"General Wang has sent troops to the Northern Expedition!"

The news that the Song army once again swore to the north was not overnight, and the informants of the major news reported back with the fastest pigeon book.

When the prime minister saw the twists and turns of Wang Gui's Northern Expedition in the Ezhou signing room, the morning markets in Bianliang, Guangzhou, Xiangyang, Yangzhou and other Tongdu Dayi were already full of the sound of selling newspapers. The Northern Expedition to Sanguan and the battle to recapture Youzhou kicked off in the attention of the whole country of the Great Song Dynasty. The whole country is boiling again because of this news. The Liao army invaded the south, displacing a large number of Song people, countless Yiguanshi people from Henan and Hebei were displaced to the south, and more displaced people were scattered all over the Great Song Dynasty. Therefore, the Song people everywhere also felt the deep humiliation and trauma brought about by the southern invasion of the Liao people, just like them. The Northern Expedition to Liao and the recovery of the homeland have long become a fire that countless people hold in their hearts and do not vomit unpleasantly. This is the country's righteousness, compared with the intrigue in the court is like a decaying grass to the wind, under the unanimous public opinion of the whole country, all kinds of criticism of the Prime Minister's Mansion and the court quickly disappeared. Occasionally, there were one or two noises, and they were drowned in the surging torrent of public opinion gathered by the enthusiasm of countless people.

"When you hear your fate, you will die at night, for the country and the people, and you will not hesitate!"

"Mr. Zhu, this Lu Mingyu is really the first hero in the Great Song Dynasty!"

"The Liao people abolished Chinese characters in the north, shaved their hair and braided their hair, and other means, and after the southern invasion, they became even more perverse, which is to change Xia with Yi."

"And I am a dignified China, a righteous teacher, and the Northern Expedition is a move to obey the heavens and uphold the way of heaven."

"Since ancient times, those who follow the heavens prosper, and those who go against the heavens die, so this Northern Expedition, regardless of victory or defeat for a while, we in the Great Song Dynasty, as long as we have a determination, regardless of temporary gains and losses, whether we win or lose, we will fight with him to the end! Over time, the Liao people will be defeated, and the Great Song Dynasty will win! General Wang and others used their lives to go on the Northern Expedition, idyllic houses, sealed wives and sons, and lived for centuries, and they could be expected! ”

Shaded by the bamboo forest, a group of white-robed scholars gathered together with 'excited' feelings and 'passion'. Under the turmoil of the whole country, even Donglin Academy, which advertises "never interfering in government politics and not discussing current affairs", is no exception. The world is 'swinging', and people's hearts are 'excited', how can they tolerate a quiet desk. After schoolwork, all the students gathered around and discussed current affairs without any scruples. Even Zhu Sen could hardly blame them for not calming down to reason. People are not sages, who can be ruthless, even if it is Zhu Sen himself, his heart will inevitably be surging. Faced with the young and 'excited' faces, Zhu Sen's face sank like water, and he did not tell them that the generals of the Northern Expedition had their own intentions, nor did he point out to them that opposing the increase in taxes by the imperial court and supporting the Northern Expedition were contrary to each other. Donglin's rule is never to discuss current affairs and not to interfere in government affairs. It's okay for students to occasionally violate it, but Zhu Sen can't lead by example. In addition, he firmly believes that nothing can escape the word "reason", and as long as students study science 'well' and experience some more worldly affairs, these mundane affairs will be able to understand these mundane affairs sooner or later.

The scholar did not discuss for long with red faces, and several cloud boards sounded, and the short break ended, and the lecture began again.

This lesson is morality, the scholars pressed their hearts to 'agitate', each returned to its original position, Zhu Sen looked at the students under the seat, his heart moved slightly, he did not quote the classics, but said slowly: "I am a dignified China, four thousand years of inheritance, consistent, endless, passing on the torch, what is the torch passed down from generation to generation?" It is not a cold thing, it is not an ethereal thing, it reflects the soft, warm heavenly principles and avenues. Morality is like the North Star in the sky constantly pulling the hearts of the people of the world, and like the sun shining on us, warming us, comforting us, and giving us honor, hope, confidence, and strength. For 4,000 years, it has made the world look up to it, and made Siyi envious, surprised, and jealous, this is the moral 'sex' ...... we Chinese."

The seat was silent, it was rare for Zhu Fuzi to be so plain, and all the scholars were surprised, but they all listened attentively.

............

"Come on! The general of the imperial court sent troops to attack Youzhou! ”

On the canal, Xiao Qi raised his head and replied loudly to the people on the opposite side: "Okay! ”

He lowered his head, his gaze falling on his patched padded jacket.

On the course of the Grand Canal, Xiao Qi did not drive a boat, but walked beside the ice climbing plow, his beard covered with snow-white frost 'flowers'.

The cold winter wax moon was originally the season for boatmen to stop. However, the canal has not yet thawed, the Ezhou court followed the example of the northerners to make a batch of climbing plows, and sent grain to Henan in a big way. However, this time it was different, the Yangzhou prefect and the state school stood up against the transshipment envoy Ya'men' to make Bai Tiaozi forcibly recruit the people, and won a good price for the private boatmen. Of course, Xiao Qi signed up, with his Bianliang background, he played plow sledding when he was a teenager, and he could drive a carriage, and the experience of begging for a living on the canal all year round, Xiao Qi not only passed the hiring, but also was appointed as the captain in charge of ten climbing plows, and joined the operation of transporting military rations to the north.

