Mr. Fan asked Zhao Xing the most proud thing, and Zhao Xing explained with great interest the process of breaking Helan Yuan:

Using the letter of introduction opened by Zhang Wugongzi, Luo Xin and others' soldiers pretended to be letter-delivering soldiers and infiltrated the city, because it was late, they did not see the lord of Helan Yuan that night, but stayed at Helan Yuan Post Station at night and took the opportunity to go to the street for recreation. This is what the people around Zhang Wu often do, if they send letters that are not too urgent, they will generally use the name of sending letters to have a good time in the city, after all, they have just come down from the front line, and the well-paid soldiers need to vent on women.

When the former lord of Helan received the news of Zhang Wu's letter, he heard that those soldiers were so indulgent, and he didn't think so, and thought that he would wait for them to automatically ask for a meeting before asking about the letter. Unexpectedly, those soldiers came out of the hook fence that night, set fire to the post house in the dead of night, and then they took advantage of the chaos to set fire everywhere in the city. After the tired Western Xia soldiers were busy fighting fires all night, they rested at dawn, and Zhao Xing's cavalry arrived. They blasted open the gates with grenades and rushed into the city, and by this time, most of the Tanguts had only the strength to lie on the ground and gasp. Only the city guards still resisted.

Fu Yin led his family to make a final stubborn resistance and was shot by all the crossbowmen. After dawn, the infantry of the Song army marched in, and the cavalry pounced near Helan Plain, sweeping away the nearby nomadic tribes, and then used Zhang Wugongzi's military talisman to infiltrate the shrimp and toad village, and concocted it in the same way...... And then there was the army sweep. The nomadic tribes who lost the support of the city, most of the strong men who could fight were transferred by Liang Yikui, and the rest were old, weak, women and children......

Fortunately, in Helan Plain, which is the logistics supply base, the only remaining young and strong people in the city are the so-called high-tech talents of Western Xia, such as the carpenter who built the whirlwind, the blacksmith who made the authentic Qingtang armor (Tang-style Mingguang armor), the foreman who made swords and swords, and the craftsmen who weaved and weaved...... These people were not brought to the battlefield by Liang Yiqi, and they all cheapened Zhao Xingdi's sweeping team.

"The Tangut people are too arrogant. They didn't expect us to enter the country to attack at all, so they were completely defenseless," Zhao Xing sighed. Regretfully, he said: "It's a pity that our offensive was launched too early, resulting in a lack of follow-up forces. I was also impulsive at that time, and I didn't suppress the generals' desire to fight**. If it were postponed for another two years, the situation would be different.

For two years, the imperial court gave subsidies for two consecutive years, and I had enough food and food all the way to Shaanxi. At that time, if I launch a counterattack, I will be able to fight Weizhou in the first battle, and I will be able to win the Jianing Military Division in the second battle, but it's a pity that ......"

Fan Chun's face was grim: "I did the right thing to leave, my Shaanxi is ravaged by Western Xia every year, and there are no more than 10,000 soldiers from all walks of life, and I will not be satisfied." This year, Liang Yikui gathered 500,000 troops, and many places on Hedong Road and Shaanxi Road were in an emergency. ”

Zhao Xing sighed and said, "This year is just that our army has broken through all the way into the summer realm. But in the future, it will be difficult to earn the city so cheaply. Zhang Wugongzi only let me deceive two small villages at a time, his value is not right, I should have set the target for Weizhou from the beginning. ”

The two were chatting, and Zhang's voice came from the door: "What a greedy Zhao Liren!" Everything is too much, and this year our army can obtain the two strongholds of Luochuankou and Guide Chuankou, which is already worth it. In the future, offense and defense will be transposed. Our army is hidden in the middle of the river, and we can choose any one of the rivers to attack, but the Tanguts have to deal with it at both ends. Isn't that enough? If you take Weizhou, the supply line of our army is too long, and even if it is captured, it will not be able to hold it, so it is better to advance layer by layer in the form of a deep base - so what Zhang Wugongzi did this time was just right. ”

After Zhang said, he turned to Fan Chun again and asked, "What is Lord Fan's calling?" What did the court say? ”

Zhang's arrival meant the complete end of the Song army's offensive this year. Because of the two people sitting in front of Fan Chun. is the most daring person in the whole Shaanxi, and Jingyuan Road can only blempty this year. There was some offensive there, but their combat power was weak. As soon as these two fools came back, the rest of them could only defend on the spot.

