Chapter 205 An Absurd Scene

The Sword Saint felt that this scene was absurd.

Some of the people living near the Tianduan Mountains in Jin lived in settlements built against the mountains. Their communication with each other often consisted of shouting from one mountain peak to another.

The Sword Saint had seen them singing mountain songs before, and the scene before him was very similar.

But,

This was war.

Originally, over ten thousand soldiers had charged forward like hungry tigers, full of vigor and valor, but in the end, it had turned into a "casual chat" between the two sides.

Gou Moli, who had just finished relaying a sentence, walked over, took out his water pouch, took a sip, glanced at the Sword Saint, and laughed:

"This is actually normal, just like when you martial artists duel. If the strength difference is obvious, there's no need to waste words. You just kill them directly. Like when you, Yu Huaping, face some ignorant small fry challenging you, would you waste a single word?

It's nothing more than Longyuan being drawn, Longyuan being sheathed, the opponent falling down, and then you make a turn, leave a silhouette, with a sunset, asking the evening wind to set the scene, blowing your hair and the tassel on the sword hilt a few times.

But what if you encounter Baili Jian or Li Liangshen?

Or Tian Wujing or other strong opponents?

You should say more, right?

Talk about the past, talk about swordsmanship, martial arts, in short, there will be an opening speech.

Because everyone knows that if a real fight breaks out, facing life and death, I trust your sword, because since I met you, I've found that you've changed a lot. You, as a person, are becoming more and more dull, but your sword must be getting sharper and sharper.

Just like now,

We probably won't be able to take the city by force, and instead, we'll suffer setbacks as a result. When the morale of the army is unstable, and the Chu reinforcements appear again, we'll be completely screwed.

The opposite side, on the other hand, doesn't dare to open the city gate and rush out.

One side doesn't attack, and the other side doesn't come out.

Isn't the only thing left to do just chat?"

The Sword Saint heard this and asked:

"I've become dull?"

Gou Moli widened his eyes,

Said:

"Why is your focus so strange?"

Saying that,

Gou Moli couldn't help but glance at Zheng Boye, who was standing there.

He hadn't felt it so clearly before, but now, he found that this Earl of Pingye really had a kind of charm about him.

You say he's strong?

A Rank Six martial artist can be a retainer in a big family in the martial world, with two beautiful maids, living a carefree life, but he can't really make it to the Grandmaster level.

You say he's weak?

He's not weak either, especially his means of leading troops and his strategic vision, which Gou Moli doesn't dare to underestimate.

If Jingnan Wang is the kind of existence who stands there like a majestic mountain;

Then this one is like flowing water, making you unconsciously influenced by him.

The communication between the two sides stopped.

Because there was nothing more to say next.

Zheng Boye couldn't shout "surrender", because it was meaningless. Everyone in Chu could surrender, except for the Regent, who couldn't.

The Yu clan could surrender because the Jin imperial lineage had long been in decline.

The Situ family could surrender because the Situ family had always been de facto emperors, and besides, Situ Lei had originally intended to become a vassal state of the Yan people, and at that time, the Wildmen and rebels had already attacked Wangjiang and approached Yingdu. After leaving behind orphans and widows, there was no other way but to surrender.

And the Regent on the city wall couldn't let anyone persuade the Earl of Pingye to defect;

Because no matter how you think about it, the Earl of Pingye couldn't possibly "rebel" at this time.

If he was willing, when the two of them were in the carriage, he could have knelt down to him, marry a princess, and be granted the title of "Prince of Yan", all of which could be discussed, and he probably would have been willing to do so.

As for saying something to let people shout "bestow merits and make promises", it's really inappropriate.

He, as an emperor, was besieged in the city by enemy troops, and still thinking about making promises, how embarrassing.

It's just that after the shouting stopped, Zheng Boye felt a little unsatisfied.

Zheng Boye's reputation was very great in the Yan and Jin lands, and the storytellers in teahouses and the literati in restaurants contributed a lot to this.

Because Zheng Boye provided them with a lot of material, and simply retelling the story was already enough to amaze people. It could be said that he directly cut the vegetables and cooked the dishes, and they could just heat them up in the pot and start eating.

And Zheng Boye himself,

Also felt that,

Ending it like this,

In the drowsy afternoon,

Was a bit too boring.

