Chapter 1 The Winds by Qingtan

The wind from the lake was mild when it blew towards Qingtan, but after circling the shore, it seemed to be tainted by the thick smell of blood. It stirred up small whirls that lingered.

Zheng Boye stood there, looking down at Qu Peiluo.

He wasn't exactly kneeling, more like half-kneeling, half-sitting. He must have been injured in the leg, unable to stand.

His first greeting helped him remember his deceased father;

After a long silence,

Zheng Boye said;

"Are you hungry?"

Qu Peiluo smiled and said, "It's a custom of our Chu people."

The Chu custom dictated that the victorious side in a war should treat the defeated nobles well. He didn't expect beautiful maids and servants, but he should at least be provided with food and clothing.

"I'll have food prepared," Zheng Boye said. "I'm hungry too, as it happens."

Qu Peiluo shook his head,

And said:

"You're a Yan person. There's no need to talk to me about the customs of Chu."

"What Yan, what Chu, when it comes down to it, we're all Xia people."

The ancestors of Yan, Jin, and Chu all came from the vassals of the Great Xia. Eight or nine hundred years ago, they were all officials of the same court.

Qu Peiluo replied, "When a fence is built and surrounds for a long time, it becomes a home."

"That's an interesting way to put it."

"Zheng Boye is much more interesting than I expected. Although we met once before, Zheng Boye concealed his identity, and the way he spoke was indeed different from now."

"It's rare that you remember. I'd forgotten."

"Did Zheng Boye come to persuade me to surrender?"

"I do have that idea."

"Do you think it's possible? Given the relationship between you and me?"

Qu Peiluo leaned back, supporting himself on the pebbles behind him with both hands, looking up at the sky.

In fact, he was very good-looking.

Especially in this atmosphere of defeat, he really had a different kind of lonely taste.

"What relationship is there between you and me?" Zheng Boye smiled and said, "I don't think I owe you anything."

Ordering the slaughter of the Qingluan Army,

Forcing your father to his death,

Snatching your fiancée on your wedding day, making you famous throughout Great Chu, no, the whole world.

Zheng Boye continued, "Just as you said, you are a Chu person, and I am a Yan person. The two countries are opposed to each other. Whatever a Yan person does to a Chu person is for the sake of their respective lords and countries. So, I don't owe you anything."

"Zheng Boye is right." Qu Peiluo nodded and said, "It's just that Peiluo himself is not good enough. In terms of military affairs and cultivation, I can't compare with you, Boye.

To tell you the truth,

I hate you, I really do, but even including this time, I have to admit that I lost fair and square."

"What's this? The dignity of a Great Chu noble?" Zheng Boye asked.

"I suppose so."

Qu Peiluo raised his hand,

And said:

"Please, Earl of Pingye, grant me some dignity."

"I didn't want you to die," Zheng Boye said. "There aren't many people in this world who are so good to me."

Qu Peiluo opened his mouth,

And smiled silently,

And said:

"That's true."

"There are still many Chu soldiers on the periphery. I hope you can help me pass a message, let them withdraw. I'm a soft-hearted person and can't bear to see killing. I feel unbearable even when I see people killing fish on weekdays.

So, let's try to kill as few people as possible, and consider it as accumulating merits for yourself."

Qu Peiluo said, "Earl of Pingye is joking. Lin Rong's unit and Zhang Huang's unit are not necessarily your match. Right now, my central army has been defeated, I, the young master of the Qu clan, am about to die, and the remnants of the Qingluan Army will inevitably be demoralized, plus there is still a left-wing army wavering.

If you want to fight, you can take advantage of the situation and attack;

If you want to retreat, you can enter Changxi with ease.

Why bother saying these meaningless things to a dying man like me at this time?

Could it be that

Mocking someone who has been repeatedly defeated at your feet

Makes you happy, Boye?"

"Actually... a little."

"Boye is indeed pure."

"I've always valued the quality of life."

"It's a pity that we met as enemies."

In fact, Qu Peiluo had always had a good reputation in Great Chu before his wedding. First, his status was noble, and there were plenty of people to help him create momentum and promote him. Second, as Qu Tiannan's eldest son, he was being cultivated to inherit the position of Pillar of State in the future. How bad could he be?