After being stunned for a while, Xiao Qi turned around and shouted into the cabin again: "The imperial court has attacked Youzhou!" He looked behind him expectantly.

As usual, Xiao Siniang also followed her brother to work on an errand in the team, earning some rations to supplement the family.

Since the closure of Yangzhou Zhengxin Hall, Xiao Qi's house has also been like a sinking ship.

"Really, that's good!" The crisp answer in the cabin, Xiao Qi's eyes lit up, and his heart was inexplicably relieved.

"The official army is on the Northern Expedition, and soon it will defeat the Liao State and recover Youzhou!"

The people were talking about it, and there was a hint of excitement and joy on everyone's faces. This is not because the official army recovered Hebei, it is likely that the price of Hebei coupons and Nanhai coupons will be restored, since the closure of Zhengxintang, Xiao Qi has treated the waste paper hidden at home. However, the defeat of the Liao State by the official army and the recovery of Hebei is always a great thing that can make everyone happy.

"Let's work hard!" "Gotta - drive!"

A loud shout sounded in the plough team, and the people were reluctant to 'pump' the livestock, so they only threw whips in the air in the form of 'flowers'. "Crackle-" "Crackle-" "Horn-" The sound of the whip made the mules, the donkeys, and the horses panting, and walked briskly on the solid ice, dragging the climbing plows full of baggage and military supplies flickering and gliding, through the cold wind, all the way north.

............

Everything is frozen, a white expanse of ice, birds are extinct, the bridge here has long been destroyed, not far to the north is the boundary where the tile bridge pass is located, the Liao cavalry patrols very closely on the north bank. Hejian City, where the Song army's camp was located, was only more than 200 miles away from Xiongzhou, which was occupied by the Liao army. The left army was stationed almost on the border of Xiongzhou, so within a few days of marching north, the front reached the south bank of Yishui. Yi Shui had already formed a thick layer of ice, and there was no sign of thawing. However, the Liao army was very cunning, as early as when the river was just frozen, they dug ice caves, and some of the ice layers seemed to be no different, but in fact they were far thinner than other places, and once there were more people and horses on the ice, the ice would be unbearable and shattered. Jia Yuanzhen led the fire gun horse infantry battalion as a scout for the army, and under the continuous attack of the Liao army, he finally surveyed a road on the vast ice that was enough to carry the large group of men and horses through.

Inevitably the lone army went deeper, and the Song army's forward stopped after reaching the south bank of the Yishui River. After the brigade gathered, all units of the left army asked for battle to cross the river, and this military task finally fell on the Quang Nam battalion. In addition to being surprised, everyone also sweated.

"After Nanyishui, there is Waqiao Pass in front." Jia Yuanzhen pointed at the ice with a horsewhip and introduced to the people around him.

"Don't Yan Dan here, the strong man is rushing to the crown. In the past, there were no people, and today the water is still cold. ”

Zuo Nianyuan took a deep breath of cold air and arched his hand to Jia Yuanzhen: "Yan Zhao is a generous and sad person, Brother Jia, today I will see my Guangnan children, there are also heroes. He looked back at the Quang Nam battalion, which had already been lined up, and waved: "Listen to my orders, cross the river!" ”

With this order, two thousand musketeers lined up in four columns, and crawled cautiously towards the opposite shore like a long snake.

"Brother Zuo, the soldiers are fierce, the Liao people are cunning, the Guangnan battalion is the vanguard, and prudence should be the first."

Jia Yuanzhen looked at the other side and said in a low voice. Zuo Nianyuan arched his hand and said, "Thank you, Brother Jia, for mentioning it." ”

He didn't have time to think too much, so he hurriedly said goodbye and walked forward, quickly overtaking the brigade and catching up with the guide sent by Jia Yuanzhen.

The north wind blew strongly, and the battalions wrapped their flags, but the flag bearers still struggled to raise their spears high, and the small triangular flags under the spear heads flew and flew. The Northern Expedition of the Song Army was a regular soldier, and on the vast white ice field, a large group of men and horses meandered forward, and Zuo Nianyuan walked at the front of the queue. "This guy with the surname left is a character." Jian Tianliang looked at his back and muttered to himself, a strange look appeared on his face. Jian Tianliang's battalion often served as a scout battalion for the left army, and he himself had just returned from a survey near Xiongzhou. He brought back the unexpected news that the Liao army not only did not prepare to hold on, but retreated to the north in the brigade. In order to avoid underestimating the enemy's carelessness, Lu Mingyu ordered all troops to march according to the original plan, and at the same time ordered Jian Tianliang and others to keep it secret. At this time, in addition to a few generals such as Jia Yuanzhen and Jian Tianliang, even Zuo Nianyuan, who led the team to cross the river first, did not know that there was only one empty city left in Xiongzhou.

"Waqiao Pass is the 'door' household of Youzhou, what is the idea of the Liao people? Is it really to run away without a fight? ”

Jia Yuanzhen looked ahead. Secretly pondered. He figured out that with Jian Tianliang's ability, he would not even be 'wrong' about whether the Liao army really withdrew its troops. Lu Mingyu also affirmed this, so he gave this first credit to the Guangnan camp, which fulfilled the relationship between the three towns of Henan and Guangnan.

"But what's going on with the Liao Army?"

............

At the head of Youzhou City, a bloody human head hangs on a high flagpole.