In Youzhou City, a group of bearded men with horses swaggering from the street on horseback, the people along the road hurriedly left the road early, and the people who didn't have time to leave avoided and bowed to the group of people on the side of the road.

After the horse team in front, the person in the middle was Xiao Siwen, the king of the Southern Courtyard, with a calm expression and unhurried. On the contrary, several subordinates around him looked fierce and very terrifying.

A man on the left who doesn't seem to have washed his face is Ah Budi, who also belongs to the Xiao family and is also Xiao Siwen's henchman. But Xiao Siwen ignored him, and instead turned his head to a civilian official and said, "Go to the book again and send the time to Beijing to urge reinforcements." ”

Abudi frowned after hearing this: "Blacksmith Guo occupied the east of the river and went back happily, there was no movement in the south, is the king really sure that they want to attack Youzhou?" ”

Xiao Siwen "hummed" and didn't say much.

It didn't take long for a team of horses to enter the Xiao Mansion. Xiao Siwen sat in the hall surrounded by the generals, and several tables and chairs in the house were Han people's belongings, but their attire was completely incommensurate, and some even wore animal skins according to their custom.

A Khitan general said: "Please go to Beijing for reinforcements, it is better to withdraw the Han generals from Zhuozhou and other places first, and transfer the Khitan and Xi people to guard the pass." Han'er is unreliable, a few years ago the Zhou army went on a northern expedition, and none of the Han generals in several cities in the south let go of an arrow and gave it to the Zhou people. ”

Xiao Siwen said disapprovingly: "The Liao army can't disperse its forces, and it must only defend Youzhou." ”

At this moment, a slave put his hand on his chest at the door and bowed, "Your lord, Han official Fan Zhongyi asks to see you." ”

"Call in." Xiao Siwen said.

A Han Chinese official walked into the lobby, still wearing a hat and a robe, but the direction of the collar was the opposite to that of the Central Plains.

The Khitan people used to shave the hair on the top of their heads and wear braids, and men also wore earrings, hats and clothes were all different...... However, the Youzhou South Courtyard hardly forced Han'er to change his clothes in order to reduce resistance. As a result, even these Han officials who were officials in the Liao State Government generally retained their clothes, after all, Han'er felt that baldness was not beautiful.

Fan Zhongyi took out a thin book from his sleeve pocket and bowed, "Meet the king of the Southern Courtyard." ”

Xiao Siwen glanced at one of the guards below, who stepped forward to pick up something.

Fan Zhongyi said: "Xiaguan has recently made friends with some people who fled from Jinyang, and has completely figured out the process of Jinyang's rapid capture, all of which have been recorded. ”

"Very good, very good." Xiao Siwen looked appreciative.

Fan Zhongyi stood up straight and talked eloquently: "The Zhou army attacked Jinyang from two places. One of them is the gap that was blown up, just like the battle of Shouzhou that the king had already heard of. In the other place, the earth was built as a mountain, and the city wall was climbed. ”

A Budi said: "Just like this, you can capture Jinyang in Half Moon?" How did the men and horses of Jinyang defend the city, and let people attack the city under their noses? ”

Fan Zhongyi said: "This matter is the key to what the lower officials want to say. The Zhou army used a large number of ** cannons, such ordnance has not been seen since ancient times, and it should be the ordnance created by the Zhou army in recent years.

**Cannon projectile|Shoot a 100-pound stone projectile, which can be about four or five hundred steps away. The city only heard the sound of cannons in the distance, and when they saw white smoke, stone projectiles fell on the city walls...... At that time, Jinyang was surrounded on all sides, the Han army was trapped in the city, and the ballista stone carts could not attack a mile away, and there was no way to take the artillery of the Zhou army.

The Zhou army first bombarded the city wall with artillery, destroyed and repelled the Han army's defenders and horses, and then transported the earth to the mountain within 100 steps. ”

Fan Zhongyi continued: "When the Zhou army attacked the city wall, its armor was excellent and the soldiers were brave, and the Han army could not be defeated, so it was defeated first, and then lost the city defense. ”

Xiao Siwen said: "This king heard that Jinyang had sent someone to obtain the method of making armor from the Zhou army, but I don't know what the result is?" ”

Fan Zhongyi said: "After the destruction of Jinyang City, the Han State surrendered, and there is no news about this matter. ”

The crowd talked about it, and when they saw that it was not early, they took their leave and went back.

Xiao Siwen also left the front yard, and after walking into the moon cave door, he couldn't help but pace around with a heavy heart. Many long-term plans have been disrupted at this time...... Blacksmith Guo is really evil, Xiao Siwen was caught off guard and suffered a big loss earlier.

He felt a little out of breath at this time, and could only try his best to deal with the risks in the near area first.

Blacksmith Guo won Jinyang too quickly, and he will definitely covet more! Before the Battle of the Northern Han Dynasty, Xiao Siwen guessed that after the Northern Han Dynasty, Youzhou would be threatened; Now that the Zhou army is easy to succeed, it is more likely to attack Youzhou.

Youzhou is very important to the entire Great Liao, if it is lost in the hands of Xiao Siwen, will Yelujing not take the opportunity to make trouble? Xiao Siwen was almost sure of his fate.

He originally had a good idea of the strength of the Zhou army, but the Central Plains Dynasty was frequently successful in the conquests of Guo Blacksmith, and some things happened unbelievably, Xiao Siwen gradually couldn't help but worry.

He was very concerned about Guo Blacksmith's previous battles, and at this time he couldn't help but ponder: defending the city is not what the Liao army is good at, and it is necessary to use the old method to give full play to its strengths with enough cavalry.

