In a huge place, time passes like a violent tide. Generations of people are born, grow up, and grow old. Civilizations are presented in a vast sea. Dynasties are swept away one after another. A nation revitalizes and declines, and millions of people live and die.
, condensed into a sentence to be read in a history book.
In a small place, everyone's life is a vast epic. Every second in this world, thousands of people seem to live insignificantly, but their thoughts and emotions are all...
Equally real and huge, some people are laughing and joyful, some are sad and crying, some are hysterical and angry, and some are silently sad... These emotions are like a hurricane and tsunami in the field, driving ordinary bodies to move forward in an ordinary way.
Every second in our world, if we use different perspectives and take different aspects, will be one huge and real narrative poem after another. The fate of countless people extends, cause and effect are intertwined, collide and separate. A broken road
Lines often produce strange results in unknown distances. Most of the time, these intertwined lines are chaotic but even, but at certain moments, we will see countless, huge lines heading in a certain direction.
Converge and collide.
On April 23rd, the first year of Wu Zhenxing's reign, the sunset outside Hanzhong City seemed to have been filled with the smell of gunpowder smoke, revealing a scary gray-black color among the clouds. The sunset was not magnificent, it was just ordinary and in the
This ordinary appearance has been repeated countless times in the world.
When the city under the sunset was brought into view, the troops under his command were quickly gathering forward. Xiyin was riding on a war horse, and the sound of wind blew the hunting banners, mixed with the voices of people, and the huge battlefield began to turn from chaos to chaos.
Orderly, the air smells of horse manure and vomit.
The atmosphere of the battlefield was becoming familiar to him as always. After decades of fighting, the troops were ordered on the battlefield again and again. Amidst the numerous swords and guns, the soldiers' breathing showed a chilling and tenacious atmosphere. This was Wanyan
Xiyin felt familiar but also unfamiliar to the battle formation.
The speed at which the soldiers gathered and the energy exuding from the array allowed Xiyin to quickly understand the quality of the army in front of him. The Jurchen team was mature and terrifying under his command. In the past forty years, this team has cultivated such
After gaining strength, he never encountered an equal opponent again. But as the war progressed, he gradually realized the feeling he had many years ago:
At that time, the Jurchen warriors went into the battlefield with the feeling that there would be no tomorrow. They were fierce and fierce, but on the battlefield, they could not do what they do today. Aguda, Zonghan, Lou Shi, Zongwang, etc.
People were hysterical on the battlefield, risking everything. Every war was a crucial battle. They knew that the fate of the Jurchens was ahead, but they were not yet mature at the time and could not clearly understand the direction of fate.
They can only go all out and leave the remaining results to the supreme god.
They learned in the battle, gradually matured, and saw the direction of their destiny more and more clearly. In the later period of the battle to destroy Liao, they became more and more skilled in the use of the army, and their destiny was firmly in their hands -
- They have seen the whole world clearly. Xiyin and others who once admired Southern Sinology and respected the Wu Dynasty have gradually seen clearly the pros and cons of Confucianism. There is certainly something worthy of respect in it, but on the battlefield
, the Wu Dynasty was no longer able to resist the general trend of the world.
Today, the old people have been tempered and matured in the flames of war, and the army still maintains its sharp edge. However, in the few battles in front of him, Xi Yin seems to have seen traces of fate running away again. Although he can do his best
He kept going, but something unknown lay ahead. He had a vague premonition that he couldn't grasp the outcome of the matter.
Only one thing is certain: the battle in front of us will once again become the most critical battle, and the fate of the Jurchens lies ahead!
"...the Chinese army's position is five miles ahead...near the Reed Gate...the commander-in-chief's army is coming from the west, and now in the city..."
After disembarking, the army advanced slowly. The Jurchen general Zha La, who had been summoned from the city, was following Xiyin, reporting to him the battle situation in the past few days in as much detail as possible. Xiyin's eyes were cold and he listened quietly.
Almost as soon as he learned that the fighting to the west of Hanzhong had begun, Xiyin decisively gave up the encirclement and suppression of more than 3,000 Qixinhan troops near Xicheng County, and led more than 10,000 troops to quickly board ships and march westward along the Han River. He knew in his heart that
Before the great battle that would determine the future of the Jurchens, encircling and suppressing only three thousand people was not that important.
