The basin fire warmed the clean room just like spring, but Liu Bei felt like he had fallen into a cold cellar.
Just because Zhang Wen told him bluntly that he was going to Kyoto with a team of people to deliver a letter of appeal to the country.
This is strange. This is a good thing. Why is Liu Bei so upset?
Wouldn't it be great to go to Kyoto? Not only can I meet the saint, but I can also temporarily escape from the whirlpool of the Hebei battlefield. Of course, Liu Bei is also very happy.
But General Zhendong not only said this, he also said something else, that is, the list of recent defectors has been released.
What exactly is this defection list?
It turns out that when the Han Dynasty fought against the Yellow Turban Army earlier, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were invincible, but there must have been few military officials who defected or surrendered to the other side.
Maybe the soldiers at the bottom are like duckweeds. They surrendered to whomever they had to sacrifice their lives for. But the military officials all have a certain social foundation. They know that the Yellow Turban Army is just a temporary frost and snow. When the sun rises, it will melt sooner or later. So.
, often for the sake of family planning, even if they are captured, they will sacrifice their lives for justice.
But the Han army has changed since the battle with the Taishan Army, and it has never won a single victory. At first, the soldiers could still die according to inertia, but as the battlefield situation became clearer and clearer, more and more people knew about the Taishan Army.
The more extraordinary you are, the more thoughts you have in your mind.
As a result, more and more military officials chose to surrender to the Taishan Army after being captured. Originally, the Han Dynasty was still confident, and even if there were some traitors who were ignorant of current affairs, it had nothing to do with the overall situation.
But then, the Taishan Army defeated the main force of the Han Army on its own in the Battle of Xingyang. Liu Hong's confidence was suddenly drained. He could no longer promise benefits to the middle and lower-level military officials to keep them loyal, so
You can only kill these soldiers with a butcher's knife until they dare not surrender.
As a result, the defection list came out in due course.
So where did this list come from? It's very simple. After the war, the military officials called the names according to the roll. Except for those who accurately reported their sacrifices, anyone who was not present was considered to have defected.
Isn't this outrageous? Maybe many of them disappeared on the battlefield, or they were regarded as defectors just because their bodies were recovered after they were obviously loyal to the country?
Yes, it was so outrageous that the Han army couldn't screen them. However, the Han court was not unreasonable. They also considered that there were indeed many who were separated on the battlefield, so they gave one out of ten.
criteria to determine the final list.
The so-called draw of one out of ten is to select one person from all the missed lists as a traitor. Once he is determined to have defected, his children and family members will be sent as slaves to transport food and crops to the front line.
But it’s said to be a random draw, but who doesn’t know what’s going on? Those who are drawn out are often those with no family background. For example, Sima Lang of Wen County also disappeared before, but nothing happened to his family.
This is where Liu Bei's heart ache.
Because of the Battle of Xingyang, he lost all his troops. Most of the brothers he had accumulated in his hometown in Jixian were lost in Xingyang. At that time, in order to give Qianzhao a future, he specially recorded Qianzhao's name on the records of the Han army officials.
On the books.
But now, this has harmed Qianzhao's family.
Liu Bei wanted to ask Zhang Wen to delete the list of people who had been recruited. But seeing Zhang Wen looking at him with a lively look, he didn't know why, but he couldn't say this.
In fact, did Liu Bei really not know?
No one else knows except himself.
But if he really wants to ask Zhang Wen for help, it is unlikely that Zhang Wen will help. Because if there is one less person on this list, one must be added. Liu Xuande’s old story here has been deleted, so if he adds one, it will not be who he is.
The old story is old? Therefore, Zhang Wen would not do such an offending thing.
But Zhang Wen does appreciate Liu Bei. If Liu Bei really requested it, he might actually delete it. But Liu Bei's future might be affected. Because Liu Bei like this is not ruthless enough to do things for Zhang Wen.
of.
In fact, this was Zhang Wen's test for him. Zhang Wen had looked at the place of birth on the list before, and one of them was from Zhuoxian County. He knew that he was probably related to Liu Xuande, so he specifically mentioned this matter.
This is the loyalty test, and Liu Bei obviously passed the test at this time.
Afterwards, Zhang Wen became even more affectionate towards Liu Bei. After learning that Liu Bei was not yet married, he even said that he would betroth his family's niece to Liu Bei.
Finally, Liu Bei received two letters of appeal, one was to the country, and the other was to Zhang Rang. Seeing this, Liu Bei finally understood.
It turned out that it was precisely because of this second letter that General Zhendong did this act. But what could he do if he knew it? Liu Bei had already missed the opportunity.
So, after drinking a glass of warm wine, Liu Bei once again left the city in military uniform. This time Zhang Wen did not send them, so he let these people go down to the city by themselves.
