Compete for the Song Dynasty

The northwest wind was blowing, the faces of the soldiers of the Xixia army were frozen, and the cavalry's horses walked with their heads down in the wind and snow.Li Liangzuo's heart was as cold as this winter's weather, he silently stared ahead.General Manchang raised his horse and came to Li Liangzuo's side, and said loudly: "My lord, the Xiping mansion is ahead, please order me to station at fifty miles away from Xiping mansion. The weather is so cold, if my lord doesn't camp, I'm afraid I won't be there yet." Without Yanzhou, the soldiers will be frostbitten and their morale will be lowered!" Li Liangzuo had a vague premonition in his heart when he encountered such weather as soon as he set off.Looking at the disgraced generals around him, Li Liangzuo raised his whip and ordered the army to stop advancing in Xiping Mansion.

Xiping Mansion is in the southeast of Xingqing Mansion, the place where Li Liangzuo sent troops must pass through. After leaving Xingqing Mansion, Li Liangzuo plunged into the palace established in Xiping Mansion.The food and wine on the table were already a little cold, Li Liangzuo didn't move his chopsticks for a long time, but just drank heavily.Drinking into melancholy, I feel more and more depressed.The concubine serving beside her poured wine while carefully watching Li Liangzuo's face.Finally, the concubine couldn't help persuading: "The body of the dragon is important to the emperor, it's better to drink less. If the emperor doesn't want to fight the Song Dynasty, it's better to stay in Xiping mansion for a few more days."

Li Liangzuo stood up and kicked over the table in front of him. The concubine's words seemed to add fuel to the fire, and suddenly aroused his anger: "Get out! Get out of here!"

The concubine and the maids and eunuchs hurriedly left the palace, they didn't understand how they would offend the emperor if they tried to comfort her.Wu Su, the commander of Feilongyuan, came in from the outside. Seeing the scene in front of him, he sighed softly, and then walked up to Li Liangzuo: "Your Majesty, Privy Envoys Man Baa and Ma Bu both ordered General Man Chang to ask for an audience. .”

Li Liangzuo said vigorously: "Let them in!"

When Man Baa and his son walked into the hall, the first thing they saw was Li Liangzuo's face sinking like water, and then they saw the cups and plates scattered all over the hall. The hearts of the father and son also sank.Stepping into the hall, Man Baa wanted Li Liangzuo to report: "My Majesty, the army has received news that reinforcements from the Song Dynasty have already set off from the capital. This time the [-] troops will be led by Yue Li, who will supervise the army." It's next to the king. It's different from the news I got before, please make a decision early."

"Thirty thousand! It's not even half of our troops. It seems that Song Shenzong has no tricks." Li Liangzuo said lightly, but he couldn't hear the slightest bit of happiness from his tone.

Man Chang nodded and said: "What the Holy Majesty said is very true, but..." He looked at Man Baa, and Man Baa shook his head at him. Everyone knew what everyone was worried about now, but no one wanted to tell the truth.

Li Liangzuo said: "It's just that Wang Pang is not easy to deal with, right?" Man Chang lowered his head, thinking to himself that the emperor doesn't seem confused at all.

Man Baa coughed lightly and said: "My lord, this time you are going to attack the Song Dynasty with all your troops, just to take advantage of its political instability, and originally wanted to catch it by surprise, but since the other party is already prepared, I’m afraid that sending out troops this time will get twice the result with half the effort.”

Li Liangzuo smiled wryly: "Old General Manbaa, why do you want others to overwhelm your own prestige? If the military order is issued, if we retreat at this time, it will make us fear the Song Dynasty. Besides, it's good for the king to come, I just want to see you meet him."

Man Baa said in a low voice: "I know that the Holy Majesty has a good impression of Wang Pang, but how can the two armies meet in front of the battle, how is it the same as before?"

"I've made up my mind, there's no need to say any more!" Li Liangzuo couldn't help becoming upset again.

A courtier walked into the hall: "Report to Your Majesty, Li Xili, Governor of Xingqing Mansion, please see me."

"It's just in time! Let him come and see you." Li Liangzuo ordered.

Li Xili hurried into the hall, and when he looked up and saw Man Baa and his son were there, he murmured in his heart and said, "Your Majesty, the food and grass prepared by Xiping Mansion for this dispatch of troops have been handed over, and the brigade is now stationed outside Xiping Mansion." The officials of our government government said that they need to apportion some more amounts. Now the people heard that there will be another war. The people in the places where the army passed by are afraid of being used as civilians to transport all kinds of luggage. The fields are no longer cultivated, and the rations are taken away They were all scraped off, and they all ran away. The Xiping Mansion really can’t get any more food and grass!”

According to Li Liangzuo's temper in the past, he would probably reprimand him angrily, but this time Li Liangzuo did not get angry.Years of expeditions even annoyed him, let alone the common people?Li Liangzuo felt that the dispatch of troops this time was already difficult, and now he could only grit his teeth and move forward.So he didn't intend to blame himself, his only relative, after all, Li Xili and him were brothers.

"Well, I see, let's go down!"

Li Xili was taken aback when he heard this, and he couldn't help being taken aback. Even Man Baa and his son, as well as Wu Su in the hall, were surprised. They noticed that Li Liangzuo's expression was a bit decadent, and even a bit broken. .

Li Liangzuo didn't get angry, but Li Xili had some troubles. He said in a nasty way: "I'm trying to figure out a way." I wanted to have the idea of ​​bluntly speaking, but Li Liangzuo dismissed it lukewarm .

"Is there anything else for the two generals?" Li Liangzuo looked at Man Baa and Man Chang and said, "Then go down and rest, and continue to set off tomorrow!"

