In 1368 AD, Zhu Yuanzhang was proclaimed emperor in Nanjing, with the country name Daming and the year name Hongwu. The great feudal generals will be princes, and some of them will be posthumously crowned kings. Among its military generals, Xu Da is the Duke of Wei, and Chang Yuchun is the Duke of Zheng Guo......

Shandong was established, and the strategy of crusading against Mengyuan entered the second stage - the Northern Expedition army was widely replenished, with Xu Da as the marshal of the conquest, leading several large armies to attack Henan from west to south, with Bianliang and Luoyang as the heads......

The vanguard military headquarters that made great achievements in the Northern Expedition to Shandong still belonged to Chang Yuchun. The strategy of going south to Bianliang was initially formed, and the first important place of the Ming army's strategy was Xiangyang, a place where soldiers had to fight since ancient times. At this time, Xiangyang was still in the hands of the Mengyuan general Kuangkuo Timur, who learned the news of the "fall of Shandong", and the Ming army waved south, so he sent his cronies Wuliang Tuoduo to guard the town......

There is no business today, but there is a lot of movement in the pioneer camp. Zhao Zichuan and the soldiers stood outside the camp, with anxious but expectant expressions, as if they were waiting for something......

"......Uhh Yes...... Ahh......hh Ahhh............h

Zhao Zichuan reacted and couldn't wait to look back. It happened that the midwife came out of the camp tent, congratulated Zhao Zichuan and said, "Congratulations to General Zhao, your lady gave birth to a son-"

It turned out that the cry just now was the birth of Zhao Zichuan's son. Li Yuru gave birth to a baby boy in the camp, and now she is lying on the bed with a collapsed face, looking at the childish face of the newborn baby, Li Yuru is full of maternal love, and gently holds it in her arms.

"Great...... Great......" Li Yuru's eyes lit up happily, and she murmured softly - the child was successfully delivered, this is her and Zhao Zichuan's flesh and blood.

Zhao Zichuan couldn't wait, and after returning to the camp, he looked at the mother and son who were safe and sound on the bed, and his heart was very happy and excited. Seeing Li Yuru lying on the edge of the bed with exhausted strength, Zhao Zichuan sat aside, clasped Li Yuru's palms with both hands, kissed and said, "Yuru, it's really hard for you......"

Although Li Yuru was tired, she still did not change her pungent personality in her tone, and she was still stubborn in her weakness: "I don't know how much hardship I have suffered to give birth to this son for you...... You owe me, and I'm going to make you pay it back for the rest of your life......"

Zhao Zichuan knew Li Yuru's "temper", and he also said affectionately with bright eyes: "Okay, I still want to, I will accompany you for the rest of my life and ...... with our son."

Li Yuru closed her eyes and smiled, thinking that her flesh and blood were born in troubled times, she couldn't help but pity: "It's a pity that our child was born in troubled times...... We don't know how long the war will last and whether our family will be able to survive this catastrophe......"

"It will definitely be possible," Zhao Zichuan said firmly, "it won't be too long, we will definitely be able to win the war...... As soon as the war is over, our family will return to Bianliang and enjoy the joy of family in peace......"

"I want our children to be safe...... "Li Yuru continued to murmur, "I haven't named them yet...... Why don't you call it 'Zhao Chengan'...... I want him to be an adult and everything will be smooth and safe......"

"Okay, the name is good, the nickname is 'An'an', what we hope most is that the child can be safe and sound, not like us in the turbulent times of life and death...... "Zhao Zichuan Yinghe said......

"Did you give birth?" and outside the tent, Lu Jing, Su Jia and others also waited for a long time, and when they heard that the child was born safely, everyone also ran into the tent excitedly.

"Shhhh......h

Lu Jing and the others didn't make any loud noises, looking at the cute and sleeping baby's childish face, Lu Jing, Su Jia and Murong Ying and others also subconsciously revealed their mother's care......

In the morning, everyone in the camp focused on Zhao Zichuan's newborn son, but in the afternoon, a military order came, and the generals returned to the tense atmosphere again......

"I didn't expect that before the war was over, Zhu Yuanzhang would be the emperor in Nanjing......" Lu Jing paced a few times in the main camp, and muttered to herself, "No wonder the wedding banquet of Sister Ying and Brother Qin, he didn't come in person, and he responded to Tiancheng with the generals to ......"

