要薛长功安排她逃跑，纠纠结结的希望师师替她去跟薛长功说……

He Leier was pretty, but she couldn't get a very high position in Fan Lou because all she had was her looks. At this time, she came to Shi Shi to confide in her with a stomach full of worries, rambling on and on, talking about timid and selfish things. She wanted to find Xue Changgong, but she was afraid of the dangers of the battlefield. She wanted to please him, but all she could think of was sending him some pastries. She wanted Xue Changgong to arrange for her to escape, and she hoped that Shi Shi would talk to Xue Changgong for her...

她没有注意到师师正准备出去，絮絮叨叨的说的这些话，师师先是感到愤怒，后来就只是叹息了。她听着贺蕾儿说了那样一阵，敷衍几句。然后告诉她：薛长功在战斗最激烈的那一片驻守，自己虽然在附近，但双方并没有什么交集，最近更是找不到他了，你若要去送东西，只好自己拿他的令牌去，或许是能找到的。

She didn't notice that Shi Shi was about to go out. Shi Shi was first angry at these rambling words, and then she just sighed. She listened to He Leier for a while and said a few perfunctory words. Then she told her: Xue Changgong was stationed in the most intense area of the battle. Although she was nearby, the two sides didn't have much contact, and she couldn't find him recently. If you want to send something, you have to take his token yourself, maybe you can find him.

战火席卷而来，在这措手不及之中，有的人在第一时间失去了生命，有的人混乱，有的人消沉。也有的人在这样的战争中完成蜕变，薛长功是其中之一。

The flames of war swept in, and in this unpreparedness, some people lost their lives immediately, some were confused, and some were depressed. Some people also transformed in this war, and Xue Changgong was one of them.

唉，这样的男人，之前或许中意于你，待到战事打完之后，他步步高升之时，要怎样的女人不会有，你恐怕欲做妾室，亦不可得啊……

Alas, such a man, he may have fancied you before, but when the war is over and he rises step by step, what kind of woman won't he have? You probably won't even be able to become his concubine...

待到将贺蕾儿打发离开，师师心中这样想着，随即，脑海里又浮现起另外一个男人的身影来。那个在开战之前便已警告他离开的男人，在许久以前似乎就看到了事态发展，一直在做着自己的事情，随后还是迎了上去的男人。如今回想起最后见面分别时的情景，都像是发生在不知多久以前的事了。

After sending He Leier away, Shi Shi thought this way, and then, the figure of another man appeared in her mind. The man who had warned her to leave before the war began, who seemed to have foreseen the development of the situation long ago, had been doing his own thing, and then still went up to meet it. Recalling the scene of their last meeting and separation now, it seemed like something that happened a long time ago.

宁毅……

Ning Yi...

他不是在战争中蜕变的男人，到底该算是怎样的范畴呢？师师也说不清楚。

He wasn't a man who transformed in the war, what category should he be placed in? Shi Shi couldn't say for sure.

从十二月初一，传来夏村守军迎战张令徽、刘舜仁取胜的消息之后，汴梁城里唯一能够打探到的进展，是郭药师率领怨军整支扑上去了。

Since December 1st, after the news that the Xia Village defenders had won against Zhang Linghui and Liu Shunren, the only progress that could be found out in Bianliang City was that Guo Yaoshi had led the entire Resentment Army to rush up.

战斗激烈……

Fierce fighting...

总数三万六千人的天下强军对阵一万八千左右拼凑出来的部队，战斗激烈到底是怎样的评价，师师本身无法评判。她只能看着汴梁城墙上下死去的人，偶尔幻想一下黄河畔发生的战争。无论如何，没有战败的消息传来，或许就是好消息。

The world's strong army of 36,000 people faced a makeshift force of about 18,000. What kind of evaluation was "fierce fighting," Shi Shi herself could not judge. She could only watch the people dying on and off the walls of Bianliang and occasionally imagine the war happening on the banks of the Yellow River. In any case, the lack of news of defeat was perhaps good news.

无论战事如何惨烈，只要他能留下性命，或许……就是好消息了……

No matter how tragic the war is, as long as he can survive, perhaps... that is good news...

**************

踏踏踏踏……

Thump, thump, thump...

马蹄声穿过积雪，快速奔来。

The sound of hooves galloped quickly through the accumulated snow.

