Guo Shao loved watching the scenes of armored men marching in formation, and he also liked listening to the coordinated footsteps and the sound of metal rubbing against each other, like a symphony.
Under the Jinzhou tower, heavy infantry marched into the city one after another, the clacking footsteps sounding like a rhythmic bass. The cavalry marched slowly in formation, looking like a brisk jump or dance, but a closer look revealed that they were marching with four hooves but not jumping, and the horses' postures were elegant and powerful.
Rows of infantry, teams of cavalry, the same scene was repeated under the city wall, but Guo Shao stood on top and watched for a long time.
He turned to Wei Renpu beside him and said: Deputy Envoy Wei, do you think this scene is boring
Wei Renpu bent slightly and said calmly: I think it is very interesting.
Guo Shao pondered for a moment and said: People always want to have omnipotent power, but unfortunately, no matter how strong a person is, his ability is limited. If thousands of people can do one thing together, the power cannot be underestimated. So whenever I see such a scene, I am always a little excited.
Wei Renpu thought seriously, paused for a moment, and then agreed in all seriousness: Your Majesty is very observant.
Guo Shao raised his head, looking past the row of Xu Jun flags flying high, looking at the endless green fields, the Xiaoling River winding through the vast land, and his sight could not see any further. Not only is one's strength and running speed limited, but his vision is also very limited.
Gao Huaide lived up to expectations and captured this important town, which was originally built by the Han people in the Tang Dynasty, in just half a month. However, Guo Shao was not very excited. Instead, he felt as if his heart was still hanging in the air.
Jinzhou is flat on all sides and faces the sea to the east. It has abundant water systems and fertile land. The city is the ruling center of this area. If the imperial court had captured this place, it would have been a remarkable achievement. But Guo Shao mobilized so many troops and personally conquered the northeast, not just for a city.
He was waiting for news from the Liao Kingdom.
This feeling reminded him of the first time he came to prominence: he shot and killed Zhang Yuanhui with one arrow. The timing and angle were very good at that time, and Guo Shao was also very confident in his long-term practice of archery, but before the moment of shooting the arrow, he was very nervous and worried. Because there are some things that no one can be 100% sure of. When Guo Shao was in Lingzhou, he killed the Dangxiang people but failed to hide his brother.
It's like when I was young and I was trying to hook up with a girl I really liked. Even though I had her, I was always very careful, for fear that I would scare her and she would fly away.
The whole day, Jinzhou City was full of people and horses, garrison deployment, placement, identification of prisoners, and appeasement of the people. All these things were complicated, but Guo Shao didn't care. When he repeatedly pondered and designed the Qianying Military Headquarters, he had already paid for today's hard work in advance.
Until the evening, the ministers and generals who followed the army gathered at the temporarily requisitioned central army headquarters to have dinner together. The food was the same as that of other officers and soldiers, and even Guo Shao was no exception.
The hot wheat cakes were dry and chewy. The soup contained vegetable leaves, dried fish and sometimes bacon. This made the soup very easy to make and even saved salt, because dried fish and bacon were very salty.
Guo Shao acted as if nothing had happened and chatted with everyone about some interesting anecdotes.
At this time, Gao Huaide smiled and said: Lord Shi, I heard that once in Hedong, the disorderly soldiers had no military discipline, robbed the people and kidnapped the girls, and were seen by Lord Shi. Lord Shi executed the disorderly soldiers on the spot, and then chopped off the girls. After hearing this story, I have never understood why Lord Shi killed innocent people.
The laughter and chatter in the room immediately died down, and the atmosphere became somewhat subtle. Everyone looked at Shi Yanchao's reaction.
Guo Shao sat at the head of the table and said nothing, still chewing his wheat cake. The wheat cakes eaten in the army were very coarse and had to be chewed more, otherwise they would be difficult to swallow. After chewing more, one could taste the light sweetness unique to grain.
Guo Shao guessed that after Shi Yanchao killed the King of Qi of Liao, he must have had some secret plans with Gao Huaide, such as mocking or showing off. After Gao Huaide captured Jinzhou, he was more confident in what he said, and he was responding in public. Anyway, there was no shortage of small frictions between these military generals and civil officials, especially Shi Yanchao, and Guo Shao was not surprised.
Shi Yanchao threw the round wheat cake with a notch in his hand into the soup in the iron bowl, splashing the soup all over the floor. He squinted his eyes and said calmly: I will feel better if we kill them all and save trouble.
Gao Huaide gave a thumbs up and sneered: I admire you.
Shi Yanchao added: Those soldiers traveled thousands of miles, fought with their heads on the line, burned, killed and looted, and deserved to die, but I can’t let a bunch of women watch them die and gloat over their misfortune.
At this moment, the eunuch Yang Shiliang walked into the hall, walked straight to Guo Shao from the side, bowed, and whispered in Guo Shao's ear: The Liao Kingdom sent a secret envoy to Jinzhou, who just arrived.
After hearing this, Guo Shao let out a sigh of relief and said to everyone: The Liao Kingdom has come to ask for peace.
Shi Yanchao had completely forgotten the previous argument and immediately shouted: Let the Liao ruler surrender and call us father, and the emperor will agree to their request for peace.
