Waking up from a rare slumber, suddenly, it was like a distant dream.
In the early morning of April 23, when Zhou Pei got up, the sky was gradually getting brighter. On the morning of early summer, free from the dull dampness in spring, there is a light wind in the yard, and the space between heaven and earth is as clean as a wash, just like Jiangning in childhood.
She sat for a while under the pavilion in the middle of the empty courtyard. There were thriving flowers and vines beside her. When the sky was getting brighter, the courtyard seemed to be sinking into a quiet gray. There were guards stationed in the distance, but none of them spoke. Zhou Pei shook hands, but at this time, he could feel his frailty.
As a mere mortal, I set foot in this complex big world, promote many things, clarify thousands of relationships, sometimes decide life and death with one word, and sometimes can't sleep peacefully for several days. After a long time, you will feel that you are no longer yourself, as if covered with a huge body. But of course these are all illusions.
This year, she was thirty years old. In the eyes of the world, she was just a withdrawn and vicious old woman who had put her husband under house arrest and gained power. Most of the officials were trembling when they came over. Compared to when they faced Jun Wu, they were actually more afraid. The reason was very simple. Jun Wu was the prince, and even if he was too tough, he would have to take over the country in the future. able to communicate.
She was different. She stood behind Jun Wu, supporting her younger brother as a woman, with no one to accompany her, and her husband was under house arrest. Even though she spoke softly on the surface, she turned her face away but the outside world, who could do anything, mostly conjectured her like this.
In fact, how can you think about it
She thought of Zhou Xuan and Kang Xian who had already died.
When she was scheduled to take over the property of the Chengguo Princess Mansion, she was only a teenage girl, and as she got married, the burden was placed on her shoulders. I didn't notice it at first, but when I reacted, I was pushed away by things, the teacher also rebelled, the country was destroyed, and there were countless things every day. did not do so.
When he stood up again, the 30-year-old situation was overwhelmed in front of him, her husband became an unforgivable villain, and the marriage was over. The happy life defined by the worldly people is too far away from her to be seen.
When she settled down and thought about it, Zhou Xuan and Kang Xian's departure seemed to be imminent. Life passes by in an imperceptible moment.
She picked up the tree branches by the gazebo and held it in her hand like a sword. After she came back from Bianliang more than ten years ago, Zhou Xuan once taught her sword dance. Grandma Huang had a gentle temperament in front of her family, but she held the huge power and property of the Chengguo Princess Mansion, and also had its majesty and killing side. At the beginning of government affairs, the old man taught her to dance the sword in private.
"The sword has two edges, one end hurts people, the other end hurts oneself, and most things in the world are like this... The interesting thing about the sword and everything in the world lies in the balance between the wound and the injury..."
Zhou Pei's athletic ability is not strong, and he has never learned about Zhou Xuan's majestic sword dance, but he quickly understands the principles taught in the sword dance. It's a matter of measure before the injury is hurt, but it is a decision to hurt others. Understand the truth, she has never touched the sword since then, but when she thinks of it at this time, she can't help but feel sad.
Recalling the original picture, she stood up with the wooden stick, and slowly stepped forward to stab the wooden stick out. Following the old man who died eight years ago, he moved his sword's edge and moved his pace in the morning wind... , hurting others and hurting herself, the girl from more than ten years ago finally couldn't keep up, so she was replaced by the eldest princess today.
Cheng Zhouhai came in from the outside, and then took two steps back silently at the courtyard gate. Zhou Pei danced a few swords and stopped to look at the courtyard gate. Cheng Zhouhai came over: "Your Highness is very interested."
"It's so early, sir."
"Waiting for the news, I didn't go back last night." Cheng Zhouhai smiled, "His Royal Highness is in good spirits."
Zhou Pei put the branch aside: "I don't know why, I suddenly slept well last night, and only had a dream when it was dawn. I forgot what I dreamed about."
After Kang Xian and Zhou Xuan passed away, Zhou Pei relied on Cheng Zhouhai the most. They were both teachers and friends, and they were familiar with each other's situation. Since the pressure around him is increasing, Zhou Pei often suffers from insomnia and sleeplessness. Many medical officials have seen it, but it is of little use. When the Jurchen called, Zhou Pei was worried, and staying up late was more of a routine. She is less than thirty years old, and on the surface she can hold on, but the people around her are often anxious about it. At this time, when Zhou Pei slept soundly, Cheng Zhouhai was stunned.
