"Guan family, we are about to enter the city!" Seeing the city wall covering the inner crossing right in front of him, and the watchtower on the city wall brightly lit, Yang Yizhong suddenly turned around and reminded. "I heard from people who came here before that there is something in the river.
There are burnt boats and wooden fences, and several water gates are also broken down. We need someone to guide us through, so please don’t speak for the time being."
"Zhengfu is free." Zhao Jiu held the food box in her arms and didn't take it seriously.
"You guys still dare to come to Xia Cai?" Seeing a ship sailing in and a Song Army sailor shouting, the sergeant of Xia Caicheng who was guarding the water gate actually yelled and cursed directly. "You guys, these turtles and grandsons are very popular in Henan.
Do you have any conscience for leaving your grandfathers here?"
"roll roll roll!"
Before Yang Yizhong could speak, another figure dressed as an officer appeared from the watchtower on the city wall, but he was more direct. "If anyone dares to bother me again, I will shoot straight away!"
"Is it Li Laosan of Hezhong Prefecture?!" When Yang Yizhong heard this person's voice, he almost immediately became furious. "Who gave you the courage to treat me uncleanly? I carry an imperial decree with me.
I want to see Lieutenant Zhang. Now quickly send someone down to lead the way, and then ask Commander Tian (of the division) to come to Neidu to meet you. Don’t be too troublesome!"
The man seemed to recognize Yang Yizhong's voice, and after a while he sent someone to report back, and personally came down with a lantern to give instructions. However, when he came to the water gate, he couldn't help but muttered on the shore: "Yang Dalang is now
The red men in front of the official residence are naturally fierce, so how do they know our plight? We were left here, and Neidu was burned again, as if we were without a father and a mother..."
"Li Laosan!" Normally, Yang Yizhong would have listened to the other party's nonsense without saying anything, but today there was someone in the boat, how could he let the other party chatter endlessly. "The officials have already killed Liu Guangshi, and the current situation is
, the ministers on the other side have repeatedly urged the officials to leave first, but the officials are unwilling to leave. Isn’t it just because of you? Now that the matter has come to this, what is there to complain about? If you are in this position, just look at the official dragon flag opposite.
!”
"Go this way, you don't have to pull the water gate. Most of it is burned here, and you can cross the boat directly..." Li Laosan stood on the shore inside the gate and muffledly directed the boats to enter the city, but he couldn't help but mutter loudly on purpose. "
Who knows if it is just a dragon flag, and the official himself has already gone to Yangzhou? I heard people say that Yangzhou has gold mountains and silver seas... and Liu Guangshi, I know that a Taiwei is bigger than Zhang Taiwei.
My real father is the Taiwei, how can I kill him? Who are you trying to fool? Send me his head so that I can see!"
Yang Yizhong was furious, but when he saw that there was no movement from the officials, he had to pretend not to hear anything.
In this way, after the boat entered the inner crossing protected by the city wall along the water gate, although it was open for a while, due to the complicated water conditions, it took a long time to wind up and listen to Zhang Laosan's complaints along the way for a long time before finding a suitable place to dock.
Go ashore... At this time, Tian Shizhong, the general of the Chinese army under Zhang Jun, was already waiting here.
"Don't say anything and don't look around. The officials are here." As soon as Yang Yizhong landed on the shore, he held his former colleague in his arms and whispered to him. "Don't alarm others. Take us to see the Taiwei quickly."
Tian Shizhong was shocked and confused, but he didn't dare to say anything. He just turned around and ordered his subordinates to fetch some horses. Then he couldn't help but take the opportunity to peek at each other, until he caught a glimpse of Zhao Jiu himself who was holding the food box.
He quickly turned around, and after a while the horses arrived, and he led the way again.
This time, perhaps because it was late at night and the snow was deep, there was not much congestion on the road. Almost a moment later, the group of people arrived at a spacious mansion that had already quieted down.
Moreover, Tian Shizhong is Zhang Jun's confidant and confidant, so there is no need for any communication at all. The front sent people to wake Zhang Jun up, and Commander Tian from the rear directly sent Zhao Jiu and Yang Yizhong together.
