Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 381 Stars without brilliance (4)

Speaking of this time, everyone was a little bit downcast.Not long after, Zhao Xingde was about to leave, when suddenly there was a burst of noise outside the academy, Zhu Sen's expression darkened, and before he could ask anyone to ask him, a disciple came in with a look of surprise on his face and said: "Gentlemen, Jiangle County has received a report from the mansion that the official army has captured Yunzhou, and Kyushu behind the mountain has returned to our territory in the Song Dynasty." The sound rang out again and again.

The sixteen prefectures of Youyun have always been a complex of people in the Song Dynasty. Although Huang Jian, Zhu Sen, Zhao Xingde and others had doubts, they were still relieved when they first heard the news that Yun prefecture had been recovered.Huang Jian murmured and said: "The camp in the east of the river is known for its tenacity. Now that Yunzhou has been conquered, there is a strong city to rely on, and you can wait for work with ease. Don't be afraid of the Liao people." Zhu Sen said with a smile: "Go, go out and see Look." Zhao Xingde and Li Ruoxue also stood up, and the four of them walked out of the abode, but they saw that no matter it was the disciples studying in the academy or the scholars who had been listening to the lecture, all of them were excited, and the courtyard was full of people running around with lanterns Tell each other.The cheers outside were louder and louder, mixed with the sound of "bang" and "bang" firecrackers.

The night air was cold, and the clothes were heavily stained with dew. Yang Xiu stood quietly in the courtyard.During Yan's lecture, he had a clear understanding of the moral debate, and he guessed it was Zhao Yuanzhi at that time.Zhu Shan treated him with great respect, but he didn't tell his disciples the identity of the guest, and Yang Xiu confirmed his suspicions.Because Zhao Xingde is still a prisoner, he didn't tell anyone else, he just quietly waited outside this abode, and after Zhu Shanzhang and Old Master Huang left, he came to the door to ask, hoping to be able to pay homage to Mr. Yuanzhi's sect.The window of the Abode reveals the light, and the faint figure moves.Yang Xiu took a deep breath, was sincere, and waited intently, ignoring the noisy voices next to her.At this time, someone suddenly patted him on the shoulder from behind, but it was his friend Yu Guanzhi, who held a lantern in his hand and said ecstatically, "Wen Zhong, the government and army have recovered Yunzhou!" Only then did Yang Xiu understand. Why are the people in the academy so excited, a rush of blood rushed to the top of their heads, before he could speak, Yu Guanzhi grabbed his arm and said loudly: "Let's go to light firecrackers to celebrate!"

There are bamboos planted around the academy, and the excited scholars use local materials, light the dead branches and fallen leaves on fire, and then put the bamboo joints into it, and there will be a "bang bang" explosion.In the lonely deep mountain, at this moment, it is as lively as New Year's Eve.The firelight of the lanterns reflected the ecstasy on people's faces. Not long after, someone even set off fireworks, and the blossoming fireworks in the night sky were so gorgeous that the stars were dimmed.

"The people's hearts are like this, so it's no wonder that the court advocates the Northern Expedition." Huang Jian sighed: "After this battle, the power of the Prime Minister will be strengthened a lot."

Zhao Xingde felt a little bitter in his heart, he has now served in the Xia Kingdom, and the people of the Song Dynasty celebrated the recovery of Yunzhou, which was the result of the Xia Kingdom's concession. This left room for the two tigers of the Liao and Song Dynasties to fight each other.Feeling the warmth and softness of his palms, Zhao Xingde looked to his side, Li Ruoxue was looking at him with concern, he smiled slightly, feeling a burst of warmth in his heart.He turned around and cupped his hands to Zhu Sen: "Brother Zhu, I still have some companions waiting outside the mountain, so I will take my leave."

Zhu Sen was taken aback and said: "Yuan Zhi came from a long way, why don't you stay for a few more days?" His tone was full of reluctance.Huang Jian also looked over and asked to stay: "Yuan Zhi might as well hang around for a few more days." Zhao Xingde smiled and said, "Come when you hear what you hear, and leave when you see what you see. Don't have any regrets." He is an imperial convict , and went out to serve in Xiaguo.Once this matter is exposed, even though Zhu Sen is a relative of the emperor, he may be implicated.

