Mound, on the north bank of the river, is all white as far as the eye can see. Tens of thousands of cities under the city, full of color, white filial piety clothes, white spirit flags, the whole world is full of sadness in a piece of white, everyone bowed their heads and cried in a low voice, and the cries in all directions slowly converged into a huge sound, quietly and white together between the heaven and the earth. The river next to it seemed to feel this sadness, and it also choked in a low voice and flowed forward.

Looking down from the sky, you can see that everyone is tightly surrounding a place, a small hill south of the Acropolis. Hundreds of people knelt at the front of the mountain bag, and they all looked at the coffin parked on the mountain bag and wept.

At this moment, a tall and thin man ran out of the crowd, and when he was still a few hundred feet away from the mountain bag, he knelt down, and while knocking on the ground, he knelt on the ground, and his cry was heartbreaking, and in a moment his face was covered with dust and tears. But no one made fun of his ridiculous and embarrassed appearance, and everyone's hearts were as heavy as his.

"Xiping Gong! Nishihei Gong! I miss you as a hero, but why are you so far away from me? The man knelt down to the foot of the mountain, and his sorrow became more acute, and he fell to the ground with both hands.

"Xiping Gong, I want you to support Pengcheng Wang Shizun as the emperor in Licheng back then, and crusade against the city. I was fascinated by Zhang Leopard in the city Shishi, serving as Shang Shulang, and willing to be a lackey's minion. After the defeat of Zhang Bao in the Shi Shi, I was held in front of the public, I thought that there was no reason to survive, but you said that you knew that Xiping Gong said, now is the day to recruit talents, when the power is used, it is not enough to harm, and I still join the army. Such forgiveness and kindness. Why don't you tell me to be grateful? Such a great kindness, you make me so rewarded? ”

A young but tall and heroic man kneeling next to him helped the man and said with tears streaming down his face: "Mr. Ma, don't be too sad! ”

Mr. Ma raised his head when he heard the sound, and when he saw the man holding him, he couldn't stop crying: "Young General, Young General!" How can the Duke of Xiping leave me and wait for me like this, so that I can repay his kindness in this way? ”

Everyone next to him persuaded together: "Mr. Ma." Don't be too sad. Xiping Grandpa Immortal went. Isn't there still a major general? ”

Mr. Ma listened. Immediately stopped crying, he looked up at the young man, regardless of the filth on his body, he bowed solemnly to the young man, and said loudly: "I, Mahoro, swear in front of the spirit of Xiping Gongling, and I am willing to follow the young general to the death!" ’

When the grieving crowd heard this, they couldn't help but turn to the young man. bowed his head and said: "I am willing to swear to follow the young general!" “

The young man's eyes were full of tears, and he looked at the people who were kneeling to him all over the ground, and only after a long time did he choke up and answer: "How can I Yao Xiang? I can get your trust and help! ”

This person is Yao Xiang, the fifth son of Yao Gezhong. Yao Xiang is eight feet five inches long, his arms are hanging above his knees, he is strong and versatile, he is good at soothing and accepting, and everyone in Yao is loved and respected, and they have asked Yao Gezhong to be his heir. But Yao Yizhong's mother did not show his permission. So thousands of people came to Yao Gezhong's tent every day to ask for their lives. Asked to establish Yao Xiang as the son. Yao Gezhong saw that the emotions were surging. The will of the group could not be disobeyed, so they acquiesced and began to hand over the military power to Yao Xiang.

Yao Gezhong has a straightforward and upright personality. Regardless of respect and humility, it is called you, even when you meet Zhao Lord Shihu, you are also called you. Shi Hu knew his character, but he liked it even more, and once secretly said left and right: "I like Qiang Yao more than Pu." ”

At the beginning of this year, Shi Yuan asked for help in Dunqiu in Xiangguo, and Yaobu, who had been very strong in the past, was defeated in a row in the first westward move and occupied Zhoufu in Heluodi, and then fought in Duan Niche in Dongping, its momentum declined greatly, and the soldiers and horses were scattered. But Yao Gezhong still gathered 8,000 cavalry and handed them over to Yao Xiang, asking him to lead his troops north to aid Xiangguo.

