The Jurchen army that had chased them all the way from Tongzhou gathered here. Prepare for a new offensive. For a few days of bloody battles, the Jin army, which had the advantage of troops, could not defeat the Song army, and the commission was very annoyed. However, the news from the fifth division of the other Jin Army, Yeluma, always made his depressed heart a little more happy.

After connecting Danzhou and Langzhou, Yeluma set five heavy troops to detain Yan'an, an important town in Shaanxi. Although Duyan Shuai Zhang Shen was defeated by the Jurchens in the field battle. But Yan'an is its foundation, so it sticks to the city. Seeing this, Ma Wu decided that Zhang Shen's soldiers did not dare to leave Yangui's lair easily, so he waved his army south and invaded Fangzhou. Fangzhou is a small city. Unable to resist the strong attack of the Jurchen army, at the same time as Zhizhou reported to Chang'an, Fangzhou fell. Jingzhao North Gate Yaozhou. was directly exposed to the iron hooves of the Jin Army.

In the wilderness, one hundred and ten horsemen galloped. Straight to the town of Kansai. Restrain your horse not far in front of the town and peek into the town. The commander of the Jin army was impressively listed, and he saw that there was a barrier on the west side of Guanxi Town. A low wall of height encircled the front of the camp. The Song army seemed to have seen them on the wall, and from time to time soldiers rushed up to the wall, as if preparing to meet the enemy.

"Hmph, in the end, I still scared this group of Western troops. I'm only riding a hundred and ten, why do you need to fight like this? Wan Yan suddenly smiled. All the golden generals laughed, but the concubine couldn't laugh. It is reported that there is such a barrier more than ten miles to the west. It was in front of Dingrong City with horns. You don't have to guess to know that the commander of the Song army must have placed the army in the center, and the detachment troops guarded the left and right barriers and supported each other.

It is said that this place is the Xu Wei Defense Zone, although the place is not big, but according to Huashan, Linjing, Huangguan. Position 10 is important. Only by taking Dingrong can it be regarded as completely controlling the Guanzhong Plain and sweeping the east of Chang'an. Wanyan said loudly. As soon as he said this, the other generals stopped laughing. It turned out to be the lair of the Purple Gold Tiger! How did the concubine not know this truth, a few days ago in Tongzhou, the Song army was in a land of flat rivers, without support, and it was the time when our army's iron cavalry was strong. Now, the other party has retreated to Dingrong, obviously trying to deal with me by virtue of the danger in the territory. How to break it in a hurry?

Moreover, according to verification, the Western Army that rushed to the aid of the Xu brothers a few days ago turned out to be a world-famous seed army! Before breaking the treaty with the Southern Dynasties and starting the war, the Jurchen generals knew only two Song generals. One is that the vain Song army controls Liu Yanqing, and the second is the seed master known as the "old species". The envoys of the Kingdom of Jin arrived in Tokyo. Even in front of the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, he dared to fly high and domineering, and he was blind. But as long as the cultivator is present, he will not dare to be presumptuous, and his prestige is like this. Among the seed masters who are now leading the army to help, it is the younger brother of the seed master Dao, and the two brothers are both famous generals of the Western Army.

As he was looking, he suddenly saw a group of soldiers and horses coming quickly, and when he got closer, he saw that he was a young general, but he was only a teenager. Ride a galloping horse. The steel spear is long and long, and it comes before the soldiers clash. I saw the living girl. Knowing this person, on that day our army rangers raided the Western Army alert troops. After getting in the way, the other party sent troops and horses to chase after him. In front of the main camp, it was the general who challenged the horses to demonstrate, and shot the pursuers with iron bows, and calmly left.

Now he brought the horse army again, though he did not frighten him. However, my father is the commander of the army, and I can't afford to lose it. Therefore, he persuaded his father: "This man is fierce. Please retreat marshal for the time being, I will defend myself. ”

The concubine glanced at Kansai Town again. Turning the horse's head to the north, the living woman led more than 100 iron horsemen to the palace. When the other party saw them retreating, they did not come to chase them.

In February of the second year of Longxing, the planters, Xu Yuan, and Xu Sheng led the army to retreat into Dingrong, although Li Gang was very dissatisfied with their abandonment of Tongzhou, but it turned out that Jiang was old and spicy, and the practice in the planters was not wrong. The concubine can explore the dangerous mountains and mountains in Rong. The two barriers were again difficult to conquer for a while. Therefore, no, do not give up the offensive for the time being. Instead, the Pujin pontoon bridge was seized to ensure the smooth flow between Hedong and Shaanxi. At the suggestion of the living girl. He divided his troops to attack Shaanzhou, connecting Shaanxi and Henan.

