#283 - Li Si?

How to choose between national righteousness and personal love seems to be a question without a correct answer.

The infamous tyrant, King Zhou of Shang, once said to Daji, "I would rather betray the world than betray you."

And General Cai E, who valued emotions deeply, also said to his confidante, Xiaofengxian, "Alas, this seven-foot body has already been promised to the country, it is difficult to promise to you again."

Another example is Huang Rong in Jin Yong's novels.

She once said to Guo Jing, "I don't care whether the world is worried or happy. If you are not by my side, I will never be happy." But in the end, she resolutely decided to fight against the Mongols and died in Xiangyang.

Throughout history, there have always been heroes who generously sacrificed themselves for the country and the people, and there has never been a shortage of infatuated people who would disregard the world for the sake of one person.

Later generations cannot criticize who is right and who is wrong, just like Liang Zhen at this moment, who also does not know how to face his daughter's choice.

"Qin'er, you . . ."

His mouth opened and closed several times, but in the end, he did not try to persuade her any further.

His thick palm gently pressed on Liang Qin's shoulder, gradually calming the latter's trembling.

"Okay, Dad will do as you wish."

Outside the window, the clouds cleared and the sky was clear, and the icy moon suddenly emerged. It was clearly a great battle about to begin, but the moonlight was excessively gentle and white.

In the corner, the sand in the copper clepsydra slowly fell, and there were still two hours before midnight.

"Creak ~"

At the end of a dead alley in Yuanzhou City, Wei Changtian, having "revealed his true form," stepped out, and the broken wood under his feet let out a whimper.

Although the "Invisibility Talisman" can hide the body, it only provides invisibility. The user still has a "collision volume."

Therefore, in order to avoid the Da Feng soldiers encountered along the way, he ran for half an hour to cover the dozen or so miles from Meishan to Yuanzhou City, barely managing to climb over the city wall before the effect disappeared.

Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened during this process.

"Who goes there?!"

Seeing Wei Changtian's sudden appearance, the soldiers immediately turned their gazes and shouted sternly, "Leave quickly!"

Good heavens, he only got discovered after walking to the base of the city wall. Has the city's defense force become so weak?

Wei Changtian sighed in his heart, shook his head, and casually pulled off his face veil.

"I am Wei Changtian."

"Wei Changtian?"

The Qingjia soldiers were puzzled at first, but then became astonished.

"You, you are Young Master Wei?!"

"It is I."

Wei Changtian walked a few steps closer, and his face became clear in the firelight.

"It, it really is Young Master Wei . . ."

The soldiers looked at each other with shocked faces, clearly full of questions.

Wei Changtian had gone to see Liang Zhen off when he led his troops away from Shu Prefecture, so most of the Shu Prefecture army had seen his appearance.

But isn't Young Master Wei in Shu Prefecture? Why would he appear in Yuanzhou City at this juncture?

"How is the situation in the city?"

Without waiting for them to express their confusion, Wei Changtian took the lead in asking, "Are Lord Liang and Miss Liang still alive?"

"Reporting to the Young Master, the Lord and the Miss are both fine."

A relatively quick-witted man was the first to react and immediately replied, "But this Yuanzhou City is probably impossible to defend any longer."

"Since it can't be defended, what are you still doing here? Why don't you hurry up and escape?"

Wei Changtian subconsciously retorted, causing the soldiers to be instantly dumbfounded, not knowing what to say.

Fortunately, Wei Changtian also realized his slip of the tongue at this time, coughed, and asked again.

"Ahem, where is Uncle Liang now?"

"Reporting to the Young Master, this humble one does not know. We only received orders to garrison here until midnight."

"Until midnight?"

Wei Changtian frowned: "What happens after midnight?"

"After that . . ."

The soldiers all shook their heads: "The squad leader didn't say, only that there would be further military orders at that time."

". . ."

Guard until midnight, and then they don't know what to do. Even Wei Changtian, who doesn't understand the art of war, can feel the strangeness in this.

However, it is useless to guess about these things right now. The most urgent task is to quickly find Liang Zhen.

"Are there any generals nearby?"

"Uh, no."

"Then where is your squad leader?"

"He just left a moment ago."

"Where does Uncle Liang usually stay?"

"It should be the Prefectural Office."

"Mm."

Time was pressing, Wei Changtian immediately pointed to the man who had been answering his questions.

"What's your name?"

"Reporting to the Young Master, this humble one is called Li Si."

"Li Si??"

"Yes."

"Alright then."

Wei Changtian curled his lips, and then ordered:

"It's you, now take me to the Prefectural Office!"

The hour of Hai.

Yuanzhou Prefectural Office.

The large yamen was empty, without even a soldier on guard, only a few candles that had burned to their roots and a sand table on the table indicated that this was indeed a "wartime headquarters."

"Why is there no one here?"

Wei Changtian, who had searched inside and out without finding anything, was full of doubts.

Li Si next to him was the same, scratching his head and muttering:

"It shouldn't be, Lord Liang and Lord Wen usually discuss matters here."

"Lord Wen?"

Wei Changtian suddenly remembered the name Chu Xianping had told him: "Could it be Wen Wen, the General of Liang Province?"

"Exactly."

Li Si nodded, then shook his head in confusion: "Speaking of which, it's strange, the Liang Province soldiers on the city wall all withdrew at dusk today, and I don't know what Lord Wen sent them to do . . ."

"Hmm?"

Wei Changtian narrowed his eyes: "You said the Liang Province soldiers all withdrew?"

"This humble one does not know about other places."

Li Si truthfully replied: "But that is indeed the case on the southern city wall. There isn't a single Liang Province soldier there now."

". . ."

"Whoosh ~"

In a slight rustle, another candle burned out, the flame suddenly flared up, and then abruptly extinguished.

And hearing what Li Si said, the unease in Wei Changtian's heart became even stronger.

Why did the Liang Province soldiers withdraw from the city wall?

Could it be that Wen Wen and Liang Zhen had an internal conflict?

What exactly will happen at midnight?

All these questions can be completely clarified by finding Liang Zhen.

But Wei Changtian never expected that although he had entered Yuanzhou City, he still couldn't find Liang Zhen!

This is just too much . . .

Taking a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, he opened his mouth and asked Li Si again.

"Besides here, where else might Uncle Liang be?"

"This . . ."

Li Si, as the most ordinary soldier, how would he know the general's whereabouts?

However, after thinking for a while, he tentatively replied:

"Young Master, since Lord Liang is not in the Prefectural Office, then he should be on the city wall."

"Why don't we search along the city wall?"

"Even if we don't meet Lord Liang, we might meet other generals who know Lord Liang's whereabouts, who knows."

"Mm."

Although there was no direct evidence to indicate that something big would happen tonight, Wei Changtian still decided not to delay for even a moment, and to find Liang Zhen and Liang Qin as quickly as possible, and then use the "Invisibility Talisman" to help the three of them escape from the heavily besieged Yuanzhou City as soon as possible.

"Let's go!"

The two immediately turned around and left the Prefectural Office, heading towards the East City Gate, which was closest to this place, by the moonlight.

The sand in the copper clepsydra continued to flow, and there was still half an hour before midnight.