Throughout April, Guo Xin was in Daizhou watching the changes in the current situation in the south, waiting for Taiyuan to remember to mobilize his "partial division".
During these days, we heard one after another that the princes from the Central Plains had professed their vassalship to Liu Zhiyuan. First, Zhe Congyuan, the Tuanlian envoy of Fuzhou who guarded the east, west and north of the river, went to Taiyuan Prefecture to meet Liu Zhiyuan and changed his name to Zhe Congruan because of taboos. Secondly, Yuhou Wuxing, the capital of Ning State, De occupied Heyang and also sent his younger brother Wu Xingyou to deliver letters to Taiyuan. Liu Zhiyuan naturally reciprocated the favor and appointed the two as military governors of Zhenwu and Heyang respectively.
Shi Hongzhao's war in the south was also relatively smooth. In mid-April, he defeated the Liao army and beheaded more than a thousand people. He also pursued the Khitan Zhaoyi Jiedushi Geng Chongmei and Heyang Jiedushi Cui Tingxun, forcing Geng and Cui and the Khitan King Xi to retreat. Protect Huaizhou. Since then, the Khitan Lord's attempt to prevent the Han army from going south in Huaizhou and Luoyang has been completely passive.
Seeing that the battle in the south was going smoothly, Liu Zhiyuan sent Kelan envoy Zheng Qian as the governor of Xinzhou, who also served as the governor of Zhangguo and the camp commander of the two states in the Xin Dynasty, in an attempt to send troops from the north to disperse the Khitan forces.
Just as the Han army in the city of Dangzhou became nervous again and prepared to wait for the arrival of reinforcements and horses to send troops north to Yuzhou, a piece of news that surprised everyone suddenly came from the south.
Hearing the news from Wang Yuanmao, Guo Xin couldn't believe his ears and asked again: "Is the Khitan Lord really dead?"
Wang Yuanmao nodded in agreement: "It is said that Yeluyao Gu contracted a serious illness on the way north and died of the illness while killing Hu Lin a while ago. This matter is already known to everyone in Hebei, and there should be no lie."
After a while, Guo Xin recovered from his surprise. In his later memory, he had a vague impression of many important events at that time. Although he knew that Khitan Lord Yelu Deguang died not long after entering the Central Plains, he did not know the specific death. When.
"Kill Hu Lin...Kill Hu Lin..." Guo Xin recited several times silently, and couldn't help but ask himself: "Is there really such a coincidence in this world?"
Wang Yuanmao saw Guo Xin talking to himself on the sidelines and asked tentatively: "Does Commander Guo want to humble himself and stop the sergeants from spreading rumors?"
"It doesn't matter, even if Lord Yelu is not dead, it can also boost the morale of the army." Guo Xin waved his hand, thought for a while, then picked up the bag and put it on his head: "I'm going to see the defense envoy right now."
It happened that Guo Pu also came in at this time to report that Xie Hui was convening the generals in the Governor's Mansion to discuss matters. Guo Zhixin immediately understood that the death of the Khitan Lord seemed certain.
In the governor's house, Xie Hui raised the edict wrapped in yellow silk in his hand and announced happily to the generals present: "The Khitan Lord is dead, the Liao army is leaderless in Hebei, and our great man is not far away from success!"
Naturally, what Xie Hui got was not gossip, but serious military orders from Taiyuan, otherwise he would not have called the generals to discuss the matter.
Most of the generals probably heard the rumors in the military camp, but now they got official confirmation from Xie Hui. Not to mention celebrating, at least the happiness was on their faces.
Although everyone now regards the Khitan as the enemy and makes derogatory remarks about Yelu Deguang, they have to admit that Yelu Deguang is really a hero at this time. He first destroyed the Later Tang Dynasty and then the Shi Jin Dynasty. People's words Not to mention, but no one can deny that the mere fact that Yelu Deguang is alive has brought an invisible pressure to Hedong... and this pressure will suddenly disappear with Yelu Deguang's death. .
Wang Jin clicked his tongue and sighed: "The Khitan Master did not die under our blade, but was possessed by a sick ghost first. Consider him lucky."
