Compete for the Song Dynasty

Tens of thousands of troops marched out of Yongle City, and the soldiers were all downcast. There was the depression of defeated soldiers and the torment of thirst and hunger for days. This kind of mental and physical torture made the walking team walk abnormally. The Xixia army has given up a way for the Song army to retreat. They quietly watched the Song army leave. No one cheered for the victory, because they knew that they had also faced that difficult moment.

There is no sound of fighting against iron horses. Neither the Song Army nor the Xixia Army is the winner of this battle. The biggest winner is probably Liang Yibu, whose alias is Wang Shi. At this time, he is looking at the retreating Song Army. The figure of Wang Pang, he had heard too many stories about Wang Pang, but he never thought that he was Wang Pang's son. There are many obstacles, but being able to stand up at the critical moment to get the greatest benefit for yourself is probably the most thing Wang Pang can do for himself.

Finally, Wang Shi saw the figure of his father Wang Pang in the crowd. The tall and snow-white dragon bird set off the vigorous figure of Wang Pang. His head was raised slightly, surrounded by officials of the Song Army. So eye-catching, this kind of momentum forms a great contrast with the sluggish team, and this kind of contrast makes people feel that he is destined to be the crowned king.

After the dust passed, there was no Song Army in Yongle City, and most of the Xixia Army stayed outside the city. Wang Shi brought his brothers from Hengshanzhai to Yongle City. The seat was empty, it was reserved for Wang Shi and Wang Pang, there was only one King Yongle, Wang Shi believed that one day Wang Pang would come back, and solemnly ascended the throne.

The Song army left Yongle City, returned to the border and passed through several villages and finally stopped. Shen Kuo ordered the troops mobilized from all walks of life to be led back to each place, and finally counted the number of troops. Only one or two thousand forbidden troops followed Shen Kuo and other generals. Withdraw to the capital. [

Although the battle was lost along the way, many people still feel relaxed. After all, they survived to preserve the strength of Song Jun, or after all, no matter whether they win or lose, the battle is over, but there is one person who is not so relaxed. Every time he sees Wang Pang was talking and laughing happily with everyone, and he was always very unhappy, but he always seemed to be worried that Wang Pang would change his mind halfway and leave the team. A pair of small eyes were always watching Wang Pang's movements, as if monitoring Wang Pang would become a problem instead. His greatest pleasure and most important thing.

The team left Yanzhou and continued to the east. When passing through Fuzhou, the speed of the team was getting slower and slower. Shen Kuo sent soldiers to investigate. The people who seldom leave the city and enter the city block the road.

Shen Kuo felt sad, if the battle was won and the crowd rejoiced, the magistrate would have come out to greet him. Now that they have arrived at the city, the team is walking forward in such a deserted way. Thinking of this makes me feel a little more desolate.

"Li Ji, go to the Xunguan post to settle down; Gao Yongneng will arrange for the soldiers to set up camp." After Shen Kuo gave the order, he turned to look at the king beside him and said, "My lord, we have marched for six or seven days and are now far away from the border. , why not take a rest here!"

Wang Pang nodded and said: "Alright, I haven't been back to the Song Dynasty for more than ten years. I feel a lot of emotion when I revisit this old place. I really came to the city of Fu in the past. Speaking of it, I have experienced some things. Why don't we go back to the Song Dynasty tomorrow?" Brother, go to the city and have a look!"

When Xu Xi heard it, he stepped forward and said, "Shen Jinglue, this is not good!"

"What's wrong, why don't you follow me too." Shen Kuo replied angrily, and Wang Pang smiled slightly. Shen Kuo still had such a stubborn temper that was too much to his liking. Don't mind, anyway, I'm used to not seeing any good faces along the way. Not only is this person thick-skinned, but he firmly believes that only by finding evidence of Wang Pang's crime, can he openly put the responsibility for the defeat of Yongle City on Wang Pang.

"That's even worse. Why don't you go shopping like this, and I just have a rest." Xu Xi squeezed a smile, thinking that it's easy to hide a spear and hard to defend, so it's better to follow secretly.

On the second day, there were more people walking towards the city of Fu on the road. From time to time, some people looked at the tents of the troops stationed by the roadside and whispered to each other.

"Hey, Brother Zhang, do you think this is the team that lost from Yongle City!"

"It should be, look at those disgraced ones, but you haven't heard of it, something new happened this time." The speaker rode a donkey and walked in front of King Shen Kuo, followed by four or five Individuals are old and young.

The road was not very wide, so Shen Kuo and Wang Pang simply slowed down and followed behind to listen.

"Tell me something new." Someone in the crowd asked if there was something good to inquire about.

The so-called second brother Zhang shook the donkey's whip, but he didn't drop it on the donkey, as if he was proud of knowing so much news, "Hey, do you remember that Wang Shilang back then!"

"Are you talking about the one who rescued disasters with Mr. Xue!"

"Exactly, the one who later became the prince!"

