Shi Dakai declined the invitation from the Heavenly King to have dinner with him, and left the Heavenly King's Mansion in a gloomy mood.
Night falls, but the heat of the weather still hasn't been driven away. Coupled with the royal robe wrapped in it, it makes people feel like sitting in a steamer. Shi Dakai pulled off the royal hat on his head and looked at the crowd behind him who were busy decorating Tianchao Gate and Yugou. There are men, women, old and young who cannot fight with the army, as well as craftsmen recruited from Jiangsu and Anhui. Somehow, a burst of sadness suddenly surged in his heart.
He looked up to the sky and let out a long sigh, took his horse's rein from Shi Xiangzhen's hand, and got on his horse.
Tianjing, which is constantly fighting, still seems very peaceful. Since the Taiping Army implemented the holy treasury policy, no distinction was made between military and civilians, and all property and food were collected from the holy treasury, so there were not many merchants in Tianjing City. In addition, it was just dinner time, so the streets seemed even more deserted. The lights of houses on both sides of the street contrasted with the twinkling moon and stars in the night sky, and they seemed somewhat peaceful.
However, none of this could calm Shi Dakai's state of mind at this time. He walked slowly and silently on the road, thinking about his own thoughts.
Shi Dakai was originally from a wealthy gentry family in Guixian County, Guangxi Province. He was a martial arts scholar. Not only did he have extraordinary martial arts skills, but he also knew all kinds of poetry and songs. He liked military books and tactics, and read ancient and modern war cases. He wanted to use his skills to serve the country, but the Qing government made him feel frustrated. It is useless for the court to support the country by ceding territory to pay compensation, losing power and humiliating the country, civil servants are greedy for money, and military generals are afraid of death. At this time, he met Hong Xiuquan, Feng Yunshan and Yang Xiuqing, and was excited about the purpose of the God Worship Association they proposed. It is his own wish to create a beautiful world where everyone can enjoy peace. He resolutely sold all his family property and led thousands of his brothers to join the vigorous Taiping Rebellion.
In Yong'an, 20-year-old Shi Dakai was named King of Wings and led the left army as the general. He became the seventh son of the Father.
As the vanguard of the entire army and the commander-in-chief of the former enemy, his outstanding military talents were undoubtedly revealed, which not only frightened the Qing army, but also won the love of the entire army.
He is a Confucian general, and many years of traditional education have told him that since he has chosen the path of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, he must be infinitely loyal to the Heavenly Kingdom and have incomparable love for the Heavenly King. No matter what the circumstances, one cannot just sit back and watch the Celestial Dynasty be in danger and ignore it. The rise and fall of the Celestial Dynasty directly involves the life and death of his family, old and young. What's more, his own current responsibility is to assist the King of Heaven with military affairs.
However, the current strategy being implemented by the Celestial Empire, which is to establish the capital in Tianjing and divert troops to the Northern Expedition, is not the best strategy either based on the lessons of history or purely from a military point of view. This couldn't help but make him worried.
After turning around a few streets in silence, Shi Dakai's thoughts were interrupted by a burst of noise.
This is a large house that is being expanded. It is brightly lit, dusty, and bricks, tiles, sand and stones are blocking the road. Hundreds of strong laborers were singing chants and working hard.
From the tall lantern at the door, Shi Dakai knew that this was the new house where the Prime Minister was rewarded and the minister of the King of Heaven was favored. He shook his head. This was not the only place in Tianjing City where people were building families and buying properties. Why do people change so quickly after entering Tianjing?
Pleasure, the most corrosive evil to human nature, is slowly devouring the hearts of the heroes of the Celestial Dynasty!
Princess Yi has been waiting for her husband to come back for dinner.
Seeing her husband's gloomy expression, she quickly changed out of her robe, brought a cup of tea, and asked warmly: "What? Is there anything unpleasant?"
Shi Dakai sat down at the dinner table and sighed helplessly, "In Tianjing now, apart from comparing wealth and ostentation, no one is thinking about anything else. Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang were hindered by Huaiqing, which already shows the power of Qingyao Quite powerful. If we don't support them in time, I don't think they will have a good end. Butbut the King of Heaven and the King of East only saw the temporary victories of the Northern Expedition, and underestimated the power of Qing Yao."
With a worried look on her face, Princess Yi poured a glass of wine for her husband with her own hands and said considerately: "Since the matter has come to this, Your Highness does not need to think too much, lest you collide with the King of Heaven and the King of East and bring disaster upon yourself!"
