Gun smoke filled the air below Jianmen Pass, and the smell of burning gunpowder spread across the stone ground, making it very choking. The Zhou army soldiers were swarming back and retreating. With a scream, a soldier fell to the ground with an arrow in his back. In the smoke, long black shadows could be seen from time to time. The Zhou army threw away their armor and retreated as if they had been defeated.
Cao Bin sighed beside Xiang Gong. He was a young general of 27 years old, with a white face and a thick black beard. He was spotted by Xiang Gong in Jinzhou and followed him to participate in the attack on Shu. Xiang Gong was right. Cao Bin made proper deployment in the battles of Qingniling and Xingzhou, and was also very good at being a man and restraining the soldiers, which made Xiang Gong feel much more relaxed.
Cao Bin did not use surprising tactics in his military operations, but was cautious and careful in every move. He usually did not lose a battle that he could win, and it was difficult for him to win a battle that he could not win by surprise.
However, Cao Bin wanted to use a surprise attack at Jianmen, but unfortunately it didn't work. He first heard that there was a small road near Jianmen, which was used by tax evaders and fugitives to avoid government checkpoints. So Cao Bin asked for permission to take a group of troops to take the small road to bypass Jianmen Pass. Unexpectedly, the Shu generals were well prepared, and Cao Bin was ambushed by the Shu army who occupied the advantageous terrain and was defeated. He had to give up the narrow road.
Han Baozheng was defeated by me, Xiang Gong said angrily. He was referring to the defeat of Han Baozheng of Xingzhou, who led an army of 20,000 soldiers to the city.
Xiang Gong could no longer remember how many times he had sent people to attack Jianmen Pass. After many failures, he was already filled with anger and could not help but curse at the city gate above.
Seeing that all the soldiers had run back, Cao Bin gave them a look and the minor officials accompanying the army stepped forward and began shouting loudly, using all kinds of reasons to persuade them to surrender.
Xiang Gong said angrily: "Tell them to stop shouting, it's useless. The Shu army is not short of food or soldiers, and they can hold the pass. They will not surrender even if you talk them dry."
Cao Bin could not help but say: Han Baozheng is a man who uses troops in a standard way. He is not a brilliant general, but he is experienced and familiar with military affairs. He is also a good general of Shu. He can judge the situation sharply. After the defeat in Xingzhou, he immediately gave up Hanzhong to preserve the remaining strength and retreated to Jianmen. Now it is proved that his judgment and decision are wise.
Liang cursed at Gong, "I think he is just a scoundrel who keeps pestering me."
Cao Bin advised: Calm down, General Xiangjie.
Xiang Gong turned his head and said: I really feel ashamed of the trust of Guo Du Dianjian. Last year, the battle in Hanzhong was not going well. This year, I have 40,000 troops, but I am blocked here and cannot move forward. What is your plan
Cao Bin frowned and thought hard, but was at a loss as to what to do.
Wang Jing's eldest son said: "Defending a place like this, there is no shortage of troops or food. As long as the commander is a veteran in the battle formation, no one can do anything. This is not the fault of General Xiang Jie. It will be the same for anyone who comes. It depends on luck and what kind of opponent you meet. Unless
Xiang Gong asked: Unless what
The general said: Unless the pseudo-Shu court makes a mistake itself and replaces a fool to help us, we can think about it from the commander-in-chief and see if there is anyone we can use and try the counter-espionage strategy.
Cao Bin said: Such strategies are not always effective, not to mention that we don’t know where to start now.
Xiang Gong pondered for a moment and asked: "Has there been any news from the Eastern Route Army?"
Everyone around him shook his head.
The news of the capture of Kuizhou, an important city of Shu, had just arrived in Tokyo by express horse.
It was already past the hour of You, and the Fu sisters were having dinner behind the Jinxiang Palace. It was still the same magnificent restaurant, and even the surrounding furnishings had not changed. The tableware was white, smooth and crystal clear, and everything was so exquisite; even the serving maids were pretty, fair-skinned, and dressed neatly and appropriately. The Fu sisters were even more glamorous and beautiful, but Fu Jinzhan always felt that something was missing, something was missing.
Without Guo Shao around, no one could appreciate this place no matter how beautiful it was. Not only this dining room, but the entire imperial city and Tokyo were dead silent these days, making Fu Jinzhan feel that nothing could arouse her interest.
