Liao. Xijing City. Inside the Liao Palace. The Empress Dowager Xiao Zhuo, who was only forty years old, wore a hat inlaid with gems and a black dress embroidered with phoenix patterns, sitting on the dragon chair. Although Empress Dowager Xiao is already forty years old, she takes good care of herself daily and has lived in the palace for a long time. Therefore, her skin looks very white and tender. She does not look like a middle-aged woman in her forties at all, but more like a middle-aged woman. A beautiful woman of fifteen or sixteen.
Next to Empress Dowager Xiao, the seventeen-year-old little emperor of Liao Kingdom was holding a small dagger in his hand and stabbing a book in front of him. Princess Tie Jing, Empress Dowager Xiao's favorite, was sitting on one side and talking to Empress Dowager Xiao. "Mother, the envoy from the Song Dynasty is so ignorant. My daughter asked him for the new poems that Yang Peng had written recently, but he said that he didn't tell her. They simply don't take me, Daliao, in their eyes. Mother, you should take care of yourself. They vented their anger for their daughter."
Princess Iron Mirror complained to the Queen Mother Xiao in a delicate manner, with a pout that could hang an oil bottle. Empress Dowager Xiao glanced at Princess Tiejing fondly and said accusingly: "You are very wrong about this. As far as the Empress Mother knows, the Yang family is not tolerated by the powerful people in Bianliang City, Tokyo. He was deported to Daizhou.
If you ask someone's envoy for poems, they will naturally have nothing to give you. Moreover, the Queen Mother also heard that Si Xianren had not released any new works for two and a half years. "When Princess Tiejing heard this, she stared with disdain and said, "A great talent like Yang Peng should be treated with the highest courtesy. The emperor of the Southern Barbarians is so hateful that he cannot even tolerate such a great talent.
Queen Mother, why don't you send someone to invite Yang Peng to our Liao Kingdom. Empress Dowager Xiao shook her head and said with a smile: "The Yang Peng you are talking about is not an ordinary person." Your uncle Yelu was injured at Yanmen Pass before, and it was him who injured him. According to your uncle Yelu, this son is not only outstanding in literary talent, but also has courage that no man can match. Half of our Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures were conquered by him. "
Princess Tiejing's eyes were full of brilliance, and she exclaimed in surprise: "Yang Peng is such a strange man." The little emperor who was playing with a dagger raised his head and said with a proud look on his face: "What's so good about Yang Peng? I am just a southern barbarian. When I grow up, I will lead the troops to defeat the Song Dynasty. I will snatch Yang Peng and send him to your residence, the emperor." After saying this, the little emperor added, "It's best Cut off his tongue, break his hands, and prevent him from writing poetry for the rest of his life."
The first half of the sentence was very useful to Princess Tiejing, but the second half of the sentence raised Princess Tiejing's brows. Empress Dowager Xiao glanced at the little emperor and said calmly: "Emperor, how many poems have you recited today?" The little emperor quickly put away the small dagger, picked up the torn books on the table that had been stabbed by him, and started to recite them while shaking his head. poetry. I want to ask why the young emperor of Liao had such deep resentment towards Yang Peng.
Just look at the faintly visible line of words on the book he is holding in his hand. Although Yang Peng's poems were favored in the Song Dynasty, Yang Peng's status in the Song Dynasty was always between civil servants and military generals, so not many scholars praised him. But in the Liao Kingdom, Yang Peng's poetry was welcomed by almost everyone.
Even Empress Dowager Xiao, the powerful ruler of the Liao Kingdom, was half a fan of Yang Peng. It is precisely because of this that when Empress Dowager Xiao taught the young emperor knowledge, she often used Yang Peng's poems for him to learn. This is also the origin of the resentment of the young emperor of Liao towards Yang Peng.
Just as their family of three was happily having sex with Yang Peng. Brother Yelvxiu hurriedly entered the temple holding a roll of sheepskin. After entering the palace, Brother Yelvxiu saluted and said, "My brother Yelvxiu has met the emperor's wife and your majesty."
