Sichuan, Lizhou West Road, Yangpingguan, Jialing Riverside.
Yangping Pass relies on Jigong Mountain to the south and Jialing River to the north. The terrain is extremely dangerous. It leads to Sichuan in the south, Mianzhou, the administrative center of Lizhou West Road, in the north, Longnan in the west, and Xingyuanfu in Hanzhong in the east. As far back as the Three Kingdoms period, it was an important military town.
The weather in April was already a bit hot, and the usually quiet post road suddenly became lively.
Hundreds of vigorous knights rode forward along the post road. They are fully armored, their horses and horses are fully equipped, the knights are very powerful, each of them has a long bow, their quiver is full, and they are full of energy.
"Wang Wen, how come you, a dignified double-ranked Jinshi, would think of going to the Wushu Hall? And why would you come to this northwest frontier?"
Among the crowd of knights, Xu Sheng rode on horseback and joked to the big black-faced knight next to him.
The Song Dynasty used literature to control military affairs, and scholars had a transcendent status. But since the emperor founded the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall and implemented the New Deal in various areas, everything seems to have changed.
"The two-ranked Jinshi is just a false name. I would rather be a centurion than a scholar. This is why I went to the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall and recommended myself here."
Wang Wen, a maverick and powerful Jinshi, went to the Jinling Lecture Hall and became the official who took up his post in the northwest frontier this time.
The emperor did not specify what official position he held. However, if the emperor takes him with him, he must at least give him a small county magistrate or magistrate.
Wang Wen felt a small sense of pride and expectation in his heart.
"You recommended yourself, why don't you just do it for the sake of making contributions? Why are you pretending? I heard that during your imperial examination, your article angered the officials. What did you write that made the officials angry?"
Thinking of Wang Wen's anecdotes, Xu Sheng asked curiously.
"As for me, I just want to sensationalize and make the emperor notice me. In fact, Shi Miyuan wields power and the emperor is like a puppet. How could I let the prime minister dominate and let my great Song Dynasty lack Yang Qi and the emperor cannot have a son."
Wang Wen was a little embarrassed and whispered. He looked around nervously and felt relieved when he noticed that only he and Xu Sheng were walking side by side.
"You don't have enough yang energy! You don't use curse words when you curse people. It's really different for scholars! Aren't you afraid of offending the late emperor and the current queen mother?"
Xu Sheng smiled in surprise and gave a thumbs up.
Although this guy has entered the martial arts hall, he is still a real scholar and has a lot of tricks in his stomach.
"Are you so scared that your crotch split? Although the late emperor was useless, his greatest contribution was to establish the current emperor as the prince, and also issued a posthumous edict for the emperor to inherit the throne. With this, he can be famous in history and smile forever! "
Wang Wen chuckled, not sure whether it was to disparage or praise.
Having stayed with Zhao Hong at the Jinling Martial Arts Hall for a long time, he was also close to the ink and the dark, and he adopted many of Zhao Hong's catchphrases, such as "crotch cracked", "I'll go", "cold salad", etc.
"You finally told the truth. However, after attending the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall, you also learned the emperor's dirty jokes!"
Xu Sheng smiled. In fact, he himself was more poisoned than Wang Wen.
"This time, His Majesty is personally conducting the expedition and leading an army of 70,000 people. Is this going to be a big move?"
Wang Wen asked softly.
When Zhao Hong entered Sichuan this time, he mobilized 40,000 troops from Chengdu and 30,000 troops from the Lizhou camp, all of whom were well-trained elites and were extremely powerful. I wonder what Zhao Hong’s plan was for leading so many troops out of Shu?
You would never lead an armed parade to show off your muscles to the enemy, right?
"I only know that your Majesty's expedition this time seems to be heading towards the Tatar army. I heard your Majesty say privately that he seems to be trying to open up a channel with Xixia."
Xu Sheng looked around and whispered softly, which surprised Wang Wen.
By opening up the Xixia Passage, is the emperor going to start a head-on war with the Mongolian army?
Everyone knows that the emperor deployed heavy troops at the entrance of Shu to prevent foreign invasion. But it would be too crazy to start a direct war with the Mongolian army and open up the main road to Xixia.
That is the Mongolian cavalry that dominates the world and is invincible!
