Chapter 395 – Life’s Hardest Death Without Regret
Xu Fengyen and Huyan Daguan rode in the dead of night, slightly detouring, from the south gate of the night has been prohibited to enter the refusal of the northern city.
The general’s residence is still brightly lit, the flow of people like weaving, most of the young and strong, compared to the ordinary Northern Liang border troops to be more a few points of elegance, not wearing armor, not wearing military official uniforms, mostly scribes green shirts, but everyone hangs wear a cool knife, and the waist hangs a jade texture of the small seal, the seal text is “Military Counselor” four words, and therefore today is also known as “Counselor Lang”. Be called Guanwai Counselor Lang.
This set of people come from a complex background, there are from the Qingliang Mountain that is known as the Northern Liang Road Dragon Gate Song Dongming residence, but also by Huang Shang Wang Xihua and other famous Confucian recommendations from the major academies to promote out of the young scholars, there are from the cool and Yuyi two states in the border army to the young military officers, the oldest is only the beginning of forty years old, but the number of less, more is located in the prime of life of the current year, the weak crown of the man is not uncommon. These people have one thing in common, whether it is a native of Beiliang or a foreigner, their origins are not bad, and since childhood they have read a lot of poetry and books, and most of them have a fascination for the art of war. Due to the special status of Military Counselor, it is not easy to determine the official rank, the two civil leaders, Song Dongming, the Deputy Secretary of the Northern Liang Road and Bai Yu, the Assassin of Liangzhou, weighed the pros and cons and agreed that these young people would only be in the status of a white coat for the time being, and would attend to large and small military affairs in the feudal residence of Rejection of the Northern City, but would be able to receive their salaries, which would be comparable to that of a magistrate of a county under the court of Liyang. It sounded as if the salary wasn’t too low, except that the Deputy Secretary General’s Residence and the Liangzhou Assassin’s Residence had put down the word at the outset that the money would have to be owed up front! However, everyone received a paper transfer order, but still gladly resumed orders.
The clan residence covers a wide area, Xu Fengyen walked all the way to the council hall, because here has long established an unwritten rule, all the characters regardless of the official position, after seeing the young feudal king just slow down their steps, neither stopping, also do not need to bow, at most is to collide with each other slightly to the sides of the corridors and walk, for the young feudal king to give way to the road. Almost everyone noticed today that although the young feudal lord was still approachable, his aura seemed to be a bit low and introverted, as if he had a lot on his mind. Xu Fengyen came to the first important place of the clan residence, the Border Army Council Hall, compared to the Qingliang Mountain Council Hall, the latter has more symbolic significance at the moment, the spacious Council Hall in the solemn atmosphere of the Rejected North City is the real pivotal place that decides the direction of the war in the Beiliang Pass.
The council hall is not often used, unless discussing a major military event, or a key moment of the generals gathered, the council hall will be overcrowded, Xu Fengyen crossed the threshold of the time, only a handful of military aircraft counselor Lang, is to the corner of the wall to hang a few just by the water to raise eagles two rooms sent Qingzhou situation map, see the figure of the young feudal king, in addition to the two young people holding a pole frame map, the map is responsible for keeping an eye on whether the map is crooked Military Counselor Lang hurriedly turned around and respectfully clasped his fists and said, “See you, Great General!”
Xu Fengnian smiled and nodded, then waved his hand to indicate that they need not pay attention to themselves.
Huyan Daguan did not follow the young vassal king to cross into the council hall, and left in large strides, this going would not just be leaving Rejecting the North City alone, but directly leaving Liangzhou, leaving the Northern Liang Road with his wife and children, and heading to Western Sichuan to visit the scenery.
Huyan Daguan left when he seemed quite indignant, cursing, hands rubbing each other’s arms, vaguely visible wounds and bruises.
It turned out that in the south return to the road, that clearly said has “figured out” the young king, twice without warning to the north, Huyan Daguan easily blocked once, full of anger the second time is directly pulled the young man’s ankles, to the ground smashed a big dusty pit.
This Northern Mang jianghu man in the freshly baked two dynasties of new martial arts evaluation, to replace Cao Changqing’s position, in one fell swoop among the world’s four great masters one of the four, in the four people, although it is the bottom of the list, but the world recognized to be able to Xu Fengyen, Tuoba Bodhisatta and Deng Tai’a shoulder to shoulder people, can never be regarded as an ordinary realm of the land gods. This session of the martial arts evaluation additional evaluation nowadays jianghu, although the number of land immortals is slightly less than Wang Xianzhi led the martial arts end of the era, but these land immortals of the strong combat power, the realm of the high, is a thousand years has not been the great weather and great situation, can be called a thousand years of jianghu biggest year the most brilliant period.
