The autumn rain fell, knocking down the yellow leaves and dry grass in the mountains, and rolled them into the streams and rivers, forming the last torrent before the arrival of winter.
Looking down from the mountainside, the Xiaocang River looks calm in the autumn rain. There are few but somewhat monotonous houses, straight and neat streets, passers-by walking in the streets, and deserted military training.
Field. Mountain water poured into the river, and heavy rain caused ripples on the water surface of the reservoir. Fan Hongji looked at all this and remembered the thunderous sound of water release from the side of the dam at the entrance to the mountain, which was lively but monotonous.
This mission is unlikely to have any good results.
When he entered the mountain, he already knew that the Jurchen craftsmen who were originally arranged near Xiaocang River had been cleared away by the people of Xiaocang River. These Jurchen craftsmen may not have expected this beforehand.
, but being able to clean up all the details one by one is enough to prove the many preparations Xiaocanghe has made for this matter.
Fan Hongji finished washing up and tidying up his clothes in the room arranged by the Xiaocanghe soldiers. Then he held an umbrella under the guidance of the soldiers and walked along the mountain road. The sky was dark, and there was wind from time to time in the heavy rain. When he was approaching the mountainside, there was a bright light.
The small courtyard with warm yellow lights could already be seen. A scholar named Ning Yi was talking to his wife and children under the eaves. When he saw Fan Hongji, he stood up. The wife said something with a smile, took the children and turned around to go back to the room.
Ning Yi looked at him and spread his hands: "Envoy Fan, please come in."
This meeting was different from the previous ones.
Although Ning Yi was still smiling, Fan Hongji could still clearly feel the change in the atmosphere in the raining air. The smile on the other side was missing a lot and became deeper and more complex. After several previous interactions with each other,
During the negotiation, Fan Hongji could feel the intentions, goals, and vague urgency in the other party's seemingly calm and calm attitude. By this moment, they had completely disappeared.
Fan Hongji is not a novice in the negotiation field. It is precisely because of the vague things in the other party's attitude that he feels that there is still a breakthrough in this negotiation. He is also convinced that he can find this breakthrough. But until this moment, in his heart,
Only then did the mood of "Sure enough" suddenly sink.
He stood in the rain and did not go in. He just cupped his fists and saluted: "If possible, I also hope that Mr. Ning can return the Jurchen brothers who were originally arranged outside the valley. In this way, things may turn around."
Ning Yi stood under the eaves and looked at him, with his hands behind his back, and then shook his head: "Messenger Fan is overthinking. This time, we didn't leave any heads specially."
Turning his eyes towards the distance, Ning Yi turned and walked directly into the room. Fan Hongji was slightly stunned. After a moment, he could only follow him. It was still the study room. Fan Hongji looked around a few times: "In the past, every time I
Come here, Mr. Ning is very busy, but he seems to be a little more leisurely now. However, I guess you will not be free for a long time."
"Please sit down. I've got half a day's free time. Life is supposed to be busy, so why worry about it so much." Ning Yi took a brush and wrote on the rice paper, "Since you are here, Ambassador Fan, I will take advantage of my free time to write the subtitles.
for you."
"Mr. Ning defeated Xixia, and it is said that he wrote a subtitle to the king of Xixia, saying, 'Brothers will survive all the calamities, and forget the grudges with a smile when we meet.' The king of Xixia was deeply ashamed, and it is said that he hung it in the study every day. He thought it was an encouragement. Could it be that Mr. Ning
You also want to write something irritating and ask Fan to take it back? To make all the lords of Jin Kingdom’s court angry?”
"That's absolutely not the case. Messenger Fan is overthinking."
Ning Yi smiled, and Fan Hongji sat on the chair. He looked at Ning Yi who was writing: "In the whole world, it is difficult for anyone to force Commander Lou Shi back with equal strength. In the battle of Yanzhou, you can win
very good."
"The Chinese army's formation coordination and the morale of the soldiers are pretty good." Ning Yi straightened his brush, "Commander Wanyan's ability to use troops is superb and admirable. Next, let's see who will die in this ancient plain.
let's go."
