The place where Xiao Siwen and his party stayed was called Jieqiaoyi. It was one of the three major stations at the junction of Yanshan and Hebei roads, and its location was among them. Before the Northern Expedition to recover Yanyun, it was a bridgehead built by the imperial court in Hebei. After Yanshan was recovered, its military role was greatly reduced, but it also became an important transportation route between the north and the south, and the government specially set up a post here.
The name comes from the battle between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan during the Three Kingdoms period. Although the rumors are doubtful, it is said that the battlefield is nearby, and not far away is the more lively Linhe Ferry.
During the Kaibao Northern Expedition, Jieqiao Post was also an important military station for the imperial court to transport military supplies on land. After the war ended and the country became more stable, the post quickly returned to prosperity, and relying on the convenience of north-south transportation, its scenery was even better than in the past. .
Most of the post stations that were densely distributed in the Han Dynasty had one characteristic, that is, they were integrated as a post town. They were not just used as post stations. Most of them were built as towns with a dense population and a prosperous economy. And the more convenient transportation is, the more prosperous it will be.
Stations such as Chenqiao, Xiangfu, Yongan, and Yanxi in the two capitals are even more famous in the world. Of course, Jieqiao is not that famous, but at least on the banks of the Juma River, where Yan and Hebei meet, its prosperity is visible to the naked eye. The noisy sound, from day to night, of business travelers, carriages and horses, and goods, is an endless stream. The prosperity of the Han people is also reflected in these noises.
Those who came to meet Xiao Siwen and his party were the official cavalry subordinate to Hebei Dusi, and the leader was a battalion general. Xiao Siwen seemed to have a clear understanding of the difficulty of imps. At Jieqiao Post, Xiao Siwen also specially entertained the officers who came to support him until late at night.
Although it was late at night, the noise in the inn seemed to never end. Whether it was in the hall or in the room, there were always bursts of conversation, and wine was the most entertaining thing.
Xiao Siwen stood in front of the window, silently observing the scene in the post through the gap. There was a deep look on his old face, his eyebrows were tightly knitted, and his expression looked a little solemn.
After staring at it for a long time, he turned around and sat down, took out a piece of parchment from his arms, spread it out, and silently stared at the pictures and words on it by the candlelight.
"Bang, bang," two knocks on the door sounded. Xiao Siwen was startled. He immediately covered the parchment, raised his eyes and said solemnly: "Who?"
"Dad, it's me!" A crisp voice sounded.
Hearing this, the guard on Xiao Siwen's face relaxed, he breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Come in!"
The door slowly opened, and a girl walked in slowly without forgetting to turn around and close the door. The girl's appearance is naturally beautiful. She may not be considered stunningly beautiful, but she is an authentic beauty, especially her eyes, which are expressive and moving.
This girl is naturally Xiao Siwen's youngest daughter, Xiao Chuo and Xiao Yanyan. At this time, Xiao Yanyan was just a young girl. She was very different from the famous Empress Dowager Xiao in history, but the heroic spirit lingering around her was spontaneous and eye-catching.
Wearing a beaded headdress and a green skirt, she looks like a lady of the Han nationality. Seeing his beloved daughter, Xiao Siwen had a very kind expression and a gentle smile, and said: "Yanyan! Sit down! You are dressed very well. No Han Chinese would think that you are a member of my Khitan tribe!"
Hearing this, Xiao Chuo raised his red lips slightly and said softly: "It's better that dad raised me well!"
Xiao Siwen sighed and said: "With the beauty of Yanyan, you have a promising future. Your Majesty originally intended to accept you as your queen, and I was happy to do so. It's a pity that the sky did not fulfill people's wishes, and the Han and Liao soldiers suddenly rose up. Not yet. It’s even more of a pity that your two sisters didn’t choose a good match for them... but it’s not necessarily a bad thing!”
Listening to Xiao Siwen talk about this, Xiao Chuo's face was calm, as if he was not talking about his marriage. He looked at his father, his voice was as calm as ever, and said: "Dad worked hard, Yanyan understands, if you miss it, you miss it. It's a blessing in disguise. How could I know that it is not a blessing? Considering the current situation in Daliao, it may not be a blessing for me to marry into the palace!"
Hearing what Xiao Chuo said, Xiao Siwen's eyes brightened slightly. He looked at his daughter who was acting calmly and asked, "Why did Yan Yan say this?"