Fan Chun also understood this, and was ashamed to see Zhang Dun, who was embarrassed to explain in detail the mistakes of the imperial court, so he had to spread his hands and said casually: "It's nothing, that matter has been solved, I called you here because I see that the New Year is approaching, and I want to invite you to reminisce about the past." ”

It doesn't make sense to explain all this with the reason of "reminiscence". It is only for personal feelings to make one side of the national war terminate the offensive, which is too absurd. However, Zhang Xian also heard some rumors in advance, Fan Chun didn't say anything, he was so happy to pretend to be confused, so he pointed at Zhao Xing and said, "Boy, do you have anything to say?" If you have nothing to say, hurry back, we two old men catch up, what are you doll doing in front of you. ”

Zhang This is the protection of Zhao Xing, of course Zhao Xing understands, he hurriedly got up and bowed to Zhang: "Master Zhang, the student still wants to stay in Jingzhao for a few days and take a look at the stele forest of Old Master Cheng (Cheng Yi)......"

Zhang replied: "Yes, you should also rest, I heard that you have not been at home for a year this year, and even your wife and concubine have been left out in the cold, so it is time to be on the right day, it is better to call your wife and concubine and travel in this Jingzhao Mansion for a few days...... It's just that the war on the front line is tight, and neither of you nor I is on the front line......"

Zhao Xing smiled and pointed to the ground, the Xixia watch seal that Fan Chun threw down just now was trampling on the foot of the chapter, and he replied with a smile: "Doesn't the imperial court have something to ask - the benefits given by the imperial court, don't be in vain." ”

Zhang raised his foot, glanced at the Xixia watch seal, snorted in his nose, and was not even interested in picking it up and taking a look, and said happily: "That's right, the old man will rest with you for a few days!" Living in the barracks all year round, it's time to linger in Jingzhao Mansion for a few days, what do you want to see the most? ”

"Wild Goose Pagoda Inscription", Zhao Xing blurted out: "I can let Mr. Fan and Mr. Zhang lead the Wild Goose Pagoda to be inscribed together, and the kid has no regrets in this life." ”

When Fan Chun heard this, he patted his leg and said: "How did I forget that there is a big Buddha in the house, I have long wanted to listen to the singing voice of the Liao family, but I can't see it when it is close at hand. Hurry up and invite everyone Liao to come, listen to him sing about the king living at the head of the Yangtze River, going up to the west building alone without a word, the spring water of the river, and when is the bright moon in Su Laopo, ask the wine to the sky. ”

The two old men immediately blasted out Zhao Xing, and couldn't wait to order him to send someone to invite Liao Xiaoxiao, Zhao Xing arranged for Cheng Shuang to do this, and he borrowed an acquaintance from Fan Chun's yamen. Go all the way to the Forest of Steles.

At the gate of the Beilin Forest, an old man who roasted sweet potatoes saw the tall Zhao Xing followed by a black man who was also tall, and hurriedly greeted him like an acquaintance: "Lord Zhao." Here we go again, coincidence. The old man's sweet potato was just baked, and he beckoned the adults to come to one, which was sweet and glutinous. ”

Zhao Xing nodded subconsciously, still thinking in his heart, how to be "again". This is my first time in Xi'an. The old man had already shouted, and casually threw over a steaming sweet potato, Tyson took a step, waved his hand to take it, and was immediately scalded back and forth by the sweet potato, and hurriedly handed it to Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing took the sweet potato with a puzzled head, and the old man had already bowed here frequently, and said in his mouth: "Recruit your lord, you are good to go." ”

Don't even want money? Zhao Xing is not a forcible occupant, he is embarrassed to grope for the money bag. But when he came back to his senses, he had already walked into the courtyard where the stele forest was located, and behind him, he heard the old man shouting: "Roasted sweet potatoes, fragrant and soft roasted sweet potatoes, Huanqing Zhaop's favorite roasted sweet potatoes, come and buy them, five cents a piece!" Zhao Xing smiled and put the money bag back in his arms. Behind. A voice asked timidly: "The one who went in just now is the envoy of Huanqing Road, and he is really majestic, no wonder he can easily attack Xixia and capture the second village in a row." Xin Laohan, how do you know the envoy? ”

