The city gate was blown open unexpectedly, and although the hundreds of catties of gunpowder could not reach the effect of the later generations, the power should not be underestimated, and the city gate with the thickness of an adult's arm was shocked to be exact.

Fortunately, the scope of the impact is not too large, Gao Zhikai, who supervised the battle, was the first to react, roaring angrily for the soldiers to block the city gate as quickly as possible, Shi Xiang's reaction was not slow, first of all, they did not have that much fear of gunpowder explosion, and second, they knew what kind of consequences gunpowder explosion would bring.

No one could have imagined that the great war would begin in such a way, bloody hand-to-hand combat unfolded at the city gates, one side desperately attacked, the other side did everything to resist, the Song army had an advantage in equipment and morale, and Dali had an advantage in numbers.

After a stick of incense, although the Song army was still very heroic, the forward advance did not see results, Shi Xiang frowned, which was very different from what they expected.

Lu Zifei said: "It seems that the front is not going very well, Yang Huaiyu and Shi Xiang have encountered resistance!" ”

Di Qing said: "The smooth sailing along the way has made them lose themselves, and today I give them a head start, I don't think there is a problem at all, it's not a bad thing." ”

Xia Zhu was not interested in such a pediatric battle at all, and said with a yawn: "The child is at home, it's okay to go back to sleep!" How long will this continue for a month or two? ”

Lu Zifei rarely did not refute Xia Zhu's ridicule, he couldn't see anything on the first day and the first attack, no one knew how long this war would last, and the one who had the last laugh was the winner.

There is always a leader in a team, this person's decision-making and decisions are related to the future fate of the team, Shen Kuo was the representative of the Lu family before he arrived in the capital, and after Shen Kuo arrived, the situation changed.

"Why is the imperial court so weird this year, wave after wave is incomprehensible, Senior Brother Wen, did you find anything in the Hanlin Academy."

Shen Kuo has no official position, and even if he perceives something, many things can only be learned through the mouths of others, and he must learn about the overly confidential affairs of the court through others when there are few people in the center.

Wen Zhenhua said: "Too many things have happened, everyone has become cautious, there is nothing to do in the Hanlin Academy, Lord Sima's critical moment, and the Ouyang Governor has returned." ”

Ouyang Xiu came back from Chuzhou, since he came out, Ouyang Xiu has completely established his name as the first person in the cultural world, and people will now mention him when they talk about what he has written, and no one pays attention to how big he has done.

Shen Kuo said: "Uncle Ouyang Yong is back, is there any news in the imperial court for him to do?" Continuing his housekeeping skills, the wine of the country's priest is good, but there are people in power, and people are doing a good job, and there are not many choices left for him! The Ministry of Works, Shangshu and discerning people know who the emperor has reserved for whom. ”

"The Ministry of Industry is just like you said, it's impossible, all departments are stuffed with people, and there is no place to arrange him, so it's better not to transfer him back? And I heard someone say that this appointment is the emperor's intention. Wen Zhenhua still told the rumors he heard.

Just as they were discussing Ouyang Xiu, Lord Ouyang, who was crying bitterly, finally came to the Wende Palace, where the emperor rested, and after learning that Zhao Zhen was here to meet him, Ouyang Xiu was a little unsure.

"Ouyang Aiqing's political performance in Chuzhou has been evaluated for three consecutive years, it seems that Aiqing has really put in his strength, if there are more people like Aiqing in the imperial court, why should I worry about this world."

Ouyang Xiu didn't dare to hold it up, the gratitude link must be indispensable, a few tears appeared in his eyes somehow, and he said sadly: "It is what the minister should do to share the worries of the emperor and the court, and the minister has done what he should do." ”

Zhao Zhen didn't want to sensationalize Ouyang Xiu here, because it didn't make sense, he said: "I have a question, why do the people of the Great Song Dynasty now prefer to send their children to Luoyang rather than to Guozijian and Taixue, no one can explain this reason for me. ”

The apprehension and doubts in Ouyang Xiu's heart were solved, but what about the sacrificial wine? The imperial court did not want to change people, so his position was not very embarrassing.

"What does the emperor want his ministers to do, Guozijian and Taixue have been ill for a long time, and it is not so simple to change in a short period of time."

The Song Dynasty had a great benefit for the high-ranking officials of the imperial court, that is, after retirement, you would be able to sprout your heirs according to your official position, and you could directly become an official without passing the imperial examination, which was also one of the main reasons for the redundancy of officials in the Song Dynasty.

The subconscious meaning in Ouyang Xiu's words is that this job is difficult to do, this is a well-known thing, Your Majesty, you are now handing over this work to me, so you don't want to do it.

Zhao Zhen seemed to have known that Ouyang Xiu would answer like this, and said softly: "I know it's impossible to solve it at once, I think so, you go to Luoyang to figure out this matter first, and then we will discuss what to do." ”

Ouyang Xiu said: "This is not difficult, the minister can understand these in a month or two, but have you thought about it after the emperor understands it?" Not everyone likes Shingaku... Ouyang Xiu seemed to have grasped something in his head.

