OBS Chapter 1269 Testing
Chapter 1269 Testing
The autumn wind, carrying gray-black dust and lingering gunpowder smoke, swept like a knife across the crumbling walls of Xi'an. Black blood clots, layer upon layer, congealed in the cracks between the bricks.
The soldiers guarding the city leaned against the cold arrow slits, their eyes sunken from prolonged lack of food. Occasionally, when they looked out at the densely packed Zhen Song Army camp outside the city, with its fluttering flags, they saw only an empty, lifeless silence.
"Look—look over there! It's moving! Those beasts... they're running!" A hoarse voice, dry and strained from puberty, rang out.
In an instant, all the numb heads on the city wall turned in the same direction.
Liu Xiaochuan, a student soldier covered in cannon ash, clung tightly to the edge of the arrow emplacement, half his body leaning out of the city wall. His bloodshot eyes were wide open, and his finger trembled as he pointed towards the main camp of the Zhen Song Army in the west of the city.
Like an anthill lashed by a giant whip! The once orderly ranks of the Zhen Song Army were now a chaotic surging. Countless figures surged forward, flags toppled, as they fled in panic toward the northwest. The trampling of hooves and the cacophony of voices blended into a muffled, fearful buzz.
"Damn it... they really... they really retreated?" An old soldier with a bandage wrapped around his head muttered to himself, his cracked lips moving as if he were questioning the heavens and the earth, or perhaps himself. His voice was drowned out by the sudden burst of sobbing roars and discussions from the city wall. He felt as if his bones had been removed, and he slid softly to the ground along the cold city wall.
The crowd surged toward the breach in the city wall like creatures from the earth exposed to the light, countless faces—hunger, emaciated, terrified, yet ecstatic—trying to squeeze onto the top to get a better look. The garrison responsible for defending this section of the wall desperately tried to hold back the restless crowd.
"Silence! Maintain vigilance!" A deep, resonant voice pierced through the clamor. General Yang, the commander of the main force defending the city, escorted by his guards, parted the crowd of soldiers and civilians and strode up the city wall.
General Yang raised his binoculars and looked out of the city.
"General! The enemy is in retreat! This is a golden opportunity!" A young battalion commander next to him couldn't contain himself and knelt down on one knee to volunteer for the battle, his eyes burning with the flames of revenge and the desire to achieve glory.
General Yang shook his head and said, "Pass on my order to guard the city gates tightly and not allow anyone to leave the city."
"General, so many of our brothers have died, and we just let that blind Liu get away so easily?" The battalion commander's eyes were filled with tears.
General Yang said firmly: "Firstly, although the Zhen Song Army has retreated, their formation and morale are not in disarray. If we pursue them rashly, we risk falling into their trap of luring us deeper into their territory."
"Secondly..." His gaze slowly swept over the entire dilapidated city defenses. The soldiers leaned against the battlements, most of them wounded. Although their eyes were bright, their bodies were like candles in the wind. The student soldiers' thin shoulders were straight, but they could not hide the trembling that was already exhausted beneath.
“The boys… can’t fight anymore.” He said the second sentence very slowly, each word as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Ten thousand elite troops, fought for six months, were reduced to less than four thousand. Every last ounce of strength was the last breath of life for this city. To attack? The very idea was as fragile as a paper lantern, easily punctured by reality. How far could this weakened courage take them? Not to mention the student soldiers, still immature and full of youthful fervor, who had marched onto the city walls. Sending them away from the fortifications to pursue the ferocious Zhen Song Army was tantamount to sending lambs to the slaughter.
The young battalion commander clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and finally lowered his head.
The agonizing wait stretched out every moment.
The following day, the most elite scouts were dispatched, and they darted like ghosts through the former battlefields and the obstacles left by the enemy, bringing back a military report that they had risked their lives to confirm: "Report! General Yang! The Zhen Song Army... 100,000 strong! They have truly retreated! The main force has retreated to Tongguan, heading towards Henan!"
