When I woke up from a deep sleep, I suddenly felt like I had a distant dream.

On the morning of April 23rd, when Zhou Pei got up, the sky was gradually getting brighter. In the morning of early summer, away from the depressing humidity of spring, there was a light wind in the yard, and the sky and earth were as clear as water, like a child.

Jiangning at that time.

She sat for a while under the pavilion in the middle of the empty courtyard. There were flourishing flowers and vines beside her. As the day dawned, the courtyard seemed to have sunk into a quiet gray. There were guards stationed in the distance, but none of them spoke.

Zhou Pei crossed his palms, and only at this moment could he feel his own frailty.

As a mortal, I set foot in this complex world on my own, promote many things, and clarify thousands of relationships. Sometimes I can decide life or death with just one word, and sometimes I can't sleep peacefully for several days in a row. As time goes by,

You will feel that you are no longer yourself, as if you have been covered by a huge body. But of course these are all illusions.

She was thirty years old this year. In the eyes of the world, she was just a lonely and vicious old woman who put her husband under house arrest and was a formidable woman after she gained power. Most of the officials were trembling when they came over, compared to facing the king.

Wu Shi was actually more frightened. The reason was simple. Jun Wu was the prince, and even if he was too iron-blooded and brave, he would have to take over the country in the future. Even if he had opposite ideas about many things, he would still be able to communicate.

But she was different. She stood behind Jun Wu, supporting her younger brother in his work as a woman. There was no one around her, and her husband had been placed under house arrest. Even though she spoke softly on the surface, she could do anything if she turned her back.

This is what the outside world thinks about her.

In fact, how else to think about it?

She thought of Zhou Xuan and Kang Xian who had died.

When she was scheduled to take over the property of Princess Chengguo's Mansion, she was still a teenage girl. As she got married, the burden also fell on her shoulders. She didn't realize it at first, but when she realized it, she was already being pushed away by the matter.

, the teacher also rebelled, the country was ruined and the family was ruined, and there were countless things happening every day - of course she could just throw them away and pretend she never saw them, but she didn't do that after all.

When she stood still, the situation of thirty years old was pressing in front of her, her husband had become a heinous villain, and her marriage was over. The happy life defined by the worldly people was so far away from her that she could not even see it.

When I calmed down and thought about it, the departure of Zhou Xuan and Kang Xian still seemed to be right before my eyes. Life passed by in an unnoticeable moment.

She picked up the tree branches beside the pavilion and held it in her hand like a sword. After she came back from Bianliang more than ten years ago, Zhou Xuan taught her sword dance. The imperial aunt was gentle in front of her family, but she controlled the Chengguo Princess Mansion.

Huge power and industry also have their majestic and murderous side. When she first came into contact with things in the princess's house, the old man taught her how to dance a sword in private.

"The sword has two edges, one end hurts others and the other end hurts yourself. This is also the case with most things in the world... The interesting thing about swords and everything in the world lies in the balance between hurting and not hurting..."

Zhou Pei's athletic ability is not strong, and he has never learned Zhou Xuan's majestic sword dance, but he quickly understood the principles taught in the sword dance. It is a sense of propriety to not hurt others, but to hurt others.

Injuring oneself... what is needed is decision. After understanding the truth, she has never touched the sword again. Thinking about it now, she can't help but feel sad.

She recalled the original scene, stood up with the wooden stick, and slowly stepped forward to thrust out the wooden stick. As the old man who died eight years ago moved his sword blade in the morning breeze, he moved... The sword has two sides.

The girl from more than ten years ago finally couldn't keep up, so she became the eldest princess today.

Cheng Zhouhai came in from the outside, and then silently took two steps back at the courtyard gate. Zhou Pei danced his sword a few times, stopped and looked at the courtyard door, and then Cheng Zhouhai came over: "Your Highness is in such a good mood."

"It's so early sir."

"Waiting for news, I didn't go back last night." Cheng Zhouhai smiled, "His Highness is in good spirits."

Zhou Pei put the branch aside: "I don't know why, but I suddenly had a good sleep last night. When it was dawn, I had a dream. I forgot what I dreamed about."

After the death of Kang Xian and Zhou Xuan, Zhou Pei relied most heavily on Cheng Zhouhai. Both of them were teachers and friends, and they were familiar with each other's situations. As the pressure around him increased, Zhou Pei often suffered from insomnia and could not sleep. Many medical officials also saw him.

