Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3656: The black flag points to the cold night, the stars are gone, the turbid waves swallow the body, and the will is not sunk

Le Jinbu walked out of the east gate with heavy steps.

His firewood was exchanged for a dozen coins, which were then quickly turned into pancakes at a snack stall on the outskirts of East City.

He didn't go to the wine stand that the man mentioned because there were still people starving in the mountains.

The hustle and bustle of Anyi City faded away behind him, and the mountain mist poured into the gaps in his coarse linen and short jacket. It was a little cold, but far less than the anxiety in his heart.

He made a big circle and after confirming that there was no tail, he went into a hidden valley deep in the mountains north of the city.

This was the hiding place he and his only remaining confidant who was willing to die had agreed upon.

The bonfire had long been extinguished, leaving only a few dark red embers, like the eyes of a dormant animal in the twilight.

Several weather-beaten faces raised their heads in the shadows, looking intently at their commander.

"General!" A man came forward and whispered, his voice suppressing expectation and nervousness.

"Let's eat first." Le Jin took out a pancake from his pocket and handed it to them.

They took turns pretending to be hunters and woodcutters to make a living, but it couldn't last long. Because the household registration system around Anyi was gradually improving, even if they stayed in the mountains, they would be asked by the people they occasionally met at the foot of the mountain which village or village they were from...

Le Jin threw the empty basket aside and sat down on the ground.

"I saw General Xiahou." In a hoarse voice, he repeated in detail what he had seen in the city, especially Xiahou Dun's three fleeting gestures and the black pennant with white edges fluttering in the wind.

The bonfire was reignited, and the faint light danced on everyone's faces, reflecting solemnity and confusion.

"Is this referring to me, to the ground, and then to the flag?" An old soldier with a scar on his face frowned, "General Xiahou means that I am in a difficult situation, but there is a way out? That flag... does it mean that he wants us to meet him in the tavern?"

"It shouldn't be." Another person said, "Didn't you hear what the general said? General Xiahou is not only under surveillance inside the tavern, but also outside! And it's during the day. With a signal from the high platform on the street, all four doors are locked and you can't get out even if you run!"

Another younger scout shook his head. "If you were pointing the way, why were you pointing up in the air? Pointing down at the ground...to the cellar of the tavern? Did you want us to hide in the cellar?"

"That's impossible, isn't it?" Someone retorted, "How can we hide it in the cellar? Even if we can hide it, how can we get in there?"

"Could it be... underground?" Suddenly, another person said, "General, there is an old canal under Anyi City! Although it may be a little silted up, I heard that after the cavalry moved in, they ordered people to clean it up to drain sewage and divert water!"

"Underground? Canal?" Le Jin's mind moved. This explanation seemed more reasonable.

Xiahou Dun was under surveillance and the open road was blocked, so going through the underground canal was indeed a more likely route.

"What about the black flag? The pennant with white edges..." Another voice said, "Black represents the north? The flag is hung at the entrance of the tavern, and the direction it points to is... north?"

"Yes! North!" The scarred old soldier slapped his thigh, "North of Anyi City! The area north of the city was attacked by the Hussars before, and the collapsed city walls have not been completely repaired. The walls are relatively low, and... I remember that not far outside the north of the city is an exit of the old canal!"

"Also, General Xiahou pointed three times..." The young scout's eyes lit up, "Is it the third watch? It must be the third watch! It's today!"

Everyone talked at once, piecing together the fragmented clues.

As Le Jin listened, his thoughts gradually became clearer...

Le Jin finally spoke, his voice full of determination, "General Xiahou must have meant for us to sneak into the north of Anyi City at three o'clock in the morning and take the old underground canal to meet him!"

This explanation was accepted by most people.

However, problems ensued.

"General, the night curfew is extremely strict! The city gates are closed, there are dense patrols on the city walls, there are cavalry, secret sentries, spies from the Ministry of Information in the city, and there are gates that must be checked after the curfew! There are more than a dozen of us, and we are too conspicuous. It is impossible for us to sneak into the city quietly, let alone find the entrance to the canal!" The scarred old soldier was worried.

Of course Le Jin knew this.

Under Xun Chen's governance, Anyi City had restored order, but this order also meant strict control. During the day, the city could still be protected by the flow of people, but at night, it was a steel cage full of eyes and sharp teeth.