We were led to Zhang Jun's bedroom in the backyard. At this time, the lights in the bedroom had just come on.
After waiting for a while, a maid opened the door, and Zhao Jiu no longer covered herself up and went in alone with the food box in her arms.
"Official!"
Zhang Jun was half naked, and there were two naked concubines on the bed. When he saw the visitor, he wanted to scold him, but when he put down the food box and took off his helmet, he was so shocked that he quickly turned over and knelt down. "How did the official get here?"
The prime minister, censor, chamberlain, and Yang Yizhong should all be killed!"
Seeing this, Zhao Jiu waved his hand first, asking the two frightened concubines and the other maids in the house to wrap up their blankets and leave. Then they waited outside the door for Yang Yizhong, who was supposed to be beheaded, and Tian Shizhong to clear the place together.
, closed the door, and just sat down shivering next to a heater in the house:
"It's cold. I came across the river. My hands are cold, so I won't help you. Lieutenant Zhang, please get up and sit down quickly... I'm just sending a few things and chatting, but I won't be able to stay long!"
Zhang Jun got up in a hurry after hearing this, but found an exquisite silver heater on his bed and handed it to him. Then he tied up his clothes in a panic and carefully sat down opposite Zhao Jiu, but his mind was still blank.
"Open it and take a look." Zhao Jiu said to the food box on the table.
Zhang Boying did not dare to neglect and opened the food box directly. She was shocked to see a saltwater duck with one leg missing in the box. She immediately didn't know what to say.
"Today is New Year's Eve. I am hosting a banquet in the north of Bagong Mountain in Huainan to entertain the civil and military officials. This was specially prepared for me by Lin Jingmo, the magistrate of Shouzhou." Zhao Jiu said while holding the heater. "I ate a leg and suddenly thought of you.
I came to Dongtai Pavilion in Beifekou, and I thought I would deliver it to you no matter what... It’s no longer delicious at this time, so I’ll steam it tomorrow morning and use it again.”
Zhang Jun opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
"There is another layer below!" Zhao Jiu continued to speak.
Zhang Jun quickly took off the interlayer, but fell back in shock. It turned out that there was a layer of snowflakes and ice slag on the bottom of the food box. On top of the ice scum, there was a frozen hard head. The lifelike head was none other than Liu Guangshi.
Liu Taiwei.
"Actually, I didn't want to bring Liu Guangshi's head." Zhao Jiu continued to speak hastily. "It would be a disappointment to bring this for the Chinese New Year, but if I don't bring it, I don't know what else to bring..."
"Liu Guangshi is really dead?!" Zhang Jun finally couldn't help but speak, but he was not only filled with emotion but also with questions.
"He's really dead." Zhao Jiu replied calmly. "He died that night when he crossed the river. I asked Wang De to hold his left hand and Fu Qing to hold his right hand. They killed him in front of him with the knife... and then cut off his head.
Level, to inform the three armies, I have specially brought it for you to take a look at tonight, just because I am afraid you won’t believe it.”
Zhang Jun looked quite embarrassed: "I thought it was just a rumor when I told you about this matter when I sent an edict to the other side."
"Let's not talk about this anymore." Zhao Jiu said, putting down the heater, and then took out something from his arms, and it turned out to be a bunch of frost-colored grapes. When the object was placed on the table, it made a clanking sound again. "
This is with you too.”
Zhang Jun reached out to touch it and discovered that the lifelike grapes were actually made of colored glaze. Needless to say, this was an extremely precious treasure.
"These are the tributes from the governor of Yangzhou." Before Zhang Boying could show his gratitude, Zhao Jiu continued to explain simply. "This time, the military states in the southeast sent a lot of good things. Mr. Lu advised me to smash them all as a sign of gratitude.
The meaning of simplicity... If Li Xianggong (Li Gang) were here, I might not be able to smash them, but since it is Lu Xianggong, I said it was not necessary, so I saved them, and then during the day, I rewarded them all during the New Year.
.And I estimate that this bunch of grapes should be the most valuable one among them, and I happened to hear people say that you are good at everything else but just greedy for money, so I left it alone for you."
