The place where Xiao Siwen and his party stayed was called Jieqiaoyi. It was one of the three major stations at the junction of Yanshan and Hebei Provinces. Before the Northern Expedition to recover Yanyun, it was a bridgehead built by the imperial court in Hebei. Yanshan was restored
Later, its military role was greatly reduced, but it also became an important transportation route between the north and the south, and the government specially set up a post here.
The name comes from the Battle of the Border Bridge between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan during the Three Kingdoms period. Although the rumors are doubtful, it is said that the battlefield is nearby, and not far away is the more lively Linhe Ferry.
During the Kaibao Northern Expedition, Jieqiao Post was also an important military station for the imperial court to transport military supplies on land. After the war ended and the country became more stable, the post quickly returned to prosperity, and relying on the convenience of north-south transportation, its scenery was even better than before.
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Most of the post stations that are densely distributed in the Han Dynasty have one characteristic, that is, they are integrated as a post and town. They are not just for post transmission. Most of them are post towns with dense population and prosperous economy. The more convenient transportation is, the more prosperous it is.
Stations such as Chenqiao, Xiangfu, Yongan, and Yanxi in the two capitals are even more famous in the world. Jieqiao is certainly not that famous, but at least it is prosperous on the banks of the Juma River and at the intersection of Yan and Hebei.
It is visible to the naked eye. From day to night, there is a constant flow of business travelers, carriages and horses, and goods. The prosperity of the Han people is also reflected in these noises.
Those who came to meet Xiao Siwen and his party were the official cavalry of Hebei Dusi, and the leader was a battalion general. Xiao Siwen seemed to have a clear understanding of the difficulty of imps. At Jieqiao Post, Xiao Siwen even specially entertained the escorts who came.
The officers rested late at night.
Although the night is deep, the noise in the inn seems to never end. Whether it is in the hall or in the room, there are always bursts of conversation, and wine is the most entertaining.
Xiao Siwen stood in front of the window, silently observing the scene in the post through the gap. There was a deep look on his old face, his eyebrows were tightly knitted, and his expression looked a little solemn.
After staring at it for a long time, he turned around and sat down, took out a piece of parchment from his arms, spread it out, and silently stared at the pictures and words on it by the light of the candle.
"Bang, bang," two knocks on the door rang. Xiao Siwen was startled. He immediately covered the parchment, raised his eyes and said in a deep voice: "Who?"
"Daddy, it's me!" A crisp voice sounded.
Hearing this, the guard on Xiao Siwen's face relaxed, he breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Come in!"
The door slowly opened, and a young girl stepped in, not forgetting to turn around and close the door. The girl's appearance was naturally beautiful, and she may not be considered stunningly beautiful, but she was a true beauty.
Especially, those eyes are so expressive and moving.
This girl is naturally Xiao Siwen's youngest daughter, Xiao Chuo, Xiao Yanyan. At this time, Xiao Yanyan was just a young girl. She was very different from the famous Empress Dowager Xiao in history, but she still had that heroic spirit lingering around her.
, but it is spontaneous and eye-catching.
Wearing a beaded headdress and a green skirt, she looked like a lady of the Han nationality. Seeing his beloved daughter, Xiao Siwen had a very kind expression and a gentle smile, and said: "Yanyan! Sit down! You are dressed very well.
If you were a Han Chinese, you would not think that you are a member of my Khitan tribe!"
Hearing this, Xiao Chuo raised his red lips slightly and said softly: "It's better that dad raised me well!"
Xiao Siwen sighed and said: "With the beauty of Yanyan, you have a promising future. Your Majesty originally intended to accept you as your queen, and I was happy to do so. It's a pity that things didn't go as planned, and the Han and Liao soldiers suddenly rose up.
Not yet. It’s even more of a pity that your two sisters didn’t choose a good match for them...but it’s not necessarily a bad thing!”
Listening to Xiao Siwen talk about this, Xiao Chuo's face was calm, as if he was not talking about his marriage. He looked at his father, his voice was as calm as ever, and said: "Dad worked hard, Yanyan understands, if you miss it, you miss it. It's a blessing in disguise.
How could I know that it is not a blessing? Considering the current situation in Daliao, it may not be a blessing for me to marry into the palace!"