Shen Kuo looked at Wang Pang beside him. The owner of the story was listening behind him, but Wang Pang looked curious. It has been 20 years since I had to say what happened back then, but there are still people who still remember it. They are all in their forties or fifties, and the older ones are in their 70s or [-]s, who must be the ones who received favors back then.

The second brother Zhang said loudly: "Let me tell you, I think it's Xue Gong who appeared, and Zhennan King came back from the dead, and do you know, if it wasn't for Zhennan King, our Song army would be trapped to death In Yongle City!"

"Really?" There was a voice of doubt in the crowd. [

"Why am I lying to you? We must pay homage to Duke Xue when we enter the city this time, and bless the prince to restore the momentum of the past, otherwise our life will become more and more difficult in the future!"

Wang Pang was startled when he heard this, and quickly asked Shen Kuo, "Sacrifice, Mr. Xue!"

Shen Kuo slapped his head: "Oh, I forgot, today is Xue Xiang's memorial day, no wonder so many people went to the city, Xue Xiang stayed here for eight years, with outstanding achievements, and the city was also the best place for young crops to practice law back then , Unexpectedly, these are all worshiping Xue Xiang!"

Wang Pang felt sour, and 14 years passed by suddenly. Back then, he and Xue Xiang were considered close friends. Xue Xiang was good at managing money. He also learned a lot from Xue Xiang. Thinking that many people didn't know how many things he had missed even seeing them for the last time, Wang Pang felt more and more emotional.

Shen Kuo also saw Wang Pang's thoughts, and he comforted him: "The world is unpredictable, brother, don't be too sad. Fortunately, you will come back in 14 years instead of 140 years. Otherwise, you may not even see Brother Yu!"

Wang Pang knew that he was comforting himself: "Brother Shen, don't worry too much. Birth, old age, sickness and death are just human nature. Just look at it. You see, the people in front also said that we must be protected by Xue Gong this time. Hehe, why should I do this?" The time happened to appear in Xixia, let's go, I will also go to worship!"

After speaking, the two men speeded up their horses, passed by the crowd, and rushed towards the city. As they got to the city gate, there were more and more pedestrians. Men, women, old and children walked towards the city with their burdens. The two got off their horses and walked through the city. The door and passers-by inquired, and followed the path pointed by the people to Xue Gongci.

The small ancestral hall in the city was bustling with many people coming and going. After Wang Pang and Shen Kuo got off their horses, some attendants followed up and took the reins and tied them by the roadside. They stepped into the Xuegong Temple. This is a small courtyard. , there is a statue of Xue Gong in the main hall, and the incense in the ancestral hall is very prosperous, and many worshippers burn incense to offer sacrifices.

Wang Pang and Shen Kuo also burned some incense and worshiped. They heard the people around them express their condolences: some thanked Xue Xiang for what he did for the people when he was an official; Prosperity was the same as that day; some even prayed whether Xue Gong's spirit in the sky could bring his relatives back to life.

Seeing this scene, Shen Kuo said with emotion: "Some people can be loved by the common people, while others are criticized by thousands of people. My lord, you said that they are all officials, why is there such a big gap!"

Cigarettes were lingering in front of Wang Pang's eyes. He squinted his eyes and sighed: "Everyone is mortal, and death is either heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather!"

Shen Kuo recollected Wang Pang's words, and said lightly: "At that time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was always self-willed when he was happy and angry. Sima Qian said this in "Reporting to Ren Anshu", which shows that he expresses his feelings for his misfortune. The prince has this feeling at this time. Could it be that Sima Qian's anger is also there!"

Wang Pang sighed, he must have thought of a sentence in "Serving the People", but Shen Kuo unexpectedly quoted it to himself. Although Zhao Xu is not self-willed or moody, Zhao Xu is self-willed and conceited. It wasn't shown, but a kind of low-key scheming. Thinking that he had known Zhao Xu since he was a teenager, and escorted him time and time again, but was forced to disappear by him in the end, Wang Pang felt somewhat indignant.

He sneered and said, "How dare I compare myself to Sima Qian, besides, I don't want to and I won't end up like that!"

The two of them were talking, giving way to each other and walking towards the outside of Xuegong Temple, when they suddenly heard the sound of a gong, and then a lot of officers and soldiers came in carelessly from the outside, driving the crowd as they walked in.

The officers and soldiers yelled, "Get out, get out, get out!"

"My lord, we are all priests. Today is Xue Gong's memorial day, so don't break the law!!" someone asked.

"Let you go out, let's see if our grand master wants to sacrifice, go quickly." The officers and soldiers' ostentatious appearance is annoying, and the people who sacrificed to Xue Xiang have such a crazy entourage, which seems to make this ancestral hall a bit eclipsed.

"Let's go." Shen Kuo pulled Wang Pang out of the ancestral hall. There were already many people who had been kicked out at the door and those who were about to go in were blocked outside.

"This old man, please inquire about who this person wants to worship." Wang Bang asked the people around him.

"The new magistrate is amazing. He is a grand master. How can he worship with ordinary people like us? You see, the sedan chair is still a few hundred steps away. The ostentation of opening the way is almost as good as that of the Beijing officials. !"