Ji Jiu's judgment was correct. At the beginning, the Xiongnu army was eager to achieve success, so in the first month, large and small battles were fought every two days. Ji Jiu was happy to see this situation. If he hadn't known that it was impossible, he would have wished that these enemy troops would just slap their heads against the city wall and bleed their blood. His soldiers, longbowmen alone, have trained 8,000 in these years. Although they can't pass through Yang at a hundred paces, in the battle of defending the city, it is the battlefield where the longbowmen make the most of it. Not to mention the spearmen, with specially made spear handles, they can deal with the enemy who is attacking the city by one to ten.

So once the Huns stopped, Ji Jiu would let people harass him, hoping to attract them to fight.

In the final analysis, it seemed that he was passively defending the city in this battle, but in fact it was him who wanted to fight the most.

But as the war lengthened, the Huns also keenly sensed the trap. It is not cost-effective to fight recklessly, and besides, the commander in the city does not intend to fight recklessly with them, but just wants to consume them. Once aware of this, the Xiongnu army retreated to fifty li, built a camp, and planned the battle again.

Ji Jiu watched them retreat and listened to the reports of the spies, only frowning, but said nothing.

The military horses are resting, and Ji Jiu has nothing to do for the time being. He wanders around every day, going to the stables for a while, and to the hay field for a while. What's more, he actually got into the haystack and slept all day.

The generals searched everywhere, but couldn't find him, only Shen Jue sniffed the smell, found the hay field all the way, and picked out the general who slept to death from the high haystacks.

Shen Jue knew that he was very tired, and he looked fine, it just looked like that, the current bruise couldn't deceive anyone. He also held his sword, sat on another stack of hay, and guarded him.

When Ji Jiu woke up, she knew that Shen Jue was by her side. Without opening his eyes, he grabbed the surrounding grass and covered himself with the quilt, and then remained motionless. He seemed to be stunned, but because he closed his eyes, Shen Jue didn't know what he was thinking.

After a long time, Ji Jiu asked, "What is the origin of Shen Hai?"

Shen Jue did not expect that he would ask Shen Hai, he hesitated, not knowing whether to say it or not. Ji Jiu didn't move his eyelids, and directly threw out an answer he speculated, "Descendants of the Shen family?"

Shen Jue felt that cold sweat broke out on her forehead. Wiping his forehead, Shen Jue said, "Yes."

Ji Jiu said, "Come and listen."

Shen Jue said it.

Shen Hai's great-grandmother was originally the girl who served Shen Qingxuan. Since the news about Shen Qingxuan and Yimo spread, the other two girls were unwilling to stay and serve. Originally, there were only three girls left in Shen Qingxuan's courtyard to take care of their food and daily life. After leaving, there was only one little girl left, who was only thirteen years old. The girl's name was Qing Ping, and Shen Qingxuan said that if she was afraid, she could leave, and go to the cashier to get 10 taels of silver and go home. Qing Ping didn't want to leave, so he stayed. Loyally served Shen Qingxuan and Shen Jue, who was still young at the time.

Later, Shen Qingxuan was gone, Shen Jue was taken away by Yimo, and the girl just guarded the empty yard by herself, cleaning and tidying up as usual every day. Shen Jue's uncle, Shen Zhen, went home. Seeing that she was loyal and kind, she was not bad, and he didn't care about her age, so he took her into the room. Qingping became a concubine and gave birth to two children, both boys.

Later, the Shen family was in distress, Yimo rescued them, and the Shen family changed their surname to Shen.

This Shen Hai is Qing Ping's great-grandson. Because Qing Ping served Shen Qingxuan since she was a child, she knew a lot of things here. Although the Shen family is gone, she often takes these things as stories and tells them to her children and grandchildren. When the children and grandchildren get married, she tells them to their daughter-in-law. It was not until she died of old age at the age of seventy-three that she stopped talking about how she had served two people like this, one person and one demon. They were both men, but they were so good.

Shen Hai knew from a young age that his surname should be Shen and that his ancestors were also famous, so he vowed to absolve the Shen family and honor the lintel. Only then did he use all his means to become the emperor's confidant.

Ji Jiu didn't say anything, and said for a long time, "Does the emperor know?"

Shen Jue said, "I know."

"Stay away from Shen Hai in the future." Ji Jiu said.

"why?"

Ji Jiu just opened his eyes, sat up with a head of weeds, and while packing himself, he said: "This person is too thoughtful, the emperor uses him, but he will not believe him, let alone fulfill him. So in this life , he has no chance of reconciling the injustice for the Shen family. If you have the will, remind him and let his descendants also enter the office. Maybe the emperor will let his descendants fulfill the wish that he could not fulfill in this life. "

Shen Jue didn't answer.

