In Laizhou, Fang Ru was sitting on the dragon chair with a nervous look on his face.
As soon as spring began, Zuo Shiren led 80,000 allied troops and Chen Bing was at the border of Laizhou. Thinking of the great defeat at the end of last year, when hundreds of thousands of troops were chased and killed by 20,000 Lingzhou troops, Fang Ru was horrified.
Fortunately, he has a great general.
"Is there anything you can do?"
Everyone in the court did not dare to say a word. Many ministers of the Jing Dynasty cast their gaze forward, looking at a gray-haired veteran at the forefront of the generals.
The veteran remained motionless.
Fang Ru coughed twice, "General Yan, is there anything you can do?"
Veteran Yan Song stepped out of the line calmly.
"Your Majesty, there is no other way but to send out a large army to defeat Zuo Shiren. I am a strict but incompetent man, and I am willing to share your worries for Your Majesty."
"General, your last reform of the military system left only more than 60,000 people in the entire Jingguo."
"More than 60,000 young and strong soldiers are enough." Yan Song's expression remained unchanged, "Although I, Yan Song, are old, this time, I am willing to lead the army for Da Jing and attack the traitor Zuo Shiren!"
Sitting on the dragon chair, Fang Ru hesitated for a moment. He neither agreed nor refused.
"Okay, I'll think about it again."
"Soldiers are valuable and quick, and I am strict. Please kneel down and ask your Majesty to make a decision as soon as possible."
…
"Great scene?" Yan Song came out and looked up at the rotten palace renovated by the county governor's mansion, with a sneer on his lips.
"Father, this false emperor is not a mediocre person. If he agrees to his promise, he will be able to control at least 50,000 troops. In addition, over the years, the secret hands of my Yan family have gathered a total of nearly 60,000 people."
"Chong'er, the false emperor must be worried. I'm not a direct descendant, and I'm a new recruit. Even if I send ten or eight more supervisors, I won't be able to fully trust you."
"It's a pity. With my father's ability, when he takes charge of the army, he will be able to restore his surname and be listed among the princes."
"You are wrong, Chong'er." Yan Song walked slowly, "This battle with Zuo Shiren must be fought. Whether it is the order of the puppet emperor or for the great cause of the Yuan family, it must be fought. Chong
Son, you have to understand that others will only obey you if you have some ability."
"What does father mean?"
In the cool breeze of spring, Yan Song smiled lightly, "If I, Yan Song, successfully blocked Zuo Shiren. Chong'er, guess how much my Yan Song's reputation would rise, whether in the army or among the people."
point?"
"If you want to do great things, you need to work step by step. You can't rush, but you can't be too slow. I heard that over there in the west, the commoner in the world is also a step-by-step person. He has already wiped out the king of Liangzhou and is about to become powerful.
"
"Xu Buyi? I heard that he is the man who cheated." As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Chong suddenly felt something was wrong and hurriedly stopped his voice.
"It doesn't matter. Yuan Tao is indeed a man of the Daji. Of course, he is also the most loyal person named Yuan. I admire him. He must have discovered some problems back then and wanted to track down my whereabouts. Fortunately, he
Later, the incident with Xiao traitor became too big and he had to take back the net."
"I'm not like that bitch Yuan An. If I really become emperor, I will confer Yuan Tao the title of King of Loyalty and Righteousness."
It seems to be regretful, but it also seems to be longing for him. This old man in his twilight years is walking slower and slower.
"Chong'er, you have to remember. Although you haven't been born yet, you, Yuan Chong, are the last emperor of the Yuan family."
Yuan Chong raised his hands and bowed, "Father, don't worry, I, Yuan Chong, will naturally know after years of dormancy."
"Okay, this is the tiger of my Yuan family!"
Yan Song smiled with satisfaction, "In the huge Laiyan and Yanzhous, I have many means to transform this puppet empire!"
…
In Dingzhou, the wind and sand never cease.
