Ten years of auspicious charm, spring and March.

Akiba Mountain House.

A pot of charcoal was burning in the courtyard, and Chu Shixia sliced a thin piece of lamb leg meat from the plate, smeared it with coarse salt particles and seasonings and put it on the fire to roast. The fat of the lamb is sizzling and the marinade of the spices gives off an enticing aroma.

The nobles of the imperial capital thought that the mutton was fishy, and the poor could not afford it, and most of the sheep raised around the imperial capital were only used to produce milk. The land of the Beidi people is rarely cultivated for food, so they rarely store geese and ducks, and the main meat is sheep. The ministers of the imperial capital often laughed at the mutton for having the barbarian smell of the Beidi people.

Chu Zhixia skewered the mutton slices with a dagger, and the marinade covered the smell of the mutton cleanly, and the mutton was fragrant and oily. Pei Zhang has always had a light diet and has no appetite, so he couldn't help but swallow his saliva when he saw this.

"You're in a good mood." Pei Zhang picked up a piece of mutton and put it in his mouth, and was scalded.

"Could it be that when you wash your face with tears every day, your majesty will raise your noble hand?" Chu Shixia said disdainfully, "Instead of torturing yourself, it's better to think about countermeasures." In this world, if there is a reason for anyone, you can win, why are there so many Huo Wenqing and Cao Jie? ”

Pei Zhang listened attentively and said, "Then can you think of a countermeasure?" ”

Chu Zhixia sighed and said, "No." ”

This is a game of chess that must be lost, Shen Zhou and Chu Zhixia are placed at both ends of the chessboard that is about to overturn, only one side is slightly offset, and both sides will inevitably lose. Unless Shen Zhou is not the son of the emperor, or Chu Zhixia is not the daughter of the Chu clan in the clouds.

Or, a third person enters the game.

Chu Zhixia's heart has become more and more uneasy recently.

On the one hand, it is because of the sinking boat, and on the other hand, it is because the thirteen years of auspicious charm are constantly approaching. Chu Shixia always remembered what had happened in the thirteenth year of Xiangfu, but he didn't know if the same thing would happen again.

Fate held the thread of death around everyone's necks and slowly tightened, sneering at the tiny mortal. So Chu Zhixia and Shen Zhou's pain, love and hatred became not worth mentioning, like sand between their fingers, like ants in their holes.

Chu Zhixia didn't even have time to look back at the moment when he lost the sinking boat.

"Yanbei, is there any news lately?" Chu Zhixia asked.

——

A month ago.

Beidi, Qingying Department.

As the sun sets, the golden sun warms the whole world. The young man removed half of his shoulder armor and bandaged his bare arms with herbs. He sat on a small mound with a stalk of grass in his mouth, and from time to time stroked the mane of the red horse beside him. Dissatisfied with his harassment, the red horse flicked his tail and whipped him, and walked away on his own.

The young man smiled silently and said, "What a bad temper. ”

The general of the Blue Eagle Division, Hongji Thorn, stood not far behind the young man, pressed his chest and bowed, "Khan, the leaders of the eleven tribes have arrived. ”

"It's not eleven, it's twelve." The young man threw down the stalks of grass and whistled, and the red horse came running in response.

Hiroyoshi stabbed a puzzled expression.

"The descendants of the Baisha Tribe, who were exterminated by Chu Mingxiu, have found it. The youngest son of the Khan of the White Shaw Department has been brought to the Golden Horde by the Yan clan. The young man turned over his horse, beat his horse in a dashing manner, and walked in the direction of the Golden Horde, and said nonchalantly, "Immortal Heaven never leaves any of its people behind. ”

Ashamed of his reaction, Hiroyoshi chased after the young man and drove to the Golden Horde.

The Golden Horde was the residence of the Khan of the Horde.

The people of the Central Plains collectively refer to the thirteen tribes in the north as Beidi, and the thirteen tribes are large and small, strong and weak - since Chu Mingxiu attacked the royal court of the Baisha Tribe, there are only twelve tribes left in Beidi. The surname "Chu" has been deeply imprinted in the hearts of every Beidi person since more than 30 years ago, when Chu Ao raised an army to march north and washed the grassland with blood.

Hiroyoshi lifted the curtain for the young man and followed him into the Golden Horde.

On both sides of the long table sat the chiefs of the tribes, some of whom were burly and pale; Some lean their backs tightly against the chair and pose defensively. Out of place was a babbling one- or two-year-old child, biting his fingers and dripping saliva in the arms of a woman in fine clothes.

"The thirteen departments of Beidi have been fighting for hundreds of years, you fight me, I fight you, it's the first time to sit down and talk like this." The young man sat casually at the head of the long table, reaching out to make the child giggle, and the stagnant atmosphere in the golden tent eased somewhat.

"At the end of the day, it's still about speaking with your fists. The Khan's fist is the hardest, so the Khan wants us to sit here today, and we dare not disobey. Someone sneered, "The Khan summoned us today, did he want us to sacrifice cattle and sheep pastures, or slave beauties?" ”

The young man was not angry, and calmly said, "Neither." ”

Everyone at the table looked at him in surprise.

