Chapter 1, The City Falls, Encountering Danger, Escape
The envoy from Nansha suddenly realized, first becoming dumbfounded, then feeling frustrated as he slapped his forehead, exclaiming, "Ah, how could I have forgotten the bad habits of the Northern Desert Tartars? No wonder the counterparts from the Northern Desert have been rather quiet lately; it turns out they had this plan all along!
The "female ghost" acted in a moment of desperation just now, not considering the distinction between men and women. Now that she sees that A-Mai is fine, she realizes that her posture with the young man in front of her is too intimate. Her face suddenly turns bright red with embarrassment, and she hurriedly releases A-Mai's hand, taking two steps back while lowering her head, not daring to look at A-Mai.
A-Mai cursed a few times, used her head to lift the quilt, held the child in one hand and dragged Xu Xiuer with the other towards the door. Just as they had taken a couple of steps, the front door was suddenly burst open from the outside, and the quilt on her head was abruptly lifted away. Tang Shaoyi, covered in blood, stood before her, looking like a demon from hell amidst the flames. He snatched the child from A-Mai's arms, glanced at A-Mai and Xu Xiuer, hoisted Xu Xiuer onto his shoulder, and turned to rush outside. Seeing that he had ignored her, A-Mai, too preoccupied to scold him for his ingratitude, hurriedly followed him out of the house.
A-Mai's father said nothing, but tightly embraced A-Mai's mother. After pondering for a long time, he comforted her by saying: "How about we adopt a boy? We can raise him together with A-Mai and teach him well. This way, when he grows up, he can also take care of A-Mai. What do you think?"
Sigh, recently there have been frequent military officers passing by, could it be that there is going to be another war in the north? the owner of the tea shop murmured
Where to go
"As a dignified man of seven feet, how can you be so afraid of death!" Tang Shaoyi scolded, "To insult our Southern Xia women in front of the Tartars, to display such disgraceful behavior before the enemy's horses, are you still a man?"
Jiang Chengyi choked for a moment, unable to speak. Chang Yuqing indeed did not explicitly mention the massacre, but the statement just made conveyed a message that was no different from that of a massacre. Before the expedition, the Marshal had specifically instructed that as long as they were demonstrating their might by attacking the city, they were not to engage in a massacre.
A-Mai randomly put on a military uniform and saw Xu Xiuer also trying to put one on. After thinking for a moment, she stopped her and said, "You shouldn't wear it; just tie your hair up like a married woman." Seeing that both Xu Xiuer and Tang Shaoyi looked at her in confusion, A-Mai explained further, "Xiuer is petite, and wearing a military uniform wouldn't make her look like a soldier from the Northern Desert; instead, it would raise suspicion. It would be better for her to disguise herself as a woman holding a child. We can pretend to be ruthless soldiers from the Northern Desert, and if we encounter a large group of them, they naturally won't pay us any mind. If we meet a smaller group, it will also help us blend in."
Amai walked with his head down towards the city, but was stopped at the city gate by the soldier on duty. The leading soldier looked at Amai with suspicion, sizing him up, and asked, "Where do you come from?"
Amai forcefully covered the "female ghost"'s mouth with one hand while pressing down on her shoulder with the other, and whispered sternly, "What are you shouting for? Do you have to attract the Northern Desert people before you are satisfied?"
Tang Shaoyi was feeling dizzy from the child's crying, so he hurriedly handed the child over to Xu Xiuer. Strangely enough, as soon as the child was held by Xu Xiuer, he stopped crying and just stared at her with his round, bright eyes. Xu Xiuer was both surprised and delighted, unable to help but turn back and shout to Amai: "Look how adorable this child is!"
Several cavalrymen rode out from the rear of the northern desert formation, brandishing flags as they galloped back and forth in front of the formation. The cavalry then split into two wings, retreating to the flanks, revealing the infantry formation behind them, armed with large shields, interspersed with several siege engines, including battering rams, siege ladders, and wells, slowly advancing forward. The distant sound of horns echoed, and the clashing of weapons arose from all directions, as the black army of the northern desert surged forth like a tidal wave, as if a single wave could overturn the small city of Hamburg
"I would not dare," Jiang Chengyi hurriedly said, glancing at Chang Yuqing's expression. He still respectfully continued, "I only wish to follow the general's side, and moreover, before departing, the marshal instructed me to ensure the general's safety."
Since the age of fifteen, Amai has been wearing men's clothing, and by now her nerves have become as thick as a hemp rope. Who could have guessed the thoughts of this young girl? They thought she was afraid of herself, and hurriedly wiped her face with her sleeve, chuckling a couple of times at the young girl.
Just as the word "ah" was about to form and had not yet been uttered, a piece of sorghum cake from A Mai was stuffed into the mouth of the "ghost". The sound of "ah" immediately transformed into a soft and slippery "woo woo" sound, revealing that it was actually a "female ghost"
Mai Dou? "A Mai's mother stared blankly at A Mai's father, momentarily at a loss for words
Lying on her back on the ground, A Mai gazed at the twinkling stars in the night sky and couldn't help but marvel at her own vitality, which was indeed remarkably resilient! Her mother had once said that to possess a life force as tenacious as that of a cockroach, one must endure the darkness and dampness that others cannot bear. She had already endured things far more terrifying than darkness and dampness, so what was there to fear? Perhaps she really did not need to worry about her own life. If heaven wanted to take her, it would have done so four years ago. Since it did not take her then, it meant that even heaven did not favor her and would not claim her life.
A-Mai also found it strange. She got up and went to Xu Xiuer's side to look at the child. She saw that the child was only about eight or nine months old, chubby and very delightful. The little clothes on the child were also made very finely, clearly indicating that this was not a child from an ordinary family. A-Mai turned to look at Tang Shaoyi and saw him gazing thoughtfully in this direction. Feeling a stir in her heart, she leaned closer to Xu Xiuer and whispered, "Return the child to him; we must leave here quickly"
After a long while, A-Mai's mother let out a deep sigh and said: "We still have each other to rely on, but what about A-Mai in the future? When we are both gone, what will happen to A-Mai? Should we let her marry the men of this world?"
A small head emerged from the straw, its dark face indistinct, with only a pair of bright eyes staring intently at A Mai without blinking
A-Mai held A-Mai, who was as soft as dough, looking around with great difficulty. Suddenly, inspiration struck, and he exclaimed with joy: "Let's call him Mai Dou!"
Xu Xiuer shook her head and cried out: "My legs are weak, I can't move."
Chang Yuqing slowly shook her head, a hint of a smile suddenly blossoming at the corners of her lips, and she extended her hand, saying: "Bring me a bow and arrow"
"The city gate is open, let’s go, if we delay any longer, we will miss everything!" Chang Yuqing said with a smile, gently nudging the horse's belly with her feet, and the horse, Zhaoye Bai, happily leaped forward. "Tonight we will stay in this Hamburg city, tell the lads that tonight there will be no military discipline."
The three of them were enduring hardship when suddenly a loud cry of a baby pierced their ears. A-Mai looked down and saw that the child had woken up at some point, probably having been hungry for too long, and began to wail loudly. A-Mai sighed inwardly: "Oh, little ancestor, are you trying to take our lives?" The sound of hooves on the street indeed paused for a moment, and then they heard the approach of footsteps. A-Mai felt a surge of anxiety, and in a moment of inspiration, grabbed Tang Shaoyi, who was about to rush out, and tossed aside the child that Xu Xiuer was holding, whispering urgently: "Hurry up and cry out!" The sound of hooves on the street indeed paused for a moment, and then they heard the approach of footsteps. A-Mai felt a surge of anxiety, and in a moment of inspiration, grabbed Tang Shaoyi, who was about to rush out, and tossed aside the child that Xu Xiuer was holding, whispering urgently: "Hurry up and cry out!"
The moon in the sky seems unable to bear to look any longer, tightly closing its eyes
The child cried for half a day and was already exhausted; not long after, he fell asleep in Xu Xiuer's arms. Taking advantage of the night, the group chose to walk through the dark and secluded alleys. They passed by the gathering places of the Northern Desert soldiers several times, but fortunately, Xu Xiuer was quite familiar with the area. Upon hearing any noise, they could detour from a distance, and the journey was fraught with surprises but ultimately safe.