The first moment he got off the ship, he summoned the highest-ranking general in Hanzhong City at that time to understand the development of the situation. But the whole situation was beyond his expectation. Zong Han led 90,000 people, and among 20,000 people
Before the charge, they were almost beaten into mourning soldiers. Although Zong Han's tactics seemed powerful at first glance, Xi Yin understood that if he had the confidence to win on the frontal battlefield, why would Zong Han use such time-consuming and energy-consuming wheel tactics?
.
The two of them have been fighting together for almost a lifetime. He can understand how heroic and wise Zong Han is. If he really has a chance to move forward, he will not retreat. In other words, he can fight for more than forty years.
Zong Han was forced to this extent, which shows the strength of the Chinese army.
He killed Pu Cha on the banks of the Jialing River, and in the chaotic battle, almost killed all the middle and lower-level generals under his command, including Meng An Mouke.
That night, they attacked Zonghan's camp with less than 10,000 troops. When they fell into a trap, they managed to break out and then killed the pursuers to death.
For four days, Zong Han's army fought against Zong Han with barely 20,000 troops. In the end, it was Zong Han's team that showed defeat. Some of the defeated troops gathered towards Hanzhong. The opponent was actually able to defeat Zong Han with only a few hundred people.
How amazing is the desire to attack and the decision-making ability in small-scale battles to rob the South Gate of Hanzhong on a large scale?
“…how did they do it?”
As the war horse moved forward, Xiyin finally spoke.
"……ah?"
"When you come from the battlefield and have some thoughts about your enemies, what do you think...how did they do it?"
"... I don't know how humble and humble my position is... The Chinese army fought bravely. I heard that they... all retreated from the northwest back then. They have a deep hatred for my daughter. I think the inner demon bewitched them with magic, making them unable to be brave.
Fear of death..."
"..." Xiyin didn't look at him or speak. After a while, he asked, "How many iron cannons, ammunition and other items are left in the city?"
"It's a humble job... I can only give a rough estimate..."
"Wanyan Yuchi." Xiyin called the disciple's name directly without waiting for the report.
A middle-aged general in his early forties on the side came over and said, "The general is here."
"You can do three things on my behalf."
"yes."
"First, you bring a thousand people into the city to assist the officers and soldiers in the city and strengthen the defense of Hanzhong City. The Chinese army is attacking from the Reed Gate to the north. You arrange your manpower to guard the passages and city walls. If the city changes hands again, you and Cha
Same crime as stabbing."
"yes."
"The second thing is to count all the artillery, ammunition, crossbows, and horses in the city. Except for the manpower necessary to defend Hanzhong, I want you to organize the manpower and transport the materials to the battlefield outside the city before sunrise tomorrow. If you have enough manpower,
If it’s not enough, come here and ask for it.”
"yes."
"The third piece..." Xiyin on the war horse paused, but then his eyes swept across the pale sky and earth, and he said decisively: "The third piece, with sufficient manpower, gather in Hanzhong City
Residents and common people, drive them away and gather towards the Chinese Army position at Reed Gate in the south. If there is resistance, you can kill people and burn houses. Tomorrow morning, cooperate with the decisive battle outside the city and attack the Chinese Army position. You have to handle this matter."
On top of the war horse, Wanyan Yuchi accepted the order: "Yes." His eyes turned around hesitantly, but then he accepted the fact. In the situation where General Zong Han exhausted the Chinese army with 90,000 troops for four days
Next, Xiyin made the decision to fight head-on. This decisive decision may also be in response to the news that the leader of the Chinese Army, who is known as the inner demon, came out of Jianmen Pass.
——If it is delayed until a few days later, the inner demon will arrive, and things will become more lively and troublesome.
The two of them took the order and went.
The city wall in front spreads, and under the setting sun, the black flag of the Chinese Army is brought into view here. The blood stains and corpses on the ground outside the city wall show the bloody battle that broke out here not long ago. At this moment,
The front line of the Chinese Army is shrinking. On the far side of the Jin army, there are soldiers of the Chinese Army digging soil on the ground. Most of the figures have blood stains from the fight, and some of them are wrapped in bandages.