But in the first battle of Xiangguo, Ran Min was extremely brave, and with the strength of the Wei army, Yao Xiang was defeated, and there were only more than 1,000 cavalry left, and he rushed back to Dunqiu in a hurry.

When Yao Gezhong saw this fiasco, a mouthful of blood suddenly spurted out, splashing all over his beard and chest. After he woke up, he ordered Yao Xiang to be pushed out and beheaded. Yao Xiang didn't say much, but just lowered his head and left it to his father.

The generals and their brothers knelt down and pleaded bitterly. After the news came out, tens of thousands of people in Yao's department came one after another, knelt around the big tent, and begged Yao Gezhong to spare his life.

The soldiers who went to war with Yao Xiang also heard the news and rushed over with injuries and pain, kneeling in front of Yao Gezhong and telling the truth. At that time, Yao Xiang joined forces with Handan Dishi to rescue Xiangguo. Yao Xiang once advised Shi that his own army was only 50,000 people, and the Wei army had 100,000 people, so it was not advisable to attack rashly, and it was better to camp outside the city of Xiangguo, get in touch with the city of Xiangguo, and then wait for the opportunity to respond inside and outside to break the enemy in one fell swoop.

But Shi didn't allow it and insisted on attacking Ran Min. Yao Xiang had no choice but to think that he was the striker and rushed straight to Wei Ying. When Ran Min heard the news, he raised 50,000 horses to meet the enemy. Yao Xiang and Ran Min were defeated after only ten rounds of fighting, and if it weren't for the deputy generals desperately blocking Ran Min's double-edged knife, it is estimated that Yao Xiang would not be able to come back.

Who knew that after engaging the Wei army, not only did Shi Yuan of Xiangguo not send a single soldier, but the Shi army that entered the Wei army together collapsed not long after, and Shi took the lead and fled to Handan. As a result, the 8,000 Yao cavalry became the key target of the Wei army, and they were surrounded by the elite regiments of the Wei army, which were several times their size, and they were killed until the sky was dark. In the end, if it weren't for Yan Jun suddenly appearing behind Wei Jun and killing Ran Min by surprise, not to mention a thousand horses, there would be no thousand hairs left.

Speaking of this, all the generals and soldiers cried one after another: "My lord, after the young general is desperately dead, this is why I will wait for more than 1,000 horsemen to come back, otherwise they will all fold under Xiangguo City." It's not that the major general is useless, it's not that the major general is ineffective, it's that the Shi family is so useless, which makes us so miserable. My lord, if you want to kill the major general, we are willing to die together, anyway, our lives were saved by the major general. ”

When Yao Gezhong heard this, he couldn't help but be shocked, and he was silent for a long time before he wept and looked up to the sky and sighed: "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't save Zhao Guo, but that the sky wants to destroy the Shi clan!" In the end, Yao Gezhong still took the scepter Yao Xiang for the crime of losing his soldiers, but he personally gave his most promising son injury medicine at night.

But after this battle, Yao Gezhong suddenly aged a lot, and finally looked like a person in his seventies. this day. Yao Gezhong gathered his forty-two sons together, and said gloomily: "I should have returned to Guanyou's hometown as soon as possible, but I remembered that the Shi clan treated me well, so I prepared to crusade against the thieves and rebellious ministers to avenge them and then return to Guanlong, but it was repeatedly delayed, which caused such an embarrassing situation and let Fu Jian'er go ahead, which is my fault." Now the Shi clan can't save him. The Central Plains is ownerless again. I'm a vulgar person, though. I also know that since ancient times, there has been no Rong Di as the Son of Heaven. After my death, instead of being frustrated here, you should return to the Jin family, and do not do unrighteous things. ”

Seeing that the sons tearfully agreed, Yao Gezhong continued: "Jingguo has won the hearts of the people and can succeed me. Your brothers must be united and do not cause trouble. ”

Give the treasure knife to Yao Xiang to show that he is the son, and then send an envoy to the river

In July, when the news of Zhao Shi's demise reached Dunqiu, Yao Gezhong, who had been lying on the sickbed, burst into tears and lamented overnight. He died with hatred in a few days. He was seventy-two.

