In the northern part of Hebei, the rivers are vertical and horizontal, the water veins are developed, and the Hutuo River, as one of the main water veins, has great military and economic value. In the original history, from the Later Jin Dynasty, through the Han Dynasty, the Zhou Dynasty, and the Zhao and Song dynasties, there were too many wars between the Khitan and China in this water vein basin.

The Hutuo River originates from Daidi, flows back to the south, cuts through Taihang, and returns to Hebei. It is located in the hinterland of Hebei, and whenever there is a war, the Khitan iron cavalry can always drink the river.

Looking at the Song-Liao War more than 20 years before the Lanyuan Alliance, it can be intuitively found that except for the two Northern Expeditions, the Liao army basically fought within its own country. Even if it was the two Northern Expeditions, after the failure, when the Liao army carried out the "counteroffensive count", it was also a long drive and went straight to Jizhong. The enemy cavalry broke into the hinterland, as if entering a no-man's land, and the Song army had no choice but to be beaten passively.

The three passes of Hebei (Waqiao Pass, Yijin Pass, and Sikou Pass) built are in vain, and compared with the military defense and containment of the Liao army, it seems that it plays a greater role in demarcating the national border as a boundary pass. Youyan lost to the enemy, and without the barrier of Yanshan Pass, the pressure on the northern border defense of the southern country can be imagined.

The Central Plains, which has lost the Youyan barrier, will be passive in the face of the northern insult, and the war between the Khitan and the Jin has been clearly shown. However, even if the Jin State was destroyed, the feelings of the military and people of Hebei in the Central Plains were still not deep enough, and in the eyes of most people, the Khitan destruction of the Jin Dynasty was a crime of the emperor's stupidity and the weakness of the country due to the power of the mediocre ministers.

I didn't experience the same humiliation for decades, the helplessness and bitterness of being ridden on my head, trampled on my backbone by the iron hooves of the Liao army, and being wantonly beaten in the grass valley and plundered by wealth. Before the humiliation and pain were heart-wrenching, the people of Hebei in the Central Plains had not yet suffered from "Liaophobia", and they could not imagine how heavy the words "Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures" were.

But right now, in Yingzhou, Guo Rong seems to be aware. He seemed to understand why Liu Chengyou would be unusual, insist on going his own way, and even gamble at all costs.

He was ordered by Liu Chengyou to inspect the labor army in Yingzhou. Hearing is always better than seeing, Guo Rong is naturally a very strategic person, patrolling northeast along the lower reaches of the Hutuo River, looking at the plains and smooth roads along the way, Guo Rong's brows are furrowed deeply.

According to He Fujin, this road is smooth, and you can go directly to Baigou and Juma River, and there is only 100 miles away from Youzhou. The enemy went south to the south, and I went north to the south, and after walking in person, this is Guo Rong's deepest experience.

On the shore of the water, there are several beacon towers, which He Fujin built personally after he took office, and the material resources were insufficient, the manpower was weak, and the time was not enough, so only four were built thirty miles to the north. Don't ask for anything else, just ask that if there is an enemy cavalry attack, you can get the warning in time and respond early.

In front of a beacon tower in the northernmost part, standing on the shore of the horse, the water rushing to the north, Guo Rong suddenly sighed: "This Hutuo River water, as its name suggests, is roaring and surging!" ”

The water of the Hutuo River under the sun, shining with sparkling waves, is turbulent and abnormal, and waves hit the tidal flats one by one, like a fierce beast, as if trying to devour people. Guo Rong's mood seemed to be affected by it, and there was some concern on his serious face.