Princess Tie Jing stood up knowingly and saluted with a smile: "Tie Jing has met Uncle Yelu." Seeing Brother Yelu Xiu's hurried look, Empress Dowager Xiao raised her eyebrows and asked: "The Generalissimo looked so hurried, but what happened?" What's the important matter?" Brother Yelu Xiu casually handed the parchment to the female officer beside him and said in a deep voice: "Shengzhou has lost it..."
"Shengzhou is lost?" Empress Dowager Xiao was a little stunned. She hadn't heard this sentence in six years. Ever since she helped her son secure the throne, the Liao Kingdom has been in a state of aggression. The Liao Kingdom was lucky enough not to invade others, but now someone is rushing to invade the Liao Kingdom.
Tired of living? Empress Dowager Xiao's voice rose several times, and she lost her motherly demeanor and became extremely majestic. "Is it Li Jiqian or Zhao Heng?" Brother Yeluxiu said solemnly, "Neither. According to the spies' report, it's the Yang family."
Empress Dowager Xiao narrowed her eyes and said coldly: "Yang family? Are they tired of living?" Brother Yelvxiu said: "According to my understanding of Yang Yanzhao, he does not have the courage. And our country's spies discovered Yang Dezheng's identity in Shengzhou figure. So it is very likely that Yang Dezheng planned this incident."
Empress Dowager Xiao said in a deep voice: "Generalissimo Yinu, how should we deal with this matter?" Brother Yelu Xiu said seriously: "We should recapture Shengzhou and teach Yang Dezheng a lesson. Let Yang Dezheng know clearly what will happen if he provokes our Liao Kingdom. ." Empress Dowager Xiao nodded slowly and said, "In this case, we will do as the generalissimo said. The generalissimo immediately ordered the troops and sent them to Shengzhou." Brother Yeluxiu beat his chest with one hand and left the palace to order the troops.
When the young emperor of the Liao Kingdom heard that brother Yelu Xiu was going to beat Yang Dezheng, he waved his little fist excitedly, wishing he could go into battle in person to teach Yang Dezheng a lesson. After Brother Yeluxiu left, Princess Tiejing whispered: "Mother, maybe Yang Peng did not do this, why do you need to make such a big move?" Empress Dowager Xiao glared at her and said solemnly: "You appreciate his talent. My mother also appreciates his talent. But matters concerning Shengzhou are state affairs and cannot be decided based on personal preferences."
Princess Iron Mirror realized that she had said the wrong thing and subconsciously stuck out her tongue. Then he quietly pinched the little cheek of his younger brother who was the emperor, apologized, and left the palace. At this moment, he looked at Wang Gui in front of him with a troubled expression.
Since Sun Ji escorted a large amount of grain and grass to Fengzhou. Yang Dezheng decisively handed over all government affairs of Fengzhou and Shengzhou to Sun Ji. After selecting the soldiers and horses recruited from Fengzhou, he left the unqualified ones to mine iron ore in Fengzhou. He took all the remaining 50,000 qualified young men to Chenjiakou in Shengzhou. As soon as he arrived at Chenjiakou, before he had time to check the city wall of Chenjiakou, he ran into Wang Gui who came with the Datong Army to support him.
When he saw Wang Gui and the 20,000 Datong Army, Yang Qi was really in trouble. It stands to reason that it has reached this point today. Yang Dezheng could not wait to gather all the fighting people in Fengzhou and Shengzhou to Chenjiakou to resist the Liao people. Therefore, the arrival of the Datong Army was indeed a big help to him. But although this help is great, it also brings with it a lot of trouble.
In terms of organization, the Datong Army was a military force affiliated to the Song Dynasty. But Shengzhou was not the territory of the Song Dynasty. The Datong Army appeared in Shengzhou and helped Shengzhou fight. This is to tell the world in disguise that Shengzhou has been ruled by the Yang family. Once the news spreads all over the world. The label of wolfish ambition was pinned on the Yang family.