Chu's romance is irrelevant to the poor, but the nobles are truly romantic.

If it weren't for the incident of snatching the princess,

Even if the Yan and Chu countries were at war,

He, Qu Peiluo, would be willing to sit down with the Earl of Pingye of Great Yan to drink and chat;

Even,

The two sides would have a moment of mutual appreciation before the war;

Wouldn't that be a wonderful and interesting thing?

But, the relationship between the two had been completely torn apart since that day.

Qu Peiluo reached out, wanting to use Zheng Boye's knife to commit suicide.

Zheng Boye shook his head and didn't give him the saber from his waist, but instead held out his hand to a Yan soldier beside him.

Guo Dong immediately excitedly handed his knife to Zheng Boye, his breathing becoming rapid.

Zheng Boye brandished the saber,

And said:

"Back then, your father used a Great Yan saber to commit suicide by the Wang River."

Qu Peiluo seemed to be used to it. This eldest son of the Qu clan was actually not that不堪 in some respects.

The first time, A'Ming impersonated the Regent, but the Regent really came, so Zheng Boye was able to escape easily with the princess;

This time, he was facing the Savage King.

Who was the Savage King?

He was a hero who was once on equal footing with his father, sitting on the east bank of the Wang River as mutual support.

Qu Peiluo took the knife,

Held it across his neck,

Facing the lake,

And said:

"I have disgraced my father."

Zheng Boye said calmly, "Don't worry, before long, the entire Qu clan, regardless of old or young, men or women, will be wiped out."

"........" Qu Peiluo.

The wind by the shore became somewhat oppressive.

Qu Peiluo smiled,

Turned his head,

Looked at Zheng Boye,

And said;

"Do you think it's still useful to threaten me with this now?"

I'm already about to commit suicide, why would I care about anything else?

"I'm just a person who likes to talk to himself. Sorry for interrupting your business. It's okay, you do your thing, I'll say mine.

Hasn't the Fan family already rebelled? Fan Zhengwen has long been my man. Based on the Fan family's familiarity with your Qu family, how many of the Qu family do you think will be able to escape when my Great Yan iron cavalry arrives there in the future?

This Earl,

Is actually very broad-minded,

Whoever makes me unhappy,

It's okay,

I'll let his whole family be free from illness and pain forever."

Qu Peiluo said:

"The war is not over yet. Do you think that Great Chu will perish just because you won a battle against me?"

"Where do I come from?"

"The Yan Kingdom?"

"No, from the water. You should have received the news that the granary in Jingcheng has been burned by me."

"Great Chu can still persist..."

"Where do I come from?"

"What?"

"I come from Juyang City. I stayed under Juyang City for many days, but I never released an arrow towards the city walls."

"Boye, what exactly do you want to say?"

"I was under Juyang City, eating the Imperial-bestowed pastries every day, watching the Dugu family's army, watching the armies of other families, bypass Juyang City, and go straight north.

I won't lie to you, I didn't see my brother-in-law, who is your Great Chu's Regent, but..."

Zheng Boye lowered his head, looked at Qu Peiluo, who still had the knife across his neck,

And continued:

"I have a feeling that your King is using a borrowed knife to kill."

"Hehe, hahahaha..."

Qu Peiluo laughed,

And said:

"I thought Boye wanted to say something else."

The Regent, the former Fourth Prince, his great talent and strategy, the noble families are actually convinced.

Therefore, Qu Peiluo did not believe that the Regent would be so short-sighted, and still do such a thing that would hurt his own people and gladden the enemy at this time of national crisis.

"I just have this feeling, really. Perhaps, you think I'm lying to you, sowing discord. If you think I would use such a low-level method to sow discord;

Well,

Then so be it.

Actually,

I don't know where your King's confidence comes from.

It won't be long,

It's very likely that it has already begun.

My Great Yan Prince Jingnan will lead hundreds of thousands of iron cavalry, ignoring Zhennan Pass, and directly enter the Chu Kingdom's mainland, enter Shanggu County, and enter the heart of Chu.

Nian Yao,

What can he use to stop them?

