Chapter 1488 Dummy Head Real Head


    In the city of Hanchang, Xu Shu looked at the head placed in the wooden box, smiled slightly and said to Qin Mi: "It''s hard work for your envoy to come from a long distance, and I know all about what I have said, please rest for a while. Let’s talk about it tomorrow…”


    Qin Mi cupped his hands, retreated with cold sweat on his back, and seemed to be able to feel Xu Shu''s scrutinizing gaze on him when he left.


    "Uncle Ye, what do you think of this matter?" Xu Shu pondered for a moment, then turned to ask Huang Chengdao. A few days ago, Huang Cheng entered Hanchang City with the mountain battalion he had trained for a long time, preparing to launch an attack on Sichuan and Shu, but he did not expect that Qin Mi would come first, and he would also bring Langzhong guard Zhang Zhang with him. Ren''s head.


    Long Aotian basically doesn’t need to think much about it. Anyway, no matter whether it’s our friendly army or the enemy’s army, they all say the same thing. When you can BB, you will never do anything. If you do, you will immediately kneel down to BB. Although Xu Shu thought it was a good deal to win Langzhong without bloodshed, he was always a little puzzled in his heart, is there really such a good thing?


    Huang Cheng smiled foolishly, squinted his eyes, and said, "Well, I''m just a rough person, so I can''t say it well, so please make up your mind..."


    Xu Shu glanced at Huang Cheng, then pouted slightly. Regardless of Huang Cheng''s honest and honest appearance, he is actually an old driver who has been training mountain camps in Hanzhong. Will he have any ideas about entering Sichuan and Shu this time? Don''t be kidding, it''s just that Huang Cheng has always been like this, and it''s not against Xu Shu alone. Except for letting go in front of General Zhengxi, most of the rest of the time is "I don''t know, I don''t know, I don''t understand, you guys It seems that the words of "it can be done" seem to be a big old man, but in fact, his heart is more delicate than anyone else.


    "Come here!" Xu Shu summoned the guards in front of the hall, "Go and ask, if anyone recognizes Zhang Ren, the general of Langzhong in Sichuan and Shu, and lead him to the front of the hall!"


    "Wei!" The guard took the order and went down.


    Huang Cheng smiled, and it seemed to be more honest.


    "Zhang Ren, Mr. Zhang, um..." Xu Shu took out two or three bamboo slips from the leather pouch beside the table, and then did not open them directly, but looked at the dental plaque stuck on the bamboo slips, "Well, found It''s..."


    Xu Shu put the rest of the bamboo slips back into the leather pouch, and then opened the bamboo slip with Zhang Ren''s tooth plate hanging on it, "Zhang Ren, Zhang Gongxiang, a native of the capital of Shu. His father Zhang''s name was changed to Yan because of a taboo, and he was engaged in the capital of Shu. He died in the battle when he was conquering the dragon, and Ren Deyin became an official. He has a square face, a little yellow, three strands of beard, no scars, and he is tall..."


    Huang Cheng listened from the sidelines, and the muscles on one side of his cheek couldn''t help jumping.


    "Well, the face..." Xu Shu held the bamboo slips, and looked carefully at the wooden box containing the human head. Perhaps for ordinary gentry children, even if they behaved bravely on weekdays, it may not be possible for many people to get them close to a dead man''s head, face to face, and stare.


    Although a layer of lime was laid in the wooden box to prevent the head from rotting, the strong smell of blood and decay could not be completely covered up, and it was even stronger when it got closer, just like in the raw meat section of a supermarket. , I encountered a few mice that died in the central air-conditioning duct in summer, and I couldn''t find it after looking for it. What kind of mixed smell couldn''t be cleaned up...


    "It looks a bit similar..." Xu Shu frowned, staring at the human head in the wooden box, staring at the human head with pale eyes like dead fish, "It''s just that the beard doesn''t match..." The information It says there are three beards, but the head in the box has a goatee on the chin. Although there is a beard on the upper lip, it is not very long. Of course, it is not three beards at all, and it is not very appropriate.


    After all, the description of faces in ancient times, even in the Qing Dynasty, before the advent of cameras, most of them belonged to such vague descriptions without any strict standards.


