On the banks of the murky Yellow River, a group of ragged and disheveled men are slowly carrying wooden planks, walking very slowly in pairs, because they still have shackles on their feet, these are prisoners sent by nearby prefectures and counties.

One of the prisoners looked up, the wind blowing the messy hair on his forehead, and he squinted to see a long pontoon bridge over the river stretching to the opposite bank.

"Let's go!" The official overseer on the side of the road, wearing a high hat and soap boots, urged, raising the wooden stick in his hand and making a gesture to beat. The prisoners hurriedly lowered their heads, and with difficulty sped up a few steps under their feet.

After a while, the overseer stopped staring at the prisoners and turned his head to look south. The prisoners were also very curious, and looked at the right time to look at it.

There is nothing unusual about the tower towering in the depths of sight, it has always been on the south bank of the Yellow River. However, on the post road in the north of Lanzhou, the cloud-like flags and carriages and horses attracted everyone's attention, and there seemed to be many people outside the city gate.

…… The yarn rope woven curtain on a large carriage was raised, and Fu Jinzhan also looked at the pontoon bridge on the Yellow River from a distance, and she let go of the curtain after just one look. Fu Jinzhan has a straight shoulder, dignified demeanor, and a very shallow smile on her face.

There were also two women sitting opposite her, facing the opposite direction of the carriage, and they were Du and Zhang. And there were some civil officials outside the carriage, as well as the military general Du Chenggui, who was the younger brother of the Du family, and the commander of the inner hall.

Soon there was a commotion outside the carriage, and someone said loudly: "The queen is fortunate to be in Lanzhou, and the officials and people of Lanzhou are all honored, and the ministers welcome the queen's arrival......."

Then there was a civil official's answer, and the person who came forward seemed to be the privy envoy Wang Pu. Fu Jinzhan sat in the car and didn't pay any attention to it.

Du Shi said cautiously: "The Central Plains and the Liao State have fought for so many years, this time is really going to negotiate peace?" ”

Fu Jinzhan Zhu's lips opened lightly, and he immediately corrected: "The Liao State is seeking peace, not negotiating peace. ”

"Yes, yes." Du Shi said busily.

Zhang also echoed: "The army of Da Xu pressed the border and broke through Jinzhou. At this time, Liao wants to talk, what is it that is not seeking peace? Zhang paused and said, "Is the official family about to arrive in Lanzhou?" ”

As soon as he spoke, he saw a teasing smile on Du Shi's face, and Zhang Shi was suddenly a little embarrassed. Fu Jinzhan had bright eyes, and saw the subtle expressions of the two in his eyes, feeling a little unhappy in his heart, but he was quickly relieved.

Everything may not be perfect now, but Fu accepts it...... Guo Shao's presence can make the country strong and stable inside and out, even if Fu Jinzhan sometimes tastes vinegar, she also gets more pleasure.

After Guo Shao's health improved, no one dared to threaten Jinzhan with coercion, including the powerful Waikou Liao Kingdom! When Fu Jinzhan thought of him, he felt an extra sense of security.

Zhang secretly glanced at the marigold on the opposite side with some fear, looked at it left, and said: "Why did the official family choose the south bank of the Yellow River if they accepted the Liao State to sue for peace?" Is there anything special about the state? ”

Du Shi took over and said, "I don't know. ”

Fu Jinzhan didn't say a word, and she didn't know what was so special about Lanzhou.

…… A few days later, Guo Shao led a group of cavalry to the Yellow River, and the pontoon bridge had been repaired. He crossed the Yellow River on horseback and saw a large crowd of people on the south bank stopping there to greet him.

At this time, Fu Jinzhan stepped down from a carriage and looked at it from a distance.

Guo Shao lightly kicked the stirrup of the black horse, and the horse ran briskly forward. "Phew!" Guo Shao reined in the war horse in advance and let it stop slowly.

Fu Jinzhan looked at him happily, but she still maintained her etiquette, and immediately held her jade hand in front of her abdomen, bent her knees and squatted down, and said: "The concubine greets the official family, and I wish the official family a victorious return." ”

At this time, the surrounding civil and military clasped their fists and bowed: "Ministers welcome Your Majesty, Your Majesty has a long life!" ”

Guo Shao strode forward, but saw that Fu Jinzhan was wearing a wide dress, but the lining was a frank collar, the skin on the collarbone was snow-white and smooth, a round face, red lips and white teeth were very gorgeous, the posture was dignified and elegant, and the expression of joy was slightly shy. Guo Shao suddenly felt that his blood was flowing, and he was full of energy to be able to control ten women at night, just like a person who had been hungry all day sitting at the dinner table, always feeling that he could eat a whole table of dishes.

He stretched out his big dirty hand, grabbed the marigold's soft barley and lifted it up, and said to everyone: "Calm down." ”

Guo Shao abandoned his horse and rode with Marigold. A large group of honor guards and people and horses rushed to the city of Lanzhou. Lanzhou is one of the countless cities on the south bank of the Yellow River, and it is extremely lively at this time. The drums on the city tower sounded in unison, the people watched from the road, and some people read out loudly the merits of the emperor's personal expedition on the city tower.

In the commotion, Guo Shao did not show up, he sat in the carriage, only interested in marigold, his eyes carefully looked up and down every line of her.

"Anyway, I've been familiar with it for a long time, and when I see my clothes, I can think of what looks like under them, isn't there a lot less expectation?" Marigold looked at him with a smile.