"Your Majesty's move scared the shit out of me and my crotch split!"
Wang Wen was shocked, shook his head and sighed.
The 70,000-strong army, plus the Shukou two groups, is probably 100,000 strong.
This really scared the shit out of him!
"Bai Wuyi is a scholar! Even you are scared to be like this, you can see that those scholars and scholar-bureaucrats are here!"
Xu Sheng smiled coldly, slowly hit the horse, and let out a Zhao Hong-style sigh.
"Why do you do something? It's so difficult!"
The emperor came to Shukou with his own conquest, and everyone in the government and the public turned into monsters. If it weren't for Emperor Qiankun's arbitrary decision, I'm afraid it wouldn't have happened yet.
"Xu Sheng, your Majesty brought these imperial students and the graduates of the Jinling Martial Arts Hall for the purpose of fighting in Shukou?"
Wang Wen couldn't help but be curious and continued to ask in a low voice.
Xu Sheng is Zhao Hong's personal bodyguard, and he must know much more than he does.
"These Taisheng students are protesting His Majesty's use of troops against Mongolia. His Majesty has no choice but to take them with him in order to convince them. As for these graduates of the Jinling Lecture Hall, they are the emperor's darlings, so naturally they should be placed there In the army, we are entrusted with important responsibilities."
Xu Sheng's words made Wang Wen nodded slightly.
The emperor wanted to come to the northwest border, but the ministers in the court and the central government stopped him one after another. Nowadays, the war between Xixia and Mongolia is in full swing, and no one wants to see the Song Dynasty get involved in this whirlpool.
"General Xu, did the emperor say what official position he would give me?"
Wang Wen's topic went round and round and finally returned to himself.
"You can't help it anymore, Brother Wang."
Xu Sheng laughed and reassured Wang Wen.
"The king's heart is unpredictable. Who can guess what your majesty is thinking? In my opinion, your majesty will at least give you the official position of county magistrate. Just wait until you take office!"
As soon as Xu Sheng finished speaking, the knights from the front hurriedly rode over and stepped forward to report.
"General Xu, there are many people in front of us, something seems to have happened!"
"Let's go over and have a look!"
Xu Sheng was startled and urged his horse to lead the guards forward.
This is not even close to the Da'an Army, and it is still thirty or forty miles away from Mianzhou. Could it be that something really happened?
County magistrate!
Wang Wen's heart was shocked, he quickly took off his hard bow and rode up to follow.
Sure enough, after walking less than a mile, many people from the Song Dynasty came along the post road from north to south with their families and their families in tow. They were in a hurry and looked frightened.
"Old man, what happened?"
Xu Sheng dismounted and stopped a gray-haired old man.
"Are you an official army? There are many Tatar cavalry ahead, burning, killing, looting, and besieging the Da'an army. Go and have a look!"
The old man's words refreshed Xu Sheng's spirits.
"Old man, how many people are there in the Tatar cavalry?"
"There are probably thousands of people, a lot of them anyway. You have to be careful!"
After the old man finished speaking, he hurried south and joined the fleeing crowd.
"It seems that this old man has no confidence in our Song Dynasty border army!"
Wang Wen looked at the backs of the old man and others who fled in panic, and said quietly.
"Not only my father-in-law, but all the fleeing people have no confidence in us."
Xu Sheng took off his horned bow and rode forward.
"Li Da, go and report to His Majesty, let's go take a look!"
"Xu Sheng, there are hundreds of Tatar cavalry, and we only have a hundred. Should we wait for the army to come up?"
After all, Wang Wen was a scholar, so he was still a little worried.
"Wang Wen, you, a Jinling Scholar from the Jinling Martial Arts Hall, are not afraid anymore, are you? If you still want to fight and command troops on the battlefield, you'd better forget it!"
Xu Sheng patted Zhentian Lei on his waist, raised his eyebrows, and looked arrogant.
"The Tatar cavalry have bows and arrows, and so do we. We also have thunderbolts and artillery. Besides, we go back and report to the emperor, but we don't know anything about it. Isn't this a joke?"
"Okay. I'll listen to you. But there are so many Tatar soldiers, so you still have to be cautious. I'm reminding you."
Wang Wen's face turned red and he was still trying to show off.
