Zhang Mingyue went down the loess slope, because Sima Yun wanted to be quiet alone for a while, saying that he was alone, but how long did it take for love you sister to come to the snow-covered wilderness in Saibei There was a one-armed little old man with hair and beard full of snowflakes, the old sword god sat down next to Sima Yun, his gray hair was held by the hairpin at will, a pair of shoes had been soaked with snow, and the one-armed little old man had no good air.

"I followed that stinky boy for days, and I didn't find a single fart. ”

"Oh? That's weird, it shouldn't be possible. Even the most powerful person must have nothing to hide under your means, old man, it's really strange. ”

Sima Yun was puzzled.

"Okay, don't speculate when the old man sees you kid, there will always be a day when the truth is revealed, just give advice to the girl in Zhaoyang with peace of mind, as for the old man's ......"

The one-armed little old man looked at the north of the Saibei Thousand Silver White, behind him was the Xue Zijun in a commotion, and dozens of miles in front of him was the black cavalry armor of the Western Xia.

"Marching and fighting, the two countries are at war, the old man can't do it, and he won't do it, the people in the rivers and lakes should die in the rivers and lakes, what is the reason for dying on the battlefield, don't expect the old man to help Xue Pingchuan's kid kill the enemy, there is a way of heaven, people are humane, if the old man participates in the war, it will be a great unfairness to the war, but the old man will still do it to protect Zhang Xiaozi in the past few years, do you understand?"

"I naturally understand the meaning of the old man's words, the army and the rivers and lakes are two unrelated forces, if the old man flows into this muddy water, then the war will lose its original meaning, not to mention that I didn't let the old man participate in the war. ”

Sima Yun smiled.

"I've just been curious about the person behind that stinky boy, he still refuses to show his face, even if he was almost killed by Zhao Jiansoul in the Xixia military camp, this person is very hidden. ”

"Why do you have to find people out? Is it not good to let him protect him secretly? The old man once drank your wine before agreeing to accompany you on this trip to the rivers and lakes, the old man is not a man of his word, but before that, the world, peace, in the eyes of the old man, is not as important as the sword behind him, as for what the future of the world will be, no one can say, but no matter what, it has little to do with the old man, when the time comes, how long can the old man live? ten years, twenty years? In the final analysis, it is nothing more than the grace of your family, this favor must be returned, and the favor will be returned, which is when the old man leaves. ”

That night, the one-armed little old man remembered the past for the first time, so he sat on the loess mound with Sima Yun and said until midnight, and said bluntly that Zhang Mingyue saw that the two of them did not come back in the middle of the night to look for it, and when he left, the old man still had a sentence for Zhang Mingyue to remember.

"When this trip to the rivers and lakes will finally end, the old man will definitely have the day when he leaves, people say that the fallen leaves return to the roots, Li Wenzhen's old bones should still return to his parents' home, although the rice of Xichu is sweet, but it is still not as sweet as the water of the Guangling River. ”

At that time, it was already night, and after the old man returned to the tent to rest, Zhang Mingyue couldn't help asking.

"The old man really didn't ascend that day?"

"Soaring, I'm afraid it won't work, the old man has too many lives, and the way of heaven doesn't allow it, just take 10,000 steps back and say, even if you can soar, the old man may not choose to leave, have you forgotten what he once said that the men in the rivers and lakes are born, and the men in the rivers and lakes are dead?"

Sima Yun patted Zhang Mingyue on the shoulder.

"Many people are eager to be the true immortals of that longevity and Tianqi, but just like the old man said, the immortals may not be able to live forever, after all, the sword opens the gate of heaven and kills the gods and Buddhas of the heavens is not just talking, the reason why the old man's sword heart was damaged back then is still the way of the sword again, and what supports it is nothing more than a thought, I also have a thought, and it is this idea that supports me to survive until now, you also have the idea of living because of a certain belief, but you haven't found that idea yet, or rather, you haven't realized it yet, it's late at night, rest early, tomorrow will be the day when the tiger and wolf pass shake。 ”

Sima Yun left, but Zhang Mingyue couldn't move at all as if she felt that her legs were pressed by a thousand powers.