Facing Wanyan Xiyin's flag, most of them glanced this way and looked through the telescope. There was no fear in the postures of those figures, only the calmness to face the battle.
There are more than tens of millions of people in the world who have blood enemies with the Jurchens. But it has never been possible to face the Jin army with such an attitude.
They had been fighting for four days and even torn the army led by Zong Han into pieces.
How did they do it?
Do they still have any strength left?
Xiyin was thinking about all this in his mind.
For decades, they have walked through the battlefield, learned experience, gained lessons, and taken everything in this world into their eyes. In their hearts, every war and survival made them stronger. At this moment, Xi Yin will
Thinking of the countless wars on the battlefield, Aguda has passed away, Wu Qimai is dying, Zong Wang, Lou Shi, never lost their words, silver skills are good, pull away quickly... one after another generals passed through their lives.
, but at this moment, Zong Han and even Xi Yin were indeed at their strongest on the battlefield.
Decades have passed, and at this moment, he can still only go all out and leave his unknown fate to the supreme god.
***************
The city wall in Hanzhong is not majestic and majestic. It is an ordinary earth and stone city wall. The fields outside the city wall are green and yellow. The soldiers' clothes are mainly earth tones with green embellishments. The smell of blood is as unpleasant as ever.
Liu Muchia arrived outside Hanzhong City in the evening. After arriving with the company, he was arranged in a position along with the company members. Someone pointed to the east and told everyone: "Wanyan Xiyin is here. If there is a fight,
You'd better dig some traps ahead."
"Is it enough to dig a horse pit?" the squad leader asked the company commander for instructions.
"You are responsible for digging holes tonight, conserve your strength, and pay attention to rest. Whether you can sleep depends on the other party's wishes."
Fatigue and pain were gathering in the body, but within the tolerable limit. When his comrades talked about the Fifth Army breaking through Jianmen Pass, Liu Muchia raised his head and looked at the traces of the Jin soldiers in the east. Even though they were only among the Seventh Chinese Army,
As an ordinary soldier, he also knew that the decisive battle was coming.
So after dinner, he quietly began to dig a hole.
He is not afraid of Wanyan Zonghan, nor is he afraid of Wanyan Xiyin.
He is from the northwest, and the living environment in the northwest is rough. Therefore, he has lived in a world full of murderers, bandits, and liars since he was a child.
His family passed away very early. He didn’t have much emotion for his family, and similar situations were never rare in the northwest. After the Chinese army came to the northwest and won their first victory against Xixia, he went to Xiaocang River
, join the Black Flag Army, which is considered extremely vicious by the outside world, and "make a living".
The interior of the Chinese Army was a completely different environment from what the outside world suspected. He didn't know when he was assimilated. Perhaps it was the day after he joined Black Flag, when he collapsed from the fierce and excessive training.
The moment when the squad leader brought him the bowl of noodles late at night.
Or maybe it was the moment when they cooperated with each other during patrols and trainings.
Or maybe it was the moment when Xiao Cang and his comrades who had served him noodles and supported him in training after three years of fighting sacrificed their lives, which he had never expected.
"...I was originally...from Bianliang. My home is in a village on the edge of the Yellow River. I have a wife, a daughter, and elderly people at home...When the Jurchens came...there was nothing...
…”
Occasionally, he could think of the beautiful Central Plains that his comrades told him.
In fact, he was not touched. For the first ten years of his life, he lived in the chaotic and precarious northwest frontier. His family members died, and he didn't know why he was crying. Is there really anything as beautiful as the Central Plains in the world? He didn't
Know.
He just liked the life in Xiaocang River. They fought side by side in the valley, and fought off waves of enemies who were said to be extremely vicious on the dam. They cheered together, and their existence had a warm heart. These people once had strange and different lives.
He becomes a comrade-in-arms and a family member.
They are all dead.
He would think of the three years of fighting in Xiaocanghe, and what Ning Yi often said to people during the last period of time when bidding farewell to the deceased.
"...There are millions of people in this world, tens of millions of people have died, and before they died, they all had their own lives. What saddens me the most is...their lives will be forgotten like this...
The people here today, they resisted, they wanted to live like human beings, if they die, their resistance, their whole life will be forgotten, the things they have done and the things they remember will be gone in this world.
