When I woke up from a deep sleep, I suddenly felt like I had a distant dream.
On the morning of April 23rd, when Zhou Pei got up, the sky was gradually getting brighter. In the morning of early summer, away from the depressing humidity of spring, there was a light wind in the yard, and the sky and earth were as clear as water, like a child.
Jiangning at that time.
She sat for a while under the pavilion in the middle of the empty courtyard. There were flourishing flowers and vines beside her. As the day dawned, the courtyard seemed to have sunk into a quiet gray. There were guards stationed in the distance, but none of them spoke.
Zhou Pei crossed his palms, and only at this moment could he feel his own frailty.
As a mortal, I set foot in this complex world on my own, promote many things, and clarify thousands of relationships. Sometimes I can decide life or death with just one word, and sometimes I can't sleep peacefully for several days in a row. As time goes by,
You will feel that you are no longer yourself, as if you have been covered by a huge body. But of course these are all illusions.
She was thirty years old this year. In the eyes of the world, she was just a lonely and vicious old woman who put her husband under house arrest and was a formidable woman after she gained power. Most of the officials were trembling when they came over, compared to facing the king.
Wu Shi was actually more frightened. The reason was simple. Jun Wu was the prince, and even if he was too iron-blooded and courageous, he would have to take over the country in the future. Even if he had opposite ideas about many things, he would still be able to communicate.
But she was different. She stood behind Jun Wu, supporting her younger brother in his work as a woman. There was no one around her, and her husband had been placed under house arrest. Even though she spoke softly on the surface, she could do anything if she turned her back.
Most of the outside world thinks this way about her.
In fact, how else to think about it?
She thought of Zhou Xuan and Kang Xian who had died.
When she was scheduled to take over the property of Princess Chengguo's Mansion, she was still a teenage girl. As she got married, the burden also fell on her shoulders. She didn't realize it at first, but when she realized it, she was already being pushed away by the matter.
, the teacher also rebelled, the country was ruined and the family was destroyed, and there were countless things happening every day. Of course, she could have thrown them away as if she had never seen them, but she did not do so after all.
When she stood still, the situation of thirty years old was pressing in front of her, her husband had become a heinous villain, and her marriage was over. The happy life defined by the worldly people was so far away from her that she could not even see it.
When I calmed down and thought about it, the departure of Zhou Xuan and Kang Xian still seemed to be right before my eyes. Life passed by in an unnoticeable moment.
She picked up the tree branches beside the pavilion and held it in her hand like a sword. After she came back from Bianliang more than ten years ago, Zhou Xuan taught her sword dance. The imperial aunt was gentle in front of her family, but she controlled the Chengguo Princess Mansion.
Huge power and industry also have their majestic and murderous side. When she first came into contact with things in the princess's house, the old man taught her how to dance a sword in private.
"The sword has two edges, one end hurts others and the other end hurts yourself. This is also the case with most things in the world... The interesting thing about swords and everything in the world lies in the balance between hurting and not hurting..."
Zhou Pei's athletic ability is not strong, and he has never learned Zhou Xuan's majestic sword dance, but he quickly understood the principles taught in the sword dance. It is a sense of propriety to not hurt others, but to hurt others.
Injuring oneself... what is needed is decision. After understanding the truth, she has never touched the sword again. Thinking about it now, she can't help but feel sad.
She recalled the original scene, stood up with the wooden stick, and slowly stepped forward to thrust out the wooden stick. As the old man who died eight years ago moved his sword blade in the morning breeze, he moved... The sword has two sides.
The girl from more than ten years ago finally couldn't keep up, so she became the eldest princess today.
Cheng Zhouhai came in from the outside, and then silently took two steps back at the courtyard gate. Zhou Pei danced his sword a few times, stopped and looked at the courtyard door, and then Cheng Zhouhai came over: "Your Highness is in such a good mood."
"It's so early sir."
"Waiting for news, I didn't go back last night." Cheng Zhouhai smiled, "His Highness is in good spirits."
Zhou Pei put the branch aside: "I don't know why, but I suddenly had a good sleep last night. When it was dawn, I had a dream. I forgot what I dreamed about."
After the death of Kang Xian and Zhou Xuan, Zhou Pei relied most heavily on Cheng Zhouhai. Both of them were teachers and friends, and they were familiar with each other's situations. As the pressure around him increased, Zhou Pei often suffered from insomnia and could not sleep. Many medical officials also saw him.
