Chapter 218 Change the soup and change the medicine
The north wind howled, carrying the sky full of wind and snow, occupying the entire plain.
As far as the field of vision can be seen, there is only vast ice and snow, with no sun; all that fills the ears is the sound of the roaring wind.
"ah……"
Xu He couldn't help but roar loudly. The anger and unwillingness that had been simmering in his heart for a long time seemed to suddenly erupt at this moment. He thought of countless dead companions, the great virtuous teacher Zhang Jiao, and the flying in the air.
Yellow battle flag.
He yelled at the top of his lungs, letting tears roll down his eyes and then freeze in the biting cold.
"The sky...is dead..."
Before being taken in by Zhang Jue and joining Taiping Dao, Xu He was an orphan and a beggar. He struggled on the verge of death every day. His biggest dream was to have a full meal.
Life is very difficult, but this is not the most sad thing. What makes Xu He most sad is that he has no idea why he is so unfortunate. Whenever he gets something from begging, he temporarily suppresses the hunger that makes him scratch his head.
When he was feeling sick or too hungry to sleep, he would think about this question, but he never had an answer.
It wasn't until Zhang Jiao rescued him and pointed him in the right direction that he realized that it wasn't him or the many people like him who were wrong, it was the world that was wrong!
This world is unfair.
No matter how big the natural disaster is, there is always a scene of singing and dancing within the red walls of the wealthy families, and the emperor is even more extravagant. On the other hand, among the people, starvation is everywhere, and countless people die of cold and hunger every winter.
people, including Xu He’s parents.
In such a day, you should have died long ago;
Just for the eyes of a wealthy family, it should have been smashed to pieces!
Therefore, he picked up the sword, with the determination to die, and together with many people like him, followed the great sage master to do the thing that changed the world.
However, the great virtuous teacher failed, and the uprising broke out in February, and General Digong died in Quyang in November. The uprising did not even last a year.
Although Xu He escaped with his life, he was troubled by new doubts. He could not find the reason for the failure of the uprising.
Is the Great Teacher not wise enough?
Is it because the believers are not brave enough, determined not big enough, and their numbers are not large enough?
If it is not these, it can only be that the power of this unfair world is too strong and cannot be overthrown by human power.
Confused, Xu He became confused. Gradually, he found that he had deviated from the true Taiping Road and was no different from the bandits and bandits everywhere in Qingzhou.
It cannot be said that there is none at all. With the martial arts and military skills he learned in the Taiping Sect, he is the outstanding one among the thieves in Qingzhou, and the most powerful one.
Unfortunately, none of this helped solve his inner confusion.
The appearance of the little heavenly master Zhang Ning once gave him hope, but the girl just stubbornly repeated the process that the great virtuous master once did, which was the least effective in changing the day.
Saving lives and healing the wounded, no matter how many people are saved, what's the use? Can it weaken the darkness in the sky above our heads? Can it strengthen the power of those who try to defy heaven?
until……
As both Zhang Rao's former subordinates, Xu He knew Zhang Rao's tricks. He could hide Zhang Rao's thoughts from others, but he could not hide them from himself.
The reason why Xu He did not oppose with all his strength was because he saw hope again. Therefore, he did not take advantage of Zhang Rao's lack of success to attack, just like he had done with other bandits before, but followed the opponent, even if
Despite being squeezed and squeezed, I never gave up.
It doesn't matter whether you use the enemy's power or fool your own people, because everything is for victory.
Because of this, Xu Hecai willingly took on the most difficult task of ending the war. On the surface, he was plotted by Zhang Rao, but in fact, he regarded this incident as Huang Tian's punishment for himself.
However, despite his efforts, the reality still made him despair.
Today is the third day since it started snowing. The snow is getting heavier and heavier, and the wind is getting stronger and stronger. However, someone walked through the wind and snow and brought news from afar.
The army collapsed...
The moment he heard the news, Xu He almost thought that he was dead, or that he was dreaming about the scene in Jizhou six years ago. No, what was happening before him was even more incredible and difficult to accept than the past.