"His Royal Highness is calm and calm, and there is an air of thanks." He cupped his hands flatteringly, and then said, "...Maybe it's a good sign."
He said earlier that he was "waiting for news." In fact, many people in Lin'an City have been waiting for news these past few days. On April 18th, the Xiyin army, which originally aimed at Changzhou, turned and attacked Zhenjiang at high speed. True and false.
At this time, Jiangnan, Jiangning in the west, and Zhenjiang in the east were the two fulcrums that blocked the Yangtze River. As long as these two fulcrums still existed, they would be able to hold back Zongfu's army and make it impossible for him to go south.
Today, the Jiangning side has become the core war zone, and Zhenjiang is under the command of Junwu, who is responsible for the army led by Xiyin and Yinshuke. For several months, the two sides have been fighting for their lives and refused to give in to each other. Junwu hopes to defeat Xiyin as soon as possible. It even dragged Xi Yin down with a sea of tactics.
As for the Xiyin side, there are two directions in terms of the big strategy: first, ignore the training of logistical supply, keep going south along the prosperous area of Taihu Lake area, attack the city and conquer the land, and feed the people, in the middle, from Zhenjiang to Lin'an The distance of four hundred miles is full of wealthy cities, and Lin'an city is full of people's hearts. The situation is complicated. As long as Xi Yin can kill the most elite troops of the Jurchen over four hundred miles, arrive at Lin'an City, and then cooperate with the Wushu army. The power of the Wu Dynasty, the hearts of the Wu Dynasty, may collapse at any time.
Second, cooperate with Zongfu to destroy the Yangtze River defense line, which naturally also includes the option of attacking Zhenjiang. Even from February to April, Xiyin's troops took such a posture several times, saying that they wanted to attack Zhenjiang City and kill Zhou Junwu, which made the army of the Wu Dynasty very nervous. chose to give up again.
But war is like this, intrigues you to come and go, and every time it may become true. On April 18, Xi Yin turned to Zhenjiang again. In the meantime, the military of the Wu Dynasty had to face several possibilities. If they immediately gathered the front and concentrated on defending Zhenjiang, Xi Yin and others might also go directly south to capture Changzhou. And if Xi Yin really chose to attack Zhenjiang by force, then the message in the middle would be really intriguing and terrifying.
Facing Xi Yin's turn, the direction of Zhenjiang is already ready, and Lin'an is also waiting for the arrival of new news. Perhaps at some point in the future, Xi Yin will move to attack Changzhou, Danyang, or distract everyone for the Jiangning war. news.
This news was running on the road to the south, and soon after, the entire city of Lin'an was disturbed.
****************
In Zhenjiang, the soldiers rushed to the city wall in groups, the morning wind chilled, and the banners and flags hunted. On the field outside the city wall, the bodies of countless people lay down in the potholes after the explosion. The Jurchen army drove away the captured Han prisoners. On the night of their arrival, they used the most efficient way to finish the mines outside Zhenjiang City.
One by one the trebuchets were being erected. Since Ning Yi's rebellion, the assembly line, standardized production, split assembly and other technologies that he has promoted have, in some directions, even mastered by the Jurchen side.
Hot air balloons are rising in the morning breeze, and on the city wall of Zhenjiang, one by one hot air balloons are also rising, and soldiers with strong crossbows enter the frame of the hot air balloon.
Jun Wu was meticulously eating breakfast in the tent, accompanied by Shen Ruxin, the fourth lady of the Prince's Mansion.
Shen Ruxin was originally from Zhenjiang. Before the war with Jurchen last year, her younger brother Shen Ruhua was imprisoned and beheaded. Shen Ruxin vomited blood and fell ill in Jiangning, but she finally survived. At the beginning of this year, Jiangning was in an emergency. Jun Wu moved his wife, concubines and children to a safe place, but Shen Ruxin was the only one who brought her to Zhenjiang.
At the beginning, when the mountains and seas were searched, Jun Wu fled everywhere, and the two sides came together because of mutual dependence. Now it is similar to the situation of mutual dependence.