Xie Hui was also very happy today, but not just because of Yelu Deguang. He quickly pressed his hands to signal everyone to be silent: "Let's not talk about this for now, the officials have issued military orders to our army."
The generals immediately stopped cheering for Yelu Deguang's death, and only raised their ears to wait for Jie Hui to convey his will.
Xie Hui did not show off, and stood up directly and read: "As mentioned above, the vanguard commanded Shi Hongzhao's army to garrison the party, and the captives continued to escape. It was convenient for the Taiyuan army to leave the courtyard and arrive at Mengjin, and the edict was issued on the 12th Go to Beijing and inform all the Taoists."
Guo Xin listened to Xie Hui's announcement of the Han army's intention to send troops. Taiyuan Mansion simultaneously sent the death of the Khitan leader and the date of the announcement of the dispatch of troops, which made him inevitably connect the two things: Liu Zhiyuan died because of Yelu Deguang , so you dare to send troops south without worry?
After Xie Hui finished speaking, he put down the document. Seeing this, the generals thought there was nothing more to say, and immediately shouted anxiously: "What about us? Have the officials mentioned us?" "Do we still want to stay here?"
Xie Hui laughed loudly, but took out another silk book, told everyone to sit down, and read: "I order Daizhou Fengguo Army to select a day to send troops to Taiyuan Mansion to rectify the troops."
Everyone was confused, and Xie Hui then explained: "The officials are preparing to go south personally. They have ordered the emperor's brother Taiyuan Yin Liu Chong to stay in the northern capital, and Wei Jin to be the commander of the horse and infantry forces in the north. Major events in the south are more important, and the officials have no intention of leaving Yuzhou in the north. Turn back. The men and horses sent by Commander Ma Bu of Beidu are coming to take over this place, and then we will return to Taiyuan Prefecture with our troops."
Wang Jin clasped his fingers and sighed heavily: "Hey... The officials will set out on the 12th, and it's already been the 8th, which means we still can't make it."
Xie Hui didn't take it seriously: "We are short of troops and horses. Even if we can rush there, we may not be able to show any prestige among the troops. At this time, it is most urgent to go to Taiyuan to replenish the troops." Then he announced to everyone: "Everyone goes back. Send the order, prepare the class teacher!"
"The general will be waiting for your order!"
Fengguo's left wing was well organized in Daizhou. On May 11th, Liu Chong's troops came from Taiyuan Prefecture to take over Daizhou City, but they arrived belatedly.
Xie Hui did not ask the army to wait any longer, and led his army out of Daizhou City the next day.
Compared with the rush and confusion when he left Taiyuan Mansion last time, Guo Xin is no longer unfamiliar with marching. What's more, he has been promoted to commander now. He no longer needs to worry about the complicated and trivial matters below. He only needs to supervise and govern. , the rest will be arranged by the people below.
When the army set off from Nancheng, it was still twilight.
Guo Xin, who was riding a horse, looked at the team heading south and felt something had changed, but he couldn't tell what the specific difference was.
Guo Xin turned back and glanced at Nancheng behind him. The top of the city was dim and he couldn't see clearly. Guo Xin thought that the dim top of the city was where he first went into battle, and he felt a sense of intimacy. But he expected that not long after, as Liu Zhiyuan entered Bianliang, he would also start a new life as a general of the Forbidden Army in the long-famous city of Tokyo... I wonder if there would be a chance to come back in the future.
"Brother Yi, have you heard about it? After the death of the Khitan Lord, he was cut open and given a belly full of salt. He was made into dried glutinous rice before being transported back to the north." After Guo Xin was promoted to commander, Guo Pu also got a horse as a soldier. Ma, chat next to Guo Xin.
Guo Xin retracted his thoughts, nodded and said with a smile: "The Khitan Lord was pickled into a bacon emperor, which is unprecedented."
The surrounding soldiers laughed at Guo Xin's words, but Guo Pu asked curiously: "Brother Yi has a lot of experience, but do you know why the Khitans did this?"
"It's for antiseptic purposes."
“What is embalming?”
"Just like bacon needs to be salted so that it doesn't stink, the same goes for human meat."
"Scared! The Khitan captives raise so many cattle and sheep, but they still don't have enough to eat!"
“…”