At this moment, I suddenly heard a childish voice shouting: "Aunt Bai, I want that one, the biggest and reddest!" ”

It was Xiao Sui's voice, Xiao Siwen followed the prestige, and when he saw his seven-year-old daughter, his mood suddenly became a lot happier. Xiao Sui is Xiao Siwen's third daughter, she is very beautiful, she is remembered by many people in the Xiao clan at a young age, and she is also Xiao Siwen's favorite daughter.

The men and girls of the Xiao family will not be despised, because the designated marriage partner of the royal Yelu family is the Xiao family, and the women of the Xiao family are very likely to be queens and princesses.

The woman in her thirties next to her was the Han Bai family, Xiao Siwen's concubine, the woman he plundered many years ago. The two of them stood under a plum tree, and they didn't notice Xiao Siwen for a while.

Xiao Siwen walked forward with a pleasant face.

Bai Shi stood on tiptoe and still couldn't reach the plum, and jumped up again, but still couldn't reach it. Xiao Siwen couldn't help but smile when he saw this, the Bai family was still very restrained, and the bouncing appearance was very funny at this time. She treats Xiao Hui very well...... Xiao Xuan is still young, but she has no prejudice in front of the ordinary Khitan people, the Bai family loves her, and she is also very close to this woman.

Bai said: "Aunt is not tall enough, I really can't pick that fruit, forget it." ”

Unexpectedly, Xiao Xuan was unyielding and said, "I'll climb the tree and pick it!" ”

"Yanyan." Xiao Siwen called out to her.

Bai Shi turned his head in accordance with the sound, only to find that Xiao Siwen walked over, his face suddenly changed, his shoulders trembled, and he bent his knees timidly: "The concubine has seen Ah Lang." ”

"That's it." Xiao Siwen waved his hand, and stretched out his palm to Xiao Xuan with a smile.

Xiao Sui was not afraid of his own father, and ran over happily: "I want that plum, Daddy is as high as a mountain, you must reach it!" ”

"Haha......" Xiao Siwen looked loving, reached out and pinched the little girl's delicate face with white and red, looked up, and saw that he couldn't reach it, he was a person with status, and he couldn't jump on it like Bai.

Immediately, he hugged Xiao Xuan's calf and hugged him, and said, "Hold it steady, Daddy will carry you up, give you a height, and pick up the things you want by yourself!" ”

Khitan girls are more wild and daring than Han women, although Xiao Sui was frightened, she screamed "ah", "It's so high!" But he still held Xiao Siwen's head, plucked up the courage to pick the fruit, and giggled happily for a while.

Xiao Sui was put down, and then grabbed the corner of Xiao Siwen's clothes and said, "Daddy took me to ride a horse." ”

Xiao Siwen really didn't have a mind, he was worried about something. But looking at the beloved daughter with an expectant look on her face, she immediately said, "Go!" ”

……

The palace of the Imperial City of Shangjing is a different scene compared to the sunny Youzhou. The light here is very dim and the air is muddy because the windows are all closed.

Yelu Jing's face was pale after drinking, his eyes were staring blankly at an oil lamp on the table, and he said without turning his head: "Do you think the people of the Zhou State will attack Youzhou?" ”

Yang Gon bowed and said: "The minister thinks that it is inevitable, Youzhou was originally the territory of the Han Er, and now the leader of the southerners, Guo Blacksmith, has won many battles and won many times, and he will definitely want to recover." ”

The nobleman next to him muttered: "Back then, the Jin people wanted to win the throne and clearly cede the sixteen states of Youyun, and our Da Liao also kept his promise to send troops to help him, which was fair and undeceiving." The Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun are the places of Da Liao, how can they be their territory? ”

Yang Gon said: "The public statement is reasonable, but the Zhou people don't think so. Guo Rong (Chai Rong) wanted to come and get it when he was in power. The Zhou people no longer worship Da Liao, and this matter is unreasonable. ”

The nobleman nodded and said, "If you don't divide the high and low on the battlefield, you can't talk about it!" ”

The two faced the Great Khan together, and the nobles bowed and said: "Guo Shao, the lord of Zhou, is known as 'Guo Pocheng', and the king of the Southern Courtyard has never made great achievements, and the ministers are worried about losing their ......."

Yelu Jing gave him a cold look, and the nobleman hurriedly bent down and stopped talking.

Yelu Jing said in his heart: Don't let Xiao Siwen be the king of the Southern Courtyard, what position will be arranged for him in the Northern Courtyard?

He said casually: "I heard that Xiao Siwen is very interested in Han'er and knows a lot, and he is still competent in defending the city. ”

Yang Gon said: "As long as Xiao Siwen guards Youzhou City, as soon as the Great Liao Iron Cavalry arrives, he can gather the Zhou army and destroy it!" ”

Yelu Jing didn't say anything, thinking in his heart that if Youzhou was threatened, the tribes should also support the use of troops. In the face of foreign enemies, he can easily mobilize enough men.

He looked at the flickering flames, and suddenly felt that the Zhou people's attack on Youzhou was also an opportunity for him, and it was more realistic to increase his prestige with meritorious deeds than to intimidate those with ill intentions by killing people!

However, he was not able to make contributions in ordinary times, and all the departments of Daliao were guarding against accidents, and did not support the large-scale use of troops in the Northern Courtyard...... Forcing the tribes to gather troops is even more risky. However, if it is attacked by foreign enemies, the royal nobles and ministers will willingly transfer troops to the account of the Great Khan; This kind of matter is related to the overall situation of Daliao, and Youzhou has a lot of output, and everyone has more or less obtained practical benefits.

Yelujing looked at Yang Gon and said, "Xiao Siwen wants reinforcements, and you will lead the troops forward." ”