Amai tightly pressed her darkened lips and stared at Tang Shaoyi for a moment, then suddenly curved her lips into a smile. Tang Shaoyi noticed a faint glimmer of moisture in her eyes, yet her smile was exceptionally bright, resembling a white lotus glistening with water after a morning rain, leaving him momentarily dazed. Amai continued to smile faintly, raised her hand to remove the helmet from Tang Shaoyi's head and held it against her chest, then clenched her right fist and struck Tang Shaoyi sharply on the cheek.
Amai did not expect to survive the descent from the city wall. First, she was terrified by the arrow that flew overhead, and then she pretended to be dead, enduring the agony until nightfall before crawling out from the pile of corpses. Taking advantage of the darkness, she managed to find her way to this slum. Counting the recent narrow escape, in less than a day, she had traversed the gates of hell several times.
"What are your plans?" Amai glanced at him and said lightly, "I have no plans. I only know that if we continue to stand by the city gate in these clothes discussing plans, and if some general sees us, even if I were to cling to his horse's leg and cry, it wouldn't just be a matter of twenty military sticks."
They had just crouched down when a group of cavalry entered the city gate. Listening to the sound of hooves, it seemed that there were no fewer than forty or fifty men. After entering the city, the group slowed down. Although the number was considerable, there was not a single chaotic sound from the crowd. A-Mai only felt her throat dry and her heart racing. Beside her, Xu Xiuer was already trembling all over, eyes closed tightly, biting her lower lip in fear of crying out loud. A-Mai turned to look at Tang Shaoyi, who was squinting slightly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, always ready to charge out.
Go to the south
People often say that humans can scare each other to death; however, it is also true that humans can scare ghosts to death.
The art of war states: what is real is to be made to appear false, and what is false is to be made to appear real. If one does not open the gates of their courtyard and carelessly toss about the items within, how can one ensure that the northern desert soldiers will not come in and rummage through? If they do, can one still guarantee their own life?
Wheat ear? The couple exchanged a glance, as if they were in perfect harmony, and nodded in unison. Thus, Amai's full name became Wheat Ear!
Chang Yuqing raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping over the surrounding generals, and he asked in a deep voice: "Did everyone understand the deployment just now?"
The night is actually very dark
At this moment, Ah Mai is sitting in a tea shop by the roadside, laboriously chewing on a dry and hard mixed flour pancake. He then raises his head and shouts in a rough voice, "Waiter, bring me another pot of tea!"
Tang Shaoyi handed the child to Amai, saying, "Hold him tight!" After taking two steps forward to pick up the sword from the ground and sheathing it, he turned around and carried the stunned Xu Xiuer on his back, walking back to Amai's side, and coldly said, "Hurry up!"
On this night, the Northern Desert's main general, Chang Yuqing, led 40,000 cavalry, disappearing into the thick darkness, while outside Hamburg, the camp of the Northern Desert's "100,000 troops" remained stationed, waiting to proceed to Taixing City to join forces with the Eastern Army of the Northern Desert
A cold breeze seemed to suddenly sweep across Amai's back, causing all the hairs on her body to stand on end. Amai wanted to scream "Ghost!" and then dash outside, but she was so frightened that her body detached from her brain's control; the appropriate reaction merely flashed through her mind before vanishing. She neither screamed nor ran away, but instead, she blankly extended her hand to offer half a sorghum cake, asking, "Do you want to eat?"
Amai looked at the soldier who was half a head shorter than him and couldn't help but sigh: "My mother was right, people in this era are generally malnourished. This leader is barely over 1.6 meters tall, and someone like this can be considered a soldier? He is far from my father."
Tang Shaoyi held the baby in one arm, wielding his sword as he fought and retreated. Due to the difficulty in dodging, he was already in a perilous situation. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of A Mai and another person standing foolishly at the door. He forcefully deflected a blade swung by a soldier from the Northern Desert, then turned around and threw the bundle in his hand into A Mai's arms, shouting sternly: "Get inside!"
General Mai was traveling in Hamburg City and was falsely accused of being a spy from the Northern Desert. Just then, General Shaoyi led his troops on a patrol and heard General Mai's urgent call: "I am wronged!" Upon seeing him, Shaoyi noticed his tall and imposing figure, short hair, and strikingly beautiful appearance, resembling that of a woman, and he did not dare to look him in the eye. How could such a man be a spy! Thus, he was released.
The two soldiers from the Southern Xia beside her forcefully struck down the spiked wolf teeth, sending the Northern Desert soldiers, who were about to climb the city wall, tumbling down. The screams pierced through Amai's ears, causing her heart to race with fear. Immediately following was another scream of anguish; the soldier who had just cheered for her was struck by a rain of arrows from the Northern Desert. A long arrow pierced through his chest, and blood splattered from his mouth onto the city wall, instantly staining it red. In shock, Amai dropped the bow she was holding and crouched down, covering her head. The screams around her had not yet faded when she received several lashes on her body. A junior officer, wielding a whip, angrily shouted, "Damn it, there's still time to dodge? The Tartars are coming, and no one will survive!"
The people of the Northern Desert are known for their fierce character. In contrast to the Southern Xia people, who are more inclined to engage in verbal disputes, they prefer to take action. They are representatives of the action-oriented faction, and their long-standing creed is: If I cannot outtalk you, I will just beat you up!
The soldiers were unwilling to listen to Ah Mai's explanations, pushing her as they made their way into the city. On the way, they happened to encounter several personal guards surrounding a young general coming towards them. The soldiers escorting Ah Mai hurriedly approached the young general, flattering him as they saluted and said: "My lord, we have just captured a spy from the Northern Desert!"
Jiang Chengyi wanted to say more, but upon seeing Chang Yuqing's expression had turned cold, he could only swallow his words and replied, "Yes!" before lowering his head and following the other generals out of the camp. Only then did Chang Yuqing let out a light laugh, instructing his personal guard to fasten his cloak and carrying his helmet as he walked out of the tent
A Mai quietly watched Tang Shaoyi, waiting for him to finish his scolding before she forced herself to get up from the ground. She wiped the bloodstains from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve, not even glancing at Tang Shaoyi as she walked towards the city gate. As she passed by him, he grabbed her arm firmly.
In a short period, numerous towns in northern Nansha reported emergencies one after another
Amai covered the tea bowl in front of her with her hand, squinting as she watched the flying rider turn into a tiny black dot and disappear in the distance. Is there going to be a war in the north? Let them fight, what does it have to do with her? In any case, she is heading south.
A-Mai and Tang Shaoyi exited the city gate one after the other. Upon seeing Xu Xiuer sitting helplessly by the roadside, A-Mai hesitated for a moment but ultimately steeled himself and walked past her. However, after taking just a couple of steps, he was pulled back by Tang Shaoyi, who forcefully turned A-Mai's body around and exclaimed, "Why is your heart so narrow? Even if I made a mistake in hitting you, you shouldn't react this way—hey? Why are you still crying?" To his surprise, A-Mai's eyes were indeed red. Tang Shaoyi was both angry and amused, saying, "You get angry when I say you're not a man. Is there a big man who cries like this? I hit you by mistake; at worst, you can hit me back. Why are you crying like a woman?" He forcefully turned A-Mai back around and exclaimed again, "Why is your heart so narrow? Even if I made a mistake in hitting you, you shouldn't react this way—hey? Why are you still crying?" To his surprise, A-Mai's eyes were indeed red. Tang Shaoyi was both angry and amused, saying, "You get angry when I say you're not a man. Is there a big man who cries like this? I hit you by mistake; at worst, you can hit me back. Why are you crying like a woman?"
Xu Xiuer also hurriedly said: "Yes, General, I cannot leave; I must wait here for my father to return. My father is also a soldier; he has gone to guard the city wall."
A-Mai gently placed A-Mai on the bed, the surprise on his face still lingering. He stood up excitedly and gestured, "Have you forgotten? It's that little pig from the Hong Kong animation, the one with the black eye circles! Haha, with the surname Mai, this year is also the Year of the Pig, how can we not call him Mai Dou! Haha ... ... "
As the sky gradually brightened, the three of them finally emerged from the alley onto the wide street leading to the city gate. This had once been the most prosperous street in Hamburg, lined with numerous shops, but now only remnants of walls remained. The street was littered with the bodies of fallen Southern Xia soldiers, and the cobblestones beneath their feet had long been soaked with blood. As Ah Mai walked along, he felt as if every step he took was on something slimy.
