With the start of the war machine, a "national storm" also blew in the ideological circles of Heijo. Li Mu's highly infectious speech on the exercise ground began to spread in the territory of Pingcheng under the impetus of people with good intentions, and people of insight from all over the world who had fled here exchanged, discussed, analyzed, and criticized each other, and for a time everyone in Pingcheng knew about the "country" and everyone talked about the "country."

On the night of September 15, in the government office of Pingcheng, Zhao Jie specially held a banquet to bid farewell to his former friend Lian Zheng, who was about to go on the expedition. During the banquet, gossip was discussed, and the theory of "state" was repeatedly mentioned.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there is no one who does not talk about the "country" at the dinner in Pingcheng today, and we are gathered at the same table today, should we also be vassally elegant? After a few glasses of wine, Zhao Ying couldn't wait to ask.

"The theory of 'country' is ancient, and Li Mu is the first person!" Zhao Yin was the first to sigh: "His views are novel and unique, and he can stand up to the world!" ”

Zhao Jie nodded when he heard this, and explained: "The essence of the theory of 'country' lies in its effect of gathering people's hearts. Since King Ping moved eastward, the princes have seen each other attack each other in a hundred years, and almost no day has been broken, and the people have suffered for a long time. The people are in distress and complain about their masters, because the king who has lost the country does not know how many, and finally there is a situation where the seven kingdoms stand side by side today. Erecting the banner of 'state', gathering the people under it, preaching the distinction between the enemy and our country, so that the people can concentrate under the national community and consciously resist the invasion of the enemy state, this is a rare and good choice for the monarchs of the seven major vassal states at present. ”

Integrity nodded in goodness, and then added: "All the countries under Fang today have been established in brutal battles, the concept of 'state' has been vaguely established in the bloodshed, and its initial impact on the country has penetrated into all aspects, and all that is lacking today is to pierce this thin layer of window paper and give it greater official support." I think that once the governments of other countries come into contact with the theory of "state", they will not refuse to put it into practice. ”

"I don't think so!" Zhao Ying opened his mouth to refute the integrity of the Dao: the theory of "state" defines the king as the spokesperson of the national image of the mandate of heaven, which greatly stabilizes the declining monarchy, although it can be loved by the kings of various countries, but its propaganda of the concept that the political power is not equal to the state greatly damages the authority of the government, and then weakens the rights of officials in the process of national governance. Before the theory of the state is put into practice, a country will inevitably need to go through a political confrontation between the king and the courtiers, so the measurement of the gains and losses of the political struggle, the contrast between the power of the king and the power of the courtiers will affect the decision-making of the king and the government, and everything is not yet known. ”

Zhao Jie, Zhao Yin, and Lian Zheng all praised themselves again and again when they heard this, and everyone drank a few cups together.

On September 16, Li Mu swore to send troops to Pingcheng, and 7,000 elite dreadnought troops, 3,000 Li Mu's guards and 5,000 beggar soldiers set out from Pingcheng to the south. On the march along the way, Li Mu's troops attacked everywhere, recovered dozens of large and small cities, annexed large and small deserting troops and attacked more than 5,000 people, eliminated more than 10 groups of bandits along the way, and recruited more than 10,000 people who fled.

On September 17, Li Mu ordered more than 30,000 soldiers and horses to stop marching, reorganize their armor and horses on the spot, recuperate their energy, and send a message to Tiandan, and discuss the joint army to besiege the remnants of the Xiongnu army.

On September 18, Li Mu led more than 30,000 soldiers and horses, and suddenly lay on the northern retreat route of the Xiongnu army, and at the same time became horns with the Zhao army led by Tian Dan to the north, wanting to besiege about 50,000 remnants of the Xiongnu army on all sides.

"Shan Yu, I have already inquired clearly, the commander of the southbound Zhao army is our old opponent Li Mu!" Yi Chi opened the tent and said hurriedly as he walked.

"Li Mu! It turned out to be him! Hearing this, Xiongnu Shan Yu couldn't help but sit down on the chair and muttered: "How good is this!" ”

"Shan Yu, while the encirclement of the Zhao army has not yet been encircled, lead the army to escape! That's all there is to it. Hutu rolled his eyes, and then spoke up.

"There are still nearly 10,000 wounded soldiers in the battalion, should we just abandon them? There are tens of thousands of other Zhao army prisoners, do you want to abandon them? If this is the case, this time it is the loss of troops in the south and nothing to gain, how can Lone have the face to see his hometown fathers! Xiongnu Shan Yu said with a tangled face.

"Shan Yu, the ancients said: The green mountains left are here, and you are not afraid of no firewood. Although we have returned in humiliation today, if the Ming Dynasty returns with revenge, we can also be called husbands. If you lose your life here today, what chance will you have to avenge your defeat today? Hutu persuaded again.

"But ......" Hun Shan hesitated in his heart, and couldn't help but lose his mind, only to mutter.

"It's urgent, please make a decision quickly!" Seeing this scene, Yi Chi slanted and screamed, waking up the distracted Shan Yudao.

Hearing this, the Xiongnu Shan Yu, who came back to his senses, had to give an order after being silent for a few minutes: "Tonight, the whole army will retreat overnight!" ”

On the night of September 19, more than 40,000 Xiongnu troops quietly absconded from the gap in the encirclement of the Zhao army. In half a day, the Huns had already gone away, and the pursuit was abandoned.

After that, Tiandan and Li Mu continued to divide their troops into two places, and Tiandan led most of the soldiers and horses to camp step by step, recovering the lost land, rehousing the people, and being in good order; And Li Mu led his headquarters of 30,000 soldiers and horses to continue to pursue the remnants of the Xiongnu.

On September 22, the Xiongnu army entered the boundary of Pingcheng, and Lian Zheng personally rode a horse to send Li Mu's order: organize the remaining men and horses in Pingcheng, and be sure to block the Xiongnu army for half a day.

"Integrity, most of the elite soldiers and horses in Pingcheng have been taken away by Li Mu, and it is not yet known whether the rest can protect themselves, where do you let me go to the organization to resist the 40,000 Huns mourning army for half a day." Zhao Jie responded with integrity.

"I know you have difficulties, but if you want to completely annihilate this Hun army, no matter how big the difficulties are, you have to overcome them!" Honest smiled awkwardly, and then said, "Let's sum it up together and see if we can find any good solutions!" ”

"It's easy for Lian to join the army, now Pingcheng is defenseless people except for the ill-equipped civilian army, do you want to send them to the battlefield to die?" Zhao Yin asked with a dissatisfied expression.

"Of course it can't!" Integrity replied without thinking: "Otherwise, how are we different from the executioner." ”

As soon as the honest voice fell, it happened that a government soldier knocked on the door and reported: "My lord, Tang Xi, the general of the beggar army, has something to ask to see and is waiting in the middle hall!" ”

"Beggar's Army, maybe usable!" Zhao Jie's eyes rolled when he heard this, and he said in a surprised tone.

"Beggar Army, are you sure?" Zhao Yin asked Zhao Jie suspiciously when he heard this.

"What is a beggar army?" Honest asked suspiciously.