As dusk approaches, the fiery red sun hangs on the top of the mountains, and the rays of rays burn the sky. The mountains are hidden, the trees are swaying gently, the river is shining with golden light, and the cheerful waves are rolling towards the north.
On the border of Lanzhou, on the south bank of the Yellow River, at the ferry, countless soldiers and civilians of the Song Dynasty swarmed on the ferry, waiting in line to cross the river and head to Hexi.
On both sides of the river embankment and around the ferry, the powerful Song Army knights patrolled back and forth, watching with eager eyes to ensure that no unexpected situations would occur and to protect the safety of soldiers and civilians heading to Hexi.
Although Lanzhou was captured by the Song army from the Mongolian army, Lanzhou was still nominally the territory of the Jin people. Especially after the Mongolian army withdrew, the Jin people continued to accuse the Song army of seizing Lintao Prefecture and Lanzhou, and the militants in the country were ready to take action. This also caused the Song army to gather heavy troops at Shukou and Lanzhou to prepare for the Jin army's attack.
"Ms. sir, the Xiang army from Sichuan said that they have been waiting for most of the day and requested that they be arranged to cross the river immediately. They are still waiting to go to Hexi to farm!"
The yamen officer came to report. Wang Wen looked back and immediately darkened his face.
"Let them wait a little longer. Some people have been waiting for a long time. We have to let them go first and come in order!"
With the emperor's entry into Sichuan, he is now the acting magistrate of Lanzhou. Although the Hexi immigrants have military guards on both sides of the river to maintain law and order, as the civil affairs chief, he also has to maintain order at the ferry and provide porridge and grain supplies in case of emergencies.
"It's too slow! How long do we have to wait?"
"Why don't you let me pass and treat you like a human being?"
The soldiers behind were muttering, but no one dared to stab them. Firstly, everyone is waiting, and secondly, the helmeted and armored border troops on the river bank are watching eagerly. It seems that they are not good enemies, otherwise they would not even be afraid of the Tatar cavalry.
"Ms. Sir, Liu Dayi from Chengdu Prefecture in Sichuan is so polite."
With an apologetic smile on his face, Liu Dayi took a step forward, nodded and bowed.
"Exceptor Liu, you're welcome. What can I do for you?"
Wang Wen looked at Liu Dayi and nodded lightly.
Could this wealthy businessman have something to do with him?
"Ms. Zhizhou, this is a trivial matter, not respectful, please accept it!"
Liu Dayi looked around and saw that no one was paying attention. A money bag was stuffed into Wang Wen's sleeve.
"The villain is traveling with many vehicles, so I would like to ask you..."
Before Liu Dayi finished speaking, Wang Wen's face turned livid, he had already taken several steps back, and threw the money bag he had given him directly to the ground.
The smile on Liu Dayi's face stopped suddenly, and his face was full of embarrassment.
"Ms. sir, this is..."
"Listen to me, take away your dirty money quickly! You are a first-time offender, and I will not care about you. If you dare to bribe an official next time, the law will not tolerate it!"
Wang Wen said sharply, and the people around him applauded. Liu Dayi was so embarrassed that under the gaze of everyone, he picked up the money bag from the ground and stuffed it into his arms.
"You just said that you have many vehicles, what kind of goods are they transporting?"
Hexi was very poor and had nothing to offer. Wang Wen frowned and stopped Liu Dayi.
This Liu Dayi has many vehicles, all bulging with goods. They are obviously goods, perhaps what Hexi needs.
"Ms. sir, I am a merchant from Chengdu Prefecture. I have transported 37 carts of cloth, including 8,000 pieces of linen cloth and 9,000 pieces of coarse cloth. There are also 300 carts of 2,000 stone rice noodles in total, as well as some farming tools, seeds, and medicinal materials. Ganzhou. The villain bought 200 hectares of land in Ganzhou, and was eager to go there to reclaim wasteland, farm, and buy and sell, so..."
Liu Dayi quickly took out the account book and handed it over respectfully.
This dog official doesn't think he gave too little, right?
If he is really blocked, he will get some blood at night, so that the dog officer can be accommodating.
"Ms. Zhizhou, here are the details of the villain's goods, as well as the land purchase certificate issued by the Sichuan Production and Purchase Department. They are all here. Please check it. In addition, the villain also bought 30,000 guan of treasury bonds to support me, the King of the Song Dynasty. The division moves westward."
Liu Dayi handed over the account book, carefully observing Wang Wen's expression.
Wang Wen took the account book, opened it and looked at it carefully for a while, nodded, and returned the account book to Liu Dayi.
"Executive member Liu, wait a moment!"
Wang Wen walked a few steps, stood on the embankment of the ferry, and shouted loudly to the soldiers and civilians on the ferry.
"Soldiers and fellow villagers, there is a lot of waste in Hexi, and there is a shortage of food and clothing. This righteous merchant has brought a large amount of cloth and food, which is exactly what is needed ahead. Everyone, give way and let them pass first, okay?"
