'Eight wastelands are fighting together, and all countries are connected. '
Using these eight words to describe Bianjing City, it should be said that it is the Bianjing City of the past, but it cannot be fully described.
It was once the most magnificent, rich and charming city in the world.
All beautiful adjectives can be applied to it.
But if you take just one of its many characteristics,
It should be 'vitality'.
It was once the most vibrant place in the world. Liu Yong said during the Qingming Festival:
The water is playing with boats, the feast is going on, the silver pond is like dye, and the golden embankment is like embroidery. Here are the kings and grandsons of the place, and many wandering prostitutes, often holding hands with each other; on the day of the imperial city, there were candles in the orchid hall, a million hulu, the spring breeze in the painting pavilion, and ten thousand bottles of wine... I couldn't find the flowers or willows when I was drunk.
It's a pity that it's all in the past... After the year of Jingkang, when everyone talks about coming to Bianjing again, apart from memories and hatred, there is only regret.
This kind of pity permeates the hearts of every Song Dynasty person, even those who have been to Kaifeng City and heard about Kaifeng City; naturally, this does not include Jurchens.
For the Jurchens, this place is their trophy, a testimony that after their rise, they destroyed the arrogant Liao Kingdom and took the Song Kingdom, which was full of gold and silver, into their pockets. There is no difference between the government and the government.
After the city was destroyed, Zongze stayed here again and tried his best to fight against the Jin Dynasty. When Du Chong completely gave up here, he even used the term "ten houses and nine empty houses" to describe the former million-household Kaifeng City, which was even more conservative. It was not until the Southern Dynasties all retreated to the Huaihe River that the Jin Kingdom had the idea of governing this place for the first time.
As a result, many people from outside the customs were moved in.
The dilapidated Kaifeng has gradually begun to recover. Although it is still not as good as before, it is still much better than the Shangjing Huining Mansion of the Great Jin Kingdom.
When the news of the destruction of Yingzhou City came, it was already the fifth day of October, and more than ten days had passed.
The first person to receive the news in Kaifeng City was He Shilie Zhining. He Shilie's family is a hereditary Meng'an, and He Shilie Zhining is the eldest son in the family. If he is Han, then he should be said to be. Tao was proficient in all things civil and military, but since he was a Jin man, it can only be said that he was good at both civil and military affairs.
It just so happened that his wife was the head of Yong'an County in the Kingdom of Jin. It just so happened that the head of Yong'an County was Wanyan Wushu's daughter.
So it just so happened that Zhining was the favorite son-in-law of the fourth prince of Jin Kingdom.
Why is he my favorite? Because he has a quick mind.
It was precisely because of his quick thinking that when he received this urgent report that he should have received ten days ago, his first reaction was not to believe it.
The person who came to deliver the message was still frightened:
"A month ago, Prime Minister You sent a letter asking for a saddle. It must be the skin of a calf that has just turned one month old. He said that this is the only way to be invincible."
"But the villain couldn't find it in Kaifeng City for a while. He had to find a family who had just given birth to a cow. He waited for a month and wasted all this time."
"But just when I was thinking of delivering it to Prime Minister You in person, before I entered the city, I saw the flag of the Han army hanging. I was worried that there was a mistake, so I sneaked into the city with a few of my colleagues. Only then did I know the reason. .”
The man seemed to have thought of something painful. He paused for a while before continuing:
"The Nanman dug a big hole outside the city. When the villain first arrived, he met them and pushed the Dajin soldiers into it..."
He swallowed his throat: "I'm afraid there must be two or three thousand people! They were buried like this. The Southern Barbarians are too inhumane... The general should report to the fourth prince as soon as possible so that he can avenge me, the great Jin Erlang!"
Zhining thought for a while, then put the knife to his neck:
"You should have an idea of the punishment for lying about military information."
That person didn't dare to say no, he just kept repeating:
"There are many, there are many! If you see it with your own eyes, you will definitely know!"
Seeing his certainty, Zhining let out a long sigh.
It would be great if this were false.
The fourth prince valued Yingzhou not only because it was easy to defend but difficult to attack, but also because it was close to the Huaihe River and was the strategic focus of the fourth prince's war against the Song people.
With this place, no matter how far the troops from Huaihe and Xiangyang push forward, as long as Yingzhou is not lost, it is possible to cut off the Song people's retreat at any time. Now the Jin Kingdom has always been on the defensive and waiting for attack. It is precisely because this.
They only have so many troops, and the deeper they push, the more dangerous they become.
In this way, the three kings were sent to keep an eye on it... But counting the time now, it was only a little more than a month before Yingzhou was lost.
Wanyan Wushu's carefully arranged chess game was messed up before it even started. Zhining could probably imagine how he would react.
He led this man all the way into the palace. Fortunately, the Zhao family and his son surrendered happily. Most of the buildings in Bianjing City are still well preserved. Although many people died, the stench is no longer smelled.