Wei Renpu glared at Shi Yanchao angrily and said: What the hell is this
Civilian Lu Duosun said seriously: Before the expedition, everyone discussed politics in front of the government. This expedition is to force peace. Otherwise, in the thousands of miles of grassland and the vast cold land of the Northeast, there would be nothing we could do.
Guo Shao slapped his thigh and said: Let's cool down the secret envoy for two days first, and then send the cavalry out of Jinzhou early tomorrow morning and wander towards Liaoyang a few times.
Lu Dosun clasped his fists and said: Will the Liao people think that our dynasty has no sincerity in peace talks
Guo Shao changed his silent expression and smiled: "We must be patient. Whether the Liao people fight or make peace is not because of whether our attitude is polite or not. If they think they can continue to compete with Daxu for profit, even if we send the princess and money to beg them, it will not have any real effect."
The Liao royal tent was still stationed on the western plain of the Black Mountain. Many horses were grazing, but they were not fat. Only in autumn would the grass seeds grow fat. The spring thunder rumbled in the depths of the mountains, and the whole land was shrouded in a lingering haze. However, the most unhappy person in the royal tent camp should be Xiao Siwen.
He had said to his confidant Xiao Abudi not long ago: The ewe is eating grass desperately, shaking the bulging goat milk under her belly, showing her owner her value.
The most shameless thing in the power field is to act in a flattering manner in front of former subordinates.
Thinking back to the time when Youzhou fell, Xiao Siwen never felt it was his responsibility. There was no hope of reinforcements from the Liao court, and who could defend an isolated city under the siege of hundreds of thousands of troops? Xiao Siwen fought back and put the blame on the Liao emperor, Yelu Jing. Yelu Xizhen and others respected, admired and were humble to him.
Now, Xiao Siwen has fallen to the point where he has to devise ways to please Yelu Xizhen. Xiao Siwen has been feeling ashamed and unwilling, but more helpless.
The situation of peace talks with the State of Xu could not be changed, and Xiao Siwen gradually lost power. He often woke up from dreams, and could not remember what nightmares he had, but at that time he would think of the many people he had offended and disliked over the years, too many to count.
Xiao Siwen climbed up from the bed again, and when he calmed down a little, he walked to a bronze mirror he had brought with him, looked at his face, and tilted his head to look at his profile. He stretched his neck, looked in the mirror, and put on a calm and upright posture. He felt that his facial features were straight and his appearance was very good. He gradually found confidence.
Life has its ups and downs, but Xiao Siwen believes that he can get through this difficult time and continue to be a Khitan nobleman with a steady demeanor, loyalty to the country and noble status.
Xiao Siwen gently smoothed his hair with his hand, picked up his hat and put it on, then turned and walked out of the tent.
He rode into the royal tent unimpeded. Many Liao ministers had already arrived, and the Great Khan Yelu Xian also sat on his tiger-skin chair. Xiao Siwen stepped forward and bowed with his hand on his chest, then found his seat in the front.
The people around were talking about it. The King of Yishi, who was standing next to him, said to Xiao Siwen: The secret envoy of the royal tent has returned, and he said that the conditions for the peace talks of the Emperor of Xu State are, first, the place for the peace talks must be within the territory of Xu State, and second, the Liao Dynasty should send a person of status as an envoy, and appoint the Northern Court Privy Envoy or the King of the Northern Court.
Xiao Siwen was shocked after hearing this and asked in a deep voice: When did you get the news
The King of Room B said: Just now.
Xiao Siwen's eyebrows almost knitted together. Who would be willing to go to the enemy's territory to negotiate peace when they were alone and weak? Yelu Xizhen was now the most powerful person in the Liao Dynasty. He would definitely not want to go. Then only Xiao Siwen would go.
Xiao Siwen's heart suddenly fell into an icy valley again, and he hurriedly asked the King of Room B: What else did the secret envoy say? He hoped to get as much information as possible so that he could think of a solution.
King Yishi said: After the Xu army occupied Jinzhou, they immediately sent cavalry to Liaoyang to harass and spy on military intelligence. They were not very interested in peace talks, and the secret envoy did not meet the important figures of the Xu State until two days later.
Xiao Siwen immediately shouted: Great Khan, the people of Xu are not sincere about peace talks. How can we negotiate peace under such circumstances
Yelu Xizhen said calmly: It's not that Xu State doesn't want a truce. What benefits can the southerners get from continuing the war? However, Xu State should form an alliance with Goryeo to attack Liao together. If it wants to make peace with Liao, things will be complicated. What Xu people want is that Liao cavalry stop harassing the border in the future, and they don't trust Liao very much. Even so, looking at the current situation, there is still a great chance of peace talks.
Xiao Siwen immediately asked: If we agree to Xu's conditions, who will go to negotiate peace
Yelu Xizhen stared at Xiao Siwen with an expression that said nothing.
Xiao Siwen almost cried: Emperor Xu hated me to the core. If I delivered myself to him, would I be able to come back alive
Yelu Xizhen advised kindly: This peace negotiation is not a trivial matter, and everyone in the world knows it. If Guo the blacksmith takes this opportunity to take revenge, wouldn't it be petty and lose the trust of the world? Lord Xiao doesn't need to worry too much, and there is no need to worry about his life.