The entire city of Xi'an erupted in chaos! The long-silent streets suddenly burst into earth-shattering cheers and cries of anguish. Despair transformed into a tremendous uproar, and the ecstasy of surviving a catastrophe was overwhelming.
The atmosphere in the general's mansion council hall was heavy with the weight of surviving a catastrophe and immense bewilderment. General Yang repeatedly examined the military reports and maps, his brow furrowed deeply. Commander Zhang sat to the side, listening to the heated debate among the officers about Liu the Blind's unusual behavior.
"How strange!" An old general with a weathered face said with a puzzled look, "Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse! We have neither food nor outside help! How could Blind Liu be willing to give up Xi'an, this piece of fat meat that was already in our mouths?"
Just then, another messenger rushed over and handed a letter to General Yang.
General Yang then handed the letter to General Li, who was standing nearby.
"Commander Zhang, is there anything special about Bailu Plain in Zishui County?"
Governor Zhang was somewhat surprised that the two generals would mention Bailuyuan, but then something else occurred to him.
"What you all may not know is that on the White Deer Plain dwells an unparalleled sage!"
"At the end of the Guangxu era, Fang Sheng, a remnant of the Qing dynasty, led an army of 100,000 men, sharpening their swords and intending to massacre Xi'an! At that time, it was this Mr. Zhu from Bailu Academy who, alone in white robes, stormed into Fang Sheng's camp of 100,000 fierce soldiers! His righteous and dignified words rendered the arrogant Fang Sheng red-faced and speechless! In the end, he withdrew his troops, and hundreds of thousands of lives in Xi'an were saved from fire and water because of his words!"
Generals Yang and Li exchanged a glance: "Oh, so there's such a person in Bailu Plain. Does that mean that Blind Liu's retreat was also orchestrated by this Mr. Zhu?"
"Such meritorious service, I will certainly report it truthfully and request commendation for him!"
At the victory banquet held at the Governor's Mansion, amidst the clinking of glasses, Generals Yang and Li, who had held the besieged city and refused to retreat, were naturally credited with the greatest merit on the list of heroes.
Yue Weishan, who braved gunfire and used his blood and flesh and dozens of lives to break through the blockade and deliver life-saving food and ammunition to the desperate situation, was promoted three ranks and became a military and political figure. Lu Zhaopeng also received commendation from the organization.
……
In October, the wind permeated the deep forests of the Qinling Mountains. Bailuyuan resembled a piece of fertile land that had been ravaged but had been revitalized.
The villagers of Xiagou Village can finally return to their homes. Newly built earthen walls are being constructed, and beams and pillars are erected with the fresh scent of pine wood.
Chief Zhang led the entire village back to their long-awaited home. The men toiled on the abandoned land, their shouts deep and powerful. The women and children also helped out.
The people of Laowu Village had long since shed their heavy pretense. The livestock that had been hidden in the back mountain were all brought back, and the sounds of cows mooing and donkeys braying filled the air.
The tattered and stained clothes they wore for acting were ruthlessly stripped off and thrown into a corner of the storeroom. The women rummaged through their trunks and found the best clothes they had kept at the bottom of their chests to change into. They washed the soot and mud off their faces, and long-lost smiles of comfort returned to their brows.
Chickens and ducks pecked freely in the revitalized courtyard, and children chased each other and played. The once anxious silence was broken by the noise, and the village seemed to come alive again.
In the fields, yellow and green intertwine, it's the busy season for autumn harvest. The sickles gleam coldly as they cut the wheat, and the farmers work tirelessly, winnowing and harrowing. The harvested golden grains, heavy with grain, are carried in baskets and loads to the newly renovated barns of each household, their blades rustling and swaying. The sunlight shines on the farmers' dark, sweat-drenched faces, reflecting not fear, but a sense of peace and contentment soaked in sweat.
"Da da da da——"
A loud, rapid roar of motors approached from afar, tearing apart the tranquility of the countryside.