When Ji Jiu saw this, he laughed: "What do you want to say? Ask me why I don't help? To be honest, I can't help him. If the emperor doesn't know his details, I can still add some help, the emperor already knows. He approached him to absolve himself, so I can't help."

After saying that, Ji Jiu stood up, fastened his cloak, and headed towards the barracks. There are still some things that Ji Jiu didn't say, and doesn't plan to say.

You must know that the reason why the Shen family would be beheaded is nothing more than the sacrifice of the princes in the palace fighting for the throne. And today's sage is also born in the battle for imperial power.

This is the emperor's heart disease. The emperor will not put out the crux of his heart for a mere Shen Hai, and once again show it to the world.

Therefore, Shen Hai's goal is difficult to achieve. But as long as he perseveres, perhaps, the next emperor can vindicate the Shen family.

You must know that there is only one prince, the crown prince.

Maybe the emperor will tell Shen Jue about these things in the future, but at that time, it must be the time when the emperor is tempted and willing to trust him. Now, not yet.

Ji Jiu no longer worries about Shen Jue's affairs. What does Shen Jue's affair with the emperor have to do with him? Since it is consensual, what happens in the future is left to fate.

The winter has not yet passed, and the army of the attacking and defending sides confronted the city below and above the city.

There were soldiers shouting at the bottom of the city, accompanied by horns to cheer, shouting curses, scolding the guarding officers and soldiers for shrinking their heads and tortoises, only hiding in the city and not daring to come out to kill.

Soldiers in the city responded, accompanied by drumming and cheering, and scolded them for not believing their words.

The war of words is also a battle. The generals on both sides know that soldiers need encouragement, and the war of scolding should not be underestimated. Xu Shi knew that this was a fierce battle, and the commanders of both sides were very calm.

That's it, it's New Year's Eve.

So people in the city have new words, saying whether they are thirsty or not, whether they are hungry or not, whether they want to eat our Han Chinese dumplings, the skin of eggs, the golden skin, and the stuffing of pork and green onions, which is fragrant. There are also old wines. They drink so beautifully. When you close your eyes, all you see are pretty girls.

As soon as the words were finished, all the officers and soldiers of the defending city burst into laughter, and with a lively temperament, they immediately raised their voices and sang a meaty song. In the song, there are brothers, sisters, pretty sisters, and soft girls.

Before the year has passed, they cheered first. At first, there was only one person who scolded the war, shouting up and down, but then one person could no longer hold back, and everyone on the tower was scolding. The Huns couldn't hold back their temper either, and rushed up to a dozen or so to help curse, but because they didn't speak Chinese, they couldn't understand what they were scolding.

Ji Jiu listened to their lively scolding and went to the tower to watch the "battle", but because he had been in the Xiongnu for two years, he could understand some Xiongnu words. In the other side's curse and the words of his ancestors, Ji Jiu brought his own iron bow. , Made of black black iron, weighing 30 pounds. Ji Jiu drew the bow, the feathered arrow was wound, narrowed his eyes, and the air flow was broken like a flying arrow, whistling like a meteor, piercing the man's clamorous throat.

The guards next to the city were stunned for a moment, and then cheered loudly. At first, the cheers were still chaotic, but slowly and uniformly, they shouted: Mighty!

Thousands of soldiers shouted together, and at that moment, the ground shook!

Dozens of people in the Xiongnu army hurriedly carried the bodies of their companions and left.

The Huns still did not attack the city.

On the evening of New Year's Eve, Ji Jiu transported more than a dozen carts of wine and shared it among the tens of thousands of soldiers. One drink per person was just right, and there would be no more.

The sergeants in the battalion lined up and drank their hot wine one by one, and Ji Jiu sent the wine to the city, still one for each person. From the beginning to the end, there is only one sentence: the battle is over, let the emperor reward the wine, and everyone can drink enough. But tonight, I can only drink one.

Ji Jiu returned to the house by himself, accompanied by the sound of firecrackers floating in the distance, took out a wine gourd, which was the spring wine sent by the man, aged for 40 years, with his alcohol capacity, he would also get drunk.

He took a sip and put it in his mouth, but he didn't rush to swallow it. He just took it and kept the cold wine warm before swallowing it slowly. It is sweet, yet bitter.

He was reluctant to drink, only took two sips and then stopped.

He wants to keep it until he has finished what he needs to do, and then get drunk again, and he can stay drunk for a long time.