The imperial court sells national bonds and sells land in Hexi, all of which fall on these wealthy families, so we can't let people's hearts drop.
The government officials stepped forward to dissuade them, and the soldiers and civilians shunned and made way for them.
"Ms. sir, can I leave now?"
Liu Dayi opened his eyes wide and was dubious.
In the Song Dynasty, are there any officials who are not bribed?
"Liu Yuanwai, take your goods and cross the river quickly! I don't have time to treat you to dinner! And don't worry. If you buy the imperial government bonds, you will definitely make a lot of money!"
Wang Wen said coldly, and Liu Dayi was overjoyed. He quickly called his men to move forward and cross the river first.
"My father-in-law loves his people as much as his son, and the breeze flows from his sleeves. Thank you very much, little man!"
Liu Dayi was sincerely convinced and bowed his hands.
New dynasty, new officials, new people, new style. I hope there will be more such good officials in the Song Dynasty.
"Liu Yuanwai, after crossing the river, you will be guarded by our army officers and soldiers all the way, so you can move forward with confidence. When you reach Hexi, you must not hoard or drive up prices. As long as you obey the law and make money, the court will not treat you badly."
Wang Wen said loudly, his face softened.
"You know, I know, please follow your father-in-law's teachings!"
Liu Dayi said goodbye and left with a smile on his face.
"Exceptor, it's rare for the governor of the state to do things for merchants without accepting bribes. This is the first time in the world!"
The servants were sincerely impressed.
"And those border troops, all with black faces, fangs, and ferocious looks. No wonder they were able to defeat the Tatar cavalry and recapture Hexi. How amazing!"
Another servant shook his head in surprise.
Liu Dayi nodded. Officials do not accept bribes, soldiers are strong and brave, and the future of the Song Dynasty is promising.
This also made him full of expectations for his trip to Hexi.
"My lord, look, there are so many horses!"
On the embankment of the Yellow River, the government officer pointed to the south and shouted loudly.
Wang Wen looked back and was secretly surprised. Are the horses all over the mountains and plains heading to Hexi?
"Ms. sir, you don't know something. This is the female horse we recaptured from the Tatar army. It was sent to Hexi to be used as a stud horse!"
The officer said loudly, with a bright smile on his face.
It turns out to be a female horse!
Wang Wen nodded slightly, feeling as excited as the yamen servant.
The fierce Mongolian general Subotai captured Xixia, Hexi and other places, as well as the Deshun, Rong, Lan, Hui, Tao and He prefectures in Jindi, and plundered five thousand horses. Unexpectedly, the Song army captured Lintao Mansion all the way, and even the female horse was captured by the Song army.
"It seems that Mr. Guo is here in person! There is also General Yu!"
The yamen servant screamed, and Wang Wen quickly got off the river embankment and greeted him.
"Mr. Guo, General Yu, how have you always been?"
The trip to Hexi is of great importance, and important officials from all parties have appeared one after another.
"Ms. Wang, General Yu is about to lead 10,000 elite troops to cross the river, as well as the army's baggage and food. When the time comes, you will have to work hard to arrange the crossing."
Guo Zhengsun got off his horse and handed over the detailed account book.
"Hexi is in ruins, and transportation is difficult. General Ma Zhong will lead 5,000 soldiers to Hexi first, and I will lead 10,000 troops there. As for the remaining tens of thousands of troops, they will be sent to Hexi one after another according to the situation."
Yu Jie gave a simple explanation.
Wang Wen nodded slightly, took the account book, and flipped through a few pages, his expression also solemn.
Tens of thousands of troops, people eating horse chews, the people of Sichuan will sweat a lot.
"General Yu, are these mares also rushing to Hexi?"
Wang Wen looked at the densely packed group of horses and was shocked.
"Military information came from Ma Zhong. The horse farms in Qilian Mountain have been repaired and many stallions have been found. I will take these mares to Hexi. Within three years, there will be at least tens of thousands of war horses. This is His Majesty's will. I Don’t dare to disobey!”
Yu Jie chuckled softly, looking a bit high-spirited.
In the land west of Hexi, except for Xiliang Prefecture, which is about to attack the city, almost all the other Ganzhou, Suzhou and Guazhou can be decided by propaganda. But it is easy to destroy, but it takes some effort to rebuild.
"General Yu, our army has occupied Lanzhou and Lintao Prefecture, and Lanzhou has become a frontier fortress. The Jin people are at war with each other, and wars can break out at any time. I always feel uneasy!"
Wang Wen was worried and looked eastward unconsciously.
"Wang Xianggong, Lanzhou, Lintao Prefecture, and the entire Shaanxi Province are my hometown in the Song Dynasty. We have taken Lanzhou and we feel at ease. You don't know that the officers and soldiers in the army now want to go to war with the Jin people. If it weren't for His Majesty's purpose, It is strictly forbidden to have any border issues with the Jin people, as the golden drums are already sounding along the border."
Yu Jie smiled coldly, and the disdain in his tone shocked both Guo Zhengsun and Wang Wen.