After this trip alone to Dunhuang City for the young king of the clan to find out the news, Huyan Daguan self-confessed and Xu Fengyen has been clear of the old accounts, the past life this life knot, the future is a one-wooden bridge Yangguan Road, the two sides of the life and death of their own responsibility.
Xu Fengnian naturally did not retain Huyan Daguan.
Northern Liang cavalry commander Yuan Zuozong saber walking into the council hall, the threshold of the left and right squatting in the play of the Oh girl and the Zhu robe Xu Ying, replaced by ordinary people, really do not have the courage to cross the threshold from between them.
See stand alone in front of the long table case looking down at the young feudal king of the Liangmang border map, Yuan Zuozong did not feel any surprise, slowly walked to Xu Fengnian side, said softly: “When Chu Lushan drilled into the bull’s-eye, even the great general can not be persuaded, but also the mother of righteousness to speak, Chu Lushan willing to listen to a sentence.”
Yuan Zuozong remembered an old story, couldn’t help but smile and said, “In fact, when we first arrived in Beiliang and set up roots, the Great General originally intended to let Chu Lushan serve as the vice marshal of the cavalry army, half of which was a reward for Chu Lushan’s spring and autumn campaigns and his northern expedition to the prairie, and half of which was also for the purpose of restraining Zhong Hongwu, the only member of the Xu family who had been appointed as a Great General of Huaihua by the court at the time. At that time for the acceptance of not accepting from the sun Zhao Dun given the title of general, Zhong Hongwu although the heart envy very much, but also very hesitant, after all, that is from the sun Zhao room intentionally used to nausea father’s handiwork, the last father laughed and said that white take the official position of the second grade, don’t want to not for nothing, Zhong Hongwu this is the heart of the acceptance of the only Chu LuShan can not afford to be angry, death is also not willing to go outside the LiangZhou pass as a cavalry second-in-command, said that is afraid that he can not help it! A slap fan death surnamed Zhong old man, which only in Liangzhou City when a sesame green beans the size of the official, not civil and military, but also Chu Lushan himself willingly, other people do not understand, his hand to teach out of the eight thousand trailing river iron cavalry old pawns, but also at that time disbanded. After all, the main general Chu Lushan left the border army, this cavalry army will not be in good name, otherwise it can’t set up its own gate outside the Liangzhou Pass, that would be too unorthodox.”
Xu Fengyen suddenly raised his head, clenched his hands into fists against the desktop, and asked, “Is Chu Lushan staying at Huaiyang Pass really more favorable to the general situation of Northern Liang than strategizing in this Reject North City?”
Yuan Zuozong did not rush to give an answer, but instead calmly said some off-topic: “Chu Lushan is a serious horseman origin, from the Spring and Autumn Warfare early to join the cavalry, in fact, with Wu Qi Xu Pu and others are a generation of Xu family iron rider old man, only because Chu Lushan led the troops to fight too hard, hard on the enemy, harder to themselves, to give him 1,000 soldiers and horses, other people a bitter war fight! Down, may also leave a minimum of four or five hundred people, but to his hands, often left two or three hundred riders is a big fluke. So although Chu Lushan called Xu family victory first person, in fact, has not been able to save their own class, but Chen Zhi Bao, with the long spring and autumn war slowly advancing, under the direct lineage is also more and more, and ultimately stood out, and even in the real strength to be able to vaguely overwhelm the nominal official position of the higher Wu Qi Xu Pu, and so on, and then Chu Lushan thousands of riders to open the Shu, know that a thousand riders is how to come? At first, who all think that the rugged mountains and dangers of the rolling western Sichuan is not suitable for the cavalry to break through, because it is easy to be inexplicably blocked somewhere, and that place is very likely on the map is not even recorded, so when Chu Lushan proposed to open the road, the general did not agree, and even the heart of the revenge of Mr. Zhao also hesitated, only Mr. Li think that this matter is feasible, to the end of the general was Chu Lushan annoying to Can not, let him recruit his own horse to go, find how much, want to do what to do to go, and then Chu Lushan his own only gathered up more than two hundred old pawns, the remaining more than eight hundred riders, is licking his face to borrow from me here, I am also reluctant at first, Chu Lushan ran to Mr. Li’s side, so that Mr. Li to help intercede, he Chu Lushan which was able to bring a thousand riders to the west of the Sichuan run.”
