Chapter 2: In the Human Realm (Middle)
On the partially collapsed wall, several heads wearing helmets and wrapped in cloth are exposed; these belong to the marauding soldiers who plundered and ravaged this city
After using a small knife to strip away the rotten flesh and the parasitic maggots, and tightly wrapping it with lard and skin, I temporarily became an external member of their group
I am a good cook
yet still a cowardly individual
This is also the result of their wandering in this city, where they have engaged in multiple firefights with other marauders.
Resolutely, I engaged in a confrontation with these former comrades, eliminating them all, and also dealt with the incapacitated wounded.
I suddenly felt the hairs on my body stand on end, followed by a sharp whistling sound. A fiery line was drawn across my scalp, striking the wall with a loud thud, sending up a cloud of dust.
People like me would not look up to the worn-out things you roughnecks play with
However, it seems that I have performed too well, to the extent that they hold me in high regard, with someone constantly protecting or monitoring me day and night, leaving me with almost no opportunity. Being in the company of these fierce and ruthless individuals, even the slightest measures can bring about a terrifying catastrophe for me and those under my protection, or lead to a fate worse than death.
On the waters of the Luo River, a continuous line of sails and masts has appeared; these belong to the fleet of the transport camp, which has begun to seal the bridge. In contrast, on the opposite bank, around the direction of the imperial city and the circular walled granary, the sounds of battle are deafening, and the smoke and fire fill the northern city. Now, as I find myself in the southern city, all that remains is a deathly silence
I also possess some skills in treating wounds
As a result, due to suicides and/or being pursued and murdered, the four Tianjin bridges on the Luoshui River are filled with countless floating corpses, so solid that even an adult falling onto them would feel as firm as solid ground
However, despite enduring the nausea and fear, I, who appeared numb and compliant, still yearned to escape from them, return to my hiding place, survive this calamity and disaster, and complete this task, while also collecting the interest from those women that should have been accrued in one step.
Victims are often subjected to having their arms broken or dislocated in a familiar manner, to prevent additional resistance that could cause further obstruction and scratches. Then, according to the temporary hierarchy and seniority of the group, it is not uncommon for them to impulsively twist a neck or strangle someone to death. They have an ample supply of prey
A hoarse voice, as if it emerged from the hellish backdrop of flames and embers
Especially after witnessing the simple and genuine camaraderie among them, and the stark contrast to the brutal violence inflicted upon various innocent victims, there is a complete absence of compassion for the elderly, women, and children
The first to fall were the outer sentinels, followed by those lightly injured who were resting
But for the time being, we still need their tyranny to cleanse the numerous aristocratic families and their factions that have accumulated in this city like a swarm of locusts
Laughter erupted around, even the scar on his face twisted and contorted.
Then the leader and a few remaining confidants secretly slipped into a certain sewer to leave this place, but it seemed that an accident occurred, and soon someone chased after them, seemingly because they had not consumed the spiked drinks, or perhaps the quantity was insufficient
Whether noble or base, whether from wealthy or impoverished families, there is not a significant difference in status. The only factors that can measure their chances of survival are the height and thickness of the walls of their city or residence, as well as the determination and will of the surrounding populace to band together for mutual protection
Under the cover of twilight
The corner of my eye, however, was assessing the supplies and equipment they had acquired
A group of soldiers, exuding the smell of blood and gunpowder, are either standing, sitting, or leaning against the corners of the walls
Without exception, a chorus of ridicule ensued
Crossing over those twisted and grotesque expressions, piled haphazardly together due to smoke and suffocation, it seems like the first time I have killed someone, yet surprisingly, I feel almost no unease, fear, or any other negative emotions after having taken so many lives
A dozen or so playing cards, twenty or so spears, an equal number of broadswords, and even a gun-like object with a flared muzzle, along with a spool of fuse and several vials of medicine and other miscellaneous items, are said to be part of the newly established military garrison's supplies. They have reportedly suffered considerable losses in encounters with those overseas insurgents due to the skillful use of firearms, which has led them to develop some methods of utilizing firearms themselves.
