The dream of a lonely hero

On Zhao Guangyi's side, Chen Congbao quickly used his body to block Zhao Guangyi. Chen Cong died from a leopard arrow. The soldiers of the Song army were all Xiang soldiers. They turned around and fled when they saw this formation. The army was defeated like a mountain. How could Zhao Guangyi be able to hold back his command, turn back his horse's head and flee. Wang Hanzhong and Dai Xing also turned their horses and fled. Zuo's father and son sent troops to cover up the killing. The cavalry had an absolute advantage over the infantry in the wild and flat plains. Just like cutting wheat, the Song army's soldiers were littered with corpses. Zuo Yanzhang chased after him on horseback and caught up with Wang Fangcai, the governor of Bazhou, and killed Wang Fangcai with a knife and dismounted from his horse.

The Song army was defeated for fifty miles, and Zhao Guangyi fled in embarrassment and was caught in the defeated army. Besides, Wang Rong and Wang Xijie commanded 10,000 troops to take charge of the rear. Hearing the roar of killings in front and looking at the overwhelming defeat of the Song army in front, Wang Rong ordered to retreat. Wang Xijie stopped him and said,"No, Lieutenant Wang! We have not repaid the kindness we received from King Jin. An Neng saw that King Jin was in danger and ignored it." Wang Rong said:"Xijie, it's not that Wang didn't save him when he saw danger. King Jin's tens of thousands of troops can't resist such a situation." The Fan army is as wolf-like as a tiger, so we and the 10,000 infantry troops can't fly into the flames!" Wang Xijie said:"If you run away, just run away, and you will eventually rescue the King of Jin." Go ahead and rush the horse to kill him with an axe. Enter the enemy's formation. Wang Rong gritted his teeth and drove his horse to follow. The 10,000 infantry troops behind him most likely fled back.

Zuo Chenglong was about to start a pursuit. When he saw the Song general swinging his ax to stop him, he raised his sword to kill him. Wang Xijie greeted him with an axe. Immediately after Zuo Chengba arrived on Pegasus, Wang Rong took up the battle with his halberd. Wang Rong fought with Zuo Chengba for twenty rounds, but was defeated by his horse. Wang Rong was not weak in martial arts at first, but he was really a drunkard and a womanizer. After he surrendered to Zhao Guangyi, he spent his daily life searching for beauties. He walked all the way from Xiongzhou on Zhangzhou Road to collect beautiful women. He had a group of wives and concubines, singing and dancing every day and carousing every night. How could he not lose money? They have some physical strength; besides, they have no intention of fighting. The good days have just begun to be enjoyed, and it is not worth risking their lives. Wang Xijie tried his best to fight against Zuo Chenglong, barely holding on for more than ten rounds. Seeing that Wang Rong was defeated, he had no intention of fighting and fled on horseback.

Zuo's father and son became more and more courageous as they fought, and they quickly pursued Xiongzhou City. Before the Song army on the tower had time to raise the drawbridge, the Liao army rushed into Xiongzhou City. Zhao Guangyi fled through the city.

Zhao Guangyi and the remaining defeated generals escaped from Xiongzhou City for more than a hundred miles and crossed the Gunlong River. Looking back, there was no sign of the Liao army. They took a breather and set up camp at Aoyutan by the river. The Chinese officers counted less than 100 remaining soldiers.

In the evening, the wind chases the rain, and the rain chases the wind. The wind and rain cannot drive away the dark clouds in the sky, and the whole world is covered in rain. Jin Wang Zhao Guangyi stood on the river bank, crying loudly, unable to control himself. Behind him stood a row of civil servants and generals, silent and speechless. Jia Su took a step forward to persuade, but was gently pulled by Chai Yuxi. Zhao Guangyi cried bitterly for a while and then slowly stopped. Gao Qiong stepped forward and said:"Your Highness! Victory and defeat are commonplace in wars. Your Highness, don't worry. In the future, you can regroup and fight with the soldiers of the Zuo family." Zhao