Having lost his grain supply, he can only lead the Chu army as an isolated force inside the pass. If he wants to go north, let him go. Anyway, the land of Jin East has long been ruined by years of war, if he can collect a dan of rice in Jin East, I'll consider him amazing."

Once Prince Jingnan's army moves out, ignoring the Chu army inside and outside Zhennan Pass, Nian Yao's situation will be awkward.

Either, continue to be a shrinking turtle;

Or, he can only force a decisive battle;

There is no third way.

Because he doesn't even have the possibility of a desperate exchange.

And the Yan army will completely control the initiative in this war;

Let Tian Wujing fight a favorable battle,

Just thinking about it,

Is terrifying.

"Does Boye know how history books will record me in the future if I don't commit suicide today?"

"History books won't leave too much ink for small people."

"Hehehe..."

"In the future, if my Great Yan can unify the Xia, you will be a wise man who knows the times. Even if you resist desperately, maybe a thousand years later, the history books will leave a six-word evaluation: destroying national integration.

Tian'er,

It's not early,

It's almost time for breakfast, and the brothers are still hungry.

You should also be quick,

Whether you slit your throat or bend your knee,

Let's have a straightforward talk."

Qu Peiluo didn't put down the knife on his neck, but said:

"Actually, I don't want to die."

"I know."

"But you seem to be forcing me to die?"

"A person who doesn't want to die won't jump off the cliff even if he stands on the edge of the cliff and shouts ten thousand times not to come over, because he won't jump off."

"Thank you for wasting so much of your time on me."

"It's okay, as the victor, it's actually quite pleasant to blow the lake breeze and chat with my defeated opponent at this time."

"Then I'm really fortunate to be able to make you feel comfortable, Boye?"

"This is Chu, not Jin."

Qu Peiluo put down the knife,

Threw it on the ground,

And said;

"I'm hungry."

Zheng Boye bent down, picked up the saber, and handed it to Guo Dong.

Guo Dong took the knife and excitedly stroked the handle again and again.

Zheng Boye pointed to Si Niang, who was standing in the distance,

And said;

"Didn't you hear me? Go find some food, our Young Master Qu is hungry."

………

The food wasn't very exquisite, but it was acceptable.

Freshly rolled noodles, bacon, and fish soup;

The combination was a bit nondescript, but Si Niang's craftsmanship was very good, and what she made was also flavorful.

Zheng Boye and Qu Peiluo sat facing each other and ate together.

Zheng Boye was very casual when eating, and the chewing movements were also very large. One was because he was the kind of person who pursued his own comfort, and the other was because after seeing the Zhenbei Marquis grilling lamb legs in the Royal Garden and the Jingnan Marquis sitting on the threshold casually, Zheng Boye also "followed the local customs."

Qu Peiluo ate very elegantly,

Zheng Boye had also seen people perform tea ceremonies and flower arrangements before, and always felt that they were a bit pretentious. Now, watching a real noble young master eat, hey, it really had a kind of gentle beauty.

Real nobles don't rely on precious tableware and ingredients to set off their status, but can eat coarse tea and light meals with a feeling of worldly delicacies.

"The Chu people have so many rules, even eating a meal has so many ways."

Qu Peiluo gently put down his chopsticks,

And said:

"Doesn't the princess do the same?"

"She knows I don't like these superficial things, so she won't be like this in front of me."

Qu Peiluo nodded,

He was used to it.

After a short while,

There was a notification from outside.

Lin Rong's unit sent someone, Zhang Huang's unit also sent someone, and the left-wing army of Dahe Town also sent someone.

According to Chu's rules, after a great battle, if a noble is captured, then the noble's family must first come to "inspect the goods."

Confirm whether they survived, confirm whether they are complete;

Next, the process will be followed, whether to redeem them with gold and silver or to choose to make concessions in other places in exchange for the return of their own nobles.

Originally,

This was a war between Yan and Chu, and both sides had already been fighting with bloodshot eyes. Where did so many rules come from? Who would be willing to talk to you about these rules?

But Zheng Boye still sent a scout to say hello to these three units,

Hey,

Don't rush to do anything,

Your young master has been captured alive by me, come and take a look.

