Between the valleys, the water of the Qingzhang River flows very fast.
A dark and strong man led his horse and walked sideways carefully to the river. He was Zhao Kuangyin. Zhao Kuangyin stretched out his hand and poured a handful of water on his face. He turned back and said to Shi Shouxin on the hillside: The water is freezing cold and looks like it will freeze.
Shi Shouxin didn't know how to answer, but Zhao Kuangyin just said it casually and quickly turned his head to look at the situation of the mountains and rivers. The rubble on the mountain fell down, and a large rock fell into the water with a bang. The whole valley seemed to be shaking slowly and unstoppably.
Just like the general trend, Zhao Kuangyin sighed.
Another general on the hillside said: If we go to Li Jixun's army and continue to fight against that woman, will she harm our families
Zhao Kuangyin remained silent and offered a few more handfuls of water. Seeing that the horse beside him was also drinking, he waited. He turned around and said loudly: "Go to Li Chongjin's camp first."
Shi Shouxin hurriedly advised: Li Chongjin and Zhang Yongde have a grudge, and Brother Zhao used to be Zhang Yongde's man, so he should not trust Li Chongjin too much.
Zhao Kuangyin said: I just don't trust Li Chongjin, so I went to him first. But I don't think he will harm me, but I am worried that he will sit back and watch the fire from the other side.
At this time, why is Li Chongjin still waiting and watching? Shi Shouxin wondered.
Zhao Kuangyin raised his head and sighed, what kind of personalities are those people in the imperial guards? I have been together for so many years, and I have already figured it out.
Shi Shouxin seemed to be thinking about something.
Zhao Kuangyin pointed to the turbulent rocks on the opposite side: In this world, the most dangerous thing is not the mountains and cliffs, but the loyalty and sincerity of people. We regard it as our life, but in the hearts of many people, it is lighter than a feather. They can abandon it for a little profit, and treat loyalty and sincerity as a joke for greater power.
Zhao Kuangyin snorted coldly: A letter cannot make Li Chongjin act decisively. If he does not move his troops, it will be difficult for Li Jixun to capture Jinzhou with 20,000 men plus some temporarily recruited men.
Shi Shouxin said: Brother Zhao is right. I also think that Li Jixun is in trouble. Jinzhou is a strong and important town. The defending general is Xiang Xun. He is not a mediocre person, but a good general. It will take at least five times the troops to break through the town he is defending.
Zhao Kuangyin sighed: "If Jinzhou is not conquered, it will be like having our throat controlled." He led his horse up the hill and shouted, "We are going to Liaozhou."
Liaozhou City was only 20 to 30 li away from the border of Northern Han. Zhao Kuangyin led his cavalry and arrived in half a day. However, he was stopped at the city gate because he was with his soldiers. He had to give his name and wait for someone to report.
After a long time, a military officer came and let them into the city. The officer took Zhao Kuangyin and his three brothers to the central army camp. Zhao Kuangyin left Shi Shouxin in the cavalry. At this time, Li Chongjin came out of the camp in person to greet them.
At the entrance to the Liaozhou Central Army Headquarters is a very old memorial archway. The paint on the thick wood on both sides has long since fallen off, and even the wood has begun to rot; there is an eaves on top to protect against rain and moisture, but it still took many years to become like this.
Under the ancient archway, warriors in armor on both sides saluted each other with fists clasped, creating a scene full of ancient style.
Brother Zhao, how are you? Li Chongjin said with a smile.
Zhao Kuangyin said: I dare not, my lord is older, my brothers, please come and see me.
Li Chongjin was slightly startled when he heard that he was addressed as his lord. Zhao Kuangyin smiled and said: I have heard that Li Jixun serves you as my lord. I have long sworn to be irreconcilable with the Tokyo dictator, so I should serve you as my lord.
Hahaha Li Chongjin raised his head and laughed, General Zhao, please
When they arrived at the hall, Li Chongjin sat at the top, Zhao Kuangyin sat at the bottom, and the two brothers stood behind. Li Chongjin said casually: General Zhao stayed in Northern Han for a while, how
At that time in Tokyo, the Queen and her family general Guo Shao mutinied, and I knew I was in danger and fled in advance. I wanted to join Li Jixun in Heyang, but Tokyo had not yet massacred the generals, and I was afraid of implicating him, so I didn't dare to stay, and had to pass through Heyang to join the Northern Han. Zhao Kuangyin sighed and said, the Northern Han wants to use us and guard against us, and life is not easy. The three hundred cavalry, except for the personal soldiers I brought from Tokyo, the rest were borrowed by Li Jixun, and they are of no use to the Northern Han.