What is enlightenment?

......

Early the next morning, Princess Zhaoyang got up early, saying that she got up, but it was better to say that she hadn't slept all night, and her original beautiful face was tired a lot, and her eyes were bloodshot, but despite this, she still applied light makeup as always, so that the whole person looked solemn, and she tossed and turned all night, and even didn't forget to send someone to send a letter back to Bianjing City overnight to inform the border war.

She was waiting, because Sima Yun said that he would give him one night to come up with a solution, not only this princess who is known as both civil and military, but even Ning Zhiyuan, the two armies, seemed to be a little impatient, although the national pillar was not an ordinary person, but as he himself said, the rivers and lakes were born recklessly, and he was an army halfway, even if he was evil, how much wisdom could he make up for marching and fighting? The three famous generals of the Three Kingdoms of the Central Plains are the only ones Xue Pingchuan who is not worthy of his name, if he fights a small battle, it is okay, but in this kind of big battle related to the survival of his family and country, no matter how calm he is, he can't help but feel worried in his heart, in the final analysis, it is because Xichu has been peaceful for too long.

The camp tent has almost gathered the border guards except for Xue Pingchuan's high-level generals, Princess Zhaoyang sat firmly in the middle, the old man was idle behind him, and he read some of the general's internal skills on weekdays with one hand, and from time to time he read the words, this line, the one-armed little old man said that he came to the border to condole, but anyone with a discerning eye can see that the emperor Chu Zhongyan was sent to protect Princess Zhaoyang who was sitting firmly in the hall, the old sword god was not in the temple, and he did not want to be bound by the temple, but when he saw Zhang Mingyue at the border, the two and the three of them were more or less regarded as inheriting the emperor's kindness, and they did not return the favor, this is not the sword god of the old years, and similarly, it is not his nature to take revenge without revenge。

Zhang Mingyue was not qualified to enter this kind of occasion, but despite this, he was still pulled in by Sima Yun, and at this time, everyone might as well joke or stare at a freak a few times, just quietly waiting for the man standing next to the simulated topographic map of Saibei made temporarily based on the scholar's map to say his method.

"This battle, not attack. did not guard, retreated a hundred miles and stationed in the pass. ”

There was an uproar.

"Fuck your shit. ”

The border guards are bold and bold, and they are used to stragglers on weekdays, and their style is naturally eclectic, even if there is a princess in charge, they still can't control their scolding.

"What the hell are you trying to make us surrender? Think too much, my border guards have been in the Tiger Wolf Pass for I don't know how many years, and they have never surrendered to the enemy. ”

"Sure enough, it's useless to be a scholar, as far as the fuck knows, what else will he do besides surrender? ”

......

Sima Yun didn't speak, but he just looked at the excitement of these soldiers, even if several of them spit on them, they didn't wipe it, they had long expected this kind of result, so they had already prepared for the worst.

Xue Pingchuan's face was ugly, even Princess Zhaoyang was uncertain.

"You thought about it all night and came up with such a solution?"

She said coldly, it is not difficult to see that this princess is afraid that she is really angry, even if she doesn't say Zhang Mingyue, she probably guessed that this princess actually wants to say Sima Yun, do you know how much this palace expects from you?

But expectations are expectations, and reality is always reality.

The tent gradually quieted down, and Sima Yun rarely laughed at himself.

"Originally, I thought that the soldiers would be excited to dismantle me, but now it seems that the situation is much better than mine, now that everyone has quieted down, I listened to the next and said why we want to retreat to the pass, if you think what I said is unreasonable, it doesn't matter if you spit and drown Sima Yun at that time. ”

"Our retreat to Guanzhong is not surrender, at least I think so, giving up a hundred miles of land is actually harmless to Xichu, and it will not suffer any substantial heavy damage, but now Zhao Jiansoul will attack the key within three days, do you really think you can defend it?"

At that moment, Sima Yun was the first to tell the pros and cons of this battle, and at this time it was already silent.

