Ma Xing's hair is almost completely white.

When he was transferred from Shaanxi Road to Hebei Road, he still looked like a strong middle-aged man, but in just five or six years, the years had left a deep mark on him.

In terms of importance, Hebei Road is naturally much better than Shaanxi Road.

Naturally, the responsibilities will also be much greater.

What is different from the past is that the current Hebei Road is no longer the Hebei Road of the past.

What Ma Xing took over was a Hebei Road that was devastated, bruised and damaged.

After several years of hard work and struggle, just when Hebei Road had just begun to take shape, his hard work was once again destroyed.

After the Liao army crossed the Juma River and launched an attack with lightning speed, Ma Xing fell into inextricable pain and self-blame.

He regretted why he didn't listen to Xiao Cheng's advice.

Obviously after Song and Liao signed the peace treaty, Xiao Cheng specially sent people to rush thousands of miles to send him a warning letter, telling him to be careful of the Liao people's hard-to-get tactics, and to never disperse his troops and never give up on his own business.

Good existing lines of defense.

But as for myself, I was dubious.

If I had completely listened to Xiao Cheng's opinion, ignored the fortresses that the Liao people had deliberately abandoned and destroyed, and just managed the current defense line with peace of mind, then the results would definitely be two different.

The soldiers and horses on the Hebei Road were dispersed and then annihilated by the Liao army on the old fortresses that were being repaired.

The originally built defense line was easily captured by the Liao army due to a serious lack of troops.

I wanted everything, but ended up with nothing.

In the past, the horse with great British talent was beheaded, but now he is like an old man in his dying years.

"Bachelor!" Zheng Xiong walked in. As the commander of the troops and horses on the Hebei Road, he was even more anxious now.

"What's the bad news?" Ma Xing raised his head and looked at the other party. These days, bad news comes one after another, and there is almost no good news.

He has become numb.

"I just received a detective report that the Tianxiong Army was annihilated by the Yelvzhen Division of the Liao Army in Feixiang, and the Zhenning Army was completely defeated by the Shushan Army in Maqiao Town." Zheng Xiong couldn't hide his frustration: "After all, they didn't have time to withdraw.

Come."

Ma Xing paused for a moment with the pen he was holding and nodded: "In other words, we can't gather more troops now. The Liao people have already arrived outside our gate."

"Yes, even if there are organized troops outside, they can't come here to seek death!" Zheng Xiong said.

"What about our current family situation?"

"As soon as the war broke out, Bachelor, you immediately ordered to recall the army. Those who were able to return in time included the Yongqing Army, the Anguo Army, the Shun'an Army, the Tianwei Army, the Tongli Army, and the Polu Army, totaling 20,000 people, plus these

After collecting some of the broken troops, there are currently about 23,000 forbidden troops in the entire Damingfu city, and the rest are young and strong."

Glancing at Ma Xing, Zheng Xiong continued: "Because you didn't stop the people from fleeing the city, we didn't gather too many young people."

"How much have the people retreated?" Ma Xing was unmoved.

"Almost halfway through, the Liao army is approaching. We have to close the city gate!" Zheng Xiong said.

"Close it again tomorrow morning!" Ma Xing murmured: "Let them run as much as they can for one more night. That's all I can do."

Zheng Xiong looked miserable. Ma Xing's move clearly showed that he did not expect to be able to defend Daming Mansion.

So the people were allowed to flee.

"If there are more young men and relying on the steepness of Damingfu City, we may be able to hold on longer until reinforcements arrive!" Zheng Xiong couldn't help but say.

"Are there reinforcements there?" Ma Xing shook his head, "The imperial troops around the capital all went to fight Xiao Ding, and then they were taken over by Xiao Ding. There are soldiers in the southern places, but can they come in a hurry? How long can we hold on?

?There are still about 100,000 troops in Bianliang City, but at this time, who dares to let them out to rescue us? I am afraid that the princes in Bianliang City do not dare to send a single soldier out of the city. The order they gave to the southern states must be the same

Diligent King Bianliang, instead of rescuing the great names!"

"There are also soldiers and horses from Hedong, Qinfeng, Shaanxi and other places!" Zheng Xiong said loudly.

"Why did they come?" Ma Xing asked back: "Leave all these places to Xiao Ding?"

Zheng Xiong was immediately speechless.

After a long while, he said dejectedly: "Bachelor, is the Song Dynasty going to die?"

Ma Xing was stunned for a long time and then said: "I don't know, what we can do now is to hold on in Daming Mansion. If we hold on for two more days, maybe the reinforcements from the south will be able to reach Bianliang. As long as Bianliang is not lost, the Song Dynasty

It will not perish."

"Bachelor, let's go!" Zheng Xiong said, "It's still too late to leave now."

Ma Xing smiled: "How can I defend this city after I leave? Do the soldiers in the city still have any morale?"

"Then, let Ma Yun and the others go! I am about to send people to Bianliang to ask for reinforcements. It is just right for him to go." Zheng Xiong said.

"My son will naturally stay here!" Ma Xing smiled and shook his head: "Jiexiu, thank you for your kindness. Mr. Ma still has a son in his hometown to serve his parents. He can't cut off the incense."

