novelnext Chapter 43 Secret Method
Chapter 43 Secret Method
When the dagger-wielder retreated to the shadows of the trees, he observed Mochin.
Seeing that the other party hadn't fallen for the trick, he didn't try to lead them any further.
"Nine-headed bird".
He spoke very slowly, word by word.
"Your marksmanship is excellent... You really don't seem like a newbie."
Mo Qin didn't respond; he was too lazy to reply.
Seeing that no one responded, he curled his lips into a smirk.
See you in Pyongyang.
After saying that, he disappeared into the forest.
At the same time, deep within the shadows of the trees, two more points of cold light flickered gently.
Yan Qi wanted to give chase, but after taking only three steps, she sensed something was wrong and immediately stopped.
I looked down.
Beneath the snow, there was a taut string, only half of which was visible, covered by floating snow.
Two more steps forward, and there's a trap.
On the snow, Liu Gao paused for a moment.
"Was my movement a little too fast just now?"
Lin Jun glanced at Mo Qin and responded with a smile.
"It is a bit fast."
Liu Gao looked at his hand in confusion and flipped it over.
That's strange.
"I mean, the shield doesn't seem so heavy anymore."
Mo Qin couldn't say for sure about the effects of the Cosmic General, so he could only talk about it in a serious tone.
"That's good, it shows you've lived up to your potential. I'm suddenly reminded of an old saying, you could be the league's vice GOAT."
Upon hearing this, Lin Jun remained expressionless.
"I didn't expect you to be a LeBron hater."
Liu Gao looked at the two of them.
"Can't you say something I can understand?"
Mochin, however, fell into thought.
Lin Jun, Liu Gao, and Yan Qi were all within five meters of him just now.
The power of titles is truly remarkable.
Although the increase was very small.
In a life-or-death struggle, even a fraction of strength, speed, or recovery could pull someone back from the brink of death.
It's unclear whether this effect is numerical, mechanic-based, or proportional.
It worked immediately!
Although it's a Pinduoduo version...
Liu Gao, who was standing next to him, kept asking questions.
Never mind, let's just get through this for now.
With a serious expression, Mo Qin continued his rambling.
"It's probably because you've been eating too much meat lately."
Liu Gao suddenly realized.
That makes sense.
Lin Jun looked like he wanted to sigh.
Yan Qi came back.
He simply looked at the spot where Mochin had fired his gun.
"That shot."
"How did you get around the shield?"
Mo Qin opened his hands, palms facing up.
There were light white marks on the tiger's mouth area from when I was firing the gun earlier.
"Zhao Zilong taught me."
Yan Qi's lips twitched slightly, then he raised the bow an inch to his shoulder and turned to look at the forest.
But the look in his eyes was very clear.
You're kidding me!
Not long after, Han Shouyi arrived with his men.
"One got away?"
Mochin remained unfazed.
"Yes, but I'm a great marksman, so I still managed to kill two of them."
Han Shouyi's face darkened.
"You're quite impolite."
With a sidelong glance, Mo Qin pretended not to see anything.
Han Shouyi didn't press further, but simply lowered his voice.
"It's a good thing to be capable."
"But don't chase after them recklessly."
"The woods outside the camp are deep, and the snow is falling heavily. If you get lured in, the whole camp will be talking about it tomorrow. You'll be courting death."
Liu Gao whispered from the side:
"Actually, I wanted to chase after him just now too."
Han Shouyi glared at him.
"Shut up."
Liu Gao immediately covered his mouth.
Zhou Hu arrived soon after.
He glanced at the corpse on the ground, then looked at Lin Xian.
"One escaped?"
Yan Qi nodded.
"There's someone waiting for us in the woods."
"There are still traps."
"It was the right thing not to pursue her."
After Zhou Hu finished speaking, he squatted down, looked at the katana-wielder's armor, and then began to rummage through the small pouch at his waist.
Mo Qin also squatted down and touched the lining and waist.
There were no food bags or spare clothes.
