As if I have offended the public, I will change my map and write two chapters to avoid it.
Youzhou, this big city in northern Hebei, is still majestic and the city is still strong, but it is no longer prosperous. All prosperity is as fragile as paper in the face of war and turmoil. Since last year, it has been rapidly sliding towards the abyss of decline.
During the ten years of Khitan rule, Youzhou was at its most prosperous, with a population of nearly 200,000. However, in just one year, after a series of massacres, wars, epidemics, and exiles, there were only less than 80,000 soldiers and civilians left inside and outside the city.
It was midsummer, the weather was extremely dry, and there were several clouds hanging over the city, making the entire city even more depressing.
There are many guards at the gate of the city, and the defense is very tight. Since the Yan army recaptured it, no matter what the situation is, the defense has not been relaxed. Recently, it has been particularly rigorous, and the soldiers and the people have clearly felt that the patrols of the Yan army have been strengthened a lot.
There were not many people going in and out of the city gate. Apart from a small number of business travelers and ordinary people, there were more people including bus convoys, officials, and military personnel. Today, Youzhou City has increasingly transformed into a military fortress. Due to the threat of Khitan cavalry, King Yanshou Zhao Yanshou had already begun to move the people under his rule to Zhuo and Yi states in the south. Farming in Youzhou is too difficult. And to support such a city, soldiers and civilians, there is not enough money and food, and the pressure is even greater.
The situation in Youzhou City is somewhat similar to that of Tokyo City. Both are short of money and food, and supplies are scarce. However, compared to Tokyo, Youzhou is obviously more difficult. After all, deep in the hinterland of Tokyo, there is no threat of war, and it is more or less supported by various towns.
Youzhou, on the other hand, is always facing the threat of war, facing it head-on. In fact, the situation in Youzhou has not been easy all this time.
Although Youzhou is a strong city, it is actually an isolated city. When the danger of Yanshan was still in the hands of the Khitans, they could only passively accept the attack. The Khitan cavalry could go south at any time. That is to say, the Hu people were not good at attacking the city, otherwise, Youzhou City would have been destroyed long ago.
The Khitan people obviously never gave up the idea of "recovering" Youzhou. They controlled the land of Tanji and supported the dangerous passes of Yanling Mountain. From time to time, they sent light cavalry southward to invade, attack farmland of households, and destroy production. The Yan army was not too disturbed. For this reason, the cavalry in the Yan army also suffered heavy losses in the strangulation and confrontation of Hu Qi.
In fact, if there is no support from the Han Dynasty, in the situation of Youzhou, the Khitans only need to invade Youzhou in this way, and it will take less than two years to conquer Youzhou without a fight. It still has to be under the condition that Youyan's soldiers and civilians are united and help each other.
However, the morale of the military and people in Youzhou has long been unstable. The common people could still flee, but Zhuo and Yi were in the south, and Hebei prefectures and counties further south were ordered to absorb and resettle them. But the same cannot be said for the army, especially the military leaders and landlords and bureaucrats. They have suffered heavy losses in the past year. Many of them regretted following Zhao Yanshou against the Khitan.
"This damn weather, it's been dry for so long, and it's finally going to rain!" Under the north gate of Youzhou City, several low-level officers gathered together, and the defenders looked up at the clouds in the sky, almost feeling overwhelmed. The city's dark clouds cursed. The mood is a bit impetuous, just like this impetuous weather and impetuous city.
"I don't know how long I will have to endure this day!" The captain of his subordinates leaned to the side, with a hint of depression in his tone.
"How long will it take? If the Khitans really come south to attack and start a war, how long we can live is a question!" Dutou said angrily.
At the beginning of the month, reports came from the northern post that the Khitans were moving. Thousands of barbarians came from the north of the mountain and gathered in Jizhou. Such a big movement directly made everyone in Youzhou tense, just to avoid another large-scale attack by the Khitans. Today's Youzhou City is also in a troubled time.
"I heard that the grain harvest was bad, and we missed the summer planting. If we are attacked by the Khitan again during the autumn harvest, I think we will starve this year..." Another officer said with emotion.
