The progress of the war was not as smooth as Jackson, the commander of the Eight-Power Allied Forces, thought.
Even after using cannons to blast away the barricades and bulldoze the houses, there was still fighting in the ruins, and the bravery of the soldiers who suddenly fired cold arrows only gave him an even greater headache.
Fortunately, the Eight-Nation Allied Forces are still moving forward, and their offensive momentum has not stalled.
Two hours later, they had crossed the trench-like barricades and approached the square of Jinmen.
It was originally a place in a busy city. Later, a church was built, so a large piece of chartered open space was built into a square for believers to parade and rest.
Gradually, this place became a popular place for tourists.
But now, even the angel sculpture in the fountain is stained with a layer of black, and the surrounding gunfire is rumbling, making this place no longer peaceful and quiet.
This is just a battlefield, not somewhere else.
Ren Qi rode across the square, and everyone looked at him.
He did not respond to these glances, but drove his horse to the division's iron soldiers.
The division iron soldier was very upset and whispered: "I should die together with Nie Huo, because we both violated your orders and only focused on chasing the fleeing enemy."
"But you're not dead, are you?"
Ren Qi looked at him sideways, "If you don't die, don't rush to die, because there is always a chance. You don't have to worry about saying that you violated orders, because you are not a soldier and can't do what is forbidden.
Even among soldiers, aren’t there some who run away from battle? ”
Having said that, he had no intention of staying.
But the division iron soldier still felt ashamed, "Many people died because of my rash actions, but I am still alive."
When Ren Qi heard this, he finally whipped him in the face, causing a blood mark to appear on Shi Tie Bing's face.
The division iron soldier frowned, blood dripping from his face, his expression unchanged.
"This is not your punishment."
Ren Qiduan sat on the horse and looked at the division iron soldiers from the corner of his eyes.
"Do you think these people were killed by you? Then you are too self-righteous.
No one wants to die on purpose, everyone wants to live. Even in that dangerous situation, some people go there because they believe that a miracle will happen to them.
Look, no one wants to die, and no one takes death as an honor. The reason why they died was just bad luck and lack of strength.
Even Nie Huo died in the battle formation because he was not good at studying. ”
The division iron soldier's eyes widened, burning with rage.
"Ren Qi, he once called you brother!"
Division Iron Bing's fists clenched loudly, and he had no objection to being whipped by Ren Qi just now. However, when Ren Qi commented on Nie Huo's death in such a cold and ruthless way, he felt a raging fire burning in his chest.
"You should apologize, Ren Qi, because they died heroically and died for the retreat of many people, rather than just dying on the battlefield because of incompetence, as you said."
Around him, people from the Shitiebing family were filled with indignation and felt the bias and one-sidedness in Ren Qi's words.
However, Ren Qi just sneered.
"Whether they died on the battlefield because of incompetence does not depend on my opinion, but on those of you who survived."
Ren Qi glanced at everyone with the most severe scrutiny.
"The last words Nie Huotuo brought to me, he said whether the death of the White Lotus Sect is meaningful does not depend on him, but on me.
I also leave this to you. If you want to make his death meaningful, it depends on what you do. What you ask for verbally is of no use at all. ”
With that said, he kicked the horse in the belly and continued walking forward.
"Wait."
The division iron soldier stopped him and pointed to the scar on his face, "I will remember it."
"You can remember to seek revenge from me at any time."
"No."
Shi Tiebing's eyes were determined, "I mean, I will remember your words. Nie Huo and everyone in the White Lotus Sect died, but as long as we remember, their death will not be in vain."
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"It's best if you understand." Ren Qi nodded slightly.
The division iron soldiers cupped their fists and said: "Please also issue a new military order to us, let us be the commander!"
【Commander? 】
Ren Qi smacked his lips a few times, as if he was trying to taste whether this title was right or not.
However, Shi Tiebing was very serious and had no intention of using this title to belittle or attack the yin and yang.
After a pause, Ren Qi said to the division's iron soldiers: "I have to go to the General Military Mansion. Before that, you guys stay in the square. I think the Eight-Nation Allied Forces are running out of energy and won't be able to attack here for a while. .”
"Then what if a call comes?" Division Tiebing asked worriedly.
Ren Qi pointed over there and said, "Keeper Chen is here. If anything happens, you can find him."
"I understand."
