In the winter of the 14th year of Tianbao, Yan Gaoqing, the prefect of Changshan, took advantage of the emptiness behind Anlu Mountain and raised troops to defeat the royal family. He killed Anlu Mountain general Li Qincuo and captured Gaomiao for thousands of years. He also used the name of Li Guangbi, a veteran general of Shuofang Army, to
Attacking Raoyang, they came down in one fell swoop. In an instant, the situation in Hebei changed again. Seventeen of the twenty-three counties responded to Yan Gaoqing, and only six of them were attached to Anlu Mountain.
An Lushan was personally leading the main force to fight fiercely with Feng Changqing on the Mianchi front line. Within half a month, he successively broke through the opponent's four lines of defense hastily arranged. Seeing that he was about to win, he suddenly heard that his home base had been raided, and he was shocked. He had to.
He returned to Luoyang overnight, and at the same time assigned half of his elite troops to his right-hand men, Shi Siming and Cai Xide, who would lead the return army to put down the rebellion.
As soon as the rebels retreated, the pressure on the Gyeonggi region suddenly weakened. In Chang'an City, gods from all walks of life began to compete with each other again. As for how long Yan Gaoqing can hold off the rebels? Should the court urge him immediately?
Hedong and Shuofang quickly dispatched troops to provide support to various parts of Hebei, but no one had time to pay attention.
Shi Siming was a descendant of a fallen Turkic nobleman, whose original name was Ashina Gigan. He once worked with An Lushan to capture generals under Zhang Shougui, the military governor of Fanyang. Due to his outstanding military exploits, he was promoted from captain and captain to partial general, general and deputy general.
Jiedu's reputation for being good at fighting spread from Hebei to Chang'an. Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty personally received him and gave him his surname of Shi. He was changed to Siming.
Such a veteran, who has been on the battlefield for half his life, naturally knows the importance of military speed. After receiving the military order from An Lushan, he immediately ordered his soldiers to abandon their baggage, one man and two horses, and return to Hebei under the stars and night. All parts of Hebei had just surrendered to the imperial court.
, the military and government affairs had not had time to straighten out, how could they be worthy of Shi Siming's tiger and wolf division. In the blink of an eye, all the counties fell one after another, leaving only Yan Gaoqing, Yan Jiming and his son leading a lone army in Changshan County
Struggling to support.
The Tang Dynasty force closest to Changshan was under the command of Wang Chengye, the governor of Taiyuan. A few days ago, he had received a handwritten letter asking for help from his eldest son Yan Quanming sent by Yan Gaoqing. However, after thinking about it again and again, Wang Chengye thought that
Yan Gaoqing could not be solely responsible for regaining Hebei, so he actually put Yan Quanming under house arrest, and then sent envoys to take the prisoners brought by Yan Quanming to Chang'an to report the victory to the court. After some operations, the court conferred the title of General Wang Chengye Yulin on the pillar.
In the country, all the civil and military officials under his command were given one to several levels of official promotion. However, Yan Gaoqing was only given the title of Weiweiqing, and no reinforcements were sent.
Sitting in a lonely city, seeing the number of brothers around him decreasing one by one, Yan Gaoqing, the governor of Changshan, knew that he could not hold on until Master Wang came to help. He turned his head and looked at his son, who was stained purple-black with blood like himself.
, a smile slowly appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Yan Jiming, the second son of the Yan family, also turned his head and looked at his father. He grinned, showing his smooth teeth. "It's so fun, I killed so much today. I have never been so happy since I was a child. Grandpa,
If you are tired, go down and rest for a while. I will be on duty tonight. I promise not to let a rebel attack the city before sunrise tomorrow!"
This kind of flamboyant smile and flamboyant words are definitely not in line with the Yan family's family motto. In the past, the old prefect would definitely have a straight face and scolded him loudly. But today, he felt that his son's smile was particularly bright, and he nodded.
, responded with a smile: "I'm not tired. Do you think I am really old? Compared with the Han general Huang Zhonglai back then, I am still in the prime of life!"
"Of course, you are a year younger than Huang Hansheng!" Yan Jiming immediately took over the conversation and joked with a smile, "But no matter how strong you are, you can't compare with your own son. Besides, the Yan family's family training does not
I told you to let your father keep vigil for his son! Hurry up and have a drink. Don’t worry, I will definitely keep Shi Siming’s head for you!”
"You stinky boy! How dare you teach me a lesson!" Yan Gaoqing raised his palm, ready to hit him. After taking a few steps, he opened his arms and took his son under his arm, "It's hard for you!! My father, I'm sorry.
Back then, I really should have..."
"This life is worth living!" Yan Jiming knew what his father was thinking. He smiled and gently broke away. "Brothers are watching. I am no longer a child!"
