On December 30, a military report was urgently sent from Zhenzhou, like a heavy stone dropped into a calm lake, causing uproar in both the government and the public.

Emperor Yelu Ruan of the Liao Dynasty sent a force of 150,000 soldiers from the Xiao Ming Dynasty, King Yelu Cha's Gotong Nanyuan, across the Hutuo River, and divided the troops into four groups to invade the north of the Hebei Province.

As soon as the news came out, the whole court was horrified, and people inside and outside the court were panicked.

Empress Dowager Li urgently summoned Guo Wei to the palace for discussion. Guo Wei asked for orders to lead troops and horses north to fight against the Liao army. Empress Dowager Li approved on the spot and ordered Guo Wei to take command of the Imperial Army and Ye Army troops and immediately send troops to march north.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, more than 200,000 troops marched toward Chanzhou in a mighty manner.

When Guo Wei left, he took away nearly 100,000 elite members of the Forbidden Army, as well as a large number of generals of all levels of the Forbidden Army.

On the contrary, a large number of Ye army generals such as He Fujin, Yao Yuanfu, Cao Ying and Li Hu were left in Kaifeng and were appointed as commanders of the Forbidden Army.

Among the former generals of the Forbidden Army, only Zhao Hongyin, the commander of the Protecting Holy Army, and Han Tong, the commander of the Holy Army, were ordered to stay in Kaifeng.

The exchange of generals between the Ye Army and the Forbidden Army was enough to ensure that even if Guo Wei left Beijing, Kaifeng City would still be under control.

Zhu Xiu went north with Chai Rong, Wei Renpu, Li Chongjin, Shi Yanchao, Wang Yanchao and others.

On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, the army entered Chanzhou City. Guo Wei, citing the unclear military situation in Hebei, ordered the army to garrison in Chanzhou and sent scout horses to Yedu to contact various ministries and inquire about the movements of Khitan troops and horses.

The army has been stationed for three days, but there is still no sign of continuing to move north.

At the same time, some rumors gradually spread among the army.

Xuzhou Jiedushi Liu Yun has accepted the Queen Mother's order and set off for Kaifeng to prepare to ascend the throne and become the new Emperor Liu Han.

The generals in the army gradually began to have some complaints.

Some complained that Marshal Guo led his brothers from Yedu to march south, fought all the way to Kaifeng, and entered Kaifeng City, but they did not expect that in the end they would promote a member of the Liu family as emperor.

Some people were aggrieved by Guo Wei and believed that only the commander-in-chief was qualified to sit on the emperor's throne.

Some people worry that if the Liu family continues to be emperor, they, the officers and soldiers of the Ye Army, may be liquidated in the future.

After all, it was Ye's army that went south, which directly led to the defeat and death of the late emperor. The Liu family must have a grudge against Ye's army.

In just a few days, various rumors were flying all over the sky, and the army was filled with anxiety and panic.

What's even more strange is that no one in the military controls these rumors and allows them to spread everywhere.

There seems to be an explosive atmosphere brewing in Chanzhou City, the important barracks town, and it's just waiting for an opportunity to be completely vented.

Some smart people also discovered that in the past few days, more than a dozen former Forbidden Army generals have disappeared for no reason.

It seemed to have evaporated out of thin air, leaving no trace behind.

And these people had all expressed their intention to fight to the death against Ye Jun and Guo Wei when Liu Chengyou was in power.

More or less, they were all dissatisfied with Guo Wei and Ye Jun's taking over Kaifeng, and they were thinking about Liu Han's country.

After entering Chanzhou City, Zhu Xiu was unlucky enough to live in the same house as Li Chongjin.

There was no way, no matter how big the city of Chanzhou was, it could not hold more than 200,000 troops and horses. There was an urgent shortage of houses and tents, and many houses were requisitioned to house generals and officials at all levels.

Zhu Xiu and Li Chongjin lived well in one house, while others, such as Wang Yanchao and others, lived in a house with four or five people.

Chai Rong and Wei Renpu lived in the same house, right next door to Zhu Xiu.

Shi Yanchao was responsible for guarding the Chinese army and lived alone next to Guo Wei's Chinese army commander's tent.

When he had nothing to do, Shi Yanchao often visited the private house where Zhu Xiu and the other two lived.

In the evening of this day, after dinner, there was nothing else to do. Zhu Xiu and the other three were about to sit down at the square table and play mahjong for a fight. Shi Yanchao came to Dongdong and knocked on the door again.

Seeing the four people playing mahjong in a lively manner, Shi Yanchao's eyes widened: "It's urgent, you four still have the heart to gamble?"

Zhu Xiu glanced at him and was too lazy to pay attention, minding his own business.

Chai Rong smiled and said: "General Shi, sit down for a while and wait until four rounds have passed before replacing General Shi in battle."

Wei Renpu slowly touched the cards and played them out, and Nianxu said seriously: "Mahjong is a game that is profound and unpredictable. It is definitely not comparable to the low-level games in ordinary gambling stalls. It would be unfair to use the word 'gambling' to describe it."

...Hey, Zhu Xiu, wait a moment, I want to touch you~"

Zhu Xiu retracted his hand holding the cards angrily, and glanced at Shi Yanchao: "I wonder what General Shi's urgent words are referring to?"

Li Chongjin touched the cards again and again, feeling that the path of the cards was clear, and he was very proud and said mockingly: "Could it be that General Shi was drunk and having a romantic affair in Nucui Tower last night, and the commander knew about it? He came to me to ask for help?"

Shi Yanchao said angrily: "You were here last night. If the commander wants to punish you, you can't escape!"

Li Chongjin said hehely: "I am not drunk, and I slapped the judge of Chanzhou Jiedu for robbing a girl..."