    The guards came with a few people who said they had seen Zhang Ren. After looking at the head, they all said that it looked a bit like...


    After all, no one is stupid, and no one is willing to insist on taking unnecessary responsibilities, but in this way, it is difficult for Xu Shu to settle down.


    Xu Shu was born in a poor family, so he understands very well that the biggest wish of most of the poor family''s children is to gain fame and revitalize the family...


    Even Xu Shu is not exempt from this point.


    That’s why Xu Shu would rather change his name and surname back then, and leave his hometown to escape the arrest of the government, rather than pretending to be a hero and doing things like a hero, with a bowl-sized scar on his head, and eighteen years later, he will be a hero again...


    When a person dies, there is no hope at all.


    Judging from the information, Zhang Ren was not born in a noble family. Zhang Ren was awarded the title because of his father''s military achievements, rather than the traditional gentry family''s model of filial piety and honesty. Such an easy way to give up the hope of revitalizing the family, and even end everything by committing suicide?


    If you really gave up everything in Sichuan and Sichuan, why not just surrender in exchange for the hope of a comeback?


    If it is impossible to completely abandon the members of the Chuanshu family, why not choose to fight to the death to preserve the reputation of loyalty?


    And committing suicide and begging for death is nothing more than a coward''s act. It is simply an escape from everything. There is no hope of recovery, nor is it possible to preserve the original reputation. Apart from self-liberation, there is no benefit...


    As a result, Zhang Ren chose to kill himself?


    Xu Shu couldn''t understand it, so he couldn''t make a decision right away. Even when he was late, he was absent-minded. After eating some casually, he dealt with official business for a while, feeling extremely sleepy, so he lay down with his clothes on...


    In the middle of the night, Xu Shu suddenly woke up from his sleep, turned over and sat up, pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice to the outside: "Bring Zhang Ren''s head!" Only Xu Shu who looks like a military general is better than a civil servant can do it...


    The guards brought the head to Xu Shu, and Xu Shu held the lamp. He didn''t dislike the stench and filth of the head, so he straightened the head upright, staring at each other face to face, and then a smile appeared on Xu Shu''s face...


    "Haha, that''s how it is, that''s how it is!" Xu Shu threw the head back into the wooden box as if relieved from a heavy burden, then waved his hand to ask the guards to take the head back, then smiled and muttered that it was so, and then lay back on the bed After a while, he fell into a deep sleep and snored loudly.


    ………………


    Langzhong City.


    Qin Mi finally seemed to be a little more relaxed, pointing to Langzhong City with the city gate wide open and said: "Mr.


    "Good..." Xu Shu smiled meaningfully at Qin Mi, then slightly turned his head to look at the terrain on both sides of Langzhong City, and then said to Huang Cheng, "Get ready..."


    Huang Cheng clasped his hands, nodded towards Xu Shu, and the iron plates of the battle armor collided with each other, making a clang and forceful sound, then Huang Cheng faced Langzhong City and raised his arms.


    The flag bearer behind Huang Cheng immediately raised the flag representing Huang Cheng high! Immediately, the orders from the middle-level generals of the soldiers were like firecrackers, a series of explosions exploded, and groups of soldiers began to gather together and set up their formations!


    "This..." Qin Mi on the side sensed something was wrong, turned to look at Xu Shu, but saw Xu Shu''s half-smile, his heart skipped a beat, and his face turned pale.


    "Qin Zichi! So far, are you still refusing to tell the truth?" Xu Shu laughed, "It doesn''t matter if you don''t! Let''s just watch our tricks from the sidelines!"


    "This...I..." Sweat rolled down Qin Mi''s forehead, and the ability to speak that he was usually proud of seemed to have disappeared at this moment, "This..."


    Xu Shu didn''t have the heart to explain anything to Qin Mi, so he signaled the soldiers on the side to be optimistic about him, then turned his head to look at Langzhong City, and shouted: "Beat the drums! March!"


