As the sun set, the glow dyed the clouds and the river a blood-red color, and the gunboats on both sides bombarded each other before they stopped. The iron rope still swayed and drifted under the water, and on the wide river, there were countless broken wooden planks, debris and corpses floating, and the river water seemed much more turbid than usual, and the river wind carried a thick smell of gunpowder smoke and blood.

It was getting dark, and the artillery battle on the river continued until it was completely impossible to see each other. Even after dark, there were some small boats trying to sneak attack at night, whether it was the gunboats of the Liao, Han or Song armies, they would open fire at the first sign of movement. Deng Su had to stay in Hanyang City for the night. A few years ago, the entire city of Hanyang was destroyed by floods, and although the Ezhou government rebuilt the city wall on Phoenix Mountain, there were still very few houses in the city, and the only post station was also destroyed by artillery fire, so Zhao Xingde could only let Deng Su live in the military camp behind the city wall. Outside from time to time, the sound of cannons rang out, Deng Su closed his eyes, and it seemed that there was a scene of flesh and blood flying on the river during the day. Fear and excitement kept alternating and tormenting, Deng Su actually stayed awake all night, tossing and turning, and in the second half of the night, he simply put on his clothes and walked to relieve his sorrows. He came to announce the decree twice, he has been with Zhao Xingde during the day, most of the soldiers on duty know him, occasionally someone asks, Deng Suliang is the identity of the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, and no one stops him, so he walked slowly all the way, and actually walked up to the city wall.

As soon as the river breeze blew, Deng Su shivered, although it was summer, but the river breeze was still very cold, some drowsy minds were a little clearer, he stood at the head of the city in a light robe and looked at the river, the stars in the distance were full of lights on the boats, I don't know that there were tens of thousands of boats, but it was pitch black when they got close, within the range of the artillery, the ships on both sides did not dare to hold the lights, so as not to indicate the direction to the gunners of the other side.

"It's really better to see than to hear, I thought that the Liao thief was only strong in horse shooting," Deng Su shook his head and sighed, "I didn't expect water warfare and artillery to be so powerful." Even if the river is dangerous, I am afraid it is not enough to be ashamed. He sighed and was about to leave, when someone suddenly asked, "Who?" ”

Deng Su came back to his senses, only to see that in the city tower not far away, Zhao Xingde was walking over with two or three personal soldiers, carrying a lantern on the city, Zhao Xingde and others were standing under the lantern, and they couldn't see the situation in the dark here. "It's me," Deng Su replied, "Is Brother Zhao patrolling the city?" Not as serious as when he announced the decree during the day, Deng Su's tone was more intimate.

Zhao Xingde heard Deng Su's voice, but still frowned, did not answer, and turned his head to look at the generals guarding this section of the city wall. The general hurriedly bowed down and said, "The city is not strictly guarded, and the adults are deployed to forgive their sins." Zhao Xingde nodded and said, "In the land of Hanyang City, there is no room for loss in every place. The city wall is heavy, and idlers cannot approach, and there is no military order, even if His Majesty comes in person, it is not allowed. He was surprised to see a man without a military robe standing in the dark at the head of the city, so he shouted. Out of charge of the southeast camp, he really couldn't get used to the military discipline in the camp, tonight's Deng Su actually went to the city unimpeded, which confirmed some worries in Zhao Xingde's heart, so he ignored the feelings of the old people and reprimanded the guards of the city tower first.

Deng Su saw this scene clearly, and he didn't think about it, and said with a smile: "Deng couldn't sleep, and he walked to the city rashly, which was really abrupt." He glanced at the guard general and said to Zhao Xingde, "This matter started because of me, and I ask Brother Zhao to forgive me." He explained, and the guard still stared at him.

"If you commit a first offense, this matter will be sent for the time being, and if there is a second offense, it will be done together with military law."

Deng Su arched his hand and said, "Thank you, Brother Zhao." He secretly said in his heart: "I haven't seen you for many years, Yuan Zhi has gone through the Rong Horse, and he has more majesty on his body, but he is different from Cao Di, Liu Yanqing and others. He and Zhao Xingde are still classmates in Taixue, and after a long time, although they have heard from each other repeatedly, they have met in the last few days. After Zhao Xingde sent his subordinates, the guard did not dare to slack off, and personally instructed his subordinates not to let idle people wait to go to the city. Deng Sunai is the emperor's Qincha, since he has arrived here, Zhao Xingde can't drive him down directly, so he can only stand next to Deng Su. The soldiers were seven or eight paces away.

Deng Su sighed: "It's a pity for General Zhang. ”

"Seek kindness and get kindness." Zhao Xingde shook his head and said: "As a martial artist, from the moment you go to the battlefield, you must learn to face death. Sacrifice your life to go to the country, and see death as if you were going home. It's easier said than done. A generous person like General Zhang can be described as a true general. ”

Deng Su turned his head to look at Zhao Xingde, the night was like water, and he saw that his expression was generous, and he seemed to have a decisive will. Deng Su said secretly: "Could it be that Cheng Yuan saw that the enemy army was strong, and he had the intention of dying with the city?" He was shocked and said in a low voice: "This Hanyang City, whether it can be defended, it can't be defended." Yuan Zhi, you have won the trust of His Majesty, and you have a great future. For the court, for the world, and for Your Majesty, you must keep a useful body, and you must not do a policy of burning jade. Zhang Liang fought the waves, if he died at that time, he would not have been able to strategize and leave his name in history. Otherwise, after a thousand years, who knows who Zhang Liang is? ”