Seeing this, Li Gang was very anxious, and sent people to Xu Yuan in the middle of the seed division several times, urging them to march into a decisive battle with the Jin army. In his reply to the Xuanfu Division, the seed master said that no matter how the Jurchens bounced in Shaanxi, as long as we nailed a few soldiers and horses to Dingrong, the concubines would not dare to act rashly. He is holding back our army, and our army is also holding him back, what you should be worried about now is not the main force of the commission. It is another partial division of the Jin Army, which is a sharp sword inserted into the heart of Shaanxi.

Li Gang will be skeptical of his words, and He Guan also thinks that this is actually avoiding the important and trivializing among the planters. The purpose is to preserve strength. But. Soon, they didn't have the time to guess the intention of the breeder, because Ma Wu came directly to Yaozhou after a short rest!

"Report!" The soldier's protracted voice echoed in the Xuanfu Office. In the past few days, the adjutants of the Xuanfu Division have gradually become accustomed to the continuous military reports. Danzhou fell, Langzhou was lost, Tongzhou, Shaanzhou, Hezhongfu, "just one month." The Jurchens captured a large area of eastern Shaanxi. Now, in the entire eastern part of Shaanxi, only Yan'an Mansion and the Dingcheng Army are still in the hands of the Western Army, but Zhang Shen can't hold out, and Xu Yuan and others in the division refuse to fight. The orders of the Xuanfu Division can only be slightly better than waste paper for these generals of the Western Army.

"Xuanxiang! Xuanxiang! When a civil official in his early thirties stepped into the second hall of Li Gang's office, he kicked him to the ground. Ignoring the pain and dust, he hurriedly got up. "Something is wrong! The Jin army has already arrived at Tongguan, below the county magistrate, seven officials have been martyred, and Yaozhou City is in danger! ”

"What! Li Gang angrily rose up and spoke against the same official. That's far away from Kyungbuen! What a big deal! The main force of the Jin army is in Dingrong, and it is Jingzhao Mansion when it comes over! Now that the Jin Army's partial division has arrived in Yaozhou again, a few steps down is still Jingzhao Mansion! This is to attack me on both sides!

"Where is the Quduan army now?" After a moment of panic, Li Gang asked loudly.

"Qudu commanded a large army to settle in Fuping, and it seems that he has no intention of going north to aid Yaozhou City." The adjutant replied.

Li Gang was silent for a while, but now he really feels a little helpless, this group of the Western Army is self-respecting, and the salary depends on the two divisions. Even the two brothers of the Xu family ignored my military orders. Stay in Dingrong and refuse to fight! Seeing that the Jin army is about to come to the city, how can this be good? Shaanxi is the place where I have worked hard to operate. If you want me to abandon Chang'an and leave, it is impossible!

Wang Shu didn't know when he leaned over, and when he saw Li Gang like this, he dismissed the adjutant, and stepped forward several times to stop talking. After a long time, he finally said: "Xuanxiang." At this time of critical survival, we are scholars and do not know military affairs. Is it "please ask He Shaobao to come to the house to discuss?" ”

When Li Gang heard this, his face became even more gloomy.

The impeachment of He Guan and the request for his removal from the Shaanxi Six-Way System Envoy have already been written and stored in the public case. It's just that I thought that the current enemy would affect morale by changing the commander in battle, so I didn't send it. Since the Jin Army entered the customs, the military orders have been directly issued by our Xuanfu Division, and have not passed through the Establishment Division. And. Even if he was invited, what was the use? He's not the same as me, who listens to him?

Wang Shu saw that he was silent, and persuaded him bitterly, Li Gang had no countermeasure, so he could only nod and agree. Alas, if Xu Wei is here, he will definitely be able to give me advice. But now, no one knows what the situation is in Hedong, and in the short term, I am afraid that I can't count on him.

Walking back and forth restlessly in Erzhuoli, none of the adjutant's staff dared to come out and say a word when they saw this. The more Li Gang looked, the more upset he became, the official family fled Jianghuai, and Tokyo was also besieged. Now that Shaanxi is in such a situation, could it be that the Great Song Dynasty is here this time, but it is difficult to escape?

Let's go, be born as a Song minister, die as a Song ghost, do your best, and settle for the destiny! If the heavens want to kill me, I can only cry out in vain!

That's when one. The official, who was over half a hundred years old and estimated to be less than six feet long, slowly stepped forward and said tentatively: "Xuanxiang, why don't you withdraw from Jingzhao?" ”

Where did Li Gang hear this? Suddenly, the light in his eyes burst out, and he saw that the other party's figure was shrinking and getting shorter. It's in vain for you to wait for the king's fortune, but you don't want to worry about the country! As soon as the Jin army fights, you retreat. That's how the two rivers exited! If you can withdraw from Shaanxi today, you will be able to withdraw from the Central Plains tomorrow! When Jiangnan retreats one day, where else can you retreat? If you retreat, it's the sea!

