Chapter 845: Human hearts are hard to predict!

Jinyang, Wenshan County
On the night of New Year's Eve, this small county town near Jinyang was still decorated with lights and people coming and going. The county town was full of festive atmosphere. People were celebrating the arrival of the new year and were full of expectations and reverence for the new year. There was no sign that war was approaching...

The reason for this is that the Fengwu Army's strict military discipline and the series of policies that benefit and love the people have won the hearts of the people. Therefore, the people of Wenshan County are not afraid of the Fengwu Army. Instead, they very much hope that the Fengwu Army can rule Wenshan County and allow them to live a rich and beautiful life.

Perhaps influenced by the festive atmosphere in the city, the soldiers of the Yunbing Army in the county military camp were also immersed in the joy of the New Year.

Because today is New Year's Eve, the most important festival of the year, Sun Hansheng, the general of Wenshan County, also wants to take this opportunity to boost morale and unite the soldiers so as to better deal with the attack of the Fengwu Army.

Therefore, under Sun Hansheng's order, the wealthy families in the city bought fifty pigs and three hundred chickens to entertain the soldiers and provide them with meat.

Over the past six months, although Wang Muzhi had managed to gather resources from all over the place, the soldiers of the Yunbing Army did not have to fight the Fengwu Army on an empty stomach, but there was very little oil in their meals, and many soldiers showed symptoms of malnutrition.

So when they saw so many meat dishes at once, the soldiers of Yunbing Army became excited one by one, and a New Year atmosphere appeared in the military camp...

At the same time, in the central army camp, the generals of the Yunbing Army stationed in Wenshan County were toasting each other in their tents.

Although military discipline clearly states that drinking is prohibited in the military camp, with the Fengwu Army now approaching, no one knows how long Wenshan County can hold out under the Fengwu Army's fierce attack, and whether they can survive, so these generals are under great pressure. So during this New Year, everyone wants to drink some wine to relax.

Unlike everyone who were drinking and playing finger-guessing games, there was a man in a high position in the tent who was drinking secretly. This man was He Dechang, the deputy general of Wenshan County.

He drank four or five cups of wine in a row and his body was stained with alcohol, but He Dechang, who had a good alcohol tolerance, was still very clear-headed.

Although under the instigation of the Coordination Office, He Dechang decided to be a mole and betray his comrades, and let the Fengwu Army into the city.

But now, with only two hours left before the action, He Dechang began to hesitate again.

To be honest, although he agreed to the Coordination Office, this was not He Dechang's original intention. He Decheng felt that he was completely forced!

It’s all the fault of the imperial court and Governor Wang for delaying the military pay!
If they didn’t delay the payment of military salaries, I could have taken the empty salaries and paid off the high-interest loans from the money houses. However, the damn court actually owed military salaries for almost a year...
In He Dechang's opinion, the imperial court certainly had no shortage of money, and the reason why they still owed wages was entirely because the high-ranking officials at the top embezzled their military pay for their own benefit!

Damn you bunch of bastards, I’m fighting and bleeding on the front line and you’re sucking my blood in the back!

Thinking of this, He Dechang became angrier and angrier, and he even hated Sun Hansheng, the general of Wenshan County!

He Dechang has fought in wars for more than ten years. How could he not know the importance of military rations?

If there was no other way, would he have thought of taking the military rations?
Aren't I at my wit's end now, with no other options?
Those people in the money shop are all shameless bastards. If I can't pay them back, they will not only kill me, but also implicate my family and sell my wife and daughter to brothels!

Thinking of this, He Dechang hated Sun Hansheng even more. Why couldn't this bastard understand his difficulties and had to push him into a desperate situation!
I was reselling the military rations of my own battalion, and I didn't resell the military rations of his other battalion. Why did he want to meddle in other people's business?

He had to ask the money house to get the military rations back himself. If he didn't get it back, he would report himself to his superiors. He didn't even think about who the people in the money house were. Could he get all the military rations back by himself?
Thinking of this, He Dechang was filled with resentment and endless entanglement...
He has served in the Yunbing Army for fifteen years, and it took him fifteen years to reach his current position of commander. He has given almost everything he has for this.