"It's just a hundred miles of land, and what comes after a hundred miles of land may be an ally who will rely on each other in the future, if you don't let out a hundred miles, the tiger and wolf pass will be broken, and the scourge will not only be a hundred miles? The strength of the border guards is in front of you, even if the tiger and wolf pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack, even if Zhao Jiansoul is lucky enough to defend it, but Xue Zijun must have suffered an unprecedented heavy blow, and at present, the Western Xia has not yet formed an alliance with the Western Regions, if his two families really join forces, the Western Xia will borrow troops from the Western Regions to attack the Tiger and Wolf Pass, and the general can defend it for a day or two, a month or two months? Otherwise, why do you think the Western Xia would be impartial and lead troops to attack at this time? Give up a hundred miles of land for the Western Xia to rest and recuperate, cultivate and work, Zhao Jiansoul will not agree, and the Emperor of the Western Xia will not disagree, because everyone is not stupid, and they will not waste their own strength in vain, after all, if Xuanyuan Hongtu can hold the Two Realms Mountain, it is fine, if he can't hold it, the Western Regions troops will enter the Central Plains, and then the two countries will not even be able to organize a decent counterattack, won't they make a wedding dress for others? After I finished speaking, what should I do The princess has her own idea, I believe that even if Mr. Ning comes, it will be exactly the same as Sima Yun, presumably the princess has already written a letter back, thousands of miles away, today is the first day, and there are two days to receive a reply from Bianjing, if the princess can't get an idea, let's wait for the reply from Bianjing with peace of mind. ”

The north wind howls at night, and the north of the country is like a ghost crying wolf, even if the roots are firmly rooted in the frozen soil of the Gobi, the marching camp tent is creaking and swaying, as if it will be blown away if you don't pay attention to it, but fortunately, the border guards are almost used to the winter in the north of the country, and even more so, they have to open a small window in the camp tent to let the cold wind pour in to sleep comfortably.

Winter will soon pass, and everything will recover, should be in a good mood, but the border guards can not be happy, because today the man in the green shirt who is deeply respected by the princess during the day said that he would abandon the pass and retreat to the pass, for many veterans who have been stationed in this tiger and wolf pass for decades, they have long been accustomed to the four seasons of the tiger and wolf pass, used to all kinds here, and are also used to watching the sunset every day, for the soldiers, dying on the battlefield is the best belonging, and now it is so cold that he said that he wanted to sacrifice the pass, and the most comfortable season to sleep, the soldiers have also lost sleep。

Sima Yun didn't sleep, he still went up the snow-covered loess slope outside the camp just like Zhang Mingyue likes to talk to the tombstone of Lao Xu, who has been dead for a long time, and he seems to have fallen in love with overlooking the land of Saibei since he called the border pass, even if he couldn't see anything except the sound of the wind and a piece of silver and white in this lonely night.

"Today's daytime events, some of you can't stand you. ”

Princess Zhaoyang stepped on the snow and creaked up the mountain, wearing an extremely precious and heavy red mink coat swaying left and right in the north wind, revealing the graceful and colorful body under the coat, the two of them were thick and single, because Sima Yun always wore the thin green shirt, allowing the north wind to cling to his body.

"The princess said sorry, because I was scolded or spit on. ”

Getting closer to Sima Yun, Chu Zhaoyang knew that Sima Yun was not afraid of the cold, after all, in such bad weather, even a land immortal like an old man could not easily protect his body, not to mention Sima Yun who was in the realm of immortality? At least the princess saw the cold blue on the man beside her now. She laughed.

"Neither, or both. But either way, I should say thank you. ”

"Not really. ”

Sima Yun shook his head.

"After receiving the favor of the Chu family, I naturally want to do something for the Chu family, after all, there should be a red face and a black face at any time, Sima Yun is not very white, this black face is quite suitable for me. ”

"Are you making me laugh?"

The princess scrutinized the face in front of her.

"Your face is very clean, even if you have a scar, you are a handsome man rarely seen in the world, and there is no lack of masculinity in the handsome, do you know that a man like you is easy to fascinate girls? I'm afraid the old man was only like this when he was young, but I am very curious, what is the purpose of you coming here every day, even if you get wet in the wind and snow, and do not put on clothes. ”

"In order to remind oneself, to remind oneself that one is still alive, the living should not wait for death, and the living should live for a certain belief. ”

Sima Yun patted the silver on his sleeve.