"Release the arrows! Release the arrows! Shoot down these barbarians!" shouted the young officer from Nansha on the city wall, waving the whip in his hand.
Fortunately, after the Northern Desert people invaded the city, they only thought about plundering and did not intend to occupy the city for the long term, so there were no soldiers guarding the city gate. Xu Xiuer, holding her crying and restless child, forced herself to walk out of the city gate. Just as she wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, she looked up and felt her heart sink; less than three or four miles outside the city gate was an endless camp of the Northern Desert army. Run? Where else could she run?
The young general finally lifted his head, the corners of his mouth slightly raised in a hint of an elusive smile, yet it could not conceal the murderous aura between his brows and eyes. It was none other than Chang Yuqing, the commander of the Northern Desert, who was supposed to be residing in Hamburg.
Unexpectedly, Tang Shaoyi refused to take the child, his sword-like brows furrowing as he coldly said: "The people from the Northern Desert will soon come looking for us; we cannot stay here for long." As he spoke, he began to strip the military uniforms from the bodies of the Northern Desert soldiers, tossing one onto Xu Xiuer and commanding, "Hurry up and put it on, quickly!"
Amai said: "Mom, why isn't there a little brother hidden in your belly?"
The city of Hamburg did not fall silent with the arrival of night; flames flickered throughout the city, and the laughter and jeers of the Northern Desert soldiers mingled with the cries and screams of the Southern Xia populace, rising and falling in a cacophony. Various sounds intertwined, ... whether unwilling, timid, or indulgent, they roamed throughout the city like an invisible hand, seemingly lifting the hearts of those who heard them high into the night sky, trembling faintly.
Jiang Chengyi's smile flashed by, and he turned back to look at Chang Yuqing, cautiously advising: "General, this place is too close to the city wall, and there are too many stray arrows. For safety's sake, I kindly ask the General to observe the battle from behind the lines."
Tang Shaoyi angrily said, "What about Miss Xu?"
Everyone responded in unison and rushed outside. The flames gradually receded with the chaotic sound of footsteps, and the night returned to darkness. Inside the open courtyard gate, Amai finally felt his heart settle down after a long while. He listened carefully for a moment before cautiously crawling out from the corner piled high with clutter, neglecting to wipe the dust from his face, and collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath.
It was fine when she didn't smile, but when she did, the young girl took two steps back again
A-Mai let out a cold snort, thinking to herself that this person really does not treat himself as an outsider. It is impossible for the three of them to team up and escape from Hamburg City, and who agreed to go to Taixing with him? Moreover, traveling with such a capricious person and having a little troublemaker who cries and fusses at any moment by her side, is she tired of living? At that moment, A-Mai did not respond to Tang Shaoyi's remarks and continued to take off her military uniform.
Xu Xiuer was taken aback, looking at Amai in confusion. Although she did not understand why Amai wanted to do this, after spending most of the night together, she had already developed a deep trust in Amai. Upon hearing Amai's words, she was momentarily stunned but did not ask further and returned the child to Tang Shaoyi, saying, "Lord Jun, I will return the child to you."
Then the little leader circled around Amai and suddenly jumped back a step, shouting sternly: "Come on! Bind this fellow for me!"
The leader was clearly moved, looking up at the dark red sky in the east, then glancing at his brothers. With a wave of his hand, he said: "Let's go, brothers, we need to change locations. If we are going, we must hurry; otherwise, we will be too late and there won't be even soup left for us brothers"
"From the north," A-Mai answered honestly
A-Mai stopped, turned around, and smiled at Tang Shaoyi, saying, "That can be easily arranged. You can hold Miss Xu, and Miss Xu can hold the child, can't she? You are a man of great stature; can you not bear this little weight?" A-Mai felt a rush of exhilaration in her heart, laughed twice, and turned to leave. Just after taking a couple of steps, she felt a cold wind brush closely past her ear, and her body immediately froze in place, her complexion turning pale. In front of her, less than five feet away, a sword was plunged into the ground, its hilt still trembling in the air.
Amai's mother was taken aback, what is it called? If you already know, why ask him? When she was pregnant, the couple only referred to the child as "baby," but now that the child has been born, they certainly cannot give a grand name like "Baby Mai"
The leading soldier was greatly satisfied, handed each of the prisoners a wooden stick, and then drove them up onto the city wall
Then the "ghost" was suddenly startled by Amai's unexpected action, and after a moment of daze, it suddenly opened its mouth wide, revealing a set of white teeth that contrasted sharply with its complexion, "Ahーー"
Amai's mother scolded: "You are the one who is truly a child, Maidou!"
This defense is rather rudimentary; the wall is only slightly taller, thicker, and longer than the courtyards of the northern landlords, and there are just more people standing on it
A messenger soldier on horseback galloped past on the adjacent post road, stirring up the yellow dust on the ground, which was swept up by the wind and became somewhat suffocating
Amai whispered, "I am also from Nansha. I hid here to escape the Northern Desert Tartars, who are not far outside. If they come, neither of us will survive! Do not make a sound, and I will let go."
Taixing City, a major city in the northern part of the Southern Xia Kingdom, has a population of over 200,000. It faces the Jiangzhong Plain and is backed by the Wan River, which flows through the Southern Xia Kingdom. Historically, it has been a crucial battleground, as losing this city would mean the complete loss of the northern Jiang region.
The sayings of Mai: War is a game played by the powerful, where moves are made with a flick of the wrist, and cities are conquered amidst laughter; the battlefield is a hell for the common man, where the blade strikes and in an instant, everything turns to ashes.
In the second year of the Southern Xia Shengyuan and the seventh year of the Northern Desert Tianxing, the negotiation table between Southern Xia and Northern Desert was still filled with sharp retorts and heated discussions. It seemed that the tongues of the Southern people were often more agile than those of the Northern men, and as the conversation progressed, the scales of victory gradually tilted towards the South. Before the debaters of Southern Xia could celebrate the imminent victory due to the increasing silence of their Northern Desert counterparts, they were struck by a shocking piece of news that left them utterly stunned.
Excerpt from "Summer History: Biography of General Mai"
Amai felt a pang of heartache at her tears and gently advised, "Do not cry anymore; it is of no use. You must live well to comfort your father. Besides, it is not certain that something has happened to him. I too have once stood guard on the city wall, and I survived, did I not? Let us leave this place for now, and when the turmoil has subsided, we can return to search for your father."
Let go! Amay said softly
A dozen or so soldiers from the Northern Desert marched through the alley, brandishing torches and grumbling, clearly dissatisfied with their haul
A-Mai was jolted by the impact, and in her arms, there was now a wailing baby. In her panic, she had no time to think and hurriedly pulled Xu Xiuer back into the room, tightly closing the door. Without the burden of the baby, Tang Shaoyi's sword energy surged, and in the blink of an eye, two or three soldiers from the Northern Desert fell under his sword. The group of Northern Desert soldiers, unable to approach the door due to Tang Shaoyi's sword wind, heard someone shout, "Set fire!" Immediately, several torches were thrown into the room. Tang Shaoyi swung his sword to knock down a few, but one torch still struck the window. The group of Northern Desert soldiers, unable to approach the door due to Tang Shaoyi's sword wind, heard someone shout, "Set fire!" Immediately, several torches were thrown into the room. Tang Shaoyi swung his sword to knock down a few, but one torch still struck the window.
Excerpt from "Memoirs of the General Who Conquered the North"
The small leader cast a sideways glance at A Mai, scrutinizing him up and down, and the more he looked, the more displeased he became: this kid was tall and thin, and his hair was so short that it could barely be tied into a small braid at the back. This was hardly the attire of a Southern Xia person; he was clearly an outsider!
Tang Shaoyi had already recognized Amai. He glanced at her and coldly said, "You are definitely not a local, where did you find a local girl?" He then turned to Xu Xiuer and said, "When the northern nomads attacked the city, countless soldiers from our Southern Xia died and were injured. After breaching the city, the nomads carried out a massacre of our soldiers, even killing the surrendered troops without mercy. Your father is probably long gone, and you will not be able to wait for him here!"
Under the illumination of the flames, Amai felt that the man being pursued looked somewhat familiar. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the officer leading the troops whom he had encountered when he first entered Hamburg City.