I covered my nose, blocking out the roars, pleas, curses, and the promises of threats and temptations coming from behind the stone slab, which ultimately turned into a deathly silence
The laughter immediately subsided, and with a wave of the hand, a bloodied figure, half of whose body was mangled, was supported to stand before me. A strong stench of decay wafted from the exposed arm.
With my hands bound behind me and being pulled by a rope, I limped along behind, a large area on my thigh already swollen. But at least I was still alive, my bones unbroken, so I could still drag my feet to walk. Others who were of no use had already been dealt with, such as having their throats slit and bled out, becoming part of the many nameless corpses in the ditches by the roadside.
I dragged a bag filled with mud and dirt-laden food, carefully walking among the rubble. As my brief teaching career progressed, my familiarity with the surrounding environment, the local households, and the corresponding kitchen locations slightly expanded my range of activities. Under the charred and collapsed houses, I found some edible tubers and dried goods, as well as some salt and small pieces of cured meat.
A disheveled soldier, having released his bruised ankle, climbed up contentedly from a pair of quivering women's thighs and warmly beckoned to me.
This militia is composed of a more diverse group, most of whom were formerly among the countless rebels and bandits across the land. They were a few fortunate individuals who were recruited by the provincial governments, which recognized their own limited strength. As a result, they are not lacking in traits such as cruelty, ferocity, and other qualities necessary to survive in this chaotic and brutal world.
Brother, shall we not take advantage of the heat and go for it...
Everyone seems to be aware of the signs of a certain impending end. Like an ant nest drowning, they begin to abandon the last shred of hope, embarking on a final frenzy, disposing of the weak and heavily injured members. Then, due to the division of escape routes, they engage in a fierce conflict, after which they bring everything out and indulge in excessive feasting and drinking.
Limping slightly, he slowly walked out and sat down beside the pit, sighing at the dawn shrouded in darkness at the edge of the sky: "It is dawn..."
Unfortunately, as part of that unknown mission, I recall that there were several hideouts and supply depots. However, with the outbreak of hostilities, apart from this large ice cellar, none of them could be utilized again.
Thus, casualties are always inevitable, and fortunately or unfortunately, they have yet to find a competent orthopedic doctor, which has afforded me a slight chance of survival
The virtuous women hiding in the city walls to avoid disaster, although they cut off their hair, donned male clothing, and blackened their faces, could not escape the clutches of these people due to the traces left behind when they rushed out to fetch water, driven by unbearable thirst. The ill-fitting attire revealed their true identity to the violent soldiers, leading to a scene that was even more grotesque and visceral than the so-called dark and erotic literature seen in later generations, with a direct impact on the senses through both sight and sound
After all, as long as one is on the battlefield, there will never be a lack of opportunities to be injured. A crucial point of medical treatment may very well be the chance of survival
"Give you a reason, spare your life"
At the summit of Xiao Jingguan, there were more than a dozen unfortunate souls I had seen before, their heads gruesomely stuck together with bloodied hair, which made my heart ache with despair. It was evident that they had been killed after being toyed with for amusement, either due to a disagreement or for other reasons.
In the pot and the wine, I added everything I could find, and the outcome depends on fate
Oh ... ...
Perhaps there are still some who will survive, but it no longer matters. With the resounding sound of drums, those well-prepared armies gathered under the command of the powerful began to enter the city
After dawn, the taste of fresh blood and dust filled the mouth
The only scruffy mule pulled a cart behind it, piled high with the goods they had seized. Initially, it was a hodgepodge of household items, which were soon exchanged for the usual various circulating silks and satins. Then, these large and inappropriate items were discarded, replaced by shattered gold and silver vessels, and finally transformed into bulging bags filled with money and jewels
The chef ... ...
Although their number is small, they are also one of the most intolerant of my existence, because I can barely stand aloof from these atrocities. There are always a few sneers and sarcasms.
But I have never thanked them in the slightest, even though most of them have shown acceptance of me through their shoulder-to-shoulder camaraderie and hearty drinking and feasting, and have solemnly pledged to arrange for me a noble birth and a good woman once I leave here.
And those who are caught or brought in as newcomers, after abandoning basic human morality and shame under violence, fall even faster than these, with many fully loaded bad ideas and suggestions proposed by them in a state of self-abandonment.
I maintain an unchanging zombie face, while bowing down to adjust the mysterious ointment, making them somewhat bored, and soon others come to join.