He had been fighting against the Fengwu Army since it entered Yunbing. In the first battle of Yunbing, he was hit by a bullet from the Fengwu Army's Weiyuan gun. Fortunately, he was wearing cotton armor, so he barely escaped death.

During the Second Yunbing War, he was blown to the ground by the red cannon of the Fengwu Army. Fortunately, he was lucky enough to survive, but his right hand became less flexible from then on.

Although he managed to escape with his life, his brothers and friends were not so lucky!
He Dechang's two cousins, one cousin, and several old brothers who had followed him through thick and thin for more than ten years all died at the hands of the Fengwu Army. Many of them were blown to pieces by the Fengwu Army's artillery fire. Not to mention their complete bodies, even their bones could not be found, and their graves were just cenotaphs!

Based on these, it is not an exaggeration for He Dechang to say that he and the Fengwu Army have a blood feud!
If there was even the slightest possibility, He Dechang would not be willing to surrender to the Fengwu Army and betray the brothers who had been through thick and thin with him!

Unfortunately, one wrong step led to another. The bank had already resold all the military rations at a high price, and he would definitely not be able to get them back.

The deadline Sun Hansheng gave himself was only two days. If he could not get the military rations back, he would definitely report his reselling of military rations to his superiors...
If this happened, not only would he die, but his house would also be raided and his wife and daughter would be forced to become official prostitutes, to be bullied in brothels. Thinking of this, He Dechang's heart bled. He hated himself for having been so foolish as to borrow high-interest loans from the money house, leading to his current fate!
Just when He Dechang was sighing to himself, a drunken man walked over. He Dechang, who was in a bad mood, was about to lose his temper, but he found out that the man was his sentry leader Zhao Dezhu, who had followed him for seven years and always regarded him as his elder brother.

At this time, Zhao Dezhu, under the influence of alcohol, patted He Dechang on the shoulder and preached intermittently:
"Brother He, there's nothing to worry about. In my opinion, these bastards of the Fengwu Army are not some heavenly soldiers with three heads and six arms. They are just like us, with two shoulders and one head. Damn it, who can send whoever they want?"

"Even if that traitor surnamed Ye comes to kill me personally, I, Zhao Dezhu, will splatter his blood all over him!"

Seeing that Zhao Dezhu felt that he was worried about the attack of the Fengwu Army, He Dechang forced a smile on his face and said:
"Dezhu, you are right. The Fengwu Army is nothing to be afraid of. We will definitely be able to defend Wenshan County!" Zhao Dezhu burped upon hearing this and whispered in He Dechang's ear:

“Brother He, you have always taken good care of me over the years. You even saved my life when we attacked Dagu. I, Zhao Dezhu, will remember your kindness in my heart. If you can’t defend Wenshan County this time, I will cover you and you go first…”

He Dechang was shocked at first, then he was very moved. He patted Zhao Dezhu on the shoulder and said:

"Good brother! We can all survive!"

Listening to He Dechang's words, Zhao Dezhu didn't notice anything unusual. Seeing that He Dechang was no longer sighing and had recovered his spirits, he didn't think much about it. After talking to He Dechang for a few words, he went to find a drink again.

He is a born alcoholic. He held back for a long time because alcohol was forbidden in the military camp. Now that he is finally allowed to drink during the New Year, he must drink to his heart's content.

Looking at Zhao Dezhu's departing back, He Dechang, feeling the brotherhood, gradually became determined in his eyes.

Now that he has surrendered to the Fengwu Army, he really doesn't know how to face those brothers who died tragically at the hands of the Fengwu Army!

He thought of a possibility. It was now the hour of Xu. According to the agreement between him and the Fengwu Army, the Fengwu Army would arrive at the city of Wenshan County in another hour and a half.

If I betray the Fengwu Army at this time and tell Sun Hansheng about the Fengwu Army's plan to launch a surprise attack on Wenshan County, can I redeem myself for my crime?
Even if I cannot absolve myself of my guilt, can I just hold myself responsible and not hold my family responsible?