A winter standoff turned into a deadlock. Spring comes after the year, still the same.

Ji Jiu was sitting on the steps of the city tower, obviously preoccupied. Shen Jue went over to ask, but Ji Jiu said without thinking, "Not quite right." But he didn't say what was not right.

Too quiet.

Such quietness was not what Ji Jiu wanted, nor should it be the style of the Xiongnu army. Since ancient times, generals in all dynasties have sent troops to try to suppress them, but most of them have failed. Because they are a nomadic people, they can fight if they can, but leave if they can't. There is no need to farm and raise mulberry, and there is no drag. As long as there is a place with fertile water and grass, you can migrate with your family.

Ji Jiu sat motionless, wondering what he was thinking.

Shen Jue stood for a while, also sat beside him, looked at the city generals, waited for a while and said, "What did the general think of?"

Ji Jiu said: "In these years, we have been fighting hard for horses, and the Huns are rectifying the tribe. Why is there only a mere 60,000 troops and horses when King Youxian conquered himself this time?" Ji Jiu looked at Shen Jue and asked him seriously: "No. When an army of 100,000 people comes to attack the city and pretend to be in the Central Plains, do you believe it?"

Shen Jue quickly thought of it and asked, "Are there reinforcements?"

Ji Jiu nodded: "There must be troops, but we don't know where."

Shen Jue leaned into his ear and asked, "I'm going to check?"

Ji Jiu shook his head: "No."

"Why not?"

"I just know where it is. There are 60,000 military horses in front of us, how can we kill it?" Ji Jiu said indifferently: "If I were him, I would ambush a large number of military horses behind the head army, and they will just wait for us to attack carelessly. You can get around it.”

Ji Jiu said, he suddenly smiled and muttered: "I just wanted to consume them, but now it seems that I did the right thing without rashly attacking."

Back at the camp, Ji Jiu set out the map, changed his mind again, pointed to the map and said to Shen Jue: "You go to check along this mountain range, five days of going back and forth is enough..." After a while, Ji Jiu said: "If it is not safe , and return immediately."

Shen Jue smiled and said solemnly: "Although I have no ability, this thing can't help me." After speaking, he left in a hurry.

Five days later, Shen Jue returned with a dignified expression, rushed all the way into Ji Jiu's camp, leaned into his ear and said, "There are about 80,000 iron cavalry in ambush, plus 60,000 outside the city, a total of 140,000."

When Ji Jiu heard the words, he became more at ease. The Huns have reorganized their tribes, sharpened their knives and waited for this battle. Once they were defeated, the iron cavalry entered the pass. The wealth of the pass was the spoils of war, and the prestige of the newly enthroned Da Chanyu was even greater. The tribe that refused to accept it also steadfastly followed Shan Yu's allegiance to life and death. Therefore, this battle is not simply hunting. But it is really related to the prosperity and disgrace of the Xiongnu court.

"General." Shen Jue asked behind him, "To fight or not to fight?"

Ji Jiu replied, "Fight!"

Fighting must be fought, but how to fight is a problem. The 140,000 iron cavalry was flexible and maneuverable. Each of the Xiongnu soldiers was good at horseback riding and shooting. If they really wanted to face each other, Ji Jiu calculated the result that he would lose more troops than the opponent.

Businessmen don't do things that lose money, let alone generals on the battlefield. Because they hold human life in their hands.

Another month, the spring flowers are blooming.

The gate of the city gate, which had been closed for several months, suddenly opened wide, and a large crowd of people poured out. The leader was dressed in black armor and sat upright on the horse. The flags fluttered behind him, and a big "season" character was written.

The marshal himself went out of town. The Xiongnu spies hurried back to the camp to report the news.

Ji Jiu led 30,000 elite soldiers and rushed straight to the Xiongnu camp. After a day of fighting, the army retreated to the west. There was a hill in the west, with rocks stacked on top of it and few trees. From a distance, it looked like a phoenix singing, also called Fengming Hill. Ji Jiu led the troops to retreat to the post. Beacon fires were lit at night, and the torches all over the mountains were lit on the lonely post, turning the night into red, and even the flag embroidered with the word "Ji" turned blood red, like a demon. The illusory scene, like the phoenix nirvana.

Ji Jiu stood at the highest point, looked down at the soldiers who came with him, and asked, "Are you afraid?"

"Don't be afraid!"

"Food and grass can last for a month, there is no water source here," Ji Jiu rolled up the corners of his lips: "Are you afraid!"

"Don't be afraid!"

