The Zhou army's cavalry was deployed on the rear and flanks of the main army. The main infantry camp, baggage, and some surrendered generals and soldiers and civilians taken away along the way had arrived in Zhuozhou in a mighty manner.
Guo Shao lifted the bamboo curtain of the carriage and looked at Zhuozhou City in the light mist. This ancient city located north of Juma River was indeed far inferior to Youzhou City. It did not even have a city wall. Moreover, it was burned and massacred by the Khitan army in retaliation two years ago, and now it looked dilapidated.
To defend such a city, a heavy force was needed, and there was no barrier of the Juma River. The staff all thought that the Zhou army should abandon Zhuozhou and retreat to the Juma River defense line.
The voice of Lu Xiaoniang behind said: Your Majesty, colds cannot be cured by medicine, your state of mind and conditioning are very important.
Guo Shao turned around and said: Don't worry, I won't be defeated so easily.
At this moment, a rider came running up to the carriage, clasped his fists and said: "Your Majesty, Lord Yang Biao has woken up!"
After hearing this, Guo Shao was immediately delighted and said: I'll go see him.
The guards then told the coachman to stop the carriage. A number of carriages and horses stopped one after another, waiting for Yang Biao's carriage to arrive.
Guo Shao got down from the carriage by himself. A guard came forward to help him, but he pushed him away. Only then did he realize that the drizzle that had been falling before had stopped without him noticing.
The dark clouds in the sky were still there, but they had dispersed one by one. The sunlight was like a golden sword, splitting a hole in the middle, and the light between heaven and earth became brighter.
Guo Shao walked out of the carriage, and for a moment he had the illusion of walking out of a depressing and dark tunnel into an open world. He saw a tree full of pink flowers on the roadside, and then he realized that it was spring. The branches with the vitality of green leaves swayed gently in the moist breeze, not blocking the view of Zhuozhou City in the distance, but on the contrary seemed to embellish the scene of the ancient city. In the breath of spring flowers, the dilapidated city towers of Zhuozhou no longer had the intuition of decay, but were full of the heritage of time.
He let out a long sigh and quickly walked into the carriage that Yang Biao was riding in.
Yang Biao was lying in the carriage with thick soft fabric, looking at Guo Shao who had just come in with his eyes open, and said: Your Majesty
Don't move. Guo Shao stepped forward and gently pressed his arm.
The old doctor next to him said: "Fortunately, the heavy armor on Yang Gong's body blocked the arrows, and the wounds were not deep, and his internal organs were not injured. It's just that there were too many wounds and too much bleeding, so he was weak and fainted. As long as he wakes up, there will be no worries about his life. He needs to rest and take supplements to recover."
Guo Shaodao: Mr. Bai saved my second brother, and I feel very relieved.
The old man hurriedly said: It's a doctor's job.
Guo Shao turned his head to look at Yang Biao's pale face, reached out and held his hand. Yang Biao's palm was rough and hurt his hand.
Yang Biao is weak: I have failed your majesty's trust and lost the battle
Don't blame me, brother. It's good that you woke up and you can rest and recover. Guo Shao said kindly, this battle is a bit regrettable, but it's not that the Great Zhou army is not good at fighting. If Youzhou is in our hands, the Liao army still can't win. Let's rest and fight another day.
At this time, the curtain opened a gap as the car was shaking, and the sun shone in, a ray of warm light shining on Guo Shao's face. His eyes were bright, and the sadness in his heart seemed to have dissipated a lot.
He seemed to see hope, and his sense of strength slowly returned, a very wonderful feeling.
Guo Shao knew that he was a man with a violent, brutal and dark side. However, the sadness and anger of losing his brothers and being forced to admit defeat did not make him feel strong. He wanted to take revenge and vent his anger, but it made him lose confidence and become so weak that he could be invaded by cold.
And now, a little sunshine and hope gradually dispel the hostility in my heart.
Yang Biao's awakening made him feel less lonely. Yang Biao was not a famous general who used troops like a god, but he was someone Guo Shao could trust. Guo Shao believed that he was willing to protect himself even if he risked his life. Yang Biao's survival gave Guo Shao a psychological hint: there were still brothers around. Some trustworthy people, as long as they were still there, would increase people's sense of security.