A silent middle-aged general, before walking down the city gate, looked outside the gate a few more times.
His name was Lu Xiu. After the death of Dingbei Marquis, he was the largest Dingbian general in Dingzhou. The imperial court collapsed and there was no military pay or food for the past two or three years.
If it had been anyone else, he might have rebelled long ago and taken over the state as king. What's more, for the sake of wealth and honor, he would have secretly communicated with the barbarians and opened the door to Dingzhou.
But he didn't.
He stayed in Dingzhou, relying on the meager food and grass provided by the border residents and the occasional money sent from Shuzhou and the inner city to support himself.
The general's armor on his body has fallen off and is covered with dirt from fighting. It has not been replaced for a long time.
Previously, Sima Military Advisor from Liangzhou sent people to Dingzhou with sincere words, hoping that he would lead the army and people of Dingzhou and surrender to the king of Liangzhou. Liangzhou would then provide food, grass and military pay.
Afraid that Dingzhou would be angered, he kept hanging without replying. For a barren land like Dingzhou, the best outcome would be to become a frontline troop garrison.
Loyalties in this world are different. Some are loyal to wealth, some are loyal to power, but he is loyal to Dingzhou, the soldiers and civilians who went to life and death with him. Loyal to the rusty Dingbei Pass, and not far outside Dingbei Pass, endless. Shili Cemetery.
Lu Xiu held on to his old sword and walked slowly under the city gate. He took the straw cake from a child, then changed his hand and handed it to the bodyguard beside him.
"General, the Hu bandits came once yesterday, but when they saw that the checkpoint was being guarded, they retreated again."
"These outsiders can only sneak around." Lu Xiu turned his head and glanced in the direction of Bingzhou.
"By the way, how is the situation over there at Youde?"
"General Chai Zong's army has conquered several counties in Bingzhou. I heard that King Xu Shu has annihilated the main force of the Liang army. Now the army is divided into divisions and is fully attacking Liangdi."
"Old Marquis, you are right."
"The old Marquis...general, could it be that the old Marquis left a message?"
Lu Xiu raised his hand and bowed in the direction of the inner city.
"The old Marquis said that if one day his young son-in-law of the Li family becomes a powerful leader, he will order me to lead the Dingzhou army and worship him as the master."
"Now, it is most appropriate that the territories of Dingzhou and Liangdi are connected into one."
"You guys will stay at Dingbeiguan. I'll go to Liang and return in seven days. Remember, if the bandit is crazy and dares to attack, he will immediately send a letter."
"General, don't worry!"
Lu Xiu raised his head and looked at the soldiers in front of him. Among them were new soldiers who had just passed the age of turning their hair around, and old soldiers with snow-white hair. Each of them was covered with the robes and armor of a dead soldier. If one person dies, he will be killed. Pass it on to the next person.
There was no military pay and insufficient food and grass. The only thing he had was loyalty to his homeland and clinging to Dingbeiguan to prevent the barbarians from entering the Central Plains.
"I have never been so convinced that the 13,000 Dingbei Army in Dingzhou is an elite division famous all over the world."
"One day, we will switch from defense to offense. We will break out of Dingbeiguan and attack the barbarians' lair!"
The national power collapsed, the mountains and rivers were shattered, and barbarians emerged from all directions. But no matter what, there must be people who care about the world, guard the country, and never abandon it.
Riding on an old war horse, Lu Xiu took only a few people with him. Amidst the respectful greetings of the people and soldiers, he whipped up his horse and hurried towards Liangdi.
He had heard the story of the son-in-law of the Li family, how the Qing emperor beheaded the treacherous prime minister and refused to allow Beidi to enter the grassland. These alone were enough to show that the son-in-law of the Li family was a good man.
The tiger of Dingzhou, Lu Xiu and Lu Changling, pay their respects to the lord!
Lu Xiu's eyes were bright and he shouted in his heart.