Upon her remark, both Amai and Tang Shaoyi regained their senses and turned their gaze towards the distant Beimo military camp, unconsciously furrowing their brows
Amai's mother said: "Have another one, a child is too lonely by themselves, they don't even have a companion"
Tang Shaoyi's face suddenly turned red, and he stared at Amai, unable to speak. Amai let out a scoff, shook off Tang Shaoyi's hand, and walked briskly with her back straight towards the city outskirts. Indeed, she feared death; she wanted to live. For the sake of survival, she had endured even more humiliating situations than this. What did it matter to kneel before the people of Beimo?
Tang Shaoyi was also angry at his own uselessness, which led him to vent his frustration on Amai. However, after Amai retorted a few times, his anger subsided. Now, seeing Amai in such a state, he felt even more regretful for being too impulsive earlier. He wanted to step forward and say something soft several times, but he couldn't bring himself to do so, so he just lowered his head and silently followed behind Amai
Amai shouted, "Yes!" and only hurriedly got up from the ground after the group of cavalry had walked far away. He said to Tang Shaoyi, "While there is no one around, let's quickly leave the city!"
Upon hearing this, Amai realized that it would be impossible to escape easily with Xu Xiuer today. Therefore, he refrained from further unnecessary talk and lowered his head to pinch Xu Xiuer's philtrum with his fingers. After a while, Xu Xiuer finally exhaled slowly, regained her composure, opened her eyes, glanced at Amai, and then began to cry.
Xu Xiuer can be considered a strong woman; she cried for only a moment before gradually stopping, merely sobbing softly. Over there, Tang Shaoyi had already changed into a complete set of Northern Desert soldier's uniform and tossed two more sets over, saying: "Hurry up and put them on"
Amai revealed a mocking smile on her face and said, "You are not wrong in your insults; I truly am not a man. I just want to survive. You are a man, a man who stands tall and firm, but why are you still alive now?"
Jiang Chengyi came to his senses, feeling an inexplicable anger rising within him. He cast a cold glance at Amai, but as he was about to urge his horse forward, he noticed Xu Xiuer, who was frozen in fear. He paused for a moment and softened his tone, saying: "Madam, you should leave the city quickly and not linger here."
Tang Shaoyi raised his thick eyebrows, his face filled with anger, and exclaimed: "You?"
Chang Yuqing suddenly raised his arm and pointed with his riding whip at a section of the city wall, laughing at his deputy, Jiang Chengyi, beside him: "Haha, Chengyi, look at that southern barbarian, he can't even hold a bow properly. It's hard to believe that someone like him is here to defend the city wall. This shows that Nanxia truly has no one left."
Until half a ladle of water reached the bottom, the piece of bread that had choked A Mai was finally swallowed down, accompanied by coughing and choking, with tears and mucus already streaming down his face
As soon as Tang Shaoyi finished speaking, Xu Xiuer let out a mournful cry, her body went limp and she fainted. Amai hurriedly supported her, cradling the child in her arms, and angrily shouted at Tang Shaoyi: "She is merely a weak woman, with no grievances or enmities with you, why must you speak so cruelly? Must you sever her last hope?"
The little soldier on the city wall would either be scared to faint or wet his pants. Chang Yuqing smiled with satisfaction and casually tossed the longbow to the guard beside him. At that moment, he could never have imagined that years later, he would regret having shot that arrow a bit too high; how wonderful it would have been if he had aimed two inches lower.
Thank you," Amai said in a hoarse voice. Her voice was originally somewhat deep, and just now it had been scratched by the rough bread, making her voice sound even more hoarse
Tang Shaoyi was filled with indignation, yet he could not deny that Amai had a point. He hurriedly removed the Northern Desert army uniform he had worn over his clothes, revealing the blood-stained blue battle robe underneath. Amai sneered and said, "I wonder whether the Northern Desert people treat their own deserters better or their enemies better"
Boss, the courtyard gate is wide open, it seems that everyone has already fled, should we still go in
The starlight outside the door filtered in, casting a mottled light on the person. Only then did Amai carefully examine the young girl, noticing her slender figure, appearing to be no more than fourteen or fifteen years old. Her face seemed to be smeared with soot, making it difficult to see clearly, except for her pair of distinctly black and white eyes, which were quite lively.
Several soldiers, fierce as wolves and tigers, pounced on Amai. Before Amai could react, they had already bound her tightly with ropes. Amai looked down at the ropes on her body and quickly pleaded, "Gentlemen, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. I am an honest citizen; how could I possibly be a spy? If you don't believe me, please untie me, and I will show you my travel permit!"
Indeed, the young general's gaze was drawn to Amai. Upon noticing that the general was looking at him, Amai hurriedly bent his waist and repeatedly said: "General, please see clearly! I am truly wronged!"
A-Mai's father awkwardly removed the diaper from his face, glancing nervously at A-Mai's mother, and quietly asked, "So what do you think we should call it?"
The nearby bodyguard hurriedly took down the longbow from his back and presented it with both hands. Chang Yuqing received it, nocked an arrow, and drew the bow to its full extent. Squinting slightly, he aimed at the person on the city wall, relaxed his finger, and with a loud bang, the sharp arrow was released, accompanied by a piercing whistle that cut through the air, racing towards the timid soldier of the Southern Xia on the city wall
This punch stunned Xu Xiuer, but it awakened Tang Shaoyi. He had merely spoken offhandedly earlier and never expected that A Mai would have the audacity to retaliate. In his anger, he raised his fist, intending to strike A Mai again. However, upon seeing A Mai defiantly lifting her chin at him, along with the slight upward curve of her lips, he suddenly felt his face flush and his heart race. His face turned completely red, and despite glaring for a long time, he could not bring himself to throw that punch. He could only let out a cold snort, awkwardly turning his head away and muttering under his breath: "Really like a woman, still has the nerve to fight back!"
On August 26, the army arrived outside Taixing City via Beimo East Road, and on the 27th, they completed the siege, waiting for the 100,000 troops led by Chang Yuqing from the western route
A-Mai realized that her suspicions were indeed correct. The man, seeing that the child was not crying in Xu Xiuer's arms, intended to have Xu Xiuer hold the child for him. Given that so many soldiers from the Northern Desert were pursuing him, it was highly likely that Xu Xiuer would meet with misfortune if she accompanied him outside. Under normal circumstances, A-Mai would not concern herself with such matters, but today, since Xu Xiuer had saved her life, she could not bear to watch her follow this man to her death. She had to muster her courage and forced a smile, saying: "General, my sister does not know any martial arts. Accompanying you outside would likely only be a burden to you. I suggest that while the Northern Desert soldiers have not yet reached here, you should quickly take the child and leave. We will certainly not disclose your whereabouts."
Later, Amai kept wondering, if at that time Niu Er had called her not "Mai Sui" but "Dong Gua," would she then have to be called "Mai Dong Gua"? At the age of five, she shared this question with Amai's mother, who was selling wine. Amai's mother wiped her damp hands on her apron, then smiled shyly and said, "You child, how could we call you Dong Gua? The name Mai Sui is so wonderful! What a name rich in local flavor! Your father and I thought for a long time before giving you this profound name!"
Chang Yuqing charged out from the Northern Desert formation on horseback, heading straight for the city gate. The city gate had just been breached by the Northern Desert army's battering ram, and soldiers from both sides were entangled in combat. Chang Yuqing brandished his spear and rushed in, targeting soldiers clad in Southern Xia armor, and within a short time, he had toppled more than ten Southern Xia soldiers. Jiang Chengyi, seeing him in such a fervor, did not dare to stop him, but fearing that the commander might be at risk amidst the chaos, he could only wield his long knife and protect Chang Yuqing alongside his personal guards. A group of dozens of cavalry unexpectedly charged ahead of the Northern Desert army and broke into Hamburg City.
A glimmer of admiration flashed in Tang Shaoyi's eyes. Xu Xiuer, hearing Amai's words, felt her face flush with embarrassment. However, given the perilous situation, she could not afford to be overly concerned. Following Amai's advice, she took off the military uniform she had only partially donned and styled her hair into a bun, resembling a woman. The three of them quickly tidied themselves up, not daring to linger any longer in that place. Xu Xiuer held the child, while Amai and Tang Shaoyi supported her on either side as they exited the courtyard.