But it was of little use. When the Jurchens called, Zhou Pei was very worried, and staying up late was a daily routine. She was less than thirty years old, and she could still hold on on the surface, but people around her were often worried about it. At this time, she could hear
Zhou Pei had a good sleep, but Cheng Zhouhai was stunned.
"His Highness is calm and calm, like Xie An." He bowed his hands in flattery, and then said, "...maybe this is a good sign."
He previously said that he was "waiting for news." In fact, many people in Lin'an City have been waiting for news in the past few days. On April 18, Xi Yin's army, which was originally targeting Changzhou, turned and attacked Zhenjiang at high speed. On the same day,
The Arubao army also cooperated and assumed a posture of storming Zhenjiang at all costs. Not many people are sure whether this move is true or false.
At this time, Jiangnan, Jiangning to the west, and Zhenjiang to the east were the two fulcrums that blocked the Yangtze River. As long as these two fulcrums still existed, they could hold back Zongfu's army and make it unable to move south with confidence.
Today, Jiangning has become the core war zone, and Zhenjiang is led by Junwu, who is responsible for dealing with the army led by Xi Yin and Yin Shuke. For several months, the two sides have been fighting tooth and nail, refusing to give in to each other. Junwu hopes to defeat Xi Yin as soon as possible
He even used the human wave tactic to defeat Xi Yin.
As for the Xiyin side, in terms of grand strategy, there are two directions: First, no longer pay attention to the exercise of logistics supply, continue to move south along the prosperous areas of Taihu area, capture cities and territories, and feed the people. In between, Zhenjiang to Lin'an
, a distance of four hundred miles, there are wealthy cities everywhere, and the people in Lin'an City are in a complicated situation. As long as Xiyin can kill the most elite Jurchen army across four hundred miles, arrive at Lin'an City, and then cooperate with the Wushu army
The power and the hearts of the Wu Dynasty could collapse at any time.
Second, cooperate with Zong Fu to destroy the Yangtze River defense line, which naturally also includes the option of attacking Zhenjiang. Even from February to April, Xi Yin's troops made such a posture several times, promising to attack Zhenjiang City
, beheading Zhou Junwu made the Wu Dynasty army highly nervous, and then due to the tight defense of the Wu Dynasty people, Xi Yin chose to give up.
But war is like this, intrigues and intrigues come and go, and every time they may become true. By April 18th, Xi Yin turned to Zhenjiang again. During this period, the Wu Dynasty military had to face several possibilities. If the battle lines were to be closed immediately
, concentrating on the defense of Zhenjiang, Xi Yin and others may also go directly south to capture Changzhou. And if Xi Yin really chooses to attack Zhenjiang, the information revealed in the middle will be really intriguing and terrifying.
Facing Xi Yin's turn back, the Zhenjiang direction is already well prepared, and Lin'an is also waiting for the arrival of new news. Perhaps at some point in the future, it will be reported that Xi Yin will attack Changzhou, Danyang, or it may distract everyone's attention for the Jiangning battle. news.
This news was running on the road south, and soon it shocked the entire Lin'an City.
***************
In Zhenjiang, soldiers ran up the city wall one by one, the morning wind chilled them and they hunted with flags. On the field outside the city wall, countless bodies lay in the pits after the explosion. The Jurchen army drove away the captured Han prisoners and arrived Last night, we cleared the mines outside Zhenjiang City in the most efficient way.
Trebuchets are being erected one after another. Since Ning Yi's rebellion, the assembly line, standardized production, split assembly and other technologies that he has promoted are even better mastered by the Jurchen side in some directions.
Hot air balloons were rising slowly in the morning breeze. On the city walls of Zhenjiang, hot air balloons also rose one by one. Soldiers carrying crossbows entered the frames of the hot air balloons.
Jun Wu was eating breakfast meticulously in the tent. Accompanying him was Shen Ruxin, the fourth lady of the Prince's Mansion.
Shen Ruxin is originally from Zhenjiang. Before the war with the Jurchens last year, her brother Shen Ruhua was imprisoned and executed. Shen Ruxin vomited blood and fell ill in Jiangning, but she finally managed to survive. At the beginning of this year, Jiangning was in emergency, and General Jun The wives, concubines, and children at home moved to a safe place, but Shen Ruxin was brought to Zhenjiang.