With Yang Yanzhao's character, he would probably be ashamed to death. The reason why Yang Dezheng recruited troops in Fengzhou and Shengzhou was because he did not want Yang Yanzhao to get involved in this matter. He didn't want to make it difficult for Yang Yanzhao. Also, Yang Dezheng was unwilling to defeat the Liao people in the future, stabilize Fengzhou and Shengzhou, and then be picked by the imperial court.
The Datong army helped Shengzhou to resist the Liao people, so it was easy to give up the truth. Yang Dezheng was almost certain that as long as he defeated the Liao people with the help of the Datong Army. Then the imperial court would publicize everywhere that Yang Dezheng was able to defeat the Liao people only with the help of the imperial court. The imperial court will suppress the Yang family in the name of righteousness. Forced the Yang family to hand over Daizhou, Fengzhou, and Shengzhou.
Maybe then Yang Yanzhao will be given the title of a county king and Yang Yanzhao will be recruited to return to Beijing to report on his duties. Then, wait until Yang Yanzhao returns to Bianjing City with the Yang family. There are countless conspiracies that will be imposed on the Yang family. The Yang family will also be swallowed up by Zhao Heng. This is not the ending Yang Dezheng wants to see. Although Yang Dezheng doesn't care about the so-called righteousness. Because he saw what Yang Peng did, he didn't care about Zhao Heng at all. Yang Peng was the city lord of Tianjing New City, and the city lord was the same as Zhao Heng. The imperial court had six ministries, Tianjing New City had seven ministries, and the prime minister. The Zhao family had nothing to do with Yang Peng.
The imperial court has such a righteous name, and it is a sure thing to press Yang Yanzhao. After Yang Dezheng weighed the gains and losses, he solemnly said to Wang Gui, who was sitting in the commander's tent and waiting for his order: "Uncle Wang, please take the Datong army back." Wang Gui paused while holding the teacup and said in surprise: "Da Lang , the war is about to begin, you just push out 20,000 soldiers and horses like this?"
Yang Dezheng said firmly: "Whether this battle can be won or not is not yet known. Everything that happened in Shengzhou was all done by me, Yang Dezheng. I can't involve my father and the Datong Army." Wang Gui put down the teacup in his hand. He solemnly said: "Dalang, the matter in Shengzhou is no longer your alone. From the moment you show up in Shengzhou, it becomes the matter of the entire Yang family.
You know, the Yang family is now in Daizhou, but you are the magistrate of Daizhou. Your words and deeds represent the entire Yang family. It even represents those of us generals who are attached to the Yang family. As far as Uncle Wang is concerned, Uncle Wang's family is one with your Yang family.
When one is prosperous, both are prosperous; when one is lost, both are harmed. Yang Dezheng shook his head helplessly and said: "This war with the Liao people is a war between me and the Liao people, and it does not involve the Song Dynasty." But once the Datong Army got involved, it would be related to the Song Dynasty. I don't want to hand over the hard work of Fengzhou and Shengzhou to the imperial court. "
Wang Gui said sternly: "Of course. The imperial court cannot defeat Fengzhou and Shengzhou, but you defeated them. Naturally, you cannot hand them over to the imperial court easily." Yang Dezheng shook his head and smiled: "You and I don't agree to surrender Fengzhou." He Shengzhou is handed over to the imperial court, but will my father agree?"
"This..." Wang Gui looked a little confused after hearing Yang Dezheng's words. Wang Gui and Yang Yanzhao have been old partners for decades, so they naturally understand Yang Yanzhao's temper. Seeing the embarrassment on Wang Gui's face. Yang Dezheng smiled and said: "So, as long as the Datong Army does not get involved, no one can take Fengzhou and Shengzhou from my hands. Even if the court uses its name of righteousness, it cannot suppress me."
"Dalang..." Wang Gui wanted to speak, but Yang Dezheng raised his hand to stop him. Yang Dezheng waved his hand and said: "Uncle Wang, it's useless to talk anymore at this point. You quickly lead the Datong Army back to Daizhou. Once we start a war with the Liao Kingdom, the imperial court may stab me in the back. When the time comes, I don’t ask you to help me resist the imperial troops, I just ask you to help me fight for a few days.” Yang Dezheng’s attitude was very firm.