Zhao Xing heard a loud voice of disdain behind him, and Xin Laohan said triumphantly: "What did my old man do - roasted sweet potato, this mochi was introduced by the adult." The tin oven for roasting sweet potatoes is also a recipe for the adults. Let me tell you, the solicitation makes the adults like the old man and my roasted sweet potatoes. Every time I come to Xi'an, I must go to the old man's stall to eat a piece of roasted sweet potato. ”

A timid boy sounded: "Uncle Xin, just now your roasted sweet potato was still two cents a piece, why do you sell it for five cents now?" ”

Xin Laohan said angrily: "Can the roasted sweet potatoes in the oven just now be the same as this oven?" This pot of sweet potatoes is a roasted sweet potato that has been eaten by adults...... Go and go, the child doesn't understand, go aside. Don't get in the way of others buying sweet potatoes. ”

Fan Chun's staff was also puzzled, and he asked cautiously, "Lord Zhao has been to the Forest of Steles before?" So what do you want me to lead the way? ”

Zhao Xing smiled: "I'm telling you the truth, this is my first time to come to Emperor Song Xi'an, and it is also the first time to come to Emperor Song Stele Forest!" ”

The official laughed and scolded: "This old man! …… But how did he know Lord Zhao? ”

Zhao Xing touched his chin and replied: "I look so special, and I have traveled all over the villages on Huanqing Road this year, even if he hasn't seen me, he should know my image." ”

When he said this, several people laughed.

In the depths of the stele forest, countless literati students copied the ancient and modern inscriptions, Zhao Xing also learned the appearance of the literati, selected a few inscriptions to study, and bought a few rubbings, until the twilight, only reluctantly returned to the official residence prepared for him by Fan Chun, and fell asleep.

On the second day, Zhao Xing heard the drum of the five watches beating from the drum tower in the haze, he climbed up in a hurry, rode his captured Dawan horse, and beckoned the people to rush to the Qianling Tomb to worship Wu Zetian, and traveled along the way. When he returned from Qianling, Liao Xiaoxiao, who was summoned by Feng Fan, also arrived, and at this time, Jingzhao Mansion also entered the annual annual leave, and the yamen began to seal - this also meant that there was more than half a month after that, and the officials could completely relax.

Liao Xiaoxiao brought a painting when he came to the place, which was Wang Xu's "Little Snow in the Fishing Village" by Wang Xu, Liao Xiaoxiao unfolded this masterpiece and introduced to Zhao Xing in a low voice: "Little Wang said that he would like to thank you for giving the land and New Year's gift every year, and he could not repay it, so he gave you this picture scroll." Hope you can help take care of a child...... I heard that Xiao Wang's horse is sick, and he is very sick. He loves a clan child very much, and hopes that if something happens to him, you can help take care of one or two. This clan has not yet been titled, and I am afraid that I will not be able to make a living in the future. It is said that this child likes to paint as much as he does, and has always studied with Xiao Wang's horse, and I hope you will take care of it in the future. ”

Zhao Xing grinned slightly, he knew that the child Wang Shu wanted to take care of was the future Duanwang, that is, Song Huizong.

Wang Xue is too worried, Duanwang was born in the direct line, no matter what, he will have a title, and there will be an extremely generous support money, which can ensure that he has no worries about food and clothing in this life. Perhaps, Wang Shu loves this child too much. That's why I did that.

But it's right to think about it, if the little emperor is in power, it is not too short-lived. Maybe King Duan will spend his life as a carefree prince for the rest of his life. Zhao Xu has no children, and there are so many princes with titles in the clan. If it weren't for the occasional luck that fell on King Duan, Duanwang, a young child, would still have to take the prince's share and spend the rest of his life painting and chanting poetry. Such children do need to be cared for.