Chang Yuqing had long been somewhat impatient with his mature young aide. Hearing him bring up the marshal's orders again only fueled his annoyance. He slightly pulled on the reins to slow down a few paces and cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Chengyi, who was closely following behind, and asked with a half-smile, "Deputy General Jiang, which of your ears heard me say that I wanted to massacre the city?"
Amai was startled, and soon after, she heard a chaotic sound of hooves rushing towards the city gate. The fear that had been suppressed in her heart finally reached a breaking point, and she could no longer bear it. Instinctively, she wanted to turn and run, but was grabbed by Tang Shaoyi, who said, "They are on horseback; we can't outrun them! Let's hide for now!" With that, he pulled Xu Xiuer and Amai to hide behind a broken wall.
The young girl nodded, fearing that Amai might choke again like before, and brought a ladle of water to her. Amai smiled shyly, lowering her head to look at the snow-white steamed bun, feeling somewhat reluctant to take a bite; she had lost track of how long it had been since she had eaten a white flour bun. Now, as the faint aroma wafted over, her saliva began to flow abundantly. She glanced at the young girl, too preoccupied to express her gratitude, and lowered her head to devour the bun hungrily. It was not until the third bun was downed that Amai's pace slowed. As she reached for the fourth bun, just as she was about to stuff it into her mouth, she suddenly remembered that the girl only had five buns in total. How could she eat them all? With that thought, she reluctantly placed the bun back into the bundle and handed it back, softly saying, "Thank you"
The sorghum cake was already dry and tough, and after Amai had gone an entire day without a drop of water, taking a bite caused her to choke, causing her to stretch her neck. She pounded her chest vigorously, but it had little effect, and it seemed she was about to lose consciousness from choking. A sense of sadness welled up in Amai; after weathering so many storms, she never expected to meet her end over a piece of sorghum cake. If she were to see her parents in that other world, would they laugh themselves to death at her predicament? A sense of sadness welled up in Amai; after weathering so many storms, she never expected to meet her end over a piece of sorghum cake. If she were to see her parents in that other world, would they laugh themselves to death at her predicament?
Tang Shaoyi wore a stern expression and remained silent, suddenly swinging his arm to strike Amayi, landing a punch squarely on his cheek, sending Amayi's body flying. Amayi was momentarily stunned by the blow, unable to attend to the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and could only look up in a daze at Tang Shaoyi
Hamburg is divided into eastern and western cities. The eastern city is home to the government offices and affluent neighborhoods, while the western city is primarily a working-class area. The area adjacent to the western city wall is considered the poorest part of the working-class district, inhabited mostly by the most destitute commoners. For them, managing to secure three meals a day is already quite an achievement, and it is unlikely that they would have any gold, silver, or jewels hidden away in their homes. This group of soldiers from the Northern Desert has truly come to the wrong place to loot. No wonder they have searched through more than ten households without finding anything of value, and by the end, they had lost the will even to kick down doors.
On the 28th day of the 8th month in the 2nd year of the Southern Xia calendar, the city of Hamburg fell. The city defender Liu Jing committed suicide on the city wall, while his wife Chen and their two daughters hanged themselves in the residence, and their only son went missing
Xu Xiuer was suddenly taken aback by Amai's unusual behavior, her tear-filled eyes wide open as she stared blankly at Amai, forgetting to cry. Although Amai wore a wicked smile on her face, she inwardly lamented: how could this girl be so dull, showing no cooperation at all? She should at least cry, shout, and struggle to make it look convincing; otherwise, how could I continue the act? I can't really tear her clothes off! Moreover, even if this girl is slow to react, Tang Shaoyi should at least realize that she is acting, yet he shows no response at all. Amai turned around and scolded the dazed Tang Shaoyi with a smile: "Damn it, you little brat, don't you know to come over and help? If others catch a whiff of what's happening, there won't be any share left for us."
Not far outside the city gate, on a small earthen slope, the stern-faced commander of the Northern Desert Western Route Army, Chang Yuqing, sat upright on his warhorse, the corners of his mouth slightly pressed, seemingly hinting at a trace of cold laughter, his expression focused on the siege battle unfolding in the distance. Dozens of black-clad, gleaming-armored guards stood silently behind him, maintaining an astonishing silence amidst the clamor of the battlefield, even the warhorse beneath him appeared to be a spectator of this battlefield, indifferent and detached
"General..." Jiang Chengyi stiffened his neck, wanting to persuade further, but was choked by a cold snort from Chang Yuqing, leaving him no choice but to remain silent
All the generals responded in unison, but only the voice of Deputy General Jiang Chengyi carried a hint of hesitation. After a moment of deliberation, he still said: "General, I..."
The couple was in silence when they heard Niu Er from the town shouting in the courtyard: "Manager Mai, I have harvested all the wheat from the fields and laid it out in the yard for you. This year's harvest is exceptionally good, the wheat ears are really big!"
There is an example that has been cited: if two people on the street argue for a while without resorting to physical confrontation, one can be certain they are from the southern region; if they exchange only a few words before coming to blows, it is evident that they are from the northern region.
As soon as these words were spoken, the "female ghost" immediately struggled less, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at A Mai with a pitiful expression
After a while, the two felt the temperature around them rising increasingly, and the air becoming thinner. Amai thought to himself that this time it was truly over; rather than being burned to death here, it would be better to face a quick death outside. He shouted to Xu Xiuer: "Let's go, we charge out!"
The pile of firewood is actually shaking
In contrast to the noisy and chaotic city of Hamburg, the Northern Desert Camp located outside the city is somewhat quiet. The candlelight in the central tent remains lit, where five or six Northern Desert generals have gathered, quietly discussing something around a square table. The leading young general remains silent, only bowing his head to examine the map on the table. The flames on the candlestick flicker, causing the elongated shadows projected on the tent to come alive.
The small leader who was questioning seemed to sense that Ah Mai's response was somewhat off, but for the moment, he could not pinpoint what was wrong. A soldier approached from the side and whispered, "Boss, just looking at this kid, he doesn't seem like a good person. He is tall and strong, yet he is so fair-skinned, almost like a woman. He might be a spy from the north!"
Within the city of Hamburg, more than ten thousand soldiers from the Northern Desert who participated in the daytime siege are still indulging themselves
Suddenly, a hurried sound of footsteps came from outside the tent. A general clad in armor lifted the curtain and reported in a deep voice: "General, the forty thousand cavalry are fully prepared and can set off immediately. Please give your orders, General."
The soldiers of the Northern Desert have already forcefully climbed the city walls, wielding their large blades to strike at the defenders of the Southern Xia. The heavy blades cut into the bodies with a dull thud, and those struck widen their eyes as they fall backward, their expressions filled not only with terror but also with a hint of unwillingness. Before the attacking soldier could even celebrate, his abdomen was pierced by a spear that seemed to have emerged from nowhere. Blood flowed out along the groove of the spearhead, and as he looked down, he saw the bloodied tip being pulled out from within himself.
"General!" Jiang Chengyi hurriedly spurred his horse to follow, urging, "The Marshal has issued an order: the city must not be slaughtered"
Following the offensive routes of the two northern armies, the astute observer can immediately discern that both forces are aimed at the same target—Taixing. Consequently, the point on the map representing Taixing City has been circled and marked repeatedly by the generals of various nations, rendering it unrecognizable.
Amai stared at the helmet in her hand, still stained with blood, and after a moment of hesitation, she gritted her teeth and put it on her head. Bullets and arrows do not have eyes; she certainly did not want to die on this city wall. However, judging by the current situation, the chances of leaving here alive were indeed slim.
This group of people arrived surprisingly quickly! It is now too late to hide.
Amai's lips curled slightly, revealing a helpless smile. Alas, the feeling of hunger returned; she thought that once she was too hungry, she would no longer feel it. Amai sighed, got up from the ground, and groped her way into the house, wondering if the owner would leave some food behind. Even if it wasn't cooked, there should at least be something raw, right? Amai thought aimlessly as she stealthily entered the house. In poor households, there is usually no distinction between kitchen and bedroom; most of the time, people sleep in the inner room and cook in the outer room. If there was food, it should be in the main room. After groping for a while, Amai indeed found half a sorghum cake by the stove. She was overjoyed, thinking that heaven truly did not intend to let her starve to death. Without considering whether it was edible, she hurriedly stuffed it into her mouth. Just as the cake reached her lips, Amai suddenly froze, staring intently at the pile of firewood beside the stove.