Tang Zhan took the military order letter and said with a glance: "Now that General Xu Da has been named 'Marshal of the Expedition', commanding the military forces of all parts of Shandong, General Chang Yuchun and others are still in Yingtiancheng and have not been able to arrive...... The next strategic target was Bianliang, but the marshal and General Chang had not yet arrived at the front line, and the emperor (Zhu Yuanzhang) ordered our vanguard army to attack Xiangyang first after Xu and Chang arrived-"

"Xiangyang?" Lu Jing couldn't help but feel a little bit in her heart when she heard this, "Xiangyang is a place where soldiers must fight since ancient times, not to mention that the first Song Dynasty resisted the invasion of the Mongol and Yuan dynasties a hundred years ago, and the battle of Xiangyang was even more tragic and tragic...... Now let's storm Xiangyang, is Zhu Yuanzhang really sure......"

"There must be no problem in terms of troops-" Tang Zhan also said confidently, "What's more, today's Mengyuan is no longer as good as the previous dynasty, all things are decadent, military discipline is corrupt, even if Xiangyang occupies the Yangtze River, it may not be able to hold on to it......"

"But I heard that the one who controls the control of Xiangyang is the powerful general of Meng Yuanzhong, and the ...... of Kuokuo Timur" Lu Jing still said cautiously, "Brother Xiao told me before that Timur was far away in the west, and he was able to arrange for the assassins in Shandong to assassinate Zhu Yuanzhang in a planned and orderly manner...... I can also feel that Timur is not a simple person, and if he fights in the future, he will become a bitter hand......"

Tang Zhan thought for a while, and then said: "Jing'er, you don't have to worry too much, although Xiangyang is controlled by Kuangku Timur, but Kuangkou Timur himself is not guarding the city......"

"Then have you found out, who is the main general in Xiangyang?" Lu Jing continued to ask.

Tang Zhan's eyes froze slightly, and he said word by word: "Expand Timur's cronies and generals - Wuliang Toduo!"

Hearing this name, Lu Jing couldn't help but feel a shock in her heart. Although she hadn't met, she knew the life of this person...... "Wuliang Tuoduo......" Lu Jing's expression was calm, and she said word by word, "He is a descendant of General Ashu, the founding general of Mengyuan...... Don't forget, in the battle of Xiangyang a hundred years ago, it was Ah Shu who led the Mengyuan Iron Cavalry to break through the city of Xiangyang...... Now the descendants of Ashu are guarding Xiangyang, this is really a trick......"

"Even if it is, what?" Tang Zhan was not too worried, and said comfortingly, "Ah Shu was ambitious back then, and his descendants may not have the courage...... It's just a coincidence, Jing'er, you said that the battle in front of the army relies on on-the-spot response and objective analysis of the enemy and the enemy -- that Uliang Todo has never heard of any achievements, and he doesn't look like a bear and tiger when he looks closely, so we can't let this kind of appearance disturb our minds......"

"No, I don't think so-" However, Lu Jing refused, "Don't forget, fool, he has a generational enmity with our generals......

"Generational enmity...... Could it be—" Tang Zhan seemed to realize something, and his expression suddenly changed.

Lu Jing nodded and continued: "It is the Zichuan brothers, the ancestors of the Zichuan brothers, it is the royal general Zhao Fan in the pre-Song Dynasty. A hundred years ago, in the battle of Xiangyang, Mengyuan's general Ashu raised troops to attack the city, and what he wanted to seize was the "Qiankun Two Swords" in Zhao Fan's hand, which was famous for 'killing Yidi'...... It's a pity that although the city of Xiangyang was broken, Zhao Fan abandoned and transferred with Li Tingzhi and others, and the 'Qiankun Two Swords' were handed over to Wen Tianxiang and the surviving descendants of the Zhao family...... The Zichuan brothers have always kept this matter in mind, not to mention that Yuru's sister-in-law is the descendant of General Li Tingzhi. Now that the pair of 'Qiankun Two Swords' is in the hands of the Zichuan brothers, if Wuliang Tuoduo has a little intention, he will definitely vow to take it...... And when the war in Shandong was raging, I had never heard of any action by Uliang Todo, just like Timur of Kuangkor - don't look at their superficial actions, who would have guessed that secretly they were eyeing us......"