"We can't all go." Le Jin said firmly, "Choose three or five brothers who are the best and familiar with stealth, and follow me tonight. The rest of you, led by Lao Ba, bring dry food, ropes, grappling hooks, etc., and make sure to hide in the forest near the exit of the old canal in the north of the city after dark and before five o'clock in the morning! Remember, that is our only way out! If you hear a commotion in the city, respond immediately! If... if we don't arrive by dawn..."

Le Jin paused, his eyes sharp as a knife, "You can disperse on your own, and someone must return alive to report what you have seen and heard to the Prime Minister!"

Le Jin thought of the secret order, and the ink words on it seemed to burn his nerves again, making his heart palpitate.

"General, there are only three or five of us, maybe... why don't we all go?" said Lao Scar.

Le Jin shook his head, "No need! Old Scar, you are in charge of the outside of the city. Zhao San, Wang Wu, Sun Liu, Chen Qi, the four of you, follow me! Prepare short blades, hooks, fire starters, and... cloth strips to cover your mouth and nose! The smell in the canal will never be good!"

……

……

The night was as dark as ink, completely engulfing the city of Anyi.

Le Jin and his carefully selected assassins, like ghosts blending into the darkness, sneaked silently to a relatively secluded section of the city wall in the north of the city.

The soldiers who were patrolling normally on the city wall did not notice the infiltration of Le Jin and others.

Le Jin and others took advantage of the fleeting gap when the patrolling soldiers passed by each other, quickly rolled into the shadow under the wall, and slowly approached the canal.

The night wind whimpered as it blew across the battlements.

There was dead silence all around, with only the sound of the night watch clappers in the distance and the heavy footsteps of patrolling soldiers echoing on the stone road.

In a city under curfew, even breathing seems oppressive.

Le Jin relied on his memory of the daytime scouting and his keen sense of direction to sneak through the narrow and winding shadows. They avoided the bright spots and moved forward in the darkest corners, like mice in the shadows.

Several times, patrolling soldiers holding torches passed by the city wall, and the firelight almost licked the corner where they were hiding, and the rustling sound of cold armor plates rubbing against each other was very close.

Everyone held their breath, their hearts pounding, and their tightly grasped short blades soaked with sweat.

Finally, they found the target location...

A square stone canal entrance near the northern edge of the city, covered by half-human-high weeds and dumped debris.

There was an indescribable stench of rotting mud and sewage.

Le Jin signaled everyone to cover their mouths and noses with wet cloths, leaving only a pair of vigilant eyes exposed. He was the first to turn sideways and carefully slide into the cave that exuded a chilly and eerie air.

It was pitch black in the canal, and you couldn't see your hand in front of you.

The mud underfoot was ankle-deep, cold and slippery, mixed with all kinds of disgusting filth.

The air was so filthy that it was suffocating, and even a wet cloth could not completely block out the pungent stench.

They could only cling to the cold and damp canal wall, groping their way forward slowly, one step deep and one step shallow.

The canal is not a straight path. Sometimes it branches and sometimes it is so narrow that one can only squeeze through sideways.

Le Jin guided everyone forward relying on his vague memory of Anyi City and his judgment of the direction.

In the darkness, there were only suppressed breathing sounds and the slight sound of mud and water stirring underfoot. Every time I turned a corner, I was nervous, fearing that I would run into patrolling soldiers or collapsed earth and rocks.

It was unknown how long it had been, but just when everyone was tense to the limit, a very faint light came from the front...

The sound of gurgling water?

No, more like dripping water.

Le Jin's heart trembled and he signaled everyone to stop.

He stuck to the canal wall and moved forward like a shadow.

After turning a corner, the view suddenly opens up!
This seems to be a slightly larger confluence, and the top of the channel is also higher.

With the extremely weak moonlight cast by a broken fence above, Le Jin saw a figure!
The figure was curled up on the relatively dry stone platform at the confluence, motionless, like a dormant beast...

Although the light was dim, there was no mistaking Le Jin's familiar silhouette.

It’s Xiahou Dun!
Le Jin is taking a risk, and Xiahou Dun is also taking a risk!

He was not sure whether Le Jin could understand what he meant, but he still escaped secretly.