Is the emperor dissatisfied with Confucianism? This is not a trivial matter, it is a big thing, Confucianism and the royal family have always complemented each other, and it is really said that the proportion of Confucianism dependent on the imperial court is a little heavier.

"This matter is just an idea between our monarchs and ministers, what will happen in the future, you and I can't be sure, when we have the exact data you collected, let's put it on the table and say."

That Ouyang Xiu felt that his identity was even more embarrassing, he couldn't go as a court, he could only go as a private person, wouldn't that purpose be too strong.

"The minister understands, the minister knows what to do, and the minister retires first."

Zhao Zhen said: "You can start with a few writers from the Hanlin Academy, after all, they know more than outsiders. ”

After Ouyang Xiu went home, Ouyang Wei also happened to be out of office, although Ouyang Wei and Wen Zhenhua's peers were not so familiar, but at least they had contact, and Ouyang Xiu didn't have to go far.

"You are serving in the Menxia Province, how about it, you are still used to it!"

"Dad, you don't know a lot, the main thing for the child is to make soy sauce, even if you play soy sauce, you have to have a little eyesight, you can't say that you are not used to it!"

Ouyang Xiu said: "Who hasn't come through this process, how many people want to stay in the capital, and in the end they haven't been ruthlessly assigned to the place, you are not satisfied, you must know that you are ranked low in the second class." ”

Ouyang Wei dared to complain in front of his Lao Tzu, if he really wanted him to say these things in front of his superiors, he was afraid that he would not dare to let go of a fart, and his position was still very clear.

"Dad, how did you enter the palace today, many people are watching your movements after you come back?"

Ouyang Xiu said: "I can't let you rest for a few days, by the way, you and Wen Zhenhua are not familiar with each other." ”

Ouyang Wei didn't know why his father asked Wen Zhenhua, but he still said truthfully: "I'm not too familiar, the imperial court has a different attitude towards the champion and us, Dad, why are you asking this." ”

"Oh, it's okay, just ask casually, I'm going to Luoyang in two days."

Ouyang Xiu said such a sentence without a head, and Ouyang Wei didn't ask specifically, his father didn't tell him, so naturally he had his reason, and as a son, he hadn't questioned his father's reason.

Fu Bi still couldn't hold back, because half a month had passed, and no battle report had come back from the front, and where the war had progressed, he was anxious in the rear, although his own behavior was a little inappropriate, but now he couldn't care about it so much.

"Yanguo, why are you here, who is in charge of Chengdu Mansion when you come?" Xia Zhu asked in surprise when he saw Fu Bi.

Fu Bi said: "I know that there are some Meng Lang this time, but if I don't come here, I feel like something is stuck in my heart, and I can't hear a little news, that feeling is too uncomfortable." ”

Xia Zhu nodded and said: "The war is relatively anxious, and the Northwest Army has nothing to do with Gao Zhikai for a while, but I think Lu Xiaozi seems to have the idea of training, and a big battle is likely to occur in the next two days, and it won't last long." ”

A new round of offensive began, Di Qing did not watch the battle in the rear this time, but went to the Chinese army to personally supervise the battle, and the New Year was about to begin, and Lu Zifei gave him an order to either live in Dali City by himself or go home.

On the Dali city wall, Gao Zhikai also seemed to smell a little wrong, he thought that the Song army would still try to attack as before, but he saw Di Qing's general flag from a distance, which made him very puzzled in his heart, since you are watching, then I have to give you a good show, otherwise I am sorry for your hard work.

Cao Feng and Zhang Qi also looked at the front army at the same time, Zhang Qi put down the telescope in his hand and said: "Gao Zhikai is really still like that, the close defense did cause us a little trouble, but this is too underestimating us!" ”

Cao Feng called Yang Huaiyu and Shi Xiang and instructed them: "Bring up all the long-range weapons that can be moved, whether you can take Dali City in one fell swoop depends on today's fight, and you weigh the burden on your shoulders." ”

Octagonal crossbows, catapults, cloud carts, ladders, these seemingly ancient combat tools have been greatly differentiated under the improvement of Lu Zifei, and these siege equipment Han people are the real ancestors.

The people on the city wall also hurriedly changed after seeing the dense siege equipment, but what made them desperate was that their long-range attack weapons could not reach the Song army's position.

Countless stout arrows, explosive bags, tung oil, and boulders were sent to the city, and in this way, round after round of blows, the city walls were much shorter, and the most hateful thing was that the infantry of the Song army was not on it, which put a lot of pressure on Gao Zhikai.

The material is like no money, endless launch, Dali soldiers don't know when this is a head, Gao Xintai, whose face was splashed with hot oil, looks a little scary, but he doesn't care anymore, only Dali is still there, he has the opportunity to be an emperor, and people feel that they will only repent at a critical moment.

"Father, if this continues, our military spirit will collapse, we only have one city now, and there will always be a day when the city will be broken."