"I have summoned you here today to join me in stepping south to level the Snow Pass and seize the hinterland of the Central Plains." The young man said loudly, "Plant the flag of immortality in every corner of the world." ”

"Khan, are you crazy?" Someone couldn't help but say loudly, "For so many years, the Chu family has guarded the snow like an iron bucket. If we could have fought, we would have fought a long time ago, would we have waited until today? ”

There were already people at the table who wanted to leave the table, and Hiroyoshi stabbed his face fiercely and pressed the handle of the knife. The young man took his hand and forcefully pushed the knife back into its sheath.

"Why did the Chu family guard the Yongxue Pass, and why did Chu Ao, who is known as the first general of the Great Zhou Dynasty, not step on the bank of the River of Suffering, is it because of soft-heartedness?"

The young man stared at the man who spoke: "It's because they know that once they reach the grassland, it will be the world of our Beidi people." Our Beidi's cavalry is invincible in the world, so the Chu family can only shrink in the snow pass like a turtle. Our knives are not good, and our armor is not good, but they are just as terrifying as the people of the Central Plains. ”

Everyone was silent.

The young man glanced at the faces with different expressions, and said with a smile: "I want to unite the thirteen tribes of Beidi to raise troops to the south, whoever agrees, who is the pious people of the immortal heaven, and the soul can ascend to heaven after death." Those who oppose it can also get out of this golden tent today, but after today, I will purge the unfaithful traitors for the immortal heaven. ”

Hongji stabbed in understanding, drew his knife and slammed it into the table.

The frightened child began to cry, and the young man took an eagle's head made of red gold from the box and put it in his bosom.

"Look at this child, he is the last bloodline of the Khan of the White Sands. If you don't fight today, tomorrow Chu Mingxiu's knife will cut off your son's head and banish your women to be slaves. Yesterday's Baisha Department is tomorrow's Beidi Twelve. ”

"The Kreb is willing to follow the Khan and fight for the Immortal Heaven!"

"The Tatars are willing to follow the Khan and fight for the Immortal Heaven!"

"The Red River Department is willing to follow the Khan and fight for the Immortal Heaven!"

One by one, the people in the Golden Tent knelt down and put their hands to their hearts as a sign of sincerity. Yan Shi, who was standing at the table, also knelt on the ground with the baby in his arms, and the baby grabbed the head of the red golden eagle and babbled twice.

"I, Erdan, will live up to the trust of immortality."

——

Cabinet.

"Peace talks?!"

Xu Yan exclaimed in disbelief and looked at the smug minister.

"Yes, peace talks. The Khan of the Qingying tribe conquered the remaining eleven tribes and personally sent an envoy to deliver the credentials, willing to lead the troops to submit to the Great Zhou. When the cabinet minister said this, he looked impatient again, and said, "That Chu Ming has repaired the great joy of success, and he has been obstructing it, and he almost missed the big thing." ”

Xu Yan looked suspicious, but the cabinet was cheering, and he couldn't say anything.

Xu Yan advocated the eradication of the Chen Party during Bai Huan's coup d'état, and after the situation calmed down, he was undoubtedly reused by the emperor, becoming the youngest courtier in the history of the cabinet. The others had long been sour to him, and they didn't pay much attention to him, and they didn't pay attention to his reaction at this time, for fear that this fat difference would be snatched away by him.

Suddenly there was a thunderclap outside the window, and heavy rain poured down.

Xu Yan stared blankly at the heavy rain for a moment, then suddenly grabbed an umbrella and hurriedly walked out.

——

Blacksmith Alley.

Bai Ziche was the last to arrive at Blacksmith Alley.

The charcoal fire in the house was watered and solidified into a puddle of ashes. The clear sunlight poured down from the skylight, and several people sat outside the sunlight in unison, a few steps away, but there seemed to be mountains and rivers far away.

Pei Zhang closed the door and was the first to speak: "I have used the manpower of the Pei family to prove from all sides that the Twelve Divisions of Beidi have indeed submitted their credentials to our court as a sign of submission. The Khan of the Qingying Department also hoped to marry the imperial dynasty and marry the Qin and Jin dynasties forever. ”

Xu Yan wiped his face and said tiredly: "The cabinet is jubilant, and they are all trying to make peace, and they are all waiting to leave their names in history." His Majesty was also pleased with this, and refuted many of the courtiers who disagreed. ”

Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it has been incompatible with the Beidi people, and was once invaded by the Beidi to the hinterland of the Central Plains. Until the snow pass is dangerous, and the burning ambition of the Beidi people is cut off with one sword. Chu Ao's northern expedition repeatedly wore down the strength of the Beidi people, making them dare not look south.

However, the Beidi people took the initiative to sue for peace and expressed their submission, which was the first time in the world.

Bai Ziche looked at Chu Zhixia, who was always silent, and asked, "Mo Xue, what do you think?" ”

Chu Zhixia slowly raised his head in the shadows, his expression was indifferent and hostile to everyone, as if a sword blade with a chill in his mouth, and blood would be splattered on the spot if he touched it slightly.