The needle drop could be heard in the second hall, and the official who suggested giving up Chang'an was stared at by him with a face full of shame and bowed back.

"Yu Xuan Fu Xianggong, He Shaobao is sick in bed. He said that he could not come to the meeting. "Somebody came in to report.

Li Gang and Wang Shu glanced at each other, sick? Such a coincidence? After a while, Li Gang said: "Since Shaobao is sick, Ben is quite going to visit and prepare a sedan chair." After finishing speaking, he glanced back at Ertang and strode out. But whoever touches his gaze will hang down.

He Guan's Establishment Division was located in the east of Chang'an City, and together with the Xuanfu Division located in the west of the city, it was called the "two divisions" and the highest military and political organ in Shaanxi in theory. When Li Gang arrived at the Department of Preparation, he saw that the guards were sparse. After entering, I saw that the generals had nothing to do. He saw it in his eyes, and he didn't move, and went straight to the back hall.

Under the guidance of the servants, it was not long before he went to the courtyard where He Guan lived. When the net was turning, he met the servant who was leaving the house in the middle of sending Lang, Li Gang stopped and asked, "What are the symptoms of He Shaobao?" ”

"According to the diagnosis, the preparation of the Xianggong is due to excessive anxiety, qi accumulation in the heart and chest and not come out, coupled with the cold weather, caused by the trauma of the early war, and it is necessary to recuperate for a period of time." Lang Zhong replied.

Li Gang frowned slightly, He Guan is really sick? At that moment, he left Lang Zhong and ran to He Guan's bedroom. The servant who was accompanying him wanted to report, but was stopped by Li Gang, and when he entered the irrigation room, he saw him lying on the bed, and the corner of the brocade was still dragged to the ground. Walked up and pulled up the corners of the quilt, and now He is really not good.

He Guan opened his eyes at this time and saw Li Gang standing on the side of the couch. At first, I thought I was wrong, but when I looked closely, it was really him! sat up straight suddenly, clenched his fists and said, "Xuan Xiang, you are"

Li Gang put the horn on the bed and coughed lightly. Some smiled unnaturally: "I heard that the system is sick and Shaobao, and I came to visit." He Guan gave another salute, even said politely, took a straight drape on his body, put the pillow on the back against the bed, and then pulled the quilt, and apologized: "The old injury has recovered, and I can't get out of bed, please forgive me." ”

"Where to say, He Shaobao fought for the country all his life. The hard work is high, and Li also admires it. Li Gang said casually, but he was thinking about how to say this today.

He Guan chuckled when he heard this, and sighed: "Alas, I have the emperor's order, but I am always unable to do it, and I am ashamed and ashamed." ”

Li Gang savored his words, and also smiled: "Each other, since the Zhenzong Dynasty, all the Dongzhuo faction members who went to Shaanxi feel the same way as you and me. ”

Li Gang's words were originally intended to pull the distance, so that all kinds of unhappiness in the past would not affect today's conversation. But then He Guan's reply made his face a little unbearable.

"Hey, Xuan Xiang's words are exaggerated, aren't the soldiers and horses in Shaanxi and China all driven by Xuan Xiang." Stop for it. Why be so sarcastic? Do you know that Xu Yuan and others in the seed division did not chew the military order of the Fusi and gave up Tongzhou, and now the troops are refusing to fight, but you take this as an example?

There is a fire in my heart, and I have the intention of brushing my sleeves away at the moment. But thinking of the deteriorating situation, he still couldn't stand up. There was an awkward silence in the room for a while, and He Guan sat down against the bed. Li Gang was speechless on his knees. These two supported Zhao Huan's ascension to the throne of "civil and military." "The relationship is gradual

Finish.

After a long time, Li Gang remembered what Master Su said. Seeing the humiliation, the horseman drew his sword and stood up to fight, which was not enough to be brave. He is a military minister, and his temperament is upright and rude, so why should I meet with him as usual, and it is important to discuss anti-gold countermeasures. Thinking about it like this, I felt more comfortable, so I took the initiative to say: "At the moment of the great enemy, you and I are both ministers who receive orders from outside, and now that the enemy is present, we should think of retribution." It is also responsible for the six roads.

Today, the prime minister came to ask for advice on the strategy of protecting the enemy, and I hope to give advice

Although He Guan was dissatisfied with Li Gang, he listened to what he said and knew that a catastrophe was coming now. Thinking about the third, he said: "Now there is only one person that the two divisions of Shaanxi can rely on." ”

Li Gang looked suspicious: "Although I sent someone to Hedong. But Xu Wei has no news so far, counting on him? ”

Xingguan shook his head: "I'm not talking about Xu Jiu, but Qu Duan."

