Since Xu Wei made many meritorious deeds and became famous, this Xu Mansion has been different in the eyes of the people of Tokyo. Whether it is a soldier or an officer, or a peddler and pawn, they can't help but take a few glances when they pass through the West Water Gate. The sky was getting dark, and the martial law capital fell into tranquility early. Xishuimen has always been prosperous, and there are few pedestrians at this time.

When Xu Zhang rode a horse and stopped the reins in front of the mansion, passers-by suddenly stopped, is this Xu Wei's father? The doorman ran down the steps to hold the horse, and Xu Zhang saw that there was an official bridge parked on the side of the mansion gate. "This is," he asked.

"Taigong, the front foot of the Privy Counsellor has just arrived." The old man replied.

Xu Zhang's weather-covered face couldn't help but smile. The two sons are leading troops outside and are loyal to the country, he has lost his wife for many years and has not renewed the strings. Xu Shao is his own brother. Although there were gaps in the past, after all, time has changed. A mother and compatriots, after all, blood is thicker than water. Picking up the hem of his clothes and striding in, the Chinese clan saw three or five officials in green robes standing outside the door of the guest hall. Seeing him, the officials saluted. Xu Zhang returned the favor and hurried to the hall, only to see Xu Shao sitting in the guest seat, getting up at this time. Since the other party is here in official clothes. and with an adjutant, it must be for official purposes. Xu Zhang saluted and said, "I've seen the pivot."

Xu Shao's face was not very good-looking. looked at Su An's half-white, aged brother Long Zhong, and couldn't bear it: "Let's sit down and talk." ”

Xu Chang invited him to take a seat. Xu Shao didn't obey, and after the guest sat down, the privy minister did not directly express his intention, but asked: "Brother must know about Fan Zhixu's Shaanxi Five-Way Soldiers and Horses Qin Wang?" ”

Xu Zhang is one of the three chiefs, how can he not know? nodded immediately and said: "Naturally, I know, it's just hateful, and I was defeated by the North Captives in Huangguan." "The old man can't figure it out, the combat power of the Western Army is not clear to others, but he knows it in his heart. The 200,000 Western Army was fake, and there were always 60,000 or 70,000, why was it beaten by thousands of Jurchen cavalry and fled back to the slag pass to defend it? How the hell is this battle fought?

"Lao Jiu finally forced the detachment into the Huazhou regiment to guard the lonely city. Ke Sticky Han is menacing, not only forcibly crossing the Yellow River, but also capturing Xijing and pointing to the emperor! Gao Shi surrendered by the defection of his peers, and Henan shook! The officials are deeply worried. Xu Shao finished his words and sighed secretly.

Xu Zhang slapped his palm on the table and said angrily: "Beiyu is so rampant! "Wu Chen doesn't talk about political affairs, although he is angry, he can only talk about this part.

Seeing this, Xu Shao said: "Today, Sticky Han is forced to come to Tokyo, and Sheji is in danger of being overhanged. If you don't know military affairs, it is recommended to send generals who can recruit and fight to Huangguan to take over the command. ”

When Xu Zhang heard this, his eyes flashed, and he asked urgently, "Oh? So, who is the official appointee? ”

Xu Shao got up slowly. Looking at the elder brother, he said, "It's the second brother." ”

His lips moved, but he didn't speak, Xu Zhang couldn't believe it. I? The official ordered my general? This, is this true or false? But looking at his younger brother's appearance, it doesn't seem like a lie, besides, who dares to play with such a big event? It's true! When he was in a trance, Xu Shao had already said: "The official family has ordered him to serve as the deputy commander of the Infantry Division of the Guard's pro-army." Zuo Weiwei General Xu Zhang stayed in Xijing, entered the official lieutenant, and on the day of the edict, he immediately set off to Huangguan to take over the command, and the soldiers and horses of the five routes were controlled. ”

Xu Zhang's face tightened, and he bowed to the forbidden direction: "Old minister Lingge!" ”

Only then did Xu Shao call in the adjutant, pointed to the things they were holding in their hands, and said, "This is the battle armor and weapons given by the officials, as well as gold and silver coins." ”

After thanking him, Xu Zhang called the servant to accept it, and when he saw that it was getting late, he said to his younger brother: "After the official business." It's dark, so let's stay and eat. ”

"Dare to disobey." Xu Shao arched his hand.