Although the Yellow Turbans had a large number of people and powerful forces in Jizhou at that time, the actual situation was far from what it seemed.
Although the soldiers were brave, they could not get past the high and thick city walls. Except for those cities that had been arranged in advance and had internal support inside the city, most of the counties in Jizhou were intact.
Huangfu Song, Lu Zhi and other famous generals of the dynasty went north with heavy troops. Their troops and horses were well-equipped and well-trained. They were completely different from the Yellow Turban Army who lacked food, clothing and weapons.
These are not the most troublesome. Various powerful families have also organized private soldiers to use their own fortresses or county towns to attack in all directions. If they encounter a large group of people, they will avoid it. If they encounter a small number of people, they will attack by force. This has caused no peace for the Yellow Turban Army.
, it is impossible to divide the troops to expand the results of the battle.
Xu He gradually concluded all these in retrospect. He did not have such insights at the time. He also understood why when the situation was very good, the great sage always kept his brows down, because the situation was not good at all.
.
But this year it's completely different.
Qingzhou is different from Jizhou. After years of war, the powerful people within the territory have long since died or fled. Those who are still within the territory are only left hiding in the city and shivering, posing no threat at all.
As for the government, there are very few people who overestimate their capabilities like Beihai County Governor Kong Rong. The soldiers from various counties can barely protect themselves, let alone suppress the bandits. The bandits in Qingzhou move freely and freely without any hindrance.
Zhang Rao even found strong reinforcements and broke through several cities one after another, including Linzi, the Qingzhou government seat. After gathering millions of people, not to mention all the soldiers, food and fodder in Linzi City, even the logistical problems that most troubled the rebels were eliminated.
Solved.
Coupled with Zhang Rao's decision to abandon the old and weak and go into battle lightly, this made up for the last flaw in the rebel army...
Xu He really couldn't figure out how such a large army could lose?
A spell to summon heavenly fire? How could such a thing really exist in this world?
However, this was the case. As more and more defeated soldiers appeared in the camp, Xu He was completely desperate.
With no food and reinforcements at home and no reinforcements outside, the massive Yellow Turbans reached a desperate situation overnight. They are incomparable to the heroic and unyielding Jizhou Yellow Turbans who fought and retreated under unfavorable circumstances.
This defeat came too suddenly and inexplicably.
"Heaven..." Looking up at the sky, Xu He roared loudly. Apart from this, he could not find any way to vent his depression and anger.
The abominable sky always drops one mountain after another that is difficult for people to cross in front of the rebel army. In the past, Huangfu Song made people hate and fear him, but now Wang Pengju brings only despair to people.
Not to mention that with the arrival of the defeated troops, the high morale had collapsed instantly. Even if it was still the same as before, with heavy snowfall and food and grass running out, Xu He could not come up with any countermeasures.
Retreat? When the brothers dug the trench, they were worried that it was not deep enough or wide enough. Now if they want to go eastward, they have to cross the natural chasm they dug. Behind the natural chasm, there are also the Taishan infantry and Youzhou infantry who have been recharging their energy for a long time.
Iron cavalry.
Entering? There is nothing on the way forward except the defeated troops. In this windy and snowy weather, it is God's blessing to be able to stop one or two people to reach the gate of Fenggao City. However, the sky above our heads has never been
They only look for authority, when have they ever protected people like themselves?
"Qu Shuai!" A soldier came through the snow and interrupted Xu He's roar.
Xu He was not angry. He no longer had the energy to be angry with anyone. He was just confused because the soldiers' voices were clearly full of excitement. When he turned around to look, he was even more surprised. There was clearly a look on the soldiers' faces.
Laugh! At this time?
"What... happened?" Xu He's voice was hoarse, with a hint of trembling. He didn't know what news could save everyone in such a desperate situation, but he knew that his personal guard was probably not crazy.
"Little... little Heavenly Master is back!" The soldier covered his hat and shouted against the wind.
"Seriously?" With just two words, Xu He's emotions experienced great fluctuations.