After the four of them sighed their farewell, Zhao Xingde and Li Ruoxue bid farewell and left.The stars in the sky are dim, and the Bamboo Grove Academy is in the middle of the mountains. Along the way, the bearers are lighting up lanterns, and they can only see the area in front of them. The mountains, forests and grass on both sides of the road are dark, but there is a strange noise, like a startled bird or beast. Or the sound of the wind blowing the branches.Yang Xiu didn't care about the danger of the mountain road, and followed the sedan chair from a distance.It would be too abrupt to block the way to ask for a teacher, so Yang Xiu planned to follow to the inn to find out where Mr. Yuan Zhi was staying, and he would wait outside the door until dawn, and visit the door only after the husband got up, so that he seemed to be serious .Zhao Xingde was riding a horse, and the four porters carried the sedan chair very fast. Yang Xiu was out of breath, the mountain road was slippery, and he fell down several times.

There is a large inn at the foot of Longqi Mountain, where guest officials who usually visit the mountain stay.Yang Xiu saw Zhao Xingde going straight towards the inn, she felt ecstasy in her heart, she was about to follow up, when suddenly she was hit hard on the back of the head, her eyes went dark, and she passed out immediately.When he woke up and turned around, he felt that the light was dim, he was already in a room, Zhao Xingde was sitting in front of him, he seemed to be looking at him.

"You are a student of the academy, and you have been following me, what do you want?" Zhao Xingde asked gently.The secret whistle arranged by Du Chuanjiao found that he was following this person behind him, and immediately knocked him unconscious, pretending to be a drunk person, and dragged him into the inn for interrogation.Zhao Xingde saw that this person had the nameplate of Zhulin Academy on his body, so he ordered him to wake up and question him himself.

Yang Xiu didn't dare to be negligent, and prostrated himself and said: "Yang Xiu was born late, cursive script Wenzhong, Mr. Jiumu Yuanzhi's name, the wish of his life is to follow Mr., obey orders day and night, and may Mr. take his disciples into his account." He fell on the ground , my heart was pounding.Although I don't know how he was knocked unconscious, and how he got here, but in the future, this mentor must have other means besides articles.At this moment, Yang Xiu realized that Zhao Xingde was a prisoner, and she had seen through his treasury. If she couldn't take her in, she might be silenced.Thinking of this, he felt a chill in his heart, and immediately said sincerely: "Mr. Zhao is not a bloodthirsty person. The ancients had a broken arm to seek the law. What is this little test?"

The oil lamp inside the house was dim, Zhao Xingde looked at Yang Xiu who was lying on the ground, his Confucian robe was covered with mud, his back was soaked in sweat, he followed all the way out of the mountain, he must have suffered a bit.He remembered when he was studying in the past, slowed down his tone, shook his head and said, "I am Zhu Sen's friend, but not Zhao Yuanzhi. I think you have mistaken someone." He paused, and said in a cold voice: " Zhao Xingde is a criminal committed by the imperial court, if you go with him, you will not only ruin your own future, but also implicate your family. I don't think I heard what you said just now, after you go back, go and plead guilty to Zhu Shanzhang."

Yang Xiu was stunned, he wasn't stupid, the person in front of him denied that he was Zhao Yuanzhi, either he really wasn't, or Zhao Xingde didn't want to accept disciples, and he didn't want to harm himself to silence him, so he simply denied it.Thinking of his parents being alive at home, Yang Xiu felt hesitation again in his heart, he was silent for a while, kowtowed down again, and said in a deep voice, "Please excuse my abruptness, sir, and thank you for your kindness of preservation, sir." After speaking, he got up and wanted to leave , there were two guards standing outside the door, Zhao Xingde waved his hand, and said in a deep voice: "Let him go." The guards just let Yang Xiu leave the inn.

Du Chuijiao sent a scout to follow him, and if he did not return to the academy but intended to inform the government, he would be killed immediately.Looking at the back of the young man leaving Yu Yu, Zhao Xingde sighed, and when he returned to the room, Li Ruoxue asked worriedly: "Is there anything wrong?" Zhao Xingde shook his head, and said in a low voice: "A student from the academy wants to be a teacher. "Patting the back of Ruoxue's hand lightly, said in a deep voice: "I'm really rude to visit Zhu Sen. Let's hide my whereabouts along the way from now on." Li Ruoxue nodded, with a hint of worry in her eyes 'color'.

At dawn the next day, Zhao Xingde and his team pretending to be a caravan set off for the north. The journey was exhausting and it was estimated that it would take about three months to reach Chang'an at the earliest.Along the way, Zhao Xingde never showed his whereabouts at all. When he had nothing to do, he carefully observed the ability of the caravan carriages to carry goods, and recorded the conditions of the roads in his diary.After night fell, he began to think about how to create a firearms battalion in the Dragon Tooth Army.The General's Mansion did not want him to waste time on the journey, so Zhao Xingde was allowed to report to the Military Mansion the establishment and training plan of the Firearms Battalion before arriving in Chang'an.