The Most Romantic of the Three Kingdoms

The Yellow Turbans continued their offensive until You Shi.

In early spring and February, the days are short and the nights are long. Soon after the withdrawal of the Yellow Turbans, the sky darkened.

Cheng Yan and Wen Pin each brought two tall wooden buckets and placed them beside Xun Zhen, with the meat soup just boiled in them.

Xiao Ren followed behind with a basket, and there were dozens of Hu cakes in the basket.

The aroma of meat and cakes filled the air immediately. This is the dinner of Xun Zhen and others.

After defending the city for a day, Xun Zhen was exhausted, so she forced herself to stand at the battlement, watching the Yellow Turban soldiers retreating in groups, then she inserted the ring-head knife into the scabbard and sat down against the battlement. , sniffed the fragrance with his nose, and said with a smile, "The food is good today, and meat soup?" Yesterday was just rice porridge.

He took the chopsticks and stirred it in the wooden barrel. The red-cooked meat rolled up and down in the thick soup: "Huh? Is it beef?"

In the farming society, cattle are important labor helpers, and according to the laws of the Han family, cattle cannot be slaughtered indiscriminately.

Xiaoren put down the bamboo basket and replied: "Xun Jun didn't go to the city for two days and one night, fought **** battles with thieves and soldiers, and tried to protect the city. The people and gentry in the county are very grateful. This cow is the Zhang family, Huang family, The third family and other wealthy families got the permission of the prefect to get together, there are ten heads in total, and they are all **** under the city, especially for Xun Jun, Xi Jun, Zhong Jun, Du Jun, etc. to improve the food."

Xi Zhicai, Xun You, Zhong Yao, Du You, Xin Ping, Xin Pi, Xin Ai and others came over from far and near.

Hearing Xiao Ren's words, Du You smiled and said, "In that case, we have to thank the thieves for besieging the city, so that we can have a beef soup."

The Du family is also considered a big family in this county. Rao is so, and they rarely eat beef.

"Ten cows? Are they all slaughtered?"

"How can you kill it all at once! Only one head is killed."

"Is it all here?"

"It is divided into four parts in total, and each wall has it."

Xun Zhen nodded, looked up and saw seven or eight brave men with buckets and baskets passing by. Knowing that they were delivering meals to the army soldiers, she reached out and summoned them to the front, leaning over to look into the buckets.

The food in the bucket was the same as what the soldiers ate yesterday, including wheat rice and bean soup. In the basket is the oatmeal.

Wheat rice and bean soup are the daily meals of the people at the bottom, and they are also the usual meals of the county soldiers. When Xun Zhen was the head of Fanyang Pavilion, he often ate this kind of food.

He didn't say anything, only said "hard work" to these brave men. These brave people are flattered.

After they left, Xun Zhen took a wooden bowl with her own hands, filled it with Xin A first, and said, "Today, in a fierce battle with thieves, Yu Lang took the risk and fought hard, he did not retreat in the face of a strong enemy, and he became more courageous when he was besieged. I just saw with my own eyes that more than ten thieves and soldiers died under your sword. Compared with Yulang, I am ashamed. This first bowl of meat soup must be drunk by you!"

Xin Ai was welcome, dropped the short sword, took the wooden bowl, took a big sip, wiped his mouth, and praised: "The meat is fragrant, the soup is rich, it's delicious!" asked Xunzhen, "This is Who cooked it? Wasn't it the cook in the prefect's mansion?"

Xiao Ren laughed and said: "The little man just went to the city with Ayan and Zhongye to get food, and saw that this beef soup alone made seven or eight buckets, plus the food of several thousand guards, a large plate was placed. The chef in the prefect's mansion also takes care of the prefect's food, so how can you be busy with this? It's made by the brave men recruited by Zhong Gongcao."

Xin Ai was very surprised, shook the wooden bowl twice, and said, "It was made by Zhuang Yong? Which Zhuang Yong? Has such craftsmanship."

While he was talking to Xiao Ren, Xun Zhen filled several bowls of meat soup and handed them to Zhong Yao, Du You, Xi Zhicai, and Xun You respectively.

Xin Ping and Xin Pi didn't want it. They both said, "My brother's home is in Yangzhai, and we will eat it later when we return home."

Although the two words are the same, the starting point is different.

Xin Ping was that Gu Nian, Xunzhen and others were tired and didn't want to grab food from them, and wanted them to eat more.