"What a load of nonsense!" the leader of the Northern Desert soldiers cursed, "How many places have we turned over, huh? Damn it, we haven't found anything valuable at all. Not to mention women, we haven't even found a single hair. It seems we are just unlucky; how did we end up in such a place!"
When Amai was caught on the city wall, Hamburg had long been besieged by the northern nomadic troops, with no way for water to leak through. Looking down from the wall, there was a dense mass of people below. Amai peeked out, immediately gasping in shock, and quickly lowered her body to hide behind the parapet. Given the situation, could this city still hold? If it could hold, that would be a sight to behold in broad daylight!
A-Mai slowly raised her head while holding her waist, just in time to meet Jiang Chengyi's grim face, startled by the murderous intent in his eyes. According to her original expectation, this group of people should have ignored their actions and simply ridden past, as such occurrences were commonplace throughout Hamburg City. If it were not for the deliberate indulgence from above, how could these regular troops have fallen to such a state? But what is happening now? Why is there a general from the Northern Desert drawing his sword in the face of injustice? According to her original expectation, this group of people should have ignored their actions and simply ridden past, as such occurrences were commonplace throughout Hamburg City. If it were not for the deliberate indulgence from above, how could these regular troops have fallen to such a state? But what is happening now? Why is there a general from the Northern Desert drawing his sword in the face of injustice? Is it not your orders that govern military discipline? Have you ever seen a thief calling for the capture of a thief?
General Mai's wife, Xu, was also from Hamburg. In the autumn of the year Bingwu, the northern desert attacked Hamburg. General Mai climbed the wall with a wooden pole, killing many enemies and displaying unparalleled bravery among the entire army. The enemy general, Chang Yuqing, feared him and shot arrows at him, breaking his helmet tassel. When the city fell, General Mai sustained seventeen wounds and, exhausted, hid in a residence. Fortunately, he encountered Xu, who rescued him from the chaos of battle. General Mai, grateful for her kindness and loyalty, made a marriage proposal to her
Certainly, this example is somewhat exaggerated
In the second year of the Southern Xia Shengyuan, and the seventh year of the Northern Desert Tianxing, the negotiation table between Southern Xia and Northern Desert remained a battleground of sharp words and heated discussions
As the three rushed into the courtyard, they suddenly heard a loud crash behind them; the roof beams had collapsed due to the fire
Chang Yuqing let out a cold laugh and said, "Send the order down, those soldiers participating in the siege may enter the city, regardless of military discipline, while the rest shall remain outside the city to set up camp." After finishing, he swung his whip in the air, and before Jiang Chengyi could speak, he spurred his horse and left, with his personal guard hastily following behind.
Xu Xiuer hurriedly rolled over with the child in her arms. Amai covered the three of them with the soaked cotton quilt and huddled by the water jar, thinking that delaying for a while was still better than nothing. She hoped that the man outside was strong enough to defeat the Northern Desert soldiers; otherwise, she would truly become a roasted duck this time. Seeing Xu Xiuer trembling beside her, Amai quickly took the child and forced a smile, shouting, "Don't be afraid! This place is bare and has nothing worth burning; it will extinguish itself soon!"
Amai secretly lamented her misfortune; she had unexpectedly found herself in a predicament akin to imprisonment. Little did she know that in such a short span of time, she had already traversed the gates of the underworld and returned. Currently, the situation between the Southern Xia and the Northern Desert was rapidly escalating, with war in the northern territories on the verge of breaking out. Many captured suspects were executed without even undergoing an interrogation, and for someone like her, being sent to prison was already considered a stroke of luck.
Joke: Whoever does not go will be killed by them in this prison; going out might still offer a chance for survival! When A-Mai waved his fists and shouted "Fight for the country and kill the enemy," the quick-witted prisoners immediately reacted and raised their arms, shouting along, "Fight for the country and kill the enemy." In an instant, the prison was filled with excitement, and the patriotic fervor reached unprecedented heights. This hardly resembled a group of scoundrels engaged in theft and robbery; they were clearly a group of passionate and valiant men!
Before he had finished laughing, a yellowish, indistinct object came flying towards him, landing squarely on his face
Xu Xiuer was obedient, trembling as she got up from the ground, clutching the child and staggering towards the city gate. A Mai, seeing her so frightened yet not forgetting the child, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief; as long as this girl took the child out of the city, the rest would be much easier for her and Tang Shaoyi.
Upon seeing A Mai's face, Jiang Chengyi was slightly surprised, not expecting that this young soldier would be so handsome. Although the slogan "Look at the inner self, not the outer appearance" has been shouted by the entire world for over twenty years, most people still unconsciously judge others by their looks. If the person lying on the ground today had been someone with a repulsive appearance, Jiang Chengyi would have undoubtedly struck him with the second whip without hesitation. However, now he found himself unable to bring himself to do so.
Regardless of the dynasty, the food in the prison has never been good. Chewing on a half-straw, Amai began to reminisce about the piece of dark bread she had gnawed on outside Hamburger City, which was so chewy in her mouth that when washed down with tea, it could even elicit a satisfied sigh from her stomach. Of course, her stomach was growling now as well, the sound emanating from her abdomen was somewhat muffled, and it was not very pleasant to hear, prompting Amai to tighten her belt once more
After a long while, Ah Mai finally managed to calm her racing heart, only to feel an unbearable hunger creeping in again. She turned her head to glance at the 'female ghost,' yanked out the half piece of sorghum cake that was still lodged in the 'female ghost's' mouth, patted it with her hand and blew on it a couple of times. Ignoring the 'female ghost's' horrified gaze, she quickly stuffed the cake into her mouth and swallowed it forcefully.
Tang Shaoyi said: "The organized army of the Northern Desert is manageable; if we avoid them, we should not encounter too many problems. What we fear most now is the small groups of scattered soldiers from the Northern Desert. There is a dense forest to the east of the city that stretches all the way to the territory of Suzhou. We need to find a way to enter that forest first, and then reach Taixing before the Northern Desert Tartars do!"
In the early autumn sky, which is clearly clear, a drizzle of blood, like scattered stars, begins to fall in the city of Hamburg, landing everywhere in a vivid crimson hue
The voice should be loud and tremulous, the expression sincere and filled with sorrow, and it is best to prostrate oneself on the ground to demonstrate loyalty. These are the points that Amai's mother once mentioned to pay attention to when crying out for injustice. Amai took these points very seriously, but considering that he was bound too tightly, prostrating himself could very likely lead to a situation akin to a dog eating feces, so Amai chose to stand and cry out for injustice instead
A-Mai was also struck by a few lashes and hurriedly picked up a bow from the ground to shoot down towards the city. She had no idea how to shoot an arrow; she merely imitated the actions of those around her, pulling the bowstring back without even aiming, closing her eyes as she released it. Although she exerted considerable force, the arrow fell straight down, and a scream was heard from below, as a Northern Desert soldier, who had climbed halfway up the siege ladder, fell headfirst down.
Although Ah Mai's voice was soft, it was exceptionally firm, "No, in this broken era with a shortage of medical resources, what if there is a difficult labor? If something were to happen to you, how would I live alone in this world?"
Before Amai's words had even finished, she felt a tightness around her waist, and then everything began to spin. Her body unexpectedly lifted off the ground, crashing against a half-broken wall before rolling down to the ground, causing her to feel an intense pain that nearly made her faint.
Outside the tent, the personal guards had already brought over Chang Yuqing's warhorse, Zhaoye Bai. Chang Yuqing mounted the horse, and the firelight cast a cold, flickering glow on his armor, reflecting on his face and adding an extra chill to his already stern features. "General Chengyi," Chang Yuqing called Jiang Chengyi to his side, leaning down from his horse to whisper with a smile, "I entrust my hundred thousand troops to you. Remember to lead the army well to outside Taixing City for me!" After laughing heartily twice, without waiting for Jiang Chengyi to respond, he led his personal guard and galloped away.
Tang Shaoyi looked at Amai's appearance and felt displeased, yet he patiently asked, "What are your plans?"
The prison was enveloped in silence. After a moment, Amai was the first to raise his hand and shout loudly: "I will go! To fight for the country!"