"After retreating to Guanzhong, Xichu can maintain a period of tranquility in recent years, the princess will take advantage of this hard-won few years to develop rapidly military strength, if it were not for the disarmament of His Majesty the Emperor back then, it would not be as lost as today, a country can be without officials, can be without a king, but absolutely can not be without an army, the princess had better handle the conscription matters in person, this is to win over the hearts of the army, after the army is recruited, the second thing that the princess will start is to subdue the Western Chu martial arts, there is a saying although it is ugly, but Sima Yun also has to say, the so-called martial arts alliance leader, is just a puppet in the hands of the princess, with the heart of the army, with the hearts of the people, this Western Chu country can not be surnamed with others, so, great things can be done. ”

Rao is Chu Zhaoyang, no matter how calm he was, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his back by these words.

"You want this palace to be the emperor?"

Her eyes were blazing, but she listened to Sima Yun continue.

"What? Could it be that the princess can't be the emperor? Or does the princess think that a woman can't be the emperor? With all due respect, sticking to the rules will only leave disaster for thousands of years, not to mention that the princess cares about the people of Xichu, and she must be a wise monarch, and the people of Xichu should not only not oppose it, but support it. ”

"Stop, do you know what you're saying here is a big rebellion?"

The princess drank cold.

Now that his father Chu Zhongyan is still in power, how can he talk about the affairs of the West Chu rivers and mountains? Originally, the people in the country criticized him, and if someone grabbed the handle and then wantonly spread rumors, it would be worth it? However, after a great rebellion, this woman from West Chuqi continued to murmur in an undetectable voice.

"It's too early to say that. ”

She shook her head slightly, but she didn't expect Sima Yun to shake his head with the same smile, he looked at the night sky, there was nothing there, but in his eyes, it was as if there were celestials snooping on the world. Sima Yun said with deep meaning.

"It's not necessarily early, it's not necessarily late, it's a day coming. ”

Sima Yun put his hands behind his back and watched the black wind in the north moon.

"The princess's talent is in addition to my current master of the Northern Wei Dynasty Baijian Mountain, Meng Yueying, the eldest lady of the Meng family, there is no woman in the world who can compare, not to mention women, even men can't do more, controlling the West Chu rivers and mountains is like exploring the bag, after retiring to Guanzhong, the princess's era is coming, there is no war in the Tiger and Wolf Pass, Sima Yun will take the stinky boy back to the territory of West Chu, and together with the old man, he will level the West Chu martial arts for the princess, and open the way for the princess's follow-up deployment. ”

"Isn't this palace to thank you, although there is no shortage of strange people in the martial arts of Xichu, but there are land immortals such as the old man in charge, there should be no uneven things, but ugly words can be said ahead, as far as I know, I Xichu still can't help but have old things in the sect that has been passed down from a long time ago, this line will not be so easy. ”

"It's really not too easy, but the princess should keep her heart in her heart, there are many old monsters in this world, but there is only one Spring and Autumn Sword God in this world......"

After Sima Yun left, Princess Zhaoyang did not go down the mountain for a long time, and only recited the last words left by Sima Yun when he left.

"I will help the princess control the West Chu River, and the princess will do something for me in the future......"

The message was sent back to Bianjing City for thousands of miles, saying that it would take two days to reply, but in fact, on the morning of the three-day deadline, the Tiger Wolf Pass broke out and the unprecedented tremor broke out.

There is a generation of great Confucians who have crossed thousands of miles with swords, accompanied by clouds and clouds behind them.

"Tiger and wolf pass, let, retreat to the pass, wait for the world to change. ”

It's just that a few faint words seem to have infinite magic power, far more powerful than other people's thousands of words, Chu Zhongyan decided to retreat to Guanzhong, and Ning Zhiyuan came with the emperor's order.

Zhang Mingyue often fantasizes about what a real peerless master should look like, but there is no doubt that Ning Zhiyuan is definitely the master who is most like a master, and the one-armed little old man is the master who is the least like a master among the masters, even if this master is now a rare land immortal in the rivers and lakes for a hundred years.