"Does the Chinese Army have to do this?" Fan Hongji frowned and stared at Ning Yi, "Fan has always thought that he treats Mr. Ning and everyone in Xiaocanghe pretty well. He has worked for Xiaocanghe several times.
, Master Gushen, Master Shi and others have also changed their minds, it’s not that we can’t share this world with everyone in Xiaocanghe. Mr. Ning should know that this is a dead end."
"Well, that's probably the case." Ning Yi nodded.
"Why is that?" Fan Hongji looked at him, "Since Mr. Ning no longer intends to go around in circles with Fan and pretend to be confused, then no matter whether Mr. Ning wants to kill Fan or not, why not make it clear to Fan before that?
If Fan is to die, he might as well die in a clear way."
Ning Yi was silent for a moment: "Because, you don't plan to do business."
"Have we been talking about it all this time?"
"People from China will not vote for foreign countries. We cannot agree on this. How can we negotiate?"
Fan Hongji laughed and stood up suddenly: "The general trend of the world is like this. Mr. Ning can send someone out to take a look! North of the Yellow River, our country of Jin already has the majority. This time we go south, our country of Jin wants all this large land.
As far as Fan knows, Mr. Ning once said that within three years, our Kingdom of Jin will occupy the north of the Yangtze River! Mr. Ning is not an unwise person, does he want to go against this trend? "
He paused: "However, Mr. Ning should also know that this world is not occupied by the other. It is naturally difficult for our country of Jin to swallow this world in one go. In troubled times, it is natural for heroes to rise together. We are in this world.
We have gained the upper hand, and what we want first is nothing more than a dignified status, such as Tian Hu, and everyone in the Zhe family will submit to us. As long as we are willing to give in verbally, we will not be in any trouble! Mr. Ning, Fan is brave, please think about it.
, if everything north of the Yangtze River - no, even if everything north of the Yellow River surrenders to me, Dajin, you are the one who is at the top of Dajin, no matter how powerful Xiaocanghe is, if you don't even accept me, there is really no chance that I, Dajin, will let you down.
Will you stay?"
"A man is capable of bending and stretching. If you really want to achieve great things, sometimes you have to admit that the situation is stronger than others. Mr. Ning, at the beginning of the mission, Fan did not understand many things about Xiaocanghe, but this time, he was sincere
If you want to facilitate this, we are in the mountains and rivers of the north. Now Prince Zongfu has descended to Yingtian and is attacking Xuzhou. Marshal Zonghan has broken Bianliang. No one north of the Yellow River can hold it! You just need to nod and express your willingness to submit.
, the rest is easy to discuss. Within a few years, our Kingdom of Jin will not control you. After a few years, we may not become friends. Give yourself a way, and also give it to everyone in this valley, and outside the valley.
A heroic path."
Fan Hongji's tone was sincere, and he paused again: "Mr. Ning may not have understood that Marshal Lou respects heroes the most, and the Chinese army can force him back outside Yanzhou City. In a tie, he must have only the power to defeat the Chinese army.
I value you and will never be jealous. After this battle, you are the strongest in this world except for me, Jin State. North of the Yellow River, you are the most likely to rise. Mr. Ning, give me a step. Give it to Master Gushen, Shiyuan
One step for the master, one for Marshal Zong Han. If we go further, there is really no way. Fan’s heartfelt words are all here."
He stretched out a hand and turned his head to look at Ning Yi. He was indeed extremely sincere. Ning Yi looked at him and put down his pen.
"...It is said that there was a man named Liu Chen, the son of Liu Chan during the Three Kingdoms period." Ning Yi spoke slowly under Fan Hongji's sincere eyes. "He didn't leave many things behind. In the sixth year of Jingyao's reign, Deng Ai led his troops to defeat
In Chengdu, Liu Chan decided to surrender, but Liu Chen resisted. After Liu Chan surrendered, Liu Chen went to Zhaolie Temple and cried bitterly before committing suicide."