At the beginning, when they searched the mountains and seas, Jun and Wu fled everywhere, and the two sides came together because they depended on each other for their lives. Now they are in a similar situation of relying on each other for their lives.
During breakfast, a soldier came in to report that the defense changes of various units had been completed. Jun Wu nodded and said he understood. Soon after he finished eating, Shen Ruxin came over to tidy up his clothes, and the couple went out together. The sky is full of clouds, floating over this big city on the Yangtze River.
The preparations and mobilization for the war had been completed yesterday, and a strange atmosphere was hanging over the military camp. Xi Yin's storming of Zhenjiang was the craziest move in the entire campaign and the one that was most likely to determine the outcome of the war. Eight years of operation , a hundred thousand troops guarding Zhenjiang are not a weak force. When Jun Wu was determined to kill Xi Yin's troops, the opponent turned around and attacked Zhenjiang. Strategically speaking, it was a desperate choice.
If Zhenjiang is defended, Xiyin's troops may be heavily surrounded by the Wu Dynasty troops coming from all directions. Junwu will complete the goal of defeating the Tushan Guards, and the Jurchens' fourth southern expedition will also collapse.
But considering Xiyin's operational abilities and reputation, his decision to make such a choice may very well mean that there were some flaws in the game in the previous few months that have been caught by the other party.
"By defeating Wanyan Xiyin, I may gain peace in the world..." The night before, Jun Wu held his wife's hand and said, "But if we can't win, then it is very likely... you and I will Die here."
In my heart, I am actually very scared...
In the morning when the temperature and sunshine were gentle, Jun Wu and his wife walked along the road between the military camps. The soldiers would salute here. He closed his eyes and imagined his opponents outside the city. They were all over the world and fighting in battle formations. For decades, they had been able to kill Wanyan Xiyin without giving in when they were at their weakest, and Yin Shu could... He fantasized about the courage to dominate the world. Now he was standing in front of such a person. .
He also thought of his teacher in Jiangning and the choices he made when he made major events. In this world, people will encounter tigers... I put my life on the line, and we are all the same... China
People, don’t go to foreign countries... don’t even think about going back alive...
Lin Lin is still here, but Yun Han is dead... He joked with Wen Ren Bu'er and said, I really hope the teacher will give me this calligraphy...
I put my life on the line.
he thinks.
I won't quit...
…
Outside Zhenjiang City, a huge hot air balloon flew towards the city wall, and soon after, it dropped large tracts of leaflets. At the same time, an envoy with the mission of persuading surrender and declaring war walked towards the city gate of Zhenjiang.
At 2:00 p.m., the envoys arrived at the Zhenjiang camp and advised Junwu and many Zhenjiang generals to surrender: "...In the past few months, the envoys under Lord Gushen have successively planned and persuaded several generals among you to surrender.
, we have also mobilized the support of many officials and prestigious people in Lin'an and throughout the Wu Dynasty. Master Gushen must take Zhenjiang as quickly as possible, and Zhenjiang must not be defended. In order to explain the situation to you and avoid insecurity.
Necessary casualties, Mr. Gushen ordered me to bring some lists and evidence of the officials who expressed their opinions. In addition, he also ordered me to make it clear to you that once this war begins, regardless of victory or defeat, all those who will participate in the war in our Kingdom of Jin will be
The person must be killed! The nine tribes will not forgive..."
While the envoy was speaking, he presented a large stack of lists and evidence of "gold-droppers" in front of Jun Wu. There were already generals in the camp who were ready to come and kill the envoy who had confused people's hearts. Jun Wu looked at the table.
With the stack of things, he waved people in, wringed the messenger's tongue, and then threw the things into the brazier.
"This is a replica of Ning Yi's plan to annihilate Liangshan. It's just a trick to pick up people's teeth, but the God of the Valley is nothing more than that... I originally wanted to save your life, but since I came up with this plan, you know that you can't go back alive."
The messenger with his mouth full of blood laughed ferociously on the ground...
At noon, the envoy's head was hung on the city gate. Wanyan Xiyin was outside the city, watching all this expressionlessly.
On the afternoon of April 22, the Battle of Zhenjiang began.
*********************
The carriage passed through the streets of the city and went to the palace. Qin Hui sat in the carriage, holding the message in his hand, trembling slightly. His spirit was highly concentrated, and various things were swirling in his mind. This was every day
He was so nervous when something important happened that he didn't realize he was already there until the charioteer outside the carriage called him several times.