    The sound of rumbling drums shook the sky, and a group of Sichuan and Shu soldiers pretending to be outside Langzhong City suddenly became confused. Under Zhang Ren, his mind couldn''t help being in a mess. This feeling is like a robbery thief holding a melon knife. He was very happy when he broke into the door. Like a strong man cleaning a gun...


    The key is that this strong man still likes that mouthful...


    how could this be?


    According to the original plan, it would be best if Xu Shu could not wait to enter the city first. If Xu Shu did not enter the city as the first troops, Zhang Ren could also attack and drive away these soldiers on the one hand, and then follow behind In addition, Yuan Yue, who was ambushing on the side of the mountain outside the city, jumped over the mountain ridge and directly rushed to kill Xu Shu''s flank. In this way, even though Xu Shu''s troops were large, the formation was long and unprepared, and the other On the other hand, there are no camps to defend against. The sudden incident will inevitably cause the soldiers to panic. At that time, as long as Zhang Ren and Yuan Yue pursue and kill them all the way, they will surely win a big victory.


    However, the pawns that should have been scattered and long in the west are now in a tight formation, and the armored soldiers with strong protection are all walking on the outside, while the insiders are pikemen and crossbowmen, which should be the most confusing and most defensive. The weak transport convoy had already stopped at that place at some point, and did not follow Xu Shu, Huang Cheng, etc. to the city of Langzhong at all!


    Without the encumbrance of the heavy troops, General Zhengxi’s overall army appears very light, and there are not so many burdens and weaknesses when the formation changes...


    "General! What should we do?" The soldiers around Zhang Ren asked eagerly.


    Yeah, what should I do?


    Zhang Ren himself is also asking himself this question.


    "Raise the fire! Raise the smoke! Let the King of Renren attack from the side and disrupt the Zhengxi formation. I will rush out later! Go straight to the center!" Zhang Yiren issued a series of orders, and at this moment, there are only such After one move, is it possible to close the gate of the city, abandon Qin Mi and Yuan Yue who are outside, and use soldiers with low morale to defend?


    In the valley not far from Langzhong, Yuan Yue was carefully ambush with more than 1,000 soldiers. He had to be careful, because if he was discovered by the Zhengxi army, he could only rely on more than 1,000 soldiers. , I''m afraid it''s not enough to get between the teeth...


    Fortunately, the people are accustomed to walking and climbing in the mountains, so the areas that ordinary soldiers think are difficult are not too difficult for Yuan Yue and others.


    Zhang Ren said that when Zhengxi''s troops arrive in Langzhong, after the vanguard troops enter the city and are defeated, there will be chaos. At that time, he only needs to lead the people over the mountain ridge, and then rush to the flanks of Zhengxi''s troops, and then they can fight with Zhang Ren. Let''s welcome a hearty victory together, even if we retreat from Langzhong again, no one will say gossip, maybe they will give rewards, and if we withdraw, only Yuan Yue can take away Langzhong''s supplies , Zhang Ren didn''t ask any questions!


    Under such conditions, Yuan Yue was finally persuaded. However, it is always right to be cautious when making the Wannian ship. Of course, Yuan Yue said that this is also to prevent these swindlers from prematurely It was exposed, discovered by Zhengxi''s troops, and then destroyed Zhang Ren''s plan...


    With an extremely contradictory mentality, Yuan Yue did not lie in ambush in the valley very close to Langzhong, but continued to walk a certain distance into the mountain. However, he also sent scouts from the high mountains to watch At the head of Langzhong City, if Zhang Ren released the agreed code, he would not miss the opportunity.


    It was autumn, and although the weather was not as hot as midsummer, wearing thick leather armor and being in the dense forest and shrubs was not necessarily a pleasant thing, even for people who were used to mountain roads. I don''t know if it was because of nervousness or because the armor on his body was too heavy, or because the humidity in the woods was too high. Unknowingly, Yuan Yue found that his body was covered in sweat, and his clothes and leather armor stuck to him, making him very uncomfortable.


    Yuan Yue wiped the sweat off his face, looked at the mountain ridge in the distance, fell silent for a while, and sighed. He always felt that it seemed too risky for Zhang Ren to do so, even if he won this time, so what? Isn''t there only a few Zhengxi troops? Wasn''t it a victory last time? Didn''t the Zhengxi troops come again? Is it possible to keep fighting like this, and then fight until the soldiers and food are exhausted?