Rules,

To put it bluntly,

When you have the strength to override the rules,

It's a rule when it's beneficial to you;

When it's not beneficial to you, it's just fart.

The people sent by those three troops should be real confidants, or even real death soldiers according to the Chu people's tradition of raising death soldiers.

Of course, Zheng Boye's personal guards were also similar to death soldiers.

These people are not afraid of death, and it is difficult to bribe them in a short period of time. They usually stay by the main general's side and have seen big people, so it is most appropriate for them to inspect the goods.

Zheng Boye and Qu Peiluo were still eating,

Over there, three people came in, knelt on the ground after entering, and then looked up at Qu Peiluo.

Subsequently,

The three people spoke to Qu Peiluo separately, seemingly greeting him, but there were also hidden intentions.

Qu Peiluo answered very normally.

Then,

He took off his seal and wrote three simple letters by hand, stamped them, and handed them over to Zheng Boye for review before distributing them to the three people.

The three people left immediately and went back to report to their respective generals.

Qu Peiluo drank the fish soup and said:

"What does Boye plan to do next?"

"Can those three troops of yours be subdued?" Zheng Boye was not polite, the reason why he kept Qu Peiluo was precisely because of those three troops.

Qu Peiluo smiled,

And said:

"Boye, you may be more aware of the situation of the left-wing army in Dahe Town than I am. Zhang Huang is my direct subordinate, and he will listen to my orders. As for Lin Rong, it's hard to say, but he shouldn't be an enemy of mine."

Calculated in this way, the left-wing army plus Zhang Huang's vanguard army can also have a total of more than 10,000 pseudo-Chu troops.

"Have you thought it over?" Zheng Boye asked.

Qu Peiluo nodded and said, "Since I'm afraid of death, what else is there to think about?"

"A few years ago, when I went south to Qian, there was a Second Sword of Qian named Yuan Zhenxing, who held a sword alone across the Bian River and blocked my iron cavalry, and was shot to death by me on the other side.

I took in his apprentice.

I told her,

Only by living well and cultivating well will you have the opportunity and ability to kill me in the future."

Qu Peiluo was slightly surprised and said:

"Does Boye want me to do the same?"

"This is also a good way, if you are not afraid of death, are you still afraid of living?

Living is great."

Qu Peiluo smiled and nodded.

After finishing the meal, Si Niang brought some fruits and pastries.

Zheng Boye and Qu Peiluo sat together and ate casually.

After a short while,

Si Niang said:

"Master, I'm tired."

Zheng Boye nodded,

And said:

"Then go down and rest."

After Si Niang walked out of the tent, Qu Peiluo said, "Boye, there is actually a woman in your military tent."

"I won against you, even if I bring ten pimps into the military tent, it will be unconventional and naturally romantic."

Qu Peiluo sighed,

And said:

"Boye really doesn't want me to live."

"Hehe, don't worry, you'll get used to it slowly."

Not long after,

There was a notification from outside.

Lin Rong's unit began to advance,

Zhang Huang's unit began to advance,

Even the left-wing army stationed in Dahe Town was advancing at this time.

This was not going to war,

But the main generals of these three troops wanted to personally listen to Qu Peiluo's instructions.

Because, it was impossible for them to come to the Yan army's camp to talk face to face.

"I'll go outside and take a look, you sit for a while."

"Please, Boye."

Zheng Boye left the military tent.

Inside the military tent,

Qu Peiluo's eyes sank, he reached out and picked up a grape from the table, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly.

Then,

He clapped his hands,

And tidied up the armor that had not been removed from his body.

He was clear that,

Soon,

This Yan nobleman was going to take him to the front of the two armies and have him shout out, asking Lin Rong, Zhang Huang, and the left-wing army to surrender.

But...

Qu Peiluo took a deep breath,

Lin Rong's unit and Zhang Huang's unit, retreat to Jingji and seek the King to protect his carriage!

As for the left-wing army, let them go, but no matter what, at least half of the left-wing army would not be willing to surrender.

Zhang Huang's unit would listen to him, Lin Rong had his own bottom line,

But as long as he shouted for them to withdraw their troops and protect the Emperor,

These two troops would never fall into the hands of the Yan people.