Xiao Chuo: "Even if you are accepted as a queen, I'm afraid it won't be long before the country is subjugated!"
Xiao Siwen was slightly refreshed. Looking at Xiao Chuo who spoke these words calmly, he praised: "I have always known that Yan Yan has seen extraordinary women. Now it seems that she has far surpassed most men in the world. What a pity, what a pity!"
I don't know what Xiao Siwen was feeling sorry for. After a few sighs, his eyes fell on Xiao Chuo's beautiful face again and asked: "Yanyan came to see me, what's the matter?"
Xiao Chuo's expression also softened a little, and he said: "Dad came all the way south, with a frown on his face and worries in his heart. Yanyan wanted to see if there was a way to share his worries with him."
After hearing the question, the father and daughter looked at each other for a while, and Xiao Siwen took the initiative to speak: "With Yanyan's intelligence, you must have noticed that my trip is strange!"
Xiao Chuo nodded and said, "Daddy's coming here is more like fleeing than on a mission!"
"No one else in the family noticed it, but I know it can't be hidden from your eyes!" Xiao Siwen said after hearing what he said.
After getting the affirmative answer, Xiao Chuo was silent for a while, then looked at Xiao Siwen steadily and said softly: "Dad, have you decided to leave Daliao and join the Han Dynasty?"
The information revealed in a fluttering sentence might be shocking to others. But Xiao Siwen was very calm. When faced with Xiao Chuo's question, he said bitterly: "If I didn't have no choice, how could I make this choice, abandon my motherland and abandon my clan!"
"You have also seen that in the past six months or so, I have fallen out of favor in front of His Majesty and lost all power in my hands!" Xiao Siwen said with a bitter smile: "It is human nature to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune. I know that when I abandoned Tongzhou and returned to Beijing alone, It was an ugly thing, but I did my best to protect Shangjing.
Your Majesty is young after all. The country suffered heavy losses from the Han Dynasty, and he even fled Shanyang in defeat. He has been blinded by failure and humiliation, and he still believes in Han Derang and others. There is no place for me in the imperial court. What's even more disgusting is that Xiao Talin actually went to court and sued me. If he continues to stay in Shangjing, his life will be at risk! "
Listening to Xiao Siwen's words that sounded like complaints and explanations, Xiao Chuo's face showed no emotion, but he thought about it seriously and then said: "Da Liao is now in a state of great turmoil and turmoil. My father fled south with his family and went to Da Liao." The old enemy of the Liao Dynasty, this move will probably bring more serious infamy in the future than what happened in Tongzhou!"
Hearing this, Xiao Siwen blushed, but facing Xiao Chuo's crystal eyes, he suppressed his embarrassment and replied: "Da Liao is now like a ship that is about to sink. There is no way out. As a person on the ship, take refuge Survival is also instinct.”
Xiao Chuo nodded and finally said with emotion: "However, what dad did was still too risky! If Yanyan had been informed earlier about this trip south, there might have been a more comprehensive solution!"
Xiao Siwen nodded and said, "I feel scared when I think about it these days. Fortunately, now that we have entered Han territory, we are safe!"
"Dad, do you think the Emperor of Han will accept us?"
"Inevitable!" Xiao Siwen gave an extremely positive answer to this: "In the past half year or so, the tribes who went south to seek refuge with the Han did not know who they were. Among the Mobei tribes who were causing trouble, none of them had the shadow of the Han behind them.
Including us Khitan people, there are many people who have defected, but so far, there is no important minister or noble. I, Xiao Siwen, am not afraid of infamy and am willing to be the first one. With the wisdom of the Han Dynasty monarchs, I will not turn them away! "
As he spoke, Xiao Siwen pointed to the parchment on the table and said, "This is my gift to the Emperor of the Han Dynasty!"
Xiao Chuo did not ask about the details of the gift, but said leisurely: "Right now, I'm afraid that Shangjing has discovered dad's intention, and even the emperor and ministers of the Han Dynasty will also notice it!"
"I have nothing to hide!" Having come to this point, Xiao Siwen became more and more calm. He pondered for a while and said, "However, since I am responsible for negotiating peace, regardless of whether it succeeds or not, I will do it. Let’s do our last bit for Daliao!”
