There were only me and the mouse left in the yard. I rubbed my still sore thighs and thought to myself that today was another extremely tiring day. Sure enough, I tired the mouse out again today, and then I came out of the yard.
When I got home, I didn't even shake off the dirt on my body. I immediately asked the people below to remove all the screens, and then cleared a distance of nearly 100 steps from the backyard to the front yard. Now there were a lot of targets. I asked everyone to quickly find a place to hide first, because I had to practice archery again. The result was satisfactory to me. However, during dinner, my sister still felt very strange about the holes here and there in the house, and I also said, "It's very strange, really very strange."
Days passed one by one. During the winter months, I didn't care about government affairs. I was almost always immersed in martial arts training, but I never told them what I was training. Because I knew my sister was very afraid of this sharp-toothed thing that came out at night. On the fifteenth day, I finally caught it before it was exhausted to death. As a result, the difficulty increased on the second day. He put a heavy armor on me. I felt very strange. This kind of thing is only available in the army. How did you get it? He told me that he used to be a soldier and an officer, and then he came back. This reminded me of Chen Liang, as if he was the same as Master, and I could feel that when they mentioned this, they all felt helpless and sad. I didn't ask them why. I think they would tell me when they felt they could tell me. The heavy armor weighed more than 60 kilograms. I asked if there was a lighter one. Everything should be done slowly. How can it be done in a moment? But Master, it's too late for you. This is the only way. I hope I can keep up. Oh my god, it seemed that anyone would know that I would leave Changsha soon. I suddenly thought of the Zhou brothers and sisters. Well, it seems that they are not human. I laughed when I thought about it. As a result, I was almost exhausted that day. I didn’t catch him until dark, but the master didn’t blame me. He almost picked up the mouse and said, "Continue tomorrow. You can keep running until dark, which is great." After returning that day, I could hardly even lift the bow, and my sister also understood what those holes were. It was really unlucky. The turning point came on the 29th day. When I was chasing the mouse, I stumbled and fell to the ground. After I stood up, I couldn’t see the mouse. What should I do? Did it hide? There is no place to hide? It took me a long time to find it. When I took it out, the master asked me very strangely, how did you catch it, how did a good mouse become a pancake? To be honest, the mouse becomes a pancake, which is very interesting. But after this time, I know that if I want to catch a mouse quickly, I must suddenly accelerate at the last moment, so that the mouse can’t expect it. But ten days later, the master played tricks again. He smeared a layer of oil on the rat and warned me that it would not count if I crushed it to death. I had to catch it with my hands, otherwise I would have to start over. This time, I was obviously very experienced. I didn't take big steps like before. I only used 70% of my strength and kept 30%. When the opportunity was good, I suddenly started, pounced on it and reached out to catch it. I didn't expect that the rat was so slippery, and it got oil all over my hands, which made it even harder to catch it. It was already sunset, and there was a lot of dirt on my hands and the rat was also covered with dirt. I finally caught it tightly and didn't let it slip. After returning home, I still practiced archery diligently. Now I have retreated to shoot outside the door. As a result, the street in front of us used to be crowded with people, but now after 3 p.m. every day, according to the guard, no one dares to walk on the road in front of our house. When I practiced archery, they hid behind me. I have been practicing for nearly 30 days. They looked down on me. I got angry and shot an arrow... Since then, they hid farther behind me when I practiced archery, because I shot down the plaque "Xie Mansion" at the door of my house, and I couldn't explain why I shot the plaque. In the next few days, the game of catching mice continued. I gradually realized that if I couldn't catch it in the first time, my chances would become less and less. As time dragged on, my chances gradually became bigger. If the master let me practice like this, it was because the master wanted me to catch it in the shortest time. Otherwise, he would have changed the way I practiced. I started to catch it without rushing, but to look for opportunities and wait for opportunities until I was sure I could catch it. I remember that when I went out that day, Master laughed so happily for the first time, "You finally got it, you don't have to catch mice tomorrow." But the next day, he still came to the yard with a mouse. I felt cheated. He saw my thoughts and told me, "You don't have to catch mice today. Just find a weapon and use whatever you like. Today we are going to kill mice. Come to me when you kill them. You are not allowed to kill them after catching them. Go ahead." The door was ruthlessly closed again. I had no choice but to pick up the things on the weapon rack and look at them one by one. Suddenly I saw a hammer-like thing on the ground. I picked it up. It was very powerful and suited my taste. Unfortunately, there was only one, and I couldn't keep my balance. But forget it, Brother Mouse, I'm here. But I soon found that it seemed that having more things in my hands was not more convenient than before. It was not a simple extension of the arm, but much more difficult. Moreover, this thing was heavy and I was often pulled by it. That day, I didn't accomplish anything again, and I seemed to have strained my left arm. It was really annoying. Master also asked me to go back to recuperate. That night I didn't practice archery. My sister knew something must have happened to me, so she came to ask me if I was okay. She shook her arm and said, "Look, isn't it fine?" "Don't lie to me, you're left-handed, if you can, you can move your left side as well?" Then she moved my left arm. The expression on my face betrayed me, so my sister told me not to practice outside. My health was more important. I should go after I got better. Then she hurried out to get a doctor. My sister always does this. In fact, we have so many followers and maids now, but my sister still habitually went by herself. That night, the first snow of winter began to fall, and it snowed heavily.