Xin Pi is Xin Ping's younger brother. He is used to eating brocade clothes and jade since he was a child. He has never experienced hardships. Eat at home.

Xi Zhicai took a sip of the meat soup, took a bite of the meat, tasted the taste, and said to Xin Ai with a smile: "Yu Lang, this meat soup has too much seasoning, and the meat is half-cooked, barely enough to eat, how can it be called The word 'delicious'? The reason why you think it is delicious, in my opinion, there is no other reason, only one reason."

"what reason?"

"I'm so hungry, everything tastes delicious!"

The crowd burst into laughter.

Even though Xin Ai was teased by Xi Zhicai, he was not annoyed, imitating Xunzhen's appearance, squatted down leaning on the crenel, drank the meat soup from the bowl in large gulps, handed it over, and said, "Zhenzhi, have another bowl. "

What kind of person is Xun Zhen?

In terms of family background, he is on a par with Xin Ai and other gentry children. In terms of fame, among the famous moving counties, the great counties, and the people in the city, only the long-established Zhong Yao can compare with him. In terms of status, Cao Rong, the former governor of the post in the north, and the current county soldier, Cao Rong, although ranked lower than Zhong Yao in the county court, is actually better than Zhong Yao in terms of current actual power. In terms of meritorious deeds, Yang Zhai was able to be as stable as Mount Tai in the past two days, thanks to him dispatching command and fighting hard.

It was not easy for him to serve food to everyone himself before eating by himself. Even Zhong Yao and Du You were very polite and thankful when they received the wooden bowl. Only Xin Ai was not polite at all. Xun Zhen's attitude was exactly the same as when she first met him at Xun Yu's house, and it did not change at all.

Xun Zhen didn't care, and gave him another bowl.

Xu Zhong, Cheng Yan, Xiao Ren and the others who were standing beside Xun Zhen glanced at Xin Ai and didn't care much.

It would take someone else to speak to Xun Zhen with such an attitude. Xu Zhong and Xiao Ren have a palace, they may be able to bear the unhappiness, and Cheng Yan will definitely be angry. However, in the face of Xin Ai, the three of them couldn't get angry, not because of Xin Ai's status as a son of aristocrats, but because Xin Ai's behavior was very natural, like flowing water, not showing contempt, but also seeing Not insulting, as if he should have said and done it.

A man who is as beautiful as a spring flower talks to you in a casual and comfortable manner, who can be angry?

Xun Zhen unconsciously remembered the words he said when he first met Xin A: "Yu Lang Xuan Xuan is like the morning sun." When he was with Xun Yu, Xun You, Zhong Yao and other famous heroes who were famous in history and later generations, although he knew Not as good as they know, but they can communicate with them with a normal heart, only Xin Ai, although the two of them don't meet much, but every time they meet, he always makes him feel ashamed.

It has nothing to do with knowledge or talent. Xun Zhen thought about it and said, "Perhaps it's because of the natural cleanliness of his body that 'the hibiscus comes out of the clear water, and the carvings are naturally removed', which makes me realize that I am really a dirty person!"

Xin Ai killed an enemy, and his clothes, face, and hands were covered in blood, mud, and dirt.

He casually rubbed his hands on his clothes, took a hu pie, and stuffed the meat soup into his mouth.

Xin Pi couldn't stand it any longer, and said, "Yu Lang, you always wash your hands before you eat them, and the blood and mud are all on the cakes! Can you eat them too?"

Xin Ai didn't take it seriously, just pretended he didn't hear it, and still devoured it.

Seeing this scene, Xun Zhen smiled unconsciously, but soon, he put away his smile, stood up with the ring head knife, and looked to both sides of the city head.

Twilight deepens.

An endless stream of brave people came up from the city and delivered meals to the guards, and the fragrance of the rice diluted the blood.

The noise and shouts of killing during the day subsided, and the evening wind brought the smell of soil and spring seedlings after the snow melted from a distance.

The officials of the medical officer took another group of brave men and moved the bodies of the dead guards down the city. After moving the body, examine the wounded. Those who were seriously wounded and could no longer fight were moved to the city, and those who were lightly wounded and could fight again, their wounds were bandaged.

