Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 7

After the military meeting, the moon was already in the middle of the sky unknowingly. The grassland at night was extremely quiet. On the far horizon, faint clouds enveloped the full moon like light smoke, and the moonlight flowed down like a waterfall. The sound of howling wind From time to time, there are bursts of insects singing, and the whole grassland looks serene and peaceful.But it is this grassland, every inch of the land is soaked with blood and tears.One violent nation after another was bred and grown here, and the chaotic iron-shoe storm started from here.

Returning to the tent after patrolling the sentry post, Zhao Xingde took a deep breath of the cold air of the night, leaned against the pillow with the horizontal knife in his hand, closed his eyes and meditated.Since he led the army out, he rarely had time to sit down and think quietly. "It's impossible for the sergeants to go out alone to find women, but others will see that it's wrong." Zhao Xingde smiled wryly, if he wanted to go, he probably had to line up the whole battalion, which was in line with Xia Jun's habit.It is not allowed for everyone to act on his own in the military camp, even if Wang Tongdeng is a centurion who can't help but talk about meat and vegetables all day long, if he is allowed to act alone without a military order, he will feel a drum in his heart.Ms. Xia's ownership and dependence on the battalion was beyond the imagination of Liao and Song people.

In the camp of the Jiedu envoy of the Xuande Army, Liu Qutong was as sullen as he was during the day. "Those thieves didn't do anything out of the ordinary, did they?" He stared at several officers in the tent who were sent to test.

Wu Yirou stood at the bottom, and said respectfully: "It's nothing, Jin Er's family even revealed to the last general that they want to recruit peace." He paused, suppressing his weird mood, and said in a deep groan, "I don't know if it's true or not?" He felt a little dejected, the Jiedu envoy wanted to tie the Xuande army together, so let's die together.The man surnamed Zhao was unusual, but he kept saying haha ​​and didn't want to say a word, probably because he saw this. "What are they going to Yangcheng for? Is Xia Guoan Northern Army Commander going south?" Wu Yirou thought to himself, but the expression on his face became more respectful. Liu Qutong's temper was definitely not good.

"Recruitment?" Liu Qutong didn't feel it was funny, and secretly said: "I still want to follow the dragon. But the power and place of the Xuande army, can you keep it for me?" Take this group of Xia people who don't know the details to Yangcheng Liu Qutong had no choice but to take over the matter.The Khitan people are so unjust, and the Southern Dynasty is cowardly, so there must be a way out there.Liu Qutong is as close to his power as a rich man guarding a cash drawer. For him, the Xia people are like a thorn in the Xuande army. He is always worried that the Xia people will betray their trust and persuade him His subordinates betrayed him, and he was also worried that the Khitan people would get conclusive evidence that he secretly communicated with the Xia Kingdom. Once such signs appeared, they would cut off the chaos with a sharp knife.

The tallow candle was burning brightly, illuminating Liu Qutong's complexion uncertainly.His thoughts were a little dazed, decades ago Han Chang's "chaos" could have gone to Beijing with a joint attack from the north and the south, but most of the Han generals in the Nanjing Road were on the side of the Liao court. "When the Han family was here, Han generals could be equal to or even overwhelmed by the Khitan people, but now they have fallen into such a situation, alas!" Liu Qutong shook his head, when did he become so full of complaints? ' up.

Xuande's army and Chengyingying had their own plans, but marching together went smoothly.Zhao Xingde couldn't help secretly thanking the Xuande Army for the cover, otherwise, it would have taken a lot of thought just to avoid the investigation of the tribe and the Liao Kingdom.Although the grassland in the northern part of Xijing Road is vast and sparsely populated, it is still under the control of the Liao Dynasty court. Many tribes here were driven from the northwest by the Anbei Army Commander, and many people are hostile to Xia Kingdom.The 700-man Chengying Camp team, with more than 2000 horses, cannot march along the main road all the time.Now, under the guise of the Xuande army, they can buy food and grass supplies from the places they pass by with great fanfare, and even add some pack horses.

After Xiaoxing stayed overnight for more than ten days, the terrain along the way gradually became higher and steeper.People who inquired about Xuande's army often told them dangerous place names such as Langwogou, Yehuling, and Heifengkou.

"Damn, what kind of place is such a poor place!" Wang Tongdeng murmured, for the cavalry, this kind of terrain is the most disgusting.The officers of Chengying Battalion secretly stepped up their guard.Zhao Xingde sneaked a look at the sky every day in his camp, and found that the Xuande army was marching towards Yanzi City. Huaihuang Town was built in this area during the Northern Wei Dynasty, and it was one of the six towns.Swallow City controls the tunnels that pass in and out of Youyan from the Mobei Grassland. The most important thing is that it is also heavily defended by the Liao people, and it is also the palace where the Liao Emperor hunted swans in spring.

Sure enough, after passing through the valley, water and grass gradually became luxuriant, and there were many birds and animals. In the wilderness, large herds of cattle and sheep passed by from time to time, and people gradually flourished.Most of these fields or orchards belonged to the nobles or monasteries of the Liao Kingdom, only a few were official lands, and all those who cultivated the fields were slaves.Soon, the famous Swallow City appeared on the horizon. However, the Xuande army went straight around the city and walked forward for half a day until they came to a lake in the north of Swallow City.

Compared with the bustling and bustling Swallow City, everything here looks simple and rough, except for the fence and tent, an obviously newly built altar is the only building here.More than 3000 riders rushed out of the camp. The cavalry on horseback held weapons such as bows, arrows and spears, and watched the approaching Xuande army.After announcing his identity and purpose, not long after, Bo Shenghuo Mierbo came out with his generals.

