A Clash of Gods - Chapter 1324

[Chapter 1314 Mutiny]

The sky was already dark, and the torrential rain that had been falling since noon still did not stop.

The muddy road seemed to have no end. Duan Shao looked back and saw that the soldiers behind him were already scattered, not forming in twos and threes. Some soldiers even sat in the mud on the side of the road and stopped moving forward.

After landing, Duan Shao led his soldiers all the way to the northeast. Now that they have not reached Xuzhou, their soldiers are already exhausted.

Before the Qinhuai Army launched the offensive, the north bank of the Huaihe River was already in a chaotic situation.

The struggle for the throne of the Northern Han Dynasty led to a shortage of logistics for the Han army stationed on the north bank. Although Zhong Liao was extremely strict in governing the army, the extremely long defensive line could not cover everything. The soldiers secretly went to loot, and later even some generals in the army led people to loot the people in an organized way. Although Zhong Liao executed many people for this, many people had already fled to the north.

At first, it was just to avoid being plundered by the Han army, but after it was spread everywhere, the Chu army was about to attack soon, so the people of the Han state on the north bank were like the people of the Chu state on the south bank.

After the Chu army had beaten the Huai River and the Han army withdrew, in order to replenish the military supplies, the already dilapidated villages and towns on the north bank were swept away. Inside, there are almost no grains of rice left, and people are deserted.

Duan Shao had also thought about the shore, and if he was lucky, he could loot some food, but after walking for two days, not only could he not see a grain of rice, he could hardly even see a person.

Hurrying day and night, and hungry, even the well-trained Dongqi sailors could not support it. Many people couldn’t hold on, and began to eat grass roots and bark. Some soldiers fell behind, but they didn’t keep up. searched, but they all fled.

Although Duan Shao was annoyed in his heart, he had nothing to do. Now that it was too late to go forward, he naturally couldn’t send someone back to arrest him.

“His Royal Highness, there is a forest in front of you, I will see that everyone can’t walk anymore, why don’t you take a break in front.” Yuan Buye hurried over from the front: “His Royal Highness has walked for a long time in the rain, I’m afraid I will catch a cold. When

it rained at noon,

Yuan Buye persuaded Duan Shao to find a place to shelter from the rain.

Although Duan Shao has practiced some boxing and kung fu, it is only some flowery boxing and embroidered legs. Since he was a child, he has a delicate body, and Yuan Buye is worried that Duan Shao will get cold and get sick after being exposed to the rain. , once Duan Shao had a problem, the team that was about to collapse at any time would collapse in an instant.

It’s just that Duan Shao refused and insisted on moving forward in order to show that he could share weal and woe with his subordinates, and to prove that he could bear hardships and stand hard work.

Now Yuan Buye saw that Duan Shao’s face was pale, his lips were even in estrus, and he was exhausted. He knew that Duan Shao was probably unable to support it.

Duan Shao glanced forward. In the darkness of the night, he only saw darkness. He pondered for a while before asking, “Can you send someone to check?”

“I have already sent someone to explore the road ahead. Let’s take shelter from the rain and rest inside.” Yuan Buye said: “There are no Chu and Han troops around here, so it’s very safe.”

Duan Shao nodded slightly: “In that case, let everyone go to the forest in front and rest for a while.

” After half a column of incense, Duan Shao ordered the team to rest on the spot, and the soldiers were ordered. Many people did not even enter the forest, but sat on the muddy road outside the forest. Miren protected Duan Shao into the forest and found a big tree. Yuan Buye ordered the large boxes to be carried in, and Duan Shao sat down on the boxes. are distributed around the guard.

“His Royal Highness, drink water.” Yuan Buye took off the leather bag around his waist and presented it to Duan Shao. Now there is nothing to eat, so he can only drink water to satisfy his hunger.

Duan Shao is actually very uncomfortable now.

He was born in a royal family, and he has suffered from such hardships since he was a child.

Even when Linzi was fleeing from Chengpo, at least there was food by his side, so he wouldn’t starve. Now he hasn’t eaten for two days. Before, Yuan Buye asked people to dig grass roots to honor him, but Duan Shao’s grass roots were really difficult. The following choked, and the dignified Prince Qi really wanted to eat grass roots, wouldn’t it make the world laugh by spreading it out?

For the past two days, he had only been drinking water to satisfy his hunger, and being drenched by the heavy rain, his whole body was already exhausted. If he hadn’t stopped and rested at this moment, Duan Shao suspected that he would have to fall down after walking for a while.

After drinking half a bag of water, Duan Shao sighed: “In this way, let’s not talk about reaching Puyang, I’m afraid we won’t even be able to reach Xuzhou.”

“His Royal Highness, if you speed up, we will be able to reach Pengcheng within two days.” Yuan Buye said. “In Pengcheng, you can definitely get supplements.”

“Two days?” Duan Shao saw that many soldiers had begun to cut the bark from the tree with knives, and said with a wry smile: “Everyone is already exhausted, and they can persevere until now. It’s not easy, I don’t have the physical strength to speed up.” After thinking for a while, he said: “How many people are there?”

“More than 400 people escaped along the way, and there are more than 1,000 people in the team.” Yuan Buye whispered: ” The humble general is only worried that there are still people who will flee, and will be guarded by the general tonight, if anyone wants to sneak away, beheaded immediately!”

Duan Shao waved his hand, shook his head and said, “Forget it, let him go as soon as possible if you want to leave now. That is, they are already loyal if they can follow them here.”

