Half a month has passed in a blink of an eye, and it is already the Shangyuan Festival. Xue Shao clearly remembered that at this time last year, he and Xue Chuyu served the first emperor Li Zhi to ascend to the head of Vermilion Bird City and celebrate the festival with all the people.

In a blink of an eye, things are not people.

A spring snowstorm hit the military town of Toyoshu, and it was even more violent than the heavy snowfall a year ago. Xue Shao and 100,000 soldiers could not feel the breath of spring, and they still had to fight against the cold and hardship.

Xue Shao originally wanted to organize a new round of large-scale military training, but because of the lack of meat, he had to give up for the time being. As time passed, the sense of crisis in Xue Shao's heart increased day by day. Compared with other generals, Xue Shao, who had gone deep into the steppe to fight with the Turkic nobles many times in close quarters, had a better understanding of the enemies he faced in front of him.

After the severe cold has passed, the Turks who have been dormant for a long time will definitely make a comeback and invade the Tang Dynasty. At this time, it is the critical juncture of the spring ploughing of the Tang Dynasty, and a large amount of manpower and material resources in the Central Plains will be invested in agricultural production, and border defense will inevitably be slackened. At the same time, the Turks, who had survived a harsh winter, had consumed too much food and material reserves and needed to be replenished urgently.

A war is about to be surging as the cold subsides.

The only thing Xue Shao couldn't figure out was where the Turks would do it. The northern part of the Tang Dynasty, from Youzhou in Hebei Province to Fengzhou at the southern foot of Yinshan Mountain, is like a long table full of delicacies in the eyes of the Turks. Where to start, the initiative is completely in the hands of the Turks.

This made Xue Shao very annoyed, but there was nothing he could do. For thousands of years, the Central Plains people, who were mainly agricultural, have been in such a passive defensive state because of their natural disadvantages in the wars with the northern nomads.

Xue Shao, like many border generals throughout the ages, could only use predictions to estimate the areas that the Turks were going to attack. He looked at the northern defense line of the Tang Dynasty today, Youzhou is the border town of the Tang Dynasty, the army is strong, the city is strong, and the geographical location is a little far away from the rich hinterland of Hebei, the Turks should not attack Youzhou, it is absolutely thankless. Fengzhou, where Xue Shao himself was seated, was in a somewhat similar situation to Youzhou, and the army was stronger, poorer and colder, and the Turks had no reason to attack. Because what they lack now is not a victory in a war, but a purposeful plundering of resources and wealth.

After a meal of elimination, Xue Shao believed that once the Turks invaded southward, there would be only two destinations - Yunzhou and Shuozhou in Hebei.

Shuozhou and Daizhou are identical, just like the two gates of the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion of Bingzhou, and they are also the northern gates of the Tang Dynasty. Once these two states were breached, the Turks would be able to drive straight into the hinterland of Hebei and plunder, and even threaten the northern capital of the Tang Dynasty.

The last time Pei Xingjian went on the Northern Expedition, the two states of Shuodai were the main battlefields of the war. At that time, Xue Shao fought side by side with Cheng Wuting, the governor of Shuozhou, and Li Wenji, the governor of Yunzhou, to fight against the Turks. Xue Shao used a black tiger to attack the black sand, thus forcing back the Turkic army and becoming famous in a battle.

Now Li Wenji is still sitting in Yunzhou, but Cheng Wuting, who is most feared by the Turks, has been transferred back to the imperial capital to take charge of the imperial forest soldiers and horses.

In this way, the two states of the Shuo Dynasty are most likely selected by the Turks as the breakthrough point for the southward invasion after the beginning of spring!!

Thinking of this, Xue Shao immediately thought of a person.

- Xue Rengui!

After the seventy-year-old veteran general came back, he took over the burden of Cheng Wuting and sat in Shuodai to guard the northern country.

The wounded beasts became even more ferocious, and since the defeat in the last battle of Huanghuadui, the Turkic eagles have been in ambush for a long time. Once it makes a comeback, it is bound to bring an unprecedentedly powerful war storm to the two states of Shuodai.

