In the evening, night falls. The undulating Liangshan looks so lonely and lonely in the night. The bleak autumn wind is already a little chilly, blowing people's hearts can't help but feel sad. In the vast night, several figures came and went. The people were silent, the horses were silent, and they came to the foot of Liangshan quietly.

The first two riders, one is Xu Wei and the other is Yang Yan. When they got off the horse, neither of them spoke, and the guards who followed handed them incense, candles, and fruits, and the two of them squatted down silently and laid out the offerings on the ground. In the war-torn years, and in the midst of the march, they have done their best, but they are still shabby. A knife head meat, a jar of wine, and some of the food that the object of worship today liked to eat in his lifetime.

Xu Weihuang lit the fire and patiently lit a pair of candles. The beating candlelight reflected the two solemn faces, no tears, no sorrow, but there was still a trace of sadness in the eyes. The crockpot is not broken from the well, and the general will inevitably die in front of the battle, although he will be stubborn and serve the battlefield, there will always be such a day. But it is really unacceptable that the brother who was talking and laughing with you not long ago is suddenly separated forever.

Xu Wei took the three-pillar incense stick and lit it carefully on the candle flame, while Yang Yan silently tore the paper money next to him. They face east, and there is their hometown, Hebei. On the outskirts of a small county under the Daimyo's Mansion, there is a village like a paradise. There, they were once inseparable, mingling all day long, leaving behind a not-so-good reputation. They also raised troops there, fought in various places, and established a great reputation. However, all this is no longer important at this moment, they are now just paying tribute to a departed heroic spirit.

"Mattei, today is your first seventh, and Yang Yan and I have come to worship you. The situation is like this, it is difficult to bury you back to your hometown for the time being, and I hope you will understand. When the lost land is regained in the future, our brothers will let your soul return to your homeland. Xu Wei whispered and inserted the three-pillar fragrance into the soil.

Yang Yan put pieces of paper money on the fire, and under the autumn wind, it burned vigorously. It seems that the spirits of the dead who are not far away know that their brothers have come to worship.

"Ma Er, since I was a child, I have bullied you for more than ten years. There's no one stumbling up now, and I'm really not used to it. Brother can't figure it out, what are you anxious about? The golden dog hasn't been killed yet, and you're gone. Alas, that's it, I've counted you down for so many years, and I don't want you to leave and listen to my nagging. Brother, although we don't have three animals and drink blood and wine, we don't need these, we are brothers. I wish that all my life and all my life should be robes, and all my generations should be brothers. Today, your first seventh, the ninth brother and I will send you some sacrifices, burn some paper money, you take it, you don't need to save flowers, you can gamble if you want there, every year our brothers will burn it for you. Alas, Ma Er, why are you ......" Yang Yan couldn't go on as he spoke.

Ma Tai's body has been escorted back to Chang'an by Xu Wei. How to arrange the future depends on the wishes of his parents and wife, but the national crisis is at hand, the situation is changeable, and it is estimated that he can only be temporarily buried in Shaanxi. The soul returned to his hometown, and I don't know what year or month, after all, Hebei is now the territory of the so-called "Great Korea", which is controlled by Gao Zhishiyou.

Seeing that the candles were burning shorter and shorter, and the pile of paper was gradually extinguished, Xu Wei and Yang Yan slowly got up. The two of them took two steps back, bowed, and bowed to the ground, repeating this three times before standing solemnly. At this moment, a gust of wind blew, rolling up ashes and flying all over the sky. The sound of the wind sounded like a heavy sigh in the night sky

Xu Wei's eyes suddenly turned red, but Yang Yan burst into tears, they knew that Ma Tai really left this time and would never come back.

On the way back, the guards were carrying torches, and both of them let their horses move slowly. Yang Yan came to his senses and asked in a deep voice: "Brother Jiu, I finally got together more than 50,000 people, can Danzhou fight?" ”

"It doesn't matter whether Danzhou fights or not, now we have created a situation of a large army pressing the border. If Lou Su was fooled, he would naturally be in a hurry to transfer troops back to defense. But so far, there has been no movement, and I guess something has changed. It may also be that Yelu Mawu in Juzhou saw some clues. When Xu Wei spoke, his tone was very calm, but he was actually a little anxious. Although he has more than 50,000 horses in his hands now, the only ones who can really pull out and fight with the Jin army are his troops of less than 10,000 and Xu Hong's thousands of elite soldiers. The other rebels who rushed to assemble were okay to engage in sneak attacks, and they fought head-on, not their forte.

"If Yelu Ma Wu doesn't go back to defense, then let's just go to Yan'an," Yang Yan said hatefully.