If Le Jin had not come, not only would Xiahou Dun have wasted the guard gap he had finally observed, but he would also be hunted down, and there might never be another chance!

But now, perhaps it was tacit understanding, perhaps it was coincidence, or perhaps it was some other reason, the two of them finally met each other.

Le Jin's heart was pounding and he almost cried out, but he forced himself to hold it back.

He imitated a very realistic cry of a night owl, which was one of the secret codes used by his former subordinates in Cao's camp to communicate in the dark.

The figure on the stone platform trembled suddenly and looked up! In the darkness, Xiahou Dun's eyes, which were originally somewhat cloudy and decadent, burst into a surprisingly sharp light, like a dying beast seeing a way out!

Le Jin quickly dodged and lowered his voice: "General! I am too late!"

Xiahou Dun didn't say anything, but grabbed Le Jin's arm with such force that he almost crushed his bones. His eyes were filled with excitement, disbelief, and an almost crazy desire to survive!
Xiahou Dun made a "walk quickly" gesture, and his movements were so swift that he didn't look like a decadent prisoner who had been drinking to drown his sorrows for a long time.

Le Jin felt relieved, it seemed that Xiahou Dun had not completely lost his fighting spirit. He immediately signaled the assassins behind him to come forward to help. One assassin quickly untied the rope he was carrying and prepared to tie it around Xiahou Dun's waist, so that they could support each other in the complex terrain. The others looked vigilantly in the direction they came from and the darkness deeper in the canal.

However, just as they walked back to the entrance of the canal, they heard someone suddenly ringing a warning gong not far away!
"escape……"

"Hurry up and chase..."

"Check……"

The chaotic shouting was transmitted sporadically in the night wind.

Immediately afterwards, there were the sounds of hurried footsteps and the harsh friction of weapons being drawn!

"Hurry up! We've been discovered!" Le Jin's heart sank, and he immediately drew his sword, "Hurry! Hurry up!"

Almost at the same time as the gong sounded in the distance as a warning, there were also chaotic footsteps and shouts coming from the area around the canal!

Obviously, the Hussars' monitors were not only in the distant courtyard, but there were also people on duty on the surrounding streets!

"Let's go!" Le Jin protected Xiahou Dun behind him, "Zhao San, cover the rear! Wang Wu and Sun Liu, protect the general! Chen Qi, follow me and lead the way! Quick! Get out!"

No time to hesitate!
Le Jin didn't bother to hide himself and hurried back with Xiahou Dun!

Not long after, Zhao San's roar was heard from behind, followed by the sound of close combat and screams, which erupted in the narrow, smelly canal, causing waves of heart-pounding echoes!

The escape turned into a bloody breakout!

Relying on their memory, they fled for their lives in the dark and filthy canals.

Behind him were the shouts and footsteps of pursuit, and the swaying flames that were getting closer and closer.

Ahead lies unknown darkness and possible blockades.

Arrows kept shooting in from the broken places or forks in the road above, and with a shrill sound of breaking through the air, they were nailed into the canal walls or fell into the muddy water.

Wang Wu groaned, fell to the ground after being shot by an arrow, and was instantly overwhelmed by the enemies chasing him from behind.

Le Jin and Chen Qi were like mad tigers, chopping down the sporadic enemies that blocked their way.

The mud and blood mixed together, and every step was extremely difficult. Although Xiahou Dun was weak, he burst out amazing strength at the critical moment of life and death, gritted his teeth and staggered forward.

Finally, they saw the entrance that was covered by weeds!

Faint moonlight shines through the cave!

"The exit is just ahead!"

Le Jin roared and chopped down an enemy who was rushing from the side.

However, just as they were about to rush out of the cave—

"Shoot the arrow! !"

A cold command came from a distance!
Several torches suddenly lit up near the city wall!

The sound of the vibrating bowstring whistled towards me, bringing with it death!

"Puff, puff, puff!"

Chen Qi, who was rushing in the front, was shot into a hedgehog in an instant. He staggered and fell into the dirty mud without even having time to utter a sound.

Le Jin and the only remaining Sun Liu dragged Xiahou Dun, almost crawling on the ground, and took advantage of the gap before the second round of arrows arrived, rushed out of the cave, and rolled into the weeds outside!
The arrows chased after them like poisonous snakes, nailing into the mud and stones around them, making a dull sound!