As soon as Lu Jing's words came out, Tang Zhan also felt a trace of tension in the situation. "It won't be so mysterious...... Tang Zhan still couldn't believe it, "just to seize the 'Qiankun Two Swords' a hundred years ago, to be so forbearing, and to wait for the Zichuan brothers to ...... alone"

"I have this hunch—" Lu Jing responded cautiously, "If that Uliang Todo and Kuangkhor Timur are people of character, I'm afraid he won't be good before the army......"

"That'...... What should we do?" Tang Zhan couldn't help but ask after hearing Lu Jing's "alarmist words".

Lu Jing closed her eyes and calmed down, and then said a very firm sentence: "Attack Xiangyang, and kill Wuliang Tuoduo directly-if this person stays, it will become a big disaster, and it must be eradicated as soon as possible!"

"Yes...... Is it really that easy?" Tang Zhan rarely heard Lu Jing's words of murderous intent, and when he thought of the difficulty of Xiangyang's natural danger, he couldn't help but ask worriedly.

Lu Jing continued to say confidently: "Don't worry, the situation is no longer as good as the battle of Xiangyang a hundred years ago...... Now that our army has taken Shandong, its morale is high, and the strength of its troops going south is even more overwhelming; not to mention the water battle in Xiangyang, Meng Yuan is not good, and he is attacked by water, even if he has the ability to fly to the sky, he will not be able to escape the danger of Jiangtian!"

"Water battle to capture Xiangyang...... Really?" Tang Zhan continued to ask as if he had heard the clue.

Lu Jing nodded, as if she had thought of something again, and added: "Also, in this battle, don't let the Zichuan brothers participate—"

"Why?" Tang Zhan asked again.

Lu Jing continued: "The Xiangyang grievances between the Zhao family and Meng Yuan, I believe he cares more than anyone else. Brother Zichuan is already prone to emotional affairs, once he hears about Wuliang Todo, I am afraid that he will lose his mind and miss the military plane with his intention to take revenge...... Therefore, in the battle of Xiangyang, it is better not to let the Zichuan brothers participate......"

"I understand-don't worry, Jing'er, I will have a way to persuade Brother Zichuan to stay in the camp......" Tang Zhan nodded with a smile and replied.

Lu Jing didn't smile, nodded in response to Tang Zhanhou, turned around and said secretly worried: "I'm just worried, before the Xiangyang strategy, it's best not to have any more ......."

Outside the barracks, the sound of passing troops was suddenly heard......

"General Zhao, outside the camp, General Zhao Zijin asked to see with the troops-" At the camp tent, Zhao Zichuan was still immersed in the joy of his newborn son, taking care of Li Yuru while watching his son fall asleep, and suddenly the soldiers outside the tent asked for help, and the news came that Zhao Zijin had come to the vanguard barracks.

"Big brother?" Zhao Zichuan was slightly surprised when he heard this--Zhao Zijin was originally subordinate to the Chang Yuchun cavalry battalion, but later because Chang Yuchun accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang to and from Yingtiancheng (Nanjing), he was transferred to Xu Da's account. Zhao Zichuan was surprised that there was no strategic priority recently, so why did his eldest brother come inexplicably.

"It's rare for your eldest brother to come once, I'm afraid there is something important to mention, you can go and have a look......" Li Yuru was lying on the bed, her body had not recovered, and she said softly.

"But jade is like you...... Are you okay?" Zhao Zichuan was afraid that he was not by Li Yuru's side, so he was a little worried.

"The child was born safely, I just collapsed physically, and there is no major ......problem," Li Yuru comforted, "Besides, with Sister Su here to take care of me, you don't have to worry too much about me......"

"Okay, I'll go out to see my eldest brother......" Zhao Zichuan got up slowly, and then said to Su Jia, who was pouring water on the side to take care of her, "Miss Su, Yuru will ask you for the time being-"

Su Jia smiled and responded: "Don't worry, I take care of my sister-in-law, don't worry about ......."

Zhao Zichuan nodded reassuringly, and then walked out of the camp with his sword......

At the gate of the barracks, Zhao Zijin was riding a war horse and took a thousand light horsemen to the pioneer camp. However, looking at this posture, it seems that Zhao Zijin's purpose is not in the pioneer camp, but happens to pass by here......

