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Volume 4 Middle Chapter 155 The Huns Laugh for a Thousand Years-4

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    "General Wang has sent troops to the Northern Expedition!" The news that the Song army had once again vowed to march north had not yet passed the night, and the reporters of major news reported back with the fastest pigeon papers.  When the prime minister saw the memorial of Wang Gui's Northern Expedition in the Ezhou pledge room, the morning markets in Bianliang, Guangzhou, Xiangyang, Yangzhou and other Tongdu cities were already full of people selling newspapers.  The Northern Expedition to the Three Passes and the battle to recapture Youzhou began with the whole nation of the Song Dynasty watching.  The whole country was once again excited by this news.  The Liao army invaded the south and displaced a large number of Song people. Countless nobles from Henan and Hebei lived in the south, and more refugees were scattered throughout the Song Dynasty.  Therefore, Song people everywhere, like them, felt the deep humiliation and pain caused by the Liao people's southern invasion.  The Northern Expedition to the Liao Kingdom and the recovery of the homeland have long been a fire that countless people hold in their hearts and never let out.  This is the direction of the country's righteousness. Compared with it, the intrigues in the imperial court are like fading grass in the strong wind. Under the unanimous public opinion of the whole country, all kinds of criticisms against the Prime Minister's Office and the imperial court quickly disappeared.  Occasionally there were one or two noises, but they were drowned in the surging torrent of public opinion gathered by the enthusiasm of countless people.  "Hearing his fate in the morning, he will die in the evening. He will serve the country and the people without hesitation!" "Mr. Zhu, this Lu Mingyu is really the first hero in the Song Dynasty!" "The Liao people abolished Chinese characters in the north, shaved their hair and put on braids, etc.  All kinds of methods became even more perverse after the invasion of the south. This is to convert the barbarians into the Xia Dynasty.¡±  , Those who defy nature will perish. Therefore, no matter whether we win or lose in this Northern Expedition, we as a whole country in the Song Dynasty, as long as we have one determination, regardless of temporary gains or losses, we will fight him to the end over time, whether we win or lose!  The Liao people will be defeated, and the army of the Song Dynasty will be victorious! General Wang and others will go to the northern expedition, and they will have a beautiful house in the countryside, a wife and a son, and they will be famous for a long time." Hidden in the bamboo forest, a group of white-robed scholars gathered together passionately.  .  With the whole country in turmoil, even Donglin Academy, which boasts that it "never interferes in government affairs and does not discuss current affairs," is no exception.  The world is in chaos and people are excited, but there is no room for a quiet desk.  After school work, all the students gathered together and discussed current affairs without any scruples.  Even Zhu Sen could not blame them harshly for not calming down and speaking academically.  No one is a saint, and no one can be ruthless. Even Zhu Sen himself would inevitably feel overwhelmed by it.  Facing the young and excited faces, Zhu Sen's face was as dark as water. He did not tell them the different motives of the Northern Expedition generals, nor did he point out to them that his usual opposition to the court's increase in taxes and his support for the Northern Expedition ran counter to each other.  Donglin's rule is never to discuss current affairs or interfere in government affairs.  It was okay for students to violate the rules occasionally, but Zhu Sen had to set an example.  Furthermore, he firmly believed that everything could not escape from the word "reason". As long as students studied Neo-Confucianism carefully and experienced more worldly affairs, they would be able to understand these worldly matters sooner or later.  Not long after the scholar¡¯s ??blushing discussion, there were several sounds of cloud boards, the short break ended, and the lecture began again.  This lesson is about morality. The scholars suppressed their excitement and returned to their seats. Zhu Sen looked at the students sitting down, his heart moved slightly. He did not quote the classics, but said slowly: "I am a proud China, four thousand years ago."  Inheritance is consistent and endless. What is this fire passed down from generation to generation? It is not a cold thing, nor is it illusory. It reflects the soft and warm nature and morality.  For example, the North Star in the sky constantly pulls the hearts of the world, and it is like the sun shining on us, warming us, comforting us, and giving us honor, hope, confidence, and strength for four thousand years.  Envy, surprise, jealousy, these are the virtues of us Chinese people" There was silence in the seat. It was rare for Master Zhu to be so plain. While all the scholars were surprised, they all listened attentively.   "Come on! General Wang of the Imperial Court has sent troops to attack Youzhou!" On the canal, Xiao Qi raised his head and replied cheerfully to the civilians opposite: "Okay!"  He lowered his head and his eyes fell on his patched cotton-padded jacket.  On the Grand Canal, Xiao Qi did not drive a boat, but walked beside the ice sledge. His beard was covered with white frost flowers.  The twelfth lunar month of winter is originally the season for boatmen to take a break.  However, before the canal was thawed, the Ezhou court followed the example of the Northerners and rushed to make a batch of sledges to transport grain and wages to Henan. In the past, both ship merchants and shipwrights were wasted, and it would be good to come back with a life.  However, this time it was different. The Yangzhou magistrate and the state school came out to oppose the transshipment, so the Yamen sent Bai Tiaozi to forcefully recruit civilian workers, and they also won a good price for the civilian boatmen.  