Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 710 Linzhou Yang Family
This man is Xiao Xiuming's right-hand man, a small commander in the palace guard army, named Mu Tie.

Hearing what Xiao Xiuming said, Mu Tie heaved a sigh of relief, immediately knelt down, and said gratefully: "Thank you, my lord, today I am all thanks to my lord, if my lord wants me to die, I will never hesitate It's just that Chunxiang is the only family member left in the humble position, so I just asked my lord, and I ask my lord to punish her."

Xiao Xiuming helped Mu Tie up and said, "Don't worry! If you follow me, you won't suffer any disadvantages. One day, I will help your Mu family return to the ranks of nobles."

After hearing this, Mu Tie was overwhelmed with excitement, and knelt down again.

Speaking of the Khitan Mu surname, we need to briefly explain the origin of the Khitan surname.

"Khitan Kingdom Chronicles" records: "The Khitan people have no surnames, but they are called by the name of the place where they live."Even in the Northern Wei, Sui and Tang dynasties, the Khitan nationality had gradually grown, but still, like many horse ethnic groups, there were no surnames.At that time, people distinguished different regions by the names of tribes, such as: Xiwandan tribe, Hedahe tribe, Jufufo tribe, Yuyuling tribe, Rilian tribe and so on.Even the rulers of Khitan did not have their own surnames. For example, Yelu Abaoji's grandfather Yun Deshi and uncle Shulan, and Dezuo Sacai only had first names.

After Khitan was attached to the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong of Tang set up Songmo Dudu Mansion there, named Kuge as the governor, and gave Khitan the surnames "Li" and "Sun".The Khitan leaders surnamed Li include Li Jinzhong, Li Dahuo, and Li Guozhe, and the Khitan tribe leaders surnamed Sun include Sun Sancao and Sun Wanrong.At this time, although the Khitan people had surnames, they only had the two surnames of Li and Sun, and only a few upper-class nobles had surnames, and ordinary commoners did not have surnames.After Yelu Abaoji, Taizu of the Liao Dynasty, founded the country, the Khitan royal family and descendants all took Yelu and Xiao as their surnames. "Yelü" is "Liu" in the Han nationality, and "Yelü" and "Xiao" were used as surnames because the Khitan people, especially the Khitan nobles, worshiped Liu Bang, the great ancestor of the Han Dynasty in the Central Plains, and Xiao He, the virtuous prime minister.

As time went on, those middle-class people and ordinary people also began to use "Yelu" and "Xiao" as their surnames.The backwardness of the two-surname system of the Khitan continued until the fall of the Liao Kingdom.In addition, the emperors of the Khitan dynasties would also make some families real nobles in the form of bestowing surnames, such as Mu, Han, Luo, Yi, Gai and other surnames.

Therefore, Mu Tie's surname was once aristocratic in Khitan, but by this time it had already been ruined. Even before Mu Tie was taken as a confidant by Xiao Xiuming, he was just a brave and quick-witted soldier in the palace guard army.It is also thanks to Xiao Xiuming that he can become a small commander in command of 500 people now.

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The Fuzhou Zhe family actually came from the same origin as the Li family in the Dangxiang Eight Clan. They are both descendants of the royal family of the Xianbei Dangxiang clan, while the Linzhou Yang family is the real Han. Of course, the Linzhou Yang family can rise in a place of tigers and wolves in the northwest. Naturally, there are historical reasons.

Linzhou was originally under the jurisdiction of the Zhe family. Decades ago, when the world was in chaos during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the Zhe family was also attacked by powerful enemies. In order to protect the prefecture, the home of the Zhe family, the Zhe family was forced to shrink. The troops were withdrawn from Linzhou, and Linzhou formed a power vacuum for a while.

The local tycoon Yang Xin formed a private army long ago, initially just to protect himself in troubled times.At that time, the dragons in Linzhou had no leader, so he occupied the capital, proclaimed himself an assassin, and ruled the whole territory of Linzhou.When the Zhe family dealt with the powerful enemy and freed up their hands, the Yang family had already established a firm foothold in Linzhou.

Out of various considerations, the Zhe family chose to form an alliance with the Yang family instead of taking back Linzhou by force. As a precaution, the restrictions on businessmen and tourists traveling between the two states were extremely strict. This situation did not gradually ease until the two families continued to get closer through marriages for decades.

Linzhou City, since the Yang family occupied the city and became a vassal, this city was also called the Yang family city.For more than forty miles upstream along the Kuye River Valley, on top of a high mountain is Yangjiacheng, the headquarters of the Yang family in Linzhou.

The cold wind is blowing, the snow is fluttering, the surrounding fields are vast, the world is silent, and even birds are rarely seen in the deserted wilderness. At this time, there is a group of big men in leather robes with bows and arrows, and swords under their ribs. Braving the wind and snow, galloping all the way along the dry Kuye River Valley, the horseshoes were quickly swept away by the wind and snow, and only a line of black shadows could be seen from a distance.

In such a severe cold weather, most of the common people live at home with cats sitting on the top of the hot kang. There are few sightings on the road, and the birds are flying away. At that time, they had already entered the eyes of the Yang family's eyes, and the news was quickly sent to the Yang family city, but no one came out to stop them. Even if there were a hundred or so people in the area, even if they were strong bows and horses, everyone was good at fighting, it was impossible for them to fight against Linzhou. There was no threat from the city, so they were able to reach the city of Linzhou smoothly.