The division iron soldier cupped his fists and said: "Take care!"
"Take care!"
Ren Qi rarely returned the greeting to others, and then rushed towards the Governor's Mansion.
At this time, according to the battle report, the forward of the Eight-Nation Allied Forces was probably only five miles away from the Governor's Mansion. Ren Qi was riding on his horse, and he could clearly hear the roar of cannons in the distance.
If it were any closer, I'm afraid stray bullets would hit the General Military Mansion directly.
From the official start of the war until now, Ren Qi's sword has not killed a foreigner or drank the blood of any enemy, but he is not in a hurry.
Because he knows that the war will never end, and the enemies will never be killed. No matter how angry and belligerent he is, he doesn't have to worry at this time, because the enemies like a wave will come up on their own.
Ren Qi rode his horse through the desolate and dilapidated streets. From time to time, several desperate people were startled and screamed, thinking that the iron hooves of the coalition forces had stepped on this place.
Just as he was heading towards the General Military Mansion, two people stopped him.
In fact, they were not standing in the middle of the road. They just held their fists and Ren Qi reined in his horse.
The attire of those two people gave Ren Qi a familiar feeling.
Dressed in black, with a thick sword as thick as half a person's height behind them and two palms put together, these two people are disciples of the Divine Sword Sect.
The Shen Dao Sect is the sect that Ren Qi studied in before.
"Senior brother."
The two of them clasped their fists respectfully, "Master has come to Jinmen and wants to see you."
"Master?"
Ren Qi frowned.
He knew very well what kind of person his master was, ruthless and cold-blooded, who liked to eat, drink, whore and gamble.
However, he is not a depraved person, because even when he sleeps, he puts the knife next to his pillow.
Master had no children in his life, it seems that the sword is the continuation of his life, a part of his life, and will always exist in the world instead of him.
Such a person definitely did not come to Tianjin to fight against the Eight-Nation Allied Forces.
Ren Qi did not move, so one of the two people said again: "Master said that he is here to end everything. Please go there."
"End it all?"
Ren Qi still didn't move. Another person added: "The man in Yujing who killed your whole family entrusted the master to come to Jinmen."
Bloodshot eyes immediately appeared in Ren Qi's eyes, "Where is the master?"
"Dock."
……
Ren Qi rode towards the dock.
Somehow, this place should have been completely burned by everyone according to the plan, and the fire should have been continuous, preventing the Eight-Nation Allied Forces from landing.
However, the fire only scratched it, leaving some charred areas, but did not completely destroy the dock.
Ren Qi rode forward, and where he could see the sea, he collided with the people from Shen Dao Sect.
The leader of the Divine Sword Sect, the Golden Sword Sword Emperor Xu Canghai, was sitting on a cargo box with one leg crossed, waiting for Ren Qi at leisure.
His head is full of white hair, and even his beard is as white as snow. The ravines on his face that look like knives prove that he is no longer young.
However, his posture is tall and straight, and his breath is stable and thick, which makes people feel that he is in the prime of life and cannot be associated with the word aging.
Ren Qi jumped off the horse and knelt down on one knee.
"Unworthy disciple Ren Qi, pay homage to Master!"
Xu Canghai hooked his hand and motioned for him to get up.
"Ren Qi, we haven't seen each other for ten years, right?"
"It's almost the same. I'm busy with official duties and can't spare any time to see the master."
"You are indeed busy."
Xu Canghai flicked a grain of sand out of his fingernails.
"I remember that one year, I and my disciples had just completed a matter entrusted by a big shot in the palace, and we were waiting outside the palace gate for the big shot to come out for acceptance.
Suddenly, heavy snow fell on our face, with pieces of goose feather snow as big as the palm of our hand, which could kill people.
I told the guard at the palace gate your name, saying that it was Ren Qi, the master of Commander-in-Chief Ren. I wanted to take shelter from the snow under the eaves of the gate, and I also wanted to meet you and talk about old times.
The guard was a good person. After taking a few grains of silver from me, he turned around and went in to report.
We stayed in the snow for half a night before the guard finally came back.
He didn't ask us to come in, he just opened his palm and threw a few grains of silver to me, which was a little less than what I gave him originally.
I understood it at that time and told him: It doesn't matter if I can't see Commander-in-Chief Ren. I'll just use this money to drink tea with you, military master. Don't be polite.
