Tong Doulan has had a very easy time these days.

garrisons and sentinels include Chen Hu, Zhao Guo, etc.; repairing the city wall, there are Wu Henian and so on; There are camps such as Wenhua Kingdom. He didn't have anything. Deng She was both polite and enthusiastic, with a big banquet in three days and a small banquet in two days. All day long is nothing more than eating, sleeping, sleeping, eating; Deng She was careful, afraid that he would be bored, and invited him from time to time to lead the Jurchen hundreds of households to participate in various competitive activities organized by the Han army in their spare time. It's laid-back.

Tong Doulan came to Shuangcheng, half to see Hong Jixun's face, and half because of the general trend. The world is in turmoil, and the heroes rise together. The Red Turban, Mengyuan, and Goryeo forces in Liaodong contend with each other, and the territory occupied by them is staggered, and they almost do not fight every day, and they can't get a moment of rest.

Only two cities and one place, in just three or four years, several hands changed hands, from Mengyuan to Goryeo, and now from Goryeo to the red scarf. From this, we can also roughly see the fierceness of the turf competition between these forces.

If Liaodong is far away in the west of Yalu River, it has little to do with him for the time being; The Twin Cities are within easy reach. As a hereditary thousand households of the Sansan Jurchen, how could he stay out of the matter? How is it possible to hang high? Just like Dunshe, he had to make a choice and lean on one side. Otherwise, you cannot keep yourself safe; Otherwise, a position of power cannot be maintained.

Therefore, as soon as Hong Jixun went,—— the two of them have known each other since childhood, and they have always admired Hong Jixun's vision and talent. He also promised that after the matter was completed, he would hand over the Helan Mansion to him. His thoughts were half-convinced, and he listened to them in vain. Make up your mind, stay if you agree, and go if you don't. There's nothing to lose anyway.

It is precisely because of this that on the way, I heard that the Goryeo army was trapped in Shuangcheng and retreated. After all, Hong Jixun was full of confidence, and bluntly said that this must be Deng She's plan, and said that he was moved to see what happened. Although he saved Shuangcheng by mistake, there was a thunderclap in the western mountain pass, and Deng She's army rose up, but it caused a lot of shock in his heart.

When you fall into a desperate situation, you can still get sharper and sharper; Nine times out of ten, a mortal can't protect himself, but he dares to aim for the total annihilation of the enemy. Although he is young, he is not old enough to use the soldiers, and he almost failed to defeat the enemy, but he fell himself, but this courage and strategy are indeed rare. Over time, it may not be a big deal.

In the past few days, he has traveled back and forth to the camp and exchanged with the generals, secretly observing: morale and fighting spirit are high, military discipline is quite strict, and the whole is united. As for local governance, a set of measures one after another*, dividing land, caring for the people, persuading farming, and seeking talents, it is also like having to do something.

In addition, the envoy from Liaoyang came yesterday. Because it was an internal matter, Deng She did not invite him to participate, Yao Haogu brought thousands of iron cavalry and a large number of weapons to support, but he also knew. There is strong reinforcement outside, and the inside is exciting, thinking about it, and the idea of going if it doesn't fit gradually fades.

If you merge it, you will stay. How to stay? Is it cooperation, or refuge? When Deng She and Hong Jixun came to a meeting at night, he was not idle, convening the tribe to discuss and study. It was unanimously agreed that it was better to take refuge than to cooperate. As soon as you take refuge, you will have no ego, tied together, and the risk is too great; Cooperation is different, taking the initiative. Deng She developed, followed the light and drank the soup; In case of defeat, Deng She's army can go their separate ways.

In the final analysis, the idea of fighting is still to stay, and if it is not, it will go. Tong Doulan thought so. Now that the decision has been made, it is necessary to consider how to implement it next. These days, Dunsher gives them the best camp, and treats them with good wine and meat; Dispatch missions and so on, not a word. Apparently waiting for their own request.

Shiyun: Vote for me with a peach, and repay it with Qiong Yao. Instead of waiting for Deng She's patience to run out, Tong Doulan decided that it was better to take the initiative to ask for battle. In this way, it not only shows that you are not ignorant of the good and bad, but also can vaguely show your position of cooperating and not taking refuge first.

Early in the morning, Deng She's personal soldiers came to invite, saying that in order to welcome the envoy of Guan Duo, the retired soldiers would hold a large-scale competition today: "My general specially invites the adults of a thousand households to watch together. The warriors under the command of adults, if you want to play, you might as well have fun. ”

This is the first time that Deng She has officially invited him and the Jurchen soldiers to participate in military activities. Obviously welcomed Yao Haogu, but in fact, he took the opportunity to show his military might, and the purpose was nothing more than urging him to make up his mind as soon as possible. smiled understandingly, strong enemies and tigers, Deng She's patience can persist until now, which is already good.

