Daliushu Village is on the side of the road from Zhaozhou to Shenzhou, there is a pond on the edge of the village, and there are many big willow trees on the bank. This road is not an artery, there are not many business travelers, and the village is not prosperous. There is only one inn, two taverns, and a few small shops.

Recently, the Khitan cavalry came south, causing unrest in the vicinity, and the government asked the people to defect to Dazhai. In this area, Daliushu Village is the largest village, with more than 200 households. The people who attached it all rushed here, and the village was very lively for a while.

Wu Han, the elder of Hongxiang, is a native of Daliushu Village, and has recently recruited more than 30 strong men to patrol the neighborhood. On this day, he came back from the outside patrol and brought five people to guard the intersection. But if there is a stranger from another country, he must first inquire about him.

Seeing that it was almost noon, Wu Han ordered his family to bring tea soup and enjoy it with a few people.

While he was using the tea soup, suddenly a strong man riding a donkey came galloping over. shouted loudly: "Elder, the big thing is not good, the Khitans are killing the village!" It's only a few miles away, so get ready! ”

Wu Han was taken aback when he heard this, stepped forward and grabbed the man's donkey, and said sharply: "That's right! Don't talk nonsense! ”

The man gasped: "The little one can see that it's the Khitans who are here." I walked the trail and came back early! ”

Wu Han was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he didn't know what to do for a while. I only have dozens of strong men, how can I fight with the Khitans? This village has no walls, how can it resist the Khitans?

A strong man on the side said: "Elder, let's send someone to inform the county quickly." How can we, the people, stop the Khitan thieves? ”

Wu Han nodded again and again: "Yes, that's right!" So take all the people, go quickly, and tell the people of the village, and take refuge with them in a nearby pool. There are many reeds in the pond, and people hide in it, and outsiders can't find it. I brought a few people with me and went to report to the county. ”

When a few strong men heard that Wu Han was going to escape, they were full of reluctance. I just didn't dare to say no, so I could only agree.

Wu Han took two people, rode the horse of the innkeeper in the village, and galloped to the county to report the news. There is only this horse in the village, and although it is a colt, it does not run fast, but it can save effort. It doesn't matter if you can't run fast, the two strong men can catch up behind.

For a time, the village was in chaos, with chickens flying and dogs jumping. The people in the village, in the sound of the gong that the strong man did not want to die, helped the old and the young, took some soft and ran towards the pond at the head of the village. The pond was overgrown with reeds, and it was now yellow. If you're not a local, you can't figure out what's inside. This is the plain, and the only place to hide is the reeds.

In less than half an hour, the Khitan cavalry appeared in the direction of the main road. Roaring and rushing into the village, the head of the village and the end of the village looked at it. Most of the people in the village fled, and the streets were empty. When I turned to the pond at the head of the village, I saw some slow villagers running into the reeds.

Han Jianu said: "It turns out that these people have fled into the reeds!" When the army comes, kill them all! ”

After speaking, he sent a cronie to the back to report the news. I took a soldier with me, broke into the inn on the street first, and rummaged around.

There was no one in the inn, and the cash drawer behind the counter was still there, turning out a pile of copper coins. The whole inn was searched, and only these copper coins, valuable soft and other things, had been taken away by the people in the store.

Han Jianu took a piece of meat from the kitchen and poured a large bowl of wine. Sitting at the table in the hall, he scolded: "These cheap billets run fast, and there is no gold or silver at all!" What is the use of these copper coins? ”

After speaking, he took a sip of wine, bit a piece of meat and ate it, and was indignant.

After about half an hour, Xiao Hujian led a large group of people and horses into the village. ordered his subordinates to go to the village to search for grain, grass and property, and he took a few personal soldiers to the inn at the head of the village.

When Han Jianu saw Xiao Hu coming in, he hurriedly got up and sang a promise.

Xiao Hu said: "There is no one in this village, where have all the people gone?" ”

Han Jianu said: "In the future, I see that the people in the village have fled into the reeds of the pond at the head of the village. The reeds are dense there, and outsiders don't know the way, so they are afraid of getting lost when they enter. Wait for the general to bring the army, and then go in and kill them all! ”

Xiao Hu saw this, narrowed his eyes, and said, "This matter is not in a hurry, first scavenge the grain and grass in this village, I have my own way." ”

After speaking, he sat down with a few pro-soldiers and ate meat and drank wine around the table.

