The night of early autumn is particularly cool. The moon is like a silver plate, hanging in the sky of Yuguan, shedding silver brilliance and infiltrating the silent wasteland outside the pass.
Above the city, Zhou Zhiyu looked at the night and said slowly: "Recently, the border has been in a state of emergency. The Khitan people have been attacking various passes along the border wall, and they even broke through Zhenyuan at one time. If it had been back then, how could such a thing have happened!
"Coming with Zhou Zhiyu to climb Guancheng to admire the moon were the governor Zhang Zaiji, Zuoyingjiadutou Li Chengzhong, and Sishi Cao Fengdao. After hearing this, the three of them sighed.
Everyone was silent, and suddenly heard Zhang Zaiji chant:
"Leaving Lulongsai in the east, I am so lonely that I feel lonely.
There are thousands of pavilions and fortresses lined up, and the Han soldiers are still preparing for the Hu.
The dust on the border rises into the northern sky, and the captives are riding due south.
Fighting is not a long-term strategy, and marriage is not a long-term plan.
But General Li Xi left the imperial capital on a regular basis.
The general army swept across the desert and captured Shanyu in one battle.
Always be grateful and willing to do the best you can.
I lean on my sword to speak to someone, but the Guanhe River is empty and gloomy."
Li Chengzhong didn't understand, but he knew that the governor was reciting poems. Zhang Zaiji's reciting poems was different from the recitations of later generations. There was a hint of Guanbai's ancient accent when reciting, which seemed to be singing but not singing, like chanting but not chanting.
The sound spread far and wide in the silent night, and was very charming. It made several people intoxicated. It was the first time for Li Chengzhong to listen to Tang people reciting poetry. It was completely different from what he imagined. Although he didn't understand it, he thought it was very pleasant.
After Zhang Zaiji finished reciting, he clapped his hands according to the custom of later generations, and said: "Your Majesty is good at literature and poetry!"
Zhang Zaiji turned to look at him and said with a smile: "This is not written by a certain person, it was written by Gao Changshi during the Kaiyuan period. When he left Yingzhou eastward, he passed through Lulongsai north of Yuguan, leaving behind this
The song "Fortress"."
Feng Dao knew that Zhou Zhiyu and Li Chengzhong were both warriors, but he didn't know Zhou Zhiyu yet, but Li Chengzhong definitely didn't know the story, so he explained: "Gao Changshi was the military governor of Huainan and Jiannan during the Suzong Dynasty.
Gao Gong, whose given name was Dafu, was the Duke of Bohai County. During the Kaiyuan period, Gao Gong wrote this poem when he was traveling in Youji. The poem tells the story of the Zhao State general Li Mu who defeated the barbarians.
"
Li Chengzhong suddenly said: "It's Gao Shi who is as famous as Cen Shen? I've heard of this, his frontier poems are very famous!"
Zhang Zaiji and Feng Dao both asked: "Li Yuyang also knew that Cen joined the army? I didn't expect that Li Yuyang also dabbled in Gao Gong's frontier poems, but he didn't know which one he liked the most?"
Seeing Zhou Zhiyu also looking over curiously, Li Chengzhong panicked a little. He had never been good at studying before time travel, especially in recitation and memory. At this time, he felt as embarrassed as when the Chinese teacher asked questions in class, and he thought hard and scratched his stomach.
I finally remembered a frontier poem that anyone with a junior high school education in later generations could recite casually, but I couldn’t remember whether it was Gao Shi’s. I could only say: “I remember a poem, um… The bright moon of the Qin Dynasty and the Pass of the Han Dynasty, the long march of thousands of miles.
The people have not returned yet. But the flying generals of Dragon City are here, and Huma will not be taught how to cross the Yin Mountains."
Zhang Zaiji smiled and said nothing. Feng Dao said: "It's rare that Li Yuying has read this poem! This poem is very good, and I also like to read it. I wonder if Li Yuying has read anything else?"
After receiving the encouragement, Li Chengzhong couldn't help but feel a little complacent. He remembered another song in his heart and said hurriedly: "Glow-in cup of grape wine, if you want to drink, play the pipa immediately. Don't laugh when you are lying drunk on the battlefield. How many people have fought in ancient times!"