First, a burst of ecstasy surged into my heart, filling my chest like fire. The next moment, it was blown to pieces by the violent north wind.
The Little Heavenly Master is the spiritual pillar of the army and can guarantee the morale of the army. However, these alone are not enough to pull the army out of the abyss of destruction. At most, it is just an oil lamp in the endless darkness, unable to illuminate the future.
The direction of the road can at most provide a little hope.
The soldier was obviously not a believer who knew nothing about it. From Xu He's expressions of joy and worry, he could tell that he was careful, and then added: "The little Celestial Master also brought hundreds of brothers with him.
I’ve found a way out for everyone!”
"A way out? Could it be..." Xu He thought.
The most valiant bandits have been missing, and most of the ones who have been recovered are new soldiers. It is already very rare for ten or eight to get together, with hundreds of people? Besides, even if they are defeated, Zhang Rao has no reason.
Let people leave on their own? The most reasonable explanation can only be...
Full of doubts, Xu He returned to the Chinese Army.
Many people gathered outside the tent, and even more people rushed over in the wind and snow. The originally lifeless camp suddenly became alive, but Xu He felt very heavy.
At the moment, the only way out he can think of is to surrender, give up his long-held dream, kneel at the feet of the powerful again, and pray for their favor, so that he can get some scraps and survive.
Xu He didn't want this, but he also knew that he couldn't use his own rules to restrain everyone. For most people, survival is the first priority. What's more, even the daughter of a great virtuous teacher...
"Little Heavenly Master!" Xu He squeezed his way out of the crowded crowd and met Zhang Ning, whom he had not seen for a long time.
"Senior Brother Xu." Zhang Ning took off her hat. Judging from her pale complexion, the girl had also braved the wind and snow and walked a long way.
Looking at that familiar yet unfamiliar face, savoring the bitterness of the past and the gloomy future, Xu He had mixed feelings and was speechless for a moment.
"Qu Shuai, why don't you go into the tent and talk?"
The guards asked for permission, but when Xu He made no comment, they just assumed that he acquiesced and surrounded him and Zhang Ning into the tent.
There was no fire in the tent, and the army was no longer able to divide its troops to collect firewood. However, compared with the cold wind howling in the wild, there was still a slightly warm atmosphere. Xu He recovered slightly and asked urgently: "Little Tianshi, what did you say?"
The way out…”
"The Taiping Cult will lay down their weapons and return to the rule of the imperial court. General Wang promises to forget the past and help everyone return to their hometowns and rebuild their homes..." Zhang Ning's expression was calm and his tone was indifferent, as if he was saying something unimportant.
Small things in general.
The conjecture was verified, and the feeling in Xu He's heart became even more bitter. He wanted to say something several times, but nothing came out. Even what Zhang Ning said next, he didn't even take it into his heart, until...
"The prince is a man with a broad mind. Qingzhou will allow the Taoist sect to preach freely..."
"What?" Xu He's mood fluctuated violently again.
Allowing the Taiping Cult to preach freely? It was possible before the first year of Zhongping, but now... Before he could tell whether this was true or not, Zhang Ning gave him another surprise.
"At the same time, in view of the reputation of Taiping Dao in the past, the Christian name will be changed. From now on, the name of Taiping Dao will no longer exist, and the doctrine will be revised. The new religion established will be called Charity Hall, that is: the compassionate church.
Heart, the meaning of doing good things.”
Xu He opened his mouth and was completely speechless.
He didn't know what to say at all. He had thought about being recruited by the imperial court before, and he had also heard that Zhang Yan from Montenegro had the title of general in trouble. But the weird way he was doing now was still a big surprise.
Beyond his expectation.
Is it a stopgap measure?
Or is there another agenda?
Is it necessary for Wang Pengju to play so many tricks to deal with the rebels who are at the end of their rope?
Doubts surrounded him like a fog, making him lose the ability to think, but his consciousness was clear.
Therefore, he could hear bursts of cheers in his ears, getting louder and louder, completely driving away the howling north wind without a trace. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to register for Piao Tian Literature
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