Guangyi said with tears in his eyes, and choked up:"Victory and defeat are commonplace in military affairs. It's just that One hundred thousand soldiers were trapped in the Gu family, and the Gu family's beloved generals Chen Congbao, Wang Zhaoyu, and Pei Zhongpu were killed in the battle. It was all my fault!" He shouted"Congbao, Zhaoyu, and Zhongpu" and burst into tears. It shakes the earth and tears people's heart. It will take a long time to arrive. Wang Rong stepped forward and said:"Your Highness! It was all the incompetence of my subordinates that resulted in the destruction of an army of one hundred thousand, and my subordinates have no face left to eat."——"

Yuanda said angrily:"What a shame, Wang Rong! Why didn't you feel free to eat in front of His Highness? Now that His Highness has been defeated, do you want to stay? Ask the Sa family if they agree with the pair of iron maces in their hands!"

Wang Zhao shouted:"Wang Rong If the beast wants to abandon His Highness and run away, someone will stab you to death with a steel fork!"

Wang Rong said,"I misunderstood! How could Wang have the heart to leave His Highness? It's just that--I just feel incompetent and extremely ashamed."

Zhao Guangyi said:" People go to high places and water flows to low places. If Wang Rong wants to leave, the lonely king will give him a gift of silver. If any of you want to leave, the lonely king will not treat you badly."

Wang Rong hurriedly fell to the ground and worshiped, saying:"Subordinates I will never betray His Highness and stay with His Highness."

The other civil and military officials knelt down one after another and said:"I will never betray Your Highness, and I swear to live and die with Your Highness!"

Zhao Guangyi burst into tears and said,"What kind of virtue can I, Zhao Tingyi, have? Dear friends!" He hurriedly helped everyone.

The sky cleared the next day, and Yingzhou capital deployed Zhao Guangmei to send a team of men and horses to deliver grain and grass to Jin Wang Zhao Guangyi's camp in Aoyutan. Zhao Guangyi thought: If Zhao Guangmei's grain and grass had been delivered a few days earlier, he would not have rushed to fight the Liao army, nor would he have suffered such a disastrous defeat today. How could he have delivered a message to the court? Now Zhao Guangmei came here to see his own joke; he suppressed the anger in his heart and accepted the food and grass. When Zhao Guangmei's escorting grain and grass officer exited the camp, Zhao Guangyi was so angry that his eyes turned black, a stream of dirty blood spurted out of his mouth, and he fainted on the ground. All the civil and military officials hurriedly carried him to the back tent and ordered the medical officer Wang Yuanyou to treat him. Three days later, the defeated generals of the Song Army such as Lu Bin, Cen Chongxin, Cheng De, Chen Xin, Ma Wei, Wang Yuanyou, Yangmao, and Mi Chao returned to the Song Army camp in Aoyutan one after another. Zhao Guangyi's condition improved slightly, and he invited his close friends Jia Su, Chai Yuxi, Dai Xing, Yuanda and others to discuss matters in the Chinese army commander's tent. Gao Qiong and Wang Zhao lined up on both sides of Zhao Guangyi. Zhao Guangyi was really working hard. His six-foot-tall body could barely support his head. He couldn't help but remind himself: Zhao Guangyi can't fall. This is definitely not the time for you to fall.

At this time, the Chinese officer came into the account and reported:"Reporting to Your Highness the Commander-in-Chief, a hunter outside the camp claimed to borrow 8,000 guan from Your Highness."

Gao Qiong said quickly:"You are a blind killer! I'm bothering Your Highness with such a trivial matter. Fight!" Pumping his fist to hit.

The lieutenant general said hurriedly:"General Gao will wait until the youngster has finished his report before receiving his punishment."

Gao Qiong said impatiently,"Hurry up and report!"

The lieutenant officer said:"That Orion has some tricks, dozens of soldiers. None of them could withstand it. Shang Feng, the brave military guest, and Li Bin, the white-faced tiger, were punched and kicked by the fellow and were knocked to the ground. Now they are outside the camp gate."

Zhao Guangyi and all the civil and military officials were shocked.

Gao Qiong said:"Your Highness, I will go and meet that guy."

Zhao Guangyi stood up with difficulty and said:"He borrowed money from Gu's family, how could I not see him." In Jia Su, Chai Yuxi, Gao Qiong, Wang Zhao, Yuanda , Ma Xi, Shang Feng, Dai Xing, Li Bin and others came out of the commander's tent and came to the camp gate. They were all surprised.