"What is the name of the Khan of the Blue Eagle Tribe?"

Bai Ziche thought for a while, pronounced the awkward name, and said, "Erdan Guletai." ”

"Erdan" means "sun" in the ancient language of the Beidi people.

Chu Zhixia closed his eyes.

The hot blood and biting frost under the snow pass seem to return to the majestic and glorious imperial capital.

In his previous life, the name Erdan Gultai first appeared in the clouds, when the Beidi Iron rode south across the snow line and plundered nearby villages. The Beidi people call Erdan the god-given sun and the bloodline of the goddess, and they want to lead the people of Beidi out of hunger and poverty, and turn the whole world into a racecourse for the Beidi people.

The nobles of the Beidi often gave their surnames to warlike slaves, and a very small percentage of these slaves would be helped by the nobles to become the leader of a party. At this time, people stopped talking about his slaves, and his original parents were ignored, and instead called him a child of God, which was sung in poetry and sung from generation to generation.

Therefore, Chu Zhixia did not think about striking first and strangling Erdan before the war in the thirteenth year of Xiangfu. Before acquiring the surname "Guletai", Erdan may not have been a slave of the Blue Eagle Tribe, and may not even be called by this name. To find an undiscovered slave in the vast steppe is simply whimsical.

However, at this moment, fate pushed Erdan in front of Chu Shixia.

A cold hand held Chu Zhixia's palm, and Chu Zhixia's heart suspended in mid-air crashed to the ground.

Chu Zhixia opened his eyes and saw Shen Zhou's cold and beautiful side face. Shen Zhou squeezed it hard in her palm and nodded at her soothingly.

Chu Zhixia calmed down for no reason, and turned to everyone: "The Beidi people will not really negotiate peace with us, let alone surrender. ”

Bai Ziche thought for a moment and said, "You are very familiar with Erdan's personality?" ”

"I don't know anything about Erdan, but I know the Beidi people."

Chu Zhixia said rationally and coldly, "The Qingying Department has always been the head of the Thirteen Tribes of Beidi, and uniting the Thirteen Tribes of Beidi is something that even the old Khan can't do. The Beidi people are not polite, righteous and shameful, and there are blood feuds between various tribes, and they never regard each other as the same race. After the destruction of the White Sands, the tribes divided up their remaining pastures, population, cattle and sheep. Erdan can unify them only by force and profit. ”

A member of the Qingying tribe conquered all the tribes on the grassland, just to flatter the Great Zhou.

It's a fantasy.

"Don't forget, in the twenty-first year of Emperor Ling, why did the imperial dynasty raise the power of the four northern states to march north. Now the Beidi people have done what they didn't have time to accomplish back then, but they want to surrender to us, do you believe it? ”

"The so-called peace talks are just to contain the troops supporting the snow pass and give them a chance to recuperate."

Xu Yan hesitated: "But Your Majesty has agreed to the peace talks and is ready to accept the credentials." The Beidi mission will arrive soon. ”

There was a dead silence in the room.

The emperor finally got rid of Zhuang Songbai and the regent, and it was time to prepare to show his strength. The submission of aliens is a great achievement that will go down in history, and it is difficult for any emperor to refuse such a temptation.

"Then intercept the Beidi mission on the way." Shen Zhou said coldly, "Without an envoy and a national letter, there will be no peace talks." ”

"In this way, the war between Beidi and Da Zhou will break out in full force." Chu Zhixia pressed his temples, and his head was splitting.

Using small wars to consume Beidi's military strength and population was a plan made by Chu Mingyan himself. Through constant small clashes and attacks, on the one hand, they collected information about the Beidi people, and on the other hand, interrupted their process of recuperating and recuperating, so that their population and military strength were kept at a minimum, and gradually encroached on the Beidi tribe.

Chu Mingxiu, Chu Shixia, and even all the children of the Chu clan who are in the military are all pawns in this plan, and if one is broken, the other will be on top. They were all waiting for the moment when they were activated, standing at the head of the city of Yongxue Pass, entangled with the Beidi people to death.

Koldan was born out of nowhere and directly overturned the chessboard.

"It's like the sky is falling." Pei Zhang suddenly smiled, looked at Chu Zhixia who was pale, and said, "Mo Xue, this is not like you. It's just a peace talk, the mission has not arrived in the imperial capital, the national letter has not reached His Majesty's desk, even if the national letter is stamped with the seals of the two countries, it may not be able to be negotiated - things in this world are changing rapidly, and before the end, who dares to say that they have the chance to win? ”

Chu Zhixia smiled at him reluctantly, but couldn't say a word.

"Even if it really comes to the day of war, you won't lose, and you won't lose in the clouds."

Shen Zhou didn't look at Chu Zhixia, his low-hanging eyelashes were thick and long. He was speaking more to himself, in a tone firm to the point of paranoia.

"Erdan Guletai, the iron cavalry of the Beidi people will not step into the snow pass half a step again."

"Asking for reviews and tickets~"