Hearing what Xiao Chuo said, Xiao Siwen's eyes brightened slightly. He looked at his daughter who behaved calmly and asked, "Why did Yan Yan say this?"
Xiao Chuo: "Even if you are accepted as a queen, I'm afraid it won't be long before the country is subjugated!"
Xiao Siwen was slightly refreshed. Looking at Xiao Chuo who spoke these words calmly, he exclaimed: "I have always known that Yan Yan has seen extraordinary women. Now it seems that she is far better than most men in the world. What a pity, what a pity!"
I don't know what Xiao Siwen was feeling sorry for. After a few sighs, his eyes fell on Xiao Chuo's beautiful face again and asked: "Yanyan came to see me, what's the matter?"
Xiao Chuo's expression also softened a little, and he said: "Dad came all the way south, with a frown on his face and worries in his heart. Yan Yan wanted to see if there was a place where he could share his worries."
After hearing the question, the father and daughter looked at each other for a while, and Xiao Siwen took the initiative to speak: "With Yanyan's intelligence, you must have noticed that my trip is strange!"
Xiao Chuo nodded and said, "Dad, coming here is more like fleeing than on a mission!"
"No one else in the family noticed it, but I know it can't be hidden from your eyes!" Xiao Siwen said after hearing what he said.
After getting the affirmative answer, Xiao Chuo was silent for a while, then looked at Xiao Siwen steadily and said softly: "Dad, have you decided to leave Daliao and join the Han Dynasty?"
The information revealed in this light sentence might have shocked others. But Xiao Siwen was very calm. Facing Xiao Chuo's question, he said bitterly: "If I didn't have no choice, how could I make this decision and abandon my motherland?
Abandon the clan!"
"You have also seen that in the past six months or so, I have fallen out of favor in front of His Majesty and lost all power in my hands!" Xiao Siwen said with a bitter smile: "It is human nature to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune. I know that when I abandoned Tongzhou and returned to Beijing alone,
It was an ugly thing, but I did my best to defend Shangjing.
Your Majesty is young after all. The country was severely damaged by the Han Dynasty, and he even fled Shanyang in defeat. He had been blinded by failure and shame, and he trusted Han Derang and others. There was no place for me to go to the court in Beijing. What's even more abominable, that Xiao
Ta Lin actually went to court and filed a lawsuit against me. If he continues to stay in Shangjing, his life will be at risk!"
Listening to Xiao Siwen's words that sounded like complaints and explanations, Xiao Chuo's expression showed no emotion, but he thought about it seriously and then said: "Da Liao is now in a state of turmoil and turmoil. My father fled south with his family at this time and went to Da Liao.
The old enemy of Liao, this move will probably bring more serious infamy in the future than what happened in Tongzhou!"
Hearing this, Xiao Siwen's old face turned red, but facing Xiao Chuo's crystal eyes, he suppressed his embarrassment and replied: "Da Liao is now like a ship that is about to sink. There is no way out. As a person on the ship, take refuge
Survival is also instinct."
Xiao Chuo nodded, and finally said with emotion: "However, what dad did was still too risky! If Yanyan had been informed earlier about this trip south, there might have been a more comprehensive solution!"
Xiao Siwen nodded and responded: "I feel scared when I think about it these days. Fortunately, now that we have entered Han territory, we are safe!"
"Dad, do you think the Emperor of Han will accept us?"
"Inevitable!" Xiao Siwen gave an extremely positive answer to this: "In the past six months or so, the tribes who went south to seek refuge with the Han did not know who they were. Among the Mobei tribes who were causing trouble, none of them had the shadow of the Han behind them.
Including us Khitan people, there are many people who have defected, but so far, there is no important minister or nobleman. I, Xiao Siwen, am not afraid of infamy and am willing to be the first one. With the wisdom of the Han Dynasty monarchs, I will not turn them away!"
As he spoke, Xiao Siwen pointed to the parchment on the table and said, "This is my gift to the Emperor of the Han Dynasty!"
Xiao Chuo did not ask about the details of the gift, but said leisurely: "Right now, I'm afraid that Shangjing has discovered dad's intention, and even the emperor and ministers of the Han Dynasty will also notice it!"
"I have nothing to hide!" Having come to this point, Xiao Siwen became more and more calm. He pondered for a while and said: "However, since I am responsible for negotiating peace, regardless of success or failure, I will do it.