The vanguard army's march to Guanzhong went very smoothly, and by the end of April it had entered the territory of the Yongxing Army. At the same time, Guo Xin and others have learned from various sources that Zhao Siwan did not use troops to attack the surrounding prefectures and counties after capturing Chang'an. Therefore, except for Chang'an City, the other prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of the Yongxing Army are actually still owned by the Han. .
After Wang Jin Guangsan Tangqi found out that Zhao Siwan was indeed locked up in Chang'an City and could not leave the city, he decided to temporarily station in Xinfeng County, fifty miles away from Chang'an City.
Xinfeng is located at the strategic point of the official road in the middle of Qin Dynasty and is close to the Wei River and Caoqu River. Therefore, the transportation of grain and grass is very convenient. Moreover, it is only more than a hundred miles away from Huazhou, an important town in the hands of the imperial court. Even if Zhao Siwan comes to invade, he can reach Huazhou in time. Hou Zhang, the governor of the state, asked for help.
Guo Xin and others have been trekking on the road for a month, and now they are finally approaching Chang'an. Zhao Siwan is huddled in the city. Although his two thousand people are not too few, they are far from enough to capture Chang'an. They can only wait until the camp is under command. Guo Congyi and Du Yuhou Shanghongqian arrived later before making a decision.
Since the vanguard army was stationed in Xinfeng, it has been sunny for several days in a row. The weather is extremely hot and hot. Chang'an is within sight. We don't know when a war will break out. Naturally, everyone is unwilling to practice in the sun, so Wang Jin simply agreed The soldiers repaired themselves in the camp and did not interfere too much with the soldiers playing football and playing cards in the camp except for sending out scouts to detect Chang'an.
... Just after noon, Guo Xin, who usually took a nap to recharge his batteries, felt bored and couldn't fall asleep, so he got up and prepared to go to the temporary signing room.
As soon as he went out, he saw Guo Pu coming in from the courtyard gate, so he called out to Guo Pu.
Guo Pu came up and followed Guo Xin for two steps, and suddenly asked: "Does Brother Yi know about the Huaqing Palace in the previous dynasty?"
Huaqing Palace, Yang Yuhuan, Guo Xin naturally knows. Seeing him nodding, Guo Pu continued: "While playing chess yesterday, Wang Shiliang accidentally mentioned that the Huaqing Palace is on the top of Lishan Mountain in the south. He went there to escape the heat many years ago. But now it seems that it has been given to a group of people. Taoist, it’s called... Lingquan Temple.”
"Oh?" Guo Xin asked curiously, "How does Wang Shiliang know this?"
"That guy was originally from Chang'an, and later he went to Taiyuan Mansion to join the army. On a hot day, I think it's cooler in the mountains. Would you like to go and have a look, Brother Yi?"
Guo Xin thought for a moment. He had been waiting here for several days for news, but the follow-up army was far from approaching. Staying in the city was boring and a waste of time. What's more, visiting mountains, rivers and old places is not a complete sightseeing tour.
Just do it. Guo Xin immediately asked Guo Pu to prepare his horse. After a while, he took Wang Shiliang and a few personal followers out of the city and rode straight to Lishan Mountain in the south.
When we reached the foot of Lishan Mountain, it was the hottest time in the afternoon. The group of people drank water and took a rest under the shade of the trees by the forest. Guo Xin asked Wang Shiliang: "When was the last time Shiliang came here?"
"It was fifteen years ago in the fourth year of Changxing. That year coincided with the death of the previous Emperor Mingzong, so I remember it clearly."
"We still need Lao Shiliang to lead the way." Guo Xin nodded, feeling that Wang Shiliang was very meticulous and had a good mind, and he would be very useful in the future.
After a while, the group continued on the road. The mountain road was difficult to navigate, so Guo Xin had to leave the horse to a few soldiers to guard at the bottom of the mountain, and only took Guo Pu and Wang Shiliang up the mountain on foot.