Zhang Zaiji and Feng Dao nodded and expressed their appreciation, so Li Chengzhong felt a little elated. He felt extremely proud that he could discuss poetry with a Tang Dynasty person.
When a few people continued walking along Guancheng, Zhou Zhiyu fell behind. When Zhang Zaiji and Feng Dao weren't paying attention, he slapped Li Chengzhong on the back of the head, laughing and scolding in a low voice: "You don't understand if you don't understand, what are you pretending to do! What do you mean?
I have also heard these two songs by Gao Changshi, but they were not written by Gao Changshi at all! They are actually embarrassing for me! Haha!" As he said this, he also laughed.
The four of them were walking and talking on the pass. Zhou, who had been in a good mood recently, knew that Yuxing had arrived. His blood surged, and he pointed to the outside of the pass and said loudly: "When a certain army is fully trained, they will definitely send troops out of the pass to regain this place sooner or later. How can we allow it?"
How can we, the Han people, be allowed to suffer such humiliation and allow the Khitan children to become so rampant!"
Li Chengzhong remembered something and said: "I have a brother who was originally a commoner outside the pass. He fled to the pass and entered the new camp. A few days ago, he begged me to send troops to rescue the villagers trapped outside the pass. The autumn harvest was busy at that time, and I promised him that he would
Consider this..."
Zhang Zaiji sighed: "Tens of thousands of people have fled into the pass in the past few months, but there are still more people who are still being raped and humiliated by the Khitans. As officials of Pingzhou, we are watching the people suffer."
, it’s really heartbreaking!”
Zhou Zhiyu thought for a while and asked: "Where are the people your brothers mentioned? If they are close, we can send people to pick them up."
Li Chengzhong said: "It was said that he was in Bailang Mountain. I was busy with the autumn harvest at the time, so I didn't ask him in detail. I'll call him over right now."
The brother Li Chengzhong was talking about was Liu Jinhou who had made great achievements in guarding the city at Yuguan and was promoted to team leader and deputy lieutenant. Liu Jinhou had never seen such a big official before. When he came to Guancheng, he stood in a panic.
He couldn't stand still, but fortunately Li Chengzhong quickly comforted him, so he calmed down and reported the matter.
Liu Jinhou lived at the foot of Bailang Mountain. Like countless refugees outside the Pass, Liu Jinhou and his family fled into the Pass in panic under the plunder of the Khitan people. However, many people in the same village took the road other than Yuguan at that time.
He hid in Bailang Mountain, hoping to wait for the Khitans to finish looting before returning home. There were many people hiding in Bailang Mountain, including Liu Jinhou's uncle, second uncle and several other family members. However, after the Khitans finished looting, they did not return home.
He did not leave, but seemed to have made up his mind to stay. Now that two months have passed, Liu Jinhou was very worried about whether his relatives and neighbors who had fled into the mountains were still alive. When he said this, he burst into tears.
"Approximately how many people are there?" Zhang Zaiji frowned and asked worriedly.
"Why, there seemed to be three or four hundred people... I can't explain clearly. It was too chaotic at the time..." Liu Jinhou said hurriedly.
Zhang Zaiji looked at Zhou Zhiyu, and Zhou Zhiyu looked at Li Chengzhong: "Li Yuying... In your opinion, is it feasible to leave the country?"
Li Chengzhong said: "I have also thought about it these days. The Khitans have not knocked on the pass at the moment. They have been lingering by the Bailang River. It seems that they have no intention of continuing to attack. It's just fifty miles from Bailang Mountain to Yuguan, so they are afraid of retreating.
If the Khitan people block the road halfway, things will be very difficult."
Zhou Zhiyu said: "What do you think?"
Li Chengzhong gritted his teeth: "Although it is dangerous, I still want to give it a try. After all, it costs hundreds of lives. Even if they are all dead, I will not stop until I see the corpses."
Zhou Zhiyu said: "In that case, early tomorrow morning, you will take Capital A and Capital B to visit Bailang Mountain. Be careful and pick up the people as soon as possible. As for Yuguan, I am here, so you can rest assured."