Ignoring the posture of the great Confucian celestial on the sword, Sima Yun smiled at Xue Pingchuan, the national pillar.

"Before retreating to Guanzhong, we still have to go to meet with Zhao Jiansoul, this side, I and the old man Zhang Xiaozi will go, if the princess is willing, you can go with us. ”

The four of them came out of the Tiger and Wolf Pass, Zhang Mingyue once again set foot on this land in the north, and arrived at the camp of the Western Xia Army, which was still built in place, with flat terrain on three sides, and only one was close to the hillside.

"If the soldiers are unwilling to retreat to Guanzhong, but choose to take the initiative to attack, fighting the Western Xia army in this terrain is tantamount to seeking their own death. ”

In the past two days, the camp seems to have gathered a lot of soldiers and horses, and the black pressure is heavy, giving people a sense of heaviness.

"I know that not all of the Chu army are people who know how to go into battle shirtless and kill the enemy. ”

Zhao Jiansoul seemed to have been waiting outside the camp for a long time, and there was already a lot of snow on his body, and the general seemed to have not moved on horseback all this time.

"Compared with the general's strategic planning and insight into people's hearts, it is too far behind, and the 100,000 army almost emptied the Western Xia of grain and grass for half a year, and burned it in a word, such means are unmatched in the world. ”

Sima Yun got off his horse and arched his hand.

"I'll assume you're slapping me on the back, so how many miles are you going to retreat?"

Zhao Jiansoul looked carefully at the four people who came, and although his eyes stayed on the old man for a moment, he didn't say anything in the end, just waved his hand, the camp door opened, and the five rode into the barracks.

"Retreat to a hundred miles of land, a hundred miles of land are fertile land in Western Chu, which can be used by the general 100,000 soldiers and horses to cultivate and work self-sufficiently, I believe that it will not be long before 100,000 troops will grow grain and grass for several and a half years, and this is also the bottom line of my Chu country, I must not let it, the general also knows that the hundred miles of land I said is not a county land, but the entire Western Chu and Western Xia adjacent to the border for 100 miles, and the general should not get an inch again. ”

"You can see it thoroughly. ”

Zhao Jiansoul smiled coldly.

"Since your Chu army is willing to let in, my Zhao Jiansoul is not a person who is untrustworthy, Western Xia and Western Chu should be open to trade from now on, only in this way can we ensure the long-term peace and stability of the two countries, and I, Zhao Jiansoul, guarantee that as long as the above two points are done, no one in Western Chu will die in the hands of the Western Xia people. ”

"It's better to have an agreement. ”

Sima Yun said with a smile.

"Is this a trust in me Zhao Jian Soul?"

"It's not that I can't trust the general, it's just that I can't trust His Majesty the Emperor behind the general. ”

The matter of signing the agreement is not too complicated, the four of them came and went quickly, and after the gate of the camp was closed, Zhao Jiansoul still watched the four of them go away.

"General, that woman should be the princess of Western Chu, why don't you detain her and then coerce the Chu army to retreat a hundred miles. ”

Zhao Jiansoul is not alone in the command of 100,000 troops, he is only in charge of ten obedient generals.

"If I take action to detain it, my military camp will be destroyed in an instant, and even the head of this general will not be able to protect it. ”

With the protection of the land immortals, it is nothing more than a fantasy to want to detain people under them, but when the surrounding armies began to pack up and prepare to march into Guanzhong, the general silently thought in his heart.

"The farther you enter the Tiger and Wolf Pass, the faster you will die, and Zhao Jiansoul doesn't want to die for the time being. ”

......

Not to mention the people of Guanzhong, it takes a lot of time to march and materials, but fortunately, only 10,000 Xixia troops will have to enter the Tiger and Wolf Pass, and the whole country of Xixia is shaken, even the emperor did not pursue Zhao Jian's soul for burning grain and grass, but also deducted a lot of grain and grass from between his teeth, which is enough for the army to enter the pass.