The hussars on the city wall shouted, as if to send people down to encircle and intercept!
The suspension bridge was lowered with a loud bang, and the pursuers were about to arrive!

"Quick! Go into the mountains!"

Le Jin ignored the pain of his arm being scratched by the arrow, and pulled Xiahou Dun towards the mountains and forests north of the city.

Sun Liu waved his sword, trying to block the flying arrows and cover them.

At the city gate, the pursuers poured out of the canal hole, and their torches connected together, illuminating the night sky in the north of the city.

The sharp whistles and hunting horns broke the silence, startling countless birds.

The pursuers were obviously well-trained. Some of them chased them closely, while others began to encircle them from both sides, trying to encircle them at the foot of the mountain.

Le Jin, Xiahou Dun and Sun Liu, the three of them were like stray dogs, stumbling and fleeing on the rugged mountain road.

The shouts and footsteps behind them were getting closer and closer, and the light of the torches was like a maggot on their tarsus, biting them tightly.

The forests are full of thorns and rocks, and every step is full of danger.

Xiahou Dun’s strength was finally exhausted and his speed slowed down significantly, his breathing sounding like an old bellows.

"General! Hold on a little longer! Old Scar and the others are waiting for us in front!"

Le Jin urged anxiously, looking back vigilantly.

The pursuers' torches are approaching!

He could even see the cold face under the helmet of the leader - it was the man who had interrogated him outside the tavern during the day!

At this moment, the man's eyes flashed with the excitement of a hunter...

"He is a lackey of the Youwen Division..." Xiahou Dun panted, his voice filled with deep hatred and a hint of despair, "You can't run away... You can't run away..."

Le Jin's heart sank to the bottom.

He looked around. Ahead was an even steeper hillside. Although the forest was dense, the pursuers were surrounding them in a fan-shaped formation. It was only a matter of time before they were blocked in this relatively open area on the hillside.

Even if Lao Ba and the others heard the noise and rushed over, it would be too late!

Sun Liu suddenly groaned as an arrow shot into his thigh!

He stumbled and fell to the ground.

"General, hurry up!" Sun Liu roared, and pushed Xiahou Dun towards Le Jin. He then pulled out the arrow from his leg, turned around, wielded his sword, and rushed towards the nearest pursuer, blocking him with his body!
"Magoroku!"

Le Jin's eyes were red with anger, but he knew that now was not the time to grieve.

He lifted up the almost exhausted Xiahou Dun and dragged him behind a huge rock with all his strength. The rock temporarily blocked the arrows.

The two men leaned against the cold, hard rock, panting heavily. Sweat, blood, and mud mixed together, making them look miserable. The footsteps of the pursuers were heard on both sides of the rock, and the light of the torches cast shadows of the rock on their faces, sometimes bright and sometimes dark. The encirclement was closing in quickly.

"Wen Qian..."

Xiahou Dun leaned against the rock wall, his chest rising and falling violently, his eyes no longer sharp, only bottomless fatigue and a strange calmness. He looked at Le Jin and said in a hoarse voice, "Prime Minister... in the secret order... is there any sentence that says "If you can't save me... then let me... volunteer to be loyal"? "

Le Jin was shocked and looked at Xiahou Dun. How could he know?!

Is it a guess?
still is……

Xiahou Dun looked at Le Jin's expression and smiled bitterly, with a kind of sadness that seemed to know everything. "Haha... As expected... Cao Mengde... is still Cao Mengde..."

He raised his hand with difficulty, pointing not at the enemy, but at the knife in Le Jin's hand.

"Wen Qian..."

Xiahou Dun's voice was deep and clear, with an unquestionable determination, "Give me the knife."

Le Jin's hand subconsciously grasped the handle of the knife.

All of a sudden, the cold words of the secret order, the burning sensation of the silk in his arms, Cao Xiu's empty eyes, Xiahou's possible rage, the fire and murderous intent that were getting closer and closer, all seemed to surge before his eyes...

Also, Xiahou Dun's terrifyingly calm, death-seeking look at this moment.

Should I hand over the knife and let General Xiahou "honorably" "voluntarily fulfill his loyalty" and complete the cold secret order?

still is……