Over there, Zhang Fei, who had been having a good time drinking with everyone, saw that his brother had been in a daze since he left the city, so he expressed concern:
"Brother, what's going on? You're out of your mind."
As soon as he said this, Liu Bei, who was leading the horse, suddenly stopped.
He looked at Chaoge City behind him and said to Zhang Fei:
"Yide, I may have done something wrong."
Yide is the nickname of Zhang Fei. Just a few days ago, Zhang Fei turned eighteen. He wrote to Zhang Fei at home and named him Yide.
What is the so-called "wings for the virtuous"? It is the wings for the virtuous.
Obviously, in the eyes of Zhang and others, Liu Bei, whom Zhang Fei followed, was such a virtuous man. After all, as a native of Lao Zhuo County, who doesn't know the tall mulberry trees in Lousangli?
The prophecy that "a noble man will ride on this chariot to ride on the clouds" has long been spread throughout Zhuo County.
After Zhang Fei heard Liu Bei's words, he was stunned and asked unconsciously:
"Ha, what's the matter?"
When Liu Bei didn't say anything, he immediately got on his horse and said to Zhang Fei and others:
"You go to Kyoto first. I'll finish my work later and catch up with you."
Then he rode a white horse and headed north.
Zhang Fei and others were confused, not knowing what was happening. Zhang Fei shouted with a loud voice:
"Brother, where are you going?"
Then a sentence floated out:
"I'm going to make up for what I did wrong."
…
As Liu Bei walked this way, our Zhendong General Zhang Wencai looked through the military report that Liu Bei had sent urgently. Zhang Wen was overjoyed when he saw this.
It turned out that the military report sent by Lu Zhi was exactly the information about the Guangzong Incident of the Yellow Turban Army.
In addition to narrating this incident in the military newspaper, Lu Zhi once again asked Zhang Wen to lead the Han army in Henan to join him. Now that the Yellow Turbans in Hebei are in ruins, as long as the Taishan bandits are eliminated, the war will be over.
Even when Lu Zhi wrote this, he couldn't help but beg:
"We hold great positions and have been favored by the Han Dynasty. Our righteousness is to fight against thieves for the country to stabilize the country. Our ren is to quell the war and bring peace to the people. I bow my head and ask the general to not use his own body to plot, lead the troops across the Qishui River and destroy them.
That treacherous thief."
After reading this, Zhang Wen couldn't help but burst into tears and expressed his gratitude to Lu Zhi for his kindness. He couldn't help it anymore and said to the doorman outside:
"Go and gather some staff, we will go to Qishui camp later."
That's right, Zhang Wen finally made a decision. The rise and fall of this emperor and Han Dynasty depended on this. Zhang Wen wanted to lead the army to win this battle for the Han Dynasty.
Moreover, through various means, he finally allowed the Han army in the Henan camp to rest and reorganize for more than ten days. He sent Cao Cao and Xun You there to cooperate with him in acting to deal with the visitors in the city.
But now, everything is ready, Zhang Wen is going to his loyal Han army camp.
But after all the staff entered the government and heard that Zhang Wen was going to the Han army camp, they all tried to persuade him.
One suggested what to do if the general was freezing due to the heavy snow. The other said that it was already dark at this time, and the camp would be very tight. Even if he went there, he would probably not be able to open the wall. By then, it would be cold and freezing, and he would be able to go.
where?
Looking at the heavy snow outside the hall, Zhang Wen also felt that everyone was right, so he should wait until the snow stopped before setting off.
But since everyone had been summoned, Zhang Wen ordered his disciples to prepare ingredients and drinks, and they held a banquet under the snow, enjoying themselves.
After all, you have been in the army for so long, can't you enjoy it?
In this way, Zhang Wen lost the last chance to leave the city, and then he and everyone toasted and sang in the city, singing and dancing.
…
The snow is still falling, with no end in sight.
The snow was so deep that Liu Bei had already dismounted and led his horse for a walk.
At this time, there was silence between heaven and earth, and the sounds of all things were covered up by the heavy snow. It was precisely because of this silence in the world that Liu Bei's thoughts became clearer.
He is going to Zhuojun to rescue Qianzhao's family.
Qianzhao pledged his life to the country, and it was because of his trust that Liu Bei left his hometown and followed him all the way to Xingyang, where he died in battle. He, Liu Bei, could not let Qianzhao down like this.
Everything was silent, and Liu Bei was also reflecting on why he was silent in the city before?
Is it you, Liu Xuande, who can't understand General Zhendong's methods? No, it's you, Liu Xuande, who wants to seize this opportunity and climb up the ranks!
On this cold night, young Liu Bei tortured himself like this.
Do you remember, Liu Xuande, you were riding a bamboo horse with your playmates under the big mulberry tree in Lousangli. You pointed at the mulberry tree that looked like a canopy and said vigorously:
"I must ride on this feather-covered chariot."