It's like...it's never happened before..."
It's like it never happened...
Therefore, Liu Muchia often thinks of the village on the edge of the Yellow River outside Bianliang City. The old man in his comrade's home, his wife, daughter, and comrades are also dead. Those memories are as if they had never happened. Including the squad leader bringing it to him.
That bowl of noodles, including their fights side by side again and again. One day these things will be as if they never happened...
There was pain and fatigue in his body, but it didn't matter, he could bear it. He dug the trap in silence.
The sunset has gradually set, and it sets like this every day. The second day after he joined the Black Flag Army, he failed to complete the training subjects before the sun set. The squad leader forced him to run forward in such darkness.
I told myself in my heart that I couldn't fall out, and I could wait until tomorrow to steal something before leaving... He was hungry that night, and the squad leader brought him a bowl of noodles, and there was even a delicious egg in the noodles.
That was the Xiaocang River many years ago. The valley was not even fully constructed. They sometimes had to level the ground on the playground, and the dam was being built step by step. But today's Xiaocang River is a barren mountain. They
Traces of existence have been erased.
The squad leader swung the knife at the Jurchen.
But the Jurchens didn't even know about this.
…
This is not right.
************
Night gradually fell, the stars were sparse, and the moon rose in the sky, like a knife slashing into the sky beside the Hanshui River.
On the plain to the west of Hanzhong, artillery fire sounded intensively at some point, and the fighting and confrontation of soldiers were hidden in the light of the fire.
The Jurchen troops and Chinese army troops rushing towards Hanzhong City were intersecting each other in the dark, fighting everywhere.
A large number of Jurchen troops were scattered in the wilderness in confusion, while some Chinese troops were locked in a fierce battle in the dark.
Thousands of people fighting, thousands of people, thousands of lives and stories.
On April 21st, Wanyan Sabai led the cavalry to launch a fierce life-for-life raid against the Chinese army. He managed to escape after being wounded. At this moment, he was leading the troops to move towards Hanzhong. He was Wanyan Zonghan's
His nephew has been fighting with Zong Han for thirty years. Compared with Yin Shuke, Ba Lisu and others, although he is not as talented as him, he has always been a loyal executor of Zong Han's plans.
The Jurchens finally fought their way out of such a difficult living environment. He followed the heroes to fight. At this moment, he did not hesitate to die for the heroes.
Zong Han has already joined Gao Qingyi and others, and is trying to mobilize a huge army to assemble towards Hanzhong. After decades of fighting on the battlefield, he can clearly feel that the strength of the entire army is declining rapidly after experiencing previous battles, and it is moving from the plains to Hanzhong.
In the process of spreading, some of the troops that had been assembled for the second time quickly collapsed under the interference of the Chinese army. This night, only the arrival of Xi Yin gave him some comfort.
After four days of fighting, the troops under his command are already tired, and the Chinese army is also tired. But in this way, Xi Yin, who is waiting for work, will get the most ideal fighter opportunity.
Ba Lisu is dead, but Ning Yi can't survive.
That night, looking at the moonlight in the sky, Zong Han sprinkled the strong wine he carried with him on the ground to mourn for Li Sushi.
In this long life-long battle, how many people died on the way...
This night, a large number of troops were risking their lives to fight on the road. Wanyan Sheye was trying to boost morale in the dark night. This direwolf, who had gradually matured, was unwilling to miss the battle that was about to take place at the foot of Hanzhong City.
All his life, he had longed for heroes like his father. It was not until his brother's death that he gradually understood the qualities needed to become such a hero. At this moment, the power of the Chinese army made him stunned and made his blood really boil.
, if there were no such enemies, how could his name be remembered in history?
Some people's stories will leave traces in history, but when it comes to life, these stories are not superior or inferior.
Jurchen warriors who have been fighting with the Jin generals for more than 20 years will think of their wives and children in their hometown in this knife-like moonlight. They follow the Jin army southward and want to take advantage of the last southern expedition to gain some fame.
The Khitan people, Liaodong people, and Xi people felt fear and helplessness in their exhaustion. They followed the army southward with the mentality of seeking wealth and wealth in danger, and fought bravely. But at this moment, the southwest became an embarrassing quagmire, and they looted
The gold and silver can't be taken back, and the joy of the massacre and looting turned into regret. They also have a nostalgic past, and even family members they care about, and warm memories - who wouldn't?