Linzhou is a place where the Han and the Hu, and the Hu and the Han live together, but here is mainly farming, and the city buildings are also in the style of the farming people. When it comes to the left of Linzhou City, the Hetao extends to the plains surrounded by mountains on both sides. Open, the rice paddies are vertical and horizontal, all covered under the fertile snow. Standing at the foot of the mountain and looking up, you can see a majestic city on the top of the mountain. Go, explore in all directions, it looks very spectacular.

There were already people waiting at the gate of the city. The group of more than 50 people got off their horses and led the horses. When they got close, they had a conversation with the person who greeted them. Then the suspension bridge was lowered at the top of the city. After entering the castle built on the loess, the suspension bridge rises again, and the mountains and fields return to silence, only the wind and snow are raging, whistling past.

In the living room of the Yang family, there is a fire dragon built on the ground floor, and the whole room is warm, the heat current is surging, and it is as warm as spring.Yang Chongxun, the head of the contemporary Yang family, looked at this special distinguished guest with a complex, excited and angry face, and remained silent for a long time.

After a while, this special distinguished guest said quietly: "Second brother, don't come here without any problems."

Yang Chongxun said hoarsely, "Brother..."

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"Second brother, the military order of the Great Song Dynasty has been issued, and our Xiangfu Kingdom has received absolutely reliable news. Gao Huaide will send a large army to take Linzhou in a few days. Brother, I am here this time, on the one hand, to see my second brother. On the other hand He also came here to save Linzhou, the second brother."

Hearing this, Yang Chongxun couldn't help being taken aback, and hurriedly said: "Brother has worked hard all the way, come on, let's sit in the study, if there is anything, sit down and talk slowly."

The two entered the study room, waved back, and sat down opposite each other. Yang Jiye held a cup of hot tea, stared at Yang Chongxun, and said in a deep voice, "Second brother, elder brother wants to ask a question, you must answer elder brother truthfully."

Yang Chongxun said, "Brother, may I ask?"

Yang Jiye asked solemnly: "What is the relationship between the second brother and the church?"

Yang Chongxun hesitated for a moment, and then said: "The cooperative relationship, my father rose up in Linzhou back then, and eventually became the master of Linzhou. At the beginning, he received strong support from the Holy Church in terms of money and food. Even in terms of weapons and armor these years, Lin States also have the support of churches."

Yang Jiye was taken aback and said, "Why didn't I know about this?"

Yang Chongxun said: "Only the head of the family can know about this matter. The elder brother insisted on going to the Northern Han Kingdom despite his father's persuasion. Naturally, he would not know."

Yang Jiye said with emotion: "So that's the case."

The Yang family kept the visits of these distinguished guests a high degree of secrecy. Few people in the Yang family city knew what distinguished guests the city lord had visited. A hundred or so knights entered the city. , so no one took it to heart.

The door of Yang Chongxun's study room was tightly closed, and it took a full hour before it was quietly opened.Yang Jiye bid farewell and left, Yang Chongxun sent him out of the city himself, the group of people rushed towards Xiazhou without stopping.

"Father, did Second Uncle agree to His Majesty's request?"

The snow was still falling, facing the whistling wind and snow, Yang Yanlang, the fourth son of the Yang family who was only fifteen or sixteen years old, untied the ear protection bag that covered his mouth and nose, chased after him and asked Yang Jiye loudly.

Yang Jiye sighed, and said: "After all, your second uncle lacks decisiveness and courage, and he doesn't understand His Majesty's ability and the strength of our Xiangfu Kingdom. I told him His Majesty's plan and asked him to attack Linzhou when Gao Huaide led an army. , Pretend to surrender completely to Song Dynasty, and then play a key role in the battle between our Xiangfu Kingdom and Song Dynasty in the future. Your Majesty has already promised to make your second uncle hereditary founding marquis. Unfortunately, your second uncle has always hesitated. Hey! I remember that your second uncle was originally considered a hero, but now he has only taken shelter under the Zhe clan's wings for a long time, and all his pride has been exhausted."

Yang Yanlang was surprised and said: "Didn't the father fail to complete the task assigned by His Majesty. Besides, Second Uncle and the others may not have a good death."

But Yang Jiye shook his head and said loudly: "I'm fine. Your Majesty has already expected that the possibility of me being able to persuade your second uncle is very small, so you won't blame me. As for your second uncle's safety, don't worry! Your Majesty is also prepared Second hand, Hu Sanguang from the intelligence department should have arrived in Linzhou at this time, perhaps with enough things for your second uncle to agree to His Majesty, he has already secretly talked with your second uncle."

Yang Yanlang asked curiously: "What is Mr. Hu holding to spy with Second Uncle?"

Yang Jiye said: "Actually, there is nothing. It's just similar to the method His Majesty used when he first came to the Northwest to subdue the Right Chancellor Ma Wentao."

The war horses galloped out of the Kuye River Valley, and the wind and snow raging along the Hetao eased.

Yang Jiye reined in his horse and looked back at the majestic castle at the end of the long city. He smiled calmly and said indifferently: "No wonder your second uncle has been subservient to the Zhe family. The world is as big as your heart is. Your second uncle is certainly not enough to start, but to keep it... ...It's not enough. I remember when I was young, your grandfather once said that this Yang family city has been called Linzhou City since ancient times, Linzhe, Qilin'er, it's a pity..."

Yang Jiye glanced subconsciously in the direction of Song Guo, and as far as he could see, there was a vast expanse of whiteness, the sky and the earth merged into one color, and the sky became more gloomy.Yang Jiye turned his horse's head, raised his hand and whipped, and shouted: "Keep going, go back to Xiazhou!"

(End of this chapter)