The retreat lasted for more than a month, and even the wheat that had not yet had time to bloom in spring was all intact and left to the Western Xia, Ruixue Zhaofeng year, and this year the Western Xia did not work to get a lot of grain.

On the day of retreat to the pass, Zhang Mingyue had already recovered, and for the first time, he sat in front of the grave of his husband Lao Xu for a day, and smoked a big cigarette for a day.

"Reluctantly?"

"It's false to say that I am willing to do it, after all, I have lived for more than half a year, I want to take Lao Xu's ashes away, but I am afraid of disturbing his entry into the soil, and this place may soon be opened up by Xixia to cultivate grain, and there will be nothing at that time. ”

Zhang Mingyue followed Lao Xu's example and knocked her pipe on the stone.

Spring has begun, the ice and snow in Saibei have begun to melt, and the haze that has lasted for several months has finally ushered in the first birth of Zhaoyang.

Zhang Mingyue stood up and propped up a big lazy waist.

"Actually, it's not that there's nothing left, at least the dead brother has always lived in our hearts, right? You should know that nothing in this world lives longer than living in a person's heart. ”

"Isn't that right? ”

Zhang Mingyue grinned.

"I'm just sighing, the 100,000 army has been guarding for decades, and the bloody, sweaty and tearful Tiger Wolf Pass was sent out like this, I knew this, why did the brothers of the year protect this land to the death?"

"I don't agree with that. ”

The battalion commander made a face, it seems that this month's hard work has not made him worry, the original weight of more than 200 catties has lost a lot of weight in just a month, or it is not because of hard work and emaciated, as for why, Zhang Mingyue didn't think about it, but felt that the current battalion commander didn't seem to be as hateful as when he first came to Tiger Wolf Pass.

"At least the brothers died not without value, if it weren't for the 100,000 troops who went forward and died one after another, I'm afraid they wouldn't let you, the latecomers, inherit the will and defend this land and defend my Western Chu rivers and mountains, their death is worth it. ”

"But they can't see my family anymore, but I'm okay, even though I still don't know who my family is or where they are, or even if they're alive or dead, you can go back to the country to see your wife." Forget it, don't mention these past things, I'm going to talk to Zhao Jiansoul and ask him not to reclaim this land, because without here, we won't have any thoughts. ”

Zhang Mingyue really entered the camp of the Western Xia Army alone, and found Zhao Jiansoul and said his wish.

"You can't let my brothers die without a place to live. ”

Zhao Jiansoul agreed, and promised that with him one day, the mass grave would not be reclaimed.

"You are such a loving and righteous person, you are very suitable to live in the military camp for a long time, and you will do something in the future. ”

When finally bidding farewell to the Tiger and Wolf Pass, Zhao Jiansoul chatted with Zhang Mingyue once.

"I don't want to leave the barracks either, I'm even used to the barracks life, I go out every day for morning exercises, perform tasks every day, and practice knives every day, but now the Tiger Wolf Pass has been sacrificed, and there will be no war in Xichu in recent years, and the soldiers will slack off, but I can't slack off, so I have to leave the barracks. ”

"Where do you want to go?"

On that day, two enemies who were originally enemies became friends for the first time.

"I want to go to the rivers and lakes. ”

"Where are the rivers and lakes?"

"I don't know where the rivers and lakes are, so I'm going to look for them. ”

The old pawn of the Tiger Wolf Pass, the dead frontier brothers, the scholar's march map to the north, including the battalion commander who was missing an arm, were already the afterglow of the sunset.

He didn't take the knife that had been snatched by the battalion commander in the first place.

"To be a fucking man, you should keep your word, I said that when I can kill you, I will come and get a knife. ”

"But Lao Tzu is only one arm now, and you are already a second-grade master, how can you not kill Lao Tzu. ”

"Lao Tzu thinks that I can't beat you now? Keep the knife, I have been a soldier for so many years, if I don't even have a decent outfit when I go back to the countryside, I'm afraid I will be laughed at by your mother-in-law who wears a hat for you, and I will take the knife myself one day." ”

Zhang Mingyue punched the battalion commander in the chest.

"I have to go, he will come back to live and die with my brothers, but now I have to go on a trip. ”

"A trip to my own ......"