Yuan Zuozong heavy sigh, lamented: “After that is the world’s famous thousands of riders open Shu, originally our Xu family army are ready to do the worst intention, do not bring a horse with a horse only to kill the infantry into the western Sichuan border, even in that piece of the map, appeared in the western Sichuan statehood hundreds of years in the history of unheard of 20,000 enemy riders, we must know that at the end of the Dafeng years, three hundred thousand prairie cavalry force as a success of the south, but finally really succeeded in entering the western Shu. But in the end, the cavalry that really succeeded in entering Xishu was less than 10,000!”
Yuan Zuozong turned his head to look at the young king, slowly said: “leading the cavalry combat, whether it is the front or surprise attack, I Yuan Zuozong natural ability does not lose Chu Lushan, assuming that a big war has a series of small and large battles, I dare say that in the end, I and Chu Lushan’s battle size, roughly can be divided equally, you Chu Lushan can get a flat head of the real generals, then I Yuan Zuozong will never! I can only get a town head general. But! That string of battles, if someone must face two or three difficult key battles one after another, I Yuan Zuozong will never dare to say that all win, but Chu Lushan …… he absolutely can!”
Yuan Zuozong continued, “I’m afraid that nowadays there are not many people still remember, a long time ago, the general made a joke to Chu Lushan, saying that your kid is too motherfucking son of a bitch in the war, the victory is a lot, but look at the end can be left a few living people? My old Xu family’s little family, now can not stand you so toss, so you kid patiently wait, wait until one day I Xu primrose under the command of a hundred and twenty thousand iron cavalry, at that time, all over to you Luk ball child also no harm!”
Yuan Zuozong smiled to himself, “truth be told, at that time Qingliang mountain decided to let me become the cavalry commander-in-chief, and let Chu Lushan come out to serve as Beiliang capital guard, I have found him, want to transfer with him to each other, also can be regarded as fulfillment of righteous father’s share of the promise. Because I know, Chu Lushan for the cavalry that obsession, no one can compare. Just at that time Chu Lushan refused, smiled and said to me, old man when so many years sesame officer, it is not easy to rise again, not the biggest official Beiliang Du Gui over how to do?!”
Yuan Zuozong smoothed out his emotions, stooped down and reached out in the situation map Huaiyang Poria willow buds heavy mound a pass three towns that line of defense wiped, “Huaiyang Pass no cavalry, because as a heavenly peril, that is, is an advantage, but also a disadvantage, it is not possible to exist in large-scale cavalry, if you say that barely hide down two or three thousand light cavalry, naturally, not difficult, but in the Liangmang war, Huaiyang Pass this cavalry is too much of a cupcake of pay, little significance, it is better to put it on the left and right of the Liangmang war. The meaning is not great, it is better to put on the left and right flanks of the Poria Willow Buds two military towns, these two towns have both horsemen and foot soldiers, before the westward transfer of the Youbu, in addition to refusing to the northern city, is mainly transferred into these two places, each stationed in seven thousand Youzhou infantry, as for the heavy mound town located in the rear of the defense line, has always been to guard the foot soldiers more than the cavalry used for the field battles out of the city. Because of this not far from each other a pass three towns, formed a complete defense system, so there is a change is my town scheduling, can also be the same, Chu Lushan is reluctant to leave, the biggest significance of the North Mang is still attracting the strongest Dong Zhuo Department, so that its more than 100,000 elite private army stops not to move forward, in order to greatly reduce the pressure of my Liangzhou around the cavalry, because Huaiyang pass is difficult to attack again, is not the Huotou City this kind of North Mang cavalry around the border of the majestic city. Not over the border majestic city, if the North Mang barbarians simply do not pay attention to, directly attack the Poria willow bud heavy mound three towns, especially in the tiger’s head city has been lost under the premise of Huai Yang Pass is also close to the complete loss of strategic significance, so the king asked the question, already have half of the answer, but also Chu Lushan previously gave refused to the north of the city of the answer, he is not in Huai Yang Pass, Liangzhou pass outside the battlefield is the two situations. In the final analysis, lies in the entire northern Liang, all the northern Liang border troops, only he Chu Lushan one can make Dong Zhuo had to die Huai Yang Pass. In this situation, the Liangzhou left and right cavalry against Murong Bao Ding, even if the orange state to hold the festival order behind the kind of Shentong, Wanyan Jinliang, Helian Wuwei and Wang Yong four joint pressure, we are still not afraid! Chu Lushan can even, at certain moments, mobilize the two towns of Porin Liuya’s cavalry, and in turn surprisingly support the left and right cavalry! But ……”
Knowing what Yuan Zuozong was worried about, Xu Fengyen softly said, “I have already left eighty riders of Wu family swordsmen at Huaiyang Pass.”