Immediately agreed. Deng She wants to show his military might, why doesn't he want to take the opportunity to show his military might, so as to win more bargaining chips for his cooperation? He personally went down to the battalion, selected 100 elite people, and officers of all sizes, and the group galloped out of the city and came to the school field that was basically completed.

On the field, the troops have been divided into troops, and there are many soldiers standing in the ranks. And many more, either out of the city or out of the camps outside the city, in all directions. In this competition, following Hong Jixun's proposal, he did not avoid the people, and many natives came to watch the excitement when they heard the news. After all, there is the shadow of the slaughter of the city, and it does not come much.

In the middle of the school field, a high platform was erected, and five or six big flags were waved in the wind, and Deng She, He Guangxiu, Wen Huaguo, Li Monk and other generals, as well as Hong Jixun and Yao Haogu sat under them. Seeing Tong Doulan, Deng She stepped down to greet him and sat down hand in hand. They have their own soldiers serving tea and soup.

It is sunny and warm, with green fields near and green mountains in the distance. Everyone talked and laughed, officers from various departments came to report one after another, and all the soldiers who participated in the activities arrived. In total, there are more than 1,000 Han soldiers, more than 300 Li soldiers, and more than 100 Jurchen soldiers.

The winner of each game wears flowers, rewards money, and wine; Win the most hundreds, give a red flag. Tomorrow's work that should be done by this team, such as building a camp, etc., will be replaced by the team that loses the most, and it will be allowed to take a day off.

Three big drums sounded, and the competition began. Some teams of 100 brought small drums and shouted and beat around them to cheer on their players.

Everyone who was talking and chatting on the high platform stopped talking. Wen Huaguo and the others, one by one, only looked at the project in which the non-commissioned officers participated, and they were proud and scolded their mothers loudly.

Tong Doulan behaved a little more restrained, but if a Jurchen person won, she couldn't help but be overjoyed. Yao Haogu glanced at each other, Han pawn, Li pawn, Jurchen, none of them let go, and he didn't have to think about it to know that he was assessing the quality of Deng She's army.

Of course, Deng She also wanted his subordinates to fight for a breath. First, Yaowu Tong Doulan strengthened his determination; First, he came to promote Yao Haogu, which made him feel that he could not be underestimated, so as to build momentum for the future.

However, as a landlord, unlike Tong and Yao, he treats the winning players equally, and praises whoever wins. Among the generals on the stage, the subordinates of Wen, Li and others won and lost equally; Only Ha Guangxiu's face became more and more drooping, he was so ambitious, all the projects and all the teams had the Li pawns he sent to participate, and there were very few winners.

There was a burst of cheers on the left. Everyone hurriedly turned their eyes to look, but it came from a large group of Jurchens in the corner. Since this Jurchen came on the field, he has saved three or four people in a row and has not tasted defeat. Deng She praised: "There are no weak soldiers under the strong generals, and Tong Qianhu is brave and brave, worthy of the name of the three scattered heroes." ”

Tong Doulan said: "General Miao Zan, I dare not be ashamed." As he spoke, there was a cheer from the right. But in the willow shooting group, Lu Qianxi's subordinates won for a while. Tong Doulan said: "I'm not ashamed, I was praised by the general, and I was defeated for a while." ”

Most of the Jurchens in the twin cities have been farming, while the Sansan Jurchens have not yet escaped shooting; Winning the corner is not enough to boast, but losing in his old business for a while, he is not a lie, but he is really ashamed. Won the Jurchen Han pawn, Deng She saw that one of the eight hundred old pawns. rejoiced in his heart, comforted Tong Doulan, and said: "A period of loss, why worry about it." On the same day, thousands of households came to save the twin cities, and they would have watched from afar, and all the knights of your army were skilled in bowing and horses, and they had tacit understanding. ”

Yao Haogu didn't see Tong Doulan yesterday, and he didn't know much about the battle between the two cities, and when he saw that Deng She was very polite to him between his words, he guessed the relationship between the two, and interjected and asked: "In the past in the army of Guan Pingzhang, Xiaosheng often heard that there was a descendant of King Yue in Sansan, dare to ask, is it Your Majesty?" ”

