#491 - The Tribulation of the Common People (Part 1)
At noon, there were still four hours before the imperial army arrived at Niutou Mountain.
At this moment, the Niutou Mountain pass was eerily silent, with not a single person in sight. Even the few bonfires had been extinguished, leaving no trace behind.
Although there was still at least half a day before the battle began, everyone was already in position, quietly awaiting the arrival of night.
“Young Master, still two hundred li to go.”
On a low hill in the Niutou Mountain area, Chu Xianping once again quietly reported to Wei Changtian the current location of the imperial army's vanguard.
It had to be said that having an inside man like Han Zhao was great. There was no need for scouts, and they could directly grasp the latest movements of the enemy army at any time.
“Okay, I understand.”
Looking at the funnel-shaped wide valley below, Wei Changtian nodded gently, his expression extremely serious.
It was a pity that the old woman's son had died in battle, but now was clearly not the time to think about these things.
Including Chu Xianping, Liang Zhen, Liang Qin...
Everyone was actually like this. There were no distracting thoughts in their minds at all. The only questions they were thinking about were the various details of the great battle tonight.
Time passed little by little. After noon, dark clouds slowly surged from all directions, soon reaching the point of covering the sky and blocking out the sun.
Although it was said that autumn rain was usually rare, the rain in Shu Prefecture was not valuable. Even in this late autumn season, it would rain from time to time.
However, judging from the current thickness of the clouds, today's rain would definitely not be light.
“Young Master, one hundred and twenty li.”
Beside him, Chu Xianping put down the communication jade and looked at Wei Changtian, saying, “The enemy's marching speed is the same as expected. They should arrive at the pass at the beginning of Xu hour (7-9 PM).”
“Okay, is there anything unusual on Han Zhao’s side?” Wei Changtian asked in a low voice.
“No.”
“Good, tell him that from now on, he doesn’t need to send any more messages unless there are abnormal circumstances.”
Wei Changtian looked up at the dark clouds above his head: “Tell him to be careful himself and act according to the plan.”
“Yes.”
After responding, Chu Xianping immediately used the jade to send the final instruction to Han Zhao.
Wei Changtian turned his head and looked around again.
The mountains stretched endlessly, the forests rose and fell, and the dark clouds locked countless mountain peaks, the scenery was a blur.
There was no movement in the valley below, not even a single bird or beast could be seen. There were only countless shrubs and low trees, and the ground was covered with gravel and yellow sand.
The mountains were the edges, the valley was the bottom, and the dark clouds were the lid. Everything combined was like a huge coffin, waiting for tens of thousands of lives to be buried in it.
Conservatively estimated, the number of casualties in the imperial army tonight would be at least 150,000.
In other words, of the 200,000 people who were now aggressively advancing, only about a quarter would survive tonight, and the rest would be buried forever in this small valley.
These people were actually like Zhang Shi, who had already died, with wives, children, and parents, as sons, husbands, and fathers...
Their relatives would also be like that old woman, never able to wait for that familiar figure again.
From this perspective, Wei Changtian, Chu Xianping, Liang Zhen, and others were the culprits who destroyed more than 100,000 families.
Correspondingly, Ning Yongnian, Han Zhao, Wu Ding, and others were the same.
When the nature of war is not related to justice, everyone involved is actually an executioner.
To put it more extremely, this range can be extended to every soldier, or even every ordinary person on both sides.
Just like Voltaire's famous saying—
In an avalanche, no snowflake is innocent.
Whether it is voluntary or coerced, since you have participated in it, you must naturally bear all the possible consequences for your actions.
However, for these soldiers and civilians, it is not so much that they are paying for their actions, but rather that they are paying for the power struggles of those in power.
Dying for the benefit of others, this is actually the true cruelty of war...
In his previous life, this was a truth that Wei Changtian would never have understood.
But now, the experience of the past year or so had already made him understand all of this.
Therefore, Wei Changtian would certainly not suddenly transform into a "saint" because of some inappropriate "pity" and order the abandonment of this ambush.
However, just before all this came, he still felt a burst of emotion in his heart for no reason.
It can only be said... sigh.
Once heroes draw their swords, it is another ten years of tribulation for the common people.
At You hour (5-7 PM), the vanguard of the army was only fifty li away from the Niutou Mountain pass.
In the middle army slightly behind, Han Zhao's carriage was moving smoothly, with only him and You Wenzong sitting in the carriage.
“General Han, it seems like it’s going to rain.”
Lifting the curtain and looking outside, You Wenzong said softly.
“Shu Prefecture is inherently rainy, although this rain did come a bit suddenly...”
On the other side, Han Zhao replied casually, “But as long as it doesn’t affect the march, it’s fine.”
“Yes.”
You Wenzong nodded lightly and did not continue the topic.
He looked at Han Zhao, who was pretending to study the map of Shu Prefecture, and suddenly asked after a moment, “General Han, did you know Wei Changtian before?”
“Hmm?”
Han Zhao raised his head without showing any signs, frowning slightly: “I did see him a few times in the capital.”
“Is that so?”
You Wenzong raised his eyelids slightly: “Then does the General think that this son seems to have changed his temperament overnight?”
“This... indeed.”
Han Zhao didn’t know why You Wenzong was suddenly saying these irrelevant things, but he still cautiously answered his words: “It seems that he has become like a different person since he was exiled to Shu Prefecture.”
“Of course, perhaps he has been deliberately hiding his abilities.”
“Hiding his abilities? What’s the point of that?”
You Wenzong smiled: “The Wei family only has him as a single son, and there are no brothers fighting for power. Who is he hiding his abilities from?”
“Uh... Master You.”
Han Zhao was stunned when he heard this, and then shook his head helplessly: “I am just a reckless man, how can I understand these things.”
“General, you are being too modest.”
You Wenzong gently shook his sleeves: “Look, since you have no friendship with Wei Changtian, you know what he has done in Shu Prefecture, and even know when he changed his temperament.”
“It seems that the General must have predicted that this son would rebel in the future, so he is so concerned, right?”
“How can someone who is so good at predicting things be a reckless man?”
“...”
Outside the carriage, the dense sound of footsteps and various shouts continued.
But inside the carriage, it was silent for a moment.
Han Zhao turned his head to look at You Wenzong, his expression first puzzled, then surprised, and finally angry.
“Master You! What do you mean by this?!”
“Are you suspecting that I am colluding with Wei Changtian?!”
“I didn’t say that.”
You Wenzong’s tone did not change in any way: “This official just feels that the General seems a little nervous today.”
“General Han, there should still be an ambush in this Niutou Mountain, right?”