At that moment, Xu Zhang instructed his daughter-in-law to order the kitchen to add wine and food. Half of the table was set up, and the two old brothers sat at the same table, drinking and talking. It can be seen that Xu Zhang is very excited, originally due to poor health, he rarely drinks alcohol in Pingsuli, but at the beginning of today, he drank two glasses in a row, and he was happy!

It was Xu Shao, who was full of worry, and every time he raised a glass, he stopped at a glance. At first, he was worried that the second brother had not only been Zhishi for many years, but Lao Jiu was still a toddler when he left the battlefield, and now there is no general in the court, so he is reinstated. Can you afford to carry this burden? The second person who let him hang the cup is the elder brother, and he is sick, this expedition is the most difficult, can he afford it?

At that time, in the palace, except for Xu Han, other ministers recommended He Guan. Why didn't he excuse his brother? The reason is that he sees it. The official family didn't want He Guan to go. When the new monarch succeeded to the throne, King Zhao of Yun led a large number of chamberlains to break into the palace, He Guan blocked it, and he had the merit of supporting it, and was regarded as a confidant by the official family. Now at this critical juncture, the official family must want to keep him by his side, in case, in case something happens, there is always a minister in Tokyo who knows how to fight and is good at war. From this point of view, the emperor doesn't seem to have much expectation of the Western Army at the moment, let alone the second brother,

"Second brother, it's not humble to go here, brother," Xu Shao wanted to say and stopped.

Xu Zhang drank the third cup and sighed: "I am deeply favored by the country, and I often think about reciprocation."

However, he is old and unbearable. Fortunately, both sons joined the army and made great achievements. I thought that this life would be enough! Unexpectedly, half of the soil is buried, and there is still this opportunity to fight for the country! The third, you don't know, all these years, for"

Pounding his chest hard, the old minister closed his eyes and shook his head.

Xu Shao can naturally understand. The old man is full of ambitions. The Xu family has been in the army for generations, and the second brother is a tiger general of the Western Army, but he was forced to go to the army early and return to his hometown, which is of course uncomfortable.

"Now that the mountains and rivers are broken, and the national disaster is at the head, my generation of warriors should mention tigers and wolves. led a strong army, drove the captives out of the country, and saved the people from disaster. Fang lives up to his ability! How can you be content with old age? For my brother, I would like to give this old life. If you live in the west of Beijing, you will not make the Jurchen offend the emperor! Xu Tianfu was arrogant and generous.

Xu Shao knew that his brother was bold and upright with each other, and he was righteous and did not regret his death. At this time, he seemed to be infected by him, and raised his glass and said: "Brother would like to use this cup to wish my brother a victory, and he will be successful!" ”

"Good!" Xu Zhang snorted. Both brothers drank it all.

Say it again. Xu Tianfu gradually regained his composure. got up and lifted the wine jug, filled it for Xu Shao, and then raised the wine glass with both hands to salute his younger brother, Xu Shao saw it, and hurriedly stood up and said, "Second brother, why is this?" ”

"Third child, I have nothing to worry about this expedition, but I can't rest assured. Now, I'll entrust it to you. Xu Zhang said very solemnly, but Xu Shao was terrified when he heard it.

"Brother, brother, please speak."

"I married my wife, Fang, and had a daughter and two sons. Xiuping and Qinchen have all married families, and Duxu Wei has never been married. Xu Zhang said.

"This brother can rest assured. Ziang has made great contributions repeatedly, and he is a young handsome man deliberately cultivated by the official family, and many people in Beijing point to him as a quick son-in-law.

Don't hide it from my brother, at least I have come home to talk to me and ask Lao Jiu if he is married. Xu Shao said with relief.