“Your Highness is generous, and the humble general obeys orders.” Yuan Buye cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness first rest for a while, and when you set off, the humble general will come back to ask your Highness for instructions.” He was about to retreat. Going down, suddenly a loud noise came over, Yuan Buye frowned, followed the sound, and saw a group of black figures coming over not far away, holding down the hilt of the knife at the waist, and went forward to meet him. , I only saw that hundreds of soldiers were blocked by a few guards of the prince at the moment. A sturdy soldier tore open his shirt, revealing his hairy chest, and said sharply at the prince’s guard: “Come here, cut here, you won’t survive anyway, it’s a pleasure to kill Lao Tzu with one knife.”

“Zheng Biao, are you going to rebel?” Yuan Buye pressed the handle of the knife and stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the man like knives.

Yuan Buye’s violent shouting made the noisy sound instantly quiet, and when everyone saw Yuan Buye coming over, some people showed a trace of fear.

“His Royal Highness is resting, you are making noise here, what do you want to do?” Yuan Buye stepped forward.

The man pulled up his shirt and said, “Yuan Duwei, we wanted to see His Highness, but they stopped us, that’s why we…!”

“If there is no order from His Highness, whoever dares to approach will be killed without mercy!” The guard was still accustomed to being indifferent.

Yuan Buye frowned and said, “Why do you want to see His Highness?”

“Yuan Duwei, everyone has not eaten for two days, how long will this last?” Zheng Biao was obviously still a little daring: “Do you want to? Have you been starving like this?” He said, the soldiers who had calmed down became noisy again, the movement here has attracted the attention of other soldiers, and many soldiers gradually came to this side, the more and more people gathered, the darkness was overwhelming. blockbuster.

Yuan Buye said in a deep voice, “You all know that there is a shortage of food. That’s why we landed. Your Highness, like you, didn’t eat for two days. When we got to Pengcheng, we could have something to eat. ”

Pengcheng?” Someone in the crowd sneered: “How far is it to Pengcheng, and are the Chu people there? Are we going to throw ourselves into the net?”

Yuan Buye sneered, “Are you afraid of the Chu people?”

“Yuan Duwei, if we were afraid of the people of Chu, we would not have followed the governor until now.” Someone in the crowd shouted, “It is only natural that we should be able to eat food as a soldier. Now we don’t even have a bite to eat. How to get back to the country?”

“I couldn’t get enough to eat on the boat, and now I can’t even see a grain of rice, what else should we do? Are we waiting to starve to death?”

The morale of the soldiers had already fallen to the bottom, and during the commotion, some people thought that they would eat grass, roots and bark for a living, and they were even more angry, and their emotions suddenly became excited. Forced to move forward, several of the prince’s guards pressed their blades against the chests of the soldiers in front, and shouted sharply: “Go ahead and kill Wushe!”

At this time, the other prince’s guards also realized that the situation was wrong and ran over to support.

But the crown prince’s guards add up to no more than a dozen people. Although they are brave and loyal, they are forced to retreat in the face of more and more naval soldiers.

“Are you going to rebel?” Yuan Buye shouted repeatedly, already with a knife in his hand, suddenly felt a pat on the shoulder, turned his head to look, but saw that Duan Shao had come over.

When Duan Shao saw the soldiers gathered together and clamoring, his heart froze, knowing that what he was most worried about had finally happened.

Right now is the most critical moment. He knew that a careless handling would have unimaginable consequences. He took two steps forward. When the soldiers saw Duan Shao coming over, their voices suddenly became much quieter. I am hungry, I know in my heart. You are all my most loyal warriors in Daqi. It is my fault that I have not given everyone a full stomach. But now in the predicament, we should work together to overcome the difficulties. Gong believes that we will find food soon, as long as we arrive in Puyang, this Palace will definitely reward each of you and make up for everyone.”

After a while of silence, Zheng Biao dared to say: “Your Highness, Puyang is too far away, Brothers, I only want to live now. If Your Highness can let us live, we will naturally follow His Highness to the death, but…!”

“But what?” Yuan Buye said coldly.

“But if it goes on like this, everyone will have to starve to death.” Zheng Biao said: “If this is the case, it is better for everyone to find something to eat. Even if they cannot survive, it is better than starving to death.”

Duan Shao nodded and said: “You’re right, if everyone thinks this way, then even if you go to find something to eat, this palace will never stop you, whoever wants to leave, you can leave now.”

“Your Highness, you can leave, you should.

The general’s salaries will be distributed to everyone.” Zheng Biao said: “Many of these people have wives and children waiting at home. They have been in the army for many years. Are they going back empty-handed now? The general’s pay will be distributed!”

Yuan Buye sneered: “Zheng Biao, so you are thinking about the money?”

“What’s wrong with being a soldier and taking pay?” Zheng Biao said loudly.

When he said this, everyone screamed from behind, and the voice was noisy. The soldiers in the back crowded forward again. Zheng Biao and many of the soldiers in front were forced to move forward. Coming back step by step, one of the prince’s guards put the tip of the knife on Zheng Biao’s chest. Amidst the noise, a scream was heard, and someone saw Zheng Biao’s body swaying and suddenly fell forward.

This change was very sudden. The prince’s guard who held the knife against Zheng Biao’s chest was stunned for a while. Although the situation was chaotic, he was able to control his strength. Although the blade was against Zheng Biao’s chest, it did not penetrate at all. Zheng Biao suddenly fell down for no reason.

The soldiers on the side were stunned for a while, only to see Zheng Biao fluttering on the ground motionless, and suddenly heard someone say: “Killed, guards… guards killed Zheng Biao!”