"Qu Shi Yin?" Li Gang was even more puzzled. Qu Duan used to be the deputy marshal of Jingyuan, and although he promoted him to a Shaanhua position, he had an unpleasant quarrel with Xu Wei, Yao Pingzhong and others as soon as he passed. Everyone knows in their hearts that Xu Sheng, Xu Wei, Yao Pingzhong and others all have a Tokyo background, and the Sixth Road in Shaanxi, which was formed by them, is also an attempt by the imperial court to control the Western Army. Qu Duan was a general of the Western Army. Will he be completely subject to the two divisions?

"Although Quduan started in Shaanxi, his achievements over the years have never been less. However, the relationship with his colleagues in the Western Army has never been harmonious. Xuan Xiang promoted him to be the pacification envoy of Shaanxi Hua Road, which for him can be described as a grace of knowledge. Now, he has been promoted to be the commander of my system, how can he not think of repaying him? At present, he has tens of thousands of soldiers under his command. The two divisions are more important than him, and they will be able to stop Jin Jun He Guan explained.

Li Gang didn't say anything for a while, thought for a while, and then asked, "Does He Shaobao think this person is reliable?" Although he is now stationed in Fuping, he has no intention of going north to help. ”

"It's okay, Qu Duan has been repeatedly sidelined. Talented but not encountered. As long as you promise a special reward, win them over, and then order them to enter the army, you will definitely be able to achieve something. He Guan said.

"In this way, will it attract the jealousy of other marshals?" Li Gang's worries are not unreasonable, although Qu Duan's qualifications are not shallow. But compared with other handsomes, there is still a gap. Elevating him like this may make the marshals who are already unconvinced by the two divisions even more centrifuged.

"Prime Minister Xuan, this group of people in the Western Army has been domineering for a long time. Whether we use the curved end or not, they will not completely obey the two divisions. In this case, why not take the opportunity of the Jurchens to enter the Kou and use Quduan to establish an army directly under the two divisions? He Guan only then did he say his original intention.

Although Li Gang didn't speak, he was indeed a little moved. Since his arrival. In terms of civil affairs, it can be said that it is handy, but in the military, there is always a sense of inadequacy. Although it is a problem left over from history, but the national disaster is at the head, Shaanxi, as a military powerhouse of the Great Song Dynasty, how can such a chaotic command stop the Jurchen? These Beiyi, who started in the mountains and forests, are not comparable to the party members in the waning mountains!

Just as he was thinking about it, He Guan said again: "Although it is mainly dependent on Quduan, Xuanfu Si might as well order King Huanqing, Qin Fengzhao and order them to rescue Jingzhao."

"Some time ago, Xuanfu Si ordered all roads to gather troops and horses in Yaozhou, and the two roads of Qingqing and Qinfeng were the most extended. Let them reinforce them, I'm afraid to wait until Chang'an falls. There was no sign of him. Li Gang laughed when he heard this.

He Guan pulled the quilt and said with a smile: "Qu Duan is now under the control of the Sidu, and he is in charge of the army. But Wang Zhaodian's qualifications are above him, and these two handsome guards are of course unwilling to be commanded by him. ”

Li Gang stopped talking, he already understood what He Guan meant. Knowing that Wang Ru Zhao Dian would not be convinced, he still ordered them to lead the army over. The result is obvious, Wang seems to Zhao Dianyang to disobey the yin, and with his temper, he will definitely be dissatisfied with the two. In this way, he can only get closer to the two divisions.

It seems that He Guan is obsessed with the errand given to him by the official family, and always wants to control the Western Army. The reason why he asked the imperial court to remove him from his post as the envoy of the Shaanxi Sixth Route System was because of his qualifications and prestige. Not as good as the planters; The second is because he always wants to control the Western Army as he goes. At present, the situation is so complicated, everything should be based on stability and unity, so he is impeached. However, at present, the seed division, Xu Yuan, and Xu Sheng gave up Tongzhou and were stationed in Dingrong and refused to fight. Langyan Zhang Shen's main force was defeated by the Jin army and retreated into the city. Shaanxi Sixth Road, has gone to the third. I'm afraid the remaining three roads are not reliable. Xu Wei has not heard any news so far, and from this point of view, I am afraid that he can only rely on Qu Duan.

"Xuanxiang, when it is broken, it is broken! Otherwise, you will be in trouble! As long as Qu Duan is willing to serve his orders, with his ability and strength, he will be able to defeat the Jin army. At that time, when other marshals see each other, they will surely rush to come. Kill two birds with one stone, why not? Seeing that Li Gang had not reacted for a long time, He Guan persuaded in a deep voice. It is said that the situation is a mustard umbrella