After fighting all day, the county soldiers were exhausted, either sitting on the ground holding their weapons, or simply lying on their backs, leaving the entire city in a mess. The brave people put food in front of them, because they were so tired that many people didn't bother to get up to eat. Some looked around, met Xun Zhen's gaze, and hurriedly stood up to salute. Xun Zhen smiled and nodded to them.

During the two days and one night of defending the city, Xun Zhen never went down to the front of the city, and every time he fought with the enemy, he always took the lead.

Although he was not satisfied with the performance of the guards, Xunzhen also knew that it was rare for a group of guards who had never been on the battlefield to hold the city firmly under the pressure of the strong enemy, and could no longer criticize them, because he was not stingy. They smiled.

"Junqing, Zhongye, Ayan, Xiaoren, we have already eaten these four buckets of beef soup, and the rest will be distributed to the guards and the guests."

Except for Xu Zhong, Cheng Yan and other personal guards, most of the hundreds of guests under Xun Zhen's gate did not participate in the two-day battle of defending the city.

This is not because he hides his secrets, but because the guests under his family are well-trained, and most of them are rangers. Their personal strength is outstanding. It is overkill to only use it to defend the city. The most suitable place to play their role is not the city head, but the wild.

From the very beginning of defending the city, he had already decided: to defend the city with the army soldiers and attack with the guests.

Yesterday, when the Yellow Turbans arrived for the first time, he and his guests carried out a successful attack, which greatly boosted the morale of the guards. Tonight, it's time for his guests to attack again.

He turned his face and looked down the city. The Yellow Turbans outside the city were also having dinner, and wisps of cooking smoke rose from the formation.

He thought: "Yesterday's battle, more than ten guests were injured or killed. Compared with yesterday, the Yellow Turbans have improved regardless of the formation of troops or the cooperation of the soldiers on the battlefield. Moreover, the number of soldiers has also increased a lot. I don't know how many guests will be killed or injured in the attack tonight?"

Hundreds of guests under the door are not easy to get, even if one is killed or injured, he will feel the pain, but just as he said to Ying Yinling that day: "Under the nest, how can there be dead eggs?" If Yang Zhai falls, let alone guests, Even his own life could not be guaranteed. At this time, no matter how painful it is, no matter how unfortunate it is, it can only be held back.

He looked down the city for a while, then turned around, only to see Xu Zhong, Wen Pin, Cheng Yan, and Xiao Ren still staying where they were. He frowned and said, "Why don't you go?"

Wenpin felt distressed that Xun Zhen had been tired for a day, and said with an unhappy expression: "This meat soup and hu cake are specially dedicated to Xunjun by the big surname in the county. The guests and guards have their own meals. Why should Xunjun take his own food? to them?"

Xun Zhen sank her face and said, "Can you defend the city with just these buckets of meat soup, these cakes, and a few of us?"

"can not."

"The thieves besieged the city for two days and one night. The reason why the city was not lost is not my work, but the work of the army and soldiers. This meat soup, if we taste a bowl, how can we eat it alone?" Xun Zhen asked Zhong Yao, Du You and others, "What do you think?"

Du You said generously, "That's how it should be."

Zhong Yao said with a smile: "Zhen Zhi loves soldiers like a son, sharing weal and woe with his soldiers. This is the style of an ancient good general."

"Pushing clothes and letting food" is nothing in later generations, but it is rare in this era.

Many of the county soldiers also saw that Xun Zhen and the others were eating meat soup, but no one had any opinion on this, and no one said a strange word. It can also be seen that even in the eyes of the soldiers, this is a matter of course.

Xun Zhen had never reprimanded Wenpin, this was the first time.

Seeing that he was angry, Wen Pin didn't dare to say more, and immediately picked up a wooden barrel and ran to the guard.

Xu Zhong, Xiaoren, Cheng Yan and others left a bowl of meat soup and a hu cake for Xunzhen, and each carried a wooden bucket with the hu cake, ready to go to the city to give to guests or to guards.

Xin A hurriedly finished the soup in the bowl. Xiao Ren was the closest to him. He stretched out his hand and grabbed it and said, "Don't worry, don't worry! Give me another bowl." A wooden spoon scoops the soup for him. Xin Ai thought that what he scooped was mostly soup, and he didn't see a few pieces of meat, so he grabbed the wooden spoon and simply served it himself. The bowl was full, and then he let go and let him go.

