Chapter 269 Return to Daizhou City

In the autumn of the fourth year of Taiping and Xingguo, the Khitan people wanted to go south to the Central Plains to burn, kill and plunder. There was an uproar between the government and the opposition. In anger, the officials of the Song Dynasty personally marched. The imperial army and soldiers were divided into three ways and rushed straight outside the customs, vowing to completely defeat the abhorrent Khitan people.

The officials of the East Route personally took charge of the expedition, and Cao Bin, Duke of Lu, followed and led 120,000 troops to go straight to Zhuozhou. Gao Dehuai, the commander of the Central Route Inspection School, was the commander, and the famous general Tian Chongjin was the auxiliary, led 80,000 troops to attack Lingzhou and other places. Pan Mei was deployed as the commander at the three intersections of Hedong, and Yang Yewei was stationed in the three intersections of the west route. The deputy commander led 80,000 troops out of Yanmenguan to the east and attacked Huanzhou and other places outside the customs.

More than 200,000 troops rushed to the north. For a while, the people were shocked by the fierce soldiers and horses. However, because of the rumors of the previous dispatch of troops, and the cruelty of the Khitan people were exaggerated, they were shocked, and the mountains and rivers were full of cheers.

Outside Xingzhou City, an old man in a linen robe and pushing a wheelbrickly is resting on the roadside, stacking two patched cloth bags on his car.

"Awong, why did you send these two bags of grain to the city? In this way, isn't there less food at home for the winter?

There was also a child sitting in the car, with a long collar and two diagonals on his head. He was staring at the old man beside him puzzledly.

"You know how to eat." The old man touched the child's head, took a white steamed bun from his coat and handed it to him. Seeing that his grandson was eating with joy, the old man laughed. Later, he narrowed his eyes into a slit and looked at the sky in the north.

In late autumn, the sky was clear and spotless, but the old man's eyes seemed to have a turbid color flashing. For a long time, he looked down at his grandson, stroked his head a few times, sighed and whispered, "Of course you don't know. When A Weng was as old as you, his home was closed in Yanmen. Later, if it hadn't been for those Khitan dogs, they wouldn't have begged all the way to survive. Those days were really..."

Speaking of this, the old man sighed again. The child was excited when eating steamed buns. He didn't notice these words. Maybe he was in a hurry and choked. The old man was so shocked that he quickly took out the water bag with him.

The grandfather and grandson took a break again. The old man put his coat in the child's arms and planned to continue to dare to go to the city and send these two bags of grain to the city, so that it could also be sent to the enemy killers and do his best for the court.

He is old and can't fight to kill the enemy. Maybe the Jiashi who eats the grain he grows can kill a few more Khitan dogs, which is also a revenge for his tragic death.

Just as the old man was about to push the cart forward, the sound of horses' hoofs on the official road came like thunder. He was so shocked that he quickly put down the wheelbicle and stood in front of his little grandson.

In the dust, hundreds of armored soldiers galloped past the old man and looked at their farther and farther away figures. The latter suddenly clenched their fists, as if the blood in their bodies had boiled with the aging.

If he is 20 years younger, he can also pick up a knife and gun to kill the enemy!

For a long time, the dust and smoke settled, and the old man pushed the wheelbicle to the city. His face was more comfortable than before, and his steps were a little more brisk.

Behind him, on the other side of the official road, Yang Yanzhao grasped the reins in his hand, and a horse galloped forward first. Although he was on his way, his thoughts drifted away with the galloping hooves.

The news of the Northern Expedition has been known to everyone, and the army has also been pulling out for several days. From Bianliang City, people often meet people carrying carts on the road and sending grain and fodder to the military preparation office in the city.

Is this the response from all over the world to win food?

For a while, Yang Yanzhao couldn't help but doubt his memory. The people's hearts should be to win every battle. The battle between Song and Khitan may not be as defeated as he thought. It is not a fool to win the capital to take down Khitan according to the situation.

The military situation was urgent, and everyone did not delay along the road. They traveled day and night, and finally arrived in Daizhou City. Before the war, Pan Mei, as the commander, had already gathered the army outside the Yanmen Pass, and the generals from all walks of life were also summoned to the Daizhou City. Everything was ready. After an order, he sent troops outside the Yanmen Pass.

Entering Daizhou City, Yang Yanzhao's heart was inexplicably worried. Even if he had meditated on it many times, it was just a city and had little to do with him, but the uneasiness still emerged in his heart.

The Jiashi guarding the city led the way in front of him. Maybe he had left for a long time. This talkative young soldier did not know Yang Yanzhao. He walked all the way and talked about the scenery in the city happily, as if he were showing his beautiful things for guests from afar.

Listening to the endless words in his ears, Yang Yanzhao's memory was opened again. The layout of the city did not change. He could even point out the streets and houses as many times. Just because of the war, the people on the street were much depressed, and the noisy market in Japan was also cold.

In front of the Zhizhou government gate, there stood two rows of soldiers who were not inferior to the forbidden army under Wu Bin's command, holding a long gun in their hands. When they saw someone coming forward, they immediately pointed the gun forward and really shocked the guard who led the way.

"Brother, don't be nervous. Under the command of General Yang, the gate met the detainer from Bianliang City on duty today, and specially attracted General Pan."

