Another day passed, ushering in a rare good weather, the wind was gentle and breezy.

Wang Qing's camp suddenly opened the camp gate, and a team of grain trucks full of grain swaggered out, and swayed in front of the silent prison pass and headed south, the dust brought up by the ruts did not disperse for a long time, and the flags planted on the cars loomed.

No one noticed that a fast horse was followed by a rider from a distance. The grain cart stopped and went, and the riders also stopped and stopped, hanging behind it.

Finally, the convoy of more than 100 men came to a stop in a basin about five miles from the barracks, and the sergeants opened the sacks, took out some grain and began to bury the pot for cooking, and some of the men began to set up tents, apparently they were going to settle down here.

The rider who followed them leaned over a small hill above the basin and watched for a long time before turning and stepping on his horse towards the Silent Pass.

Zhao Fang sat upright in the tent of the Chinese military camp, and there was a person kneeling on one knee in front of him, who was the rider who followed Wang Qing's grain transportation team.

"General, it has been found out that it is the enemy's grain transport team, and the wooden carts are full of grain, estimated to be hundreds of stones, I think it is because the enemy is afraid that our army will attack at night, so the grain and grass are withdrawn." Said the rider.

Zhao Fang didn't make a sound after hearing this, and there was no change in expression on his face, but the two fingers that were gently tapping on the desk paused slightly, "I know, you go to find the two major generals to come to the big tent, I have something important to discuss." ”

"Yes," the rider replied, getting up and going out. After a while, the two brothers Zhao De and Zhao Yan strode in, bowed together and saluted, "Father, are you looking for us?" ”

"Sit down." Zhao Fang's voice was a little low.

The two brothers glanced at each other, and they were a little puzzled in their hearts, what was the so-called matter of their father coming to them at this time, shouldn't they step up patrols at this time?

Zhao Yan took the lead in asking, "Father, do you have any big deal with us coming?" ”

Zhao Fang was silent for a while, then slowly raised his head and said, "The spies came to report that the enemy's grain transport team had retreated five miles to the south, what do you think of this matter?" ”

Zhao De arched his hand and said: "If something goes wrong, there must be a demon, and we must beware of fraud." Besides, the thieves had been attacking the city for many days, and had never seen any other movement, and at this time the enemy's grain convoy was so swaggering to retreat that there must have been other movements. ”

"I think so, these dog thieves have been pressing hard lately, and they have been attacking the city for days on end, but what's the use? I silently closed the city wall and it was dangerous, easy to defend and difficult to attack, forgive them for fighting for more than these days, it will be difficult to attack, we will only defend it like this, I see what they can do. Zhao Yan said loudly, a little happiness appeared on his face.

Zhao Fang frowned and shook his head, "It's not a long-term plan for us to do this, before the reinforcements arrive, the pass may be captured one day, unless the soldiers make a dangerous move, they can win with one blow, force the enemy to retreat, or reduce their offensive sharply, so as to solve my urgent need and make us have a little respite." ”

Zhao Yan was stunned and looked at his father and brother with a solemn expression. Zhao De's face suddenly looked shocked, and he asked urgently: "Father is trying to ......?"

"Exactly."

"No, father, I'm afraid there is fraud in it, at this time, I am afraid that if we rush to send troops, we will fall into the trap of the enemy, and then we will only destroy the city, then we will really become sinners who are silently imprisoned by the people!"

"But there is no other way, even if it is a trap for the father, you have to break through, you don't know that the people are panicked, the soldiers are cowardly, the morale is sluggish, and many soldiers have fled recently, and it will only backfire if they continue to defend it, and it is only a matter of time before the city is broken."

Zhao Yan understood, and hurriedly said: "Father, I don't support going out to fight at the gate, going out at this time is tantamount to throwing yourself into a net, and there is no way to survive at all!" ”

Zhao Fang got up and walked to the middle, "I don't know if I'm a father, but there's no other way." You remember, once I am defeated, you will abandon the pass and flee, all the way north, to Shunzhou, then Shunzhou assassin Shi Lingxu is a friend of my father, I also saved his life in the early years, this person is still righteous, I think he will take you in, you take your mother, take care of her along the way. ”

Zhao De walked over, "Father, what about the people in this city?" Surely they won't be able to leave, will the traitors let them go? ”

"If they really want to succeed, they will definitely not do anything to the people of this city, and those who have always wanted to achieve great things will definitely not commit any crimes, and the military discipline is strict."

