The border between Daqing and Khitan reached the point of war.
The Qing Kingdom originally thought that capturing the two Khitan geniuses and commanders, Yeluhe and Daheluohan, would force Yeluxiao to submit and even negotiate.
However, three days passed without any movement from the Khitan, and they paid no attention to the two people imprisoned in the dark iron cage of Qing Kingdom.
The only obvious thing is that the Khitan's drills and deployments are becoming more frequent. Anyone who understands knows that the Khitan is starting to build momentum before the war.
As for Yelu Xiao, the great Khitan master, he was extremely calm when faced with the situation of his commander and his heirs being captured. He showed no signs of panic. His every move was like a deep well, and no one could peep into his thoughts.
It wasn't until he secretly recalled two commanders, Yelu Demeng and Halasha, that everyone in the Khitan understood that the war was about to begin.
Among the three commanders, they were the two most ferocious. They were famous for their ferocity during the Ten Kingdoms War. Among the three, Halasa, who was fat and strong and ferocious when fighting alone, was known as the "humanoid monster".
The leader of the battle was Yelu Demeng. This brother of the Khitan Khan at the time proposed to borrow troops from the Jin State in exchange for the Sixteen States of Yanyun during the Ten Kingdoms Conflict. As a result, Emperor Qingyuan was stopped by him in all three Northern Expeditions. , even if he took advantage of waiting for work, he can also see the god of military use. After all, the Qing Kingdom's military strength at that time was able to sweep away all the powerful forces.
Daheluohan can't compete with Yelu Demeng in leading troops, and he can't defeat Harassa in a fight, but he is better because he knows everything comprehensively and knows everything. The only thing he has not reached is the peak. No progress can be seen in a short period of time. If he can reach the top in time, he may not be able to do it. There are people to compete with him, which is why the Grand Master arranged for him to accompany Yeluhe, so that the two of them can adapt to each other and hone themselves.
Even though he was captured this time, he didn't take it too seriously and still prepared for war as planned. In Yelu Xiao's view, any desperate situation was a kind of rebirth. If he couldn't break out of the desperate situation, how could he be worthy of being a Khitan? The genius and commander-in-chief?
After Zhao Zhengli recovered his strength in the past two days, he began to be afraid. If the two royal brothers had not gone to Huangwei Mountain that day, he might have been imprisoned in the iron cage of the enemy.
For this matter, Zhao Zhengli sincerely thanked Song Maoling. Although the two of them were both arrogant people when they first met in Shu, and they competed with each other several times along the way, they could stand up in times of crisis. This alone is enough to show that The aloof and arrogant sixth prince understands the overall situation.
It was rare for the Sixth Prince, who usually spoke little, to chat for a few more words. He mentioned that he was surrounded by the Crown Prince's guests in Guanzi Town on his way north. Zhang Ziya rescued him unexpectedly and sent a message to Zhao Zhengli, saying that someone was plotting to kill him. It tells the story of the two brothers trekking dozens of miles to Huangwei Mountain.
After hearing this, Zhao Zhengli observed Song Maoling's expression. His sudden help to Zhang Ziya and his revelation of the murder were certainly puzzling, but Zhao Zhengli breathed a sigh of relief without thinking deeply about it.
The two sat on the ground around the tent table. The seventh prince Song Zhongliang was more reserved and sat upright. Biyu poured tea for the three of them. Zhao Zhengli asked a treasonous question: "Which of you brothers is the most confident to be the emperor?"
The two royal brothers were surprisingly calm, but Biyu shook her hands and almost dropped the teapot.
The Sixth Prince picked up the teacup, tasted it carefully, and said seriously: "I'm used to being idle, and that position doesn't interest me at all."
Zhao Zhengli stared at the handsome prince with a smile, and gently shook the tea cup with his finger: "You have been chasing and intercepting me all the way from the capital. You must have seen that those two are definitely not good friends. Even if you have a way to escape the world, what about the seventh prince? So what?" "
Zhao Zhengli went straight to the root cause, causing the atmosphere to suddenly become silent.
The Seventh Prince Song Zhongliang responded and said, "I'll escape from the world with my Sixth Brother, that's fine."
After all, he was a little young, and his thought of "the ruthless people belong to the imperial family" was too simple. Only Song Maoling could understand the hidden meaning.
The Sixth Prince suddenly asked him, "Are you really that person's heir?"
His eyes were fixed on Zhao Zhengli, as if catching his slightest change.
Zhao Zhengli was silent for a long time and said bluntly: "Yes!"