Wang Gui could only sigh and said: "That's all, I will take the people back right now. However, with these improvised troops and horses in your hand, how can you defeat the Liao Kingdom without the help of the Datong Army." Yang Dezheng said calmly: "I have given orders to all the people in Fengzhou and Shengzhou. In our two states, millions of soldiers and civilians live and die together. If the Liao people want to take Shengzhou and Fengzhou, they can only kill Just us."
"Hiss~" Wang Gui took a breath of air and said nothing. He hugged his fists at Yang Dezheng and stood up to leave.
Yang Dezheng seemed to have thought of something. After Wang Gui stood up, he asked: "Uncle Wang, according to my men's investigation, after Guo Da's tribe was defeated at the border of Fengzhou and Shengzhou, he led a hundred people to flee into Daizhou. I wonder if you have noticed it?" Wang Gui was startled and said, "I met him. Your Majesty personally beheaded the Han thief Guo Da." Yang Dezheng said happily: "I also ask Uncle Wang to order someone to kill him after he goes there. Guo Da's head is pickled and brought to me. I will be of great use."
Wang Gui nodded and said: "I understand." In this way, Wang Gui led 20,000 Datong troops and rushed to Shengzhou with great momentum, but left Shengzhou dejectedly.
Wang Gui was sent away. Yang Dezheng rode on horseback to Chenjiakou. Today, 400,000 people have gathered at the Chenjiakou construction site. The dense mass of 400,000 people almost filled the Chenjiakou construction site. When Yang Dezheng arrived at the Chenjiakou construction site, he was just in time for lunch.
The straw cooking sheds on the construction site stretch for nearly two miles. The batter is boiling in the big pot, with some wild vegetables floating in it. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and the people will eat it sweetly. When Yang Dezheng found Yang Gui at the construction site, Yang Gui was taking Chen Yao, each holding a big bowl, squatting among the people, eating delicious food.
Yang Dezheng has a gluttonous mouth and cannot get used to the simple meals on the construction site. Yang Dezheng casually picked up a piece of dogtail grass, stuffed it into his mouth, and sat down next to Yang Gui with a pop. When Chen Yao saw Yang Dezheng, he stood up and saluted. Yang Dezheng waved his hand and motioned for him to sit down. Yang Gui looked as usual. While eating the batter, he asked casually: "Send Uncle Wang away?"
Yang Dezheng nodded and asked with some surprise: "Have you guessed it a long time ago?" Yang Guile smiled, holding chopsticks made of tree branches in his hand, and pointed at the people everywhere. "There are people here from Fengzhou, Shengzhou, and even Dangxiang people, but there is not a single person from Daizhou. This alone is enough to prove that you are not willing to let people from Daizhou interfere here. things.
It even included the war with the Liao Kingdom. Yang Dezheng said happily: "Brother, you still understand me." Yang Gui glared and cursed: "You know what you are doing, without the help of the Datong Army, how can we fight against the Liao people with just the temporarily recruited people we have?" All Liao people are good at conquering and fighting. And 80% of the soldiers and horses under your command are a group of new recruits who have never fought in a war. What can you do to win over others? "
Yang Dezheng said calmly: "You have to fight even if you can't win. There are millions of soldiers and civilians in Fengzhou and Shengzhou. If the Liao people are capable, they will kill all these people." When Yang Gui heard this, his pupils shrank, and he subconsciously looked towards Four hundred thousand people gathered in Chenjiakou. After a long while, he uttered two words.
"You are cruel!" Yang Dezheng laughed and said: "The Liao people had better hope that they can kill me in this battle. Otherwise, the Liao Kingdom will eventually fall into my hands. Hahaha..." Yang Gui held the bowls and chopsticks in his hands. They all threw it at Yang Dezheng and yelled: "You madman." After cursing, they left without looking back. Yang Dezheng raised his voice and asked Yang Da's back: "What are you going to do?"