Tong Doulan came late, and Deng She didn't introduce it to Yao Haogu, so she added: "Tong Qianhu is the seventh grandson of King Yue." ”

Yao Haogu was in awe, and stood up and said: "After seeing the martyrs, Sansheng is lucky." Tong Doulan hurriedly returned the salute, Yao Haogu took his hand and sat down, and said: "In the life of this official, the most admired is King Yue." "Reciting "Man Jianghong", I was full of emotion, "'Jing Kang is ashamed, still not snowing, the courtiers hate, when will it be destroyed,...... To start from the beginning, clean up the old mountains and rivers, and face the sky. 'King Yue's ambition is actually a reward to this day. Tartar dust all over the Central Plains, a hundred years! Thousands of miles are as bloody as promised, and the souls of the eternal heroes are here. King Yue is the backbone of my Great Song Dynasty, and when he saw Tong Qianhu, the official was really indescribably happy. ”

Yao Haogu was as careful as a hair, reciting the words of King Yue, omitting the two sentences of "ambition and hunger", and skillfully replacing the Jurchens who were the enemy of King Yue with today's Mongols. It will not arouse Tong Doulan's other thoughts, but also carry out the Great Song Dynasty without missing a trace, indicating his identity.

Deng She and Hong Jixun glanced at each other. They wanted to win over the Jurchens, and Yao Haogu seemed to have thought the same way. Tong Doulan can't hide it, in the same city, sooner or later Yao Haogu will meet him, it's better to see him early than late, see you early, and show Deng She's openness.

Of course, no matter what, you can't let the support you have worked so hard to find be easily picked by Guan Duo. They have a solution, too. Hong Jixun was moved by emotion, and Deng She met with martial arts. Warrior warriors, generally speaking, are still more heroic and heroic.

Their intrigue is unknown to Tong Doulan. In his eyes, Dunshe and Guan Duo were one. Yao Haogu's praise for King Yue, he listened to it a lot, and casually entertained a few words.

The wind blows, and the sun gradually rises. Deng She smiled: "Since I was injured in the neck, I have not moved my hands and feet for more than a month. Watching the soldiers compete today, Ben will have some skills. Turning his head and asking Tong Doulan, "Tong Qianhu, are you interested in having a fight with Ben?" ”

Tong Doulan was right when she heard this, and she was not humble, so she only said: "The general's injuries have not healed, and I am afraid that I will take advantage of it." How about shooting willows? "Go straight, just to get back the face of Shicai who lost the willow shooting.

Dunshe's best at guns; There is a master like Chen Hu in archery, who has been in the army for five or six years, and has been practicing hard every day, and he does not dare to call himself a first-class one, and he is still sure of shooting willows. Smile and let it go.

The Lord will personally go down to the battlefield and immediately mobilize the atmosphere in the field. Wen Huaguo took off his shirtless, beat the big drum, and the bang sounded. More than a dozen soldiers of the elder brother's team held Deng She's handsome flag and rode around the field; Behind were four or five Jurchens, all holding Tong Doulan's flag. While galloping, he shouted: "Tens of thousands of generals, have fun with the army and the people, and shoot willows in person!" ”

Two big flags, one in front of the other and one behind, galloped into the willow field.

The site is several zhang wide and dozens of zhang long, and when it is cleaned up, the soldiers and people of other venues have crowded over, rubbing shoulders and being very excited. Newly moved wicker is arranged on both sides of the site and inserted five inches into the ground; Peel off the ruler-length outer skin to reveal the white branches inside. Every three or five series of red and black handkerchiefs are on it; The so-called targeted, the wicker with a red handkerchief, is what Deng She needs to shoot; The black one is what Tong Doulan wants to shoot.

Monk Li and Luo Guoqi galloped in front of the guide, and Deng She and Tong Doulan then entered with bows.

Big drums, small drums. The gongs and drums were noisy, the Han soldiers loudly cheered for Deng She, and the Jurchens galloped around the field, and before the two began their formal competition, they first played with riding and shooting. The arrows used to shoot willows are different from usual. First, featherless; Secondly, the arrowhead is horizontal. Sharp-angled arrows can't be shot. According to the rules, three shots per person.

Two or three Jurchen archers have no missing arrows, and each arrow must hit a willow, but occasionally they do not hit the white, shoot the green, or hit the white and do not break, which will inevitably cause the Han soldiers and Li pawns behind the shield to boo. Breaking white is the victory, and constantly and the young are defeated.