Yao Gezhong has governed his ministry for many years and is deeply loved by his subordinates, as soon as the news came out. Dunqiu and Puyang were in mourning, and everyone was sad, so they gathered here today to mourn Yao Gezhong.

After everyone worshiped the new lord Yao Xiang, they hugged each other and cried. At this moment, a horse suddenly galloped from the south, and everyone got out of the way. The visitor turned over and dismounted, crying and shouting, "Boss! Boss! Wing Power is back! Why don't you wait for the little land! Wait for the imperial edict! ”

Quan Yi unfolded the yellow silk silk he brought in front of everyone, and read aloud with tears: "Worship Yi Zhong's envoy Zhijie, Liuyi Metropolitan Governor, Metropolitan Governor Jiang, Huai Zhu Military, Che Cavalry General, Yitong Three Divisions, Da Shan Yu, and seal Gaoling County Gong." Then he respectfully placed the edict on the coffin, and fell to his knees, crying profusely.

A few days later, Yao Xiang took Taiyuan Wang Liang as the long history, Tianshui Yin Chi as Sima, Luoyang Fuzi as the left marshal, Nan'an Huiqi as the right marshal, Luoyang Heina as the front marshal, Qiang Bai as the rear marshal, Taiyuan Xue Zan and Luoyang Wang Quanyi as the army, and began to unify the army south.

"My lord, there are more than 30,000 households in my department ready to go south, but Puyang in the south is not peaceful, there is a niche in the east, and there is Zhou Fu in the west, and now in the area of Yuzhou, the Jin room and the Zhou country are fighting fiercely, and the beacon is everywhere, I want to go south to the Jin room, I'm afraid it will not be easy." Xue Zan, "The most important thing is that our department lacks grain and grass, once we go south, I'm afraid it will be difficult to last!" ”

"There are a lot of people in Dunqiu and Yangping who don't want to go south with me, right?" Yao Xiangdi's face did not change color because of Xue Zandi's discouraged words, he was still so calm, and asked in a calm tone.

"They are all local families, there are more than 1,000 households, and the subordinates are probably 100,000, they have lived here for many years, how can they go south with me and other Guanlong refugees?" Xue Zan replied.

"Well, this grain and grass will come out of their heads!" Yao Xiang said lightly.

"Mr. Quan, you have been to Jiangzuo, you should know the situation there, and you should also know where Wang Shi is now, right?" Yao Xiang turned to Quan Yi and asked.

"My lord, Zhou Juntun has a heavy army on the front line of Xuchang, Chenxian, and Ruyang in Yuzhou, and I am afraid there are 100,000 people. And Wang Shi, the coach Yin Hao was also frustrated in Ruyin, and Xie Shang, the assassin of Yuzhou, took the county, and Xun Xian, the assassin of Xuzhou, took Pei County. ”

"County? In this way, only the county is closest to us. Yao Xiang's eyes lit up and asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, my lord, but there are also Chenliu County, Jiyin County, Liang County and > in between!" Xue Zan heard Yao Xiang's thoughts and hurriedly dissuaded.

"Mr. Xue doesn't have to worry, Yao has his own opinions. But the most important thing for us now is to take a place to settle in the land of Henan. Yao Xiang looked south and said.

At the beginning of August, Yao Xiang led more than 30,000 households of Guanlong, Qiang, Han and other ethnic groups to the south, first breaking through Yangping, Yuancheng, Fagan, Dongwuyang, Yinping counties and counties, and "borrowing grain" from local powerful families. The Haoqiang family naturally did not allow it, Yao Xiang gave an order, the soldiers forcibly plundered, and those who did not obey were killed, and in less than ten days, more than 3,000 households were "forcibly borrowed grain", with countless casualties.

Yao Xiang led his troops to cross the river and temporarily lived in Puyang. Soon, Zhou State Yanzhou assassinated Shi Gaochang, and Li Li, the Taishou of Puyang County, led the troops to meet the battle, and the two armies fought in Xiancheng.