Shi Yanchao's eyes widened, his face turning green and red.

Wei Renpu frowned and said: "Then Judge Chen is the brother-in-law of Jiedushi Li Hongyi, and he is somewhat related to General Chen Guangsui. For the sake of the two of them, it is better not to be too embarrassed to avoid criticism of the people close to the commander-in-chief.

Use your power to bully others."

Shi Yanchao said angrily: "I've been beaten, what else can I do?"

Zhu Xiu touched a piece of Juezhang Yaoji, his brows were filled with joy, and he said with a smile: "Prepare a gift and send it to Judge Chen. Tell him carefully. If you are a sensible person, he will naturally not argue with you."

Shi Yanchao scratched his head and said in a muffled voice: "I'm stupid and can't speak. If I go, it will be bad. Come with me!"

Zhu Xiu curled her lips and said, "If you promise not to have any ideas about me, Hong Boy, from now on, I will go with you."

Shi Yanchao slapped his chest, and his whole body was trembling: "It's a deal! I, Old Shi, accept your favor, and the red boy is yours!"

Zhu Xiu rolled his eyes, the simple and straightforward man had learned to talk.

"What a fool." Chai Rong, who remained silent without touching a single card, pushed the card in front of him, which turned out to be a seven-pair hand.

Wei Renpu sighed and knocked down a group of Li Chongjin who were gearing up for a fight and scolded them directly. Zhu Xiu shrugged and expressed helplessness.

Shi Yanchao pointed at Li Chongjin and laughed loudly.

"General Shi just said there is something urgent?" Chai Rong said with a smile while rubbing the cards.

Shi Yanchao patted his forehead and said anxiously: "Liu Yun has arrived in Songzhou and is about to enter Kaifeng. Isn't this an urgent matter?"

The four of them were startled, and the hands that were rubbing the cards stopped in unison.

"Where did the news come from?" Wei Renpu asked hurriedly.

"I hope Sergeant Yundu will come with a letter written by Guo Chong. I saw it with my own eyes in the commander's tent!"

Chai Rong couldn't help but raise his head and laugh: "That's great! God really helped my father to achieve his great achievements!"

Li Chongjin giggled cheerfully, and I don't know if he understood the deeper meaning behind it.

Shi Yanchao's eyes widened: "You can still laugh? Liu Yun arrived in Kaifeng and became emperor, so wouldn't it be in vain for us to fight all the way to Kaifeng?

The commander-in-chief doesn’t know what he thinks, but he actually wants to support the Liu family as the emperor? Let me tell you, this emperor can only be made by the commander-in-chief!"

Shi Yanchao complained angrily.

Zhu Xiu smiled and said, "Does anyone else know about this?"

Shi Yanchao said gloomily: "The commander-in-chief did not order the news to be blocked. Now the lieutenants and generals of all the armies know it. The brothers are quarreling fiercely. They all say that the Liu family cannot continue to be the emperor and that our commander-in-chief should be the emperor!"

Chai Rong pushed the cards, stood up and said, "Let's go, it's time to see my father!"

Wei Renpu twisted his beard and nodded, his eyes shining with anticipation and excitement.

Li Chongjin waved his fist vigorously, his expression slightly ferocious.

Zhu Xiu also breathed a sigh of relief. Feng Dao lived up to expectations and successfully coaxed Liu Yun to Songzhou.

After leaving Xuzhou, Liu Yun was just a fish on an anvil, and it was up to Guo Wei to decide how he wanted to butcher it.

Shi Yanchao was confused, and quickly followed the four of them, dragging Zhu Xiu and asking: "What's going on? Why are you so happy that Liu Yun arrived in Songzhou?"

"Haha~ Zhu Xiu, please explain it carefully to General Shi." Chai Rong smiled and rushed to the Chinese army station with Wei Renpu.

Reading with rice balls

Li Chongjin laughed triumphantly from the side, which annoyed Shi Yanchao: "Are you laughing? Do you understand the twists and turns here?"

Li Chongjin said proudly: "I don't really understand, but Zhu Xiu explained it to me."

Zhu Xiu glanced at him with disdain. The two brothers' IQs on political issues were only half as good. I don't know where Li Chongjin got his confidence, but he dared to laugh at Shi Yanchao.

"General Shi, please listen to me..."

Zhu Xiu immediately got on his horse and the three of them walked side by side. Zhu Xiu simplified the profound meaning and explained it to Shi Yanchao.

~~~

Early the next morning, the Chinese army camp located at the north gate of Chanzhou City was surrounded by a dense crowd of sergeants. Hundreds of generals at all levels, leading representatives of their respective subordinates, gathered outside the Chinese army commander's tent.

Everyone had excited expressions on their faces, but they seemed to have made an agreement. No one made any noise, and they stared nervously at the Chinese army tent with its curtains tightly closed.

Zhu Xiu, Chai Rong, Wei Renpu, Li Chongjin, Shi Yanchao, Wang Yanchao, Wang Jun and others stood at the forefront, surrounded by generals at all levels who were heading north this time.

There was a sound in the big tent. After a while, the curtain was opened. Guo Wei was only wearing a white lined suit. His hair was tied up casually with a scarf. His face was tired, as if he had just woken up.

"What are you..." Guo Wei seemed not to have expected that so many generals would gather outside the tent, with an obvious look of shock on his face.

Wang Jun shouted anxiously: "May I ask, Commander-in-Chief, if Xuzhou Jiedushi Liu Yun has arrived in Songzhou?"

Guo Weihu scolded him with a face: "How can Wang Jianjun call the heir by his first name? This is disrespectful! The heir has arrived in Songzhou in his car. This is true. He will arrive in Kaifeng soon to inherit the throne!"

As soon as these words came out, many of the surrounding soldiers were in an uproar.
To be continued...