Even so, it is already very rare. galloping horses, bending bows and shooting willows, the wicker is very soft, handkerchiefs are wrapped, swaying with the wind; There is a slight deviation, the eyesight is not enough, and the strength is too great, not to mention the white and green, with a little edge, and the one who does not let go of the wild arrow is considered a good hand.

Tong Doulan held her own skills, got off the field, and said: "This is the Mongolian discipline, an ordinary man, who can shoot with a little knowledge of bows and arrows." Since the general wants to compare, why not change the Jurchen rules? ”

Deng She smiled: "It depends on thousands of households." "The Jurchen rules are much more difficult. Not only must you break the white, but you must also gallop to catch up, and reach out to catch it before the white breaks the ground, so as to win. Rearrange it now, and press down the wickers, each just a few inches from the ground.

At this moment, the soldiers were even more excited.

Lu Qianshi was not angry with the real female performance, galloped up, turned around with an arrow, and shot steadily. Just in the middle of the white place, disconnect and fall. He slapped his mount sharply, leaned down to catch it, and when the wicker was about to hit the ground, he grabbed it, raised it above his head, and laughed. Onlookers, including the Jurchens, cheered. On the high platform, Hua Guo saw that the big drum was beating louder and louder.

Lu Qianshi is tall and fat, and his movements are light and flexible, Tong Doulan praised movingly: "Good skills, good skills!" A voice on the sidelines shouted: "Open the game, open the game, the master bets on the general to win." The little ones come and bet on ,......" dragging the joke, "the night is not waiting!" ”

The two of them went to see at the same time, who was not Yao Haogu. Relative smile. Whether it is Mongolian, pre-Song Dynasty, or Jurchen rules, the venerable comes first, and the humble comes later. In other words, Deng She played first, Tong Doulan was half a guest, and Deng She said: "Thousands of households, please go first." ”

Tong Doulan arched her hand and came out with a bow. The main master is here, and Lu Qianxi on the field will not mention it. The soldiers on the sidelines were quiet, and Wen Huaguo's big drum struck hard, and said loudly: "Shoot the willows and begin!" ”

Tong Doulan was stationed at the head of the racecourse and was not in a hurry to shoot. He calculated in his heart that Lu Qianxi's skills were in front, and if he didn't come up with some means, he couldn't see his skills. He glanced at the two columns of wicker, many of which had been shot off, and had a plan.

The first arrow, the middle range, the hot hand. Break and then connect, smooth and smooth. The second arrow is still steady. Hit once, one after another, maybe the master can do it, even in the connection, it will show its skills.

The off-the-field soldiers applauded; The Jurchens drew their knives and struck the shield, calling out Tong Doulan's name. Anyone who can be connected to the white will be specially beaten with gongs and drums outside the venue to congratulate him. The two gongs and drums were endless, and Tong Doulan jumped on the horse, carrying the dust on the ground. The bow was like a full moon, the arrow was like a meteor, and the third arrow shot out in a hurry.

The arrow broke the willow, and the man had already chased it, and when he took it, he didn't stop, and the arrow did not slow down, and then it broke a black handkerchief and wicker next to it; The previous one was connected with the right hand, and at this time the left hand bow was handed out, and the second broken willow fell squarely on the bow. Throw it up and latch it in with your mouth.

Two in one stone. The soldiers were stunned, they had never seen each other. Speaking of which, it was Tong Doulan who was clever, if it weren't for the fact that the wicker between the black pars was shot off just now, he wouldn't have been able to do this. But even so, everyone is convinced.

Deng She laughed: "It's amazing! Chito is really a divine shot. The soldier who beat the gong and drum reacted at this time, the gong and drum shook the sky, Tong Doulan came back from the horse reservedly, took off the wicker in his mouth, and was polite: "The general has a good reputation, it's just a fluke." ”

Yao Haogu's voice came again: "I placed a bet just now, it's the first set." Now bet on the second set, come if you have money, get out of here if you don't have money. The master buys Tong Qianhu to win. "But I saw Tong Doulan's skills, and I was worried that I would lose money if I bought Deng She last time I won, so I added, "The handicap has doubled." "You have to double what you gambled just now and win it back.

One stone is broken, Chen Hu may be able to do it. Deng She didn't have that ability. What to do?

Hong Jixun did not step down, stood beside Wen Huaguo, put his hand holding the folding fan on his chest, bent two fingers, and stretched out three fingers. Deng She saw it, was reminded by him, looked at the field again, and selected the target. Take out three arrows, clamp them in your hand, and instead of running sideways, go straight along the wicker. galloping out of the horse, looking at it really, the arrow is like a bead, an arrow out, an arrow is rushed, and three willows are broken; The arrow is gone, the horse is chasing, and the horse is like lightning.