Guo Shao went on the expedition for many days, and after following her words, he couldn't hold it anymore, so he put his hand on the knee of the skirt. Unexpectedly, Fu Jinzhan held his hand, blushed and smiled: "There are at least tens of thousands of people outside, and there are people when you get off the bus for a while, don't lose your manners." ”

"I listen to the marigold, and bear with it." Guo Shao had no choice but to say.

Jin Zhan couldn't help asking: "Your Majesty is negotiating peace with the Liao State, why don't you choose the nearest Hebei and come to Lanzhou?" ”

Guo Shao smiled: "If we were in Hebei, then we wouldn't meet so soon." ”

Marigold glared at him and said, "I'm serious, I'm a little curious. ”

Guo Shao pondered for a moment and said: "This peace meeting is not trivial, and it must be a historic landmark event...... It's sure to go down in history! In order to give the matter a catchy name, it's totally worth the hassle a little. ”

"The Alliance of Lanzhou?" Marigold read it in a soothing and nice voice, but it was a little catchy.

But Guo Shao still felt that it was not smooth enough, and shook his head slightly: "There is an ancient lake in the east of Lanzhou City, which is called Lanyuan. Therefore, this peace negotiation can be called the 'alliance of the abyss'. ”

"The ...... of the Abyss Alliance," Marigold said and said with a smile, "Your Majesty always has wonderful ideas, and sometimes he is as stubborn as a teenager. ”

Guo Shao smiled: "My body is also like a teenager, just try it." ”

He hurriedly talked nonsense to divert the attention of Marigold, otherwise it would be unclear to explain why the name must be called a not very famous ancient lake, called "Lanyuan Alliance"? There are more catchy names.

After hearing this, two red clouds flew on Fu Jinzhan's face, and his breathing seemed to be a little heavier than just now.

……

On the Hebei Plain, another group of people heading for Lanzhou was also on their way.

On both sides of the post road, large areas of crops are lush and lush, and after the Hebei Plain is not disturbed by the rangers, it seems that every inch of land has been planted with grain. There are a few fireworks in the field, which are the smoke of cooking "cooked dung" with charcoal (coal) or firewood.

From time to time, the farmer in the straw hat stood up from the field, scythe in hand, and watched vigilantly at the armored soldiers and horses on the post road. At the beginning of Hebei, the people here were still very nervous when they saw the soldiers; It's not like the households in the Central Plains, who will only watch the excitement when they encounter this situation.

In front of the people and horses, Dong Zunzhi rode a horse and swaggered, and the standard-bearer beside him was holding the flag of the Tiger Ben Army. Behind him, a group of armored cavalry escorted a carriage and a group of Khitans on horseback. Those who were in the cavalry brigade were the Great Liao Mission.

One of the chief envoys and three deputy envoys sat in the chariot.

Among the deputy envoys was Yang Gon, who was very silent, but he was very calm. The atmosphere in the car was dull, and the chief and deputy envoys were not in a hurry to discuss countermeasures; Because Xiao Siwen has hardly said a word since he left the king's tent.

Xiao Siwen sat on the carriage, his eyes closed, and his body swayed along the bumps of the carriage, as if he was asleep. But his bags under his eyes were heavier than usual, and he obviously hadn't slept well in days.

Within the Great Liao, although there were many Khitans who were unwilling to negotiate with the south, it was useless, and the national policy propositions of one party such as Yelu Xianzhen were decisive. Yelu also persuaded most of the nobles, because compared to Xu Guolai, the birth of a girl Zhenmou insulted the princess of Daliao and tortured and killed the Khitans even more intolerable anger; The Goryeo Kingdom took advantage of the fire to rob, which also made the Daliao nobles angry...... This kind of thinking is like being beaten by a tall and strong person, but being slapped by a person who he completely despises will be like thunder!

Xiao Siwen was no longer able to influence the national policy, so there was no choice to send this trip to the door of the enemy. If he doesn't come, will Jerod come himself?

"Xu Guoren will ask Da Liao to be a minister?" A deputy envoy finally spoke.

The other deputy immediately said, "Then what else are you talking about?" Since the founding of Taizu, only other ethnic groups are called ministers, when will they be called ministers to others? If they make such an unreasonable request and let Da Liao suffer humiliation, we will refuse immediately! ”

Xiao Siwen opened his eyes and said: "Negotiation of peace under the coercion of the enemy's army is simply an alliance under the city, and at this time it is humiliating to negotiate peace. ”

The two deputy envoys who spoke just now changed their tones and said one after another, "The meaning of the privy envoy of the Northern Court, this time, we should try our best to reach a peace agreement. ”

Xiao Siwen said: "Then we have to see what the conditions are." ”

Speaking of this, Xiao Siwen quietly observed Yang Gon, who was also one of the deputy envoys, but did not express his position.

"Deputy Envoy Yang?" Xiao Siwen looked at him.

Yang Gon immediately made a respectful gesture and said, "Gong Xiao is the envoy, and this matter is still in charge of Gong Xiao." But...... The privy envoy of the Northern Yuan believed that competing with Xu Guo was not the way to rule for a long time, and at this time, Daliao was in a difficult situation both internally and externally, so he had to make a decisive choice. ”

Xiao Siwen suddenly heard it: "Good birds choose trees to perch." Deputy Envoy Yang himself is also quite talented, and being able to win the appreciation of the privy envoy is also quite beneficial to Daliao. ”

Yang Gon said casually: "The privy envoy is an official in the same dynasty as Duke Xiao, and he is not an outsider. ”

Xiao Siwen had nothing to say, looking out of the gap in the carriage, the endless plain, the post road with and yellow in the miserable white stretched out, like a road of no return with an unpredictable future.