My cultivation was suddenly interrupted. Although it was a pity, I knew that I couldn't rush it. I hung my left arm and walked slowly in the heavy snow in the early morning, letting the snowflakes hit my body. I have always liked snow. This scene made me very comfortable. It seemed that God also wanted me to rest. Now the whole sky of Changsha was white, so bright that people couldn't open their eyes. Suddenly I thought that I hadn't been to the government office for a long time. Then I remembered that I was still the governor of Changsha. I hurried to my post. After all, I had to do something while I was recovering from my injuries. When I arrived at the governor's government office, the two soldiers guarding the gate actually stopped me with their spears. Fortunately, I was in a good temper now, and I thought it was ridiculous. I said: "I am the governor, why are you stopping me?" "You are not the governor!" "How do you know I am not the governor?" "Our governor is still a child, and you look almost thirty." His words immediately reminded me of something. I hurried to touch my chin. Sure enough, this month of cultivation life has made me grow a face full of beards that made me very happy. "Hey, is this guy stupid?" "Go, go, don't stay here." I stopped talking. Although my left hand couldn't be used, my right hand was still there. I easily pushed the two people aside and walked inside. The two people actually wanted to stab me and murder the officials of the dynasty. This was unacceptable. However, now their speed, in my eyes, was as slow as a snail. Of course, this was a little exaggerated, but I knew that this was mostly due to the one month of practice. I stepped back slightly and clamped the two spears with my right arm. With a little force, the two spear handles broke. The two were horrified and hurriedly asked people to catch the assassin. The soldiers guarding the prefect's mansion immediately rushed in from the side yard, but before they surrounded me, my sister's voice rang out: "Brother, why are you here instead of recuperating at home?" My sister's words were particularly useful. Everyone knew who I was. They knelt down and saluted, and then hurriedly retreated. I still called the two guys guarding the door, "Aren't you two young? Why am I a child?" "Sir, we didn't mean to offend you. We are like this. I heard that you are only sixteen, right? And you are very kind, so there is nothing behind you." No need, it must be Zhou Yu, the devil girl. "Forget it, forget it, go down." My sister turned around and put her hand on my back and said to her: "Sister, you go back first, let me do this, okay?" "No, your body..." "It's okay, just a strained arm. It won't affect the handling of government affairs." I smiled and walked inside. "That's fine, but you haven't been in charge for so long, just watch from the sidelines."
Just like that, I listened to their discussion and read about the past. The news in the official newspaper shocked me: the remaining Yellow Turban Army of Bōcai was attacked by General Zhu at night in Yangdi and was completely wiped out. More than 30,000 surrendered soldiers were all executed! General Zhu has led his troops to Guangzong to reinforce General Huangfu, and Zhang Mancheng was killed in battle half a month ago. The latest official newspaper I received was from Xiangyang five days ago: the remnants of the Yellow Turbans in Nanyang were completely wiped out, and more than 50,000 people were killed in the battle. The Yellow Turban War is over. Although I haven't received any news about Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, it's meaningless. There is no way to turn the tide of the war. If I were Zhang Mancheng. If I had moved earlier in June to fight Wancheng with Bōcai, maybe the situation wouldn't be so one-sided now. But now it's meaningless. Maybe Zhang Mancheng's failure to move has become our only chance of victory. You know, within half a year, we only have more than 10,000 soldiers in Xinye in the entire Jingzhou. The entire Xiangyang is southward. Once the Yellow Turbans step in, there will be no way to stop them. What happened to Zhang Mancheng is really strange. Also, who killed Zhang Mancheng? Why is there nothing in the official newspaper
Suddenly, Zhou Cang ran in panting, and when he saw me, he saluted hastily, then turned to my sister and said, "A Yellow Turban army of about 5,000 has arrived 50 miles outside the east city." I hurriedly asked who was leading the troops. Zhou Cang was very surprised: "Brother, why are you asking for names? Do you know anyone from the Yellow Turbans?" In fact, I had already felt that something must have happened to Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao, and this group was probably here for revenge. As for the person who came for revenge, I only thought that there was one person who could be possible. At that time, that person was the only one in the hall who left a very deep impression on me. "Quick, stop asking." I rarely use this tone of voice, Zhou Cang hurriedly, "I don't know, I just know that the word 'Pei' is written on the big flag. According to the spies, they are marching very fast, and each of them has a white cloth tied on their yellow scarf." I knew I was right, so I immediately asked: "How many soldiers do we have now?" "Less than 2,000." "You go with 1,000 people, don't take young and strong soldiers, follow me, and bring the white flag." After that, I tore off the gauze on my left arm and walked out. My sister held me back. When I turned around, my sister seemed to be frightened, "Why do you look so fierce?" "Sister, I'm sorry, you go back first, I have to go." My sister patted the snowflakes on my shoulders and said only one sentence: "Heart."
I rode my horse to Huang Zhong's house, got off the horse and went straight to the hall, "Master, Master." The master came out and was very surprised, "Why do you call me Master? Aren't we friends? We are both master and disciple, and friends. There is no need to call me Master. Besides, why are you here today instead of staying at home and resting?" "It's urgent, I don't know how to address you. I can't handle this matter now. Please lend me a weapon."
"What is it?"
"The Yellow Turbans are attacking, and I must fight back. The weapons in the defenders' arsenal are all wooden handles, too light, and not very suitable for use. Yesterday I saw that most of your weapons are made of iron, and I would like to borrow one."
Huang Zhong said "oh", turned around and went back. When he came out, he held out a black weapon in his hands. One end was a flat ball covered with thorns, like a hedgehog curled up on a stick, about ten feet long.
"You can take this."
"Thank you sir. I'll go first."
On the 9th day of the 11th month of the first year of Zhongping, I led a thousand old and weak soldiers, set up a battle array in the east of the city with white flags and white banners, and waited for the arrival of the Yellow Turban Army. The snow was still falling, but the sound of the Yellow Turban horses' hooves could be clearly heard. I turned back to signal Zhou Cang not to move, hung the weapon on the belt hook, rode my horse through the snow to the front of the battle array, and shouted to the approaching Yellow Turban vanguard troops: "General Pei Yuanshao is here!"