All the way north, we arrived at the Wende Hall, which was the place where the emperors of the Southern Dynasties rested before and after going to court. The soldiers of the fourth prince said that he is here now.
But looking at the closed door of the main hall and the awkward-looking guards on both sides, Zhining had already guessed something and silently led the man to the side.
The sound insulation effect of this hall is not very good. Everyone can hear the movement inside clearly.
"This...is...your home, your father...brother's...place. In your home...are you more...happy?"
The man's voice was extremely rich, with bursts of breathing... You didn't need to think about it, and you knew what the fourth prince was busy with now.
The man who came to report the news was just a craftsman. There was no chance he could come into contact with the Fourth Prince, let alone the current situation.
I just thought that the fourth prince was nearly sixty years old, but he still had such spirit... Listening to the voice of the woman there, it was really like being in bliss.
Looking through the crack in the door, I can only see a man as strong as a bear working hard. In front of him is a woman lying on her stomach, whose appearance cannot be clearly seen.
"Don't look at what you shouldn't see, and don't listen to what you shouldn't hear."
Zhining's words reached his ears, and the man immediately put his thoughts aside and looked at the sun with everyone else.
After a while, the movement inside gradually subsided, and the door was opened. Zhining waited for another cup of tea before walking in.
"Dad, there is urgent news."
At the beginning, despite being prepared, the Song people were still beaten by mistakes.
But it was precisely because of their preparation that the Jin soldiers responded quickly. Now various places have reached the stage of stalemate. Like when Han Shizhong attacked three places in a row on August 15th, it will never happen again.
On the contrary, Yue Fei and others, whom Wanyan Wushu cares most about, are besieging Ruzhou, and he has already sent reinforcements there. Han Shizhong just captured Haizhou. Currently, facing the past reinforcements from Jinan Prefecture, he can only protect himself. , can no longer move forward.
As for the other minions in Lianghuai, except for the capture of Suzhou, there is no other news.
So... the bear sat on the chair above, took the wet handkerchief handed to him and wiped his sweat. The woman with him is still standing beside him, but has changed her role, now making water for him Had tea.
"Is it Ruzhou? I have already said that I would go in person, but you refused. Now it's fine. These troubles have happened!"
Just listening to the tone of his voice, it was almost the same as that of the old man in the neighborhood, only his voice was louder.
Zhining did not mince words, and softly spat out two words from his mouth:
"Yingzhou."
'Crack~'
The tea bowl that the Fourth Prince had just brought fell to the ground before it was even put into his mouth.
Zhining took a step back and motioned to the man to tell the story again.
The man bowed and quickly told what he had seen.
'Snapped! '
This time, it was the sound of the fourth prince slapping the case.
"He is messing with my military morale, Zhining, you can believe this!"
"Yingzhou has 50,000 elite soldiers, and there is Tiefu Tu there. How many days have Han Chang and the others been there? Even three pigs cannot lose Yingzhou so quickly!"
"And..." Maybe because he convinced himself, Wanyan Wushu gradually calmed down, "Yingzhou Yingshui goes directly to Kaifeng. I don't believe that no one escaped, and I don't believe that it will take so many days to spread the word. Come to Kaifeng!"
The person who came to deliver the news immediately knelt down:
"This is absolutely true. I don't dare to hide it or tell lies!"
"That's right!" The man slapped his forehead and almost forgot the most important thing. He quickly said: "The Emperor of Song, the Emperor of Song personally led the troops there, and he is still in Yingzhou City!"
After hearing this, the fourth prince burst into laughter.
If there was only five points of disbelief before, now it has reached ten points.
He put his hands on the buttocks of the woman next to him and said softly:
"Look, they said your ninth brother has such great abilities, do you believe it?"
This woman was extremely beautiful. She said nothing, just shook her head and continued to make tea for Wanyan Wushu.
"Look, she doesn't even believe it, how could I believe your nonsense!"
With that said, he stood up and said to He Shi Lie Zhining:
"Chop this man into eight pieces and throw them into the garden to feed the fish."
As soon as he finished speaking, a burly man walked in and saluted the fourth prince.
If Medicine Master Guo were here, he would definitely scream... This was no one else. It was Wanyan Alubu who had conquered the Song Dynasty with his second plan when he followed Wanyan Zongwang to attack the Song Dynasty.
This time Wanyan Wushu went south, and he was the first person to cross the Yellow River.
Now, he is the commander of Henan Road and the parent officer of Kaifeng Mansion.
"What's wrong?"
Arubu looked at the fourth prince, his expression colder than Zhining beside him:
"Something happened in Yingzhou?"
He did not answer the fourth prince's question, but asked a question in return.
Wanyan Wushu's smile disappeared and he said in a deep voice:
"Why did you ask so?"
Another question. If you use questions to answer questions, there will never be any results.