The father and son left Li Liangzuo's palace, returned to the big tent, Manchang walked to the fire in the tent, warmed his hands and asked Manbaa, "Father, do you feel that the Holy Majesty has been preoccupied recently?"

Holding the hot tea brought by the guards in his hand, Man Baa sighed and asked, "Did you just find out?"

"It's not just discovered. It's no wonder that the Holy One is worried. You see that the Han officials in the court are now in control of the power. Although our party members Xifeng, Fei Ting, and Xiangli are also officials and positions in the court, they also agree. The empress and the prime minister are here. You are looking at the dispatch of troops this time, most of the soldiers in the army seem to be in harmony with each other, and I am really worried that it will be difficult to win this time." [

Manbaa whispered: "Yes, as a father, I have experienced two generations of emperors, and experienced changes in imperial power, but now I feel more and more powerless, probably because I am getting old. After this battle, I will retire and return home. From now on, the emperor will rely on you."

The father and son were as uneasy as Li Liangzuo, but they couldn't understand how the high-spirited young man could become so depressed.Wu Su, who was standing beside Li Liangzuo in the hall, didn't understand either. The minister next to Li Liangzuo, the head of the house, led someone to clean up the scattered cups and plates in the hall that had just been kicked over by Li Liangzuo, and put the wine and dishes on the table again. .

Wu Su stood on the side with his hands down. At this moment, he didn't know why Li Liangzuo didn't let him back down.

Li Liangzuo drank a few sips of wine sullenly, and said as if he was talking to himself: "The wine is cold, the food is cold. The first time I saw Wang Pang back then, the hot pot made by this guy was hot even in cold weather." .”

Wu Su looked at Li Liangzuo suspiciously, and finally said after a long time: "There are indeed talents next to the king of the Song Dynasty, and the sage loves talents, and I understand."

Li Liangzuo suddenly sighed: "No one can understand that I am always benevolent and righteous in front of the king."

Wu Su always wanted to ask if it was about Wang Pang's son, but Li Liangzuo said intermittently: "Man Baa father and son are loyal to me, even so, it is because they have friendship with Wang Pang, I can't say anything !" Wu Su finally wanted to hold back the question, because he saw that Fang Dang, who was serving beside him, was squinting at him.

When Li Liangzuo was tangled in every possible way, the [-] troops of the Song Dynasty had already sent the first marching army to inform Yanzhou, Weizhou, and Yuanzhou to prepare for strict defense according to the plan made by Wang Pang and Yue Li in advance; Wang Shao asked the various ministries handed over from Xixia and Tubo to unite to harass the Xiliang Mansion of Xixia.The army headed west all the way, passing through Zezhou, Jinzhou and other places, suddenly saw a lot of people waiting along the road.

When it was getting dark, the troops set up their camps, and the cooking army raised fireworks, and the gas from the bonfires illuminated the camps.In the tent of the Chinese army, Zhe Kejun was reporting by the side of the king. Hearing that the army was going west to resist Xixia, many people volunteered to deliver food, and some brought local specialties to the commander and the supervising army.If the Song Army knew the situation facing the Xixia Army at this time, it would definitely boost its confidence.

The coach, Yue Li, was in a very smooth mood. Although the weather was mild all the way out of the capital, his morale was getting higher and higher. The soldiers in the army were confident that if they were not just to defend against Xixia, they would be able to capture several cities in Xixia.He couldn't help casting admiring glances at Wang Pang.

Wang Pang knew very well that in addition to strict military discipline, the aspirations of the people are also very important in such a result.Of course, there are more important reasons. Wang Pang has already made it clear that he will not send servants if he does not arrest strong men.All logistical matters such as transportation of grain and grass are handled by special personnel and special funds. People who are willing to do this work are hired. Right now, the cold winter is when the farming is slack, so people are naturally not a problem.Moreover, compared with the previous army's arrest of strong men and guards, this move is really popular.

He told Yue Li his conclusion, and Yue Li was even more admiring. While he was talking, someone entered the account and reported that the prefect of Jinzhou begged to see King Zhennan.Wang Pang said please, and after a while, a thin and tall official in his thirties walked into the tent and greeted Wang Pang: "I haven't seen you for many years, how is your lord?" Danian and Yin Shijie.

"Oh, Brother Cheng, why is it you?" Wang Bang was overjoyed when he saw that the person who came was Cheng Hao.Standing up to greet him: "When did you come to Jinzhou? Why did these two people come with you?"

Yu Danian and Yin Shijie smiled: "We came here to deliver incense cakes to you, my lord, but the soldiers outside didn't let the common people see you. I beg Cheng Zhifu to bring us in as followers."

"Hahaha, brother Cheng Hao is easy to talk, this has not changed at all! Come on brother Cheng, I will lead you to lead brother Yue." Wang Pang said and let Cheng Hao stand in front of Yue Li.After meeting each other, the three sat down; Yu Danian and Yin Shijie were greeted by Zhe Kejun and Zhang Ping to the side to reminisce.

Seeing Cheng Hao's forced smile, Wang Pang thought to himself that Cheng Hao had been implicated by himself, did he still complain in his heart?He asked: "It's a pity that Brother Cheng has been promoted. It's still tens of miles away from the capital city of Jinzhou. I'm so happy that you came to see me on purpose. Why does Brother Cheng seem to have something on his mind?"

"No, no!" Cheng Hao waved his hand and said.It's not that there is nothing on his mind, it's just that Wang Pang rushed to the front line, and it seemed unnecessary to let him know about trivial matters later.

38 Kanwanghai Pavilion)s