"They are watching, can't I hug my son?" Yan Gaoqing pretended to be angry, but finally retracted his arm, not daring to let his brothers see the regret in his heart.
They have been trapped for nearly a month, and reinforcements would have arrived long ago. So far, the Tang Dynasty flag has not been seen outside the city, which shows that the imperial court has completely forgotten Hebei. If I had known this, why would I have to guard this abandoned land?
Before An Lushan could react, he led his brothers to flee from Jingxingguan to Hedong. At least, that way, too many innocent people would not be involved in the war. At least, there were more than thirty members of the Yan family.
You won’t be trapped in this lonely city at your feet at the same time!
I am already sixty-five years old this year, and it is not a pity to die for the country. But Ji Ming is only in his early twenties, and there is still a lot of time to enjoy life, and there are still many worthwhile things that have not been done. If he is really unlucky to be with him
At the same time, he died for his country, so how could he have the dignity to see his deceased mother?
"Grandpa, I'm really not a child anymore!" Seeing the clear sadness in his father's eyes, Yan Jiming urged in a low voice again. "You go down and have a drink of wine to warm yourself up. Don't worry. I'm here to support you.
Nothing can be done. Wan De, help the master down to the city!"
"Come on!" Yan Jiming's friend, the former Changshan County police officer and now the army general Zhai Wande agreed, stepped forward and supported Yan Gaoqing's arm, "Sir, don't worry. Ji Ming always does things safely!"
"My lord, please go down and rest for a while, we are waiting here to keep an eye on you!" The other generals couldn't bear to see Yan Gaoqing dragging his old body and continuing to fight for his life at the top of the city, so they gathered around and whispered advice.
"Sir, you must not fall down from exhaustion. If you fall down, the backbone of our brothers will be gone!"
"Yes, for the sake of the overall situation, you should go down and rest!"
"It's not that I'm not worried, I..." Yan Gaoqing instinctively wanted to refuse, but couldn't bear to let down the good intentions of his general and son. He paused and hesitated to change his words, "Then be careful, I've eaten.
, I will go to the city to replace you!"
"Father, you might as well rest for a while. Thieves usually don't attack the city at night anyway!" Yan Jiming stepped forward to straighten his father's wind-blown temples, and warned him with a smile.
"You kid, you are getting bolder and bolder!" Yan Gaoqing smiled, and a warmth surged in her heart. Watching his back staggering away, Yan Jiming adjusted his armor and whispered to an old man beside him.
: "Feng Canjun, please tell me the truth. How many days will the grain, grass and equipment in the warehouse be enough?"
"Young General...?" Feng Qian, who joined the army, looked around hesitantly, and then said in a very low voice: "There is enough food and grass to last until at least the end of spring, but the arrows can be used until noon tomorrow at most.
General Zhao has led his men to work overnight, but the iron materials, wood, glue paint, feathers, etc. may not be available at the moment..."
"Okay, I understand!" Yan Jiming waved his hand and interrupted the other party. The situation was almost as he expected, otherwise his father wouldn't be frowning all day long, "According to your observation, is the enemy's baggage?
Stored in the big camp in the northwest corner?"
"This..." Feng Qian, who was known for his loyalty, hesitated again, not knowing whether he should answer Yan Jiming's question.
Yan Jiming smiled again, his blood-stained face full of the sincerity unique to young people, "Uncle Feng, you always know why I asked this! Don't waste time, father will notice it soon!"
"Prefect? He won't agree, prefect!" Feng Qian was so distracted by the sunshine on the young man's face that he lowered his head and refused to look him in the eyes.
"Uncle Feng, listen to me. You only have one chance. If you don't seize it, all the men, women, and children in the city will not be able to escape the slaughter of the rebels. Father, he doesn't dare to take risks, but I can't watch him destroy his reputation!"
"You, your grandfather will not destroy his reputation. I know him!" Feng Qian, an old soldier who has followed Yan Gaoqing for many years, stomped his feet and argued in a deep voice. "I can help you, but you must promise me something.
thing."
"Uncle Feng, just say it!" Yan Jiming had to make arrangements before his father came back, so he agreed without hesitation.
"Take me with you!" What rang in my ears was the decisive voice of Feng Qian, an old soldier in the army.
"Uncle Feng!" Yan Jiming was startled and shook his head repeatedly. The only way to turn the tide of the war is to take the risk of destroying the rebels' baggage. But this task is definitely a narrow escape. He is young and strong, and he is not sure of escaping unscathed.
, not to mention Feng Qian, an old soldier who is already fifty years old!
"I won't hold you back!" Feng Qian, an old soldier who joined the army, suddenly became stubborn, his gray beard trembling up and down. "I have been on the battlefield, and I know how to fight better than you guys. When you charge, I can help you.
