Five Dynasties River Mountains Fengyue

Chapter 423
The dirt smelled foul, and the bleak daylight pierced through the black smoke.

Those smoke screens were thick, covering the ground, emitting a stench, and half of the sky was dyed thick black, as thick as if it was about to fall. The fires in the wilderness flickered little by little, like the lights of thousands of families, and there were hatchets everywhere, covering their faces Muzzle soldiers to and fro in the fire.

They were responsible for splitting the corpses for burning, and those fires in the distance were all for burning corpses.

In late June, as the weather improved and the emperor personally took command of the disaster-stricken area, no one dared to neglect the front-line officials and soldiers. More and more troops from Hebei prefectures began to enter the disaster-stricken area, and the follow-up troops rushed to come. performance in front of the emperor.

Originally, Shi Congyun didn't want so many soldiers from other states and counties to come, because so many people piled up here would increase the logistical pressure.

But when he came to the front in person and saw the situation on the scene, he realized that many things can be explained clearly not in a few words, but only by guessing and imagining, there will be a big difference.

After more than ten prefectures entered the disaster area and waited to be dispatched, more than [-] troops from all walks of life were assembled on the banks of the Yellow River, which was more than the war in the south. It seemed that the Central Plains and Hebei had also fought a big war.

While Shi Congyun mobilized the treasury for food and grass, he asked Wang Zhong to lead [-] imperial troops from the capital to maintain order.

This place seems to have become another battlefield. The 10,000+ army and the input of many logistics support personnel have made the Central Plains more lively than the southern battlefield, and the money spent every day is like opening the floodgates.

It is not impossible to compare this place to a battlefield, and the casualties are even more severe. Up to now, more than 50 people have been confirmed dead, and more than [-] people have been displaced. The number of casualties is still increasing, which is far more terrifying than the front line.

This year's events were unexpected, as if the Qin State opened up two major battlefields in the north and the south at once, which exhausted the originally complacent Emperor Shi.

He rode a horse and looked into the distance under an old persimmon tree. This place is already close to the central area of ​​the state and county. He had never dared to go deep before, fearing that it would be too dangerous to be trapped, or encounter floods and rockslides. Just kidding, he has elite imperial guards, but these guards may be able to protect him against the enemy, but they are powerless against natural disasters.

Second, he was afraid of the spread of the plague. After a catastrophe killed too many people, it was usually accompanied by a catastrophe. This was why he ordered the burning of the corpses under pressure.

Disaster deaths are far more terrifying than wars.

He hasn't ridden a horse for a long time. Because of the weather, the road is still a bit muddy, but riding a horse is not a big problem. He gallops across the battlefield on horseback, and the feeling of being invincible and invincible seems to have returned, which made him ride for many days. Rejuvenate the weary spirit a little.

The dark sky in the distance is particularly oppressive, the air is filled with the stench of burning corpses, and faint wailing can be heard from time to time. Many people are crying and kneeling on the nearby avenue to bid farewell to their family members, but they dare not go over because of the emperor's death order. , Going forward, the avenue and the fire site have been separated by patrolling cavalry, and the air of sorrow permeates the world.

Shi Congyun looked at these calmly, and repeatedly told the officials around him not to let the common people get too close.

"Officials, why don't you drive them away, what do these ordinary people know?" the officials around him asked for instructions.

Shi Congyun glanced at him: "People are flesh and blood, it doesn't matter to them here, as long as they don't get close to the pile of corpses."

He was actually very scared in his heart. The flood disaster had made the country open up another big battlefield near the Yellow River. At this juncture, both the north and south fronts were already very tight in terms of manpower and financial resources. If there was another plague, it would be fatal.

Traditional Chinese culture is different from that of the nomads in the north. After the Khitan died, their corpses had to be processed in various ways, and they were not so opposed to burning their corpses.

But in traditional Chinese culture, because of the worship of the land, people are more advocating returning fallen leaves to their roots, and advocating burial in the ground. Burning and destroying corpses is a great blasphemy.

Therefore, when fighting in the past, Shi Congyun chose to bury the plague in order not to cause plague. Although it was more time-consuming and labor-intensive, it was easier for soldiers and common people to accept.

But it’s different now, too many people died, too densely packed, and many corpses were dug out from ruins, under the sand, or found in rivers and streams.

Emperor Shi didn't dare to bet, the front line was still fighting, and if another plague broke out, it would be really fatal.

Not only did the situation start to improve, but Xiao Huanghua's condition began to improve. It can be said that double happiness is coming.

On the same day, Shi Congyun went around and couldn't bear the smell of corpses in the air, so he went back to the big tent to accompany the little Huanghua who had just recovered, and took care of the little girl.

When it comes to taking care of people, Shi Congyun is naturally good at it. He is a rough guy, and he has not done any rough work for so many years.

But he just likes to order people around. He used to call Zhao Shijian, but now he calls Xiao Huanghua.

Now he took care of Xiao Huanghua instead, if others would definitely be scared to death, Xiao Huanghua was not afraid, her little face was happy and flushed, the fever had subsided, but she hadn't fully recovered yet.

In the evening, Shi Congyun accompanied Xiao Huanghua to eat some porridge and water, and after hearing the officials' report on the disaster, a soldier carrying a red flag was hastily led into the tent by the imperial guards, who gave him three blessings.

The soldier who came in was soaked and covered in muddy water. After kneeling on one knee for a while, he suddenly rolled to the ground.

The imperial guards next to him went up to check and replied: "Official, he fell asleep, probably too tired."

Shi Congyun asked someone to take out the letter in his hand and present it up, then quickly took him down to rest, and prepared water and food.

Opening the letter and reading it for a while, Emperor Shi's fatigue these days seemed to disappear all of a sudden, and he stood up excitedly from his seat.

After all, Pan Mei had cooperated with him for many years, unlike those civil officials in the court who insisted on words, they had a deep understanding of the cultural level of the emperor, so the battle reports they wrote were all in vernacular.

The content of the letter is very simple, Lianhuashan victory!
The Qin army captured more than 120 people from the Southern Han army, defeated its main force in Shaoguan, and captured more than [-] generals and schools above the commander of the enemy capital.

Shi Congyun took a long breath, the worry and depression of these days finally spit out from his chest like a breath of turbid breath, and his whole body seemed to lose half of his weight, and he began to feel light.

Immediately found the officials around him, excitedly said: "Announce this news, the more people know the better! Notify the whole army and the people!"

In such a calamity, such an inspiring victory came at an opportune time.

After seeing it, the official was so excited that his arms trembled slightly, and he bowed and retreated immediately.

Soon, the south won again, the Lianhuashan victory, and the news of the Shaoguan victory spread throughout Hebei, shocking the soldiers and civilians in suffering and tears.

Things are starting to improve and are moving in a good direction.
(End of this chapter)