"And what if they're not? I heard that the leader of the traitors used to be a thief in the mountains and forests, specializing in robbing passers-by, what kind of benevolence and righteousness would these people talk about? I'm afraid that the anger that I can't attack for a long time will be vented on these innocent people. ”

Zhao Fang was silent for a while, then lifted the curtain and walked out, leaving only one sentence: "There is nothing to be done for the father, only to die on the battlefield first, remember, being a father is worthy of the court and the people." ”

Zhao Fang's steps were a little staggering, and a strand of white hair was swaying in the wind. There is a line of words written on the bamboo slips spread out on the desk: The slanting sun shines on the body of the minister, and the heart of the minister is unknown. Although the minister's body is gone, the minister's heart is still in the future.

The two Zhao De brothers knew that they couldn't persuade their father, so they had to hurry to the back hall, their mother Fang was directing the two maids to be busy in the flower garden, and when they looked up, they saw the two sons hurriedly walking in, and chuckled, "Why do you have time to come and see me today?" Don't go to defend the city? ”

"Mother," Zhao Yan shouted before he could get closer, "Mother, my father insists on going out to fight, you go and persuade him, my brother and I won't listen to him, only you can persuade him!" ”

Fang Shi was stunned for a moment, the water scoop in his hand fell to the ground with a "clang", the water splashed, Fang came back to his senses, calmly picked up the water scoop from the ground, and scooped out a scoop of water from the bucket next to him and poured it on the flowers.

Zhao Yan wanted to say something, but Zhao pulled it away. Zhao De walked up to his mother, "Mother, father asked us to take you away with us." ”

Fang Shi straightened up, brushed the handful of hair that had fallen off, and smiled, "Go ahead, I'll wait for your father, I've been waiting for him to go out to fight for many years, and every time he comes back, he comes to see me, I'm afraid he won't be a little upset if he doesn't see me." ”

"Mother......" Zhao Yan said, tears falling.

"Okay, we'll listen to Mother." Zhao De fell to his knees and knocked three times. Zhao Yan had no choice but to kowtow to his brother.

A sergeant walked in, "Major General, the general has left the city with three thousand soldiers and horses, all the way to the south." ”

Zhao De waved his hand, "I know, you go down, by the way, tell the soldiers in the city that if the general hasn't come back tonight, they will all disperse." ”

"Yes." The sergeant went out, and only the two Zhao De brothers were left in the camp. Zhao Yan walked around, "Brother, I'll lead the soldiers to rescue my father!" After Zhao Yan finished speaking, he was about to go out.

"Come back!" Zhao De said in a deep voice, "If my father is not there, I am the main general, I am not allowed to go out of the city, close the city gate, and wait for news." ”

"Brother...... Are we just going to sit there? The life and death of the father is unknown, is this what a son of man should do? ”

"Brother Yan, there are only 6,000 soldiers and horses in the city now, who will you take some to defend the city? Mother is still in the back hall. ”

Zhao Yan was a little discouraged, sat on the ground, and clenched his fists tightly.

Zhao De said again: "Brother Yan, don't forget that today, nearly a month has passed, if there were reinforcements in the imperial court, I am afraid they should have arrived a long time ago, but where are the reinforcements?" Even Hezhou didn't send reinforcements, what is the intention, do you know? Moreover, the grain and grass in Pingzhou have not been delivered for half a month, and my father sent someone to urge it, and the news came that there was no food. Without reinforcements, without food and grass, how should we fight this battle? Father can only do this, can you understand? ”

Zhao Yan stared at his brother closely, suddenly stood up from the ground, and pounced in front of Zhao De, "Brother, is this true?" How I didn't know! ”

"Naturally, it's true, my father knows that you are impatient, and when he knows it, he must go to those people to ask for an explanation, and I don't know what will happen, so my father asked me to hide it from you, and I must not tell you unless I have to."

"These dog thieves, the country will be ruined in their hands sooner or later, poor father has the heart to serve the country, for such a court, it is really worthless!" Zhao Yan clutched his head tightly and squatted on the ground.

"Alright, let's go get ready, let's leave soon."