After fierce battles, the morale of the Song army soared, and all the proud soldiers and generals in the army were restless. If the Jin people dare to start a war, these guys will definitely not be polite.
Although the emperor issued an order not to start a war, he clearly ordered the frontier soldiers to "I will not attack others unless they attack me. If they attack me, I will attack them." There are 70,000 to 80,000 elite Song troops gathered at Shukou, and I believe that the Jin army would not even dare to start a provocation.
"General, if you go to Hexi, please take care of yourself!"
There are still Mongolian troops entrenched in Hexi, which are devastated and in ruins. Wang Wen is really worried about the Song army soldiers.
"No need to worry. With my 50,000 elite soldiers and generals, the land west of Hexi will soon be my world in the Song Dynasty!"
Yu Jie rode his horse forward, followed closely by countless tigers and wolves. The iron cavalry rolled endlessly, making people feel chilled and short of breath.
Wang Wen looked envious and almost drooled.
If he could lead these thousands of troops across the battlefield, his death would be worth it.
The setting sun is like blood, the wind is blowing and the grass is moving, the mountains are silent, and the earth is silent.
North of Lanzhou, on a hillside on the north bank of the Yellow River, a pair of bald father and son Dangxiang were riding on horses, quietly watching the soldiers and civilians of the Song Dynasty crossing the river.
"Dad, who are those people? Why are there so many cavalry? Where are they going?"
The Dangxiang child, who was about seven or eight years old, asked curiously.
"Those are the soldiers and civilians of the Song Dynasty, with four to five thousand cavalry and tens of thousands of horses. They are going west..."
The Dangxiang man in his forties said softly, feeling bitter in his heart and he hesitated to speak.
The Song army was full of powerful warriors, and the Mongolian horses under their crotches were obviously captured in battles with the Mongolian army. The Song army was so elite that Hexi seemed determined to win.
"Dad, why are there so many Song troops? Those Song people, where are they going?"
The party child immediately felt full of doubts in his heart.
Those Song soldiers were all wearing helmets and armor, and they were dark and tough, making them intimidating.
"They are going to Hexi, the land of our ancestors."
The Dangxiang man had to tell the truth, with an indescribable loneliness in his eyes.
The Dangxiang man in his forties is the deposed prince of Xixia and the guard general of Lingzhou, Li Deren. With him was his seven-year-old son Li Weizhong.
Lingzhou City was rescued from the siege, and Li Deren and his son were safe and sound. Li Deren still guarded Lingzhou, but he knew Xixia's plight well.
"Hexi, is it Xiliang Prefecture and Ganzhou? Are there still my people in Daxia there?"
Li Weizhong was surprised for a while and asked again.
Li Deren felt depressed for a while, and after a while, he softly replied, his heart full of bitterness.
"I heard that many people have died, and only tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands are left. We, the royal family of Great Xia, feel sorry for them!"
There are ten houses and nine empty houses in Hexi, and it is unknown how many people there are. In the land of Xingling, soldiers and civilians suffered heavy casualties, with a population of only three to four hundred thousand. Today's Xixia has only 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers, and they are barely surviving. They are already dead in name only.
"Dad, since the Song army helped us, why did they want to rob our Hexi in Daxia? Are they good people or bad people? Also, isn't Sister Weiming the concubine of Emperor Song? Why doesn't she help us?"
Li Weizhong's words made Li Deren smile bitterly and became speechless.
There are always only interests between countries. The people of Song Dynasty were already considered kind. Otherwise, they could have waited for Xixia to fall and then took Hexi without sacrificing those thousands of soldiers.
"Dad, why are my people in Daxia going west? They are also going to Hexi, right?"
Li Weizhong pointed to the north of the mountain and continued to ask.
Li Deren looked in the direction his son was pointing. There were both Han people and Dangxiang people on the post road. They carried their baggage on their backs, pushed wheelbarrows filled with pots, mats, beddings, and other items, dragging their families with them in a hurry.
Most of them kept their heads on the road without even looking back.
These poor people in troubled times, what else can they do? It’s not just about having food to eat and finding a way to survive.
The Song army had just advanced into Hexi, and the people of Daxia could not wait to follow. It seems that these Daxia people have lost trust in the Daxia court.
If you can't even protect your own people, no wonder the people of Daxia are disheartened. Daxia is no longer Daxia in the minds of the people of Daxia.
Li Deren's heart was heavy and he was speechless.
"Dad, when I grow up, I will definitely lead thousands of troops to recapture Hexi of my Daxia and restore the past glory of my Daxia!"
Li Weizhong said loudly, his little face flushed and full of pride.
Daxia’s past glory?
Li Deren shook his head slightly.
The glory of Daxia has long gone. Today, the tiny land of Daxia is still struggling to survive. If the Mongolian army comes again, will there be a tomorrow in Daxia?
Will the Song people still help Daxia?
It has been nearly two hundred years since the founding of Daxia. Is it really that all the time has passed?
Li Deren's heart was filled with bitterness and disappointment.