Zhao Xingshun asked about Wang Xu's situation, and when he learned that Wang Shu had been sick for three months, he sighed: "Little Wang can't survive it." He is so affectionate to the princess of Shu, and the people in the clan hate him to the core, and he has been sick for so long and has ignored him, no wonder he is disheartened, and no wonder he is so partial to the clan where he learned to paint...... Hurry up and give both of them a New Year's gift, hoping that Xiao Wang's horse can see this New Year's gift again. ”

Xiao Wang's horse finally survived until the first month of the second year, and a few days after the Lantern Festival, Xiao Wang's horse died of illness, and the royal family was very indifferent to it. Thinking of his talent, I saw the treatment after death. Zhao Xing sighed with emotion: "Everyone has to bear the consequences for their own behavior, Xiao Wang's horse in this life, if he is not a horse, or he can be a famous minister, it is a pity for him, and it is a pity for the lord of Shu." ”

At this time, it was already the second day of February of the next year, the day when the dragon raised its head, and Shen Kuo should have died at this time. But history has changed slightly, and Shen Kuo is now teaching in the Hangzhou family school founded by Zhao Xing, and he is living a very nourishing life.

When Zhao Xingfa sighed with this emotion, he had already returned to Gyeongju, and Liao Xiaoxiao was left by Fan Chunqiang to Jingzhao to teach Fan Fu the local tricks, at this moment. There was only Kasri by his side. Kasri is a master of language. But she didn't understand Zhao Xing's emotion, so she blinked her big eyes and wondered in Zhao Xing's arms.

Shuai Fan has been resting in Gyeongju for a month. planned to rush to the front line again, this time he rushed to ask Zhao Xing for supplies, but he couldn't understand Zhao Xing's feelings. But Wan Qianyong understood, Wan Qiyong took the reply letter written by Xiao Wang's horse, pondered it carefully, and said: "The proprietor, this letter should be written by a child, the penmanship is immature, but it has seven points of Wang Xu's appearance, and at a rough glance, it is really indistinguishable." ”

Zhao Xing smiled - who is Zhao Ji, that is the master of forgery in ancient China, it was he who began to organize manpower after ascending the throne, theorized and systematically studied forgery technology, and those ancient jade and treasures he forged were not called fakes in the antique world, but regarded as a rare work of art. Those fake things have fooled the Chinese for thousands of years. He is still young, and the words written by imitating Wang Xu's brushstrokes can be recognized by Wan Qianyong because this kid still needs to learn from the experience of falsification.

"When this letter was delivered to me, Wang Shu had already passed away, so the second half of the letter was ghostwritten by his student and sect son Zhao Ji," Zhao Xing said slowly. He was reading another letter from the same person, which was written by Gao Yu. After Su Shi left Beijing, he transferred Gao Yu to Xiao Wang's concubine, and after Xiao Wang's concubine died, Zhao Ji took Gao Yu in and became his playmate and official. Gao Yu wrote this letter to Zhao Xing to ask if Zhao Xing had a position for him, and if Zhao Xing needed it, he would rush to Gyeongju to help.

"Ahh Zhao Ji?! Shuai Fan heard Zhao Xing's words, his eyes suddenly widened, he and Zhao Xing glanced at each other, immediately moved his gaze elsewhere, and said casually: "It's February, it is estimated that the Western Xia people are starting to gather again, after Lord Zhao's attack last year, we have re-studied the gains and losses, this year the Scouts should be able to come in handy, I need plate armor now, although the chain armor is convenient, but it can't protect against arrow strikes and heavy blows, or plate armor is good, and lightweight, and the protection is strong."

Also, I've heard that a new type of Iron Arm Crossbow has been made, and I need a batch of Iron Arm crossbows to equip ......"

Zhao Xing nodded and replied: "The news from the Liaodong caravan that the Western Xia people asked the Liao State for troops again this year, but the Liao State ignored the Xia envoys in consideration of the credibility of the Western Xia people. But since the Tanguts sent envoys to the Liao State, according to the general law, they also began to gather (gather tribal forces), and I estimate that the Tangut attack would begin in March at the latest. Shuai Fan immediately said: "I am afraid that the castle we built on the front line is not reliable, they are alone in the summer realm, I am worried that if the Western Xia cavalry harass everywhere and cut off their contact with us, those castle people will not go out, and sooner or later the supply will be cut off, and they will fall into a desperate situation." So, we must echo them as soon as possible. ”

"The difference is in the soldiers' battles**", Zhao Xing pondered: "Two or three small soldiers of the Xixia people dare to swim alone between the cracks of our castle, why don't we locals dare to go out to arrest?" It's because they didn't fight**. I'm going to add a handful of firewood to them, and let them know that the Xixia people who roam alone are the calamities, and they are obviously a lot of copper coins that can move around. ”

"Bounty for capture?!" Shuai Fan blurted out.