"Big brother, it's been a long time—" Zhao Zichuan walked to the door and greeted his long-lost brother.

"Zichuan, I heard from the guards just now, saying that your son was born, congratulations......" Zhao Zijin learned the news of Zhao Zichuan's newborn child, and congratulated him.

Zhao Zichuan smiled, and then responded: "Yes, the child's name is 'Zhao Chengan', Yuru and I, as well as Tang Zhan brothers and Jing sisters, they are all very happy...... By the way, big brother, why do you have time to come to our pioneer camp and bring so many troops?" Zhao Zijin "came uninvited", Zhao Zichuan had time to ask about the purpose of Zhao Zijin's visit.

Zhao Zijin lifted the reins of the horse, and then said: "I was ordered by Marshal Xu Da to go to the direction of Xiangyang to survey the terrain, and I happened to pass through here. Because the military affairs are not urgent, and I think that I haven't reunited with Zichuan for a long time, so I took the time to come here to see you and Yuru......"

"Yuru and I are fine--the war in Shandong is over, General Chang has not yet returned from Yingtian City, and there is no military affairs in the pioneer camp during ......this time," Zhao Zichuan first responded, and then asked, "Xiangyang?

"Of course, the emperor issued an edict ordering the marshal and General Chang Yuchun to go south to conquer Xiangyang and pull out the ......Yangtze River barrier to Bianliang, Luoyang and other places in the west," Zhao Zijin responded.

"Capture Xiangyang...... Oh, I remember, it seems that Brother Tang Zhan and Sister Jing also received military orders this afternoon, and I am afraid that soon, the vanguard army will also take action......" Zhao Zichuan muttered in a low voice.

Zhao Zijin looked at the sky and wanted to continue his journey, so he said to Zhao Zichuan: "Okay, it's not too early, it's still far from Xiangyang...... I'll go first, if I have other things, I'll talk when I have time back, I'm still waiting to hug my little nephew-" Zhao Zijin finally smiled and sighed.

"Well, I believe An An will be very happy to see you...... Remember to pay attention to safety outside, big brother!" Zhao Zichuan also responded.

Zhao Zijin smiled and nodded...... "Drive-" The horse set off again, and Zhao Zijin continued to march in the direction of Xiangyang with the light cavalry troops......

At the same time, on the side of Mengyuan Xiangyang, the main general Wuliang Tuoduo also got the news from the spies that the Ming army was interested in Xiangyang......

"Zhu Yuanzhang dared to be the emperor in Nanjing, and after taking Shandong, he dared to be the emperor himself......" Wuliang Tuoduo learned the news that Zhu Yuanzhang was called emperor, and he couldn't help but agitate in his heart.

The cronies and generals on the side reminded: "Lord Timur has an order, ordering the general to guard Xiangyang and resist the rebels according to the danger of the Yangtze River!"

"Hmph, don't always use the posture of Timur to press me, I don't want to be criticized by people like him......" Whenever Timur was mentioned, Wuliang Tuoduo did not hesitate to say, "I said, my goal is only the Zhao family's 'Qiankun Two Swords'." I heard that the children of the Zhao family went south with the army, overcoming obstacles all the way, maybe in Xiangyang, I can meet the descendants of the Zhao family...... Wait, I will definitely kill everyone in the Zhao family and seize the 'Qiankun Two Swords' to fulfill the unfinished wish of my ancestors!" Sure enough, in the eyes of Wuliang Tuoduo, there is only the Zhao family's "Qiankun Two Swords".

"By the way, general, just now the spies came to report that the enemy general Zhao Zijin led a thousand cavalry troops and was rushing towards the direction ......of the Yangtze River in Xiangyang, as if he was trying to probe the reality of our army," the general added.

Hearing the name of "Zhao Zijin", Wuliang Tuoduo suddenly became murderous.

"The Zhao family can't wait to send them to death so early......" Wuliang Tuoduo stood up from the front of the case and said in an extremely cold tone, "The order, order the three thousand troops of the right battalion to go into battle, and this general will personally take the lives of the Zhao family-"

Wuliang Tuoduo couldn't wait to kill the Zhao family, and the hundred-year grudge entanglement seemed to be gradually starting from Xiangyang...... (To be continued.) )