After walking through the long road between palaces, Qin Hui saw Zhou Yong in the living room beside the imperial study. The emperor was wearing a large robe, his hair was messy, and his belt was not fastened. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a few coins in his hand.
Zhang Zhang looked haggard and lost his mind. It was a long time after Qin Hui came in to greet him and bowed before Zhou Yong came back to his senses.
"Excuse me, do you know the news?" Zhou Yong stared.
"...Return to Your Majesty, I understand."
"Xi Yin rushed to Zhenjiang, Xi Yin attacked Zhenjiang... Why did Xi Yin attack Zhenjiang... Everyone said that Zhenjiang is a dead place, why did he attack Zhenjiang." Zhou Yong waved the paper on his hand, "Qin Qing,
Come on, tell me..."
"I, I am not sure..." Qin Hui hesitated for a moment, then knelt down, "I am guilty..."
Zhou Yong was stunned, then waved the paper in his hand: "What crime do you have! Tell me! Why did Xi Yin attack Zhenjiang? They, they all said Zhenjiang was a dead end! They said that Xi Yin would be punished if he attacked Zhenjiang.
Drag it there. Why does Xiyin want to attack? Qin Qing, you mentioned this to me before, don't pretend to be stupid, you said..."
"I, I dare not speak nonsense..."
Zhou Yong shouted: "You said"
"That may be..." Qin Hui knelt there and said with difficulty, "Xi Yin has a perfect plan..."
The room became quiet, and Zhou Yong was stunned for a long time: "I knew, I knew, they were going to take action... those beasts, those traitors... they... Wu Dynasty had raised them for more than two hundred years, they...
They are going to sell my son, they are going to sell me... If I know who he is, I will punish his nine tribes... punish his ten tribes, punish... punish his eleven tribes..."
He muttered like this for a while, then turned to Qin Hui: "Qin Qing, what can you do? How can you save my son? There are soldiers in Changzhou around Zhenjiang... How many people can be sent there? Send the navy from Jiangning
Okay, okay, those people... Believe it or not, Qin Qing, you have to help me, my son can't be in trouble... Get up!"
Qin Hui knelt there and said: "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly. Your Highness the Crown Prince is wise and will definitely have countermeasures. Maybe soldiers from Changzhou and Jiangning are already on the way. Or maybe Xiyin has a plan, but His Highness the Crown Prince sees through it.
In that case, Zhenjiang will be the place of Xi Yin's downfall. We are... separated by places, so it's really not appropriate... to interfere..."
"I know what those people are! I know the virtues of those people! I know!" Zhou Yong yelled, "I know! How many high-ranking officials in the court are waiting to betray me! Look!
Jingping and his gang are so cowardly! My son! They are rushing ahead! They are still holding back! And that black flag! I have already shown good intentions! How will they react! They know how to kill, kill, and hoe rape! Junwu is his.
Disciple! Send out troops, send out troops! Just like what you said, Qin Qing! The black flag is just to gain fame! Who is waiting to kill me? Who can help Jun Wu?"
Zhou Yong was hysterical and roared so much that the whole palace was shaking. Later, his face showed a sad look and his mouth was already full of saliva. Qin Hui got up and bowed aside. Zhou Yong walked in the palace with trembling arms and murmured from time to time.
He muttered to himself, and then spoke in a low voice: "Qin Qing, you are right, there is always a way, there is always a way. Maybe I have seen through Xiyin's plan before, there is a way... There is no use in hurrying.
There’s no point in being anxious…”
He comforted himself for a long time and was quiet for a long time. Qin Hui straightened up: "Now that things have happened, we can only wait for the battle report from the front line."
His voice lost its previous panic, and contained a faint, reassuring strength. Zhou Yong nodded, and after a while, he sat on the edge of the bed.
"I want Jun Wu to be fine..." He looked at Qin Hui, "Nothing will happen to my son. Jun Wu is a good prince, and he will be a good emperor in the future. Qin Qing, nothing will happen to him... Those beasts..."
The skylight shone in obliquely from the windows and doorways, and the cool wind ruffled the gauze in the palace, soaking the emperor's feeble murmurs in the afternoon wind.
****************
To the southwest, in the corner of the Chengdu Plain, is Niutou County, which is also known as Lao Niutou by outsiders.