"Yes, bounty!" Zhao Xing replied: "Qi 13 discovered a few more mines last year, and I plan to fully open mines in Gyeongju this year, so that Huanqing is seriously short of labor, so the government is ready to increase the purchase price of minerals......

Wan Qiyong high-fived: "Yes, we don't trade slaves, and we don't encourage slave ownership, but wars are frequent, and supplies on Huanqing Road are tight." Last year, our reserves were taken away from the surrounding counties, and in order to cope with this year's war, we used money to buy supplies. As long as the profits of the mine owners go up, they don't desperately search for slave labor, and the price of slave labor goes up, and those who dare to enter the territory of our Great Song Dynasty alone are a bunch of copper coins for activities, and for this money, there are always some people who dare to go out of the city and fight.

Last year, I Huanqing Road was seized and returned to myself, and the imperial court has acquiesced, as long as the reward goes up, plus we get that set of honor measures, this year's Huanqing soldiers will definitely fight bravely to be the first - what is this battle, is it clearly a money grab, whoever strikes first will benefit, and will anyone dare to lag behind? ”

"It's changed!" Shuai Fan muttered inexplicably.

As soon as Shuai Fan's words fell, a hurried foot with a small flag rushed into the hall and shouted: "Urgent report, the Western Xia has raised troops, and the Empress Dowager Liang personally led the troops. ”

On the 15th day of February in the eighth year of the Yuan Dynasty, March 14, 1093 AD, on Monday and the spring equinox, the Empress Dowager Liang of Western Xia led a large army to invade the Great Song Dynasty. Beacon smoke is lit everywhere, from Shunning (Security Army) and Zhao'an in the east, from Fort De and Anding in the west, and from the border city and Jiuyang Fort in the middle, and there are endless for 200 miles.

On the same day, Zhao Xing led 3,000 brave and effective—that is, the official version of the 3,000 boy soldiers, plus 3,000 Gyeongju state soldiers, 2,000 strongmen, and 4,000 Shaanxi Lubu archers, to meet the enemy at the Tokugawa Pass; Zhang led 7,000 border troops and Shaanxi Road archers to meet the enemy at Luochuankou.

On the west side of Wuyan Gorge and Xiangyikou Walled City, Zhao Xing, who was dressed in silver Norman armor, rode a jujube red Dawan horse standing on the plain, Tyson, who was dressed in black armor, stood side by side with him in black and white, and 24 Japanese people stood on his left and right, ten of them were wearing Tang Dynasty armor, carrying a big heart guard on their chests, and three knives were long and short in their waists.

There are also six Japanese people who are either leading spare war horses with complete saddles, or holding spare armor, scattered behind Zhao Xing's horses, and several Japanese people with crossbows and bows are looking around nervously.

Reward the mouth is a large fortress at the mouth of Luochuan, behind them is the canyon on both sides of Luochuan, in front of them is the Xixia people who can't see the edge at a glance, those Xixia people are nervously mobilizing people and horses, Zhao Xing here in front of the formation into a slip of the van, these vans are connected with chains, three sides of the van car surrounded by an inverted simple defensive array, behind the gap, the fourth general of Huanqing Road, Luo Xin, is digging a trench to prevent the Xixia cavalry from attacking from behind.

On the opposite side, the Tangut people are innumerable, scattered throughout the grassland.

Zhang Cheng, the second general of Huanqing Road and the envoy of the imperial city, and Wen Xixin, the eighth general (Qingtang Huren, surnamed Wen), were busy sorting out the ranks of the state soldiers, Shuai Fan guided the three thousand boy soldiers to line up, and those who followed Zhao Xing all the way to Huanqing Road on foot had been assigned to the Shaanxi infantry archers as officers and managed the Shaanxi militia team. After a while, the three generals put the team in order and returned to Zhao Xing's side to wait for further orders. Tyson, dressed in black armor, saw them coming, turned sideways and got out of the way.

Zhang Cheng looked at the situation on the other side, frequently pumping cold air, he snorted for a long time, and opened his mouth to persuade: "My lord, this year's round of battle is the turn to extend the road, I heard that the prefect of the Prefecture Zhedian Marshal (Zhi Kexing) has led the security army up, the enemy army is strong, it is better for us to take shelter for a while, stick to the opportunity." ”