    Yuan Yue couldn''t help fighting a cold war, no, no matter what the result is this time, he will bring people back to the cottage! If you can''t get the money, you still have chances in the future. If your old life is gone, then what''s the use of having more money?


    While Yuan Yue was in a state of confusion, a man crawled over from the top of the mountain ridge with both hands and feet, and said in a low voice, "The leader! The people who conquered the west are coming, and they are almost at the bottom of the city!"


    Yuan Yue''s heart skipped a beat.


    If praying to the gods is useful, Yuan Yue must be throwing himself into the ground now, no matter what, pray for a round first, but now, I can only pray that Zhang Ren''s plan will work, Yuan Yue wants to swallow a mouthful of water throat, but found that the inside of his mouth was extremely dry, so he could only say in a hoarse voice: "Ahem...go, go forward...waiting for General Zhang''s signal..."


    The people gathered from their respective hiding places, and were about to look over the mountain ridge, but before Yuan Yue and the others could finish gathering, they heard the mixed sound of Zhengxi troops'' war drums and ox horns sounding from the Langzhong city across the mountain ridge. , This sound resounded throughout the world, covering the entire mountain forest, as if it made the surrounding plants and trees emit boundless murderous aura!


    what happened?


    Yuan Yue was in shock. Didn’t he agree to let a wave of Zhengxi troops enter the city first, and then defeat this wave of vanguard troops? Why does it seem that Zhengxi just arrived at the city and started fighting?


    Before Yuan Yue could react, someone suddenly exclaimed loudly, and then a three-color recognition flag appeared on the mountain ridge, and then saw that the vegetation and branches were shaking everywhere on the mountain ridge, as if there were endless The ferocious beast is about to rush out from behind the grass and trees, biting and killing it!


    A few soldiers from Zhengxi Mountain, who were strong and skilled, rushed out of the woodland. Seeing a group of people gathered under the valley, they were not surprised but happy, and immediately whistled, obviously calling their companions...


    Yuan Yue looked at Zhengxi''s soldiers who were all wearing leather and iron armor. They also wore small round iron shields that seemed to be specially made on their arms. They were not held by hand, but were directly tied to the wrist guards, with a cold light shining on the edges. , seems to be very sharp, and the swords are all inserted obliquely behind the back, looking very capable and sturdy!


    Then a grassroots sergeant who looked like Qu Chang or Tun Zhang, a soldier from the West Conquest, shouted and organized the formation, and then more and more soldiers from the West Conquest appeared from the mountains and forests, forming a formation of three to five They formed small arrays that seemed scattered but organized, and they were about to pounce...


    Yuan Yue was stunned for a while, but finally came to his senses, let out a strange cry, and immediately turned around and ran away with his troops!


    What a joke, let Yuan Yue fight against the elite Zhengxi who came here clearly prepared, Yuan Yue seemed to want to die and would not choose this way!


    The Jin people were originally part of the army that chased ten miles with the wind and scattered beasts against the wind, and in the past few years in Sichuan and Shu, they had never fought any serious battles, let alone won with less There are so many heroic feats, and most of the time they follow the official county soldiers to pick up bargains. Now that they see such a capable soldier who conquered the west, they have not yet fought, and they are already flustered, so there is nothing to say about this. As soon as the order to retreat was given, there was a loud commotion, and they fled in all directions skillfully...


    Yuan Yue''s performance made Huang Cheng''s mountain soldiers, who had suffocated their strength and was about to fight a big battle, become dazed. What do you mean? You haven''t done anything yet, why are you running away?


    The soldiers who had already started putting the crossbow bolts on the hand crossbow quickly unloaded the crossbow bolts again, loosening the crossbow strings so as not to accidentally injure others, and the soldiers who had rushed forward for a certain distance also stopped one after another. Footsteps, looking at each other, a look of bewilderment.


    "This...is this considered a win?"


    "Uh...I don''t know...Probably..."


    (end of this chapter)