"Humph, who dares to let me wait for hunger?" Dutou said coldly, looked to the south, and said with a hint: "We are a barrier for the Han court, fighting for them in bloody battles, resisting the Khitans, if we continue I can't even fill my stomach, so why should I sacrifice my life for the young emperor in Kaifeng City?"
This statement was unanimously recognized by the surrounding military officers, with constant echoes. At this time, there was an undercurrent surging in the Yan army in Youzhou. Under normal circumstances, these low-level officers would not understand the truth behind the Yan army's resistance to the Liao Dynasty, let alone direct their grievances towards the Han court.
At this time, a cavalry force of several hundred people came from the north. The officers subconsciously stopped chatting, and the city immediately went on alert. The quality of the Yan army was still acceptable. However, looking at the "Zhao" flag visible in the distance, I couldn't help but relax a little.
"The prince is back!" Dutou muttered.
The leader of the cavalry formation that ran south was a brave young general in white robes, dressed in a noble suit. He was none other than Zhao Kuangzan, the capital of the Youzhou Horse Infantry Army, Yuhou, Lulong's observation envoy, the governor, and the crown prince of King Yan. This time, he heard about the Khitan's unusual movements and led people to patrol north to inspect the military situation.
It has been more than two months since I went north to Youzhou. After coming to the north, Zhao Kuangzan quickly stepped into his role. With the support of his father Zhao Yanshou, he joined the army and discussed politics. Up to now, he has been in charge of the military affairs of Youzhou on behalf of his father, and the most elite Yajun under Jiedu is also under his control.
Entering the city without any hindrance, the cavalry returned to their camp, while Zhao Kuangzan rode lightly towards the inner city until he was in front of the Yan Palace. Ziyou's tooth soldiers led their horses to the ground, jumped down quickly, and went in with their whips in hand.
"Your Majesty, you are finally back!" A royal official rushed to greet him.
"What happened, calling me back so urgently?" Zhao Kuangzan asked with quick steps.
"Judge Zhang is gone!" the official reported.
As mentioned before, the first and second military and political leaders in Youzhou are Zhao Yanshou and Zhang Li, and the situation in Youzhou is maintained by these two people. In the first episode, the two of them got sick one after another. It can be said that they were both tired and endured.
Recently, their illnesses have worsened one after another, and they are gradually unable to manage their affairs. Because Zhao Yanshou was paving the way for his son, he held on and looked like he was shining brightly again, while Zhang Li was weak in health and had poor foundation. He persisted until now, but failed to survive this summer.
Hearing the news, Zhao Kuangzan's brows suddenly condensed, his expression a little heavy, but not too surprised.
"Where is the king?" Zhao Kuangzan asked.
This official was obviously a confidant, and he directly replied in a low voice: "When I heard that Judge Zhang had gone, the king was so heartbroken that he fainted on the bed. The subordinates did not dare to neglect, sealed the news, and sent someone to inform the crown prince."
"You've done a great job!" Zhao Kuang praised him and walked towards the inner courtyard with obvious urgency.
In the inner courtyard of the palace, in the hall, Zhao Yanshou was lying on the couch, having already woken up. Two maids held cattail leaf fans and gently swayed them beside him to dispel the sultry summer heat for him. At this time, Zhao Yanshou could not be described as haggard at all. He was seriously ill and dying, and he was not at all as high-spirited as when he was invited to the Northern Expedition last year.
PS: Isn’t it the author who wrote the story of Geng’s death? Why are you criticizing the protagonist?
If you don’t believe it, I didn’t feel much before I wrote the character. After all, I thought I didn’t have much emotion for the character, so I just followed the outline. But after I finished writing, thinking about it, I felt a little bit reluctant to let go.
This feeling is a bit like when Yuan Fang's book was banned and he was reluctant to part with the high-level Princess Taiping, but it's just not as strong as before.
Sometimes, you really only know what cherishing and regretting means when you lose it.
In addition, the protagonists I write are generally cold-hearted, especially those who strive for hegemony. They usually think more realistically, and if they can't stand it, I suggest abandoning the book and leaving.