But on the other hand, there was nothing else to do.

Sigh,

How dull.

However, on second thought, he had already done well enough, and he shouldn't be dissatisfied.

"Pass down the order, set up camp."

Gou Moli immediately said: "But Boye, although we have more troops than the city, if they want to break out, it will be difficult for us to take care of everything completely."

"There's no need to surround it completely, retreat a little."

Zheng Boye pointed to the Juyang City wall in front of him,

"Whether we surround the Chu Regent here or have surrounded the Chu Regent, in fact, there is no difference."

Zheng Boye knew that his brother-in-law was quite strong. If he really wanted to break out, seize an opportunity, create a false impression, choose two routes as feints, and one as the main route, he would still have a high chance of success.

Success would be fine. Anyway, his purpose had already been achieved. Even if his brother-in-law broke out, it would take a time difference for him to mobilize and issue imperial edicts. During this time, the various Chu reinforcements would only rush towards this side without hesitation. Even if they received the imperial edict not to rescue them,

But,

Who would dare not to come?

Even if the emperor doesn't want you to come,

You still have to come,

This is the attitude!

After the Chu reinforcements arrived, Zheng Boye planned to withdraw and retreat to the Daze, to see if they would come to suppress him.

If they didn't suppress him, he would come out and mess with them again. If they came to suppress him, then he would continue to shrink back, and see if they could still take care of Zhennanguan.

Zheng Boye also weighed it. This time, his side was not cavalry, and he couldn't take the waterway again. If there was no suddenness in taking the waterway, then its limitations would appear. If they were really blocked by the Chu navy, then it would be completely over.

On the contrary, the area of the Daze, which was originally not suitable for cavalry activities, was now suitable for Zheng Boye to maneuver and transfer.

"Master, how about I take a few people in to scout around after dark?"

Xue San volunteered.

Zheng Boye shook his head and said, "It's too risky, no need, let's call it a day. By the way, notify everyone to search the nearby villages for medicinal materials and everything else that can be used as military supplies."

"Yes, Master."

"Si Niang, set up a tent, I'm going to take a nap."

………

On the city wall of Juyang City, the Five Phoenix Golden Banner still stood there.

But the Regent himself had already left the city wall.

"Your Majesty, this humble general can arrange a breakout for Your Majesty, and this humble general vows to protect Your Majesty to break out!"

A one-eyed general knelt down in front of the Regent and patted his chest to assure him.

The Regent shook his head and said, "No need, anyway, my brother-in-law doesn't plan to attack the city. He's waiting for my Chu army to come over before leaving. It's best for us to continue with this tacit understanding.

In the end, this matter will only be confined to this place. It depends on whether Tingshan can recover Jingcheng and reopen the passage."

"Your Majesty remains steadfast even when a mountain collapses before you, I admire you." A white-haired old minister said.

"Alright, alright, Old Shangshu, don't make fun of me anymore. It's come to this, and I have no face to excuse myself anymore. The state of the country is like this, it's my dereliction of duty."

"Your Majesty is wrong. This old minister is precisely because he sees the difficulties of the country, the hidden dangers within, and the strong enemies without, that he is fortunate that my Chu has a wise ruler;

When my Chu dynasty's late emperor founded the dynasty, he was defeated and besieged by the Shan Yue people countless times, but in the end, wasn't he also walking over step by step and establishing my Chu dynasty's foundation?

If the country has difficulties, just get through them. It's just four words: adversity builds a nation."

"I really don't need to hear these now, and there's no need to listen to these. I'll be in a mess, it's all deserved."

"Your Majesty, when Prince Ding returns, this situation will be broken."

Prince Ding had just led his troops away the day before yesterday, so the Xingyuan was left with empty defenses, and they were blocked in Juyang City.

If Xiong Tingshan could return in time, the siege here would naturally be lifted.

The number of Yan troops could be seen very clearly from the city wall, it wasn't many.

The Regent smiled,

And said:

"Earlier, when the Yan army appeared, I sent a team to break out, taking out three imperial edicts. One was to inform Pillar General Dugu of my current situation;

One was to give to the Empress Dowager, so that she could appease the government;

One was given to my Fifth Brother, telling him not to worry about me here, but to prioritize Jingcheng and Zhennanguan."