"Build a city!" Yang Dezheng smiled even more proudly after hearing this. This is what brothers are. I know you are going crazy, but I am still willing to accompany you to go crazy. Yang Dezheng, who was in a good mood, turned to Chen Yao and asked, "Chen Yao, how high is the city wall?" Chen Yao, who was licking the paste stuck on the wall of the bowl, subconsciously raised his head when he heard Yang Dezheng's question, and ended up with a stain. A nose full of batter. Chen Yao did not wipe off the batter, but solemnly reported to Yang Dezheng: "It has been built to a height of two feet. However, General Yang Gui said that it must be built to a height of at least four feet. The people are now divided into two groups. They are building the city day and night.”
"Two feet?" The speed of building the city can be said to be very fast. Facts have proven that there is indeed power in numbers. The two-foot-high city wall has been erected, and Yang Dezheng's confidence in resisting the Liao people has increased by two points. He encouraged Chen Yao a few words and left the construction site. After leaving the construction site, Yang Dezheng went to inspect the military camp. There are now one hundred thousand soldiers and horses in the military camp.
In addition to the Fuxing Army, there were 50,000 soldiers and horses recruited by Yang Dezheng from Fengzhou, and an additional 30,000 soldiers and horses in Shengzhou. One hundred thousand soldiers and horses were hoarded in the military camp, and the scene was very spectacular. The 30,000 Renaissance Rangers who have been replenished have all been handed over to Yang Peng for training. Although Fan Long was a general who had become a monk on the way, he had been leading cavalry in the north for more than two years, so he had some experience in cavalry training. Of course, the main reason is that the only person Yang Dezheng can use to train the Renaissance Rangers is Fan Long.
There were 70,000 infantry left, of which 20,000 were Fuxing infantry, and the other 50,000 were given another designation by Yang Dezheng, called Jin Army. These 70,000 infantry were temporarily handed over to Yang Xin for training. In order to cooperate with Yang Dezheng's work, Yang Dezheng also sent Peng Pai, who had just arrived from Daizhou, to Yang Xin. The method of training Tianjing New City that Peng Pai is familiar with is very practical in the military. After Yang Xin learned about Peng Pai's military training methods, he immediately got involved with Peng Pai happily.
And Peng Pai, who was familiar with his skills, also began to develop secret guards in the army by taking advantage of his authority. At present, one-third of the army's supervisors and soldiers have been developed into secret guards by him. Yang Dezheng walked around the military camp with a look of sadness on his face. Then an angry Yang Xin was kicked out of the military camp.
Yang Xin felt that Yang Dezheng disliked his method of training troops. But in fact, Yang Dezheng was lamenting the equipment of the infantry. Today, among the soldiers and horses under Yang Dezheng's command, only the Renaissance Rangers barely managed to collect the complete equipment of a leather armor, a scimitar, and two horses. The Fuxing infantry and the Jin army infantry only had one sword, but they were of different sizes and were not standard. Looking from a distance, they look like a group of refugees.
Think of equipment. Yang Dezheng hurried to the temporarily built weapons foundry in Chenjiakou. After Yang Dezheng pacified Fengzhou and Shengzhou, he immediately ordered Ma Mian to summon all the craftsmen in the two states, and also seconded a group of craftsmen from Zhejia.
Three thousand people gathered together and began to forge weapons day and night. Half of the iron used to forge weapons was iron blocks smelted from weapons and armor captured by Yang Dezheng. The other half is the iron ore transported by Yang Dezheng from Fengzhou. The iron mines in Fengzhou are almost semi-open-air and are very rich in iron. Yang Dezheng sent people to dig around the clock and transport them to Chenjiakou.
There were coal mines in Shengzhou, so Yang Dezheng decisively used local materials. Currently, there are two types of weapons forged in the weapons workshop. One is a horizontal knife and the other is an arrow. The horizontal sword is the standard equipment of every soldier. Arrows are a weapon for defending the city.
