Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 247: Listening to String Songs Everywhere (2)

After the treaty was negotiated, the Han army and the Jin State made an alliance.After a black steed served as a sacrifice to the heavens, hundreds of Wanyan tribal dignitaries and generals of the Han army formed a large circle around the altar, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of drums and rattles. The honorable shaman slowly performed various dances with inexplicable symbols, and finally everyone shared various foods for offering sacrifices to the Queen of Heaven.

Zhao Xingde held his wine glass and watched the performance of this **** coldly.Sitting beside him were Wang Xuansu and Xu Detai's generals of the Han army, while Du Chuijiao and others were unable to attend because of insufficient status.Han Ningshuang was arranged to sit at the top, a few seats away from the generals of the Han army. When talking with the dignitaries of the Wanyan tribe, her beautiful eyes looked at this side from time to time, and the four eyes met. Zhao Xingde felt a little helpless, and his thoughts slightly move.At this moment, Mr. Han Da came over with a horn cup, sat beside Xingde, and said with a smile: "I heard that General Zhao is not only amazing in archery, but also proficient in the righteousness of the Central Plains. A hero who is both civil and military, Han Mou offers you a toast."

Zhao Xingde glanced at Wanyan Zongbi who was behind him, smiled and said: "Thank you." He picked up the wine bowl and had sex with him.Mr. Han Da said: "Happy!" Wanyan Zongbi said again: "I heard that Mr. Zhao is from the Song Dynasty. I have admired the literary talents of the Central Plains for a long time, so I came here to toast a glass of wine." Pick up a glass and drink with him.The two stood here talking, which attracted the attention of the generals of the Han army nearby. Many people greeted Mr. Han Da one after another, and Han Ningshuang, who was sitting at the table, also looked over.

Mr. Han Da smiled at Wanyan Zongbi and said: "The fourth prince's words are wrong. Although the Central Plains is prosperous, it is conservative and pedantic. The people are not living well. General Zhao was born in the Southern Dynasty, but he was an official in the Xia Kingdom. It’s a good bird that chooses a tree to live in, and a good time to choose a master.” He spoke loudly, and Xu Detai and Wang Xuansu who were beside him could hear his implication and looked over.

Zhao Xingde looked calm, and said with a smile: "Mr. Huang Zhoushan of the Southern Dynasty once said that the world is governed by the world and the world is not the private property of one family and one surname. People like Mr. Han who came out of the North Kingdom are worried about the well-being of the people in the Central Plains. , It can be said that the innate worry is worrying, and the world is happy afterward." The two people who were at odds actually "flattered" each other, other Han generals were not surprised, Xu Detai and Wang Xuansu looked at each other and smiled.Mr. Han Da once used the ratio of "an inch of mountains and rivers to an inch of gold" to resolutely oppose the return of Youyun Sixteen Prefectures to the Song State. He sent his troops to the south and took the Central Plains.Rather than saying that he is worried about the world, it is better to say that he has coveted it for a long time.

Mr. Han Da frowned, stared at Zhao Xingde fiercely, and said to Wanyan Zongbi: "People in the Southern Dynasty have a 'problem', they keep their mouths shut, and they always say what a certain Mr. and a certain master once said. It’s fragrant. Han often thinks that his head is long enough to think about things, or long enough to endorse books.”

Wanyan Zongbi laughed and said, "Maybe it has two purposes."

Zhao Xingde said with a smile: "I am bold, but Mr. Han Da is a little ignorant. The so-called full letter of books is not as good as no books. I heard that in recent years, a new Confucianism Society was established in the Southern Dynasty. Stick to what the sages say. What the Westerners say, I love my teacher, and I love the truth even more."

Mr. Han Da's eyes were slightly piercing, and he was a little puzzled. Although he was familiar with Chinese books, he also knew that the Neo-Confucian Society of the Song Dynasty was very powerful. He just made up the purpose of the Lixue Society, but he could only be skeptical, and said with a sneer: "This deviant statement, these madmen are just talking nonsense."

Zhao Xingde secretly laughed at Ye Gong's fondness for dragons, and said in a deep voice: "The truth runs between heaven and earth. Although it is invisible, it is not a dream, something that cannot be experienced. We only need to prove it with facts, measure it with emotion, and weigh it. If you hear a lot of doubts, you will naturally be able to distinguish the truth from the false. For example, there is a saying in "University", "Things have their own owners, and things have their beginnings. Knowing the sequence is close to the Tao." This principle is simple and clear, telling us that everything has its own importance There are priorities, big or small, don’t lose the big because of the small. If the first thing is to form more allies to resist the powerful enemy, but you are greedy for small gains and kill each other, it is against the reason to lose the big because of the small. It is not because it is what the saints say Words. The so-called 'the way of heaven is permanent, it does not exist for Yao, and does not perish for Jie' is true."

The more eloquent he is here, the generals of the Han army next to him are greatly admired, secretly thinking that General Zhao is really capable.Mr. Han Da's complexion became darker, and he patiently listened to Zhao Xingde's lesson, and sneered, "I didn't expect General Zhao to be well-read in poetry and books, but it's a pity that this is Liaodong, not Xiaguo's scholar's residence. I heard It is said that the Khitan people hate Xia Guo the most, General Zhao should be careful, if something happens, Xia Guo is thousands of miles away, and it is really beyond reach."