"This……"

"Actually, it's pretty good too."

The Regent picked up a book, *Strategies for Governing* written by Sima Xiangong of Qian.

Sima Xiangong had cultivated his reputation for many years, spending more than ten years in his cellar compiling this book. Later, he was appointed and entered the Privy Council, ranking among the ministers;

Three years ago, the Yan army entered Qian, all the way to the capital, Qian, shaking the country.

After the Yan army retreated, the Qian emperor used this as a reason to purge the court. Most of the ministers retired, and Sima Xiangong also retired and returned to his hometown.

*Strategies for Governing* analyzed the examples of rise and fall in ancient times, and advised the emperor on how to govern in order to stabilize the world.

The Regent felt that this book was still very good, and emperors should read it more.

However, it had to be read in reverse.

Ordinary scholars would have an "I see" realization after reading this book;

The Regent also had an "I see" realization,

No wonder Qian had the advantage of vast land and abundant resources, but it was so decadent.

It turned out that Qian's foundation was too solid, and they could just sit back and do nothing, consuming it step by step, which could last for a long time. Otherwise, if those ministers who were known as "righteous and full of the court" a few years ago were transferred to his Chu, Chu would probably have collapsed by now.

If they went to the Yan kingdom,

Perhaps,

They would have been killed by that Yan emperor's whole family.

As he read,

He would occasionally smile knowingly,

Then he would reach out and pick up a candied fruit from the plate beside him and slowly chew it,

To pass the time, it was enough.

Around him, no one dared to disturb the Regent.

After reading for about half an hour,

The Regent put down the book,

A joke book, you have to find time to read it, reading too much at once, the fun will be less.

"Take some of these candied fruits and send them to my brother-in-law outside the city."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

………

"Don't you want to wake up Boye?" Gou Moli asked in a low voice.

"No need, let Master rest well."

Si Niang grabbed a handful of candied fruits and ate them herself.

Gou Moli licked his lips, grabbed a handful too, and ate two pieces. They were sweet but not greasy, with a fruity fragrance. They were royal items after all.

"A Ming, want some?" Si Niang asked A Ming.

A Ming shook his head, opened his wine pouch, and took a sip.

Si Niang gave the remaining candied fruits to the Wild Man King, then got up and went to ask about the collection of medicinal materials. If the quantity was not enough, they would have to go to the more outer villages and towns to grab them.

This was to prepare for entering the Daze. In that kind of environment, people who were not familiar with the local climate could easily get sick.

Gou Moli, with the candied fruits in his pocket, came to the Sword Saint's tent and said:

"Want some?"

The Sword Saint was sitting inside meditating. He didn't open his eyes, just shook his head slightly.

Gou Moli simply sat down and continued to eat himself.

The sky had already darkened, and the army had set up camp.

Half were resting, and half were on duty.

To be honest, the defense was not very tight, but according to the current conditions, this was all that could be done.

The scouts on the outside hadn't discovered any signs of Chu troops moving towards here, so for now, it was still safe here.

Gou Moli ate and ate, and finally couldn't eat anymore, it was too greasy.

Looking back at Zheng Boye's tent, he had slept for an afternoon, Boye was really something.

"Coo… Coo… Coo…"

From the sky, there came the sound of birds.

The Sword Saint opened his eyes, and the light from the fire basin penetrated into the tent, sweeping across his gaze.

A Ming stood up, looked up, and looked up.

There was a bird in the sky, and this bird, like an eye, was looking here.

A Ming straightened his collar, walked to the Sword Saint's tent,

And said:

"You protect Master here, I'll go take a look at that bird."

The Sword Saint nodded.

A Ming turned around and walked out of the camp. Soon, his figure disappeared into the darkness in the distance.

"This scene is a little beautiful."

Gou Moli said in a low voice,

"No, it should be, this back, this atmosphere, is beautiful."

A smile appeared on the Sword Saint's lips.

"What are you smiling at!" Gou Moli deliberately pretended to be angry.

The Sword Saint didn't speak, but they both knew what each other meant.

Gou Moli then said: "I understand now, Boye and those gentlemen, they should have something, something the same, that gives people the feeling, in the way they speak and act."

For example, even though there was only an enemy spying on them here, you could go chase them away or capture them, but you still had to straighten your clothes and make sure to walk with the right steps and rhythm.

