When I was eight years old, there was a severe drought on Hedong Road, and there was no harvest. My family was a tenant tenant, and I couldn’t even receive the relief food from the court. First, my sister starved to death, then my mother, and my father took me to flee the famine, arguing with people on the road. I was killed, and in a blink of an eye, I became an orphan, guarding my father's body by the side of the road alone, not knowing what to do.
When Yang Zhao galloped across the road on a little black horse in filial piety, I didn't expect him to turn his head back. The boy who was prettier than a girl turned his horse's head and walked slowly in front of me. After a moment, he asked, "Would you like to join the army?"
"Do you have something to eat?" I stared blankly at him and asked.
"Yes." Yang Zhao nodded. He is not much older than me, but he has a rare maturity.
At that time, Yang Zhao's father had just died in battle not long ago, his mother had already passed away, and he had no relatives. When Old General Yang came to inspect Heishuiguan, he took him in as his foster son, and brought Yang Zhao and a few others with him. My boys and I went to Bianjing together.
Old General Yang has three sons himself, and the third young master is only four years older than Yang Zhao. It is said that Yang Zhao is the adopted son, but in fact, like us, they are all serving the third young master.
The third young master has a bad temper, often gets angry, and will be whipped by him if he doesn't like him. Yang Zhao is beautiful, and he practices hard. When he competed with the third young master, he beat him several times. They all liked him very much, which made the third young master hate him even more, and often punished him, so Yang Zhao became more silent, and would never win against the third young master in the martial arts field again.
Three years in a hurry, that year Yang Zhao was twelve years old, I was eleven years old, and the other teenagers were fourteen years old. The battle at Heishuiguan broke out again. The general fought back to Heishuiguan, but the eldest and second young masters died in battle.
The third young master seemed to have grown up overnight, and led the rest of us to Heishuiguan to join the army. Everyone believed that Yang Zhao joined the army at Heishuiguan at the age of fourteen, but he was not. When we killed people on the battlefield , Yang Zhao is twelve years old, and I am eleven years old.
Fighting on the battlefield is far from comparable to that on the martial arts training ground. For the first time, I faced the swarming blades and froze. Yang Zhao chopped down a Liao man who was much taller than us, and yelled in my ear Said: "If you don't want to die, kill it!"
He saved me many times, and he also saved the third young master and other teenagers many times. Only then did they know that Yang Zhao's strength displayed in the martial arts field was less than one-third.
But I know that Yang Zhao is not only good at martial arts, he will read military books whenever he has time. When Old General Yang explains military strategies to the young masters, he will also wait and listen carefully. Old General Yang is full of skills. Well, his three sons didn't learn much, but Yang Zhao learned ten percent, and even surpassed Old General Yang.
The battle lasted on and off for more than a year. At the end of the battle, both the Liao army and the Dazhou army sent out the main force. We followed the third young master to defend the granary on the flank of the position.
At that time, the third young master had already been promoted to a sixth-rank school lieutenant, commanding a battalion of soldiers. Although his contribution was actually made by Yang Zhao, at that time, Yang Zhao, like us, had not been formally enrolled in the army, and was still a servant of the third young master. , so all the credit goes to the third young master.
Yang Zhao never complained, he just grew up rapidly on the battlefield, so I could only chase him desperately, but that day, Yang Zhao quarreled with the third young master for the first time.
The third young master wants to lead the soldiers of our battalion to attack the Liao army, inserting from the left flank, so that the opponent can be caught off guard. But Yang Zhao disagreed. He said, our mission is to garrison the granary. If the whole army is dispatched, the Liao army will be killed, and the army's food and grass will be in danger.
The third young master insisted on going out, and later ordered Yang Zhao to lead a hundred people to stay behind at the granary, and the rest followed him to attack.
The other two boys and I stayed behind with Yang Zhao. After the third young master led the brigade away, that night, the Liao army attacked.
We held on to the granary, all of them covered in blood, until General Yang sent reinforcements, but the third young master failed in the sneak attack and was killed, leaving less than a quarter of the entire battalion back.
Old General Yang let Yang Zhao and us officially join the army, and because of his meritorious service in guarding the granary, he gave Yang Zhao the official rank of an eighth-rank small school, and led the rest of us to form the Gale Camp.
That year Yang Zhao was not yet fourteen years old, and I was twelve years old.
Then there was the well-known battle. The Liao Army Yelich personally led 50,000 people to attack. General Yang retreated and defended. The two faced each other for a month.