一骑、十骑、百骑，骑兵队的身影奔驰在雪原上，随后还穿过了一片小小的林子。后方的数百骑跟着前方的数十身影，最终完成了合围。

One rider, ten riders, hundreds of riders, the figures of cavalry galloping across the snowfield, and then passing through a small forest. The hundreds of riders behind followed the dozens of figures in front, and finally completed the encirclement.

双方接触时，前方那骑掉转了方向，朝着追兵靠了过去。那黑色的身影一伸手，从马背上就像是跨步一般的冲出，呼的一声，与他相撞的骑兵在空中旋转着飞起来，黑色的身影落下地面，倒退而行，脚底铲起大蓬大蓬的积雪，迎面而来的两骑追兵几乎是直撞了过来，但随后，两匹疾奔中的骏马都失去了重心，一匹朝着左侧高高跃起，长嘶着轰然摔飞，另一匹朝右侧翻滚而出，黑袍人拉着马背上骑士的手朝后方挥了一下，那人飞出去，在空中划出惊人的弧线，翻出数丈之外才跌落雪中。

When the two sides came into contact, the rider in front turned around and approached the pursuers. The black figure reached out and rushed off the horse's back as if taking a step, with a whoosh, the cavalryman who collided with him spun and flew into the air, the black figure landed on the ground, moving backwards, shoveling large clumps of snow from under his feet, and two riders chasing head-on almost crashed straight into him, but then, both galloping horses lost their center of gravity, one leaping high to the left, neighing and crashing, the other rolling to the right, the black-robed man grabbed the knight's hand on horseback and waved it back, and the man flew out, drawing an amazing arc in the air, and fell into the snow after flipping several zhang away.

“住手！都住手！是误会！是误会！”有人大喊。

"Stop! Stop! It's a misunderstanding! It's a misunderstanding!" Someone shouted.

黑袍人已经在雪里停下了身形，背负双手，正是目光锐利、

The black-robed man had stopped in the snow, with his hands behind his back, his eyes sharp,

表情肃然的福禄，而后方数百骑中，被众人拱卫着的，便是武胜军都指挥使陈彦殊，这人年纪四十多岁，样貌端方正气，他是文官出身，此时亦是武将，正是武朝人最喜欢的儒将类型。眼见着福禄一个跨步之间摔飞三匹冲锋中的骑兵，心中便是一震，他每每惊叹于这些武林宗师的武艺高超，只可惜，眼前此人，也难以为自己所用。

The expression was solemn Fu Lu, and among the hundreds of riders behind, surrounded by the crowd, was Chen Yanshu, the commander of the Wusheng Army. This man was in his forties, with a dignified and upright appearance. He came from a civil service background and was now also a military general, exactly the type of Confucian general that the Wu Dynasty people liked the most. Seeing Fu Lu throwing three charging cavalrymen in one step, his heart was shocked. He was always amazed at the superb martial arts of these martial arts masters, but unfortunately, the person in front of him was also difficult to use for himself.

侠以武乱禁，这些凭一时血气做事的人，总是无法理解大局和自己这些维护大局者的无奈……

Knights use martial arts to disrupt the law. These people who act on momentary impulse always cannot understand the overall situation and the helplessness of those who maintain it...

“福禄前辈，罢手吧，陈某说了，您误会了我的意思……”

"Senior Fu Lu, stop, Chen has said, you misunderstood my meaning..."

“没什么误会的。”老人朗声说道，也抱了抱拳，“陈大人，您有您的想法，我有我的志向。女真人南下，我家主人已为了刺杀粘罕而死，如今汴梁战事已至于此等情况，汴梁城下您不敢去，夏村您也不愿出兵，您有理由，我都可以谅解，但老朽只余残命半条，欲为此而死，您是拦不住的。”

"There is no misunderstanding." The old man said loudly, and also cupped his fists, "Lord Chen, you have your ideas, and I have my ambitions. The Jurchens went south, and my master died to assassinate Nianhan. Now that the war in Bianliang has reached such a situation, you don't dare to go under Bianliang City, and you don't want to send troops to Xia Village. You have your reasons, and I can understand them, but I, this old man, only has half a life left, and I want to die for this, you can't stop me."