Yingzhou defense envoy He Fujin was accompanying him at this time, the veteran was gray-haired and white-bearded, still able to get on the horse, draw the bow, wear armor, sit on the horse's back, and straighten the sword according to the sword. Hearing Guo Rong's emotion, he casually echoed: "This water is famous for its rapids!" ”

His brows furrowed, and the worry in Guo Rong's expression became even heavier: "Yingzhou is like this, but it is in Shenzhou." With the ferocity of this water, it is worrying! ”

After the Hutuo water comes out of the mountain, it flows through the true direction of the east, passes through Shenzhou, and has a diversion in the Raoyang area, one flows south into the north of the big river, and one goes north between the Yingzhou River. Because of the turbulent nature of the river, and the soil along the way is sparse and easy to collapse, the lower reaches of the river are impermanent, and there are often floods, with Shenzhou being the most serious, which is famous. Therefore, after the diversion, near the river, the water was still so turbulent, Guo Rong subconsciously worried about the situation in Shenzhou.

He Fujin obviously didn't have much feeling about this kind of thing, glanced at Guo Rong, and said: "The trouble of water flow is a small trouble after all, and Hu Lu Iron Riding is a big disaster!" ”

couldn't help but glance at He Fujin, although he didn't agree with what he said, Guo Rong didn't mean to argue. With today's national conditions, the stability of the world is still a luxury, and there is no leisure to pay attention to floods, let alone governance. Besides, even if you have a heart, how can you be powerful?

Putting away his thoughts, Guo Rong pointed to the north and asked, "What's the situation with Renqiu?" ”

Ying and Mo two prefectures, both belong to the "Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures", and they were all under the jurisdiction of Nanjing Province during the Liao period. Yingzhou is bordered by Shenzhou in the west, Cangzhou in the east, and Mozhou in the north. And Renqiu is the state of Mozhou, not far from Hejian City, only sixty miles, it is a close neighbor, and there is no obstacle between the two cities.

He Fujin took office in Yingzhou and captured Hejian, but did not continue north. At this time, he asked Guo Rong and said: "After retaking Hejian, a Liao general in Mozhou once led troops to the south to repel me. It is reported that after the enemy drove the people south, there were still hundreds of Xi cavalry in Renqiu City, and they were always attacking and harassing from the south, although their combat strength was not as good as that of the Khitan soldiers, but they were not very troublesome! ”

Pointing to the beacon towers behind the side: "In order to build these beacon towers, Yingzhou has paid hundreds of casualties, and the casualties of the people are even more!" ”

He Fujin spoke very calmly, but Guo Rong could hear the difficulty behind him, looked at the veteran, and solemnly saluted: "The old general has worked hard!" ”

"What am I suffering for? Can you suffer the dead and wounded soldiers, the people who died? The veteran blew his beard and said with an urn.

He Fujin's tone was a little rushed, and Guo Rong was bored, but he didn't care, and showed a smile with him. Seeing He Fujin looking at the north with cold eyes, he said softly: "Sooner or later, we can recapture Mozhou and Youyan!" ”

Hearing this, He Fu couldn't help laughing when he went in, sneered, and shook his head: "You descendants, how can Youzhou be so easy to take back?" ”

Guo Rong still looked humble and did not argue, some things are useless just by mouth. However, in my heart, the evaluation of He Fujin is much higher, such a veteran, it is too wasteful to be only a defensive envoy.

"Marquis Guo Duyu, this river is also patrolled, and the city is also seen. This place is too close to Renqiu, it's not safe, let's go back! At this time, He Fujin said suddenly.

"I have General Lao as my company!" Seeing this, Guo Rong still put on a low posture and said to him: "Let's go back to the river!" ”

Hejian City, formerly known as Wuyuan, as its name suggests, is between two rivers. The city is a big city, but it is a pity that it is isolated on all sides, there is no danger to rely on, and it is not a place to defend the war. After He Fujin took office, he moved most of the people to Leshou County in the south to settle down, and the displaced people who were subsequently collected also did so, and led troops to garrison them as a precautionary strangulation.

Therefore, at this time, the Hejian City that Guo Rong inspected was a little deserted.

Not long after Fang returned to the city, wolf smoke rose from the north, and Hu Kou came to attack. Accompanied by the news of Yelu Ruan's proclamation as emperor.