Xin Ping laughed and said, "Yu Lang, I used to eat three meals at home. Compared with the mediocre meat soup and cakes, I don't know how much more exquisite it is, and I haven't seen you eat more. Why are you so overeating today?"

Xin Ai replied casually, "I used to feel hungry at home, but today I am empty."

Xi Zhicai, Xun You, Zhong Yao and others laughed in unison. Xun Zhen couldn't help but smile.

There are hundreds of guards at the top of the city, and hundreds of guests at the bottom of the city. Together, there are more than a thousand people. Three or several buckets of meat soup are not enough, and one person can drink at most two or three sips.

However, don't underestimate these two or three couples. In a short while, the city is full of cheers.

When the guards looked at Xun Zhen again, in addition to admiration, they were a little more grateful and close.

On the four sides of the city wall, only Xun Zhen and Guo Tu, who were supervising the battle at the southern city wall, were the only people who gave the beef soup to the guards to eat.

...

Night fell slowly.

After the guards had a full meal, Xun Zhen handed down a military order to put out all the torches, and learned the lesson of being harassed by the Yellow Turbans all night last night, and divided them into two groups, one on duty at night and the other in the city to sleep.

Xun Zhen did not sleep, and Xun You, Xi Zhicai, Xin Ai and others did not go to the city to rest. Xin Ping and Xin Pi rushed home to eat some food, and then ran back.

Everyone gathered in a crenel, staring intently at the Yellow Turbans' positions outside the city.

The night wind was cold, blowing in from the gaps in the clothes and armor of everyone, and the whole body was cold. In the night sky, there are a few cold stars hanging on the horizon, and the half-bend crescent moon is like an ice sculpture. Outside the city, on the endless field, the soldiers of the Yellow Turbans finished their meal and set up clusters of bonfires, and they gathered around the fire to warm themselves. Most of them lacked clothes and clothes, and it was too cold to live in the open air without a fire to keep them warm.

Unity time has passed. Xu time has passed.

When Hai was right, Xi Zhicai said in a low voice, "It's almost there."

Xun Zhen looked far into the distance, and there were bonfires scattered all over the place.

The night was hazy, and it was too far to see clearly. Near the fire, the Yellow Turban soldiers had all released their sticks and went to bed.

Around them, there were more than a thousand yellow turban soldiers vigil, probably because they saw that there were no torches on the top of the city, and it was pitch black, thinking that the soldiers of the county had already fallen asleep~www.wuxiaspot.com~ These night guards Relaxing his vigilance, chatting in twos and threes, many of them sat on the ground. No one cares about the little marshals who lead them.

"Why don't those thieves sleep? What are they doing on horseback?"

Following Xin Ai's direction, Xun Zhen saw more than 100 yellow turban soldiers on horseback pass through the main position, pass through the periphery, and approach the outside of the city.

When they got close, everyone could see clearly that the horses of the more than 100 soldiers were all wearing small drums.

Xun Zhen immediately remembered what happened last night.

Du You hesitantly said, "Pocai thief wants to continue harassing our sleep after last night!"

Xun You clenched his right hand into a fist, lightly hit his open left hand, and said, "Zhenzhi, don't miss this opportunity!"

His words were endless, but everyone knew that he and Xi Zhicai were talking about the same thing, that is, everyone agreed at noon: night attack and counterattack.

Although Zhong Yao didn't know much about military affairs, he also guessed what Xun You meant, nodded and said, "What Gongda said is very true. The bandit soldiers are only concerned about harassing our army at this time, and I would never have imagined that our army would suddenly leave the city and attack at night. A good opportunity for the army to attack!"

Xin Ping and Xin Pi said, "Not bad."

Simpi paused for a while, and then said: "But there is no need to rush to attack. When their group of thieves have finished harassing and are ready to go back, let's shout out of the city and catch them by surprise."

Xun Zhen adjusted her armor and carefully hung the ring-sword sword around her waist. After trying it, she felt that it was not easy to draw the sword, so she adjusted the position, and then said calmly, "You gentlemen, please help me at the top of the city. Watch the battle."

More than an hour ago, Xu Zhong, Jiang Qin, Gao Su, Feng Gong and others had selected fifty guests who were extremely brave and good at riding, and were ready to leave the city for a night attack.

Xun Zhen performed a military etiquette to everyone, and was about to go down the city to lead the guests to attack, when one person grabbed him from behind and shouted, "No!"