I saw a man standing ten steps away from the camp gate. He was in his thirties, over seven feet tall, with a black and yellow rectangular face, kind eyebrows and kind eyes. He had a brown torn turban on his head, wearing a short green and brown, a tiger skin silk sash around his waist, and narrow deer leather boots.. The upper hand is holding the iron"Zhenhe Sacred Ox". In ancient times, in order to prevent river flooding, people cast"river-shaking sacred cows" and placed them on the river banks to deter the river monsters from causing trouble. There is also the"Zhenhe Sacred Ox" at Aoyu Beach on the bank of Gunlong River, which is similar in size to a real cow. Zhao Guangyi's camp was set up on the river bank according to the terrain, and the"River Shocking Sacred Ox" surrounded the camp gate of the company camp, weighing eight thousand kilograms of iron. The man was walking around the camp gate holding an iron ox in his hand, breathless and his expression unchanged. The soil along the riverside where it has just rained is soft, and pedestrians will leave deep footprints when they walk by. The man walked along the riverside carrying an iron bull weighing several thousand kilograms, leaving no footprints.

Gao Qiong, Wang Zhao, Dai Xing, and Yuanda looked nervous and guarded Zhao Guangyi closely. Zhao Guangyi observed for a moment, separated from Gao Qiong, Wang Zhao, Dai Xing, and Yuanda, took a step forward, and said with a smile:"Haha! A strong man with such skill is worth not to mention 8,000 guan, even 80,000 guan! A strong man is not only for eight thousand guan, Come here?"

The man said,"May I ask how you address your Majesty?"

Gao Qiong said,"This is His Highness Zhao Guangyi." What a jerk, he called Zhao Guangyi by his first name.

The man was slightly startled and put down the iron ox. The iron ox sank into the ground more than three feet deep. He quickly pushed the golden mountain, toppled the jade pillar, bowed his head and said:"Little Tieling Mountain, Qilinya Orion, Guo Mao, Guo Cun Mi, see Your Highness is the Commander-in-Chief. I heard that His Highness was eager to recruit talents, so he came here to fill up the numbers and disturbed His Highness. I hope Your Highness will forgive me!"

Zhao Guangyi said in surprise:"Keep it secret! Keep it secret! No gifts or gifts!"

Guo Mao took out A letter was handed over and said:"This is the letter recommended by Colonel Yan Yun, Your Highness. Please read it." Yuanda smiled and said,

"Haha! I said you are so great, but it turns out that I am the seventh one." Recommended by my brother." He took the letter and forwarded it to Zhao Guangyi.

Zhao Guangyi took the letter and had no time to read it, so he invited Guo Mao into his tent, introduced Jia Su, Chai Yuxi, Gao Qiong, etc. to him, and gave him a banquet. Jia Su, Chai Yuxi, Gao Qiong, Wang Zhao, Shang Feng, Dai Xing, Yuanda, Ma Wei,"White-faced Tiger" Li Bin,"Flower Sword King" Wang Hanzhong,"Golden Retriever Lion" Zhang Baoyang,"Ba" He was accompanied by Li Jun, the King of Arms, Fu Dun, Fu Sirang, Sai Yingbu, Geng Quanbin, Ge Ba, Fu Qian, Dai Xing, Wang Neng, Zhang Xu and others. During the banquet, Jin Wang Zhao Guangyi asked Shang Feng,"How are the trenches, antlers, and yachas arranged on the river bank?"

Shang Feng said:"Reporting to Your Highness, it has been raining these days, and the trenches, antlers, and yachas on the river bank have not been arranged yet.."

Zhao Guangyi said anxiously:"There is no delay! How can we resist if the Liao army comes to kill us?"

Shang Feng said:"Tomorrow morning, the general will gather all the soldiers to build together, rain or shine."

