Dark clouds covered the sky of Jinyang. Sporadic raindrops gradually moistened the dust and extinguished the smoke. Soon, the drizzling rain turned into a curtain of rain. The battlefield, which had already been at a truce, was further hidden in the curtain of rain. The noise of the dense crowds of people and horses was also covered by the sound of rain, and the world became even quieter.
Jingniang sat alone in the central army's tent for a long time. When she turned around and saw the rain, her heart suddenly ached and two lines of tears finally rolled down from the corners of her eyes.
At this moment, the light in the tent suddenly dimmed and a figure appeared at the door. It was Guo Shao.
Jingniang was startled and quickly dodged, wiping away her tears with her sleeve.
Guo Shao walked over silently and found a small wooden stool to sit down. Jingniang realized that her actions just now had not escaped Guo Shao's eyes. She felt complicated for a while.
It seems that I came at the wrong time, Guo Shao said.
Jingniang opened her mouth slightly, feeling uncomfortable, as if she was being wronged, but she was not very good at speaking, usually speaking briefly and directly, and she didn't know what to say for a moment. She simply sat there, silent.
Guo Shao said: Zhao Kuangyin has not suffered any crime. I just want to take his life. I have to kill him. This kind of person is too threatening. If we don't kill him, it will be a big hidden danger.
After hearing this, Jingniang realized that Guo Shao had come in alone and had made a special trip to see her, so she lowered her head and said: "You are the emperor now, there is no need to come here like this. Your Majesty, don't worry, I understand these things, and my loyalty will not waver in the slightest."
Yes. Guo Shao nodded and said, I trust Jing Niang.
Jingniang didn't know what to say, and after a long time she suddenly said: In fact, I am not crying for Zhao Kuangyin, but for myself.
After hearing this, Guo Shao immediately looked over, as if thinking about something.
Jingniang felt pressured by this gaze, as if her heart was seen through, as if someone was trying to force her way out. She instinctively began to resist and struggle, but the light filtered through every gap and she could not refuse, so it was filled up in an instant. She felt a little helpless and powerless, yet very fulfilled and warm.
I have heard a saying before, men always think about how to die, and women always think about how to live. Guo Shao murmured.
Jingniang felt that what he said was a bit mysterious, but it seemed to make some sense. She turned to look at his face with a hint of curiosity. Guo Shao's face was very calm, with a hint of sadness in it. She could not resist his low, steady and somewhat gentle voice.
Guo Shao said: You were rejected for your love, so you may have some hatred towards Zhao Kuangyin; but hatred is not indifference, you should still remember his care and concern for you. So when you watched him die, the hatred was gone, but you still felt a little uncomfortable. Women are prone to fall into this kind of thinking. You seem to be more decisive than men on the surface, but you still can't escape this kind of thinking.
Jingniang suddenly felt weak in her limbs and looked at Guo Shao pitifully.
He turned his head to look at the rain outside the gap in the door curtain and fell silent. In this rough and quiet little space, it seemed that the only sound left was the sound of the rain.
Jingniang was so angry that she glared at him: I hate those nagging women the most. What he valued most back then was his reputation and future. I don't care about anything, so what is there for me to worry about
Guo Shao frowned and thought for a moment, then shook his head and said: "You will still feel sad when he dies. But you said your tears are not for him. I believe women always want to live. You will still have attachment. If someone has a place in their heart and someone belongs to you, cares about you and values you, you will still have nostalgia."
He used to be very good to you, but he doesn't belong to you. You don't have to be soft-hearted when you break up, so I am relieved about your old friendship with Zhao Kuangyin. You are not easy to satisfy either. I am also very good to you, but I don't belong to you either.
Jingniang stared at him blankly, her shoulders trembling.
Guo Shao said cruelly: You belong to me, but I cannot belong to you completely.
When Jingniang heard this, she felt as if her heart was tightened, her eyes felt sore and her face became hot.
Guo Shao stood up and reached out to touch her shoulders. Because Guo Shao's hands were big and warm, she felt a large area of warmth on her skin. Her heart was like a tangled mess and her tears flowed as if they were going to turn into rain falling from the sky.
Guo Shao stood motionless by the side, his voice was not loud but very clear: Just as I must kill Zhao Kuangyin, everything is beyond my choice. There are some things I can't do.
Jingniang found that she had completely violated the beliefs that her father had instilled in her when he served the lord. Guo Shao's voice continued: But I am not a person who does not cherish the past. You can always belong to me. I will not abandon you because we met not too late.
When she heard this, she finally couldn't control herself anymore and threw herself into Guo Shao's arms, crying desperately. She felt like she had let go of everything, a kind of complete reckless release, sobbing and soon soaking Guo Shao's clothes. She kept crying, not knowing when she would stop, as if she was sadder than anything else, but also happier than anything else.
After a long while, Guo Shaocai whispered: It seems to be a mistake to employ women in military and national affairs.
It is sunny and not raining on the grassland in Fengzhou Hohhot.