Shi Dakai looked at the wine glass in front of him and shook his head, "I will go to Jiujiang soon to lead the army of the Western Expedition. This is an arrangement made by King Dong who does not want me to stay in Tianjing."
"Oh, that's not bad," Princess Yi nodded, "It's better for you to lead the Western Expedition than to stay in Tianjing."
Shi Da opened the wine but did not drink it. Looking at the food on the table, he had no appetite at all. "I am just worried about Lin Fengxiang and the others. Once the Northern Expedition fails, the hard-won good situation of the Chinese Empire will also be in vain!"
"Although I don't know anything about military matters, I know that even if ordinary people fight, it is best not to let the other party slow down." Princess Yi picked up a few dishes for her husband and put them on the plate in front of him. "Your Highness, let's eat first."
"Haha, you are right." Shi Dakai put down the chopsticks he just picked up, stood up, and said while changing his robe, "I don't want to eat, you can use it slowly, I want to go I walked around several defensive fortresses in Purple Mountain. I am about to leave Tianjing. Shi Zhenlun and Shi Zhenji, who are stationed in Tianbao City and Dibao City, will go with me on the expedition, and many things need to be explained in advance."
When Lin Haifeng and Zheng Nan woke up, they and the plane landed safely in a corner on a mountainside platform. It was still dark outside, and the helicopter's engine had stopped roaring at some point.
In the darkness, the two people looked at each other, neither of them understood what was going on, but they just felt unusually stuffy.
Lin Haifeng turned on the miniature flashlight and looked at his watch. It was ten o'clock sharp.
"It's strange, how come it's night all of a sudden?" He mumbled and unbuckled his seat belt, and whispered to Zheng Nan, "Don't move yet, I'll go down and take a look." As he said that, he took out the belt from behind his waist. Pistol, turn on the safety, walk to the warehouse door, and gently open the door.
"General Shi, this is it."
With a shout, Lin Haifeng, who was about to go out to observe, suddenly saw a string of lanterns and torches moving quickly towards this side. He slammed the barn door shut and called over his shoulder: "Xiao Zheng, come here quickly!"
Zheng Nan quickly came to Lin Haifeng's side with a loaded pistol, "Captain, what's the matter?"
"I don't know, there are a lot of people outside, and they all seem to have weapons. Well, yes, they have knives in their hands." Lin Haifeng quickly turned his brain, "Xiao Zheng, these things in our cabin cannot be used under any circumstances. When they fall into the hands of outsiders, as a last resort, we must save them even if we lose our lives!"
"Don't worry, Captain," Zheng Nan straightened his collar and pulled the door handle of the cabin, "I'll go down and talk to them first to see who they are."
"No need," Lin Haifeng pushed him and blocked the door of the warehouse, "I'd better do it, and you stand behind me."
As he spoke, he suddenly pushed open the warehouse door, raised his pistol high, and shouted at the crowd gathered outside: "Don't move, I am the Chinese People's Liberation Army!"
The crowd outside the door was obviously shocked by his shout. They all looked at each other and forgot what to do.
Lin Haifeng finally saw it clearly at this time. Those who gathered around were strong men with red scarves on their heads, yellow clothes and trousers, and shining swords in their hands.
Without thinking too much, he pointed his pistol at these people and asked sternly: "Who are you? Ask your leaders to speak out."
Shi Zhenlun finally woke up at this time.
Just now, he originally planned to leave the camp and go downstairs to greet King Yi, but suddenly he received a report from the soldiers on patrol, saying that there was a big black guy in the corner behind Tianbao City. He didn't know what kind of monster it was. Then he hurriedly led a hundred brothers to come and find out what was going on. This Tianbao City is an extremely important fortress. From here, you can overlook the entire Tianjing, and the artillery fire can directly hit Tianjing City without making any mistakes.
Who knew that there was actually someone among this big guy, and he even claimed to be the "Chinese People's Liberation Army". He suddenly fell into the clouds. He had never heard of an army like this anywhere.
Hearing the strange question from the other party, he calmed down, took the lantern from the soldier beside him, and took a few steps forward, "I am Shi Zhenlun, the twelfth right-hand inspection officer of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Who are you? What are you doing here?¡±
By the light of the lantern, Shi Zhenlun could clearly see the person in front of him.
He has a middle-to-upper-middle build and looks very heroic, and his obviously hostile eyes are so sharp. What surprised him even more was the way this man was dressed, a grass-green top, blue trousers, and a grass-green hat with a cover on his head. Especially the five-pointed red star on the hat and the two red logos on both sides of the collar glow under the reflection of the light