Thirty. Panlong Fufeng

The first year of Jingkang in the Northern Song Dynasty, June 3, Ding Wei.

Zhao Ze led his army to leave Mengcheng County, went down the vortex river, and arrived at the foot of Tushan Mountain in Haozhou five days later.

In the evening of the same day, Zeng Gongdu, Zhizhou, Haozhou, learned that the army of the imperial court had arrived in Tushan, and quickly led the army out of the city to meet him for 30 miles.

Four days, Wushen.

Liao soldiers have leveled down the two places of Xiapino and Suqian in Yizhou, and are collecting ships on both sides of the Surawasi River and intending to go south to Huaiyin on the same day.

On the same day, the army of Liaoguo East Road chased to Pei County, Xuzhou, more than 700 miles away from Suzhou.

Five-day awn seed, Jiyou.

Shi Yangxiu, a native of Suzhou, sent people to Haozhou to ask for help, and asked Zeng Gongdu to send troops to help in the battle.

Zeng Gongdu, Zi Bohan, a native of Jinjiang, Quanzhou, a bachelor of Hanlin and the eldest brother of Tianzhang Pavilion, is 56 years old, seven years older than his younger brother. The official is plain and popular. A few years ago, he was the head of Zhongli County, Haozhou, and has been unknown. Later, the border gate war against the invasion of the Liao soldiers, and the former Zhizhou was due to illness. In the past, the court couldn't find a suitable candidate for a while, so he promoted Zeng Gongdu to Haozhou Zhizhou.

Since receiving a letter for help from Shi Yangxiu in Suzhou, Zeng Gongdu immediately came to Zhao Ze's army and asked Zhao Ze to send troops north to Suzhou to help fight.

After discussion, Zhao Ze decided to send five generals, Yang Wenguang, Mu Yunhan, Di Qing, Di Ning and Guo Mishan, to the north to rescue Suzhou.

Seven days later, the forward of the Liao army arrived at the city of Suzhou and began to besiege the city. Two hours later, Ye Luyu, the general of Liao, launched a strong attack.

For three consecutive days, more than 8,000 soldiers were killed and injured. Half a day later, they retreated.

In the middle of June, it has not been.

Nearly 30,000 soldiers and civilians in Suzhou retreated safely to Haozhou. Zhao Ze personally led his army out of the city for 50 miles to meet each other. When he saw his old friend Shi Yangxiu, Zhizhou, his excitement was self-evident.

Two days later, Yang Wenguang led his army to withdraw from Suzhou and return to Haozhou.

Twenty days, Jiazi.

Zhao Ze led his army to leave Haozhou, took the Qili Lake in Sizhou, and came to Chuzhou.

At this time, Ouyang, who was demoted to the governor of Chuzhou, led the whole city to build a city and prepare to resist the attack of the Liao army.

The 25th, Dragon Boat Festival.

Zhao Ze's army arrived in Chuzhou. Ouyang Xiu slightly prepared a thin wine to entertain the generals. When the wine was halfway, he asked Zhao Ze, "General Boyan, dare to ask how the war in the north is. Have the Liao people broken through the Yingtian Mansion?"

After taking a sip of ** tea, Zhao Ze replied, "To be honest, the northern land is full of beacon fire, our army is retreating one after another, and the Liao army has already passed Yingtianfu, and the situation is very critical!"

Ouyang Xiu was shocked and then asked, "Well, General Boyan thought that all our troops should withdraw from the Yangtze River and concentrate on defending along the river"

"What does the adult mean?" Zhao Ze asked slightly tiredly.

"To tell you the truth, someone who was demoted to Chuzhou was because of what he said just now."

Zhao Ze was surprised and said, "Your Excellency's strategy is very good. The court will not do it because of this sentence..."

Ouyang Xiu sighed and replied, "That old bastard Xia Yu has been stirring up trouble in the court since he moved the capital to Hangzhou, saying that Lord Fan's command was not appropriate, so that our army retreated one after another, and asked the court to impose a heavy punishment. Not only that, but also shook out Lord Fan's forging the imperial edict!"

"What? Falsified the imperial edict? How could Lord Fan do such a thing? I think someone was framed." Zhao Ze was also surprised.

"Well, this matter was indeed done by Lord Fan, but there is a reason," Ouyang Xiu replied regretfully.

A few days later, Zhao Ze finally understood the context of forging the imperial edict. If it were him, he might have taken a risk. After all, the time of the day was tight and it was too late to report to the capital, but later, Lord Fan did not clarify this matter to the court and did not know the reason.

On the 28th, Ren Shen.

Zhao Ze's army arrived in Zhenzhou and met Xu Yuan, Zhizhou, in Guabu Town. Xu Yuan, Zichun, Ouyang Xiu's friends, the family moved to Zhenzhou a few years ago.

Thirty days, Jiaxu.

Zhao Ze personally led an army to escort Gao Yonglin's family across the Yangtze River and entered Runzhou. Half a day later, he went to Danyang City. When the ship was parked, Danyang County Guard Qian Yanyuan sent the military judge Wang Tao and sent a cart of good wine, the champion red.

Wang Tao, a native of Jingzhao Wannian (now Xi'an, Shaanxi), is 28 years old. Renzong Qingli two years (10042) Jinshi, a disciple of Fan Zhongyan.

After seeing Zhao Ze at Danyang Pier, he was invited to sit in a nearby tea house for a while. During this period, Wang Tao handed Zhao Ze a letter and then told him, "Lord Normal is interested in recommending General Zhao to appease Yangzhou and guarding the north bank of the Yangtze River. Please be prepared!"

