Five Dynasties River Mountains Fengyue

Chapter 515
At the beginning of April, people and horses were in a hurry in Youzhou City. At this time, the whole city was under martial law, and soldiers of the Qin Army were everywhere. People were not allowed to go out at will and entered a state of preparation for war.

A hundred days were slanting to the west, when the sky was dark, dozens of riders passed through the village road outside the city, and then there was the sound of rumbling horseshoes on the ground. army.

The garrison who set up a card outside the city was startled. Seeing the flags of the Qin Army, they were relieved a little. They were about to send someone over to check the password, but they saw behind many colorful flags that the emperor's banner was slowly rising from the horizon.

The sentinels were taken aback for a moment, and then they didn't dare to delay, and shouted: "Quick, go to the city and tell the commander-in-chief that a certain person is going to face the saint!"

The sent soldiers were dissatisfied, and he also wanted to face the saint, but he had no choice but to obey the order of the capital, and reluctantly rode into the city to report that the emperor's army had arrived outside the city.

In fact, as early as daytime, there were forward scouts going north to report to them the news that the officials were about to lead the army north to Youzhou. For this reason, Li Chuyun and the others made arrangements to send more soldiers to set up checkpoints and increase the defenders in the direction of Shunzhou and Tanzhou. To ensure the safety of Shengjia.

This morning, there was also news from Jizhou that the guard of Jizhou had surrendered in Kaesong, and the Qin army sent there had successfully entered the city.

In this way, Shunzhou and Jizhou in the east of Youzhou have all fallen into the hands of the Qin army, and Youzhou City is safer.

It's just that Tanzhou, an important passage in the north, is still holding on, which makes Li Chuyun very worried. If the main force of the Liao army goes south, Tanzhou is a very important passage.

He sent his eldest son, Li Jilong, to lead the troops northward and defend in the northeast valley of Youzhou, and ordered him to block the main force of the Liao army no matter how many people came to the south for more than two days if he encountered the main force of the Liao army going southward, and to inform the south as soon as possible so that Youzhou could Quick response.

When Emperor Shi arrived outside the city on horseback, Li Chuyun had led all the civil and military troops out of the city to greet him.

The army was arranged by Wang Shenqi and camped on the banks of the Sanggan River, and Li Chuyun also sent officers to take over.

Emperor Shi got off his horse, dressed in travel and dust, handed the whip to Gao Da Shao Ji who was accompanying him, and then raised his hand, "Everyone get up, where is Si Chao, take me there."

Everyone looked at each other, got up immediately, and walked into the city with the anxious emperor without a word.

Emperor Shi was so worried that the joy of entering the ancient city of Youzhou was diluted. He didn't feel dazed until he passed through the dark city cave. This is Youzhou.
Unknowingly, this ancient city of Xiongguan has been trampled under his feet. At least without him, it would be hundreds of years before the South wants to take it back. From this point of view, Guan has contributed to the promotion of the historical process , Emperor Shi thought so.

Soon, Li Chuyun led him through the Yanjiao Tower and Guang'an Gate, then turned to the east, walked along the long bluestone brick avenue, stepped on some slippery dark green moss, turned around for a mile, turned north, and entered a The vermilion lacquered pear wood gate, and the old locust trees on both sides are just green, which can't cover the setting sun in the distance.

"They arranged the old general in the Xianlu Temple in Xianlufang. The environment here is the best and the meaning is good." Li Chuyun explained that people in this era are more or less superstitious.

Shi Congyun didn't care about the fairy dew or not. The imperial guards led the way. He went in first. After a few steps, he passed through the courtyard and entered the main hall behind the temple. The monks inside had been driven to the east and west courtyards. In the main hall were several doctors. and the white-haired Si Chao lying on the bed.

The hall is filled with the pungent smell of medicinal stones.

Emperor Shi strode in, and several military doctors were startled, but he stopped him when he saluted quickly.

Si Chao was lying on the bed, his lips were cracked, his face was pale, he was speechless, he was breathless, his cloudy eyes were lifeless, and his eyes were loose and out of focus.

His figure is still tall, but the whole person has become thinner.

"How is the situation?" Shi Congyun asked several military doctors.