Yao Xiang led 3,000 cavalry, crisscrossing the Zhou army, and more than 10,000 Zhou troops were unstoppable. Gao Chang was furious and personally led elite soldiers to intercept Yao Xiang. Gao Changyuan was a general of Zhao Guozhendong, quite martial and brave, and was previously stationed in Jiyin. Later, seeing the decline of the Zhao State and the rise of the Zhou State, he surrendered to Luoyang with Yanzhou. This time, Gao Chang did not get the opportunity to make meritorious contributions to the front line, and he was already angry. Hearing that a stream of soldiers and horses came from Hebei, intending to seize Yanzhou, he couldn't help but be angry and happy, so he picked up the soldiers and horses and ran over. Who knew that the opponent in front of him was not good at stubble, and the 3,000 cavalry killed more than 10,000 of them and retreated one after another.

Gao Chang's spear stretched out and ran directly towards Yao Xiang's face. Yao Xiang didn't panic, he set up a long knife and started fighting with Gao Chang. So you come and go, fight together, and only kill inseparable. However, Gao Chang's martial arts were still slightly inferior, and after thirty rounds, he fell behind, and he was sweating profusely when he was killed by Yao Xiang.

At this time, he only heard a string sound next to him, and Yao Xiang, who was listening to it, couldn't help but scream in his heart, and hurriedly retreated, only to see an arrow flying out. Yao Xiang dodged, but the horse couldn't, and the cold arrow shot directly into the neck of Yao Xiang's mount. I heard the mount hiss in grief and fell to the ground with a bang in blood.

Yao Xiang screamed bitterly, hurriedly flashed behind him, stood on the ground, and prepared to meet the enemy Gaochang on foot. And Li Li, who was successful in the cold arrow next to him, also hurriedly rode his horse and jumped out, and stood on the ground with Gao Chang, Yao Xiang, who was a lot shorter, and killed Yao Xiang in danger.

Just when Yao Xiang was in danger, he only heard a loud shout: "Shameless villain, look at the knife!" I saw a knife light suddenly fall with the sound, and Li Li, who couldn't dodge, suddenly connected the corpses of people and horses in different places, Gao Chang saw that the situation was not good, and hurriedly rode his horse back.

Yao Xiang took a closer look, and it turned out to be his younger brother Yao Chang who rushed over with a knife.

After rescuing Yao Xiang, Yao Chang turned over and dismounted, and without saying a word, pushed Yao Xiang onto his mount, and then followed behind him on foot with a knife to pursue Gaochang.

Walking on the road, Yao Xiang killed a Zhou army general with a knife, seized his mount, and then let Yao sit on it, and the two led hundreds of elite horsemen, rushed straight into the Zhou army's formation, and joined forces to kill Gaochang who fled back to their own position.

The Zhou army was defeated, Yao Bu had a little respite, and then hurriedly ran south from Puyang, and took the single father of Jiyin County in a few days, thinking that he was a temporary residence. And the Zhou army was fighting against the Jin army with all its might, and when they saw that Yao was just "borrowing the road to the south", they no longer sent heavy troops to encircle and suppress, but just monitored from afar.

At the end of August, Yao Xiang took Yao Chang's temporary post of general and commanded his troops, and he led dozens of horsemen to quietly go south and meet with Xie Shang, the assassin of Yuzhou in the Jin Dynasty, in the county.

When Xie Shang heard the news, he couldn't help but be shocked, and hurriedly called someone to bring it in, and went to the armor guards to meet him in plain clothes. And Yao Xiang also met in order to serve.

Xie Shang had long heard that Yao Xiang, who was famous when he was young, was a heroic and martial champion, studious, and well-talked. This time I met, and it was really better to be famous than to meet. Yao Xiang is not only handsome, upright and generous, but also answers all kinds of questions asked by Xie Shang about the people's situation and military affairs in Jiangbei. Xie Shang couldn't help but be surprised, and admired Yao Xiang more and more. The two hit it off at first sight and had a very happy conversation, and Yao Xiang also began to write in Jiangzuo Mingshi under the name of Yingji in Xie Shang's letters.

Within a few days, the imperial court worshiped Yao Xiang as the general of Pingbei, the assassin of Jizhou, led Tunfeng County and Xiayi, and conspired with Xie Shang to >