Hearing this, the two soldiers took their long guns and looked at Yang Yanzhao and others coldly. They did not come forward to salute or enter the government to report.

"Bold, Lord Yang came on the order of the official family. Why don't you go in and report it?"

This rude move made Wu Bin very angry. Without waiting for Yang Yanzhao to speak, he strode forward and shouted angrily. Behind him, all the soldiers of a battalion pulled out their long swords, and in a blink of an eye, it became a tense situation.

During this period, Yang Yanzhao stood aside with his horse, quietly looking at it and not saying anything. The two soldiers with guns in front of him were murderous at a glance. They must be veterans who have experienced a hundred battles. Since they don't know him, they are naturally Pan Mei's cronies.

Strong generals will send out tough soldiers. These two soldiers naturally belong to the elite, and their arrogance is indispensable. Even if they see Wu Bin and others from Bianliang City, they are not timid at all.

"Presumptuous, who dares to make trouble here!"

Seeing that the two sides were about to have a conflict, a low shout sounded. Before long, he saw several people coming out of the government office. The leader was wearing tiger-headed shoulder armor, his face was cold, and his tiger eyes were full of light, but it was Pan Mei, who had several faces of Yang Yanzhao. Among the group of people behind him, there were generals in armor. There is a civil official dressed in a red official robe.

Behind Pan Mei, Yang Yanzhao saw Zhe Yuqing with a smile on his face. He was about to say hello, but his heart suddenly shook, and he couldn't help hanging his head.

On the way here, Yang Yanzhao has said to himself many times that he must treat him as a stranger, and he can do it. However, when he saw the familiar face beside Zhe Yuqing, it was still full of resoluteness, which made him feel afraid and dared not raise his eyes and look directly.

After staggering for a moment, Yang Yanzhao took a deep breath and stepped forward to salute Pan Mei and others, "General Pan is angry. It's just some misunderstandings. Yang Jing, a subordinate, at the official's will, came to serve as the custody of the West Road Army."

With that, she took out the imperial edict from Huai*. Pan Mei was about to take it, and heard a faint voice beside her, "It turned out that Lord Yang had arrived. When the generals were discussing military situation just now, they were still thinking about when Lord Yang would arrive, but they didn't expect that they would come as they were talking."

The speaker was wearing a vermilion white crane robe, with thick eyebrows and big eyes on his white face, and an inch-long black beard on his lower jaw, which looked quite elegant.

"Lord Wang said very well. I have heard for a long time that Lord Yang sent by Bianliang City is a young hero who governs Fujian and builds the Chongwen Museum. It can be said that he is a rare genius. When I see him today, he really lives up to his reputation!"

Talking is another person in an official uniform in a red robe. His face is round and fat, and his eyes narrow into a seam when he smiles, which makes people feel extremely cordial.

If you dare to contradict Pan Mei, I'm afraid it's Wang Yu and Liu Wenyu, Yang Yanzhao's direct bosses on this trip. Looking at the current situation, the two seem to be a little noisy.

Pan Mei ignored their words and took a look at the imperial edict in Yang Yanzhao's hand, which eased her face. "Lord Yang has worked hard all the way. I will send someone to arrange accommodation for you later, so that you can have a good rest."

As soon as Yang Yanzhao wanted to thank him, he heard Wang Yu say again, "General Pan, the military situation is urgent, how can it be delayed? Yang's prison came from Bianliang with the oracle of the official family. How can we delay?

As soon as the words came out, several young lieutenants beside Pan Mei suddenly stared and clenched their fists, but the speaker could not notice it at all. He waved to Yang Yanzhao, and later turned straight to the government office.

After coughing twice, Pan Mei summoned a bearded lieutenant beside him, "Mingzhong, you go and arrange the forbidden army of this battalion in the camp on the east side of the city."

After saying that, he nodded to Yang Yanzhao, "Since Wang Dujian said so, thank you for your hard work, Lord Yang."

"General Pan's words are heavy, and the subordinates dare not."

Hearing this, Yang Yanzhao hurriedly saluted. Wu Bin asked his deputy generals to take the 500 forbidden army to the camp with the lieutenant ordered by Pan Mei, while he followed Yang Yanzhao and walked into the government office.

Xiao Muchun and ten other poisonous scorpions are waiting outside the government office. They are no longer soldiers, so it is not appropriate to go to the camp. However, the government office is full of superior generals and civil servants. Even if Yang Yanzhao is just a reluctant person, as a servant, he cannot enter.

What's more, there are also people in the government office that Xiao Muchun and others don't want to face. At the beginning, they were soldiers in Daizhou City. When they saw the former general Yang Ye, they also felt quite uncomfortable, so after a dozen people stagnated for a moment, they could only squat at the street and alley outside the Yamen and wait for Yang Yanzhao to come out.

In the backyard of the government office, the original living room has become a place for discussion of the war situation. The elegant things such as the screens that used to be placed have been placed have all been removed. There are several topographic maps hanging on the wall, and there is a sand table in the middle of the house. The gully can roughly see the appearance of the Yanmen Pass and other places. There are many ceramic blocks on the sand table, which seem to demonstrate the battle between the two armies.

As soon as Yang Yanzhao entered the room, he looked at it a few times. Then he heard Pan Mei standing on the sand table with his hand and said something that he didn't quite understand, "Lord Yang, give us the oracle of the official family."