The middle-aged general Yang Gun rode over and looked north. The shadow of the Yinshan Mountain in the north was looming in the sky, like a large dark cloud hanging in the sky at the end of the grassland. Under the dark cloud, a black line was gently swaying, like ripples on the water. There was a rumbling sound between heaven and earth, the sound was not loud, but it was pervasive, as if it was the muffled sound brewing before the thunder.
The black line is the cavalry of the tribes north of Yinshan Mountain gathering towards Fengzhou. Recently, all the tribes in the west have been mobilizing cavalry to gather in Fengzhou. The tribes on the grasslands are also very quick to mobilize when the war is about to begin.
Yang Gun retracted his gaze and slightly side-glanced at Yelu Xiuguo who was riding on the horse in front of him. Yelu Xiuguo was the commander-in-chief this time, and Yang Gun was only the deputy commander.
Yelu Xiu'ge was very young, but he had already demonstrated all the talents and bearing that a general should possess. He quickly overcame the rebellion of the Shiwei tribes with a crushing momentum, which made him famous in the Liao Dynasty and established his status as a famous general in the Liao Dynasty.
Being successful at a young age, Yelu Xiuguo showed some signs of being a young man. Yelu Xiuguo gave people the impression of being arrogant, and his arrogance was revealed in his words and deeds. Even his calmness was a kind of arrogance and confidence.
Yelu Xiu'ge had a face as sharp as a knife, and his firm features and eyes showed his majesty without even being angry. He was a natural born general with very good qualifications.
Yang Gun watched for a while, then put his hand on his chest, bowed slightly on his horse, and said: Marshal, I just got the news that the siege of Jinyang started a five-day truce the day before yesterday.
Yelu Xiu'ge also withdrew his gaze from the horizon, thinking for a moment, but without looking back: The Zhou army had only besieged Jinyang for three days the day before yesterday, why did they want to stop fighting
Yang Gun said: According to reports, the Zhou army attacked the city very quickly. Liu Jun, the ruler of the Northern Han Dynasty, handed over Zhao Kuangyin in exchange for a five-day truce.
Although Yelu Xiuguo was born in a good family and was very capable, he was still young and might not know many things in detail. Yang Gun paused and explained: Zhao Kuangyin was originally a general of the Zhou State, and he and the current Zhou State ruler Guo Tiejiang were enemies and sworn enemies. Therefore, Guo Tiejiang was willing to exchange this person for a major military event at this time.
Yelu Xiuguo nodded calmly and said: I have heard about them. He emphasized: Although the Zhou army arrived in Jinyang more than half a month ago, most of the time was spent on building fortifications and siege, and now they have only been attacking the city for three days.
Yang Gun said: In addition to the nickname of the blacksmith, Guo Shao also has a less famous nickname called Guo Pocheng. This man's means of attacking cities should not be underestimated.
Yelu Xiuguo pondered for a moment and said calmly: I have seen Jinyang City with my own eyes and have also paid attention to the troops of the Northern Han. It is surprising that the city can be captured in three to five days, let alone three to five months. We must gather troops before we can go south. Isn't it reported that the Zhou army has a large number of troops in the south of Xinzhou
Yang Gun nodded seriously: The commander is absolutely right.
Don't worry about those unimportant points. Yelu Xiuguo said, I have seen this battle, the most important thing for the Liao cavalry is to defeat the Zhou army's resistance and break through the defense line to Jinyang.
Yes, yes. Yang Gun looked very convinced. He really thought that Yelu Xiuguo was a real man, not only in martial arts and military deployment, but also in vision and insight.
Yelu Xiuguo said calmly: Don't worry about Jinyang, we just need to prepare our affairs in a compact manner. Once the Liao cavalry arrives at Jinyang, as long as Guo the blacksmith knows something, the siege of Jinyang will be lifted.
Yang Gun said: Not long ago, I sent someone to inquire about it. The commander of the Zhou army in the south of Xinzhou is Li Chuyun. This person has nepotism with the royal family of Zhou. Li Chuyun's daughter is Guo Tiejun's concubine. However, I have thought about Li Chuyun's performance in the battle to conquer the Southern Tang Kingdom, and he is also an easy man to deal with.
Yang Gun had stayed in Youzhou for quite a while, and had often dealt with the Northern Han Kingdom. As he was older and more knowledgeable, he knew a lot about Han people's affairs. He heaved a sigh of relief and said: When the Han Dynasty dealt with the Huns, Wei Qing, who had been to Yinshan, also relied on nepotism to gain power.
Yelu Xiuguo looked conceited, but he was different from other young generals who underestimated the enemy. If it was a general of the Liao Kingdom, he would be very disdainful of such a person who relied on sending women. Yelu Xiuguo said: "It's just the right time for someone who is difficult to deal with. Jinyang is a rock and there is nothing to fight for a while. Once the reinforcements arrive, they will run away. If the Zhou army in Xinzhou is too weak, we will have made a wasted trip. What's the point?"
He glanced at the approaching horses and men, and then he shouted and slapped his horse, and rushed forward vigorously. The brave generals and soldiers around him also shouted wildly to catch up, and the horses' hooves galloped on the grassland. The fur and muscles of the horses and the strength of the men were full of wildness under the sun.