Arubu paused and waved towards the outside of the hall. A soldier carrying a wooden tray came.
"Someone left this outside the South City Gate today."
He lifted the cloth and revealed a human head.
"Sudden speed?!"
The fourth prince almost fell from above. He staggered to the man, his hands trembling slightly, trying to caress the man's head.
But in the end, he didn't. He just looked at the man Zhining brought... The craftsman was kneeling on the ground, a little at a loss.
"Fourth Prince..."
"You just said that the emperor of Song was also there?"
"He is here! Everyone in the south of Yingzhou City says he is here!"
'Crack~'
There was another crisp sound, and the woman making tea dropped the teacup she had just made on the ground.
…
Song Dynasty, Yingzhou City.
Liu Bang looked at the man in front of him speechlessly. He frowned several times and gritted his teeth again and again. Only then did he stop the urge to punch this man.
Liu Ziyu, the Minister of War, personally came to Yingzhou from Lin'an.
Half a month ago, after receiving the news that the city of Yingzhou had been destroyed, that the emperor had destroyed the Iron Pagoda, killed two kings, and surrendered Han Chang, the entire Lin'an court was boiling like a pot of hot oil dripping with cold water.
Not to mention fighting the Jin people, since the founding of the Song Dynasty, they have fought everywhere in the south, north, and west. Only this battle was the most enjoyable and had the greatest impact. The battle of Yingzhou was undoubtedly the first since the founding of the country.
Of course, happiness means happiness. In addition to golden people, there are also sad people.
For example, for Hu Quan, the envoy of the Third Division, the emperor asked him for one million yuan as soon as he opened his mouth, saying that it would be used to reward the sergeants.
If you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are, you don't have this million money. You can get it if you want. Frankly speaking, Yingzhou can afford this million for this great victory.
But what about other places?
Han Shizhong captured Haizhou, Yang Yizhong and Zhao Mi captured Suzhou, and Yue Fei was besieging Ruzhou. Which of these people is not the one waiting for a meal with his mouth open?
Furthermore, Yingzhou requires so much at one time. When the Jin people are really driven out, will it cost 10 million or 10 million?
No matter how rich you are, you still have to save some money, right?
In the past, I always lost battles and felt aggrieved and distressed.
Now it's better, the battles have been won one after another, and the old men in the court have finally realized what...
Sweet burden.
Hu Quan was worried about his beard, so he invited Liu Ziyu to come and persuade Zhao Guan's family that the days to come would be long, so don't let everyone be embarrassed all at once.
Liu Shangshu was also a cheerful person. He rushed over without stopping. When they met, they bowed and his first words were:
"Last year, when Yue Fei conquered all the counties, the reward he received for his entire army was only two hundred thousand. Today, the officials are asking for one million. Isn't this a bit too generous?"
Liu Bang was bragging to Han Chang, saying how rich the Song Dynasty was. You had abandoned the dark side for the bright side, and your benefits would be indispensable in the future.
Just in time, I met Liu Shangshu.
Do you think he can be angry?
But Qi Guiqi, he also knew what Liu Ziyu and his group were thinking, and knew that they were sharing worries for the country, so it was not easy to say ugly things.
He pulled Liu Ziyu to one side:
"This is not all a reward, there are other uses... One million, I'd better say it sparingly, don't be stingy, it's rare for me to open my mouth once."
Liu Ziyu's eyes widened: "Do you want to build a palace here?"
"Cultivation... what to cultivate, cultivation has other uses!"
"Then tell me, I can make a plan with Prime Minister Zhao and others."
Liu Bang paused, pointed to the civilians outside carrying the burden and said:
"I want to dig a tunnel, but these people are not allowed to pay others?"
"Authenticity? What tunnel?"
"There is a tunnel from the city to the outside of the city! Think about it for yourself, if the Jin people know that I am here, don't they have to send an army here immediately? If I can't defeat you when I come, then why don't you leave yourself a way out?"
Liu Ziyu bowed to him and said: "Guanjia, then go back. It's already very good for you to have reached this point, very good, very good."
Liu Bang ignored him: "The more than 20,000 people Han Chang brought over, don't have to give them military pay, this has to be taken into account."
"And the people who helped Uncle Liu Xin defend the city last year were liquidated by the Jin people. They are not allowed to receive compensation?"
"There are also city fortifications...the arrow tower and the gate tower need to be built more."
"Also, I have to dress and eat every day. If I fall in love with a girl from a certain family, I am not allowed to give them a betrothal gift?"
"besides……"
Liu Ziyu couldn't bear it any longer: "I know...but Your Majesty, have you ever thought about what might happen if you put yourself in such a situation?"
"just in case?"
Liu Bang smiled and said: "Of course I have thought about it, so I also have something to say to you."
When the emperor finished speaking, Liu Shangshu looked at him in disbelief.
"This...are you worrying too much?"
"Don't worry too much, this is just in case."
(End of chapter)
