Tianjing City, the capital of the ancient six dynasties, is also the power center of this dynasty, the customs of the Qinhuai River for ten miles and the majesty of the empire reflect each other, and countless pride of the heavens are here to rise and fall.

There is a lane in the northwest of the city called Dengtang Lane, starting from Qinhuai River in the west, reaching Xuanwu Gate in the east, taking the meaning of Dengtang into the room. The people who live in this lane are all the big guys who turn their hands in the court and cover the clouds and rain, the five pavilion university scholars' mansions, the six Shangshu mansions, the command embassy mansions, the hussar generals' mansions, etc., are all located here. There are officers and soldiers guarding the entrance of the alley, and idle people are not allowed to enter, and it is jokingly called a small court hall by the people of Beijing.

Just after the unitary hour, it was already dark. There were few people walking in the whole Dengtang Alley, but when I saw a fast horse galloping into the alley, the knight was dressed in black and hung a steel sword from his waist.

It stands to reason that unless there is an urgent military situation, no one else is allowed to gallop into the alley, let alone hang a steel sword. But the black-clothed knight was neither dressed as an official of the Ministry of War, nor was he a sergeant of the Fifth Army Battalion who guarded the capital, so it was even more weird.

The black knight ran all the way to the side door of a mansion, dismounted and unstabbed his sword, and the guard at the side door hurriedly rushed forward, grabbed the bridle, and took the saber. The black-clothed knight didn't say a word, pulled up his left sleeve, exposed a strange tattoo on the inside of his wrist for the doorkeeper to see, and then went straight into the house without waiting for the report.

This mansion is the residence of Zhang Zuogong, the prince of the second rank of the dynasty, and the secretary of Honglu Temple.

The black-clothed knight walked straight to the study, knelt on one knee outside the door, and said softly: "Master Zhang, there is an urgent report in Taiyuan." ”

An old voice in the room, slightly tired: "Come in." ”

The black knight got up, stepped forward slowly, gently pushed the door and bowed in, his breathing slowing. Zhang Zuogong's subordinates all knew that the head of the family didn't like to make a sound when he was studying, and the black-clothed knight naturally didn't dare to make a mistake.

No less than 20 large candles were lit in the room, and the lights were bright. A sixty-year-old man is lying on his side on the soft collapse, on the mahogany table next to him, there is a wrong Jinbo Mountain smoker, burning ambergris, and another Yaobian Tianmu glazed tea cup, and three large bookshelves on the left side of the collapse, full of books and antiques. On the front wall hangs a picture of "Qingxi Fishing Hidden Map", a guqin on the right side, and there is a half-person high peony pattern plum vase in the corner next to the piano. The old man leaned on the golden silk jade pillow, holding a roll of bamboo slips, and was watching it with relish.

The black-clothed knight stepped forward slowly, knelt in front of Zhang Zuogong, took out a letter from his arms, and bowed his head to present it.

Zhang Zuogong saw the important point, but he didn't believe it, and the black-clothed knight didn't move. After a while, the old man smiled on his face, as if he was still reminiscing about the taste of the book, sat up straight, slowly rolled up the bamboo slips, and asked, "What day?" ”

The black knight replied, "The day before yesterday." ”

Zhang Zuogong stretched out his hand to take the letter, opened the fire glue, took a look at it first, and then ordered: "Go down." ”

The Black Knight quietly retreated.

Zhang Zuogong unfolded the letter, read it carefully, and sat on the spot unconsciously, letting the letter slip in his hand, speechless for a long time, and even choked slightly.

The lady softly pushed the door into the house to cut the candles, and saw that her lord was sitting with his eyes closed, as if he was asleep, so she mustered up the courage and called softly: "Master, the night is late, please go back to the room to rest,"

Zhang Zuogong slowly opened his eyes and sighed: "It's okay, you go down." ”

The lady bowed down and exited the door.

Zhang Zuogong stood up, leaned over to pick up the letter, lit the candle on the table, and threw the half-burned letter to the ground, Zhang Zuogong picked up the bamboo slips on the table, walked to the bookshelf, placed it carefully, and paced to the back of the bookshelf, picked up a brocade box on the top layer and opened it, there was a piece of jade pendant inside, yellow and old. The old man looked at it for a long time.

"Teacher, students will live up to what they have learned."

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Meiyu Guard, located in the south of Xuanfu, west of Shuntianfu, is one of the five passes and seven Davids of the two towns of Youzhou with the Fallen Horse Pass, and is an important military point between Xuanfu and Shuntianfu. One of the only two independent battalion cavalry of the Yan army was stationed here.