Because there was not much time left, He Dechang, who had rekindled a glimmer of hope in his heart, planned to find Sun Hansheng as soon as possible to communicate his idea to him··························

However, what He Dechang did not expect was that Sun Hansheng also wanted to see him at this time and sent a personal soldier to find him!

After a cup of tea, He Dechang met Sun Hansheng in a mansion in the city. Just when He Dechang was about to tell Sun Hansheng about his ideas, Sun Hansheng took the lead and asked coldly:
"Commander He, have you found all the military rations?"

Feeling Sun Hansheng's cold eyes and the tone of interrogation, He Dechang, who had just rekindled his hope, immediately felt half-hearted. Just as he was hesitating and preparing to say something, Sun Hansheng said coldly:
"Commander He, we are comrades, please don't force me. If you can't find the military rations, I don't need to say anything about your fate. Your wife and daughter will also be forced to become court prostitutes. I heard that your youngest daughter is seven years old this year and is very beautiful."

"The nobles in Luoan like little girls of this age the most!" Sun Hansheng deliberately emphasized the tone at the end, and the threat in his words was self-evident!

Seeing Sun Hansheng using his little daughter to threaten him, He Dechang's heart was completely chilled. Sun Hansheng's threat made him realize that even if he sold the Coordination Office and sacrificed himself, he could not let his family escape.

He Dechang understood this, and a hint of murderous intent emerged in the depths of his eyes!
Since you are so heartless and insist on pushing me to a dead end, there is nothing to say. Don't blame me for being unjust...
Taking a deep breath, He Dechang faced Sun Hansheng's cold gaze and said in a deep voice:

"Please rest assured, Lord Sun. I will definitely find all the military rations in two days!"

Sun Hansheng was a little surprised when he heard He Dechang's decisive tone. Although he gave He Dechang a chance to get all the military rations back, to be honest, Sun Hansheng also knew the methods of those money houses, so he did not hold too much hope for He Dechang and just wanted to give it a try.

But judging from He Dechang's tone, it seems that he can really get all the military rations back?
Although I don’t know what solution He Dechang has, regardless of whether he can get the military rations back or not, I will report him to the higher-ups.

If he can get the military rations back, I can count it as my own credit!
Thinking of this, Sun Hansheng's expression eased a little. He nodded at He Dechang and let him leave.

After walking out of Sun Hansheng's room and feeling the cold weather outside, He Dechang no longer concealed his expression, which became increasingly cold. Without thinking much, he walked straight towards the west gate of Wenshan County.

Wherever his defense zone is, he had secretly arranged his personal guards there yesterday. When the time comes, he only needs to give the order to let the Fengwu Army into the city...
An hour later, Sun Hansheng, who was sleeping with two fierce women, was suddenly woken up by his men. Just when Sun Hansheng was about to explode, he heard his men anxiously say in his ear:
"General, Commander He has taken over the defense of the West Gate!"

Because he was woken up in the middle of his sleep, Sun Hansheng was still a little confused. Hearing this, he spoke impatiently:
"Isn't the West City Gate his defense zone? If he wants to go, just let him go. Why did you wake me up just for such a small matter?"

"Sir General, the soldiers stationed at the west gate are all Commander He's personal soldiers!"

Sun Hansheng was shocked at first when he heard this, and then he understood the key to the matter. When he thought of He Dechang's uncharacteristic and firm attitude towards getting the military rations back, Sun Hansheng immediately came up with a terrible idea!

Although it was still a little hard to believe that He Dechang would actually surrender to the Fengwu Army, as the general of Wenshan County, Sun Hansheng immediately gave a stern order:
“Send troops to the west gate immediately! Capture He Dechang and his personal soldiers…”

(Under the advice of book friends, Tongming is also intending to speed up the progress and strive to make book friends enjoy reading. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Tongming wishes everyone good health and all the best. I will update tomorrow. The specific number of words depends on tomorrow's situation. Anyone who is interested can join the book friend group. Tongming will send red envelopes in the group tomorrow!)
(End of this chapter)