During the breakfast, a soldier came in to report the completion of the defense switch of each department. Jun Wu nodded, indicating that he understood. Soon after he finished eating, Shen Ruxin came over to tidy up his clothes, and the couple went out together. The sky is cloudy, drifting across the big city by the Yangtze River.
The preparations and mobilization for the war had already been done yesterday, and a strange atmosphere was shrouded in the barracks. Xi Yin's attack on Zhenjiang was the craziest and most likely move in the entire battle. After eight years of operation, a 100,000-strong army guarded Zhenjiang, and they were not underdogs. When Jun Wu was determined to kill Xi Yin's troops, the opponent turned around and attacked Zhenjiang. Strategically, it was a desperate choice.
If Zhenjiang is defended, Xi Yin's troops may be surrounded by the Wu Dynasty troops coming from all around, Jun Wu will complete the goal of defeating Tu Shanwei, and the fourth southern expedition of the Jurchen will also be disintegrated.
But considering Xi Yin's operational research ability and prestigious reputation, he made such a choice, which probably means that there were some flaws in the game in the previous months, which had been caught by the other party.
"After defeating Yan Xiyin, I may exchange for peace in this world..." The night before, Jun Wu held his wife's hand and said, "But if you can't win, then it is very likely... you and I will die together. this."
In my heart, I'm really scared...
In the morning when the temperature and sunshine were both gentle, Jun Wu and his wife walked through the road between the barracks, and the soldiers would salute. He closed his eyes and fantasized about his opponents outside the city. The opponents were all over the world. They had been fighting in battle for decades. They killed them unyieldingly from the weakest hour. ... He fantasized about the spirit of the world. Now he is standing in front of such a person.
He also remembered his teacher in Jiangning, and the choices he made when he made a big event. In this world, people will encounter tigers... I lay out my life, and we are all the same... People from China, If you don't vote for a foreign country... don't even think about going back alive...
Lin Lin is still here, who Yun Han is dead... He joked with Wen Ren Buer, I really hope the teacher will give me this letter...
I lay out my life.
he thinks.
I'm not going back...
…
Outside the city of Zhenjiang, huge hot air balloons flew towards the city wall, and soon after, large sheets of leaflets were dropped. At the same time, a messenger with the mission of persuading surrender and declaring war went to the city gate of Zhenjiang.
At two o'clock, the messenger arrived at the Zhenjiang camp and advised Jun Wu and many generals in Zhenjiang to surrender: "...In the past few months, the messengers under Lord Gushen have successively planned and persuaded several generals among you to surrender. In Lin'an and throughout the Wu Dynasty, we have also instigated the support of many officials and famous people. Lord Gushen will take Zhenjiang as quickly as possible, and Zhenjiang must not be defended. In order to explain the situation to you and avoid unnecessary The casualties, Lord Gushen ordered me to bring a list and evidence of some of the officials who expressed their opinions. In addition, I also ordered me to make it clear to you that as soon as this war begins, no matter the victory or defeat, those who will participate in the war in our Jin Kingdom in the future will all be bound by it. The one who killed! The nine clans will not be forgiven..."
While the messenger was speaking, he presented the list and evidence of Dadi's "gold consigners" to Jun Wu. There are already generals in the camp who want to come and kill this messed-up messenger. Jun Wu looked at the stack of things on the table, waved someone to come in, twisted the messenger's tongue, and then threw the things into the brazier.
"This is a replica of Ning Yi's plan to exterminate Liangshan. Picking up people's wisdom, Gushen is nothing more than that... I wanted to save your life, but after this plan, you understand that you can't go back alive."
The messenger with his mouth full of blood laughed hideously on the ground...
At noon, the head of the messenger was hung on the city gate, and Wanyan Xiyin was outside the city, watching all this with a blank expression.
On the afternoon of April 22, the Battle of Zhenjiang began.
*****************
The carriage passed through the streets of the city and headed for the palace. Qin Hui was sitting in the carriage, holding the message in his hand, trembling slightly, his mind was highly concentrated, and all kinds of things were circling in his mind. After the master called him several times, he realized that he was already there.