The three willows approached each other, galloped forward, bowed his right hand, turned sideways to kick and hide, leaned out his left hand, and caught the three willows one by one. His difficulty is less than Tong Doulan's. If Tong Doulansheng is skilled in skills, he is better in being bold and careful.

In two strokes, it can be regarded as a tie.

Dunshe turned back, and the two of them inserted wicker into each other immediately. The sky is high and the clouds are light, and the city is majestic; The soldiers are rejoicing. Deng She raised his bow and pointed to the sky, arrogant: "Thousands of households, please watch it." I have such elite soldiers, and I have the help of thousands of households, and Goryeo is cowardly, how can I be your opponent and mine? ”

Deng She's guess about Tong Doulan's character is very accurate. He is indeed a hero and a hero, when he first dated Li Chenggui, the two also met from archery. Seeing that Deng She had the upper hand in the situation, he found another way, which made people's eyes shine and he was quick and resourceful, he couldn't help but secretly praise and strengthened his determination to cooperate.

He jumped off his horse and bowed: "I have eaten for nothing for many days, and I have not made any efforts, and I am very uneasy." The general but there is a dispatch, and the three scattered Jurchens are up and down, all of them are doing their best. ”

——

1. Serve tea and soup.

Soup: Drink. There are many types, generally based on spices and medicinal herbs, and some are mainly made of dried and fresh fruits or flowers, plus some spices. In the manufacture of soup, various raw materials are generally ground into fine powder, and the soup is boiled when drinking; It is also brewed and drunk directly with boiling water; In addition, various ingredients are boiled into a paste and served with boiling water.

Some soups are salted, some are honey or sugar, and some are not condimented to maintain the original flavor of the medicine and spices. The function of soup is to prevent diseases and nourish, and drinking soup is a kind of dietary therapy.

In the Song Dynasty, guests came to serve tea and sent guests to order soup. In the Yuan period, this custom was also maintained. Miscellaneous drama "Frozen Su Qin's Clothes and Brocade Return to Hometown": Zhang Yi is the prime minister of Qin, Su Qin went to meet, and soon after the two talked, Zhang Qian said: "Order soup." Su Qin said: "Ordering soup is to drive away customers, and I will get up." ”

2, since the Jurchen came on the field, he saved three or four people in a row, and he did not taste defeat.

The Jurchens are quite good at fighting, and Jin Shi: "Ang's name is running,...... When he was young, he served Taizu, and Taizu ordered several people to wrestle in pairs. When he was fifteen years old, Taizu Gu said: 'Can you do this? He said, "If you have a life, you dare not be reluctant." Then he pounced on six people in a row. Taizu said happily: 'You, my sect brother also. Don't go far from now on. 'Give the gold medal and let him serve him. "There is a stone smear," ...... Wrestling, glory and victory, six or seven people in a row, the wine that Xizong drank himself, gave gold coins, and moved to the direct general".

3. Shoot willows.

Take the willow as the one, gallop the horse and shoot it. Tracing back to its origin, the Xiongnu and Xianbei have the custom of stepping into the forest, and the Central Plains has been shooting salutes since ancient times.

Jin Zhi shoots willows: "The willow field is two rows, when the shooter is in the order of respect and humility, each with a pa to know its branches, go to the ground about a few inches, peel its skin and white." When the first person gallops the horse to lead, the latter gallops the horse with a featherless horizontal arrow to shoot it, both broken willows, and the one who gallops away with his hand, is the top. Those who are cut off and cannot be picked up are second. or cut off its green place, and in the middle but can not be broken, and can not be broken, is negative. Every time you shoot, you will cut the drum to help it. ”

Song Zhi shot the willow: "On March 3, Renchen, Li Xianzhong's horse soldiers were pre-read in Jinling, and finally the willow was inserted into the court, and the sergeant galloped his horse to shoot it. ”

Yuan Zhi shot willow: "The banner of the three armies is forested, and the martial artist Xian Ling Xi Jin Willow, with a wicker to go to the green one foot, inserted into the soil five inches, still tied to the willow with a handkerchief, remember its own etiquette, there is a leader to go first, ten thousand households lead the bow to follow, is to open the bow Xi Jin Willow, cut off its white, then beat the gong and drum to win...... This military general shows off his martial arts. ”

It was not until the middle of the Qing Dynasty that this activity gradually disappeared.

4, Noya.

"The arrow does not know where it falls, it is called a 'wild arrow'."