Unexpectedly, the guard sneered and said: Commander Ren said that he is very busy and has no time. He is busy with official duties. With these few taels of silver, master, please buy some charcoal to warm yourself up.
The palace gates are tight, and for an irrelevant person like you, it's best to go back and forth where you want.
When I heard this, I just felt that there were a few more white hairs on my head. ”
Xu Canghai's smile was very bitter, but he didn't mean to be angry.
"I also know that people like me, although they can be ranked in the northern martial arts world, have a low status and have been taught by many masters, but I have never stood there for most of my life. Next step under the tower.”
"No way."
Ren Qi said frankly: "Compared with Master, I only have a good life."
"Isn't it enough to have a good life?"
Xu Canghai sighed: "Prince and prince, isn't it also because of your good fortune? That's why your father can give me seventeen yellow notes and ask me to accept you as my disciple. That's because he knows that after you become a master in fighting Ouchi, , this little money can be earned back quickly
And at that time, I could tell at a glance that you were a born bad guy. Even if Confucius were to come back, he wouldn't be able to teach you well. I didn't want to accept you because I hate disloyal and unjust people the most in my life, and you will definitely become a bad guy in the future. This kind of person, so I don’t want to accept you.
It's a pity that I owe a gambling debt. If I don't have seventeen yellow notes to repay the debt, my reputation will be ruined and I will no longer be able to survive in Yujing.
I don't have a choice, you don't have to choose, that's why our lives are different. ”
Xu Canghai raised a box up from the ground with his feet and motioned for Ren Qi to sit closer.
Ren Qida and Ma Jindao sat down, face to face with Xu Canghai, their knees were almost touching.
"I remember when you were a child, I taught you how to practice swordsmanship. We sat so close on the first day."
"Yes, you teach me Zamabu."
Ren Qi was deeply impressed, "I remember that at that time, I watched other people practice martial arts. Zamabu should be done while standing, not sitting. When I was wondering, you kicked my stool over and told me to throw it down.
Then you told me: Zamabu means standing as if sitting. ”
"That's right, I teach everyone this."
Xu Canghai smiled, "Everyone fell as badly as you did."
Ren Qi touched his chin, "Compared to other things in the future, I always feel that that fall was actually the lightest."
After recounting the past, Ren Qi got straight to the point: "Master, you mean, do you know who the person who killed my whole family is?"
"Yes, I know."
Xu Canghai still crossed his legs, "Because it was he who sent me to kill you."
"Come to kill me again?"
Ren Qi seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world and couldn't help laughing.
Xu Canghai narrowed his eyes and looked at Ren Qi's throat with a pair of daggers, "Do you think I can't kill you?"
"I don't think so."
Ren Qi shook his head, "As you said, you taught us not to hold back, but it's easy for you to kill us.
I just laughed that you sent your senior brothers to kill me before, and now you do it yourself, what a big deal. ”
"No way."
Xu Canghai squinted his eyes, "Your wings are hard. Let alone killing you, ordinary people can't even touch you with a finger, so I can only do it myself."
"Who gave you such a job?"
Ren Qi said sternly: "That man killed my whole family. Even if he doesn't come to me, I will go to Yujing after the matter in Jinmen is settled.
No matter he is hiding in the Forbidden Palace or somewhere in the imperial mausoleum, I will find him and kill him. ”
"He won't hide."
Xu Canghai said calmly: "He is also waiting for you to go to Yujing."
After saying this, he recalled what he saw and heard when he entered the palace that day to receive orders.
"That was my first time entering the Forbidden City. It was only in the outermost corridor, across the threshold. I knelt there and buried my head almost on the ground, not daring to look around.
At that time, I didn't have the intention to look around, because I just felt that my whole body was drifting and my head was heavy and dizzy, as if I was dreaming.
I never thought that I would have the opportunity to be received by a highly respected prince and nobleman after having never stepped through the gate of the Forbidden Palace for most of my life. ”
"Who is that person?" Ren Qizhui asked.
"Him?"
Xu Canghai squinted his eyes and looked at the sun. It seemed that he was pierced by the sunlight, and there were some water splashes in his eyes, which were bright red.
"Prince Jade."
Hearing this name, even Ren Qi couldn't help but froze for a moment, sending chills down his spine. (End of chapter)