Dawn of the Empire

Chapter (8:57)

After returning to the Xiaguo camp from the tent of the Han army commander, Zhao Xingde sat down cross-legged, drew out the horizontal knife and put it on his lap, closed his eyes and meditated on the countermeasures.The setting sun is like blood, reflecting the sky red, and the sunset glow is surging, like a crimson tulle covering the sky and the earth.Xiaguang penetrated through the tent, and the blade of the horizontal knife was covered with silk-like patterns, like a living thing.Since joining the army in Dunhuang, this horizontal knife has been following him even more. After many fierce battles, the blade was stained with a lot of blood. Although Zhao Xingde wiped it meticulously every day, there was always a faint glint of blood flowing.

After a long time, Zhao Xingde took a long breath and placed the horizontal knife beside the case.Order the soldiers to prepare fast horses.At the same time, the centurion Du Chuijiao and Liu Zhijian were called to discuss.

"This matter is likely to cause revenge from the Liao Kingdom. There are millions of Han children under the Liao Kingdom's rule," Zhao Xingde said in a deep voice, "I plan to write to the two governments, asking my imperial envoy to put pressure on the Liao Kingdom's court to make Yelu Dashi Have some fear." His tone was very firm, for major military affairs, commanders should not be arbitrary, they should discuss with their subordinates before making a decision.This is also the practice in Xia***.Zhao Xingde's tone at this time already has a plan.

"That's good, report the truth, and I won't be afraid of someone making a fuss in the future." Liu Zhijian murmured, "Suzhou crossed the sea and used to be the Mizhou of the Song Dynasty. The military letter was sent to Dunhuang, and then from Dunhuang to Shangjing. Even if the whole process is the fastest For the carrier pigeons, the two governments act decisively, and the exchange of official letters will take a lot of time. I am afraid that by then, there will already be people's heads rolling and blood flowing like rivers. Moreover, the Liao Emperor Yelu Dashi is a powerful man in the world. It may not work." Du Chuijiao squinted his eyes, he didn't speak, and only looked at Zhao Xingde's orders.

"Send a letter to the two governments, and at the same time copy a copy to Cui Guoshi." Zhao Xingde nodded and said, "If Lord Cui Qianzhi has the heart, he will put pressure on Yelu Dashi before he gets a decision from the two governments. No matter what the Liao court thinks Response, we must always do our best." He reached out and raised the teacup, and took a sip.

Liu Zhijian was stunned, nodded and said: "It will take some time for the Han army to do things, and the news will reach Beijing. In this way, it may be too late." Du Chuijiao also nodded, and said with a smile: "The captain has a way." The envoy to Lumei Kingdom and Chengying Fourth Battalion are like a different family.The Liao Kingdom is an enemy country, and Shangjing and Liaodong are far away. The missions of the envoys to the Liao Kingdom and the Liaodong Chengying Ying are very different, and there is no direct connection between the two.However, the Eighth Battalion of Chengying sent a copy of the letter to the two governments to Cui Qianzhi to report the news, which is in line with the imperial court system.On this important matter that concerns the lives of countless Han children, the envoys to the Liao Kingdom are no different from Chengyingying, and Cui Qianzhi will definitely put pressure on the Liao Kingdom before receiving an explicit order from the two governments.

Zhao Xingde drafted a letter to the two governments, Du Chuijiao and Liu Zhijian both read it, and then sent it out with a seal.After the two resigned, Zhao Xingde unfolded the blank paper and began to write the second letter.

This letter was sent to Chen Dong of the Song Dynasty, asking him to read it for the lives of millions of Han people in the Liao Kingdom, and to advise Song Emperor Zhao Ke to prevent the Liao Kingdom from wielding the butcher knife against the Han Dynasty.In the past two years, under the deliberate favor of the Liao Kingdom, the relationship between Song and Liao has been excellent.If pressure is exerted from both sides of Xia and Song, the Liao court may not be able to do everything, and fall into a situation where Song, Xia, Jin, and Han make enemies from all sides.

After writing the letter to Chen Dong, Zhao Xingde wrote a "Biography of Du Yishi" in detail about the tragedy in Shenzhou from Du Biao's point of view, which can be regarded as an article in "Baishan Weeping Blood Record".The Lixue Society widely disseminated the brutal massacre of more than [-] people by the Liao State in Shenzhou, and created some 'trends', which not only had the effect of uniting the enemy, but also prevented the Song Dynasty court from turning a deaf ear to the Liao State's atrocities.For the purpose of contacting the treasure goods business, Li Yong, Zhao Xingde and Chen Dong have a channel to send letters through Fuhai Xingpost.It's just that the more desolate the place is, the more expensive it is for this commercial pigeon post.Zhao Xingde's two short letters could buy a few horses with the fastest post.It is necessary to send sergeants to Zhenhaifu, the most important port in Liaodong, to hand over to Fuhaihang's post office.It is estimated that the letter will reach Bianliang Chen Dong later than when Cui Qianzhi went to Beijing.

After these things were done, it was midnight, and Zhao Xingde sent out the letter overnight.Looking at the Xiaguo camp alone for a long time, his clothes were wet with dew, and his bones were chilled. Zhao Xingde took a deep breath of the cold air, and his scorching forehead cooled down a lot.

............

The sound of clappers beating the watch, and the faint sound of weeping, were faintly heard in the bitter north wind.The night was quiet and safe.