The two major border armies of the Dazhong Dynasty, Yan Yi was famous for his crossbows, and the Qin army was a cavalry army. But compared with the combat power of a single cavalry in the world, Yan Yi's two cavalry troops can enter the top five without any suspense, and they are worthy of the name of a hundred battles.

Since the beginning of autumn, the two armies of Yanman, who will "hunt in autumn" every year, have not made any major moves. However, according to spy reports, the Beiban is adjusting and changing the garrison in Datong Mansion, and the Beiban Dynasty has been evergreen for 30 years, and the general of the Northern Courtyard, who has been in the military of the Eastern Territory for 30 years, also appeared in Datong. At a sensitive time, the move is also intriguing.

Although Zhou Yafu, the commander of the Meiyu Guard and the commander-in-chief of the Hukui Cavalry, was over fifty years old, he was still radiant and his eyes were blazing. As a twenty-year-old who followed the Yan Dynasty to fight in the south and the north, his thirty-year career as a horse and single-handedly brought out the brilliant exploits known as the "Iron Cavalry Leader Tiger Kui Army" made him not more famous in the Yan Army than several generals of the same period.

In fact, at his age and military exploits, it stands to reason that he should have been transferred to the military headquarters of the capital or the capital of the five armies, away from the smoke and flames of war on the battlefield, and to recuperate.

However, Zhou Yafu was willing to be stationed at the border pass, and trained a few young students for Yan Yijun. I don't want to talk on paper in the high hall.

In the military discussion camp, the deputy marshal of the Hukui Army, the chief general of the two infantry battalions in Meiyuguan, the commander Tongzhi and others surrounded the sand table, Zhou Yafu sat in the middle in civilian clothes and looked around and said: "What objections do you have to the military order of the Metropolitan Protectorate?" ”

Speechless.

Zhou Yafu continued: "This time the troops were dispatched, and the meaning of the Duhufu was that our army contained Wei County, covered the Xuanfu Huai'anwei raid on Yangyuan, and pulled out the four thousand barbarians stationed there, but the old man was not satisfied with this. ”

Zhou Yafu stood up, walked to the sand table, pointed to the ground, and said: "According to the spy report, Fugu Dacheng is going to Shuozhou, ten miles north of Ningwu Pass, on the west line of Datong Mansion, to adjust the defense there, and Datong's troops are empty. In my opinion, Huai'anwei's surprise attack on Yangyuan was the cautious of the Duhu Mansion. So I wanted to lead my troops around Wei County and go straight to Hunyuan behind him. ”

"Zhou Shuai!" An infantry battalion commander beside him was just about to speak, but was interrupted by Zhou Yafu waving his hand.

"Listen to the old man. The day before yesterday, I believed in the Togofu. If Yangyuan was successfully taken, the soldiers did not unload their armor and went straight to Wei County. And we attacked Hunyuan, Hunyuan is the gateway to Datong Mansion, and the defenders of Wei County will inevitably give up Yangyuan to save them. But if the servant Gu Dacheng has a little temper, he should transfer the three armies of Datong, Ulzhou, and Lingqiu in the south to form a siege against me.

And I didn't really go to Hunyuan, but just used the intention of fighting Hunyuan to intercept and kill Yangyuan reinforcements and lure Wei County to send troops. After Huai Anwei takes Yangyuan, he can join forces in one place, or retreat to Yangyuan, or fight Wei County, and then decide. ”

Seeing that everyone bowed their heads in contemplation, some people nodded slightly from time to time. Yuan Shou, the deputy commander of the Hukui Army, was born in a war and had the strongest temperament, and said: "If you capture Wei County, wouldn't Laiyuan and Lingqiu in the north be at your fingertips?" In this way, Xuanfu and Baoding can connect the city. Good! ”

Zhou Yafu smiled. "Yes." On the barbarian side, Beigong Yu had slaughtered all sides in the Western Regions before, and had taken a lot of limelight from Fugu Dacheng. This time, in order to win back a city, he transferred his elite to Shuozhou to stabilize the devastated southern line defense area of Datong Prefecture, which is giving us a chance. ”

When Yuan Shou heard this, he solemnly arched his hand and said, "Zhou Shuai, can there be a reply from the Duhu Mansion?" When will our army go on the march? ”

Zhou Yafu said: "There is no letter yet, but this time the old man has made up his mind, no matter how the Protectorate replies, our army will go straight to Hunyuan." ”

A general hesitated: "But the Protectorate is here, why should the old general go deep alone?" ”

Zhou Yafu laughed loudly and said: "For the generals to kill the enemy, you should go all out." Thinking that my tiger is brave and good at fighting, he can go deep into the enemy formation and retreat with his whole body.