All I had was a knife, a thin rope, a flint and steel, and a thin piece of wood.
Strange symbols were also carved on the wooden piece, with three layers of semicircles stacked on top of each other in a continuous arrangement, resembling calm ocean waves.
Mo Qin handed the wooden piece to Lin Jun.
"Aokai Nami is Japanese."
Lin Jun took the wooden piece and glanced at it.
"Um."
As soon as the word "hmm" left his mouth, Lin Jun's eyes flickered.
She walked to the edge of the woods and parted a section of hemp rope that was covered by snow.
The rope end still had frozen blood on it.
"Someone's there!"
Liu Gao was taken aback.
"Who is it?"
As soon as Lin Jun finished speaking, Yan Qi rushed towards the back of a sloping hill at the edge of the woods.
The group followed and found three people tied to a crooked tree.
A woman, an old man, and a child.
The old man is still alive, but his lips are purple from the cold.
The woman was alive, but her eyes were no different from those of a dead person.
The child was about six years old, his face was ashen, he was leaning against her chest with his head tilted to the side, and he was no longer moving.
Yan Qi was the fastest and ran over to check the child's breathing.
It took him a while to withdraw his hand.
He closed his eyes and didn't say anything.
Mochin pressed the back of his hand against the back of the child's hand.
It was frozen solid, like a stone placed on the snow.
As he withdrew his hand and stood up, his chest began to heave violently.
Liu Gao's expression changed immediately.
"Dead?"
Everyone was silent.
The answer is already clear.
After the rope was loosened, the woman held the child, her body trembling, but she did not cry.
She's probably too exhausted to cry anymore.
Seeing this, Mo Qin broke off a small piece of bread from his food bag and stuffed it into her hand.
He doesn't understand Korean.
Even a woman might not understand him.
But when she put the cake in her hand, she still glanced at Mo Qin.
Liu Gao stood to the side, his lips moving slightly.
But he didn't say anything.
Because saying anything now seems meaningless.
Han Shouyi's face was gloomy.
"Take it back."
"Give it to the officials in Yizhou."
He then looked at the corpses of the two Japanese players.
"Drag the body back."
"Let the central army see."
This minor skirmish did not delay the main army for long.
The army continued its march towards Uiju.
The closer you get to Uiju, the more people you'll see on the road.
There were messy footprints left by refugees, tire tracks, and scattered long marks left by defeated North Korean soldiers.
Occasionally, you can still see traces of temporary thatched huts that have been erected and then dismantled, indicating that someone must have spent the night there.
Slowly, the outline of Yizhou emerged from the wind and snow.
The city gate wasn't particularly tall, but it still maintained the proper appearance of a border town.
Several sections of the crenellations were chipped, and there were old arrow marks and soot stains on the wall.
Several faded North Korean flags were planted on the city wall, their surfaces torn in half by the wind, still struggling to hold on.
People and officials were already waiting outside the city.
There are many ordinary people.
Someone was huddled under a tattered blanket.
Someone was sitting against the wall, holding a child.
Someone had set up a cracked iron pot on the snow, and a pot of snow water was boiling inside.
When they saw the Ming army approaching, they showed neither joy nor fear.
More than anything, I'm exhausted.
However, order was still maintained at the city gate.
Several North Korean soldiers stood upright, their armor tattered, supporting a dilapidated flagpole.
Several officials standing nearby wore dark robes, the corners of which were stained with mud. Their faces showed signs of exhaustion, but they still maintained impeccable manners.
Upon seeing Li Rusong's banner, they hurriedly went forward to greet him.
The middle-aged official at the head of the group bowed and spoke very quickly.
Shen Weijing was supported by two guards and hopped to the front on one foot.
My leg hasn't fully healed yet, but my mouth has already returned to its original color.
After listening for a while, he turned to Li Rusong and said:
"General Li, they say the city hasn't been evacuated yet, but supplies are running low."
"After the Joseon king fled north, the Uiju area became a temporary hub. Officials, defeated soldiers, and civilians all flocked here."