"If they dare to attack, kill them back!" Ji Jiu said, "If there is no meat, then kill their horses to feed their hunger, and if there is no water, just drink their blood, okay?!"

"Okay!"

Ji Jiu smiled.

Fighting alone is a situation that every general is reluctant to face because it usually means death. And Ji Jiu put himself into a desperate situation so calmly.

The hills were surrounded by the Xiongnu army, they kept rushing upwards, and were forced back by the archers again and again. The hills that were originally covered with gravel were not suitable for horses to gallop, and they had to face the tripping ropes buried in the stone crevices. Often fell from horseback and shot into bloody hedgehogs by bowmen.

Half a month has passed, and there are mountains of corpses under the post, and more and more horses have been broken by loose stones.

This evening, Ji Jiu counted the number of people, and half of the 30,000 horses left the city. But the Xiongnu army under the post was twice their size.

The soldiers were all calm, but their eyes became more and more fierce, glowing with bloodthirsty light. That's how wars turn people into wolves.

Ji Jiu was waiting for Yelude'e, the righteous king, to send troops. The 80,000 cavalry in ambush was originally going to make dumplings, but now, Ji Jiu believed that Yelude'er was hesitating.

Leaning on the boulder and nibbling on the dry food, someone among the generals asked him, "What if that King Youxian doesn't go into the army?"

Ji Jiu replied, "He will come out."

"why?"

"He can't afford to lose this person." Ji Jiu smiled: "Yelude'e is their warrior. Now the commander of the other party is on a hill a hundred miles away from him, and there are only more than 10,000 troops around him, but he does not Dare to send troops to kill... If this kind of thing spreads, he will not be able to lift his head for the rest of his life."

"Even if you know it's a trap?"

"Even if you know it's a trap," Ji Jiu said. Putting down the hard cake in his hand, he poked the fire and said lightly: "The battle has gone on to this day, there is no conspiracy. We arrived at Fengminggang, and the conspiracy is a conspiracy. You are worried that he will not fight, but it is reasonable, but... "

"but what?"

"But the possibility of him sending troops is too great. I can't think of any better reason for me to give up this opportunity." Ji Jiu said.

Besides, he was here, and the enemy commander was on a lonely hill a hundred miles away. The temptation was too great. So big that even Ji Jiu felt that if he changed his position, he would take risks.

There has never been a sure-fire general on the battlefield, no matter who it is. As long as the victory or defeat is fifty-fifty, it is worth betting, and even sometimes, betting on the one-in-a-thousand chance. Every general is a gambler.

Ji Jiu is, and so is Yerude'e.

Ten days later, Yeridae sent troops.

The 80,000 iron cavalry and the remaining 40,000 troops firmly surrounded Fengming's lonely hill, and the hill was surrounded by water.

The bloody curtain was drawn to the real battle.

Ji Jiu didn't need to command, because the soldiers on Fengminggang knew that this was a battle of life and death, and any slack was fatal. Only by fighting to the death, every arrow could be accurately shot into the enemy's heart. , every thrown rolling stone can hit the enemy's head, and every spear pierces the enemy's chest.

The vast majority of them were the most ordinary soldiers, with no rank and no official position, but not a single one flinched in this tragic battle. No one's personal strength can tilt the situation of the battle, not even Ji Jiu. They are all ordinary people, protecting the country, that's all, but they all sacrificed their lives to burn the brilliance of life to the extreme.

Because they can't retreat, the people in the city need them, the wives and children in the family need them, and the parents who have worked hard to raise them grow up, and they all need to protect them.

Perhaps the greatest meaning of human life is to have the faith of protection in the heart.

Repair my spear and share revenge with my son!

When it was slightly dawn, drums were heard not far away. The drum beat was fierce and high, accompanied by the uniform footsteps of thousands of soldiers, as if the earth was shaking.

The two sides who were fighting stopped at the same time. At this time, they had some kind of tacit understanding, turned around and looked into the distance.

Black military horses came from all directions, galloping but orderly approaching Fengminggang. From the southeast to the northwest, the black military horses that surrounded them were like black feathers covering the sky, shrouding a layer of nightmare in the eyes of the Huns.

The beating of the drums continued, and every beat seemed to hit people's hearts. Ji Jiu stood on a strange rock high above and gave a mocking smile to Yelude'e, who had already reached the middle of the hill. The voice was like a ghost, announcing: "You lost!"

As his voice landed, the war drum smashed the last sound, Shen Jue drew out his sword among the encircling generals, pointed the sword edge to the Huns surrounded by them, raised his arms and shouted: Kill!

Never die.