In the evening, he learned that the famous sailor Zhang Qing who died in battle during the day was Zhang Qing. The Song State has always valued the north and the south, and the court itself does not attach importance to the sailors, except for the tragic scene at the end, Zhang Qing did not leave much impression on Deng Su. During the siege of Bianliang, although Deng Su was in the city, he had never been so close to the battlefield, and he still had palpitations. Deng Su didn't expect that the real battlefield would be so fleshy and bloody, Zhao Xingde came to the front in person, and he didn't see the ease of the lupine scarf, and the two didn't expect that on the battlefield, even if it was an official to the temperate envoy and the commander, he would die so easily. is as brave as Zhang Qing, surrounded by Liao thieves, and fired arrows in unison, saying that he would die. Deng Su, remembering the news of the death of generals everywhere in the newspaper in the past, Deng Su felt a little sad and afraid. I don't know how many people in the DPRK and China, before that, they simply skimmed over these obituaries in a hurry.

"What is the burning of jade?" After being silent for a moment, Zhao Xingde sighed, "Zhang Liang's blow to the waves is a straight road." It's a pity. He pointed to a group of guards who passed under the city and said, "The world is not the world of one person, but the world of the people." Zhao is just one of the people in the world, even if there is no such thing as me, there are so many soldiers. ”

"But there are differences between people after all." Deng Sudao, "The rise and fall of the world, some people have small responsibilities, and some people have great responsibilities." A general like General Zhang, who bravely crowned the three armies, could have taken on greater responsibility, but as a result, he was brave and brave, and as a result, before he died, would it be beneficial to the world? He knew that Zhao Xingde was a person with high hopes from His Majesty, and if he used it well, he could balance the honorable generals such as Cao Di and Yang Yanqing in the army, and he could also contain Yue Fei, Han Shizhong and others. He originally wanted to say that in case Hanyang was not defended, Zhao Xingde could abandon the city and leave, and in front of His Majesty, he would vigorously turn around for it, but Zhao Xingde had no intention of escaping. He was in a hurry, and he didn't choose what to say, and Zhao Xingde's face sank.

"In yesterday's battle, the southeast battalion and water division were scattered and could not be arrayed, and the land battalion was crowded on the river bank, if the Liao thieves were allowed to break through the iron cable, the soldiers killed in the battle would be thousands, and even tens of thousands of troops might be defeated by the Liao thieves with one blow. General Zhang, who is not usually known for his strategy, is not said to be the bravest general in the Xiangyang army. But the thieves are menacing, and everyone is protecting themselves. Probably 'I want to keep a useful body for the future'," a sneer appeared at the corner of Zhao Xingde's mouth, "Only General Zhang stepped forward and turned the tide." ”

"I don't mean to belittle General Zhang, but I just regret it. The so-called thousands of troops are easy to obtain, but one will be hard to find. Deng Su was a little embarrassed, "Brother Zhao is different from ordinary generals, you can ignore your safety......" He thought in his heart, he really couldn't say it so clearly, he stopped for a while, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Brother Zhao's generals have a lot to do, not on the battlefield." Even if you expel the Beiyu, you still want Xu Tu to restore Zhongxing, revitalize the dynasty, moral articles, and the hearts of the people in the world, how can you leave these things behind? ”

Speaking of this, Deng Su took a deep breath. He finally understood why he was so nervous about Zhao Xingde's life and death. Because of the matter of assisting Zhao Qi, there is already an invisible rift between Deng Su and the gentlemen of the Li Society. Even the scholars who had been good friends with Deng Su in the past, during the period of "respecting the Son of Heaven and not obeying orders" and "either being a fellow party or an enemy" in Ezhou, they could only draw a clear line with Deng Su. Now although Ezhou has temporarily enshrined Zhao Qi as the Son of Heaven, Chen Dong and others are still ordered to dictate themselves, the Prime Minister's Mansion has not been withdrawn, Yue Fei's fake privy envoy position is still there, the state and county shepherds are still elected by the school's students, and the forbidden armies of Baoyi, Zhenguo, Henghai and Gongwei Zhao Qi are still distinct. The court is like this, and the hearts of the people below are even more chaotic. I don't know how far this situation will continue to evolve. Zhao Xingde, whether he wants it or not, is an important weight to balance this delicate situation.

"Different?" Zhao Xingde shook his head, he sighed, looked into the distance, and after a long time, he said, "Everyone is different. He paused for a moment, and then suddenly said, "Those birds that fly up in the morning glow are probably different." At this time, in the eastern sky, the belly of the fish gradually appeared white, and the crimson clouds were like a faint rouge on it, and occasionally some birds and finches flew up and down in the glow to feed.

"No matter how long the night is, the sun will eventually leap above the ground. But isn't it ridiculous that a bird that rises in the morning to forage for food, thinking that without itself, the sun will fall to the earth forever? Zhao Xingde's face changed from mockery to solemnity, and he said word by word, "The way of heaven is constant, not for Yaocun, not for ruin." Manpower is sometimes exhausted, and Zhao is just a horseman, but following the morality in my chest and walking straight, this is the only thing I can do. He smiled, "That's all I can do." If I can't even do that, I don't know what else I can do. ”