Zhao Kuangyin said seriously: Liu Jun and the civil and military officials of the Northern Han Dynasty will never trust people from the Zhou Dynasty, let alone give them military power. We should give up the idea.
After hearing this, Li Chongjin pondered for a long time.
Zhao Kuangyin said calmly: Please don't blame me, my lord. It seems that two years ago, the ruler of Southern Tang sent an envoy to win over my lord.
Li Chongjin snorted coldly: "Li Jing is just a sowing of dissension, trying to alienate the trust between me and the late emperor. If I really surrender, Li Jing will give me a hard time."
Li Jing was quite kind. If it weren't for the fact that Southern Tang would be forced by the Great Zhou to hand over the people, the Southern Tang leader might give them official positions, and those who surrendered to them could still enjoy a life of luxury. Zhao Kuangyin said calmly that the Northern Han would not even give them an idle position. If they really broke with the Great Zhou, they might be able to save their lives in the Northern Han, but they would only be able to survive.
Li Chongjin frowned suddenly.
Zhao Kuangyin struck while the iron was hot and said: My lord may think there is a way out, you can retreat to Northern Han at any time in Liaozhou. But you have to think about it. Can you take nearly 30,000 troops to Northern Han? Northern Han is poor, and they are willing to spend money and food to support so many people. So many people under the lord's command are not completely under their control.
But if I don't have any soldiers, my lord, look at my current situation. Now I can still join my brother Li Jixun, but if Li Jixun loses, who should we join
Li Chongjin's face became more and more ugly.
Zhao Kuangyin knew that he had convinced him, because Zhao Kuangyin did not rely on words, but just pointed out the real truth.
The Northern Han is keeping its troops inactive and just wants to watch the internal struggle of the Zhou Dynasty. Zhao Kuangyin said, if the lord does not seize the opportunity and decisively raise troops together with Li Jixun as soon as possible, the longer you delay, the more you will be unable to fight against Dongjing. The Northern Han has no way out; will Dongjing let you go just because the lord has not raised troops now? Guo Shao has already been the inspector of the front of the palace
When mentioning Guo Shao, Li Chongjin looked angry.
Zhao Kuangyin said no more and sat there in silence, waiting for Li Chongjin to think about it.
After a long silence, Li Chongjin slapped the armrest of his chair and said: General Zhao sent someone to tell Li Jixun that he would march his army from Zezhou, and I would immediately move westward and attack Jinzhou from both sides.
Zhao Kuangyin was not happy, and just said: Very good, I can just follow the army and meet Li Jixun in Jinzhou then.
Li Chongjin said: As soon as I learned that Li Jixun's main force had arrived in Jinzhou, I immediately plundered Liaozhou, looted everything, and then rewarded the army and set off.
Zhao Kuangyin pondered and said: "It is a long way from Liaozhou to Jinzhou via the Northern Han, so we can start now. My lord, just rest assured. If you arrive in Jinzhou and Li Jixun still does not move, you can take my head as a sacrifice and I will stay in the army. You can send someone to watch over me."
Haha, Li Chongjin said, I am not worried that Li Jixun will not do anything, you misunderstood me.
I dare not. Zhao Kuangyin said, I have absolutely no such intention, but the road here is indeed quite far, so I am making this suggestion.
Neither of them admitted the calculations in his mind, but Zhao Kuangyin felt that Li Chongjin was thinking that way. Not only was he worried about being stood up, but Li Chongjin's main calculation should be: he wanted to make sure that Li Jixun would take the lead and let Li Jixun bear most of the losses and consumption; and Li Chongjin also wanted to monopolize Jinzhou because he had nowhere to stay after leaving Liaozhou.
This kind of mutual distrust is normal, and Zhao Kuangyin is used to it now.
Not to mention Li Chongjin, who was originally a distant relative, Zhang Yongde, who was so close to him in Tokyo, plotted against him.
However, Zhang Yongde did not get what he wanted. His military power was taken away just two months later. He thought he could save his life by being the son-in-law of the emperor, so he resigned on the grounds of illness. Zhao Kuangyin was waiting for the news of Zhang Yongde's death.