Zhang Jun opened his mouth to speak, but still didn't know what to say.
"In fact, in the past few days, the civil and military forces across the street have been talking about it, saying that you will definitely surrender, and then advised me to leave here early and go to Yangzhou." Zhao Jiu continued to hold the heater and said. "And I thought so too.
Yes, because those who are greedy for money must be greedy for life... and in the current situation, if you suddenly surrender, or abandon the city and run away, I really have nothing to say."
Zhang Jun quickly wanted to kneel down again, but Zhao Jiu reached out and grabbed his arm. The former did not dare to move anymore and could only sit back with all his strength.
"Captain Zhang, of course I came here today to reassure you, but I actually don't know if this visit is of any use. But if I didn't come to give you this duck, this head, and this bunch of grapes,
If you say these nonsense words, what can I, an official, do at this time?"
Having said this, Zhao Jiu put down the heater with one hand and sighed. "That's what I wanted to do when I came here today... First, I want to give you a New Year's gift, and I want to take this opportunity to reiterate the promise of Dongtai Pavilion that day. As long as you can fight against the Jin Dynasty,
, I will not be stingy with what I can give you; secondly, I want to make a gentleman's agreement with you. Liu Guangshi caused a great disaster and made Xiacaicheng an isolated city. Therefore, you can defend this city if you can, but if you can't, be prepared.
I don’t blame you for surrendering or abandoning, but if my dragon is still on the other side by then, please be sure to give me a message in advance for today’s sake! That’s all!”
With that said, Zhao Jiu didn't waste any more time and stood up, put on his helmet, and left.
Zhang Jun stood up in confusion, preparing to follow him, but Zhao Jiu raised his hand to stop him. He could only let Zhao Guan's family come and leave in a hurry... And after half an hour, the sky had begun to darken.
When Tian Shizhong, who had sent Zhao Guan's family on board the ship, came back, he found that Lieutenant Zhang was still sitting at the table, staring blankly at the saltwater duck that was beginning to turn into oil, the human head that was turning into blood, and the bunch of grapes that would never fade.
"What's wrong with Taiwei today?" Tian Shizhong entered and glanced at the head first. After swallowing for a long time to calm down, he couldn't help but be puzzled. "Yang Dalang and I sat outside and listened for a long time.
The officials are really sincere, but if the Taiwei wants to leave, why not take the opportunity to say so? If he is determined to stick to it, why not take the opportunity to show his loyalty? How can he be so obedient for a long time and not say a word? "
"I'm still in a dream now!" Zhang Jun suddenly raised his head, revealing two red eyes. "Xiaotian, do you think that such a confidant person is really a member of the Zhao Song family?"
Tian Shizhong was also silent for a moment.
After a full stick of incense had passed, Tian Shizhong said with emotion: "Haojiao Taiwei knows one more little thing... Yang Dalang secretly asked me for Zhao Yushi in the courtyard, so I arranged for him privately.
I sent Yushi Zhao to the ferry to be the Prime Minister."
"That's right." Zhang Jun answered casually.
"Then when Zhao Yushi saw the officials at the ferry, he was unwilling to cross the river and return to the south. Instead, he made up his mind temporarily and said that he would stay to help the Taiwei defend the city. The officials also rewarded him with the appointment of the magistrate of Shouzhou.
…”
Zhang Jun glanced at Tian Shizhong blankly, but was speechless.
Let's say that the heavy snow gradually stopped overnight and before dawn, the two small boats crossed each other far away again in the Huaihe River. Their outlines became clearer, but they still paid no attention to each other. Instead, they each carried the key people on their boats back to camp.
When the sky turned white and the second year of Jianyan officially arrived, the Song army on the south bank was pounding ice along the river as usual, and the Jin army on the north bank was galloping and conducting reconnaissance as usual. However, most of them had no idea what their respective commanders were doing at night. After a period
Xiacaicheng, which was depressing during the New Year, finally began to become more lively.
In the morning, the Jin army suddenly sent an envoy into the city to persuade them to surrender... No matter what, the situation kept changing, just like the Huaihe River never stops, but the rhythm of the war never changed, just like Bagong Mountain has not wavered for thousands of years.