novelAbuy Chapter 88: No killing of women and children?
Chapter 88: No killing of women and children?
Chapter 88: No killing of women and children?
"If I had prepared to travel two days later, I would have received my brother Gongsun's letter sooner."
"At that time, he will follow my brother Gongsun directly to his side and join the command of the Wuhuan Captain."
"Since we were both defeated, we could have looked out for each other and escaped with Brother Gongsun. Why did we have to suffer such a humiliating defeat?"
"I had no choice but to play dead to escape this predicament."
Reflecting on my recent experiences.
The young man, speaking with a strong Youzhou accent, sighed deeply again.
After changing into relatively clean clothes, carrying a long sword, and collecting a large amount of food that had not yet been burned, the young man finally looked up.
He looked around for a moment, then randomly chose a direction and walked off, his eyes filled with thought.
"Since... General Zang's side has already suffered a defeat."
"It is likely that after acquiring a large number of soldiers and armor, and greatly increasing their strength, these Xianbei people will go to intercept and kill the other two groups."
"Wuhuan Colonel Xia Yu and my elder brother are relatively close to here, and since they are heading straight for the Xianbei royal court at Tanhan Mountain, they pose a considerable threat."
"Tan Shihuai will most likely take advantage of the fact that the news has not yet spread and lead his Xianbei cavalry to attack them."
"The Xianbei have been gone for a day or two, and most of our supplies will not arrive in time."
"It would be better to go and find Tian Yan, the general who defeated the Xianbei, and if we can get there before these Xianbei cavalry turn back, we can deliver this message to them."
"Perhaps...maybe...we can still salvage the situation..."
Thinking this way.
The young man with big ears and long arms looked increasingly serious. He subconsciously turned around and walked in another direction.
After Lü Ping realized that something was wrong.
He then shared his guess with Tian Yan, the general who had defeated the Xianbei.
Having already been beyond the Great Wall for over ten days and deep into the northern frontier, yet still unable to find any trace of a large group of Xianbei cavalry, and with Lü Ping's reminder, Tian Yan finally realized that something was amiss.
The cavalry quickly spread out, searching this desert for places where the Xianbei people might be hiding.
It only took a few days.
They followed a small river and found a large area of Xianbei tribes, with clusters of small tents gathered there.
Countless Xianbei people lived and worked here.
It was August or September.
The vegetation is lush, and herds of cattle and sheep are partially hidden in the grass that is taller than a person.
Countless naked children with disheveled hair, their faces full of laughter, were either sitting on cattle and sheep or following them around.
The woman, wearing a felt hat and holding a sharp knife, cut the necks of cattle and sheep, collected their blood, carefully skinned them, and laboriously raised a mallet to hammer them into clothes.
This was something that should have been done by the young men of the Xianbei, but now it was all being done by these women.
Apart from this group of women and children, stretching for hundreds of miles, there were hardly any men taller than a cartwheel in the vast camp!
However, this tranquil scene, which could even be described as somewhat peaceful, was shattered instantly upon the arrival of groups of Han scouts.
The faces of the women and children were filled with fear and hatred.
The group of children who had been herding cattle and sheep and lying on the backs of cattle picked up their toy bows and started shooting at the Han scouts who were several times taller and bigger than them.
The women slaughtering cattle and sheep, armed with sharp knives and protecting their young children, dared to fight the Han men in armor, their eyes red with rage.
of course.
These women and children were not fools; they only dared to fight back when a few Han scouts arrived.
When Lü Ping arrived with his thousand Han cavalry and several thousand mixed Hu cavalry, most of the women and children became extremely docile.
Except for a Xianbei boy hiding under the belly of a cow.
He was holding a small bow with a bone arrow, its tip sharpened to a fine point and covered in cow dung, hanging from the bowstring. He was stealthily aiming at Lü Ping, who was riding at the very front.
only.
This Xianbei brat hasn't even fired his hidden arrow yet.
He was then grabbed by the horse's belly with one hand by Lü Bu, who was leading a group of men and checking around.
As soon as Lü Bu grabbed the boy, the small bow and bone arrow in his hand fell to the ground.
Wei Xu picked it up out of curiosity, but after only a brief look, his expression suddenly changed drastically, and he cursed under his breath.
"What a vicious bastard."
I could hear the sound.
Lu Ping, Cheng Lian, Song Xian, and others also looked over in this direction with curiosity.
With one hand holding the Xianbei boy, Lü Bu took the bow and arrow with the other. With just one glance, his face showed anger.
He slapped the Xianbei boy on the head, making the boy wince in pain.
"Speak!" Wei Xu grabbed the Xianbei boy's face, his expression ferocious, and threatened him.
"Where have all the leaders and able-bodied men of your Western Xianbei tribe gone?!"
"How come out of so many tribes, only you are left?!"
The Xianbei boy stiffened his neck, showing no fear whatsoever on his face. Taking advantage of Wei Xu's inattention, he suddenly turned his head and tried to bite Wei Xu's hand.
Wei Xu was quick and withdrew his hand, preventing the boy from biting him.
The Xianbei boy glared at Wei Xu and coldly uttered a sentence.
"Following Lord Tan Shihuai, we're off to kill you all!"
"You!" Wei Xu was first bitten, and then choked by the Xianbei boy. An angry expression subconsciously appeared on his face.
He made several moves, trying to snatch the boy from Lü Bu's hands and throw him to the ground.
But before he could take it...
One side.
Lu Ping, who had been riding on horseback observing the area, frowned and called out.
"Wei Xu".
"What did I say before?"
"Do not kill women or children who are not as tall as a cartwheel unless absolutely necessary."
Sensing the coldness and dissatisfaction in his master Lü Bo's words, Wei Xu shivered. He let out a laugh and quickly let go of the Xianbei boy's hand.
Seeing Wei Xu let go.
Lu Bu glanced at his father, then carefully placed the boy on the ground. Of course, the short bow that the boy had been holding had long since been taken away by him.
After Lü Bu put the Xianbei boy down, everyone realized that the boy only had a cold look in his eyes and seemed a little mature at first glance. In fact, he looked no more than five or six years old.
If this were a Han Chinese city, a child of this age would most likely still be following behind his parents, giggling and laughing!
Lu Ping pulled on the reins, urging the white horse forward to stand before the Xianbei boy. He lowered his head, speaking fluent Xianbei, and met the boy's gaze.
"Your father, all the able-bodied men of your clan, have gone with that Tan Shihuai to guard the royal court?"
"You're even abandoning your settlement?"
The Xianbei boy looked coldly at Lü Bu and nodded very weakly.
"This sandalwood tree, what a cruel heart it has," Lü Ping thought to himself, his eyelids slightly raised.
"Then I suppose... those thousands of Xianbei cavalry we encountered some time ago were your only remaining able-bodied men... No wonder they fought so fiercely despite being far outnumbered by us..."
"No wonder...the resistance to heading north this time is so weak..."
Just as Lü Ping was filled with emotion and questioning the Xianbei boy...
far away.
Wei Xu, who had just been reprimanded, led the Xiongnu-origin donkey to a secluded spot and said softly.
"This Xianbei boy has reached the age where he can hold grudges."
"My lord doesn't teach us to kill, he just doesn't want to leave a bad impression in public and teach so many Han cavalry behind him to follow suit."
"But you are not Han Chinese. Later, walk slowly, and after the military commander leaves, go and kill this man to prevent future trouble!"
Uldon looked completely bewildered.
He glanced at Lü Ping, then at Cheng Lian, who stood to the side, expressionless and silent despite having clearly heard Wei Xu's words.
He knew what was going on and nodded slightly.