After a night of preparation, before daybreak, Li Chengzhong led 180 people from Adu and Bdu and set off. When passing through the gate, Li Chengzhong turned back and looked towards Guancheng. Zhou Zhiyu and Zhang Zaiji were rushing towards him on Guancheng.
Waving in greeting, Li Chengzhong nodded and took the lead, heading towards Bailang Mountain, fifty miles northwest of Yuguan.
Feng Dao was beside Li Chengzhong, and he insisted on going with him. According to him, he wanted to imitate Gao Changshi back then and take this opportunity to see the customs and customs outside the customs. Li Chengzhong repeatedly emphasized that this trip was dangerous, but Feng Daojun laughed it off.
Li Chengzhong went to Zhang Zaiji to ask the governor to persuade Feng Dao, but Zhang Zaiji said: "It is a good thing for young people to travel more. How can they know the world if they cannot travel thousands of miles? Li Yuying will take him with him."
The soldiers from both capitals marched according to the formation led by Li Chengzhong returning from Weizhou north. The spearmen were in front and the sword and shield soldiers were behind. Zhao Da led a group of people to escort two carriages of food and supplies. Zhao Da originally
He was unwilling to lead troops, but Li Chengzhong specially organized a group of auxiliary troops in Jiatu and forcibly ordered Zhao Da to lead them. They were responsible for logistics matters, so Zhao Da was forced to rush to the shelves and become a veritable soldier.
Team leader.
Because the officers in both places were veterans of the Jianzu Battalion who had accompanied Li Chengzhong back from Weizhou, and were very familiar with this way of marching, the journey went very smoothly. There were no Khitan people who blocked the way, but they were on the road at noon.
I saw a Khitan Ranger once. The Khitan Ranger followed a mile away for half an hour and then disappeared from everyone's sight. The soldiers in both cities were very nervous at that time, but the officers were used to it.
Under the scolding of these officers, all the soldiers maintained their formation and only accelerated their marching speed.
These soldiers were all young men who had fled the customs. They had grown up among the white mountains and black waters before fleeing, and were very familiar with the roads. In addition, Liu Jinhou, a local who knew Bailang Mountain and Bailang Water well, arrived soon.
When it was dark, the figure of Bailang Mountain finally appeared in front of us. A vast group of mountains, standing in the wilderness, looked particularly ferocious.
Arriving at the foot of a mountain pass, Li Chengzhong signaled to rest for a moment. The soldiers from Jiadu and Yidu both breathed a sigh of relief and dispersed one after another. At this time, the difference between the two soldiers was revealed. Dudu A followed Li Chengzhong on a rapid march from Pingzhou.
Those who reached Yuguan did not sit down immediately after they dispersed. Instead, they waved their hands and stretched their arms, legs and feet, appearing to be at ease. Bdu was a little worse, and most of them fell to the ground and gasped.
A comparison will make a judgment.
Zhang Xingzhong and Zhou Qidao were both a little embarrassed. Although Li Chengzhong didn't say anything, the two of them ran to Jiang Miao and asked what the actions of the Jiadu soldiers meant. After receiving Jiang Miao's exact answer, the two of them also shouted.
Then he pulled up the Yidu soldiers who were lying on the ground, and followed the example of the Jiadu soldiers and walked slowly to relax.
After resting for a while, Li Chengzhong led the soldiers from both capitals into the mountain pass, found a wind-blown mountain col, set up tents, set up camp, and set up sentries. While Zhao Da and others prepared the meals for the soldiers from both capitals
, everyone started eating deliciously. Taking advantage of this time, Lieutenant General Li Cheng and Liu Jinhou came over to discuss the route into the mountain tomorrow.
"One mile north along the mountain road, there is an old military camp. When I was a child, I often went there to play. The military camp has been dilapidated, but the houses are dug into the mountain wall, and people can still live there.
I estimate that if the villagers are here, they will definitely be hiding there. It’s just that it’s not easy to walk in this area, so the brothers will have to work harder tomorrow." Liu Jinhou said.