Yang Zhao asked for orders to go out and fight. General Yang asked him to issue a military order. If he kills and retreats the enemy army, he will be rewarded heavily. If he does not retreat, he will come to see him. I think that General Yang actually hated Yang Zhao. All three of his own sons were inferior to Yang Zhao, and the youngest son died because of Yang Zhao's ineffective dissuasion. If Yang Zhao can follow, then the third young master will not die.
Yang Zhao only brought our battalion into the battle, and when he went out, he told everyone that if we win, we will be rich and honored, but if we lose, we will die.
After the last stand, our morale was high. The Liao army blocked the door for a month, and they had already relaxed. The time Yang Zhao chose was at dusk, which was when they had dinner. When they left the customs, there was no drums or noise. He rushed over with lightning speed.
That year, Yang Zhao was fourteen years old, and I was thirteen years old. I followed his white horse closely and followed the circle of light drawn by his silver gun. I guarded his left flank while the other boy guarded his right flank. The Liao army entered and exited several times, killed countless people, and finally completely wiped out the Liao army.
Old General Yang kept his promise. When asking for credit from the court, he gave the first credit to Yang Zhao, and then gave Yang Zhao the position of guard of Heishui Pass.
Sixth-rank captain, Yang Zhao was only fourteen years old that year.
Heishuiguan has experienced several wars, and the supply of soldiers was short. Many young soldiers were recruited from all over the country, and many of them were orphans like us. Yang Zhao picked dozens of orphans to be his personal guards. The first one was Mu Guiyun, followed by Li Yan and the others. The youngest Meng Su was only twelve years old when he came.
Because Old General Yang has been honored, the supply of Heishuiguan began to be in short supply. There were often no weapons, armor, and combat supplies, and even rations and military pay. Yang Zhao took out all his military pay and distributed it to the brothers. Same, dress like us, live like us.
In the four years at Heishuiguan, although the main force of the Liao army has moved to Baihe Bazhou, Heishuiguan will be the target of attack every time. We, big and small, fight several times a year. He won battles every time, and because Yang Zhao was handsome but extremely ferocious and ruthless in battle, he got the title of Jade Face Shura.
In the past four years, we have all been promoted to more or less official positions, and Yang Zhao also got a Ranger General. Old General Yang wrote from Bianjing, saying that he has helped Yang Zhao settle a young lady from the Cao family, and the appointment will be made later.
On the day when he received the letter, Yang Zhao was drinking alone on the city wall. He said that he didn't want to marry that lady from the Cao family. The year's military pay and rewards were given to the brothers. He is clinkingly poor. The Cao family is a foreign relative and a prime minister. how is it like.
I remember what I said at the beginning, I want to marry someone I like, and I will love her and love her so that she will not suffer any grievances.
Yang Zhao smiled and asked me, what do you like? I said at the time, I don’t know what I like, I should know when I see it.
At that time Yang Zhao laughed, and then said that if he liked someone, he would definitely give her his life, but he was afraid that in this world, he would not be able to find someone he could like.
After that, there was that battle, we barely won, most of the brothers died, and the rest also lost the lottery, and then we were called to Baihe, and we were arrested on the spot.
It is said that General Yang colluded with foreign enemies and the king of Chu wanted to rebel. We, General Yang's former troops, were naturally implicated, and we were sent directly to Quanzhou for thousands of miles.
Along the way, many brothers couldn't bear it and died on the road. Yang Zhao's injuries were not serious at first, but when he was punished privately, he was given 18 soul-chasing needles, and his kung fu was completely sealed. He lived well and was often watched by others. In order to keep him, some brothers died on the road.
The lives of our group were all saved by Yang Zhao, and it was the most natural thing to die for him. When the young man who had been on his right wing in Quanzhou also died, I thought, I should be in the early stage, no What's the big deal about being caught by a man? Although I, He Li, am not as good-looking as Yang Zhao, I can still be regarded as a strong man, so I can't bear this kind of thing.
But that day, we were all exhausted, and we also knew that the yamen guards were going to attack. Anyway, we already knew the ending, and everyone felt that death was at home.
Then, that girl came over, dressed in men's clothes, with a fake and honest face, with a smirk, but her eyes rolled around. When she saw us, a trace of sympathy flashed in her eyes, but she didn't stop, but just like the others Those people also speeded up their steps and walked forward, but when she heard the conversation between the two yamen servants, she backed away.
She bought us, although she also bought Chen Dahu and other things, but she did save our lives from the brink of death.
In the following days, I didn't see her again. She called a sloppy doctor named Shi Fang to treat us. At that time, Yang Zhao was already repulsed by men, so he didn't let Shi Fang show it to him. If you don't let him see that man, Shi Fang, he just feels relaxed, so our bodies are all in good condition, but Yang Zhao's injury is still there. Not good.