Xue Shao had no reason to question the ability of Xue Rengui, the god of war of the Tang Dynasty, but he had to pinch a cold sweat for him - after all, he was seventy years old, and marching and fighting was both heavy body and mental work, this old man had been absent from the battle formation for a long time, and he didn't have a particularly powerful assistant around him, could he carry it?

Datang's northern frontier defense is thousands of miles long, showing a trend of a line of series. Once there is a gap in one point, it will become a disaster, and no matter how well the other points are guarded, it will be in vain. Before, the Turks went deep into the Helong Horse Prison by a lone army, which is a lesson from the past!

Xue Shaozheng was thinking about it with a little headache, and Guo Yuanzhen and Xue Chuyu came together to report some military affairs as usual.

Xue Shao said: "Brother Chu Yu came just in time. I have a matter to be discussed with you. ”

"Should I avoid it, then?" Guo Yuanzhen said with a grin.

"You don't talk nonsense." Xue Shao stiffened his face and said: "There is one thing we know in our hearts, once the cold fades, the Turks will invade south. I have been comparing the military map for a long time, and I have calculated in my heart that it is very likely that the Turks chose the two states of Shuodai as a breakthrough point, intending to invade Hebei. ”

The two generals were in high spirits at the same time, and Xue Chuyu said: "It's a coincidence! The last general and General Guo were preparing to ask the young marshal for advice on this matter. The two of us discussed privately, and we also thought that the Turks were very likely to attack the two states of Shuodai! ”

Guo Yuanzhen no longer laughed, and said: "When the Turks invade south, they have always chosen two time periods, one is when the Central Plains is busy with spring ploughing, and the other is after the eagle flies and the autumn harvest in September. After the last battle of Huanghuadui, the Turks retreated to the desert to recuperate and recuperate, and it has been more than a few months. Thinking about it, they have already held back their strength, and they are waiting for the spring battle. It is now conservatively estimated that the Turkic rebels are at least 300,000. Such a large force is much stronger than the previous two rebels. Moreover, Ashina Gu Dulu and Ashid Yuanzhen are far more powerful than Fengzhi and Fu Nian, but their ambitions are also even greater. During this period of internal rectification, it is necessary to believe that Gu Dulu and Yuan Zhen have unified the military power of the various tribes of the steppe and strengthened their authority. In this way, their biggest shortcomings are compensated...... Once it comes back, it is bound to be even more ferocious! ”

Xue Chuyu's face became very grim as he said this, and he said: "A few years ago, I received a letter from my elder brother, saying that the imperial court had expected the Turks to invade the south after the beginning of spring, so they frequently dispatched troops to reinforce the Hebei border defense. The eldest brother Xue Ne was transferred to Daizhou as Sima to assist his father. However, the imperial court once again moved the capital back to Xijing, and the troops were therefore stretched. At present, the towns on the border of Hebei are facing an unfavorable situation in which the defense line is too long and the troops are few. Once the Turks invaded the south, I was worried that my father and brother would not be able to support it in the two states of Shuodai! ”

"That's what I'm going to tell you guys." Xue Shao said, "The imperial court moved the capital and His Majesty came back, which is not a bad thing. But this also means that the situation in our Tang Dynasty is still very turbulent. The inside is unstable, and there is no way to defend the outside. However, Gu Dulu and Yuan Zhen took this opportunity to further consolidate their position on the grassland, and their strength was even stronger than in the past. I think this year will be a very difficult year for us. Not only did we have to defend the defense line of Fengzhou, develop Yinchuan Tuntian, and consolidate the strength of our army, but it was also necessary to deal with the frenzied attacks of the Turks on our friendly forces. This is definitely not a nosy, because Youzhou, Yunzhou, and Shuodai, together with Fengzhou, where we are located, constitute the entire northern defense line of the Tang Dynasty, and they are one and the same as each other. The truth of the cold lips and teeth, I guess there is no need to say much. ”

"But Hebei's military is not within the jurisdiction of the young marshal." Guo Yuanzhen reminded, "Even if the young marshal only writes to the court to draw attention, there will be suspicion of trespassing." The border marshal is in advance of national politics, which is a big taboo! ”

"I'm having a headache about it." Xue Shao said, "If I transfer troops to fight across the border without permission, it will definitely be a capital crime." There are some people in the court who have always hated us border marshals for being good at advising and not listening to their reprimands. Therefore, it is probably difficult to write a letter to ask for war. ”