Crossing the long road between the palaces, Qin Hui saw Zhou Yong in the living room on the side of the imperial study. The emperor was wearing a large robe, his hair was messy, and his belt was not fastened. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a few Zhang Zhi looked haggard and lost his soul. It took a long time after Qin Hui came in and asked An to salute before Zhou Yong came back to his senses.
"Xiao, do you know the news?" Zhou Yong stared.
"... Go back to Your Majesty, I understand."
"Xi Yin rushed to Zhenjiang, Xi Yin attacked Zhenjiang... Why did Xi Yin attack Zhenjiang... Everyone said that Zhenjiang is a dead place, so why attack Zhenjiang." Zhou Yong waved the paper on his hand, "Qin Qing, come here Say, you say..."
"Chen, I'm not sure..." Qin Hui hesitated for a moment, then knelt down, "I'm guilty..."
Zhou Yong was stunned there, and then waved the paper in his hand: "What's your crime! Tell me! Why did Xi Yin attack Zhenjiang? They, they all said that Zhenjiang was a dead end! They said that if Xi Yin attacked Zhenjiang, he would be killed. Drag it there. Why did Xi Yin attack, Qin Qing, you mentioned it to me before, don't pretend to be stupid, you said... "
"Chen, I dare not speak falsely..."
Zhou Yong roared out: "You said"
"That may be..." Qin Hui knelt there and said with difficulty, "Xi Yin has a sure-fire plan..."
The room fell silent, and Zhou Yong was stunned for a long time: "I knew, I knew, they were going to attack... Those beasts, those traitors... They... The Wu Dynasty raised them for more than 200 years, they... They are going to sell me. My son is going to betray me... If I let me know who he is, I will punish his nine clans... Execute his ten clans, punish him... Execute his eleven clans..."
He murmured like this for a while, then turned to Qin Hui: "Qin Qing, what can I do? To save my son, what can I do? Around Zhenjiang, there are soldiers in Changzhou... How many people can be sent over to send sailors from Jiangning? No, those people... Believe it or not, Qin Qing, you have to help me, my son can't be in trouble... Get up for me!"
Qin Hui knelt there and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, the situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly, His Royal Highness is wise, and there will be countermeasures. Maybe the soldiers from Changzhou and Jiangning are already on the way, or maybe Xi Yin has a plan, but His Royal Highness sees through it. In that case, Zhenjiang is the place where Xi Yin lost. The two sides of us... are separated from each other, it is really... not suitable for me to interfere... "
"I know what those people are! I know the virtues of those people! I know!" Zhou Yong roared, "I know! Just how many people in this court are waiting to sell me! Look! Jingping's cowardly behavior! My son! Go ahead! They are still dragging their feet! And the black flag! I have already shown goodwill! What are their reactions! They know how to kill and kill! Disciple! Send troops, send troops! Just like Qin Qing, you said! The black flag is only for fame! Waiting to kill me, who can help Jun Wu?"
Zhou Yong was hysterical, roaring so much that the whole palace was shaking, and when he arrived, his face was full of spit, and his mouth was full of saliva. Qin Hui climbed up and bowed to the side. Zhou Yong walked in the hall with trembling arms, sometimes muttering to himself, and then whispering: "Qin Qing, you are right, there is always a way, there is always a way, Maybe you have seen through Xi Yin's strategy before, there is a way... It's useless to be anxious, it's useless to be anxious..."
He comforted himself for a long time, and was quiet for a long time. Qin Hui straightened his body: "As of now, we can only wait for the battle report from the front line."
His voice did not have the previous panic, and there was a faint sense of calmness in his voice. Zhou Yong nodded, and after a while, sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I want Jun Wu to be okay..." He looked at Qin Hui, "My son can't be okay, Jun Wu is a good prince, he must be a good emperor in the future, Qin Qing, he can't be okay... Those beasts..."
The sky light slanted in from the windows and the doorway, and the cool wind stroked the tulle in the hall, soaking the weak and powerless whispers of the emperor in the afternoon wind.
****************
Southwest, a corner of the Chengdu Plain, Niutou County, which is also called Lao Niutou by the outside world.
