Zong Xu stood up suddenly: "What did you say? It's freezing and snowy, how can a barbarian knock on the door?"
Winter is not only difficult for them, but also for the barbarians. Over the years, there have been frictions between the two sides, and they will temporarily make a truce in winter until after the New Year.
The knight said: "General, the Hu cavalry attacked the gravel slope just an hour ago. The battle report is absolutely accurate!"
He held it up with both hands, and Zong Xu grabbed it, took it apart and swept it over quickly.
Guo Xu was also surprised. He came up to take a closer look and found out the reason.
In the summer, the eight tribes of Beihu killed a river of blood in Tianshen Mountain, and then Su Tu, the seventh prince of the Snow Wolf tribe, came forward to integrate the eight tribes into one place.
The eight factions have been divided for a long time. Each has its own blood feud and is naturally incompatible with each other.
In order to complete the integration, Su Tu raised his butcher knife and killed the grass roots on the grassland until they turned red.
Seeing that other tribes were no match for Su Tu, Zong Xu expected that the unification of the eight tribes would be a matter of time. He had also submitted a memorial to ask if he would take the opportunity to send troops, but the emperor did not reply to him, so he had to forget it.
Zong Xu knew in his heart that the emperor was a conservative king, so it was too difficult for him to make up his mind to conquer the Hu tribe.
What's more, there is a Chu State in the south. If a war really starts, there will be too many factors involved. I don't blame him for wanting stability.
It's just a pity to miss this opportunity. Zong Xu still sends people to keep an eye on Hu's movements from time to time.
According to the situation in the past six months, the Hu tribe that is being integrated can't even find the manpower to raid the border, let alone knock on the border. The sudden news of this is really puzzling.
Only after reading the battle report did Zong Xu know what was going on.
It turned out that they were other remnants who were unwilling to submit. They were driven south by Su Tu and gathered troops to attack the gravel slope.
Zong Xu handed the battle report to the deputy general and said to Guo Xu: "We have to send troops in the ice and snow. I'm afraid these barbarians are desperate and come to seize the place to live. It will be a hard battle on the gravel slope. Master Guo, please rush to the front line now.
Please help yourself."
Guo Xu nodded and said: "The war is the most important thing, the general will do whatever he wants."
Zong Xu immediately returned to the White Tiger Festival Hall, dispatched the troops, and even himself, planning to go to the front line in person.
Zong Rui said: "Dad, it's just a gravel slope. Why do you, the commander-in-chief of the Northwest Army, need to take action? I can just go."
Zong Xu avoided people and said to him: "My father did not go there to support me. Although this battle is difficult, our soldiers and horses are strong and we have enough food and grass, so there is nothing to worry about. In the past six months, the grasslands have been littered with corpses, and we and
The offensive and defensive situation of the Hu tribe is completely reversed. If the Hu people can use this time to attack the pass and march into the grassland, there will be no need for an imperial edict..."
Zong Rui suddenly realized: "So that's it! Dad, I want to go too!"
"You have to stay." Zong Xu gave him no hope at all, "We are different from the Right Army. They only need to guard Beitianmen. In addition to the Hu people in the north, we also have the Wushi, Kunyi and other tribes in the west.
We need to be vigilant. My father went to the north and there is no one left to guard Baimen Gorge. I am worried."
No matter how unwilling Zong Rui was, he could only accept it.
Zong Xu sighed and patted his shoulder: "Our Zong family has been guarding the border all year round. Most of the brothers of my father's generation died in the war, and there are not many left. And your younger brothers have not yet matured, so we, father and son, have to work harder."
."
"My child understands that dad must be careful during this trip."
Zong Rui hoped in his heart that Zong Xu's trip would go smoothly. If he could march into the grasslands, he would have many opportunities to make meritorious deeds.
…
When the news came that the barbarians were knocking on the gate, Mingwei was with the female relatives of the generals.
These female relatives have been at the border all year round and have long been used to it, so they are not panicked.
Zong Xu's second wife, Mrs. Ru, arranged the banquet in an orderly manner, comforted everyone, and asked people to send Mingwei back.
Mingwei returned to the guest house obediently.
Not long after, Yang Shu also came back.
"What's going on?" she asked, "Why does Su Tu still have the energy to invade the south?"
Yang Shu shook his head and said: "It's not Su Tu, it's the people who were kicked out of the tribe by him. It was freezing cold and there was nowhere to go, so they took the risk."
"Oh." Ming breathed a sigh of relief. She did not remember this experience.
"When they talked about knocking off the gates, I thought they were going to invade the south in a big way."
Yang Shu smiled and said: "The Baimen Gorge is not as blessed as the Beitianmen. Because of this, there are several city gates on the way south. The gravel slope is just a small gate. Even if it is taken away, the problem is not that serious."
The two talked for a while and then rested as usual.
Yang Shu was even interested in playing with her for most of the night...
When I woke up the next day, it was snowing outside again.
The snowflakes are not big, and they are flying a little bit, which is very poetic.
Yang Shu called Ning Xiu and Ah Xuan to eat mutton pot together. They were very happy.
After hanging around like this for two days, the commander-in-chief suddenly became noisy in the middle of the night.
Although Yang Shu was living a carefree life these days, he was always thinking about it in his heart. As soon as there was any movement outside, he would get up.
"Axuan, Axuan!"
Ah Xuan came over without even putting on his clothes: "Master, my subordinates have sent someone to inquire. Please wait a moment."
Yang Shu rubbed his hands, Mingwei also got up, and the three of them gathered around the stove to wait for news.
Not long after, the general came back.
"Sir, something happened to General Zongda."
Yang Shu was stunned for a moment: "What's going on?"
Yang Shu didn't care about the remaining Hu tribes at all. The small battle might be more difficult, but the Northwest Army has a large number of soldiers and horses. As soon as the reinforcements arrive, they will be able to solve it. What's more, if Zong Xu comes personally, what problems can arise?
The general gasped: "General Zongda encountered snow difficulties on his way to the gravel slope..."
"Is it really snowy?"
The general replied: "They all said so."
Yang Shu nodded, went back to the house to change clothes, and prepared to wait for the news in person.
When he arrived at the White Tiger Festival Hall, Zong Rui and Guo Xu were both present. When they saw him coming in, everyone had no reaction because they had already argued about the rescue.
Yang Shu listened for a while and realized that the matter might be more serious than imagined.
Zong Xu is missing, and the gravel slope has been lost due to snow disaster.
Yang Shu had a bad premonition.
He finally found an opportunity to ask Zong Rui during the quarrel: "What are you going to do?"
Zong Rui glanced at him twice and whispered: "I want to save my father."
"But once you leave, who will be in charge? Not to mention your brother, he is just a junior high school student now. If it were anyone else, someone with a surname other than Zong would still lack prestige."
Zong Rui frowned.
Yang Shu advised him: "I know you are anxious, but it is best not to act rashly at this time. There are many soldiers in the northwest, and you are not short of a general. There are many people to send. To be more serious, something has happened to General Zongda. You
If you can't get to the scene, it won't affect the rescue. If you fall in, it will be a loss-making business."
Zong Rui nodded reluctantly, hesitated, and said, "Thank you."
Yang Shu stopped laughing at him at this moment and only patted him on the shoulder.
Zong Rui calmed down and thought about the candidates to send. At this moment, another battle report came from outside.
"Report——Major General, the Xirong tribes have rebelled!" (To be continued)