Open the way. When you retreat, I can also block the knife for you! If you don't take me with you, the young general will never ask for the exact answer from me."
"Uncle Feng!" Yan Jiming had no choice but to nod solemnly. After receiving his assurance, Feng Qian, an old soldier in the army, pointed to a corner of the enemy's camp in the northwest of the city and whispered: "Shi Siming is a Turk. Their habits are in the northwest.
It has always been a place for worshiping gods and storing grain and grass. According to my observation these days, whenever the rebels prepare to attack the city, there are always dozens of carriages driving out from the large camp in the northwest corner."
"Burn it! Major General, I am willing to go with you!"
"Major General, you can go at the end. You can supervise the battle at the top of the city!" Jia Shen, the former magistrate of Zhending County, and Cui Anshi, the lieutenant of Gaocheng County, overheard the conversation between Feng Qian and Yan Jiming and stepped forward one after another to ask for help.
None of them were military commanders, and before starting the army, they had never even touched a sword. But at this moment, they all had no hesitation. Yan Jiming glanced at the faces of the two elders, smiled and shook his head gently, "Uncle Feng and I
Just go. Father, you can’t live without a few capable helpers..."
"Let Mr. Jia and Mr. Cui stay, and I will go with you!" Another loud voice came from the road, interrupting Yan Jiming's refusal.
Everyone turned to look back and saw Zhai Wande's unique beard. Immediately, accusations were overwhelming, "Old Zhai, didn't I tell you to send the prefect to rest? Why did you come back?!" "Old Zhai, what are you doing?
It's so uneasy!" "Old Zhai..."
"Lao Zhai, when have I ever let everyone down?" Zhai Wande curled his lips and shook his head, "I couldn't bear to see the Lord overworked, so I followed the Major General's instructions and added a little more to the water he drank.
A little bit of sweat medicine. After he fell asleep on the horse, he asked a few brothers to carry him to the government office to rest. After this sleep, it is estimated that it is impossible for you to wake up before dawn!"
"Ah, how dare you..."
"How dare you, Lao Zhai, drug the prefect!"
Hearing this, everyone was surprised and happy. What was surprising was that Zhai Wande and Yan Jiming had already prepared. What was happy was that now everyone had enough time to fight over who would "make contributions" and who would stay as a guardian.
The family defends the country.
"Ahem!" Yan Jiming cleared his throat and interrupted everyone's conversation for the second time: "Don't argue. Masters, listen to me. We have hindered An Lushan this time, and he must be very embarrassed.
Ruthless. Reinforcements are far away at the moment. If Changshan is not protected, I am afraid that the people in the city will have to die for us. Yan is not willing to let innocent people bleed, and he is not willing to let his father's reputation be stained by the massacre. So, today,
In the evening, we prepared to divide our troops into two groups. One group followed Yan to burn the rebels' baggage, and the other group went to organize the people first. When they heard the chaos outside the city, they immediately led the people to escape from the east gate. As long as they stayed away from Changshan territory, Shi Siming must have done it.
I’m not interested in pursuing it either. I don’t have much time, so please don’t…”
"We will obey the arrangements of the Major General!" After hearing Yan Jiming's orderly arrangements, everyone bowed their hands in awe.
"Feng Shenjun, listen to the order!" Yan Jiming grabbed a command arrow left by his father and began to dispatch troops. The generals stepped forward to receive the order in turn, and then went down separately to prepare. After everything was arranged, Yan Jiming will install the command arrow.
The box was handed over to his father’s old subordinate Yuan Luqian, “Uncle Yuan, I’ll leave it to you tonight!”
"Don't worry, Major General. As long as Yuan is still breathing, he will not let the traitors set foot on the city!" Yuan Luqian, who was injured in the thigh by a crossbow arrow and could only sit on a bench to direct the defense of the city, owed his body and promised loudly.
.
"Then I'm going!" Yan Jiming nodded with a smile, as if he was about to go out for a feast.
Not daring to watch the young man's back fade away, Yuan Luqian covered his face with his sleeves and responded in a low voice. "Goodbye, Major General. Yuan is waiting for news of your triumphant return at the top of the city."
"Tell Father, I have always been proud of him!" After walking far away, Yan Jiming suddenly turned around and added with a smile.
Tears suddenly flowed down Yuan Luqian's face.
The cold wind howled, making the flags on the top of the city rattle.
Note 1: The deeds of Yan Gaoqing and his son are found in "Zi Zhi Tong Jian". In Wen Tianxiang's Zhengqi Song, "It is Zhang Sui Yang's teeth, and it is Yan Changshan's tongue." It is Yan Gaoqing.