The wife of the Chen family, who sells tofu next door, has a belly that grows big and then small, then big again, while the children of the Chen family grow like gourds on a shelf, one right next to the other. However, Ah Mai's mother has shown no signs of change in her belly. During her free time, Ah Mai often stares blankly at her mother's belly, eagerly hoping that it will also grow big one day. Eventually, Ah Mai's mother noticed this and asked, "Ah Mai, what are you looking at?"
The young commander was merely a lowly lieutenant. Hearing A-Mai repeatedly call him general, the expression on his face softened somewhat; however, he did not respond to A-Mai, but instead asked the escorting soldiers a few questions before instructing them to take A-Mai to the prison first.
Chang Yuqing had long known that the Marshal appointed Jiang Chengyi as his deputy to keep him in check. Throughout the journey, he had been annoyed by Jiang's incessant chatter. After enduring until this division of troops, how could he allow Jiang Chengyi to remain by his side? Seizing the opportunity, he altered the original plan, assigning Jiang Chengyi to lead a separate army, the further away the better. Now hearing Jiang Chengyi bring up the same old arguments, Chang Yuqing felt a surge of anger within, yet he did not show it on his face. Instead, he smiled and said, "Chengyi, rest assured, I will not personally engage in battle this time, and there is no need for you to guard me. Moreover, you are the deputy of my Western Route Army, not my personal bodyguard, so how can you focus all your energy on such trivial matters? The affairs of tomorrow are of great importance and require someone as meticulous as you to handle them, so there must be no mistakes!"
Xu Xiuer was already so frightened that she was dumbfounded. Fortunately, she had developed a conditioned reflex to Ah Mai's commands. Upon hearing Ah Mai's instructions, her emotions did not need to be cultivated; she opened her mouth and cried out "Wow". Ah Mai, disregarding Tang Shaoyi's astonishment, suddenly knocked Xu Xiuer to the ground, deliberately tearing at her clothes while hoarsely chuckling, "Light beauty, don't cry. I will take good care of you!"
Tang Shaoyi held a child in his arms, who was crying loudly, unsure whether it was due to being choked by smoke or being overly frightened. Xu Xiuer could not bear to let the child cry continuously, so she walked over to Tang Shaoyi and softly said: "Sir, please let me hold the child. If he keeps crying like this, he will be too distressed."
"It won't get any better," Tang Shaoyi also became furious and said, "How can you be so narrow-minded? You have already sent them back, what more do you want? Miss Xu cannot walk fast, I am carrying her, you are holding the child, let us hurry and leave, lest we encounter the Northern Desert Tartars and cause more trouble!"
Oh. A-Mai honestly responded and followed behind.
This time, Amai's mother did not answer Amai's question, but simply smiled and patted the top of her head
At this time, the western army of the Northern Desert had just arrived at the front of Hamburg City, eighty li north of Taixing City.
The "female ghost" nodded with tears in her eyes, and Ah Mai cautiously loosened her grip a little. Seeing that the "female ghost" indeed did not scream again, she completely released her hold and squatted down on the ground, letting out a long sigh. At this moment, she was not afraid of people or ghosts, but was worried that any noise would attract the soldiers from Beimo.
Amai hesitantly took it, and upon opening it, she couldn't help but feel both surprised and delighted; it was actually five fragrant and soft steamed buns. She was somewhat incredulous and asked, "For me?"
Amayi was born in May, which is precisely when the wheat turns yellow. Just back from the gates of hell, Amayi's mother lay weakly on the bed, her complexion still pale, and softly said to Amayi's father: "Please give the child a name."
Seeing the little girl so frightened, Amai did not know what to say and could only smile awkwardly. Both fell into silence. The little girl, noticing that Amai no longer exhibited any rude behavior, gathered some courage. Hearing the rumbling of Amai's stomach, she quietly got up, rummaged through the pile of firewood in the corner, and returned to hand Amai a small bundle.
In early August, the Northern Desert suddenly dispatched 200,000 troops to launch a two-pronged attack into the northern border of Southern Xia, instantly changing the situation dramatically
Xu Xiuer's legs had long since gone weak, and she could only walk with the support of Amai and Tang Shaoyi on either side. As they drew closer to the city gate, Amai's heart began to tighten with anxiety, thinking that once they passed through that gate, they would escape this hell on earth. As the three were walking, Tang Shaoyi suddenly stopped, whispering, "Someone is coming from outside the city!"
A-Mai glared fiercely at Tang Shaoyi without saying a word, while Xu Xiuer, gradually regaining her composure, was moved and confused to see the two of them in a tug-of-war. She hurried over and asked, "Brother Mai, what happened to you? Huh? Why is there blood at the corner of your mouth?"
That day, Mother said: "Amai, run quickly, run to the back mountain, you must survive, live well!" From that day on, she was no longer the pearl in Father's hand or the cherished daughter in Mother's embrace. From that day on, she was merely a person wrapped in a chest protector pretending to be a man, a person without any principles or sense of shame, a person who would do anything to survive
The young girl was secretly observing Amai. Her name was Xu Xiuer, and she lived alone with her father. Two days ago, her father was conscripted by the authorities to guard the city wall, and he had not returned since. Later, the soldiers from the Northern Desert invaded the city, causing the neighbors to scatter in all directions. Xu Xiuer initially wanted to flee as well, but she was afraid that her father would return and not find her, so she dared not leave home. Outside, the Northern Desert soldiers were burning, killing, and looting, and Xu Xiuer, hiding behind a pile of firewood, was already so frightened that her legs felt weak. When Amai stealthily entered the room, she thought a villain had come in, and she was so scared that she trembled all over, nearly crying out. Now, seeing that Amai showed no signs of threatening her and spoke in a gentle and polite manner, she felt that although it was indeed inappropriate to be in a dark room with a stranger, her heart gradually felt at ease, and she was no longer as frightened as she had been when she was alone.
That night, when Amai got up to pee alone, he heard murmurs coming from the bedroom of the next-door parents.
Seeing the two in such a state, Xu Xiuer was both angry and anxious, and with a choked voice said: "What do you want to do? What will we do if we encounter the Northern Desert Tartars again? Ahead are the Tartar military camps; where are we supposed to go?"
From far outside came the sound of the Northern Desert troops' battle cries. Xu Xiuer felt afraid and unconsciously moved closer to Amai. Seeing her fragility, Amai hurriedly comforted her in a soft voice, "Don't be afraid. We are far away from there, and this house is already in ruins. They probably won't come back."
Do not cry, as my father once said, crying is a sign of weakness, therefore, she must not cry
Amay looked up and stared at Jiang Chengyi for a moment. Then he quickly realized that it was not the time to have a staring contest with this handsome guy in white armor. He hurriedly crawled a few steps and grabbed Tang Shaoyi, kneeling on the ground, tremblingly shouting, "General, spare our lives! General, spare our lives!"
Jiang Chengyi followed the direction and looked over. After a moment, he couldn't help but smile. There was a soldier from Nanxia on the city wall who would stick his body out every now and then and shoot an arrow randomly. After shooting, he would quickly crouch down and hide behind the wall. After a while, he would stick his head out again and shoot another arrow. Eight out of ten arrows ended up falling outside the city wall with their heads down, while the other two were shot aimlessly and didn't hit anyone.
At the beginning, although the food was extremely poor and insufficient, it could at least sustain the body's minimum needs. However, for some unknown reason, since two days ago, no food has been provided, only some water, which was reluctantly given after much pleading. Amai has already sensed that something is amiss. Indeed, on the eleventh day of imprisonment, a jailer led a group of fierce-looking soldiers into the cell. After the jailer opened the cell door, the leading soldier, without saying a word, immediately struck down a prisoner, brandishing a bloodied knife and shouting: "The northern nomads have come. Those who do not wish to die, follow me to defend the city. Anyone who fights valiantly against the enemy will be exempt from punishment! Who will go?"
A-Mai collapsed onto the ground, staring blankly at the towering flames behind her, a wave of fear washing over her. If she had come out even a moment later, she might have perished in the inferno. Xu Xiuer, having been set down by Tang Shaoyi, was also so frightened that she fell limp to the ground. After a moment, she finally realized that the bodies of the Beimo soldiers were lying all around them, and she let out a terrified scream, scrambling towards A-Mai for safety. A-Mai, feeling helpless, could only offer a few words of comfort to help her calm down.