Of course Xiao Qi signed up. With his background in Bianliang, his experience of playing with sledges and driving carriages when he was young, and his experience of making a living on the canal all year round, Xiao Qi not only passed the recruitment, but was also appointed.The captain in charge of ten sledges joined the operation of transporting military rations to the north.  After being stunned for a while, Xiao Qi turned around and shouted into the cabin: "The imperial court is attacking Youzhou!" He looked behind expectantly.  As usual, Xiao Shiniang also works as an errand in the team with her brother to earn some food rations to supplement the family income.  Since the closure of Yangzhou Zhengxintang, Xiao Qi¡¯s family has been in a state of gloom and misery like a sinking ship.  "Really? It's great!" The voice in the cabin replied crisply. Xiao Qi's eyes lit up and she felt inexplicably relieved.  "The officers and soldiers are going on the Northern Expedition, and they will soon defeat the Liao Kingdom and recover Youzhou!" The people were talking about it, with a hint of excitement and joy on everyone's face.  This is not because the government troops regained Hebei, which would probably restore the prices of Hebei coupons and Nanhai coupons. Since the closure of Zhengxintang, Xiao Qi has regarded the papers hidden at home as waste paper.  However, it is always a good thing that makes everyone happy when the army defeats the Liao Kingdom and regains Hebei.  "Let's work harder!" "Have a go!" Loud shouts rang out in the sledge team. The peasants were reluctant to whip the animals, so they just changed their tricks and threw their whips in the air.  "Crack¡ª¡ª" "Crack¡ª¡ª" "Bah¡ª¡ª" Amidst the sound of whips, mules, donkeys, and horses panted heavily, walking quickly on the solid ice, and piled up military supplies.  The sledge was dragged and slid, through the cold wind, all the way north.   Everything is frozen, the vast expanse of ice is white, and the birds are extinct. The bridge here has long been destroyed. Not far to the north is the boundary of Waqiao Pass. The Liao cavalry patrolled the north bank.  Very strict.  Hejian City, where the Song Army's camp was located, was only a mere two hundred miles away from Xiongzhou occupied by the Liao Army.  The Zuo Army was stationed almost on the border of Xiongzhou, so within a few days of marching north, the troops arrived at the south bank of Yishui River.  Yi Shui has long been covered with a thick layer of ice, showing no signs of thawing.  However, the Liao army was very cunning. They dug ice caves as early as when the river had just frozen. Some of the ice layers seemed to be the same, but in fact they were much thinner than other places. Once there were more people and horses on the ice, the ice layers became thinner.  It will be unable to bear the strength and break into pieces.  Jia Yuanzhen led the Huoban Horse Infantry Battalion to scout the army. Under constant harassment from the Liao Army, he finally found a road on the vast ice that could carry the large group of people through.  Unavoidable to go deep alone, the Song Army's forward stopped after arriving at the south bank of Yishui River.  After the large group of troops gathered, various units of the left army asked to be the vanguard to cross the river, and this military task finally fell on the Guangnan Battalion.  In addition to being surprised, everyone was also sweating.  "After passing Nanyishui, there is Waqiao Pass in front of us." Jia Yuanzhen pointed his riding whip at the ice and introduced to the people around him.  "Farewell to Yandan here, the strong men are proud of their crowns. The people have disappeared in the past, but the water is still cold today." Zuo Nianyuan took a deep breath of cold air and bowed his hands to Jia Yuanzhen: "Yan and Zhao are many generous and tragic people, Brother Jia,  Today, I have some heroes from Guangnan." He looked back at the Guangnan camp, which had already lined up, and waved, "Listen to my order and cross the river!" With this order, two thousand gunmen lined up.  They formed four columns and crawled toward the other side cautiously like a long snake.  "Brother Zuo, the war is dangerous, the Liao people are cunning, and the Guangnan camp is the vanguard, so caution should be the first priority." Jia Yuanzhen looked at the other side and whispered.  Zuo Nianyuan cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Brother Jia, for the tip." He had no time to think too much, so he hurriedly said goodbye and walked forward, quickly surpassing the brigade and catching up with the guide sent by Jia Yuanzhen.  The north wind was blowing hard, and all the battalions had their flags wrapped up, but the flag bearers still struggled to raise the flag gun high, and the small triangular flag under the gun head was flying.  This Northern Expedition of the Song Army was the main force. On the vast white ice field, a large group of people meandered forward, with Zuo Nianyuan leading the army at the front of the queue.  "This guy named Zuo is a character." Jian Tianliang looked at his back and said to himself, with a strange look on his face.  Jian Tianliang's battalion often served as the scout battalion of the Zuo Army, and he had just returned from investigating near Xiongzhou.  He brought back an unexpected news. Instead of being prepared to hold on, the Liao army retreated northward in large groups.  In order to avoid underestimating the enemy's carelessness, Lu Mingyu ordered all the troops to march according to the original plan, and at the same time ordered Jian Tianliang and others to strictly keep the secret.  At this time, except for a few generals such as Jia Yuanzhen and Jian Tianliang, even Zuo Nianyuan, who led the team to cross the river first, did not know that there was only an empty city left in Xiongzhou.  "Waqiao Pass is the gateway to Youzhou. What are the Liao people's intentions? Are they really fleeing without a fight?" Jia Yuanzhen looked ahead.  He thought secretly.  He figured that with Jian Tianliang's ability, he would not even be mistaken about whether the Liao army had really withdrawn its troops.  Lu Mingyu also confirmed this, and then gave up this first contribution to Guangnan Camp, which established the friendship between the three towns in Henan and Guangnan.  "But, what happened to the Liao army?"  Youzhou City??, a bloody human head hung on a high flagpole.
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