Song Maoling looked away, as calm as he expected.
The seventh prince Song Zhongliang became unnatural and couldn't help but shrink back. He had stayed in the palace for several months, so he naturally knew who "that person" his sixth brother was talking about!
Song Maoling said quietly: "Do you hate my father?"
Zhao Zhengli responded in the same plain tone: "Hate!"
Song Maoling's aura was filled with waves, and he was hostile and alert: "You plan to establish a foothold in the north to threaten your father and even take revenge, right?"
Zhao Zhengli said frankly: "I thought about it at first, but when I saw the displaced people and the bloody soldiers on the way here, my heart was shaken, but I was still unwilling to give in."
Song Maoling still persisted and asked: "Why don't you switch to another country? Wouldn't it be faster to seek revenge through the hands of others?"
Zhao Zhengli's tone was equally calm: "I have the hatred of killing my father and my mother, but Qingcheng Mountain has raised me, and I have half of my roots there. If I leave here, harming the thousand-year-old ancestral family, and implicating all the brothers, I will be innocent." Forgivable.”
Song Maoling pondered for a long time: "I don't trust the north if I leave it to you, but I don't worry if it leaves it to Qingcheng Mountain!"
Zhao Zhengli said in surprise: "Do you also have imperial ambitions?"
The sixth prince did not answer. A smile appeared on his handsome face. He drank a cup of tea and stood up: "The first chat with you was more enjoyable than expected!"
After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the camp. The Seventh Prince Song Zhongliang also hurriedly stood up and followed Zhao Zhengli with a hasty salute.
Zhao Zhengli said "cut" disdainfully. He didn't ask a single question about the party dispute between the brothers, but instead dug himself into the ground. It was really a conspiracy hidden deep in the palace.
At that time, Song Maoling's voice came from outside the camp again: "I forgot to tell you. In order to resist the unification of the Khitan, Tubo and Xixia Kingdoms, the imperial court specially approved the three sages of the temple, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism to go north to make contributions. There are many people who are right and wrong, and it is inevitable to have grievances in the world. , a personal vendetta, so you have to keep an eye on it, after all, the sky-high price reward that Grand Master Qi and Master Xiao have hung in the Changle Hall has not been revoked."
Zhao Zhengli did not answer, because he had already expected the chaotic scene. It is no wonder that the imperial court gathered more than 200,000 troops and stood still on the northern front. It turned out that the plan was to let the entire Jianghu open up mountains and pave the way. It was really a good game. He was not afraid of someone overturning the table?
In the past two days, Yao Hanbei, the son of the deputy commander, also came here several times. Although the two of them formed an alliance for a while, their interests came first more. Their care and greetings lacked the sincerity of friends. Fortunately, the few medicinal herbs he brought expressed a lot. Sincerity allowed Captain Zhao to speed up his recovery.
At dusk in the evening, while Biyu was giving Captain Zhao some warm water, a soldier from the camp came to report, "A well-dressed nobleman is here to visit."
Zhao Zhengli thought hard for a long time. Yao Hanbei had just arrived yesterday, and Chen Xiaoyao sent Yu Xiaowei back to Beijing. Could it be that Mu Dongfang, who was away from Tushuihe, learned of his feat and came to compete again? But his temperament doesn't look like a "noble young master" either.
He suddenly had an idea and thought of Song Maoling's approval of the three religions of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism going north to make contributions. Could it be that old acquaintances from the past were visiting him?
While thinking about it, the man had already opened the tent curtain and entered. He was handsome, tall and full of confidence. The man who came was none other than General Ge Xiaojin.
Zhao Zhengli was surprised by his arrival. Although he was in the position of a small capital commander and only had about ten people under his command, this soldier was still the nephew of the old soldier Wang Qi. He had just joined the army yesterday, or the way for recruits to join the camp was unclear. Or perhaps because of the old soldier's trust, Zhao Zhengli arranged for him to follow him as an accompanying soldier. It's no wonder that he didn't know the young marshal of Hedong Road.
There was a smile on Ge Xiaojin's face, and he couldn't tell the difference between hypocrisy and friendliness.
Although Zhao Zhengli was at odds with him, he still welcomed Marshal Ge with his hands.
The two of them exchanged false politeness, and Ge Xiaojin tried to test the two heroes Huang Weishan took action, because according to the news from the capital, the route the sixth and seventh princes left the capital was Hedong Road, and their traveling speed was about the same. Arrived at the Northern Line.