Moreover, as you know, in recent years, there have been many words in the court to abandon the Xuanfu, and at such times, the Dufu has to plan carefully, so as not to fall into the hands of others. It's just that I, the Yan army, defend the country, how can I retreat without a fight? This good opportunity, if the battle is won, the crisis of Xuanfu can be solved. ”

All the generals are strong men of blood, and when they heard this, they all nodded yes.

Zhou Yafu continued: "If the generals are undoubtedly righteous, then they should prepare separately, this time the Tiger Kui Army will go out, and the guards will be prepared by the infantry army." ”

Yuan Shouyi frowned and asked, "Is Zhou Shuai also going out together?" ”

Zhou Yafu nodded and said, "Since ancient times, the old man can still hold a knife and a crossbow, needless to say." ”

The generals said: "No! "Bills in turn.

Zhou Yafu waited for the crowd to come out of the tent, turned around and picked up the sword next to him, and pulled out the sword with a bang, the sword was inlaid with gold carved jade, and it was extremely sharp, which was given by King Yan himself. Zhou Yafu stared at it for a long time, and said to himself: "General, let's see the last general's contributions." ”

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Zhuolu Mountain not far away, it is said that in ancient times, the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou fought here, although the mountain is not dangerous, in ancient times, there were many people who escaped the world and lived in seclusion here.

On the mountainside, there is a bamboo house built near the cliff, the courtyard is not big, there are vegetables and fruits planted in it, and there is a mountain spring bubbling and flowing behind the house. Two people looked out over the cliff, one of them was a little older, haggard and pale, dressed in gray robes, sitting cross-legged on the boulder, with a pleasant look on his face, as if he wanted to drink the mountain breeze. The other, who was younger and taller, stood with his hands in his hands, bowing his head in contemplation.

"How?" The older man asked.

"Something is wrong." The young man replied after a moment's silence.

"What's wrong?"

"The students heard that Fugu Dacheng stood firm for 30 years in the Northern Dynasty and was known as the important weapon of the country, so they thought that there was some truth in it. Although the deduction of the Duhu Mansion is reasonable in the eyes of the students, although Fugu Dacheng transferred the heavy troops of Datong Mansion to the Shuozhou defense line, Datong Mansion still has a large number of soldiers and horses, and in recent years, the King of Qin and the barbarians of the Northern Dynasty have not fought for many years, and it is not known whether Beigong Yu, the king of the Southern Courtyard, is in Qin. If Huai Anwei can't win with one blow, take Yangwon, and delay for a few days, then the strategic goal of the Hukui army to contain Ulzhou will be impossible to talk about. At that time, the troops of the three counties of Hunyuan and Lingqiu in Ulzhou will besiege it, and it will be difficult to fly. ”

The older man bowed his head slightly and said, "Wu Bei, you and I are all the same." This time, the Youzhou Metropolitan Protectorate transferred 20,000 troops, and the main commander was Yao Keqi, the deputy commander of the infantry, and Wanquan Liangwei and Taiyuan Mansion also sent troops to respond. The Hukui army only needs to contain Wei County, even if it is reactive, it can be safe with its mobility. And the capital protectorate plans for the worst, if Yangyuan can be broken in ten days, then Ulzhou is advisable. If Yangyuan can't be broken in ten days, the Hukui army will go around behind Yangyuan and break the enemy with Yao Kezhi. ”

Wu Bei said: "The teacher also needs to guard against the presence of garrisons in Datong Town, and whether Beigong Yu is in Qindi ......"

The older man vaguely saw his eyebrows condensed, and said in a deep voice: "However, in my opinion, the only variable in this battle is in Beigong Yu. ”

The mountain wind rises, and the robes are fierce.

The older man coughed slightly, as if he was tired.

Wu Bei said softly: "Teacher, the student wants to ......" Before he finished speaking, Wu Bei knew that Mr. understood his mind.

The older man smiled and didn't answer, stood up, covered his face with his hand to block the wind and smiled: "I should have enjoyed the scenery of this mountain and clouds, but the autumn breeze is cold, the time is not right, the time is not right." Come on, you and I go into the house and play two games. Then he turned around and went back to the house.

Wu Bei stood still, waited for the wind to stop, and muttered:

"I have the will to serve the country, when will I have to take charge of the army?"