Xu Wei shook his head: "We lack equipment, and the city of Yan'an is high and solid, and we can't take it." Besides, if our army really detains Yan'an City, Ma Wu will fight to the death to save it, and then tens of thousands of rabble, how can he be against the Jurchen tiger and wolf army? ”

"How is that like this?" Yang Yan turned his head and asked.

Xu Wei thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Tomorrow's soldiers in Danzhou, no matter what, the appearance still has to be pretended." ”

After a short time, the two returned to the camp, and in the night, they saw that the tent of the Song military camp stretched for several miles, and the lights were brilliant, reflecting the sky as if it were day. But Xu Jiu knew very well in his heart that this superficial glamour was pretended. Whether it can deceive the Jurchens is still unknown.

But this unknown was immediately solved. As soon as they entered the camp, Wu Jue and Li Guan hurriedly came to see them.

"Handsome, happy event" Wu Jue's first sentence made Xu Wei, who had just sat down, get up suddenly. Wedding? Could it be ...... Ma Wu sent troops?

"Marshal, the detailed work sent by our army to Dunzhou has been proven. A few days ago, tens of thousands of Jin troops in Dunzhou left the city and waved their troops to the north and threw themselves in the direction of Yan'an. Li Guan reported loudly.

Xu Wei walked down in a few strides and asked eagerly, "Can you be careful?" Did Ma Wu indeed send a large army north? ”

"It will never be wrong to estimate according to the itinerary, and now it should be at the Ganquan boundary in Yan'an," Li Guan was very sure.

Xu Wei's heart was like a boulder falling to the ground, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Ma Wu's army went all the way to the north, gradually moving away from Yanzhou, and at this time, Wang Yu and other generals must have also received the news. Wang Zhengchen is a good general, he will definitely seize this opportunity to storm Dunzhou and wait for Ma Wu to be in the middle of the plan, and then bring the army back to help, I am afraid it will be too late

If this battle is won, the entire territory of Shaanxi will be recovered, and if Shaanxi can be preserved at least a few years in advance, it will not only be of great benefit to itself, but will also effectively hinder the strategy of the Jin State against the Song Dynasty

At the beginning of September of the third year of Longxing, the general of the Jin army, Yelu Mawu, led the army out of Yanzhou and rushed to the aid of Yan'an. After Lou Su heard the news, his heart was a little calmer. But in the face of his old enemy Xu Wei, he still didn't dare to be careless, and the martial law of Yan'an City was not relaxed at all, prohibiting all entry and exit, and those who could fight had already gone to the city and were in urgent need of reinforcements. At this time, Han Chang and Ma Wu were rushing to Yan'an. After Wang Yu of Fangzhou confirmed the matter, he immediately led his army to cross the border of Dunfang. When he found out that the Jin army had abandoned the two counties of Zhiluo and Duncheng, Wang Yu decided that regardless of Luochuan County, the army would go straight to Luojiao County, where the state of Yanzhou was located. In order to take the city in the shortest possible time, so that the army can gain a foothold

Before setting out on the expedition, Wang Yu repeatedly admonished the generals and instructed them to tell the whole army. This battle was a decisive battle related to the recovery of the entire territory of Shaanxi. If we can take Dunzhou, Yan'an Mansion will be taken by me, and the foundation of the Jin army in Shaanxi will be greatly loosened. He demanded that the whole army do their best and serve their lives desperately.

Zhang Xian, Wu Lan and others are all brave generals with outstanding achievements under Xu Wei, and they have their own arrogance. Although Wang Yu has a reputation, it is not easy to make them willing to be driven. Fortunately, with Wang Yu was Zhang Qing, the oldest in the army. Under his coordinated mediation, the proud soldiers and fierce generals obeyed the military order, and the soldiers pointed directly at Yanzhou

A major war concerning the belonging of Shaanxi is about to begin.

Not to mention that Wang Yu's army pressed the border, just said that Ma Wu led tens of thousands of elites to the north and arrived in Ganquan County, Yan'an Prefecture in less than two days. After two days of rapid marching, the men and horses were quite tired, so he ordered to rest at Ganquan for one night, and then set off for Yan'an tomorrow. Although the troops were dispatched according to the order, to be honest, the doubts in Ma Wu's heart have not been reduced slightly. He always believes that Xu Wei's move has ulterior motives. Although there is no evidence, judging from his experience in fighting the Hu'er Army, although Xu Wei is brave, he does not fight meaninglessly. If the other party really wants to take Yan'an, he is not afraid that I will attack from Yanzhou, go to Fangyao Erzhou, and threaten Chang'an?