Zhao Xingde cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Don't bother Mr. Han Da, whoever commits a strong man will be punished even if he is far away. The whip of a great country can reach thousands of miles. The last general will stand here and join hands with your country to fight against the Liao Dynasty. Come, I respect you all " He held up the wine glass, and Mr. Han Da and Wan Yan Zongbi had no choice but to do the same. The generals of the Han army were also very happy to hear him praise the "strong man".

Yueyang Island, Taiping Bay, there is a strong wind outside, and the waves are rough everywhere, but here, as the name suggests, it looks calm because of the cover of a circle of high mountains.More than a hundred tents were set up on the tidal flats on the shore. After a long voyage, even though it was just a deserted island, the sergeants of Chengying Fourth Battalion were still willing to sleep peacefully on the ground.A little wild game was not enough, and the smell of barbecue wafted from the camp, which made people's index fingers move.

Sitting around the fire, Li Sihai said with a smile: "It's only been a dozen days, have all the living things on the island been hunted?" He took a whole rabbit leg from the soldiers and took a bite. , chewing the meat in his mouth, and said with a smile, "Don't forget to save some for the brothers on duty on the ship." The sergeants around burst into laughter, and someone shouted: "Yesterday, we were on duty as usual to marinate meat and burn radishes, but there is no such thing. It’s like chewing wild game.” The centurion Lu Qingzhi said: “It’s good to eat meat, I saw those guys from the Eighth Battalion a few days ago, they were as hungry as monkeys.”

"That's right, I wanted to beat them up, but I ended up being as poor as beggars." "Oh, this poor place is better than Song Kingdom." The soldiers laughed again.After nearly two months of boring voyage, the happiest thing is to find that the Eighth Battalion is worse off than myself.Thinking of what the sergeants of the [-]th Battalion had said about the rations in Fenghuang Shanzhai, the people of the [-]th Battalion chewed the scorched and hard barbecue, and it became even more delicious.

Five sea boats moored quietly on the sea not far away, with lanterns hanging from the bow and stern, illuminating a piece of sparkling light, which complemented the bright moon in the sky.Two of the three boats are ordinary merchant ships, while the other one is a little special, with more than a dozen windows on the left and right under the deck, which are usually tightly closed, and it is not hard to see clearly.Behind these gun windows are all artillery pieces that were installed only a few months ago.

After arriving 20 days ago, they first went to the mouth of the Yalu River to join the people of the Fourth Battalion, then unloaded the ordnance and food on board, and then turned back to Yueyang Island, which will be the main route for the Fourth Battalion to and from the sea area of ​​Liaodong. For the port, although he had already seen the topographic map of the whole island drawn by the sergeant, these days Li Sihai personally measured the commanding heights such as Heifeng Mountain.Where to build the fort, where to build the dock for cleaning the hull, where to build the warehouse, etc., he had a plan in his mind, and he confirmed it in detail after going to the island.

No matter how bleak those guys are doing now, they will always have a foundation, which is better than the Eighth Battalion floating on the sea all year round.Li Sihai was in a trance, and the centurion Wang Geng beside him said in a deep voice: "Look at Liaodong pulling this posture, the Fourth Battalion's plan is not small. Tsk tsk, we don't know when we can make a big mess Come on. We only need [-] warships and [-] heavy guns, and our boat division alone is enough to sweep the southeast."

After the fourth battalion of Chengying received the warships, they trained for less than a month, then set off in a hurry, escorting four merchant ships full of food, grass and armaments to go north along the coast.Although the gunners were unfamiliar, the sergeants of the [-]th Battalion were all capable sailors who had been drifting at sea all year round, and no matter how well trained the gunners were below the deck, they only regarded them as ordinary seagoing ships to raise the sails and turn the rudder.Only when the gunners tried to fire several times on the ocean, the huge recoil made the hull creak and creak, did the sergeants realize the difference between a warship and an ordinary sea-going ship. However, besides the pride, every time after the gunner drills, he carefully checks all parts of the hull, for fear that the hull will be shaken to pieces.

Marching Sima Wu Mai rolled his eyes and said: "You can blow it. The river is narrow, as long as pickets and iron locks can easily block the waterway, thousands of tens of thousands of fire attack ships will surround you, and many ants will kill you." Elephant. Besides, it’s not that Song has no artillery, it’s just that it’s heavier than ours.” He glanced at the warship moored on the sea and sighed, “Only this vast ocean is my great summer water. The place where the teacher comes in."

"Forget it, I heard that this warship that squeaks when fired, was built by His Majesty at the expense of 30 guan. The Huguo Mansion said that our Xia Kingdom is inland, and building a big ship is a waste Minzhi, why don't you dig more channels. Those stingy guys, how could they agree to pay so readily." Lu Qingzhi took a sip of the blackthorn ball soup, smacked his lips, and joked deliberately, "I'm not talking about you, the principal Captain."

Li Sihai stretched his waist and said: "When the warship is finished, our fourth battalion should also be expanded into an army, and let each of you bring a boat." He paused and cursed with a smile: "Mr. It's okay to have a bad mouth." Floating on the sea all year round, everyone is a hob, and Lu Qingzhi doesn't worry about being scolded by him.