Zheng Xiong remained silent.

"Everyone is going to die! Sooner or later." Ma Xing came over, patted Zheng Xiong on the shoulder and said: "But some deaths are heavier than Mount Tai, and some are lighter than a feather, so there is no pity. Go, Liao.

Although the people are aggressive, Daming Mansion has been in operation for many years, and the city is high but solid. Although there are not many troops in the city, there is sufficient food and more than enough ordnance. As long as the morale is high, it is not impossible to defend. I am an outsider in fighting, so I rely entirely on you."

Zheng Xiong silently clasped his fists, turned around and walked out.

Bianliang became a mess.

Those who escaped from Hebei have reached Bianliang as quickly as possible.

Two bad news, the large-scale attack of the Liao army and the annihilation of one hundred thousand troops in the expedition to the west, spread in Bianliang almost at the same time.

Panic spread like a plague in this huge city.

The weather is very cold, but it cannot be colder than these extremely frightening news.

Because it's cold to the core.

The Liao army was advancing rapidly, almost conquering a city a day, approaching Daming Mansion. However, the officials of the Song Dynasty fell ill at this time.

It's not like he was pretending to be sick, he was really sick.

Regret, anger, anger, fear, countless emotions mixed together and attacked, and he finally fell.

King Zhao Jing of Chu was ordered by the emperor to supervise the country.

"The loss of Hebei will open the door to Tokyo. The most important thing now is to mobilize troops and horses to assist Hebei." Chen Gui jumped to his feet and shouted: "What are you still hesitating about? Are you waiting for the fall of Daming Mansion?"

"Where do the soldiers come from?" Li Guang said: "Everyone knows the importance of Hebei Road, but what about the soldiers? Is it possible to transfer the more than 100,000 soldiers from Bianliang City to the Fourth Army?"

"First mobilize troops and horses from the Hedong Road to rescue the Hebei Road." Chen Gui said: "They are the closest, and they are not short of food and grass. The three-way expedition to the west was originally planned, and the Hedong Road lost the fastest, but there is enough food and grass. Now the Hedong Road,

No matter what, we can still recruit 30,000 to 50,000 troops and immediately transfer them to Hebei to cope with the current situation."

Zhao Jing nodded and said: "What Privy Chen said is absolutely true, Chief Assistant, what do you think?"

"Hedong was defeated previously and their morale is worrying, but now we really can't mobilize troops from elsewhere, so they can only take the lead." Xia Jie said: "But at the very least, they must be assigned an experienced general.

"

Zhao Jing looked at the group of generals in the right row in the court meeting. Unexpectedly, when he looked over, all those people lowered their heads. No one dared to look directly at Zhao Jing.

This made Zhao Jing extremely disappointed.

"Is there anyone who can be chosen as the chief assistant?" Zhao Jing asked.

"You have to ask the Privy Council when choosing military generals!" Xia Jie put the question to Chen Gui.

"Your Highness, I have a candidate, but this person is still in prison." Chen Gui said: "This person has been in the army for many years, and he has been fighting with the Liao people for most of the time. He has rich experience. If he leads the army, maybe he can

It can delay the situation for a moment or two."

"Who? If you have this ability, then you must use it! And use it extensively!" Zhao Jing said.

"Wang Jun!" Chen Gui said.

"Let him out. Quan Zhi, the commander of Hedong Road, will go to Hedong Road to lead the troops to aid Hebei." At this time, Zhao Jing was extremely decisive. "As long as he can make contributions, all the past will be wiped out."

"Sending reinforcements to Hebei is just to delay the situation. I'm afraid Hebei won't be able to hold it in the end." Chen Gui continued: "So next, what we have to plan is the decisive battle in Bianliang. Your Highness, please mobilize the Shaanxi Road Forbidden Army.

, Qin Feng Road's imperial army retreated to Qin Wang Bianliang."

Zhao Jing was surprised and said: "As soon as they leave, Xiao Ding takes advantage of the situation to attack, what should we do?"

Chen Gui said: "Which is the lesser of two evils. Right now, I can only bet that Xiao Ding will not take advantage of the situation. He should understand that if Huang Song can't hold on, then he won't be able to last long."

This suggestion caused silence in the hall.

You just went to attack someone, but you turn around and expect them to be generous and not take advantage of you. This is a bit difficult!

"Your Highness must immediately send an imperial edict to the world. Huainan Road, Jiangdong, Jiangling and other places have always been prosperous and have a large population. They can raise enough military expenses and food in a short time." After taking a look at Zhao Jing, Chen Gui swallowed one of his words.

When I returned home, I didn't care about face anymore. But looking at King Jing's appearance, he didn't think about face at all, so there's no need to say more.

"Of course there is no problem. Privy Council, are there any more?" Sure enough, King Chu agreed immediately.

"Your Highness, there are many powerful people in the world. Your Highness can offer heavy rewards and official titles, and allow these powerful people to raise their own troops, horses, food and fodder and go to the capital to serve the king. As long as they come, they can get an official position and even be granted the title of wife."

Chen Gui continued.
To be continued...