After inspecting the barracks, this Khitan general stood at the head of Ganquan City, overlooking the direction of Yan'an. I was always uneasy in my heart, although the soldiers in Yanzhou were strong and strong, with tens of thousands of people. But if Xu Wei really has ulterior motives, then Fangzhou must be a place where strong troops gather. If the other party goes all out to detain Juzhou City, I'm afraid it will ......

"Xiao Tart, the commander of the army, came from Yan'an and has entered the city" was pondering, and some soldiers reported that they went to the city.

"Oh? Invite him to the city. Ma Wu replied. Xiao Tzu and he were both Khitan former ministers, although there was no contact before the death of Liao, but after the gold reduction, because they were both Khitans, they were closer. Now that he has come from Yan'an, he must have been taken by Lou Su and came to urge the troops.

After a while, as soon as the general came up to the city, Lao Yuan shouted, "You have finally sent troops." ”

Ma Wu smiled: "If I don't send troops again, Lou Su is afraid that he will kill me." ”

"That's not true, it's just a little more ugly." Xiao Tzu originally commanded a Khitan team of 10,000 people, but Han Chang attacked Huanqing, and Lou Su gave most of his soldiers and horses to Han Chang, leaving only a few to guard Yan'an.

Ma Wu didn't talk anymore, and asked directly: "Where is the Hu'er Army entering?" ”

"The assembly has been completed, and it is estimated that Danzhou will be captured in these two days. Lou Su sent me here to urge you to enter the army. Xiao Tzu replied.

Bing Guishen, if Xu Wei really wanted to go to Yan'an, he shouldn't delay like this. It should be taken advantage of the fact that the reinforcements from all walks of life have not arrived in Yan'an, and the city should be stormed. The more suspicious he became, he said to Xiao Tzu: "I'm afraid that this matter is fraudulent, and I will give me two days." ”

Xiao Tzu didn't understand the meaning of his words, and asked, "Where do you start with this?" ”

"Ganquan is not far from Yanzhou, if something happens, I can still go back. If you go further north, you will not be able to save the fire from far water. I hope you will be thoughtful about this matter," Ma Wu hugged his fist.

"I'm afraid this is inappropriate, Lou Su has already moved his liver fire. You and I are of the same origin, and if we do this, we will be criticized. In addition, let me advise you, when the prime minister was still in Shaanxi, you and Lou Su disagreed, disagreed, and resented each other. At this critical juncture, it is better not to make extraneous branches. He let the army enter the army, and he is also in charge of the Shaanxi. Besides, what can happen, I believe it, Song Jun dares to pull out Dunzhou? Xiao Tzu persuaded with good words.

Ma Wu's eyes were like torches, and he said: "You really said it, in my opinion, Xu Wei has another plan this time." Juzhou, very likely"

"Is there any basis? Do you know that Yan'an is in danger? Since the defeat of the living woman, on the Guanzhong Plain, there is no soldier on our side. The Song army had attacked Hezhongfu and controlled the pontoon barriers, and the connection between Shaanxi and Hedong had been completely severed. To put it mildly, this is called catching turtles in an urn, if you say that Xu Wei has other plans, then why did he wantonly gather troops in Tongzhou? In any case, it will never be wrong to return to Yan'an. Han Chang, the Han general, has already rushed back with all his might, you can't be left behind, right? Xiao Tzu said.

This sentence caught Ma Wu's attention: "What? Han Chang is also back? So, Huanqing failed? ”

Xiao Tzu misunderstood what he meant, and said a little impatiently: "At this juncture, what are you fighting for?" I know that you opposed Huanqing at the beginning, saying that it was in vain. Now you've got it right. Let's go, don't talk about everything, and go back to Yan'an to make another calculation. ”

Ma Wu didn't respond, Han Chang replied, Yan'an can be safe, and said to Xiao Tzu: "I have made up my mind, suspend the march." When you return to Lousu, you will say that I have arrived at the border of Yan'an and garrison Ganquan, and the Hu'er army will soon notice it, so it will naturally have some scruples. There is no need to rush to Yan'an anymore. ”

"Why are you so ......" Xiao Tzu still wanted to persuade again.

"Needless to say, if you don't want to help me, you can tell Lou Su directly, saying that I deliberately delayed, or have ulterior motives." Ma Wu seems to be iron-hearted.