Guo Mao said:"Your Highness! No need to build.". I speculate that the Liao army will not go south in a large scale for a while. The commander-in-chief of the Liao army, Zuo Yanzhang, the governor of Tanzhou, is well aware of the art of war. It is a taboo for military strategists to go deep into the hinterland of the Song Dynasty alone. Zuo Yanzhang's 10,000 Tanzhou cavalry must have been killed after two battles. With the loss, it is already difficult to contain the nine counties of Xiongzhou; besides, Xiongzhou has just been conquered by the Liao army, and the people of Xiongzhou are unstable, and it will take half a month to appease them."

Jia Su said:"If Zuo Yanzhang did not consider these things, he would make a desperate move and send his troops south. ?"

Guo Mao said:"Master Chang Shi, Zuo Yanzhang is absolutely impossible. He was a traitor general of the Song Dynasty. How could the Liao Kingdom feel relieved about this Han surrendered general? Zuo Yanzhang knew best. He was lucky enough to win. Xiongzhou will definitely be cautious and will never dare to go to Long to look at Shu."

Jia Su said:"What will happen if the Liao army comes from Youzhou?"

Guo Mao said:"Youzhou is an important town in the southern border of the Liao Kingdom, guarded by 50,000 soldiers. If we want to invade Da The hinterland of the Song Dynasty is far from enough. If you want to go south, you must recruit troops and horses from the five counties and twenty-eight counties under Youzhou, and prepare food, grass and baggage for tens of thousands of troops. It will take at least a month to prepare the troops and then march to the lower city of Xiongzhou. At the moment It is the season of continuous autumn rains, the road is muddy, the road is bumpy, and there are two big rivers to cross. It is really difficult to reach the other side of Gunlong River within a month."

Zhao Guangyi, Jia Su and others were doubtful.

Gao Qiong said:"Your Highness! When the soldiers come, we will block the water and cover up the soil. No matter when the slaves come, we will launch our troops when they come. Now that we have added Guo Mao, who can overwhelm thousands of enemies, we are still afraid of the left army." You can't succeed!" The slightly tense atmosphere at the banquet was gradually diluted by Gao Qiong's words.

Yuanda said to Guo Mao:"Brother Cunmi had already taken out my seventh brother's letters, how could there have been such troubles!"

Jia Su said:"If Cunmi didn't act like this, I'm afraid you would look down upon me."

Gao Qiong said:"Guo Mao, you guys Do you still remember borrowing eight thousand strings from His Highness? Is it true?"

Yuanda smiled and said:"Brother Gao can't be so foolish. Is that just Brother Cunmi Maoshe - the reason for self-recommendation to Mao Sui?"

Guo Mao He said solemnly:"Ji Tong (Yuan Da's word) is only half right."

Yuanda was startled and said:"Your Highness has just suffered a great disaster, but you want to borrow eight thousand guans. You are taking advantage of the situation."

The faces of Gao Qiong and Wang Zhao changed greatly.

Guo Mao said:"Shanfu wants to borrow eight thousand guan to recapture Xiongzhou City."

Everyone present was surprised when he heard this. moment. Yuanda said:"Are you trying to bribe the Liao general?"

Guo Mao smiled humorously and said,"Shanfu wants to try it."

Yuanda stared in surprise and said,"You are drunk! That Liao army?" General Zuo Yanzhang's dog Zuo Chenghu was raked into a pulp by Gao Qiong, and you still want to bribe him!"

Zhao Guangyi, Jia Su, and Chai Yuxi have been listening to their conversation silently. After they had had enough wine and food, the banquet was removed and tea and fruits were served. Jia Su picked up the topic just now and said:"Cunmi said just now that he would use eight thousand guan to retake Xiongzhou City. Is it a joke?" This is a question in everyone's mind, especially Zhao Guangyi who listened carefully.

Guo Mao said:"Jia Changshi, how dare you joke in front of His Highness!"

Gao Qiong became anxious and said:"That's nonsense. The Sa family thinks you are a poor man reincarnated, and you are crazy about money! You want to say that you can't do it with me!" If you use your martial arts to take back Xiongzhou, the Sa family will still believe in you.——"

Zhao Guangyi glared at Gao Qiong, who swallowed what he wanted to say.

Guo Mao said:"Shanfu wants to use money to recruit hundreds of soldiers to defeat the Liao army and recapture Xiongzhou."