This area is located at the junction of the area under the jurisdiction of the Huaxia Army and the area under the jurisdiction of the Wu Dynasty. The terrain is complex and the population is large. However, since last year, due to the active efforts of veteran cadres and members of the Huaxia Army stationed here, this area has won several awards in the vicinity.
Members of the villages and counties who actively recognized the Huaxia Army helped many nearby people for free, donated medicine and medicine, and opened private schools for the surrounding children to go to school for free. By this spring, new land was being reclaimed and planted, and the people's enthusiasm for the Huaxia Army was
It has developed greatly. In later generations, it can be regarded as a place that "learned from Lei Feng and advanced the county".
Therefore, Ning Yi came over to commend the advanced personnel stationed here. In the afternoon, Ning Yi gave a lecture to some young officers and cadres gathered in Niutou County.
"...Sometimes, there are some things that are very interesting to talk about...Our biggest opponents today, the Jurchens, have risen very quickly. The generation that was born in trouble has a very strong ability to learn from the outside world and is very receptive.
I once told everyone that when they attacked the Liao Kingdom, their siege skills were still very weak. They improved rapidly during the destruction of the Liao Kingdom. Later, in the process of attacking the Wu Dynasty, they gathered a large number of craftsmen.
, constantly making improvements that even the people of the Wu Dynasty could not match..."
"... But at the same time, when the environment calmed down, their second and third generations decayed very quickly. Everyone in the staff joked that if it hadn't been for our several years of war in Xiaocanghe, women would have been
The senior officials of Zhenzhen warned that the current situation of the Jiangnan War may be completely different... The Jurchens only stopped after they conquered the Liao Kingdom and almost leveled the world. The uprising of Fang La back then was a matter of equality and no superiority. They stopped
The speed is much faster. Just after conquering Hangzhou, the top management began to enjoy themselves..."
"...You don't have to laugh, our Chinese army is facing the same problem...In this process, what is the driving force that determines their progress? It is culture and spirit. The first Jurchens suffered a lot, and they have a sense of urgency.
This sense of worry runs through their entire spirit. They learn very quickly, but they stop when there is peace. Until our rise gives them a sense of unsteadiness, but if the world becomes peaceful, they will be destined to move into a rapid downward curve.
…”
"...We must pay attention to this matter. We will also slip into such a curve. Several years have passed since the struggle in Xiaocanghe and the hardships in the northwest. We have conquered the Chengdu Plain again, and the Wu Dynasty is in a mess... We have even begun to
Blindly optimistic..."
He was talking in class, and Juaner appeared outside the door and stood there to signal to him. Ning Yi walked out and saw the urgent message.
"...Xi Yin's attack on Zhenjiang may be complicated. The General Staff sent a message asking if we should go back immediately..."
Ning Yi folded up the message and looked at the small county town outside: "It's beyond our reach, what can we do if we rush back... We have more important things here."
Juan'er nodded and was about to leave when Ning Yi reached out and touched her arm: "Spread the news and we will set off tomorrow morning."
"yes."
…
More than eighty miles away from Lao Niutou, Xigua and his men galloped into Zhang Village on horseback.
The horse team was like a whirlwind, stopping in front of the courtyard where the family lived at this time. Xigua got off the horse and was greeted by Wenwen, who was playing in front of the courtyard gate: "Aunt Gua, are you back?"
"Wenwen, Aunt Gua has something to do. I will bring you something delicious next time..." Xigua's words remained in the air, and the figure had already rushed to the yard more than ten feet away, and quickly rushed into the study. Only Su Tan'er was there.
Which organizes things: "Watermelon?"
"Where is my husband? Where have they gone?"
"He... has been out for two days, for that... first person..."
"He went to Lao Niutou?"
"Yeah." Su Tan'er nodded, and her eyes became serious, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
"When did your husband go?"
"It was noon the day before yesterday. Speaking of which, I should have arrived last night. Lao Niutou is nearby. Are the Wu Dynasty people going to take action at this time? There are troops stationed over there..."
"That's them..." Xigua whispered, and Su Tan'er was slightly startled: "What did you say?"
"I'm not sure either. I hope... I'm overthinking it." Xigua's eyes hesitated for a moment. After a moment, he suddenly disappeared into the room like the wind. "I will rush over immediately... Don't worry."
…
Old bull head.
After the lecture, going down the hillside was a river that passed through the county. The sun was about to set, and the sand was clear and white. Ning Yi stood by the river and watched for a while.