“情况复杂啊！老前辈！”陈彦殊深吸了一口气，“有关汴梁之事，夏村之事，陈某早就与你详细说过！汴梁城兵凶战危，女真凶狠残暴，谁不知道。某非不愿出兵，实在是无法出兵啊！这数万人、数十万人新败，贸然再出，走不到一般，那是都要散了的啊。我武胜军留在这里，对女真人、怨军犹有一番威慑之能，只需汴梁能坚持下去，顾虑我等的存在，女真人必然要求和。至于夏村，又何尝不是……怨军乃天下雄兵，当初招安于他，朝廷以燕云六州，以及半个朝廷的力气相扶持，可谁知郭药师两面三刀，转叛女真！夏村？早几日或凭对方轻敌，取一时之利，迟早是要大败的，老前辈就非要让咱们所有家当都砸在里面吗！？”

"The situation is complicated! Old Senior!" Chen Yanshu took a deep breath, "Regarding the Bianliang matter, the Xia Village matter, Chen has already told you in detail! Who doesn't know that Bianliang City is dangerous and the Jurchens are ferocious and brutal. It's not that Chen doesn't want to send troops, but that he really can't send troops! These tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people have just been defeated. If they rashly go out again, they won't even be able to go halfway, and they will all be scattered. If my Wusheng Army stays here, it will still have some deterrent power against the Jurchens and the Resentment Army. As long as Bianliang can hold on, considering our existence, the Jurchens will definitely ask for peace. As for Xia Village, isn't it the same... The Resentment Army is the strongest army in the world. When it was recruited, the court supported it with the Six Prefectures of Yanyun and half the court's strength, but who knew that Guo Yaoshi was two-faced and betrayed the Jurchens! Xia Village? A few days ago, it may have taken advantage of the enemy's underestimation to gain temporary benefits, but sooner or later it will be defeated. Does the old senior have to let us throw all our belongings into it!?"

福禄拙于言辞，另一方面，由于周侗的教导，此时虽然分道扬镳，他也不愿在军队面前以内幕坍陈彦殊的台，只是拱了拱手：“陈大人，人各有志，我早已说了……”

Fu Lu was clumsy in speech. On the other hand, due to Zhou Tong's teachings, although they had parted ways at this time, he did not want to reveal the inside story to the army and tear down Chen Yanshu's platform. He simply cupped his hands and said, "Lord Chen, everyone has their own ambitions, I have already said..."

“再者！做大事者，事若不成须放手！老前辈，为使军心振奋，我陈彦殊莫非就什么事情都未做！将您的名头显于大军之中，便是希望众将士能承周师傅的遗志，能再起奋勇，戮力杀敌，只是这些事情都需时日啊，您如今一走了之，几万人的士气怎么办！？”

"Furthermore! Those who do great things must let go if things don't work out! Old senior, in order to boost morale, has Chen Yanshu done nothing! Putting your name among the army is to hope that the soldiers can inherit Master Zhou's legacy, rise up bravely again, and work together to kill the enemy, but these things take time. If you leave now, what about the morale of tens of thousands of people!?"

眼见福禄没什么干货回答，陈彦殊一句接一句，振聋发聩、掷地有声。他话音才落，首先接茬的倒是被追的数十骑中的一人了：“你闭嘴，陈彦殊！”

Seeing that Fu Lu had nothing substantial to answer, Chen Yanshu said one sentence after another, deafening and resounding. As soon as he finished speaking, the first to follow up was one of the dozens of riders who were being chased: "Shut up, Chen Yanshu!"

马背上，只见那汉子钢刀一拔，指了过来，片刻间，数十跟随福禄离开的绿林人士也各自拔出武器来：“巧言令色，大言不惭！你说完了吗！大军数万，军心一寸也无，这朝廷要尔等作甚！亏你还将这事当成炫耀，不要脸的说出来了！告诉你，龙茴龙将军麾下虽只有六千余人，却远比你手下四五万人有血性得多……”

On horseback, the man drew his steel knife and pointed it over. In a moment, dozens of Green Forest people who followed Fu Lu also drew their weapons: "Eloquent and pretentious, boasting without shame! Have you finished speaking! The army has tens of thousands, but there is not an inch of morale. What does the court want you for! You even use this as a boast and say it shamelessly! Let me tell you, although General Long Hui has only six thousand men under his command, they are much more bloody than the forty to fifty thousand men under your command..."

“龙茴！”陈彦殊勒了勒马头，一声冷笑，“先不说他只是一介偏将，趁着大军溃败，收拢了几千人，毫无领兵资格的事情，真要说未将之才，此人有勇无谋，他领几千人，不过送死而已！陈某追上来，便是不想前辈与尔等为蠢人陪葬——”

"Long Hui!" Chen Yanshu reined in his horse and sneered, "Let alone that he is just a partial general who took advantage of the army's defeat and gathered a few thousand people, and has no qualifications to lead troops. If you really want to talk about the talent of an immature general, this person is brave but lacks strategy. He leads a few thousand people, but he is just sending them to their deaths! Chen is chasing after you, just not wanting senior and you to be buried with fools—"

“陈彦殊你……”

"Chen Yanshu, you..."