The shepherd boys jumped up and stood on tiptoe to look around.
Four cars, flying the flag of the Republic of China, roared into the quiet heart of Bailu Village, kicking up clouds of dust. Before the cars had even come to a complete stop, the passenger door of the middle car was slammed open.
Li Zhiyuan, the newly appointed county magistrate of Zishui County, was a middle-aged, overweight man wearing a brand-new Zhongshan suit and polished leather shoes. With an agility that seemed disproportionate to his size, he slid off his seat with a "whoosh," his face plastered with an overly enthusiastic smile that was almost dripping with oil.
He didn't bother to brush the dust off his clothes. He took two steps at a time and jogged around to the other side of the truck. With almost reverent gestures, he opened the back door, his movements quick and light, as if afraid of being even a fraction too slow.
Under the astonished and curious gazes of many villagers, a leg clad in a brand-new general's uniform, with riding breeches tucked into tall riding boots, stepped out. The figure was as upright as a javelin, and the brand-new general's uniform was ironed with sharp edges, the golden epaulets shining brightly in the midday autumn sun.
"Commander Yue... You've gone to so much trouble! The roads in this village are so rough..." Li Zhiyuan bowed deeply, his voice filled with obvious flattery and fear.
Yue Weishan ignored the other person and instead looked at the back seat of the car behind him.
The car door opened from the inside, revealing Lu Zhaopeng. He was wearing a slightly worn but clean long gown, still looking like a refined student, but the determination and complexity between his brows, which had been tempered by witnessing too much bloodshed, were now more profound and reserved.
"Zhaopeng! Zhaopeng is back!"
Zao Hua stumbled out. She rushed to Lu Zhaopeng, tightly gripping her son's arm as if to confirm if she was dreaming. Tears streamed down her face like broken beads, soaking her son's shirt.
"My son! I... I've finally seen you again! I thought... I thought..."
“Mother.” Lu Zhaopeng’s heart ached, and his eyes instantly welled up with tears.
Beside him, young Zhao Hai squeezed through the crowd, jumping excitedly, waving his little fists at Bai Ling, who was being led by Leng Qiuyue, with Leng Qiuyue by the Bai family's side. His cheeks were flushed with excitement: "Bai Ling! Look! That's my brother! My brother is back!"
Bai Ling pouted her pink lips and raised her chin at a slightly arrogant angle: "Tch, what's so great about your brother? Can he be as powerful as my brother?"
Yue Weishan glanced at Lu Zhaopeng with a complicated expression, then walked through the crowd to stand in front of Qin Hao.
"Brother Zihan, I have come here specifically to commend Mr. Zhu's achievements for the Party and the State..."
Qin Hao said regretfully, "My uncle went to Zhongnan Mountain a couple of days ago to visit a close friend and discuss the scriptures and delve into their studies. The mountains are high and the roads are long, and I don't know when he will return..."
The disappointment on Yue Weishan's face was replaced by a sincere sigh: "Mr. Zhu is a man of noble character and integrity, who does not seek fame or fortune, cares deeply for the common people, yet quietly withdraws from public life, retires after achieving success, and does not covet empty fame... Such a realm is extraordinary and refined, truly a model for us all!"
Qin Hao looked at the plaque that had been carried off the car and saw that Yue Weishan looked troubled, so he spoke up.
"My uncle instructed me before he left that if anyone insisted on sending something, it should be sent to the ancestral hall so that the villagers could pay homage to their ancestors and keep it as a memento."
Upon hearing this, Yue Weishan felt even greater respect for Mr. Zhu, whom he had never met before: "That's exactly right! That's exactly right! Mr. Zhu is an upright man! County Magistrate Li!"
"Your humble servant is here!" Li Zhiyuan was startled and quickly stepped forward to receive the order.
"Immediately! Organize people to move the plaque to the ancestral hall for enshrinement!"