Although his words are broad, they are full of friendship and loyalty between brothers.
But what now?
For a chance, you gave up the opportunity to fight for the fate of your brother's family.
When did you Liu Xuande change?
Is it because after the Xingyang War, you felt that you wanted to control your own destiny and were unwilling to be driven to death again? Or did you intentionally or unintentionally listen to your senior brother Gongsun Zan's words about something going on in the world, which aroused a bit of restlessness?
"No!"
I, Liu Xuande, am not such a person.
Suddenly, Liu Bei himself interrupted his torture, and he said firmly to himself:
"No, I, Liu Xuande, want to stand out, ride on the canopy, and leave a lasting legacy, but I also want this group of brothers to start well and end well."
I told Liu Bei again in my heart:
"Liu Xuande, Liu Xuande. Who do you think you are? Even the great ancestor of Tianzong Shenwu had Han Xin imprisoned in Changle Palace. Who are you? Can you say that there is a good beginning and a good end? The way of this world has always been that if a person is not ruthless, he will not stand firm. Loyalty,
It will always be your weakness."
The distracting thoughts in his heart came again, but this time Liu Bei finally thought clearly.
He shouted in his heart:
"No, there is nothing you can't do. If you can't do it, it means you don't have enough talent. Then find someone who has the talent to help you. I, Liu Xuande, take the lead in righteousness. Heaven, earth, universe, mountains and seas cannot change this ambition.
."
As soon as this thought comes out, for a moment, the heaven and earth, the heart, and the universe are all as clear as light.
All kinds of human growth are actually growth in choices. The more difficult the situation is, every choice you make is actually answering the question of who you are and what your values and pursuits are.
And on this snowy night, Liu Bei knew what he wanted and what kind of person he was. After thinking about this, Liu Bei had a smile on his face, his thoughts were clear, and he said goodbye to his family who went north to rescue Qian Zhao.
No doubt.
But at this moment, he suddenly heard a strange noise.
It was not very clear at first, but soon it became a dense buzzing sound, and finally Liu Bei felt the snow shaking.
Liu Bei, who had been tempered by life and death in many wars, immediately realized that this was a large group of cavalry on the way. He flew out, climbed up a tree in two or two, and then looked for shelter.
Sure enough, about a few miles away, under the bright moon, a large-scale cavalry regiment was slowly coming towards him.
This scene of thousands of troops wearing white robes only shocked Liu Bei for a moment, and then he quickly got off the tree and mounted his horse close to the ground.
He wanted to rush back and tell the Han troops in Chaoge the news.
Finally, he glanced to the north, which was the direction of Zhuoxian County, where he wanted to rescue Qianzhao's parents. Just wait for me, I, Liu Xuande, will definitely come.
But now, I want to save Chao Ge’s robes first!
Wait, why do people in the distance look so much like Azhao? No, no, he died in Xingyang a long time ago, how could he be here?
The thought flashed past, and Liu Bei turned his horse back toward Chaoge again.
…
In the distance, in the wind and snow, a forward team of the Taishan Army's sudden riders has arrived on horseback. The wind and frost are blowing, and the eyebrows and eyes of these Taishan Army officials are frozen. When they exhale, they are all puffed up into clouds.
Among the twenty-man squad, the leading military officer was clearly Liu Bei's companion.
Qianzhao was able to enter the military school because of several calculations, and was already a member of the Taishan Army's collision team. This time Zhang Chong led people to attack Chaoge. Because Qianzhao is from the north, he is more cold-resistant and familiar with geography.
He took a cavalry of twenty people as the outpost of the entire army.
After walking for a while, Qianzhao suddenly gave an order to the entire team:
"Take a break and clear the snow off your feet."
Without saying anything, everyone shook off the snow on their smocks, especially the snow on their feet. They deliberately knocked it off with hay, just to avoid it melting and getting their feet wet.
Once your feet get wet, they will start to freeze, and your feet will be frozen together with your steps. By then, even if you take off your shoes, your feet will be rotten.
Therefore, everyone in the Taishan Army walked and rested all the way. By this time, time was no longer the most important thing, but physical condition and morale were more important.
Here, everyone was taking care of themselves, and then fed themselves and the horses dry food. Only Qianzhao looked at the dark south and thought silently:
"Brother, I can only help you so much. After all, you and I are each our own masters."
After a while, Qian Zhao and others continued on their way.
Suddenly, a horse came running through the snow from behind, shouting:
"Every army and department will change clothes on the spot as ordered by the general. Then the whole army will rush to Chaoge!"
Following this order, the entire team began to stop, and then the officials took out clean winter clothes from their backpacks and began to change on the spot.
Here, Lianzhao also put on his winter clothes, and warmth enveloped him again. He squatted on the ground, grabbed a handful of snow and stuffed it into his mouth, then looked at the darkness in the south and whispered: