After leaving Qinzhou, Mu Zhixun has been walking in the grassland for nearly a month, and the accompanying guide always says that Beiye City is in front, but as far as the eye can see, except for the wasteland is the wasteland, let alone Beiye City, even a piece of bricks and stones is difficult to find. Mu Zhixun had even begun to wonder if the team had lost their way in the wasteland.

But when the anxious Mu Zhixun turned over a gentle hill, a huge square city suddenly came into his eyes, and the sudden appearance of Beiye City really surprised him, but what surprised him even more was the exotic architectural style of Beiye City. The white bricks and tiles shimmer in the sunlight, and the main color of white gilt and the circular dome are completely different from the architectural style of Daning.

"Your Highness, we have arrived." The guide was delighted.

Perhaps because he hadn't seen the city for too long, after Mu Zhixun entered the city, he kept looking at the largest city north of the Rinfeng Pass and the people living in it, and from their costumes, he found that there were not only Yuansu people here, but even merchants from the Western Regions. When he was in Yunjing, he had also seen some merchants from the Western Regions, but the appearance of merchants from the Western Regions made Mu Zhixun a little puzzled, all along, the road from the Western Regions was controlled by the Liangqiang Pass in the west of this dynasty, and it stands to reason that these merchants from the Western Regions should not be able to come to Yuanfu.

"How come there are still people from the Western Regions here?" Mu Zhixun asked the guide suspiciously.

The guide's name was Ah Zhiduo, a Yuan merchant, who Mu Zhixun bought from the Qinzhou Rongchang with a lot of money. Since he is dealing with the Yuansu people, it is very suitable to have a Yuansu businessman who travels from south to north by his side.

"We, Yuansu, have been trading with the Western Regions since the founding of the People's Republic of China." Ah Zhiduo saw the doubts in Mu Zhixun's eyes, and he continued, "Because of Liangqiang Pass, it is difficult for merchants from the Western Regions to come to Yuanfu, so in order to be able to trade with the Western Regions, we spent a lot of manpower and material resources to open a trade route to the Western Regions in the Xishan Desert, in order to protect the caravans, we also sent troops to garrison there, although there will be patrolling soldiers missing in the desert every year, but they still persisted, but the trade volume is far less than Liangqiang Pass." ”

"Have you walked that trade route?" Mu Zhixun asked.

"If you don't bring spices back from the Western Regions, the Khan will give a lot of extra bounty, no one will take that road, going to the Western Regions is far less safe and solid than Qinzhou's field, hehe." Azhiduo seemed to be very satisfied with Qinzhou's field.

Mu Zhixun didn't speak again, he raised the reins in his hand and sped up the horse's speed.

Soon, they came to the inner city of Beiye, where white silk cloth had been hung on the city gate, and the soldiers were all dressed in plain clothes with heavy faces. Seeing this, Mu Zhixun and his entourage also dismounted and walked.

The officials of Yuan Su also waited here for a long time, and after some ceremonial condolences from both sides, Mu Zhixun was led to the mourning hall of Yan Tunan.

The mourning hall was very quiet, and Yan Changfeng, who was dressed in vegetarian clothes, knelt on the futon with his eyes closed, his pale face looking heavy and tired.

Seeing this, Mu Zhixun slowly walked into the mourning hall, and he said in a heavy voice: "The search of the Mu clan of the Daning royal family mourns the sorrow of the ancient Yuan Suxian Khan Yan Tunan. Then he bowed again.

Yan Changfeng opened his eyes, got up slowly, and returned the salute to Mu Zhixun seriously, the ink-colored ripples rolled in Yan Changfeng's eyes, he looked at Mu Zhixun with a complicated expression, for a long time, and said slowly: "There is no one else here...... Go ahead. ”

No one knew what they had planned that day, or what they had promised each other.

It's just that since Mu Zhixun came back from Yuanfu, the world has ...... It's never so peaceful anymore.

Thirty years of Chengping, autumn, Daning, Liangqiang Pass.

Liangqiang Pass is located in the northwest of Daning, which is the junction of Daning, Yuansu and the Western Regions. This place is close to the Xishan Desert, with perennial drought and little rain, and a sandy color as far as the eye can see. If it weren't for the fact that it was the throat of trade with the Western Regions, the Daning Dynasty would not have worked hard to garrison troops here for many years.

It has been fifteen years since Ma Deyang was transferred from the south to the west, although he is the chief soldier of Liangqiang Pass, but his daily routine is only to inspect whether the goods brought by the merchants are not in violation of the regulations.

No, Ma Deyang, who was nibbling on the fruit on the city tower, still greeted the merchants who passed downstairs from time to time, which was one of the few pleasures he had in this desolate place for more than ten years.

"Lord Commander, look, what is that black oppression in the north?" A soldier patted Ma Deyang on the shoulder.

When Ma Deyang casually looked in the direction the soldier was pointing, his eyes showed unprecedented horror. In an instant, the fruit in his hand was shattered by him, and he shouted, "Shut the door!" All face the enemy! ”

Seven days later, the sound of horses' hooves echoed in the night sky of Yunjing, "Liangqiang Pass is urgent!" Hurry up to Your Majesty! The hoarse messenger fell headlong at the door of Nangong.

The objects on the imperial case were all pushed down, and Emperor Ning Longyan was furious, "Quickly let the crown prince, Zheng Guan, cabinet ministers and various ministers come to see me, go quickly!" ”

"Yes...... Be. Cao Fu hurriedly ran out.

By the time he returned with everyone, the floor of Yongning Palace was already in shambles, and Emperor Ning was sitting on the dragon chair dejectedly, his face full of gloom and anger. Cao Fu hadn't seen Emperor Ning's face with such an expression in many years.

Mu Zhice hurriedly picked up the military newspaper on the ground, only to see that it was written, "Yuan Su committed the border, Liangqiang Pass fell, and the general soldier Ma Deyang and more than 20,000 people in the department were all killed. ”

"Guanwai Yi clan, wolf ambitions, I really shouldn't trust them, let's talk about it, what should I do." Emperor Ning's angry tone was mixed with a little desolation.

"After the Yuansu people control the Liangqiang Pass, the trade between my Daning and the Western Regions will be blocked, and the minister thinks that while the Yuanfu people have not yet sat down in the Liangqiang Pass, they should send troops as soon as possible to recover the Liangqiang Pass." Shoufu Yang Tiandong said.

"That's what I think, I don't know who wants to go?"

"My son is willing to go!" Mu Zhice, who looked resentful, said eagerly. "The family and the country are in trouble, the society is at fault, and the sons are in the position of the East Palace, so they should serve the monarch's father and Daning the most at this moment."

"Good! The prince should be like the prince! I ordered you to ......"

"Your Majesty, the minister thinks it's inappropriate!" Zheng Guan paced forward, interrupting Emperor Ning's words.

"Why?" Emperor Ning wondered.

"As the prince, as the prince, it is related to the foundation of a country, and it must not be taken lightly. The minister thought that the Beiping army was the main force of Daning closest to Liangqiang Pass, and the king of Beiyang fought against the Saiwai tribe all the year round, so it was most appropriate to send him to Liangqiang Pass. ”

"The ministers seconded the proposal." Zheng Guan's words made all the ministers present nod their heads.

As the commander of the Dongyuan Rebellion and the supreme commander of the Imperial Forest Army, Zheng Guan's views were naturally very convincing in the Daning government and the opposition.

After thinking about it for a while, Emperor Ning nodded, "Then do as Zheng Qing said." The cabinet immediately drafted an order and ordered the king of Beiyang to personally lead the army to recover the Liangqiang Pass. In addition, an edict was sent to Qinzhou to shut down the Rongchang, and all the Yuan officials and businessmen who were stranded in the Rongchang were immediately seized and awaited their fate. Emperor Ning said firmly.

"Father......" Mu Zhice still wants to fight again.

"Don't say any more...... When she really needs you, I will send you. ”

Outside the Chilling Wind Pass, the iron cavalry led by Yan Changfeng was slowly driving on the white snowfield, and under the shroud of thin mist, this huge team could not see the end at all.

Outside the sky, the desolate eagle frightened the sky to curb the clouds, and a sharp Haidongqing hovered and landed on Yan Changfeng's shoulder.

Yan Changfeng took out the secret letter from under its claws, and said with a cold gaze: "Uncle's speed is really amazing. ”

"Report! The king of Beiyang had led the main force of the Beiping army to the west. A spying on horseback galloped to report.

"Quickly spread the word to King Zuoxian, leave a few men and horses to garrison Liangqiang Pass, and immediately lead the army to Qinzhou to join Ben Khan." Yan Changfeng commanded.

"Yes"

"Pass on my military orders and speed up the march." Yan Changfeng shouted at the herald, and the white qi in his mouth kept rising.

Then, Yan Changfeng took out a drawing from his arms and threw it in the snow, which was the map of the Qinzhou secret sentinel that Mu Zhixun had drawn for him after giving up half of his life. Now that the whole army of Yuan Su already knows the content of the drawing, there is no need to keep it anymore, he shook off the snowflakes on his shoulders, and the green dragon halberd in his hand flashed with a sharp cold light.

Under the banner of the king of Beiyang, the veteran in armor is the king of Daning who is a thousand years old - Lu Tianyuan, the king of Beiyang, the slight wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and the slight white hair on his temples make him mature and steady, and the erect nose bridge and resolute eyes can vaguely see the elegance of the year.

Since the beginning of autumn this year, Lu Tianyuan often dreams of the scene when his father died in battle twenty years ago, saying that fifty knows the destiny of heaven, but now that he is fifty and five, he can't figure out what it means. Forty years of fighting horses and horses, and hundreds of battles, big and small, but this time it seems to be worried. Yuan Su's action came so suddenly and resolutely, were they really just trying to seize the trade route to the Western Regions? Thinking of this, Lu Tianyuan frowned, turned to Shangguan Xunyi on the side and said, "You immediately take a group of men and horses to Qinzhou to support Ziyu, I'm worried that something will happen there." ”

"The last will obey. It's just that you ...... "Shangguan Xunyi was a little relieved."

"Don't worry, this king has been galloping for more than 40 years and has not had a defeat, this old bone ...... It's sturdy. Lu Tianyuan smiled and said with relief.

In the mountains and forests north of Qinzhou City, the dark hill of the Hutou camp was still closely watching the east direction of the northern valley, and the charcoal fire in the snow was still vaguely steaming, which was left over from their noon cooking.

"The charcoal fire is almost extinguished, Stone, you go get some firewood, and besides, take a few people to check the surrounding mechanisms again. The task assigned to us by the prince must not be slackened. A captain of the Tiger Head Battalion commanded.

"Yes."

This was the last conversation they had before their deaths, and it was clearly heard by the Yuan soldiers who were crawling in the shadows of the mountains and forests.

In Qinzhou City, all the Yuan Su officials and herdsmen in the field were imprisoned, and they couldn't understand that the war between Daning and Yuan Su would come so suddenly, without a hint of warning.

"Did you bring the charcoal fire and food?" Lu Ziyu, who was patrolling the city defense, came to the place where the Yuan Su people were imprisoned.

"It's been sent in." The guard's road outside the door.

"Okay, Your Majesty just ordered them to be imprisoned, you must not abuse and hurt, after all, the war has nothing to do with them, understand?" Lu Ziyu admonished.

"The little one understands." The warden nodded earnestly.

"Report! A large number of Yuan Su troops have appeared in the north of the city, and they are gathering to prepare for the siege! The soldier who came in a hurry fell to one knee and gasped for breath in his mouth.

"What!" Lu Ziyu said in disbelief, it was not that he didn't believe in the invasion of the Yuansu people, what he didn't understand was why there was not a trace of news coming from the dark hill dozens of miles in the mountains and forests on the outskirts of the city.

"Why didn't you report the dark post outside the city?" Lu Ziyu asked.

"Small...... I don't know if it's small. ”

"Quickly send someone to Yunjing for help, Tiger Head Battalion! Follow me up to the north gate to meet the enemy! After thinking for a while, Lu Ziyu lifted the tiger head gun, got on his horse and shouted.

"Yes."

The dim sky was full of snowflakes again, and the cold north wind was blowing so that people could hardly open their eyes, Lu Ziyu stood on the city wall, looking at the Yuan Su army under his feet with a solemn face.

Under the city wall, the iron cavalry of Yuan, who was several times larger than himself, was wearing heavy armor and holding long knives. Huge catapults, iron-clad carts, and ladders were slowly moving forward under the impetus of the soldiers.

"His Royal Highness, His Royal Highness, His Royal Highness......" At this moment, a wounded general was carried up, and he still checked two arrows on his chest that had been cut but had not yet had time to be pulled.

Lu Ziyu recognized him, he was a general stationed in the mountains and forests outside the city.

"Tell me, what the hell is going on?" Lu Ziyu held his hand and said movingly.

"We ...... It was attacked, and the traps were all bypassed, and they ...... We know where we are, brethren...... Dead, there must be ...... There are spies. He said this in a breath and passed out.

"Send him down." Lu Ziyu said bitterly.

At this moment, a huge stone flew over and smashed against the roof of the tower, and the shattered bricks and gravel tiles kept falling.

The Yuan Su army has already begun to attack.

Seeing the rushing cars and ladders under the city approaching little by little, the Ning army at the battlement was also full of bowstrings in their hands, and a steady stream of stones and rolling logs were sent to the city tower, and the box army holding swords and shields and the heavily armed tiger head battalion were all in place.

Although the hidden posts and institutions outside the city were destroyed, Lu Ziyu had been working hard in Qinzhou for more than a year after all, and what he was waiting for was this day, his father had already rushed to the aid of Liangqiang Pass, and he was bound to no longer be able to take care of Qinzhou.

"Shoot the arrows!" With Lu Ziyu's order, the arrows in the sky flew towards the Yuan Su army, and for a time, the Yuan Su soldiers under the city were killed and wounded countless times.

But this did not stop the Yuan Su offensive, and soon the second and third waves of dense Yuan Su soldiers poured up. And the number of enemy stones and arrows is no less than that of your own.

"Bang!" A deafening sound sounded at the top of the wall, which was the characteristic sound of the collision of wood and stone, and several large and thick ladders with nailed bottoms had been erected on the head of the city of Qinzhou. The stones and logs that fell from the sky kept smashing down, and the Yuansu soldiers did not have the slightest fear, they stepped on the corpses of their companions and kept climbing up. At the battlements of the city wall, from time to time, Ning Jun was hit by arrows or stones and died. Moreover, in those gaps where the Ning army suffered heavy casualties, some Yuan Su soldiers had climbed up.

The soldiers on both sides were red-eyed, and the sharp knives and guns in their hands stabbed each other's bodies without hesitation, and at the last moment of their lives, those distorted expressions revealed the relief of dying on the battlefield and the glory of loyalty to the country.

The Yuansu soldiers present that day will never forget the picture of the Ning army general wearing red black light armor on the Qinzhou city wall.

Lu Ziyu, who exuded the courage of a tiger from top to bottom, was fighting hard in the gap in the city wall, and the spear like a silver dragon swept almost everything, and no one was invincible.

Soon, the first wave of Yuan Su soldiers who rushed to the city wall fell under the swords and guns of him and Ning Jun. Lu Ziyu didn't care about the knife wound in his thigh and the tearing pain from the tiger's mouth, he picked up his bow and arrow again and shot it quickly at the Yuansu soldiers who were climbing under the city.

At this moment, Lu Ziyu, as the commander of the First Army, disregarded life and death like this, and the figure of an enemy greatly inspired Ning Jun's will to fight.

And this is undoubtedly the most important thing for the Ning army, which is currently in a situation where the enemy is outnumbered.