The sky was twilight, and all kinds of camps made the noise of people and horses neighing at the same time.It was as quiet as a pool of icy water, as if a torrent suddenly surged from the bottom of the pool, rolling out layers of waves.All camps in Guannan, Suzhou, practice with great care.He usually looks loose and loose, with a somewhat stern expression on his face.During the training, the trumpets were shouted loudly, and many soldiers consciously put on heavy armor, and did not complain about being tired, and performed various enemy-killing movements over and over again.

Everyone has a little bit of change, and soldiers are not aware of it when they are in it.But compared with other mornings, this morning does have a strangeness.

"These lazy bastards seem to have suddenly changed their sex." Gao Bolong grinned.He was so sensitive to changes in morale that he noticed them immediately.

"Because from now on, everyone has no way out." Xiong Renyue sneered, "Either the enemy dies, or we die. Those who want to survive by chance have no way to live. If they don't know how to get angry, there is only one way to die." Han Jun As soon as the generals came out of the tents of the Chinese army, most of them felt a little heavy in their hearts, and also a little inexplicably excited.Not long after everyone chatted and chatted, they returned to the camp to urge the soldiers to strengthen the camp, practice the military formation, and prepare for a decisive battle with the Liao army in the future.

In the tent of the Chinese army, Wang Xuansu said suspiciously: "General Zhao sent two teams of messengers last night, one team took a fast boat across the sea to Dengzhou, and the other team flew to Zhenhai mansion, what do you mean?" The state-run garrison was on the territory of the Han army, and every move of the Han army naturally fell into the eyes of the Han army, and Zhao Xingde had no intention of covering it up, and the Han army did not dare to intercept Xia Guo's messenger.

Han Ningshuang lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I have already asked in person, and General Zhao is still on our side." Her voice was calm, and there was a kind of unreserved trust.

"That's good." Wang Xuansu nodded, with a look of joy on his face, and said with a smile, "Early this morning, the laziness in every battalion in the past has all worked up their energy and stepped up their practice. It's really good to put it to death and live later." With a look of determination on his face, he said awe-inspiringly: "The last general will also swear to follow the marshal, even if he is heartbroken, he will fight to the death with the Khitan bandits."

From this day on, the steps of the Liaodong Han army to prepare for a big battle suddenly accelerated.After the [-] Khitan heads were sent to the city of Shenzhou, the Han army in Suzhou, Fuzhou, Kaizhou and other places sent a large number of scouts to guard against the Liao army's retaliation.Rumors that the Liao army might launch revenge and massacre the Han people spread throughout Tokyo Road, even Zhongjing Road, and Shangjing Road as if they had grown wings.The people of the Han Dynasty fled to the places controlled by the Han army in an endless stream.All the Han people in Jiena, Suzhou were sent to the nearby islands to spend the winter, and they were arranged to settle in various places after the spring, while the Taibai Mountains were directly resettled in various camps and villages.The weather was getting colder every day. Although the Han army's secret work and the Brotherhood of Volunteering were all mobilized to help the Han people and slaves scattered under the Liao Dynasty flee to the areas controlled by the Han army, many people who fled with their families still froze to death. Starved to death on Liao Road.In winter, jackals, tigers, leopards and other wild animals are hungry, and the corpses are quickly eaten up, and after one or two snowfalls, they are gone.

Five days, ten days, one month passed, and the expected bloody storm did not come. Instead, it snowed several times, and the entire Liaodong was covered in a vast expanse of whiteness. In December, the news of the Jin army's marching south also came out. The people everywhere breathed a sigh of relief. This calamity, which was as overwhelming as Mount Tai, just passed away invisibly.

............

In Shangjing, in the emperor's tent, the eyes of His Majesty Dashi who sat high on the throne seemed to be closed, as if he was absent-minded.Yelu Tiege, the privy envoy of the North Court, stared viciously at the envoy of the Kingdom of Xia standing opposite him.

Cui Qianzhi was dressed in a purple robe, with a jade belt and gold hook on his waist, and a goldfish belt hanging on it. He looked like a graceful envoy of the state, and said slowly: "Your Majesty rose from the middle class and took the position of ninety-five. Promising king. Consider the rule of morality and the rule of benevolence and righteousness. How can you cause the wrath of thunder because of small things...Although the Han people in Liao Kingdom are subjects of your Majesty, they are of the same race as me. His Majesty heard some rumors, saying that His Majesty wanted to vent his anger on the duty-bound people of the Liao Kingdom because of the traitors. Prosperity, peace in the world."

Brother Yelu Tie opened his eyes wide and said sharply: "The covenant between our dynasty and Song and Xia has been written down long ago, 'everyone protects the people and guards the frontiers'. I don't need your envoy to discuss the matter of my Daliao." He often In the army, while talking, his right hand subconsciously 'touched' towards his waist, but 'touched' nothing, only to remember that this was in front of His Majesty, and the saber he was carrying had been removed, and he couldn't help but glared at Cui again bitterly. A humble look.

Cui Qianzhi glanced at his superior, the emperor of the Liao Kingdom was still in a noncommittal manner, he laughed and said: "My lord privy envoy, although we each protect the people, but you and I have a good relationship for a hundred years, and my majesty is better than your majesty." A few years older, hearing some rumors that are not good for your majesty, fearing that your majesty will be mistaken by a "traitor" and lose the way of benevolent government, out of goodwill, order the minister to be so talkative. "

Brother Yelu Tie seemed to burst into flames.Cui Qianzhi paused, and said slowly: "My Majesty, I most hope that the neighbors will implement benevolent governance, and the countries and societies will be peaceful. It is like the Ross country in the west. After the death of the first emperor, the crown prince who came to the throne lost the brotherly love and sent a dozen All the brothers were imprisoned, and I was the one who persuaded His Majesty to make peace, and now they are all very grateful."