But it was of little use. When the Jurchens called, Zhou Pei was very worried, and staying up late was a daily routine. She was less than thirty years old, and she could still hold on on the surface, but people around her were often worried about it. At this time, she could hear

Zhou Pei had a good sleep, but Cheng Zhouhai was stunned.

"Your Highness is calm and calm, like Xie An." He bowed his hands in flattery, and then said, "...maybe this is a good sign."

He previously said that he was "waiting for news." In fact, many people in Lin'an City have been waiting for news in the past few days. On April 18, Xi Yin's army, which was originally targeting Changzhou, turned and attacked Zhenjiang at high speed. On the same day,

The Arubao army also cooperated and assumed a posture of storming Zhenjiang at all costs. Not many people are sure whether this move is true or false.

At this time, Jiangnan, Jiangning to the west, and Zhenjiang to the east were the two fulcrums that blocked the Yangtze River. As long as these two fulcrums still existed, they could hold back Zongfu's army and make it unable to move south with confidence.

Today, Jiangning has become the core war zone, and Zhenjiang is led by Junwu, who is responsible for dealing with the army led by Xi Yin and Yin Shuke. For several months, the two sides have been fighting tooth and nail, refusing to give in to each other. Junwu hopes to defeat Xi Yin as soon as possible

——He even used the human wave tactic to defeat Xi Yin.

As for the Xiyin side, in terms of grand strategy, there are two directions: First, no longer pay attention to the exercise of logistics supply, continue to move south along the prosperous areas of Taihu area, capture cities and territories, and feed the people. In between, Zhenjiang to Lin'an

, a distance of four hundred miles, there are wealthy cities everywhere, and the people in Lin'an City are in a complicated situation. As long as Xiyin can kill the most elite Jurchen army across four hundred miles, arrive at Lin'an City, and then cooperate with the Wushu army

The power and the hearts of the Wu Dynasty could collapse at any time.

Second, cooperate with Zong Fu to destroy the Yangtze River defense line, which naturally also includes the option of attacking Zhenjiang. Even from February to April, Xi Yin's troops made such a posture several times, promising to attack Zhenjiang City

, beheading Zhou Junwu made the Wu Dynasty army highly nervous, and then due to the tight defense of the Wu Dynasty people, Xi Yin chose to give up.

But war is like this, and intrigues and deceptions come and go, and every time they may become true. By April 18th, Xi Yin turned to Zhenjiang again. In the meantime, the Wu Dynasty military had to face several possibilities - if it was to be immediately

With the battle lines tightened and focused on defending Zhenjiang, Xi Yin and others may also go south directly to capture Changzhou. And if Xi Yin really chooses to attack Zhenjiang, the information revealed in the process will be really intriguing and frightening.

Facing Xi Yin's turn back, the Zhenjiang direction is already well prepared, and Lin'an is also waiting for the arrival of new news - perhaps at some point in the future, it will be reported that Xi Yin will attack Changzhou, or Danyang will be dispersed for the Jiangning battle.

News in the public eye.

This news was running on the road south, and soon it shocked the entire Lin'an City.

***************

In Zhenjiang, soldiers ran up the city wall one by one, the morning wind chilled them and they hunted with flags. On the field outside the city wall, countless bodies lay in the pits after the explosion - the Jurchen army drove away the captured Han prisoners.

The night before we arrived, we cleared the mines outside Zhenjiang City in the most efficient way.

Trebuchets are being erected one after another. Since Ning Yi's rebellion, the assembly line, standardized production, split assembly and other technologies that he has promoted are even better mastered by the Jurchen side in some directions.

Hot air balloons were rising slowly in the morning breeze. On the city walls of Zhenjiang, hot air balloons also rose one by one. Soldiers carrying crossbows entered the frames of the hot air balloons.

Jun Wu was eating breakfast meticulously in the tent. Accompanying him was Shen Ruxin, the fourth lady of the Prince's Mansion.

Shen Ruxin was originally from Zhenjiang. Before the war with the Jurchens started last year, her younger brother Shen Ruhua was imprisoned and executed. Shen Ruxin vomited blood and fell ill in Jiangning, but she finally managed to survive. At the beginning of this year, Jiangning was in emergency, and General Jun's wife, concubines, and children moved to Jiangning.

After finding a safe place, he brought Shen Ruxin to Zhenjiang.