Xiao Tart touched a nail, and kindly made people think that it was a donkey's liver and lungs, and they also felt bored. But Ma Wu and he are both Khitans, so how can they be slandered? Then he said helplessly: "That's it, I'll go back and try to be as good as possible for you." However, Han Chang's troops are limited, so I advise you to rush to Yan'an as soon as possible. After all, Lou Su is the master, you are the deputy, if the two of you make a fuss, you will know who will protect whom, you know in your heart. That's all you have to say, so you can do it yourself and say goodbye. ”

Ma Wu bowed his hand: "So, thank you." ”

After sending Xiao Tzu away, Ma Wu thought to himself, this risk is worth taking. I'm just going to stay in Ganquan, but I want to see how you want to play this game of Purple Golden Tiger

On the fifth day of the ninth month, Xu Wei led his army to Danzhou. As the smallest state under the jurisdiction of Shaanxi, Danzhou City really has nothing to rely on. The city was originally small, and it was seriously damaged by several military disasters. After the Jin army got this place, he had no intention of operating it. When the 50,000 people of the Song army approached the city, they saw a dilapidated building full of holes and fragile pieces. But in order to protect Yan'an, Lou Su still did his best and sent thousands of troops here.

After surrounding the city, Xu Wei did not rush to make a move, but sent people to persuade him to surrender. This is a very reasonable move, the Song army is more than ten times better than the Danzhou Jin army, and this dilapidated city is absolutely unable to stop the Song army's onslaught. It is not necessary to avoid unnecessary casualties, but also to gain time, persuasion is a win-win good thing.

The Jin army, who was defending the city, rightfully rejected this ridiculous offer. Since the Song and Jin wars, the Jin army has been invincible, and there has always been only the Song army surrendering, how can the fierce Jin army bend its knees? Although in the hands of the Purple Golden Tiger, the Jurchens suffered a lot of losses, but this did not affect the pride of the Jin Army.

At the same time, Lou Su in Yan'an City was certainly anxious. But at this time, there were also people who persuaded him, and this person was his son Wanyan Huonu. The living girl's opinion is somewhat similar to that of Yelu Mawu, who believes that Xu Wei advanced into the Guanzhong Plain in a big way, and then transferred his troops to the north to try Yan'an. It is said that the soldiers should be noble, taking advantage of the fact that Yan'an was defenseless and the reinforcements did not arrive in time, and the troops approached the city of Yan'an with lightning speed. However, due to the lack of troops, Xu Wei stayed in Tongzhou for a period of time to gather troops. In this way, Xu Wei has lost the best opportunity to attack Yan'an, and Han Chang is already on the way, and he will arrive in a day or two. Although Ma Wu has an ambiguous attitude, it is impossible for him to die in Yan'an. Overall, Yan'an may be in danger but not in danger.

Although his view is fundamentally different from that of Ma Wu, he is optimistic about the future of Yan'an and is still the same.

Although he lost the battle and his reputation was damaged, it did not prevent his father from trusting him. Lou Su can also be regarded as a famous general in a hundred battles, because the opponent is Xu Wei, who made him fall big, he was very anxious at first. But when you think about it, it's exactly what happened. Whether it is Han Chang and Ma Wu, as long as there is one way to arrive first, Yan'an should be stable.

On the sixth day of September, Yan'an City, the original Yan Yan Jinglu pacified the Department of Justice.

Han Chang, who had just rushed back, was reporting the battle situation to Lou Su. With the assistance of Murong Wei, the former rebel general of Huanqing, the Jin army made smooth progress at first, capturing a large area in the northern part of Qingyang Province, and once hit an area less than 100 miles away from Qingyang in Huanqing Province. Murong Wei was initially exposed to Huanzhou, but then the defenders retreated for some reason, and he also occupied Huanzhou. But the battle has reached a stalemate at this point. The Song army was reinforced and set up a defensive line dozens of miles north of Qingyang Mansion, where Han Chang led his army to fight the Song army for more than ten battles, but failed to move forward. And Murong Wei was also repelled by the Song army at this time. When the war was stalemate, he received the news of an emergency in Yan'an, so he collected troops and returned to help.

For this attack Huanqing returned in vain, Han Chang was very unhappy.

"It doesn't matter, when the prime minister left, he instructed us that our priority was to keep the existing area. The Hu'er army succeeded on the Guanzhong Plain and pushed all the way to Danzhou, posing a threat to Yan'an. Your timely return to defense is also a credit. Lou Su said with relief. It can be seen that Han Chang's coming to help has reassured him in his heart, and the whole person is a lot more relaxed.

As he was talking, he suddenly heard that the Khitan Wanhu Xiao Tart had returned.

"What about the Ma Wu Division?" Lou Su asked.

"Only Xiao Tzu returned alone, and he didn't see the generals of Yanzhou." The soldier replied.

Lou Su was furious, Yelu Ma Wu was so rampant that he ignored my urgent order to transfer troops several times

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