"It's not just these." The Sword Saint shook his head.

"What else is there?"

Gou Moli was very interested in this, because his career was tied to this circle, and he was already trying hard to integrate into it.

In Boye's words, it was best to be able to do it, so that in the future, if their family fortune was lost, when they went to open an inn in a place where no one knew them, they would be willing to take him, Gou Moli, along.

What the Sword Saint really wanted to say was that they seemed to have cultivated a kind of gongfa (cultivation method), and they were all truly connected, sharing the same glory and suffering the same losses. Every time that Zheng Boye advanced in rank, not long after, the others would also advance in rank.

This was definitely not a coincidence, and those gentlemen didn't seem to be deliberately suppressing their cultivation in order to avoid hurting Zheng Boye's self-esteem.

The truth of their strength could not be hidden from the Sword Saint's eyes.

But, their way of fighting, for example, that most silly Fan Li. The Sword Servant had told him that after she taught him the sword style, that Fan Li could directly dance out the sword intent after watching it once.

It wasn't just a little bit of sword intent,

It was the realm!

It was hard to imagine that the big man who always spoke so honestly, liked to wrap himself in iron armor on the battlefield, and wielded a giant axe, actually had such amazing talent in this aspect.

However,

The Sword Saint would only bury these words in his heart and would not say them to Gou Moli.

Although the two of them could now sit safely across the tent from each other, although the first town of Xue Haiguan was composed entirely of Wildmen warriors, this was the deepest level of precaution and was necessary.

"Heh, acting mysterious again."

Gou Moli stood up,

Patted his pants legs,

And said:

"I'm going to patrol the camp."

……

"Hey."

Under the night,

Xue San's figure appeared beside A Ming.

A Ming stopped, but not because of Xue San, but because at this moment, the bird had disappeared.

"I knew you would come out." Xue San smiled.

A Ming unbuttoned his wrist button and folded it twice.

"Want to move around."

Since entering the battlefield, he had been helping the master block arrows, which was quite boring and tedious.

But he couldn't push this responsibility away. First, because of his bloodline, he could slowly recover after blocking arrows with enough blood, and second, because everyone else had their own responsibilities on the battlefield;

Liang Cheng commanded, Fan Li charged, Xue San scouted,

He,

Seemed to only be able to be a human shield.

"I thought you would turn into a bat, fly straight up, and bite that bird to death. That would feel right."

Xue San spread his hands out and placed them on his sides, waving them a few times, and said:

"No, it should be turning into a large group of bats, covering the sky and the earth."

A Ming didn't bother to pay attention to him.

"I say, do you need my help?"

"If I can't beat it, I'll retreat. If I can beat it, I'll kill him."

"Then good luck." Xue San squatted down and patted the dust off his boots, "I'll try to sneak into Juyang City later."

"Master said, he won't let you go."

"I'm bored too, okay? It's just that I know there are many experts around the emperor in that city, that's what makes it exciting, hehe.

Earlier, where were we considered Demon Lords, we could only be considered nannies;

Now, our strength has recovered a bit, and Master is more and more like a master, so we can relax a bit."

A Ming reminded him;

"Be careful, don't die."

"That's what I should be saying to you."

Saying that,

Xue San said with some emotion: "You say, if there were no armies in this world, no iron cavalry, how good would it be, everyone would just be popular with single duels or small groups fighting, we would have more advantages."

"You can't have this mentality."

"Alright, we'll each play our own game, I'll be back before dawn, I'm leaving first."

Xue San's figure disappeared.

"Coo… Coo… Coo…"

A Ming raised his head,

In the sky, the bird seemed to have flown back after circling around.

A Ming closed his eyes and felt it for a moment, then walked towards the northwest.

Just then,

A team of cavalry appeared in front of him, not many in number, led by Jin Shuke, who was patrolling the camp at night.

These horses were captured earlier.

"Mr. Ming, where are you going?" Jin Shuke asked.

A Ming walked straight past Jin Shuke and the others,

Then,

Holding the wine pouch,

He waved it,

And said:

"Going to buy wine."

——————

Thanks to Jia Bing Cheng Zhi for becoming the 146th Alliance Master of *The Descent of Magic*.

Don't panic, there's more tonight.