Jia Su was very puzzled. He was stunned for a moment and said:"Hundreds of soldiers? The defeated armies have been returning one after another these days. There are no less than two thousand people, why are you recruiting? Besides, the new recruits are not as good as these two thousand soldiers. After all, they have not been drilled."

Yuanda interjected:"You think you are recruiting heavenly soldiers and heavenly generals!"

Guo Mao said:"Shanfu will invite the heavenly soldiers and generals to come to help."

Jia Su said:"If we don't recruit new troops, the heavenly soldiers and generals will not come to help?"

Guo Mao said:"The defeated army can no longer be used, they are all frightened by the Liao army Is a eunuch who has been purified still a man after losing his courage? Can a sergeant who has lost his courage still be called a sergeant? How can the heavenly soldiers and heavenly generals not give up!"

Zhao Guangyi, the king of Jin, saw Guo Mao's serious expression and said,"Yuxi tomorrow I will take eight thousand guan for Cunmi in the morning. Is Cunmi enough?"

Guo Mao said:"Thank you, Your Highness! Eight thousand guan is enough."

Chai Yuxi promised.

Gao Qiong said:"Guo Mao, you won't take away these eight thousand strings to find happiness, right?"

Wang Zhao said:"Guo Mao, what will you say if you can't retreat the Liao army and recapture Xiongzhou?"

Guo Mao said:"Shanfu is willing to serve as a military commander. , please bring up the paper and ink."

Deacon Wang Yande took the four treasures of the study and immediately studied the ink. Guo Mao picked up his pen to write, and from time to time he finished writing and presented it to the King of Jin for viewing. I saw that the words were written with great force and strength, and the power penetrated the back of the paper, and the sentences were well-worded and easy to say. King Jin was secretly shocked, how could this be done by a mountain hunter. Just when King Jin was stunned. Gao Qiong said:"Guo Mao, don't be fooled. The Sa family will work with you to see how you can retreat the Liao army and take over Xiongzhou!" Wang Hanzhong,"Golden Retriever Lion" Zhang Baoyang,"Eight-Armed King Kong" Li Jun,"Sai Yingbu" Fu Dun Fu Sirang, and"Hengjiang Iron Dragon" Geng Quanbin said:"We are willing to go together."

Guo Mao said:"As long as Of course His Highness can agree, but he must obey the villagers' general orders."

The King of Jin said:"I would like to appoint Guo Maoquanzhi (temporary acting agent) to disperse the commanders (temporarily formed battalion-level establishment) commanders, Gao Qiong, Wang Zhao, Yuanda , Ma Wei, Li Bin, Wang Hanzhong, Zhang Baoyang, Li Jun, Fu Dun, Geng Quanbin, Quan Zhisan, deputy commander, shall not disobey General Guo Mao's order." Guo Mao thanked him. Gao Qiong, Wang Zhao, Yuanda, Ma Wei, Li Bin and others accepted the promise. The King of Jin ordered Jia Su to arrange a tent for Guo Mao to rest. Everyone went back to their tents to rest. King Jin wandered alone in the account. Chai Yuxi returned to the account and said:"Does Your Highness really believe in Guo Mao? He is talented in civil and military affairs, but he is not like Orion. Although there is a letter from Yan Yun, Yan Yun is not a shrewd person, and Yan Yun has only known him for a few days. Today, could Guo Mao be a spy of the Liao army? If so, the consequences would be disastrous!"

The King of Jin said:"Yuxi! Don't be suspicious of people you employ and don't use people who are suspicious."

Chai Yuxi said:"This risk is too great! I hope Your Highness will think twice!"

The King of Jin said:"Then Yuxi will give me a good strategy to defeat the Liao invaders and capture Xiongzhou."

Chai Yuxi silently withdrew from the commander's tent. After a long time, the King of Jin sent Wang Yande to summon Dai Xing to his tent and said:"Dai Xing will dress up as a vendor collecting game medicinal materials and go to Qilin Ya in Tieling Mountain tomorrow morning to find out Guo Mao's detailed information. Remember to keep his actions secret." , Secondly, we must leave quickly and return quickly." Dai Xing accepted the order and returned.