His tone was calm, without much cadence. After saying this with a smile, the room fell silent. After a moment, Fan Hongji narrowed his eyes: "Mr. Ning said this. Could it be that he really wanted to..."
"is it not OK?"
"I thought Mr. Ning was a smart man... You can do it for other reasons, at least, not for this..."
"Smart people..." Ning Yi smiled and murmured again. "What about smart people? When the Jurchens went south, everything north of the Yellow River was indeed occupied. However, if they regard death as returning home, has Messenger Fan really never seen one?
Two, any day. In this world, many things can be discussed. But there are always some bottom lines. On the first day that Ambassador Fan came, I already said that people from China will not vote for foreign countries. You Jin Kingdom
It is indeed powerful. If you continue to kill all the way, it will be difficult for anyone to stop you. But the bottom line is the bottom line. Even if you occupy all the areas north of the Yangtze River and everyone surrenders, and the Xiaocang River does not surrender, it is still the bottom line. Ambassador Fan, I too
I really want to be friends with you, but you see, I can’t do it, so I have to give you Mr. Gushen a calligraphy. I heard that he likes sinology very much - unfortunately, the ink is not dry yet."
Fan Hongji didn't read the words, just looked at him. After a moment, he tilted his head again. He looked at the rain outside the window, thought about it for a long time, and finally nodded with great difficulty.
"I understand..." he said dryly, "I asked about Mr. Ning's name outside. The Wu Dynasty called you the inner demon. I thought you were a witty person, but it turns out that
The style of the Chinese army on the battlefield is not at all. I had doubts, but now I know that it is Mr. Miao Chuan, Mr. Ning, who turns out to be such a person... It should be like this, otherwise, you would not kill him
I defeated the king of Wu Dynasty and obtained this land."
Ning Yi smiled: "Messenger Fan misunderstood again. On the battlefield, if you can fight head-on, conspiracy and trickery can be useful. If there is no possibility of fighting head-on, using conspiracy and trickery will only make people laugh. Wu
There are too many people using conspiracy and tricks in the army. I am afraid that this disease has not been eradicated, but I will not dare to use it."
The room fell silent again. Fan Hongji glanced at the words on the table casually. When he saw something, his eyes suddenly froze. After a moment, he raised his head, closed his eyes, and exhaled: "Mr. Ning, Xiao
There will be no more living people in Canghe."
He said word by word: "You and your family here will not be able to survive. No matter if Marshal Lou or others come, everyone here will die, and this small place of yours will become a...
Mass grave, I...have nothing more to say."
When Fan Hongji strode out of the courtyard, the autumn rain in the entire valley continued to fall towards the sky. He walked back to the guest room where he stayed temporarily, spread out the words written by Ning Yi, read them again, and hit the table with his fist.
Go up, what sounded in my mind was Ning Yi's last words.
"No, Messenger Fan, we can bet that this place will not become a mass grave. It will be a mass grave of 100,000 people or a mass grave of millions."
——Take the poems and let the people come.
On the paper, the ink is still wet.
…
The king and his ministers are willing to bow their knees, but a son alone is sad.
…
Gone are the affairs of Xichuan, the majestic King of the North!
…
Donate your life to repay your ancestors, scratch your head and weep to the sky.
…
If the people are still here, who is dead?
——In the small valley, Fan Hongji only felt the atmosphere of war and life and death rising into the sky. At this time, he didn’t know whether the man named Ning was a smart man or a fool. He only knew that this place had become a place where death was endless.
.He no longer had room for negotiation and just wanted to leave early.
*************
History often does not change due to the participation of ordinary people, but changes in history often occur due to the participation of ordinary people.
When Zhuo Yongqing climbed up the hillside road with muddy steps, his chest was still hurting, and his companions in the company were still climbing up. The squad leader Mao Yishan stood in the rain and wiped it away.
Shao's muddy cheeks, and then spit: "This damn weather..."
Not far away, the company commander of the first company, Luo Ye, nicknamed Luo Crazy, accidentally fell. At this time, he was covered in clay and even more embarrassed. Someone shouted in the rain: "Where are we going now?"