"Yes! Commander Yue, rest assured! I will personally oversee the matter and will not dare to be careless in the slightest!" County Magistrate Li wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to direct the soldiers and drivers.
The ancestral hall in Bailu Village was brightly lit with candles. Incense smoke curled from the offering table, where the ancestral tablets were enshrined. At this moment, respected elders and pillars of the village had all arrived upon hearing the news, crowding the entrance and exit of the ancestral hall. The air was solemn and dignified, filled with the scent of aged wood, incense, and a hint of newly applied gold lacquer.
"Heave-ho! Hold on! Good! Land!"
After the plaque was installed, Bai Jiaxuan led all the villagers of Bailu Village to offer incense to their ancestors, and the ceremony was completed.
Yue Weishan casually walked up to Qin Hao and said, "Brother Zihan, I've been traveling all this way from the provincial capital to Bailuyuan. My throat is really parched. Would you be so kind as to come to my house and ask for a cup of water or wine to quench my thirst?"
"This is simple country wine. If you don't mind, Brother Yue, please come and have a drink."
Lu Zhaopeng's brows furrowed slightly as he watched this scene. He knew Qin Hao's temperament all too well; seemingly gentle, yet with a clear-cut inner world. He also knew Yue Weishan's political skills well. If Yue Weishan could win Qin Hao's support, his work in Bailu Village would be very difficult to carry out.
In the Bai family compound, Leng Qiuyue deftly set out several delicate dishes and two jugs of aged wine on the stone table in the courtyard.
After a few toasts, Yue Weishan's voice lowered, carrying a barely perceptible hint of inquiry: "Zihan, there's something on my mind that I've been pondering for a long time, but I really don't understand it, and I don't know whether I should ask it or not?"
"Brother Yue, please speak freely."
Yue Weishan leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Qin Hao, and said clearly, word by word: "Everyone knows that you and Lu Zhaopeng grew up together and have a very close relationship. When Xi'an was besieged, Zhaopeng also begged you to lend a helping hand and transport grain and ammunition into the city to relieve the siege. But you readily agreed and, through my hands, delivered the grain and military equipment, relieving Xi'an's urgent crisis?"
Qin Hao said seriously, "Admittedly, Zhao Peng is a childhood friend of mine, and we have a good relationship. However, friendship is one thing, but our beliefs are not the same."
"I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Brother Yue, but I have no great ambitions, nor do I have any grand aspirations to sacrifice myself for others and save people from suffering. What I seek is extremely simple and plain—I just want to live a peaceful and down-to-earth life as a wealthy man."
Yue Weishan said with a hint of doubt, "This doesn't match what Zihan said in his speech at Peking University."
"The speech was more of a moment of anger. It's easy to say but hard to do. Take this time for example. It was already extremely difficult for me to protect the people of Bailuyuan. How easy is it to change the world? A wise man would not do something he knows is impossible."
Late at night, Yue Weishan was helped out of the Bai family compound by his secretary, but as the car slowly drove out of Bailu Village, Yue Weishan immediately sat up.
"Have all the instructions been given?"
The secretary standing nearby quickly replied, "I've already instructed County Magistrate Li to keep an eye on the carriages coming and going from Bailu Plain. He'll report to you immediately if there's any large-scale mobilization."
"However, I am puzzled for a moment. I think Bai Zihan is just a scholar. Why do you attach so much importance to him?"
A cold glint flashed in Yue Weishan's eyes: "A mere scholar? Have you ever seen a mere scholar organize a battalion of security forces to easily wipe out bandits? Have you ever seen a mere scholar protect more than a dozen villages from the ravages of war under the noses of 100,000 Zhen Song Army soldiers? Have you ever seen a mere scholar build an ammunition factory in this remote and impoverished place?"
"This……"
"Keep a close eye on him. We absolutely cannot let him get involved with Lu Zhaopeng, otherwise he will definitely become a major threat to the Xi'an Party Committee." (End of Chapter)