During this period, he interrogated He Wen, the commander of the young capital. He had never even walked out of Hedong Road. How could he recognize the two royal brothers? If it weren't for the dark iron cage that needed to be guarded day and night, He Wen would definitely have followed to see the dragon's grace.
However, Zhao Zhengli did not reveal a word. He had been in the martial arts and temples for a long time and had learned "Tai Chi" in a decent way. In his opinion, there were other reasons why the two brothers concealed their whereabouts. After all, everyone in the government and the public knew about him. Xiao Jin is close to Prince Xiao, and the Xiao family is helping the prince. The prince is facing a period of struggle for power. The sixth and seventh princes have fled the capital for this reason. How can he, an "outsider", dare to get involved in such a complicated relationship.
Marshal Ge left in anger, and Zhao Zhengli was now free. He was waiting for the official approval and imperial edict from the court, so that he could justifiably garrison Huangwei Mountain. By then, the sky was high and birds could fly, and the mountain was high and the emperor was far away, so he would be half free.
Now it depends on whether the imperial court will issue an edict. Fortunately, military and political matters are under the control of King Cheng's Privy Council, bypassing the prince's Zhongshu Province. The only thing he is not sure about is the chief and deputy governor of the Privy Council. They are worried that the emperor's two cronies will report it to Emperor Qing and let him go. The prince found an opportunity to interfere. After all, the old emperor was only critically ill and had not yet died. His every move could still shake the entire dynasty.
The facts were exactly as he imagined. There was no news of the imperial edict for several days. On the contrary, the battle at Yanmen Pass became urgent. After several days of fighting, more than half of the 10,000 defenders were killed or wounded. This time, the number of Khitan troops attacking the city was greatly underestimated.
Fortunately, in the past two days, the rivers and lakes forces heading north have arrived at Yanmen Pass, and they have gathered everyone's strength to stabilize the precarious situation.
The three religions of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism went directly to the north line of Hedong Road, and were greeted in person by generals headed by two commanders-in-chief and deputy commanders.
The young people of the three sects are in a state of unparalleled glory. Those who are sober naturally know that the show is for the three sages and the three great masters of the temple, not for juniors like them, because their arrival means that the three great masters will soon come.
However, just when Qingguo thought it was sure to win, on the night of July 26th, the seventh year of Xingtong, the black iron cage where Qingguo imprisoned Yeluhe and Daheluohan was destroyed by an invisible force. The inner energy surged, like a dragon flying into the sky, and strong winds blew up. Yeluhe, who was covered in iron chains, instantly shattered his shackles, and a shadow of a demonic dragon appeared above his head. With one move with one hand, he carried Dahe Luohan into the air. And go.
The soldiers guarding the iron cage and He Wen were stunned to death on the spot. Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian monks noticed the terrifying arrogance and rushed over. From a distance, they saw a black dragon wrapping up the cage and flying away.
When Zhao Zhengli arrived, he just sighed with regret and muttered: "I told you to shoot me to death but you don't believe it. Now it's better."
He said to himself, annoyed and remorseful, because the masked man in the dark was the same, completely underestimating the potential of Khitan Shuanglong.
The person in the dark is naturally the sixth prince Song Maoling, while the person in the light is Zhao Zhengli, who has been recognized by the young people of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.
Zhao Zhengli didn't dodge at all. Now he was also a person with status. Although he was still offered a reward of one million gold, he didn't think anyone would dare to openly declare war on him.
It is emotional to meet old acquaintances. Half a year later, the former "relict son of a rebellious minister" has gained a foothold in the military, and his level has reached an unfathomable level. At least few people of his generation can rival him.
However, on the same night, the Khitan took the Hui River as the boundary and attacked southward in two fronts: Wuzhai and Shenchi in Wuzhou as the main force.
At the same time, Xixia and Tubo also attacked Fengzhou and Linzhou on the western frontier of Qing Dynasty.
Suddenly, fighting broke out on the northern front of the Qing Dynasty, and the Six Lions of Zhenbei were dispatched almost overnight.
The three religions of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism in the temple, as well as all the forces in the rivers and lakes that arrived in the north, have participated in it.
The war in the Northland, which had been peaceful for seven years, rekindled. Faced with the war situation of the Three Kingdoms, Crown Prince Song Chaoyan could not control the situation and reported to the old emperor late at night. The bedridden Emperor Qingyuan approved three memorials overnight.
"Use the strength of the whole country to fight against the Three Kingdoms!"
"He who repels the enemy for hundreds of miles will be your general!"
"Those who regain the lost land of Yanyun will be granted the title of marquis on the spot!"