At the beginning, when they searched the mountains and seas, Jun and Wu fled everywhere, and the two sides came together because they depended on each other for their lives. Now they are in a similar situation of relying on each other for their lives.

During breakfast, a soldier came in to report that the defense changes had been completed. Jun Wu nodded and said he understood. Soon after he finished eating, Shen Ruxin came over to tidy up his clothes, and the couple went out together. The sky was soft.

Clouds are like catkins, floating over this big city on the Yangtze River.

The preparations and mobilization for the war had been completed yesterday, and a strange atmosphere was hanging over the military camp. Xi Yin's storming of Zhenjiang was the craziest move in the entire campaign and the one that was most likely to determine the outcome of the war. Eight years of operation

, a hundred thousand troops guarding Zhenjiang are not a weak force. When Jun Wu was determined to kill Xi Yin's troops, the opponent turned around and attacked Zhenjiang. Strategically speaking, it was a desperate choice.

If Zhenjiang is defended, Xiyin's troops may be heavily surrounded by the Wu Dynasty troops coming from all directions. Junwu will complete the goal of defeating the Tushan Guards, and the Jurchens' fourth southern expedition will also collapse.

But considering Xiyin's operational abilities and reputation, his decision to make such a choice may very well mean that there were some flaws in the game in the previous few months that have been caught by the other party.

"By defeating Wanyan Xiyin, I may gain peace in the world..." The night before, Jun Wu held his wife's hand and said, "But if we can't win, then it is very likely... you and I will

Die here."

In my heart, I am actually very scared...

In the morning when the temperature and sunshine were gentle, Jun Wu and his wife walked along the road between the military camps. The soldiers would salute here. He closed his eyes and imagined his opponents outside the city. They were all over the world and fighting in battle formations.

For decades, they had been able to kill Wanyan Xiyin without giving in when they were at their weakest, and Yin Shu could... He fantasized about the courage to dominate the world. Now he was standing in front of such a person.

.

He also thought of his teacher in Jiangning and the choices he made when he made major events. In this world, people will encounter tigers... I put my life on the line, and we are all the same... China

People, don’t go to foreign countries... don’t even think about going back alive...

Lin Lin is still here, but Yun Han is dead... He joked with Wen Ren Bu'er and said, I really hope the teacher will give me this calligraphy...

I put my life on the line.

he thinks.

I won't quit...

…

Outside Zhenjiang City, a huge hot air balloon flew towards the city wall, and soon after, it dropped large tracts of leaflets. At the same time, an envoy with the mission of persuading surrender and declaring war walked towards the city gate of Zhenjiang.

At 2:00 p.m., the envoys arrived at the Zhenjiang camp and advised Junwu and many Zhenjiang generals to surrender: "...In the past few months, the envoys under Lord Gushen have successively planned and persuaded several generals among you to surrender.

, we have also mobilized the support of many officials and prestigious people in Lin'an and throughout the Wu Dynasty. Lord Gu Shen must take Zhenjiang as quickly as possible, and Zhenjiang must not be defended. In order to explain the situation to you and avoid insecurity.

Necessary casualties, Mr. Gushen ordered me to bring some lists and evidence of the officials who expressed their opinions. In addition, he also ordered me to make it clear to you that once this war begins, regardless of victory or defeat, all those who will participate in the war in our Kingdom of Jin will be

The person must be killed! The nine tribes will not forgive..."

While the envoy was speaking, he presented a large stack of lists and evidence of "gold-droppers" in front of Jun Wu. There were already generals in the camp who were ready to come and kill the envoy who had confused people's hearts. Jun Wu looked at the table.

With the stack of things, he waved people in, wringed the messenger's tongue, and then threw the things into the brazier.

"This is a replica of Ning Yi's plan to annihilate Liangshan. It's just a trick to pick up people's teeth, but the God of the Valley is nothing more than that... I originally wanted to save your life, but since I came up with this plan, you know that you can't go back alive."

The messenger with his mouth full of blood laughed ferociously on the ground...

At noon, the envoy's head was hung on the city gate. Wanyan Xiyin was outside the city, watching all this expressionlessly.

On the afternoon of April 22, the Battle of Zhenjiang began.

*********************

The carriage passed through the streets of the city and went to the palace. Qin Hui sat in the carriage, holding the message in his hand, trembling slightly. His spirit was highly concentrated, and various things were spinning in his mind. This was every day
To be continued...