"Could it be that our 100,000 Shuofang troops watched the Turks storm Hebei but were indifferent?" Guo Yuanzhen gritted his teeth and said, "Hate me for not being the court's Zaifu, otherwise!" ……”

"There's no need to talk nonsense." Xue Shao waved his hand and said, "Chu Yu, what do you think?" ”

"Now I'm only worried about my father's safety." Xue Chuyu frowned and said, "Since the big strategy doesn't work, why don't you ask the young marshal to allow me a little time off, and allow me to go to Daizhou to visit my father first, and by the way, how about exploring the reality of the war?" ”

"That's exactly what I mean." Xue Shao said, "If you take a leave of absence in the name of a private person, it will be fine." If the Turks really storm Shuodai, you can either stay with Lao Shuai to assist in the use of troops, or you can send fast horses to report to me. ”

"But the court is ......," Xue Chuyu was worried.

"You don't have to worry about that." Xue Shao's expression was extremely firm, "Daizhou is nearly a thousand miles away from here, and there are many mountains blocking the road, which is rugged and difficult to travel. You have to leave as soon as possible. When you arrive in Daizhou, you don't have to say much, just say that you are going to visit relatives. When the military situation is urgent, you have to be improvised - remember! Remember! ”

Xue Chuyu took a deep breath and solemnly clenched his fists, "The last general, let's go!" ”

"How do you move due to heavy snow blocking the road?" Guo Yuanzhen was worried.

"Even if it's climbing, I have to get to my father's side as soon as possible." Xue Chuyu hugged his fists again, "Young Marshal, General Guo, farewell!" ”

"Wait!" Xue Shao stopped him and said, "Bring a few more capable relatives to go with you, and only dress up as civilians who travel in micro-clothes." Wu Ming raised a group of carrier pigeons, which were quite handy. You may want to bring two cages with you. But if there is an emergency, you can fly the pigeon and pass the book to me. Remember, use the ninth set of Lantian secret codes! ”

"Yes!"

Xue Chuyu hugged his fist heavily and slapped his palm loudly. With a fiery look at Xue Shao and Guo Yuanzhen, he turned around and strode away.

After Xue Chuyu left, Guo Yuanzhen looked at Xue Shao with a worried brow and a suspicious look, and muttered, "You're ready to do something out of the ordinary again, right?" ”

"Is there one?" Xue Shao pursed his lips nonchalantly.

"Your current bearing and look are the same as when you first conquered Bai Tie......yu," Guo Yuanzhen looked palpitating, took a breath and said, "You can fool others, but you can't fool me." You must have another ...... in your heart A battle plan to cut off children and grandchildren! ”

"Shut up!" Xue Shao shouted angrily, "Lao Tzu just gave birth to a son, don't talk nonsense!" ”

"I'm damned! I'm damned! I slap my mouth! I slap my mouth! Guo Yuanzhen raised his palm and brushed his mouth wildly, and it really fanned the horn. While slapping him, he said, "But I still have to remind you that a tactic like a surprise attack on the black sand can only be used once!" ”

"Stop!" Xue Shao grabbed his wrist, his expression was unusually calm, and said: "Yin Mountain is in front of you, the Turkic rangers are constantly coming and going, Yuan Zhen is by no means an idle person, and the surprise attack tactics of the black tiger are useless at all. ”

"And what are you going to do?" Guo Yuanzhen said with a sad face, "The second pole is indeed brave and invincible, and Xue Laoshuai is a generation of war gods from the past and the present. But no matter how brave the father and son were, they couldn't stand the Turks' strong army and the ants that eroded the elephants. On the imperial court, we will never be allowed to go to Hebei to help in the war - I really can't think of any other way to help them? ”

Xue Shao slowly paced to the window with a cold expression, quietly looking at the vast snow scene outside the window, which was as white as a mountain and did not say a word.

Guo Yuanzhen's heart was filled with a chill, and he exclaimed in his heart: Whenever he is about to do something big, he is so taciturn! …… It's broken, it's broken! Young Marshal Xue, who is famous all over the world, is about to do some deviant and amazing things again!.

[Happy New Year, book friends, New Year's greetings to everyone! ] 】