Wu Han took two strong men and hurried all the way to the county seat. This place belongs to Jing'an County, which is where the Shenzhou Prefecture is located. It's just that the place where it intersects with Zhaozhou is sparsely populated and there are no towns. Along the way, every time they came to the village, Wu Han told them to hide, saying that the Khitans were coming.

After walking more than 20 miles away, when he was still far away from Jing'an County, he suddenly saw the military camp next to the village in front of him. The barracks were endless, and it looked like there were quite a few people. Wu Han's heart moved, could it be that there is a garrison here?

Bringing two strong men to the village, Wu Han asked a villager: "Brother, what is the origin of the military camp next to it?" ”

The villager looked at Wu Han for a while, looked at the two strong men, and then said: "These are officers and soldiers from Jizhou, I heard that they are here to suppress the Khitans." Where did you come from, when you two were born face to face, not like people in the neighborhood? ”

Wu Han said: "In Lower Wu Han, it is from Daliushu Village in the west, and it is the local elder. In the afternoon of this day, the Khitans suddenly came to the village. We couldn't resist the enemy, so we hurried to the county to report to the official. ”

The villager said, "Why do you have to report to the official? There are officers and soldiers in the barracks over there, so you can just report it. ”

Wu Han was overjoyed when he heard this, and took two strong men to the military camp next to him to ask to see the generals here.

Shi Daqing and a group of generals were discussing nearby intelligence in the tent. He got the military order, brought his men to Zhaozhou, and decided to camp here tonight. At the same time, spies were sent to investigate the situation.

At this moment, a soldier came in and said, "General, there is a man named Wu Han from outside, who says that he is an elder from the south." There are Khitans in their village, and they are about to report to the county. ”

When Shi Daqing heard this, he hurriedly said, "Hurry up and let him in." ”

Wu Han followed the soldiers into the tent, and saw a circle of generals sitting inside, and a big man behind the middle case. Knowing that it was the main general, he stepped forward and saluted: "Little Wu Han, the elder of the south, has seen the general. ”

Shi Daqing said: "A certain is Shi Daqing, who learned of the state minister's decree and brought a large army to suppress the Khitan thieves. You said that there are Khitan people in your village, what is the situation, let's hear it. -- This is a major military matter, and every sentence must be true. If there is a half-talk, watch your head! ”

Wu Han was startled and hurriedly said, "How dare the little one deceive?" These days, there are Khitan horse thieves, and under the rule of Jing'an, the elders all obey the orders of the government, organize strong men, and patrol around. Today, when it was almost noon, the little one was checking at the intersection with a few strong men, and suddenly a strong man rode a donkey, saying that he had found traces of the Khitan people several miles away. The little one didn't dare to slack off, knowing that he had few people, and there was no wall in the village, so he was not the opponent of the Khitans, so he hurriedly brought people to ask for help. The rest of the strong men took the villagers and took refuge in the reeds first. ”

When Shi Daqing heard this, he couldn't help frowning: "So, you didn't see the Khitans?" It's just a matter of hearing. ”

Wu Han said: "General Hui, how cruel are the Khitan thieves!" If I see it, where will I have the order to report to the official? That strong man is loyal and honest, I have known him since I was a child, and what he said is definitely not a lie! ”

Shi Daqing asked the location of the village where Wu Han lived, asked about the situation in the village, and asked him to take him down to rest.

Waiting for Wu Han to leave, Shi Daqing said: "I don't know if what this elder said is true or false. His village is more than 20 miles away from here, and according to him, he has been walking for more than an hour. Counting the time, if there are really Khitans, they should enter the village now. ”

Li Jia said: "The action of the army cannot be based on such a sentence. Dianzhi, it is better to send someone to the village first to see if there are any Khitans. ”

Shi Daqing thought for a while and said, "The Khitan are all cavalry, coming and going like the wind. As soon as we delayed, they might just leave. If we send someone to investigate, we will get the news in the evening. Otherwise, we will set out our camp and send men to investigate. If there were really Khitans, it would be night there. If the Khitans didn't leave, we would be surrounded on all sides, maybe it would be a great achievement! ”

Several generals hesitated and did not speak. This time to send troops, everyone's plan is just to drag the Khitans, how can they really fight? All of you, the forbidden army, don't know where they will go after the training, which one wants to sell their lives?

It's just that Shi Daqing has made up his mind and sent two personal soldiers to Wuhan Village to investigate the situation. He led a large army and immediately pulled out the camp.