But many people from the Central Plains and Northwest China no longer have family members, and even their memories have begun to become less warm.
This night, one after another Chinese army troops arrived outside the Reed Gate of Hanzhong City. They had already experienced turns of fighting, and most of the soldiers were suffering from minor or serious injuries. However, the Jurchens were defeated.
It will give people endless power. Some troops even tried to sneak attack the west or north city wall, but of course, they could not succeed easily.
The troops who arrived at the Hanzhong battlefield were arranged by the staff to take a short break, while a small number of troops were moving northward in the city, trying to break through the blockades of the streets and attack more critical positions in Hanzhong City.
After nightfall, Chen Hai walked into the staff headquarters and asked the brigade commander Hou Lietang for instructions: "The Jurchen troops are all from the north. Wanyan Xiyin has arrived on the battlefield, but if we don't attack, I don't think I don't want to, but in fact I can't. It's the right time now
During the flood season, if they take a boat to go north, there will be wind and waves, and many of them will get seasick, so they can only start the battle tomorrow... I don't think they can sleep well tonight, so I will fight a night attack."
"We have also considered seasickness, but do you think someone like Xiyin won't guard against you sneak attack in the middle of the night?"
"That won't let them sleep well. I can let the three battalions under my command take turns to fight and make a big noise, but in short they won't be allowed to sleep."
"...That makes sense. Commander Qin has gone to check the night. I will report to him later. Please be prepared."
"Yes." Chen Hai saluted.
Walking out of the simple staff headquarters, the moon seemed to be falling from the sky. Chen Hai did not smile. His eyes were full of the snowstorm that started more than ten years ago. More than ten years ago, when he was still young, Mr. Ning once wanted him to become
A storyteller.
“The continuation of civilization does not rely on blood ties.”
"When the Jurchens came, many people died, and many people's entire clan was gone. Zheng Yiquan's bloodline did not remain, but when he died, you were by your side, so you passed it on... try your best to pass on the story.
…”
That day, Mr. Ning said this to the young man, but in fact, Zheng Yiquan is not the only one who has died around him over the years. And today, he has better and more powerful generals.
The way their will is passed on.
In this world, there are some special moments when thousands of threads will gather towards one person, and it will become thin and important. Some threads will be broken, and some threads will be lost to bystanders.
Pick it up and move on. The continuation of blood, the replacement of nations, the rise and fall of countries, and the struggle of all things have always been like this.
Liu Muchia finished digging the horse pit and polished his knife silently.
Someone counted the mines and grenades and passed them over.
Chen Hai led a battalion of soldiers and quietly left from one side of the camp.
The checkpoints were changed, and some people got some time to rest. They put on their clothes and slept, ready for the day.
"I can't sleep a little bit..."
Someone spoke softly.
"Let me tell you, I still remember the Central Plains more than ten years ago..."
The Central Plains more than ten years ago... Since that moment, how many people have cried, how many people have shouted, and how many people have moved forward in heart-wrenching pain to finally reach this point...
Everyone's story is very ordinary. One person's death seems so insignificant among the deaths of millions of people. But whose life and memories are not an epic of ups and downs?
Flames and torment have been violently colliding beneath the ground for many years, and countless, huge lines converge at this moment.
The lava is erupting——
…
Chen Hai launched a night attack, and the scouts and ambushes arranged by Xi Yin fought on the bank of the Han River, shouting to kill the enemy, one after another.
The Jurchen warriors in the camp were awakened by the sound from time to time, and their anger and anxiety were gathering.
Late at night, Xi Yin walked up to the city wall. The defender in the city was reporting to him the war that was constantly raging in the wilderness to the west. The Chinese army's troops were crossing from northwest to southeast, and Zong Han's troops were walking from west to east.
The fighting was going on everywhere. Not just in the wilderness to the west, but also the small-scale fighting in Hanzhong City. In other words, fighting was going on everywhere he saw or couldn't see.
Xiyin held on to the city wall and pondered for a long time.
"...They don't need to sleep?"
He sighed softly.
The Chinese army they faced was only 20,000 people.