"The main force of the Japanese army is not here, but scattered soldiers and cavalry are constantly appearing in the vicinity."
"Yesterday, another group sneaked into a village in the north of the city, looted grain, burned houses, and kidnapped several able-bodied men."
Li Rusong only asked one question.
How many troops are garrisoned?
Shen Weijing asked a few more questions and replied:
"The city has fewer than three hundred troops available for defense."
"Less than half can draw a bow."
"The rest were mostly hastily assembled defeated soldiers and local militia."
Li Rusong nodded.
"The location of the main force of the Japanese army."
Shen Weijing answered even faster this time.
"In the direction of Pyongyang."
"With Konishi Yukinaga as the main figure, Munechika Yoshitomo is also on the front line there."
"There are conflicting reports in North Korea regarding Kato Kiyomasa's location. Some say he's further east, while others say he's still active in the north. The information may not be accurate."
Li Rusong, mounted on his horse, glanced at the gates of Yizhou City, then at the people in the wind and snow.
After a moment, he finally spoke.
"Pass on the order."
"Each battalion set up camp outside the city according to its flag."
"Firearms and supplies, secure them first."
"The night scouts were dispatched, and they went ten miles ahead to keep watch on the post road to the south."
"The tangma reports back every half hour."
Zhou Hu clasped his hands in response.
Li Rusong then looked at Han Shouyi.
"The vanguard is in charge of restraining the soldiers."
"Entering the city is permitted to carry out orders, but entry into private residences is prohibited."
"It is forbidden to illegally seize grain and fodder."
"No disturbance to the public."
"No straying from the group."
"Those who disobey orders shall be executed."
Han Shouyi nodded.
"I'm familiar with this."
Li Rusong continued:
"North Korean civilians are not allowed to enter the camp."
"However, if there is any surplus porridge at the cooking stations of each camp, the clerks shall compile a list and hand it over to the Korean officials for distribution."
"It must not be given indiscriminately."
"No fighting or grabbing."
"Anyone who dares to cause trouble under the guise of distributing porridge will be subject to military law."
After hearing this, the North Korean official bowed deeply.
Outside Yizhou City, things quickly became busy.
With not enough tents, many soldiers had to lay out straw, wrap themselves in blankets, and rest against the wheels of carts and earthen slopes.
The firearms team first set up a temporary shed and carried the medicine barrels inside.
Old Ding squatted at the entrance of the shed, his hand, missing two fingers, still holding that same tinderbox.
Mars flickered on and off.
A stove was also set up in the kitchen.
Old Qian, cursing and swearing, led his men to set up a pot, first cooking hot porridge for the army, and then, according to the central army's order, dividing out a pot of thinner porridge and handing it over to the clerks and Korean officials to distribute.
Liu Gao saw several North Korean children huddled in the distance, their eyes fixed on the pot, and couldn't help but glance over there a few times.
Old Qian didn't even turn his head.
"What are you looking at?"
"I didn't see it."
"Your eyes are practically popping out of the pot, and you still haven't looked?"
Liu Gao opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Old Qian stirred the pot with the spoon and muttered under his breath:
"Rules are rules."
"It's not that we don't want to give it to you."
"If you distribute supplies haphazardly, the camp will fall into chaos."
Liu Gao remained silent for a while, then could only nod.
"understood."
Mochin stood aside and watched as the clerk summoned the Korean officials and ordered them to arrange the people by household and number of people.
A spoonful of porridge, a small piece of bread, and then proceeding down the list.
Although it's slow and troublesome, stability is more important than anything else.
A North Korean woman holding her child was receiving porridge when her hands trembled violently.
Old Qian frowned, dipped his spoon into the pot, and pressed down half of it.
The porridge was poured into the bowl, and it was slightly thicker than the previous bowls.
The woman lowered her head and uttered, "Consande, Mida."
The child in her arms kept staring at Old Qian.
Old Qian turned around and glanced at Han Shouyi first.