"Don't worry! Play it by ear!"
Xu Sheng cheered up and urged his horse forward.
Wang Wen shook his head and led the guards to follow closely.
On the post road, surrounded by thousands of troops, Zhao Hong rode forward, followed closely by Cui Yu, the envoy of the Sichuan system, and Fan Zhong, the general of Sichuan.
"The wind and smoke are all clear, and the Tianshan Mountains are the same color. It's a pity that there are constant wars and troubles, and we can't live in peace!"
Fan Zhong looked at the scenery along the way and couldn't help but sigh.
The country is picturesque, but it is a pity that foreign enemies invaded.
"The rapids are as fast as arrows, and the fierce waves are like rushing. The horizontal bridge is covered up, and it is still dark in the daytime. Those who fly violently to the sky look at the peaks to rest their minds; those who are economical about worldly affairs, peek into the valleys and forget to rebel."
Cui Yu followed Fan Zhong's words and said with emotion.
It's a pity that the Mongolian army is burning, killing and looting at the entrance of Shu, and it is far from time to let the horses go to Nanshan.
"Xiangong Cui, I heard that the ministers in the DPRK are all restraining your Majesty from coming to Sichuan. How stubborn and stupid you are!"
Fan Zhong had a dark face and glanced at Zhao Hong's back in front of him.
The Mongolian army had already reached the gate, and the scholar-officials in the court were still looking left and right. I really don't know what they are thinking in their heads.
"If His Majesty hadn't laid out the plan in Sichuan two years ago, Shukou would be riddled with holes right now, and there would be countless casualties among the people. Even so, I, the Song Dynasty, would still be unavoidable in a war."
Cui Yu sighed leisurely, secretly amazed in his heart.
Zhao Hong seemed to be a prophet. He could predict that the Mongolian army would invade the Song Dynasty two years ago and made arrangements in advance.
"Xianggong Cui, can the place on Lizhou West Road hold up?"
After all, Fan Zhong had no experience in border affairs and was worried about the border war.
It has been more than half a month since the Mongol army attacked Mianzhou City and Mianzhou military information arrived. I don’t know how the war on Lizhou West Road is progressing.
"Fan Xianggong, please be patient. The city walls on both sides of Lizhou have been reinforced and raised, and there are firearms to help defend the city. The Mongolian army should not be able to capture it easily. There are no reports of war from the front, which means that Mianzhou is safe. .”
Cui Yu's words made Fan Zhong feel a little more at ease.
"Ms. Cui, that's not necessarily the case. The Mongolian cavalry comes and goes like the wind, and they also like to use roundabout tactics. It's not impossible if they go around the back of Mianzhou City and block the military intelligence report."
The accompanying Minister of War, Xuan Zhen, suddenly joined in.
"Mr. Xuan, if the Mongolian cavalry makes a detour, there will always be refugees. Don't worry."
Cui Yu stroked his beard, smiled and said softly.
This headstrong Minister of War knew so much about the "Tatar Policy" that he seemed to have studied it a lot.
As soon as Cui Yu finished speaking, several elite cavalry in front hurried back and were reporting to Zhao Hong.
"Your Majesty, the Da'an Army encountered thousands of Tatar troops more than ten miles ahead and are attacking the Da'an Army!"
"Explore again!"
Zhao Hong's expression did not change and he ordered to go down.
After hearing the scout's report, the smile on Cui Yu's face immediately disappeared.
The Da'an army is hundreds of miles behind Lizhou West Road. Why did the Tatar army come here?
"Xiangong Cui, the Tatar army has reached the Da'an army, and Mianzhou City may be in danger!"
Xuan Zhen was still in the mood to ridicule Cui Yu, his face darkened and his heart became heavy.
"That's not necessarily the case!"
Cui Yu quickly regained his composure.
"The Tatar army is good at making detours, so it may not be possible to break through Mianzhou City. Besides, even if Mianzhou City is conquered, our two roads to Lizhou are full of important towns. If the Tatar army wants to attack the city, how many soldiers does it have? Can you fill it with life?"
Cui Yu responded with ease, but Fan Zhong and Xuan Zhen looked solemn. They stopped talking and urged their horses forward.
The Mongolian army approached the Da'an Army. This fierce battle exceeded expectations.