After Yang Dezheng entered the workshop, he saw the blacksmiths beating the stubborn iron while shouting slogans. Yang Dezheng looked around and frowned slowly. He recruited masters from horse-making and weapons workshops. "How many weapons can the current workshop produce in a day?" Ma Mian gestured with his hand, and the master of the weapons workshop said with a simple smile: "Three hundred qualified horizontal knives and four thousand arrowheads can be produced every day."
Yang Dezheng frowned and said, "Why so few?" Ma Mian lowered his head dejectedly. The smile on the face of the weapons workshop master's master froze and he said: "General, although there are many horizontal swords fired every day, most of them are not up to standard."
"Unqualified?" "Yes, basically except for those of us craftsmen who came from Zhejia, there are only two or three people who can make a qualified Hengdao, and the rest can't." Yang Dezheng frowned deeply , "I just walked around inside and saw that you obviously have special skills when forging weapons. Why don't you try to teach them?"
The master of the weapons workshop smiled dryly, rubbed his hands, and said: "My subordinates basically use secrets that are not passed down. So..." The ancients paid great attention to family status. It is obvious that the master of the weapons workshop is unwilling to pass on this forging skill to other craftsmen. In this way, Yang Qi can't force others. Yang Dezheng pondered for a moment, then thought of a compromise, and said, "Look at this, your secret method for forging a horizontal sword is basically based on the two processes of forging and quenching.
Why don't you pass on the secret method of forging to them and let them concentrate on forging the blade embryo. And you, your brothers and apprentices are responsible for forging the sword embryo into a finished sword. As for the inlaying of the handle and jaw on the back, it would be better to leave it to some careful women. Dividing it into three processes in this way can shorten the working time and quickly forge more qualified weapons. "The Zhe family's craftsmanship in forging horizontal knives has been inherited from the prosperous Tang Dynasty. The reputation of Tang knives is not just bragging.
Even many of the elites of the Song Dynasty still use Tang knives. When it comes to Tang Dao, I have to say a few more words. The so-called Tang Dao does not generally refer to a kind of knife. It is a collective name for four types of knives.
One of them is called Zhan Dao, one is called Heng Dao, one is called Mo Dao, and the other is called Yi Dao. The four types of knives mentioned above are collectively called Tang knives. Among them, the representatives of Tang Dao are Mo Dao and Heng Dao. The craftsmanship of Mo Dao has been lost, so what most people think of as Tang Dao is actually a horizontal Dao.
The Ori family inherited the tradition of Hengdao casting. The forged horizontal sword is full of toughness and has amazing lethality. Yang Dezheng asked the master of the weapons workshop to hand over the forging process, but he was obviously still hesitant. Half of the toughness of the horizontal sword is due to forging. Yang Dezheng withdrew the jade plaque that had been hanging around his neck from his neck, placed it in front of the master of the weapons workshop, and said coldly: "I only want the secret method of forging now, not the secret of quenching. And I can I can tell you for sure that even if they know the secret method of forging, they will not spread it."
After the master of the weapons workshop saw the jade plaque on Yang Dezheng's neck, he was stunned for a moment, and then said with a wry smile: "Old slave, I understand." A change in title showed that the master of the weapons workshop knew that the jade plaque on Yang Qi's neck was What does the jade card represent? Yang Dezheng changed the process of the weapons workshop and filled the weapons workshop with another 2,000 people.
The output of the weapons workshop is doubled. In one day, the output of horizontal knives increased to 1,400, and the output of arrowheads increased to 10,000. At the same time, Yang Dezheng dispatched a group of women to start adding arrow clusters and arrow shafts to the back of the arrows. After Yang Dezheng sorted out everything in Chenjiakou, all the work sped up a lot. Yang Dezheng himself mobilized more than a hundred scarecrows to hide in the military camp. Everyone in Chenjiakou is stepping up preparations for war, waiting for the arrival of the Liao people.
However, Yang Dezheng did not wait for the Liao people, but instead waited for a group of unexpected visitors.
What happened after all, let’s see what happens next.