Han Shouyi was scolding two soldiers who were rushing to get closer to the pot, and he didn't look this way.
Old Qian then took a piece of broken bread from the steamed bread basket next to him.
He broke it in half and put one half into the child's hand.
The child stared at him blankly.
Old Qian had already turned his face away.
"Next!"
Lin Jun looked over there and said softly:
"Li Rusong is right."
Mochin nodded.
He understood what Lin Jun meant.
Military rations are not unlimited.
The Ming army wasn't there to be hand out money.
But if even basic military discipline cannot be maintained, the so-called aid to Korea will rot away from under our feet first.
By the time the porridge was finished, it was already getting dark.
The crowd below the city wall slowly dispersed.
The fire in the stove was reduced by half, leaving only white steam rising from the edge of the pot, which dissipated into the cold wind in gusts.
At the same time.
In the direction of Pyongyang, inside an exquisitely furnished military tent.
The brazier was burning brightly.
The water in the kettle has just boiled.
Yinzhen sat cross-legged in front of the table, with a dagger across his lap.
The person kneeling below had just finished reporting the latest news.
"The Ming army has already settled in Yizhou."
"Our joint squad with the Japanese fought against the Nine-Headed Bird in northern Uiju."
"Two were broken."
Only one came back.
After hearing this, Yinzhen showed neither disappointment nor anger on his face.
He simply picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Then I put it down.
"What about the one who came back?"
"Your Highness, he said the nine-headed bird is in the vanguard."
"That woman is becoming increasingly skilled with short weapons."
"The two locals earlier seemed to have undergone special training."
"Especially those who wield bows, it seems they've been chosen by the night watchmen."
Yinzhen raised his eyelids slightly.
"Did Mochin display any special abilities?"
The person below paused for a moment.
"I didn't see any props used."
"Only guns were used."
"But his marksmanship is very steady."
Yinti chuckled softly.
"He killed two people with just a gun?"
No one in the tent dared to speak.
Yinzhen tapped the scabbard lightly with his fingers.
"I just received a reward that was above Grade A, but I managed to resist using it."
"I underestimated this Mo Qin."
Someone nearby presented a list.
The corners of the list were stained with dark red old marks, as if it had been pulled from a dead body and copied again.
Yinzhen took it and slowly opened it.
The list above includes players with high reputation in the Ming army faction.
The first line clearly states:
Nine-headed bird of the central region.
There are several other names after the first name.
Lin Jun, Monkey, Instructor, Crouching Dragon, Widow Village...
Yinzhen's thumb paused for a moment over Mo Qin's name.
"Number one in the world."
Outside the tent, wind and snow were pouring in through the gaps in the half-rolled tent flap, causing the candlelight to flicker wildly.
The man at the bottom asked in a low voice:
"Your Highness, what about the Japanese camp..."
Yinzhen closed the register.
"Prepare the horses."
"Go and meet their player leader."
"Some things should be discussed openly."
As night fell, campfires lit up one by one outside Yizhou City.
The lights were still on in the central command tent, so Li Rusong probably hadn't gone to sleep yet.
This place is hundreds of miles away from Pyongyang.
It is now separated from Liaodong by a great river.
Yan Qi was summoned away by Feng Chihou again in the evening.
Scout Feng only left out one sentence:
"The post road to the south is five li away."
"You will investigate alone today."
"Check for newly trodden footprints, Japanese scouts, and retreating soldiers hiding in the woods."
Yan Qi nodded, slung his bow over his shoulder, and left.
Mo Qin watched his retreating figure disappear into the wind and snow, and suddenly felt that Yan Qi was more silent than when he was in Liaodong.
Liu Gao sat on the dry grass, holding the lion-head shield, and was wiping the snow off the shield with his sleeve.
While wiping, he muttered to himself:
"Why is North Korea colder than Liaodong?"
"It's so cold I can barely hold my shield."
Lin Jun sat leaning against the grain cart, resting with his eyes closed.