Qu Peiluo closed his eyes,

He had already thought it through very clearly,

This was the last thing he, as the captured eldest son of the Qu family, could do now.

Surrender at your feet?

Dream on.

Qu Peiluo walked out of the military tent. A'Ming and Xue San were standing at the door.

The young master of the Qu family continued to walk out,

But suddenly felt a dizziness in his head, and fainted to the ground.

Xue San hurriedly called A'Ming and said;

"Hurry up, be quick!"

………

When Qu Peiluo woke up leisurely,

He found that he was tied and sitting on a war horse, and beside him stood a giant of a man, hugging him with his left arm.

Looking down,

He found that the armor he was wearing had been replaced with ordinary Yan army armor.

Around,

Were the Yan army soldiers' formations, they were obviously a little tired, but their morale was still strong, and it could be seen that they were full of desire for battle.

And opposite,

Qu Peiluo could see the banners of Lin Rong's unit and Zhang Huang's unit at a glance, and further away, it should be the banner of the West Route Army, the rebel deputy general, named Han Xu.

The two armies reorganized their formations,

The main generals of each side began to step forward, and stopped after reaching a certain distance.

At this time,

A "Qu Peiluo" appeared from the Yan army formation, riding out on a horse,

"He" rode past Lin Rong, Zhang Huang, and Han Xu,

And shouted:

"The Qu clan from today onwards will change its banner and surrender to Great Yan!!!"

Qu Peiluo's eyes widened when he saw this.

The "him" wearing his armor seemed to be looking in a mirror, from his appearance to his voice to his temperament, even he, the real person, was a little dazed for a while.

At this time,

In front,

Zheng Boye and the Sword Saint slowly rode their horses to this point,

Zheng Fan looked at Qu Peiluo,

Reached out his hand,

And gently tapped his forehead,

And said;

"This time, this Earl has learned his lesson."

The last time was that Pillar of State surnamed Shi,

At that time, he had just taken the medicine, so he was a little impetuous and was disgusted by someone.

This time,

With Si Niang, the master of disguise, how could he give you, Qu Peiluo, another chance?

Qu Peiluo said;

"Boye, good methods."

Zheng Boye nodded,

And said:

"Whether it's you or not, you have actually surrendered to Yan."

Qu Peiluo closed his eyes.

Zheng Boye rode his horse forward, closed the distance with Qu Peiluo, and reached out to pat his face gently.

Qu Peiluo opened his eyes and looked at Zheng Boye, his eyes filled with anger. This action had exceeded verbal insult and was generally what superiors did to rent boys.

"Now, do you still want to die or not? If you want to die, say a word, and I can immediately send you on your way to see your father."

Qu Peiluo was silent.

In the end,

He smiled casually,

And said;

"Want to die or not..."

"Good!"

When he said "want to die",

Beside him, Fan Li's axe had already been raised, and he chopped it directly at Qu Peiluo's head.

"Buzz!"

"Clang!"

Long Yuan was unsheathed, blocking the axe.

The sound of metal colliding made Fan Li's arm numb, and the axe fell.

And the area where the sword and axe collided was right in front of Qu Peiluo's forehead. For a time, his brain was buzzing, and blood was flowing from his ears.

"A'Li, next time you have to listen to all the words."

Fan Li nodded while rubbing his wrist:

"Okay, Master."

Qu Peiluo shook his head,

For a time,

He was laughing and crying,

Then,

He also wanted to roar,

But when he shouted out the first syllable,

He was hit on the back of the neck by Fan Li's hand knife, and the whole person fainted again.

"Well, this time it's good."

Zheng Boye praised Fan Li.

On the side, the Sword Saint asked: "Where are we going next? Are we still retreating into the Great Swamp?"

Zheng Boye reached out his hand,

Pointed to the north,

And said:

"Playing in the mud can be done at any time. If you want to catch the monsters of the Great Swamp, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.

Calculating the days,

The Prince's army should have already set off,

So,

We won't escape, and we won't retreat,

Turn around to the north,

Attack the rear of the Chu people, and open the way for the Prince!"

Fan Li heard this and shouted excitedly:

"Stick it in his ass, Ula!"