After the next day, Zhao Ze and his party continued on the road and went straight down the canal. After more than half a month of sailing, they passed through Changzhou, Suzhou and Xiuzhou. On July 22, they arrived in Hangzhou during the Great Heat, which was also the capital Qiantang after Nandu.

Twenty-six-day mid-volt, Gengzi.

On the third day after Gao Yonglin's family entered the palace, Zhao Ze entered the palace.

On the Jinluan Hall, I met Empress Cao, who was listening to the government, the weak and sickly Yingzong, and the son of Empress Cao, Zhao Yu, who was only five years old, and the future His Majesty of Shenzong.

This visit was very different from Bian Liang. There were only a few people in the huge palace. Gao Yonglin stood under the jade steps. Behind him was his daughter's 15-year-old Gao Taotao. He blinked his big eyes and looked at Zhao Ze. Suddenly, a blush appeared on his face.

Empress Cao, who was only 32 years old, lost a lot of weight. She looked at Zhao Ze on the dragon chair and then said, "Zhao Qing's family, the war in the north has known that the current situation is urgent. When the imperial court is employing people, Lord Fan wants to praise you for Yangzhou. I don't know what good strategy you have to fight against the enemy, mourning. I want to hear it!"

After Zhao Ze gave a deep salute, he calmly said that he had been preparing for a long time to resist the enemy.

The name of this strategy: Jianbi Qingye, each other's horns, intended to concentrate the main force, turn the Liao army away from the door, and drag it down on the northern land.

The general implementation steps are as follows:

First of all, with Yangzhou as the gateway to the deep ditch barrier, the Gaoyou Army, Taizhou and Tongzhou are designated as the first war zone, under the unified command of Yangzhou.

Secondly, Zhenzhou, Chuzhou and Hezhou are designated as the second war zone, under the unified command of Hezhou.

Next, Luzhou, Wuwei Army and Shuzhou are designated as the third war zone, under the unified command of Shuzhou.

The above three war zones together constitute the dangerous northern barrier of the Yangtze River, preventing the Liao people from going down the south of the Yangtze River.

At the same time, the troops scattered in the north of Jingdong Road were reduced to the defense of the prefectures and counties in the three major war areas on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and implemented the tactics of clearing the field, and all the people of the prefectures and counties north of the Yangtze River, which were likely to become battlefields in the future, across the river, so that the Liao army could not find a grain of grain.

Finally, it is also very critical, that is, the states and counties south of the Yangtze River make every effort to build military weapons such as bows and arrows, armor, firearms and other applications to defend. At the same time, Zhao Ze also proposed to Empress Cao to cooperate with Sujiabao in Ryukyu to develop new combat weapons to resist the Liao army. Offensive.

It was the first time that Empress Cao heard about Sujiabao. After a lot of questioning, she realized that Su Su was the owner of Sujiabao, and Zhao Ze was Su Su's husband. No wonder the two sang together.

Empress Cao sat quietly behind the bead curtain, blinked, and suddenly laughed softly.

said, "I finally understand that Zhao Qing's family is also from Su Jiabao!"

"Please forgive me for the crime of bullying you!" Zhao Ze quickly leaned over and bowed.

Empress Cao raised her hand slightly, motioned Zhao Ze to get up, and then told him, "Zhao Qing's family is loyal. I remember that this is just a trivial matter. Zhao Qing's family doesn't have to pay attention to it. Now I just want to ask you a word. You have to answer truthfully!"

"Yes, I obey the order!"

"Now I just want to know whether Zhao Qing's plan works or not, whether you can defend the Yangtze River, and are you afraid of death!"

"Your Majesty, I am not afraid of death, and I am not afraid of the Liao people. I believe that as long as the ministers in the court work together, they can overcome the difficulties together, recover the lost land, completely defeat the Liao Dynasty, and tame this fierce beast!"

Empress Cao nodded and then said, "Since there is the words of Zhao Qing's family, I am relieved. Now I am responsible for the size of the Yangzhou war zone. However, before the Zhao Qing family left Beijing, the Ai family intended to make a marriage. I don't know what you think!"

"Since it is your majesty's goodwill, I should obey!" Zhao Ze answered calmly.

"Well, since Zhao Qing's family agreed to this marriage, the Ai family has married you the daughter of the old General Gao family, who is also the niece of the Ai family. You should treat her well and don't neglect her. Otherwise, the Ai family will punish you!"

When Empress Cao said this, Gao Taotao, who had been standing behind the veteran Gao Yonglin, made a grimace at Zhao Ze and happened to let Empress Cao see it. She pretended to be angry and scolded, "Tao Tao, you don't follow the rules again. How can you teach your husband and children after passing through the door in the future!"

Gao Yonglin hurriedly leaned over and said sincerely and fearfully, "Please forgive the old minister for his discipline. Please punish him!"

Empress Cao brushed her sleeves and smiled a little, which lit up Zhao Ze's eyes. Although it was aimed at by the afterglow, her heart still touched her.

A few days later, before Zhao Ze left Beijing, Gao Yonglin simply held a wedding ceremony in Qiantang's house. He entertained several ministers in the palace and made friends with more than a dozen relatives and friends. In the congratulations of the crowd, he officially married his daughter Gao Taotao to Zhao Ze. After a night of love, Zhao Ze set out on the road and looked forward to Yangzhou.