Several people looked at each other, stepped forward tremblingly, and finally the oldest one said: "Guan, we have tried our best, but
The old general was already old, and he suffered from the wind and cold. After being shot with an arrow by the Khitan people, he had a fever all the time. We washed it with strong wine and cut off the carrion, but it didn't help. .
I'm afraid that there is no way to recover."

Emperor Shi didn't speak, and the legs of several military doctors trembled with fear, but he was not unreasonable, so he just glanced at Si Chao.

The other party seemed to realize that he was coming, and with the intention of returning to the light, he tremblingly stretched out his big, bony hand, which Emperor Shi held in both hands.

He opened his mouth angrily, and Emperor Shi bent over. He heard a few faint words, but they were very clear in the quiet hall: "The officials, the old ministers, and the old ministers have not let you down."

After uttering a few words, the 68-year-old, white-haired veteran lost his eyes again and dropped his hands weakly. He was held up by Shi Congyun, and he didn't say another word, only the sound of hard breathing could be heard.

Emperor Shi repeatedly controlled his emotions, and finally managed to keep his face expressionless, but he didn't open his mouth to say a word.

Most of the civil and military personnel in the hall were silent, and a few lowered their heads and wiped their eye sockets.

Time is ruthless, any career and achievement needs a price, and once you succeed, you will die.

The 68-year-old Si Chao is gray-haired and skinny. At this age, he has no children and grandchildren to surround him, and he has no family happiness. He enjoys his old age, but he is lying on the front line of the battlefield, in a foreign country in chaos, lying in a cold temple.

Emperor Shi blamed himself slightly, maybe he shouldn't be allowed to go north again, although he was good at squeezing his courtiers, but this time he made an unintentional mistake.

That night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse in Youzhou City, and there were few stars in the sky. The slightly cold night was nothing to fear for the strong Emperor Shi, but it took away the spirited veteran Si Chao forever.

When the military doctor came to report the matter to him the next day, probably because of the emperor's benevolence, he had the courage to say a few more words: "Officials, the old general went very quietly, I think he was relieved. Holding one breath is to see the official."

Emperor Shi nodded, and rewarded each of the military doctors who took care of Si Chao with two thousand dollars.

Then he issued an imperial edict on the front line, posthumously presenting Si Chao Zhong Shuling, the King of Lu, and after being a class teacher, he was given a posthumous title by the agreement of the Imperial Academy.

At the same time, he ordered to take care of Si Chao's body, and sent people to escort the coffin back to the south for burial.

The army was still fighting. In order not to delay the military, the emperor decided to sit in Youzhou himself, and with Si Chao’s lesson, Emperor Shi ordered the 72-year-old Liu Renshan from the navy to stay in Youzhou with him to handle military decision-making matters. , Don't go to the front line.

Lin Renzhao, who was younger and also surrendered from Jiangnan, was the new commander of the navy.

As soon as this decision came out, many people in the army were surprised.

In fact, this was also one of the reasons why Emperor Shi wanted to come to Youzhou. If he didn't come to Lin Renzhao, he couldn't control the scene. Firstly, Lin Renzhao was relatively young, and secondly, he came here from Jiangnan.

After Si Chao became seriously ill, Emperor Shi thought about it. Liu Renshan was a suitable candidate, but Liu Renshan was also 72, and he was afraid that he would not be able to bear it. Another change of coach would be detrimental to the war.

Next is Lin Renzhao. Lin Renzhao is the right candidate. Regardless of his outstanding performance in the Huainan battle, his unique vision and courage in the Jiangnan battle, and his rich experience in Jiangnan defense for more than ten years, it shows that he is a general with both wisdom and courage. .

But he just surrendered from the south of the Yangtze River, and it was difficult to convince the crowd, so when he heard that Si Chao was dying, the first thing Emperor Shi thought was that he had to go to Youzhou. He didn't dare to make mistakes at all, even if he refused to obey Lin Renzhao, he would obey orders.

On the afternoon of the third day of April, Emperor Shi sent Si Chao’s coffin away in person outside the city. In the evening, he immediately summoned the commanders of the whole army, the commanders and officers above, and held a combat meeting to prepare for the full deployment of the north to occupy the land and stabilize the land currently occupied. Began to take the initiative to attack Yuguan (Shanhaiguan) and Juyongguan.
(Brothers and sisters, do you want to build a group? I believe that those who can read this must be true fans. The people who build a group here should be real readers, right?)
(End of this chapter)