Fortunately, my younger sister is with me, which brings another kind of warmth. After all, it is good for relatives who grew up together to be together. Another kind of goodness: plain but lacking in vitality.
At this moment, Cao Tai ignored the elegant and quiet atmosphere in the dining room, hurried to the door and began to shout: Queen Mother, good news! General Guo has taken Kuizhou. The eastern gate of Shu is wide open. All places are rushing to surrender. The Great Zhou army is approaching Chengdu. It will not be long before Shu is pacified.
The dull atmosphere immediately heated up, and Fu Jinzhan was also surprised and said: Shao Geer sent troops from Jingnan, it has only been a month
Cao Tai said happily: "Guo Du Dian Jian is invincible in battle and conquers every enemy. When the imperial guards of the imperial city heard the good news, they all called him the God of War."
Fu Jinzhan put down his chopsticks and happily took the good news to read.
Cao Tai saw her happy face, so he whispered: "General Guo has won a great victory in the front, and his military force has shocked the whole country. Tomorrow morning, the ministers will congratulate the Queen Mother. The pacification of Shu has been achieved. The people in the court are settled, and the Queen Mother will be more comfortable in governing the country." After he said that, he suddenly took out another envelope. Oh, right, along with the victory report, there was also a letter from home, to Mrs. Guo.
Fu Ermei immediately laughed and said: I wanted to ask this just now, but you guys are talking about business and didn’t interrupt me. Give it to me.
Fu Ermei picked up the letter, stood up from her seat, ran to the small door next to her, turned her back, and hurried to read the letter.
Jinzhan glanced sideways and saw Fu Ermei's shoulders twitching and she let out a suppressed laugh. After a while, Ermei's face was shy again. Jinzhan remained calm. After reading the victory report, she couldn't help but turn it over to see the back. Of course, there was no word. She picked up the envelope again, pinched the edge with her fingers, and gently squeezed it. The envelope opened and she could see that it was empty.
I understand, Jinzhan said calmly.
When Cao Tai heard the voice, he saw that the Queen Mother did not seem to want to say anything, so he bowed and backed out.
After a while, Fu Ermei came back with a red face, and said quietly: I really don’t know how I managed to get through the past twenty years. Without him, life was so boring, as bland as boiled water.
Jinzhan curled her lips and said: I have goose skin all over my body.
Fu Ermei handed the letter to Jinzhan: I have finished reading it, let me show it to you.
I'm not interested. It's not written for me. Jinzhan picked up her chopsticks and started eating.
Fu Ermei said softly: Sister, I am willing to share everything I have with you.
Jinzhan's face was dignified and calm, but she was still slightly startled when she heard this. She felt a little complicated and kept silent. After a while, Jinzhan asked calmly: "Second sister, is my elder sister good to you?"
Fu Ermei said: Of course I don’t fully understand a lot of things, but I can roughly understand that if it weren’t for my eldest sister who was able to take charge of the overall situation in the palace, we would not know what the situation would be now.
While she was talking, Jinzhan casually picked up the letter and read it through, looking at Fu Ermei and said: He is still very attentive to you. It is not easy for Ermei, who is so stupid, to firmly grasp the heart of such a person. Lady Huarui of Shu is also quite famous. I am afraid she is very beautiful. He will get her soon, but he still misses you in his heart.
Fu Ermei pursed her red lips and said disapprovingly: I have inquired about it. Madam Huarui is just a singing girl. She has already given herself to others, maybe more than one. How can she compare with me
Jinzhan smiled and said: It will naturally not be as good as it used to be. Now I want to eat it but I can't, so you can't compare to its freshness.
The second sister rolled her eyes at Fu Jinzhan: "Big sister is really too smart." She suddenly had an idea and put her mouth close to Fu Jinzhan's ear and whispered, "If big sister falls in love with him, I'm afraid I can't beat you."
Fu Jinzhan said angrily:
But seeing that the second sister was smiling, Fu Jinzhan whispered again: Second sister, you must remember that our honor and disgrace, gains and losses, in the past and in the future are all connected.
Yes. Fu Ermei stopped smiling and nodded seriously. She had always trusted her elder sister's brain and felt that she would not get into trouble if she followed her elder sister's arrangements.
Fu Jinzhan exhaled, and her face was relieved: "Why not have some wine, we can celebrate tonight. As long as we conquer Shu, the situation will be stable. Shao Ge'er has never let me down."