“好了！”马背上那汉子还要说话，福禄挥手打断了他的话语，随后，面目冰冷地朝陈彦殊又是一拱手。

"Alright!" The man on horseback was about to speak, but Fu Lu waved his hand to interrupt him, and then, with a cold expression, cupped his hands towards Chen Yanshu again.

“陈大人，您也不必再说了，今日之事，我等心意已决，便是身死于夏村，也与陈大人无关，若真给陈大人带来了麻烦，我等死了，也只得请陈大人包涵。这是人各有志，陈大人若不愿包涵，那恕我等也不能接受大人的行事作风，您今日尽管下令让麾下兄弟杀过来，我等若有侥幸逃脱的，反正也去不了夏村了，此后一生之中，只与、与大人的家人为敌。老朽虽然武艺不精，但若专为求生，今日或许还是能逃得掉的。大人，您做决定吧。”

"Lord Chen, you don't need to say any more. We have made up our minds about today's matter. Even if we die in Xia Village, it has nothing to do with Lord Chen. If it really brings trouble to Lord Chen, we can only ask Lord Chen to forgive us. Everyone has their own ambitions. If Lord Chen is unwilling to forgive us, then we cannot accept your way of doing things. You can order your brothers to kill us today. If we are lucky enough to escape, we can't go to Xia Village anyway. From now on, we will only be enemies with, and with your family. Although I, this old man, am not skilled in martial arts, if I focus on survival, I might still be able to escape today. Lord, you make the decision."

他这番话再无回旋余地，周围同伴挥舞刀枪：“便是这样！前辈，他们若当真杀来，您不必管我们！”

His words left no room for maneuver. The surrounding companions waved their knives and guns: "That's right! Senior, if they really come to kill us, you don't have to worry about us!"

“真要自相残杀！死在这里便了！”

"If you really want to kill each other! Then die here!"

“陈彦殊，你听到了吗！我若活着！必杀你全家啊——”

"Chen Yanshu, did you hear that! If I live! I will kill your whole family—"

众人呼喊片刻，陈彦殊脸上的表情一阵难看过一阵，到得最后，便是令得双方都紧张而难堪的沉默。如此过了许久，陈彦殊终于深吸一口气，缓缓策马向前，身边亲卫要护过来，被他挥手制止了。只见他单骑走向福禄，随后在雪地里下来，到了老人身前，方才昂然抱拳。

After everyone shouted for a while, the expression on Chen Yanshu's face turned ugly. In the end, there was a silence that made both sides nervous and embarrassed. After a long time, Chen Yanshu finally took a deep breath and slowly rode his horse forward. The guards wanted to protect him, but he waved his hand to stop them. He rode alone towards Fu Lu, then dismounted in the snow, and only then did he proudly clasp his fists in front of the old man.

“前辈啊，你误我甚深。”他缓缓的、沉声说道，“但事已至此，争辩也是无用了。龙茴此人，大志而无能，尔等去攻郭药师，十死无生。夏村亦是同样，一时血勇，撑住几日又如何，或许此刻，那地方便已被攻破了呢……陈某追至此地，仁至义尽了，

"Senior, you have misunderstood me deeply." He said slowly and solemnly, "But things have come to this point, and there is no use in arguing. Long Hui is ambitious but incompetent. If you go to attack Guo Yaoshi, you will have a ten-to-one chance of survival. Xia Village is the same. What if you are temporarily brave and hold on for a few days? Perhaps at this moment, that place has already been breached... Chen has chased you to this point, and he has done his best,

既然留不住……唉，各位啊，就保重吧……”

Since I can't keep you... Alas, everyone, take care..."

他将这些话缓缓说完，方才躬身，然后面目肃然地走回马上。

He finished these words slowly, then bowed, and then walked back to his horse with a solemn expression.

不久之后，雪地当中，两拨人终于渐渐分开，往不同的方向去了。

Soon after, in the snow, the two groups of people finally gradually separated and went in different directions.

************

雪地里，长长的士兵阵列逶迤前行。

In the snow, long lines of soldiers wound forward.

“昨日还是风雪，今日我等触动，天便晴了，此为吉兆，正是天助我等！诸位兄弟！都打起精神来！夏村的兄弟在