"Welcome my most honored guest, Liu Jiedushi." Bo Shenghuo's figure became fatter, he said with a smile on his face, opened his arms towards Liu Qutong, and hugged him tightly, Liu Qutong Qu Tong also changed his usual dead face and smiled as if seeing a long-lost brother.The two walked into the big tent holding hands, the trusted officers under their command followed behind them, while Zhao Xingde and others waited outside with other Xuande soldiers.

The scene just now fell into the eyes of all the officers of the Chengying Camp. Wang Tongdeng spit on the ground and scolded: "It's so fucking disgusting." Not long after, Wu Yirou, the palm master, was seen walking out of the barbarian's big tent. He drove out and explained loudly to several officers of the Xuande army, and soon those carts loaded with iron and cloth were driven to the opposing camp, and behind the carts were more than 3000 unkempt and ragged female slaves and craftsmen.

Along the way, the treatment these people received was not much different from that of livestock. I really don't know whether reaching this destination is a relief for them or the beginning of a new suffering.A few barbarians stood at the gate of the camp, pinching and patting like checking animals, and opened their mouths to check their teeth.A group of shepherds in the opposite camp waved their poles to drive the horses, and slowly came out towards the Xuande army.The officers of the Xuande army laughed and scolded the barbarian for wearing broken shoes, but they couldn't understand. The faces of buyers and sellers were filled with satisfied smiles.

Zhao Xingde usually stays in the army, and has never seen these trafficked Han Chinese. They are already like walking corpses. Even if they are only a little angry, they are full of fear.Powerless to do anything for these miserable people, at this moment, Zhao Xingde only felt ashamed, as if his heart was suddenly soaked in bitter salt water.

He turned around and looked at the soldiers of the Chengying Army around him. Even Wang Tongdeng, who was usually joking, everyone looked at this scene with complicated expressions. "Remember this scene," Zhao Xingde said in a low voice, "the weak have no hope of saving themselves, and they have no chance to save others." Jin Changtai glanced at him in surprise, and nodded thoughtfully.It was almost dusk, and the bright sunshine with a colorful halo seemed to add a layer of gold to the general's gray cloak.

In addition to war horses, the Mierbo people also paid a lot of gold and jewels to make up for the lack of value, which made Liu Qutong very satisfied. He also specially recommended Fan Mancang, a big businessman from Hedong, to Bo Shenghuo Khan. Wang Peiyu, Jin Yulan, Wang Tangfa and others, these merchants originally smuggled military equipment, food and grass from Hedong to Liu Qutong. It was these people who sensed the business opportunity and took the initiative to advance a lot of money, which led to Liu Qutong and Mierbo human transactions.

The grassland tribes have always been short of supplies, and they attach great importance to merchants. Bo Shenghuo also admires the culture of the Central Plains, so he treats these merchants with courtesy and promises that as long as they are in the territory under the jurisdiction of his Northwest recruiting envoy, these caravans will travel unimpeded in Mobei , And asked these merchants to traffic more ironware and craftsmen to Mobei.

"Have you seen my warrior?" Bo Shenghuo toasted the merchants happily.

"The warriors of the Great Khan can be said to be strong and powerful, much better than the soldiers of the Central Plains!" Fan Mancang praised without saying a word. The barbarians on the grassland are naturally bold and generous, which is the best.

"As long as my warriors have enough armor and weapons," Bo Shenghuo stroked his beard and slapped the table, "I'll give you all the gold and jewels here!" He stood up and stood up. , said loudly, "Come on, I'll show you a place!" After speaking, he strode towards the outside of the tent.

All the merchants looked at each other in blank dismay, and the barbarians invited each other, so they had to follow behind the sweat and went straight to the earthen altar more than two feet high.With a smug look on his face, Bo Sheng pointed at Fan Mancang with his finger, and said in a deep voice, "You, come with me to have a look."

Fan Mancang didn't dare to shirk, and hurriedly said: "The villain obeys." He bowed his head and followed behind Bo Shenghuo, walked up the steps of the earthen barrier, and came to the top of the altar, where he saw a spacious house. It was pitch black and nothing could be seen.Fan Mancang was suspicious and a little scared, but he didn't dare to show it at all, but he heard Bo Shenghuo shout: "Bring the torch!"

The lighted torch was handed up, Bo Shenghuo took it, and stretched it into the room unceremoniously. Suddenly, Fan Mancang felt his eyes light up, the golden light was dazzling, he still didn't believe it, and fucked** * Eyes, looking intently again, almost cried out in shock, the room was filled with gold, silver and jewels, shining colorfully under the light of the torches, making one's mouth watering.

Bo Shenggao paid attention to Fan Mancang's expression, and he had a trick secretly, and said in a deep voice, "Go in and have a look?"

"Yes, yes," Fan Mancang nodded and said, forgetting to give way, and stepped into the room full of gold and silver bricks in one step. I took a picture, and except for the place where the two of them stood, there were treasures on all sides, golden Buddhas, gold nuggets, and silver cups were piled up in disorder, large strings of oriental beads leaked from the gaps in the gold and silver cabinets, agate, Gems were scattered almost all over the place.

Fan Mancang's heart was almost filled with the wealth of the enemy country in front of him, and his mind could hardly think. If someone asked him at this time, would he like to die here, he would answer without hesitation: "Yes!" At this time, the seductive voice of Mierba Khan sounded in his ears again.

"I not only have war horses, sheep's wool and mink fur, but also countless gold, silver and jewellery. I want ironware, cloth, food, and various craftsmen. Longevity God, traffic the goods to me, these are all Feel free to take it!"