Jiang Chengyi withdrew his gaze from Xu Xiuer's frail figure, shaking his head involuntarily. In the chaos of war, how could such a weak woman carrying a baby survive? Even if he saved her this time, what about next time? Jiang Chengyi coldly glanced at Amai and Tang Shaoyi, who were kneeling on the ground, and said in a cold voice, "I will spare you this time, but when you return to the team, each of you will receive twenty lashes." After saying this, he snorted coldly and led dozens of riders behind him, galloping towards the city. Jiang Chengyi coldly glanced at Amai and Tang Shaoyi, who were kneeling on the ground, and said in a cold voice, "I will spare you this time, but when you return to the team, each of you will receive twenty lashes." After saying this, he snorted coldly and led dozens of riders behind him, galloping towards the city.
Amai was taken aback, pulling Xu Xiuer and running towards the courtyard, intending to hide in the same place where she had just concealed herself. However, as soon as she stepped out of the door, she was stunned. The alley was already ablaze with fire, and more than ten soldiers from the Northern Desert were chasing a Southern Xia general holding an infant, who had already reached the entrance of the courtyard.
Amel sneered, "You are a man of great integrity, how can you let such a shameless person like me hold your child? It's better for you to hold the child yourself!" After saying that, he turned and walked down the road to the east.
The general of the Northern Desert, who was just about to act, slowly retracted his whip, his expression chillingly frightening. He was none other than Jiang Chengyi, the deputy general of the Northern Desert army, left here by Chang Yuqing. After the city was breached, regardless of military discipline or the orders issued by Chang Yuqing, Jiang Chengyi, as the deputy general, had no authority to alter the commands of the commanding general. However, he simply could not bear to watch as these soldiers rampaged through the city, committing acts of arson, murder, and pillage. In desperation, he chose to stay outside the city to avoid witnessing the atrocities. He had intended to enter the city in the morning and directly consolidate the various units, but unexpectedly, he encountered such a disgraceful scene upon his entry.
Uh-uh Amir here, clutching his neck and pounding his chest. The "female ghost" next to him stared blankly for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening. She hurriedly crawled out of the haystack, frantically scooped half a ladle of water from the corner water jar, helped Amir up from the ground, and poured it into his mouth while vigorously patting his back.
There are about 1,000 guards in the city, while the residents, ranging from the elderly who are 80 years old and still able to move to newborns who can cry, total no more than 20,000 people when including men, women, and children. This number is hardly enough to fill the gaps in the mouths of the northern desert army, which explains why even the prisoners in the dungeons have been sent up to the city walls.
The Northern Desert Iron Cavalry arrived first at the gates of Hamburg, with over ten thousand cavalrymen forming a line. Although this was of little use for attacking the city, it served as an impressive display, first shaking the courage of the Southern Xia soldiers and simultaneously dispelling their thoughts of abandoning the city and fleeing. No matter how strong two legs are, they cannot outrun four. Therefore, brothers, let us settle down and defend the city!
Less than six kilometers south of the tea house is a small town. When Amai arrived at the north gate, the sun had just passed overhead. She looked up at the two blurry characters "Hamburg" on the city tower, feeling her hunger intensify. She couldn't help but lick her lips and tighten her belt. That piece of unleavened bread wasn't enough to satisfy her hunger. She regretted drinking so much tea earlier!
When the window paper encountered fire, the flamboyant flames immediately wrapped around the window frame, rolling into the room with thick smoke. A-Mai felt a deep sense of despair; given the current situation, it was evident that the Northern Desert soldiers had no political awareness of capturing live prisoners. If she ran out, she would surely be cut down by a flurry of blades. But if she did not run, the fire was clearly about to burst out from the inner room, and even if it did not turn into "roast duck," she would still be suffocated by the smoke. A-Mai looked down and saw that the child in her arms had already cried out of voice. Gritting her teeth, she shoved the child into Xu Xiuer's arms and turned to dash into the thick smoke of the inner room. Moments later, when she rushed out again, she was holding a tattered cotton quilt. A-Mai did not have time to explain to Xu Xiuer; she rushed to the water jar in the corner of the room and soaked the entire quilt in water, then turned back and shouted to Xu Xiuer: "Come here! Hurry up!"
Tang Shaoyi took the child from Amai's hands, and as soon as the child was in his arms, he began to cry loudly. A trace of sorrow flashed across Tang Shaoyi's face, but he soon became resolute and said coldly: "I will not hide it from you, this child is the only son of Lord Liu, the city guard. Lord Liu's entire family has already perished for the country. I must do everything I can to preserve this last bit of his bloodline. Today, she must help me take this child out of the city, otherwise—" Tang Shaoyi paused and threatened, "Then do not blame me for being impolite."
Of course, these are old records from over a decade ago
The renowned general Zhou Zhiren of the Northern Desert led an army of 100,000 from the Eastern Route. After stealthily crossing the Yanci Mountains, he swiftly attacked Lintong, seized the Ziya River, and under the cover of night advanced to the northern stronghold of Nanyin, directly targeting Taixing City. Meanwhile, another 100,000 troops from the Western Route, led by the rising star of the Northern Desert, Chang Yuqing, traversed the eastern grasslands of the Western Hu Kingdom, moving southeast through Liangzhou, Maocheng, and Xiaoge City, advancing with little resistance.
Hamburg Small Town has never been a military stronghold, so the city defenses have never been taken seriously. The city walls are low, there are no moats, and no city moats, which means there is no need for drawbridges or the like. Even the city gate is merely a bare gate tower, without even a barbican. A few paces outside the city, some caltrops have been set up, but they appear sparse and pitifully few, clearly hastily placed, and they hardly serve to block anything.
A soldier from the Southern Xia next to him called out to Amai, and without knowing where he had found it, tossed a helmet over to Amai. While shooting arrows down towards the city, he shouted, "Brother, well done, put this on, be careful of the Tatar arrows, and shoot hard at these beasts."
A-Mai dodged Xu Xiu'er’s outstretched hand, casting a cold glance at Tang Shaoyi. Tang Shaoyi, feeling somewhat embarrassed, awkwardly said: "If you are angry with me, just hit me back; don’t act like a woman, crying and whining."
Chang Yuqing's words were abruptly cut off, and with a smile that was not quite a smile, he asked, "What is it? Does Chengyi think there is something wrong with my arrangements?"
Amai naturally does not believe it; she eagerly hopes for the arrival of a brother or sister to see what names her parents might give them
Amai had just straightened up when the bowstring had not yet had the chance to relax, and she felt as if her head had been struck hard by a heavy hammer. The strong inertia sent her flying backward, crashing her body heavily onto the ground. For a moment, Amai could only see stars dancing before her eyes, and her ears were filled with a buzzing sound, drowning out everything else. After a while, she finally regained some composure, dazedly removed the helmet from her head, and was horrified to discover that a long arrow was precisely embedded in the top of the helmet.
Adjacent to the western city lies a cluster of low adobe houses, their cramped courtyards squeezed together and interconnected by several deep and winding alleys, resembling a tattered spider web, lazily sprawled on the ground, unable to support its own structure
Amai hurriedly shouted, "I am wronged, I am wronged! I am a merchant heading south, and I have the travel permit issued by Dingzhou Prefecture on me!"
At this time, the three hundred thousand border troops of Southern Xia were still stationed along the northern front at Jingyang and Lishui, in a standoff with the so-called Northern Desert army. The soldiers guarding the border of Southern Xia were somewhat confused; clearly, the hundreds of thousands of troops from the Northern Desert were right across from them, so how could another two hundred thousand troops have appeared behind them? Were the two hundred thousand Northern Desert troops that emerged from the cracks in the rocks?
As soon as the words fell, a loud shout was heard from outside: "Over there, hurry and chase!" Immediately, the sounds of shouting and killing grew closer, seemingly coming this way.
It seems that the tongues of the southern people are often more agile than those of the northern men, and as the conversation unfolds, the scales of victory gradually tilt towards the south
A soldier from the Northern Desert, holding a torch, pointed towards the Eastern District and shouted: "Boss, listen to how lively it is over there. Why don't we head that way too?"
In fact, Amai is not considered very tall, standing at just over 1.7 meters. In the time and space of her parents, this would have been regarded as tall at most. However, here, not only does she stand out among women, but she is also considered relatively tall even among men.