Yuan Zuozong who heard this unexpected joy was full of relief, nodded, and his tone was also a bit lighter, “This is the best, when the war outside the pass is bound to be extremely fierce, the North Mang will certainly do their best to intercept the transmission of our military intelligence, ordinary scouts or pigeons have no chance to pass out the military orders, with the help of the eighty riders of the Wu family swordsmen, Chu Lushan’s shoulders will be a lot lighter. .”
Xu Fengyen re-lowered his head and stared at the picture of the situation at the side of the pass, pondering without saying a word.
Yuan Zuozong suddenly asked curiously, “How did the king know in advance that the Yelu family name helped Dong Zhuo raise a large number of private armies in the northern grasslands? And even the number is that precise and accurate?”
Xu Fengnian’s face was obscure, “It was the last spy report from that Dunhuang city on the border of Hexi Prefecture.”
Yuan Zuozong’s face was grave, and he wanted to speak.
Xu Fengyen said softly and bitterly, “In order to prevent identity leakage, the Water Flickers Room took the initiative to cut off contact with Dunhuang City a long time ago, and before the beginning of spring this year, there was only a unilateral transmission of spies from Dunhuang City. Last time in the Dragon Eye child plains, Tuoba Bodhisattva deliberately revealed a message, the North Mang old woman ordered to let Helian Wuwei and several grassland big Xie Tick to besiege Dunhuang City, a long period of time after that battle, until I left the Wudang Mountain, I simply could not travel north …….”
Yuan Zuozong carefully weighed the wording, “I thought that your majesty would head to Dunhuang City on this trip to Huaiyang Pass. To be honest …… I have already prepared to personally lead 10,000 Great Snow Dragon Cavalry to bypass the North Mang center army, enter Long Waist State from the northeast, and then run north to receive you back.”
Xu Fengnian looked up sharply.
Yuan Zuozong laughed, “Although we will definitely have to scold you a few times when we meet then, it won’t delay me from wading into danger.”
Xu Fengyen looked down at Dunhuang City on the map, lost in thought.
Yuan Zuozong looked grave, “I don’t know why Your Highness didn’t move to enter North Mang in the end, but I must be frank, as long as you really go, the best ending would be that you would be lucky enough to return to Rejecting the North City alive, and that I and the 10,000 Great Snow Dragon Cavalry would be destined to all die in battle within North Mang’s Longwai Prefecture. The great battle outside the Liangzhou Pass has already begun, you Xu Fengyen’s one person’s trade-off, no matter what your original intention is, you are the King of Northern Liang as well as the Grand Grand Master of Martial Assessment, no one can stop you, but the weight of the consequences is far from being as simple as when you and I led our army into the Central Plains.”
Xu Fengnian did not explain anything, he just said to himself, “Of course I know the consequences, I just can’t help it, I just really want to go to Dunhuang City to have a look. Just like how I know I can’t persuade Chu Lushan back, but I still want to go to Huaiyang Pass to take a look at him.”
Xu Fengyen took a deep breath, “Second Brother Yuan, I’ve let you down.”
Yuan Zuozong froze, then shook his head and laughed, “Disappointed? I, Qi Dangguo, Chu Lushan, have never been disappointed!”
Xu Fengnian looked at Yuan Zuozong in silence.
Yuan Zuozong patted the young feudal king’s shoulder, “Life is most difficult to die without regrets, my Northern Liang Iron Cavalry is so lucky!”
Xu Fengnian gently shook his head, his voice raspy, “There are only two of you and Chu Lushan, I would rather you live …… on.”
Yuan Zuozong laughed and turned to leave without waiting for him to finish, turning his back to the young feudal lord’s Beiliang cavalry commander, laughing: “The matter of living a long life, let’s talk about it in the next life!”