That night, after waiting for a long time, the opportunity finally came. I fought against another group of unruly soldiers who occupied the pharmacy, and finally managed to gather most of the things.
Because of my demonstrated culinary skills and a little bit of first aid knowledge, I was kept behind, half coerced and half forced, and became their unofficial member. In order to protect me as a scarce resource, I even fought with another person who was lurking in a group of gangsters, resulting in several casualties.
This way, you can stew a pot of mixed porridge. There is still water in the ice cellar. As for firewood, in this scene of excessive fire, it is almost everywhere.
We all have the ability to make rice with meat, so what use do we have for you...
Even the most immature voice among them, scratching the slate, swearing to the sky and crying bitterly, he is actually just a sheltered child, who hasn't even dared to do much evil, giving him a chance to repent.
Among them, there were the Kinai soldiers who existed in name only, the Sixteen Guards who were filled with incompetent people, and the Imperial Guards and Palace Guards from the Daichin Palace, who were nothing but a show. There were also various miscellaneous troops who took advantage of the chaos, and even some retainers and family members of certain noble families...
Seeing him approaching with a raised knife, I quickly said.
They were among the rural soldiers from Yuanzhou who responded to the call to go to Beijing to support the king. They were part of a certain training group from Qingxu town. Qingxu town was one of the many military towns that rose up in Henan province to resist the so-called overseas rebels. It was also one of the rebellious towns that challenged the authority of the court, which was struggling to maintain its power in the capital region. However, Qingxu town had a relatively submissive attitude towards the government.
So, in response to the call for the great diligence and loyalty, I was sent as a cannon fodder to express our stance and explore the situation. Then, like everyone else, I became one of the trapped turtles in this huge city.
Although the other party's eye sockets were swollen and cracked, their mouth and nose were bleeding from the violent beating, and they had completely lost their breath, they could still continue to ravage the corpse with a sense of unfinished satisfaction, and then proudly show off who left behind more things and persisted longer.
After several days of frenzied slaughter and pillaging in the city, the various groups of armed men, who had gathered but not dispersed, reportedly numbered in the dozens, both large and small. Although encounters inevitably led to fierce clashes, the capital was simply too vast, large enough to provide them with ample space to wreak havoc while still leaving a sufficient number remaining.
After the city gates were blocked, they attacked and looted every block and mansion they could see, venting their fear and confusion on innocent or not-so-innocent people. In the frenzy of fighting and killing, they burned their lives and energy hysterically.
As I was lost in my wild thoughts, I ran for my life, hoping to jump into the vertical well of the sewer... In the shadowy corner of the dark street, something like a tripwire tripped me, causing me to fall heavily to the ground. Before losing consciousness, I faintly heard, "Another one..."
Then, as the one responsible for exploring, I led them directly into a passageway filled with accumulated gas.
There are many corpses lying on the ground, regardless of gender, age, social status, or wealth. Almost all of them have been cleanly and neatly beheaded, and their heads are piled up on their completely stripped bodies to form a small observatory taller than a person. Fresh blood and old tainted blood flow down from the pile of corpses, merging into a pool of blood with solidified black clots floating on the surface.
Not to mention those ruffians in the market who switch jobs temporarily, there are as many as needed.
There are several new people who have the same resources or unwillingly joined, including heavy criminals who escaped from the urgent government prison, a self-proclaimed river and lake pirate who claimed to have killed more than ten people, a commoner who used to be a vendor, a shopkeeper's son who is said to be skilled in hardware repair, a former prison guard who killed several colleagues and offered a pledge of allegiance, and even a fat-headed and big-eared wild monk who killed his own host. Even those who were driven away and gradually joined a larger group, I gradually learned about the origins of these people. There is a shopkeeper's son who is said to be skilled in hardware repair, a former prison guard who killed several colleagues and offered a pledge of allegiance, and even a fat-headed and big-eared wild monk who killed his own host. Even those who were driven away and gradually joined a larger group, I gradually learned about the origins of these people.
This is also their final carnival. Perhaps after tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, it will be the day when those surviving powerful officials start to counterattack. And these soldiers and mobs ravaging in the city will become sacrifices for a new round of ambition and desire.