As long as the mountains remain, there will be no fear of running out of firewood. As long as you maintain a positive attitude and work hard, you never know who will have the last laugh.
We are king and subject, but we are still brothers. Guo Shao exerted a little force on his hands.
Yang Biao nodded slightly and said: Third brother
Guo Shao sighed and said softly: My third brother should be posthumously conferred the title by the court officials and passed on to his son. He has the merit of risking his life to protect the emperor, and he should also be enshrined in the Merit Pavilion to be admired by future generations.
After hearing this, Yang Biao breathed a sigh of relief and nodded again.
Guo Shaoguan saw that he looked exhausted, so he said, "Second brother, just focus on your recovery and don't worry. I'll come back to see you in a few days."
He immediately left the carriage and returned to his own carriage.
At this time, Jingniang, who was wearing a round-necked gown, clasped her fists and saluted at the side of the carriage, but did not speak. Guo Shao glanced at her and said: Come on board and talk.
When Jingniang bent down and stepped onto the carriage, Guo Shao slapped the wooden board of the carriage, and the coachman drove the four horses to pull the carriage easily. The sound of wood grinding against each other could be heard.
Jingniang asked softly: Is your Majesty feeling better
Guo Shao nodded slowly.
Jingniang then said calmly: I found a small matter recorded by the Bingcao Division of Youzhou Branch that had not been noticed before. That Lu Lan's mother's surname was Bai, and she was actually the concubine of Xiao Siwen, the King of the Southern Court of Liao.
Oh, Guo Shao was also very surprised after hearing this.
Jingniang said in a deep voice: Many people in Youzhou know about this now. Our people found out about it two months ago, but somehow I didn’t notice it.
Guo Shao pondered for a moment. Lu Lan's mother should be a Han Chinese, and was most likely abducted by the Khitans.
Jingniang said: The main reason is that this girl often comes in and out of His Majesty's presence, so we have to be vigilant.
Guo Shao was silent for a moment, recalling the process of meeting Lu Lan and his understanding of her, and quickly ruled out the possibility that she was a spy. Because the acquaintance was just a coincidence, it couldn't have been arranged by someone; the people in power in this era had no experience or precedent in arranging undercover agents in this way.
He immediately said: It is a coincidence that Lu Xiaoniang's mother is in Xiao Siwen's house. Our people were taken away by barbarians to be concubines, and she is also a victim.
Jingniang stopped arguing.
After a while, Lu Lan got on the car carrying a lane. The first person she noticed was not Guo Shao, but Jing Niang who was sitting opposite her. She bent her legs in a friendly manner and greeted her politely.
She said with a little embarrassment on her face: I went back to my uncle and got some medicinal herbs.
Seeing her shy face, Guo Shao couldn't help but think of her stubbornness and aggressiveness when he lived in her house in Zhuozhou. Now, at least she completely trusted Guo Shao.
Guo Shao didn't ask any questions and decided that this young woman was not a spy. Because of his intuition as an archer hunter, this woman had a sunny aura and not much darkness in her heart.
Jingniang asked: Madam Lu was originally from Zhuozhou, and later went to Wushan.
Lu Lan raised her head and said in confusion: We used to be from the countryside of Youzhou, but later something happened and we moved to Zhuozhou City. A few years ago, when Zhuozhou City was not in turmoil, I followed my father to flee south and went to my uncle's house first. But my uncle had passed away, and the rest of my uncle Bai's family was in their hometown, Wushan, so we moved to Wushan after many twists and turns.
Jingniang said: There is no one else in the Lu family except your father.
Lu Lan shook her head.
Jingniang asked again: What happened when you were at the Lu family in Youzhou
Lu Lan's face was suddenly filled with sadness, and she whispered: The Khitans plundered
Jingniang paused and said: Where is your mother
Lu Lan's voice had changed: He was kidnapped by the Khitans and his life or death is unknown.
Guo Shao immediately stopped them and said: Jingniang, don’t ask anymore. We shouldn’t mention Madam Lu’s sad story.