This was also everyone's question. Luo Ye held his legs and panted for a moment, then pointed forward: "Go forward! Catch up with the brigade!"
"Where are you going, Crazy Luo?"
"...Anyway, move forward first!"
The cold heavy rain filled the sky, making people feel chilly all over. This was already the border of Gyeongju, and the battle between the Chinese Army and the Jurchen West Route Army was still going on non-stop.
The first two days of this war could be regarded as a complete pursuit and confrontation. The Chinese army relied on its tenacious formation and high fighting spirit to try to pull the Jurchen army, which was carrying the burden of infantry, into the quagmire of frontal combat. Wanyan Loushi
Then use cavalry to harass, fight and retreat. On the third day of this situation, various fierce frictions and small-scale wars occurred.
Wanyan Loushi began to harass the Chinese Army in all directions with the smallest cavalry almost all day long. While the Chinese Army was escorting the cavalry, they attacked the opponent's infantry formation. In the middle of the night, they also took turns to attack the artillery formation.
Pushing towards the opponent's camp. This kind of tactics cannot kill the opponent's cavalry, but it can always keep the Jurchen infantry in a state of high tension.
Deterrence is not just a deterrent. There were several frictions and exchanges of fire. The high-intensity confrontation almost turned into a large-scale charge, but in the end Wanyan Loushi escaped with a feint shot. Such a battle situation would not last until the third day.
The torment of willpower began to be involved. The Chinese army conserved their physical strength by taking turns to rest every day, and the Jurchens also harassed them with great difficulty. It was not that there were no cavalry on the opposite side, and the formation was like a turtle shell. Once they started charging, they fired with powerful crossbows, and their own side
It is also difficult to ensure that the cavalry remains unscathed. On the fourth and fifth days of such a battle, the situation in the entire northwest is quietly changing.
The Zhong family's army caught up with their supplies, and Yanzhou and other places began to instigate anti-Jin war on a large scale. Every day the Chinese army intimidated the Jurchen army, the flame burned brighter. And Wanyan Lou
The chamber also began to send people to summon loyalists from all over the country to come closer, including the Orijia who were watching. Envoys had also been sent out, waiting for the other party to come.
When people were moving one after another, the friction between more than 20,000 people on each side of the central battlefield was the most intense. During the continuous transfer, Wanyan Loushi had begun to send troops to try to attack the rear of the Black Flag Army, who were coming from Yanzhou City.
The troops were carrying food and supplies, and the Chinese army had also sent out its manpower, using a military formation of about a thousand people to intercept and kill the Jurchen cavalry everywhere, trying to cut off and disperse the Jurchens' tentacles on the mountainous terrain.
Over the past few days, every battle, no matter how big or small, was staggeringly tense. It started to rain yesterday, and the battle suddenly encountered after nightfall was particularly fierce. Luo Ye, Qu Qing and others led the team to chase and kill the Jurchen cavalry, and finally
It turned into a protracted chaotic battle, and many people left the team. During the battle, Zhuo Yongqing was hit by a Jurchen's horse and rolled down the hillside. It took a long time to find his companions. It was still morning, and occasionally he could meet
The wounded Jurchens who were lying scattered nearby rushed over and killed them.
A group of people slowly gathered together and spent a lot of effort searching around. In the end, there were forty or fifty Chinese soldiers gathered, which showed how chaotic the situation was last night. After climbing up the hillside, they finally
Found that they were lost.
The Chinese army's advance is mainly aimed at the Jurchen troops. Keep an eye on them for a day, and the anti-Jurchen momentum in the northwest will become stronger. However, Wanyan Loushi's troops were erratic. In a battle last night, people like him fell on the edge of the battlefield.
, they couldn’t tell which way the Jurchens would turn and where the Chinese army would pursue them.
After stopping for a while, everyone decided to move forward according to the previous general direction. In short, after getting out of this muddy place, let's get dry.
So, the heavy rain continued, and a group of mud-yellow people walked forward on this mountain road... (To be continued.)
ps: I could have updated it before midnight, but it’s all my fault that I can’t log in to the author area...