Lishan Mountain is neither high nor steep, and the lush forests and mountain breeze make walking there very cool. Guo Xin walked through the stone steps leading up the mountain. Although grass had grown around the stone steps, they were still generally very smooth and solid. About half an hour later, Guo Xin had already climbed to the top of the mountain. Looking at it, he saw a large area of desolate and ruined palaces and terraces. It was vaguely possible to see the magnificent scale of the large-scale construction here during the prosperous period of the Tang Dynasty. But now many of them have become pieces of broken pillars. Rubble, the outermost wall has even been destroyed, leaving only a small wall inside the palace separated from the abandoned buildings outside.
When he got closer, Guo Xin saw the words "Lingquan Temple" on the plaque at the main entrance. There were two young men sweeping the floor in front of the main entrance. When they saw Guo Xin and three others approaching with swords on their backs, they immediately dropped their brooms and ran inside.
The reputation of officers and soldiers today is really bad, and Guo Xin is already used to it. He only heard Guo Pu beside him mutter: "Run away without knowing the door is closed." This caused several people to laugh together.
Guo Xin stepped through the door and found that the temple was completely silent. Incense was burning in the front hall, but there was no one around. It was not until he passed the front hall that a few Taoist priests hurriedly came out from the inner room to greet him.
The leader, an old Taoist, led several young Taoist priests to salute Guo Xin and others: "General, you are here. It's just that our temple is holding a big ceremony today, and all the disciples are setting up an altar in the temple to perform rituals. I have neglected you all for a while, and you have missed the welcome." It’s a sin…but I don’t know what the purpose of these generals coming to Xiaoguan is?”
Wang Shiliang asked: "Is there still a soup pool in the temple now?"
The old Taoist shook his head: "I'm afraid that these military masters came here in vain. The soup pool in the temple has been abandoned long ago. I'm afraid there is no one left."
Guo Pu smiled and said: "Don't bluff people, old Taoist. Who doesn't know that your Taoist temple is where Huaqing Pool is located?"
The old Taoist was quite indignant when he heard this. He blew his beard and glared: "If you don't believe it, Lord Jun, just come with me and take a look. As for this temple, although it was given by the previous emperor, there is neither gold, silver nor food leftover, only the temple is left." A few houses and a few acres of thin farmland at the foot of the mountain are just for the believers to make a living, even if the military master wants to conquer them."
"My subordinates don't understand etiquette, so don't mind Taoist priest." Guo Xin said with a smile, "Taoist priest, don't worry, we are not asking for food or land when we come here. Since there is no soup pool to see, we are just asking for some water. By the way, we are here Take a rest.”
The old Taoist looked worriedly at Guo Xin and others, and relaxed reluctantly but helplessly: "It's easy to talk, the well is in the back hall, general, come with me. But you military masters, please come back after you have rested. Leave quickly."
"Why?"
The old Taoist said with a serious look on his face: "The general doesn't know. Today's fasting ceremony is not a pure ceremony, but a secret ceremony. It is to save the ghosts and summon the souls of the dead. The general is a man who uses soldiers to kill people, so it may be unlucky to live here for a long time. "
Guo Xin nodded, but he didn't agree with it in his heart. Instead, he felt that the old Taoist was not afraid of his group of soldiers, but instead repeatedly tried to dissuade him, which was quite strange.
With Lao Dao leading the way, several people filed into the back hall. Sure enough, Guo Xin saw many Taoist priests sitting around an altar in the courtyard, chanting sutras and practicing Buddhism.
The old Taoist pointed and explained to several people: "That is the Zhaitan."
Guo Xin took a closer look and saw that the altar was about five or six meters high. It was covered entirely with yellow thick yellow satin. There was a layer of curtains on the top. He could only vaguely see an incense table among them, and underneath it were along the steps of the altar. Several rows of small altars were set up. On the altar, white jade porcelain plates held various tributes. Yellow talismans were posted everywhere. There were heavy banners on both sides of the altar, and smoke was rising from the incense burner.
This fast seems to cost a lot of money, and it is obviously a very important ceremony. So this old Taoist didn't want to let him and others in, was he afraid of robbing him of his tribute?
Guo Xin looked at it again and again, and felt that it was not interesting. He thought that it was just a group of Taoist priests occupying this place to hide from the world.
At this moment, a strong wind suddenly blew from nowhere, and then Guo Xin heard Wang Shiliang suddenly ask: "What is that?"