It is located at the junction of the area under the jurisdiction of the Huaxia Army and the area under the jurisdiction of the Wu Dynasty. The terrain is complex and the population is quite large. However, since last year, due to the active efforts of the veteran cadres and members of the Huaxia Army stationed here, this area has won the number of nearby Gecun County actively recognizes that the members of the Huaxia Army have helped many people nearby for free, donated medicine and medicine, and opened a private school to let the surrounding children go to school for free. This spring, the reclamation and planting of new land, and the enthusiasm of the people for the Huaxia Army. All of them have developed substantially. If they are later generations, they can be regarded as places like "Learning from Lei Feng's Advanced Counties".
Therefore, Ning Yi came to commend the advanced personnel stationed here. In the afternoon, Ning Yi gave a lecture to some young officers and cadres gathered in Niutou County.
"...Sometimes, some things are very interesting to say... Our biggest rivals today, the Jurchens, their rise is very fast. They were born in a generation that was born in distress. They are very receptive to the ability to learn from the outside world. I once I told you that when they attacked the Liao Kingdom, their siege skills were still very weak, and they quickly improved in the process of destroying the Liao Kingdom. Later, in the process of attacking the Wu Dynasty, they gathered a large number of craftsmen to continuously For improvement, the people of the Wu Dynasty are far behind..."
"… But at the same time, when the environment settles down, their second and third generations are decaying very fast. Everyone in the staff is joking. If we didn't have a few years of war in Xiao Canghe, we gave them to Jurchen. The high-level people should be vigilant, and the situation of the Jiangnan War may be very different now... The Jurchen stopped after conquering the Liao Kingdom and almost toppling the world. In the uprising of Fang La, there was no competition between the law and the equality, and the speed at which they stopped. It is much faster, just after Hangzhou has been conquered, the high-level people will start enjoying themselves…”
"... You don't have to laugh, our Huaxia Army is also facing this problem... In this process, what is the driving force that determines their progress? It is culture and spirit. The original Jurchen suffered a lot, and they have a sense of urgency. This kind of The sense of urgency runs through their whole spirit, their learning is very fast, but they stop when they are at peace, until our rise gives them a feeling of being uneasy, but if the world is at peace, they will be destined to go into a rapidly slipping curve…”
"... We must pay attention to this matter, and we will also slip into such a curve. The struggle in Xiaocanghe and the difficulties in the northwest have passed for several years. We have conquered the Chengdu Plain again, and the Wu Dynasty is in a mess... We even started blindly. optimism… "
He was talking in class, Juaner appeared outside the door, stood there and motioned to him, Ning Yi went out and saw the urgent message.
"... Xi Yin attacked Zhenjiang, the situation may be very complicated, the general staff sent a message, do you want to go back immediately... "
Ning Yi folded the message and looked at the small county town outside: "It's beyond the reach of the whip, what if we rush back... We have more important things here."
Juaner nodded and was about to leave when Ning Yi reached out and touched her arm: "Release the news, we will leave tomorrow morning."
"Yes."
…
More than 80 li away from Lao Niutou, Xigua led people and rode horses into Zhang Village.
Like a whirlwind, the horse team stopped in front of the courtyard where the family lived at this time. Watermelon got off the horse and Wenwen, who was playing in front of the courtyard, greeted her: "Aunt Gua, are you back?"
"Wenwen, Aunt Gua has something to do, I'll bring you something delicious next time..." Watermelon's words remained in the air, and the figure had already rushed to the yard more than ten feet away, and quickly rushed into the study, only Su Tan'er was among them Organize things: "Watermelon?"
"Where's Xiang Gong? Where did the others go?"
"He... went out for two days for that... advanced individual..."
"He went to the old bull's head?"
"Well." Su Tan'er nodded, her eyes became serious, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
"When did Xianggong go?"
"Noon the day before yesterday. Speaking of which, it should have arrived last night. The old cow is on the side. At this time, the people of the Wu Dynasty are going to start? There are troops there..."
"It's them..." Watermelon whispered, Su Tan'er was slightly taken aback: "What did you say?"
"I'm not sure either, I hope... I think too much." Watermelon's eyes were hesitant, and after a while, he suddenly disappeared from the room like the wind, "I'll rush over immediately... Don't worry."
…
Old bull's head.
After the lecture, descending from the hillside was a river that crossed the county seat. The sunset was about to set, and the sand was white. Ning Yi stood by the river and watched for a while.
After that, the visiting people came...