Mochin leaned against a dead tree stump, his gun resting across his lap.
Lin Jun's voice drifted over from the side.
"Still thinking about it?"
Mochin knew what she was asking.
"Um."
"Want to try?"
"A little."
Lin Jun opened her eyes and looked at him.
"No."
Mo Qin sighed.
"Don't act like a senior high school homeroom teacher. I'm a very cautious person."
"Come on! The first time I saw you, I knew you were a show-off, the kind who gets upset if you don't show off."
How dare you slander someone's innocence out of thin air?
"Tch, stop pretending to be Kong Yiji! I can tell what kind of shit you're taking just by the way you stick your butt out."
Helpless, Mochin had no choice but to remove his hand from the gun barrel.
"Fine, I won't try."
Lin Jun stared at him for a while, making sure he didn't intend to do anything foolish, before leaning back against the grain cart.
"A true man is one who can endure."
Mochin nodded.
"With my size, of course I'm a big man."
At this moment, Lin Jun lowered his voice.
"You're the ace now."
Mo Qin paused for a moment.
"Is that a compliment?"
"Calculate."
"Could you say a few more words of praise?"
"cannot."
"Never mind then."
Ignoring Mo Qin's complaints, Lin Jun looked south.
"My geography isn't very good. Pyongyang is over there, right?"
"Um."
"How much further, Ace Big Guy?"
"Based on my geography knowledge, there should be another 220 kilometers."
With a sigh, Lin Jun said:
"Is it that far?"
Mo Qin thought for a moment.
"It's not far for the army."
"It's very close to someone who is about to die."
After saying that, he also glanced to the south.
"I reckon Yan Qi is already scouting ahead."
Lin Jun turned her head and glanced at him.
"Now that you're saying that, you're finally starting to sound like a decent person."
"I've always been a decent person."
"Um."
"Your 'hmm' sounds like you don't believe it."
"You noticed it?"
"I can tell."
In the distance, the line for porridge had already dispersed.
A child, clutching half a piece of bread, nestled in his mother's arms, munching on it while glancing towards the Ming army camp.
There was no gratitude in his eyes, nor any pain.
Only the bewilderment of temporarily surviving.
Looking at the child, Mo Qin recalled the little shoe from earlier that day.
I'm reminded of that child under the crooked tree.
He whispered:
"I will never forget this place."
Lin Jun didn't argue with him, and seemed to have taken his words to heart.
Half an hour later, a figure emerged from the snow at the other end of the camp.
First, I saw the bow, then I saw Yan Qi's shoulders covered in ice particles.
Mochin immediately stood up straight.
"Did you find anything?"
Yan Qi walked to his side and drew a few lines on the ground with the shaft of an arrow.
"New footprints have appeared on the post road to the south."
Lin Jun opened his eyes.
"Is it for tonight?"
"Yes, the snow hasn't completely covered it yet."
Yan Qi said:
"At most half an hour ago."
Mochin looked at the line on the ground.
"How many people?"
Yan Qi looked up.
Five.
As soon as he said that, the wind by the camp grew even colder.
Looking at Yan Qi, Mo Qin lowered his head and pondered for a moment.
Those three were just scouts.
Now, five more have arrived.
Liu Gao, who was leaning against the shield and almost asleep, groggily raised his head when he heard Yan Qi's words.
"Again?"
Yan Qi put the arrow shaft back into the quiver.
"These people are watching the road."
"Let's see how the night scouts get away."
"Let's see where there might be an opportunity outside the camp."
He paused, then added.
"They measured three locations."
Mochin's eyes flickered.
Which three places?
"The camp gate."
"The stove opening."
"Central command light position."
Mo Qin frowned.
"Then be extra careful!"
"Hmm, I'll go further south tomorrow."
Yan Qi said:
"Scout Feng has already made the arrangements."
After saying that, he got up and left, but after taking two steps, he turned back and stopped.
"They will come again."
"But next time, it won't be reconnaissance."