Hearing this, as a father. Xu Zhang's face was quite arrogant, but he said: "I am an official with He Shaobao, and I am very close to each other. Last year, when Lao Jiuxing was crowned, he privately asked about the marriage of his children, and he seemed to have the intention of getting married, but he didn't say it at that time. You are my brother, Uncle Xu Wei, when the time is right, you can go to Hefu to ask for relatives. ”

Xu Shao was shocked and said, "Why did the second brother say this? Children's major affairs, let the parents decide! Even if you kiss your uncle, dare to overstep your bounds? When my brother returns triumphantly, it's not too late to marry Lao Jiucheng! My brother never dared to agree to this! Xu Zhang didn't force him, and drank the glass of wine himself.

The night was boundless, Xu Shao came out of the second brother's mansion with a smell of wine, and the servant who had come to prepare before him was helping him to get into the sedan chair, but he turned around and stared at his brother's mansion for a long time. The servant was surprised, and there were tears flashing in the eyes of the privy minister, so he was shocked and lost his voice: "Why is the minister? ”

"My brother's loyal and brave heart will not be reduced when he is young!" Xu Shao burst into tears.

On the fifteenth day of the first month of the second year of Jingkang, Xu Zhang's light car was simple, and he made a detour to Hedong to Huangguan. At the same time, the Sticky Han army had already arrived in Gong County, and the two brothers Xu Yuan and Xu Sheng heard that the Jin army was strong, so they joined forces to increase the base to resist. Wanyan Sticky Han didn't take the Song army in front of him in his eyes at all, and sent the father and son of the Su Huo daughter to attack the camp. The Xu brothers relied on the high fence and strong crossbows, desperately counterattacked, and fought bloodily for a day and night, and the Jin army could not advance half a step. Sticky Han was furious, and personally raised a large army to take it, and Li Hui, who was sitting in Gongxian County, saw that the Jin army was overwhelming, abandoned the city and fled, and his morale plummeted for a while.

And the distant Huazhou is inseparable, and its situation is no different from that of Sticky Han. The city has been completely out of food, and the Jurchen soldiers, Han soldiers, Xi soldiers, Khitan soldiers, and Bohai soldiers often quarrel over a little food. When the grain and grass in the city were scraped away, the soldiers had to kill horses and eat meat to satisfy their hunger. The disaster finally came on the fourteenth day of the first month, and the Jin army had 10,000 commanders, named Han Qinghe, who was originally a Han'er of Liaodong and a Khitan. At the beginning of Ah Gu's army, he surrendered to the Jurchens. He participated in the destruction of Liao and the Song Dynasty, and he was quite trusted by the Jin State. At this time, Huazhou was short of food, and it couldn't last long to kill horses and eat, and the army of Sticky Han was nowhere to be seen. In view of this, Han Qinghe and his son Han Chang prepared to surrender to the Song army on the 14th night of the first lunar month, citing the fact that the Bohai soldiers had beaten and killed the Han soldiers a few days earlier. But because of the informant of his subordinates, he did not know the news in advance, so he quickly arrested the father and son of the Han family, beheaded them in front of the army, and showed them to the public. For a while, the Han soldiers were in danger and panicked.

This incident dealt a great blow to the morale of the Jin army, and since the southern expedition, there has never been a case of the Jin army surrendering and defecting. Afterwards. In the military, it is often pointed out that Han Qing and his father's rebellion was related to Guo Yaoshi, and the reason is that it is said that when Han Qinghe and his father and son discussed the incident with their subordinates, they compared themselves to pharmacists. said that Guo Yaoshi turned his back on Liao and descended to the Song Dynasty. Deeply favored by the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, holding heavy troops, guarding one side, he will go by himself, and he will be worshiped by the Emperor of Zhao and Song Dynasty as the general of the Pillar State.

Guo Yaoshi tried his best to clear up, knelt at the feet of the inseparable and wept bitterly, expressed his loyalty, and declared that he would live and die with the prince Lang, and share honor and disgrace. No two minds! Although the second prince did not kill him. However, they were sent to restrict their movements, monitor them day and night, and pharmacists were not allowed to participate in all important military affairs.

As soon as Pharmacist Guo fell, the generals who had a friendship with him were nervous, fearing that they would be harmed. After such a fuss, I can't help but feel that my limit is coming.