We didn’t know how bad it was until we got on the boat. We are all northerners. After being startled by the big boat at first sight, we were tortured by seasickness.
That girl also boarded the boat, and she was actually the captain of the boat, how could a girl do such a thing? I think even Yang Zhao would feel that we have stepped out of the tiger's mouth and into the wolf's den.
As soon as the boat left the inland sea, the girl cut off the shackles and shackles for us, and then began to boil the seasickness medicine. While she disliked us for being useless, she took good care of us. I have grown up so much, and no woman has ever taken care of us like this. With a warm smile and sincere concern for me, I think, I have found a woman I like, even if she may be a fake boat master who will bring us to hell.
Ever since Yang Zhao was raped by those jailers in the prison, he no longer liked people touching him, but that girl completely ignored his expression, directly tore his clothes and applied medicine to him. The look of patience makes me want to laugh.
Then that night, Yang Zhao disappeared, and Brother Chen Dahu also disappeared at the same time. We all had a bad feeling in our hearts. As soon as the next day dawned, the girl called everyone on the deck, and then said that she would throw Chen Dahu into the sea, and announced her position as captain in a very high-profile and forceful manner. Du Ming rushed up to question her about Yang Zhao's whereabouts. She stepped out behind her back, announcing his submission in a protective gesture.
What happened that night, Yang Zhao told us afterwards, when I saw the red around his ears, my heart skipped a beat, but I didn’t think too much about it.
In the days that followed, we were no longer seasick and were able to go on deck. Only then did we realize that she was not lying when she said that she was the best sailor and captain in the world.
To be honest, when I am with Yang Zhao, people tend to ignore me, but when I am alone, I, He Lina, will also be chased by girls on Daixian Street. It's cold, but I'm kind, tall and handsome, and I've always been popular with women.
But I've never seen such a girl, no, no, I can't call her a girl, this is a man who is more manly than a man! Have you ever seen a dirty joke that made Li Yan dumbfounded, and finally said, boy, you are fighting with your sister even before your hair grows? girl? The speed of climbing the mast is faster than Ding Dong's sailors, not to mention that she is out of the East China Sea, she wears short sleeves and shorts all day long, her hair is cut short, and she shouts orders on the boat, no, no, no, this is definitely not a woman child! But I like her!
This kind of liking became even deeper on that isolated island. As long as I see her energetic smile every day, no matter how tired I am, I feel happy. I think, if I can’t go back in the future, I will be here with her for the rest of my life, how happy I will be one thing.
On that day, word spread from Ding Dong's mouth that her sixteenth birthday was the most important day for a girl. That boy Meng Su started to dig out pearl shells. This kid also likes her? I rubbed my chin, I'm still a kid, can I know what liking is? However, when I saw Yang Zhao silently digging that mother-of-pearl shell in the stormy sea, my doubts turned into certainties. I have been with Yang Zhao for ten years, and I know his thoughts without guessing. , he fell in love with that girl.
That day, I sat by the seaside for a long time, I polished a piece of beeswax, but didn't give it away, Yang Zhao liked her, although I didn't know if that girl would like Yang Zhao, but the person Yang Zhao liked, he first I can't grab someone I like once. At that time, I realized that the heartache is far more severe than the physical pain. Of course, the pain I will suffer in the future will be far more than this time, but there is no time that makes me despair like that day.
When he met the pirates, Yang Zhao was indeed like what he said, the woman he liked could even give her his life. In order to save that girl, he almost died, but he got the girl's heart.
They are in love with each other, and when they are together, the tacit understanding and happiness make people feel jealous and want to cry.
In the following year, the Fengshen sailed to Africa, and that was the happiest time of our lives. Even Zhu Weili was amazed by that girl's erudition, and she led us into a whole new world. I can't rob Yang Zhao's woman, and I can't rob him, but this doesn't hinder me. I love her more and more, love her I can't see anyone else in my eyes anymore, Yang Zhao is willing to die for her, why am I so far away, but I can't say anything, at most, when no one is paying attention, in the shadow of Yang Zhao's back , to look at her more, I think, as long as she is happy, then I will be happy too.
But even this little happiness can't last. The imperial court wants us to go back and continue to help them guard the Black Water Pass and help them fight to death.
That night, Yang Zhao talked to me for a long time, he said he would go back, the girl’s business is getting bigger and bigger, and the money is getting more and more, but she has no foundation in Dazhou, he wants to go back and make meritorious deeds to get status , so as to protect her from running rampant in Dazhou.
Yang Zhao didn’t say a word, we were all brought up by General Yang, the idea of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism has been deeply rooted in our bones, now that the country is in trouble, how can we escape for our own selfish gain.