Looking at the mountains and rivers

The seventh year of Yong'an, the seventh day of May.

The rapid sound of horse hooves rolled up the dust on the road, and the young man on the horse had a gloomy face, and his disheveled braids were covered with sweat.He seemed to be scorched by the sun, and he had already taken off his leather armor, exposing his muscular shoulders and chest.The following soldiers handed over the water bag, Yu Chifeng took it smoothly, raised his head and drank most of it, then handed the water bag back, turned his head and shouted: "Follow me, you must arrive at Ganzhou before dark !"

"Yes!" The soldiers hurriedly rode their horses to the rear army to deliver the order.

Another cyan war horse followed up from behind, and walked forward side by side with Yu Chifeng. Wei Changxuan's face was covered with dust just like him.They have been traveling fast for 20 days and nights. Except for the light cavalry in front, they are still barely intact. The infantry team in the rear has long been scattered, and the baggage battalion has been left far behind.However, no one cared about these things at this time. Since they left the capital a month ago, they have received urgent reports from Hexi on the way, each one becoming more urgent.Judging from the news, Yan Yu's army has already launched an offensive on Panmenguan. Because Tuobaxin, who guards Hexi, is seriously ill, the guards of Donghu rushed to meet the enemy, and the northwest gate is already in jeopardy.Because of the urgency of the situation, Wei Changxuan ordered to discard the excess baggage ten days after departure, and drove lightly all the way, taking small trails along the mountain road. They only traveled for more than [-] days for the journey that should have taken two months.Even so, Wei Changxuan and Yu Chifeng were still in a state of anxiety, because they hadn't received any news from Panlong Pass since seven or eight days ago.

"Is it coming soon?" Wei Changxuan raised his head and looked forward with the scorching light, "I seem to be able to see the city wall in the distance."

Yu Chifeng also raised his neck and looked forward. He nodded heavily: "Yes, we are coming soon. That is Ganzhou, the gateway to Hexi, which is where Panmenguan is located." He looked a little hesitant, " Hopefully we're not too late."

Wei Changxuan's complexion was not prettier than his. He felt strange from just now. He could see that the sides of the ridge were originally fertile fields, but now they had been trampled badly, and there were faint traces of fire.This scene couldn't help but make his heart sink, and when he was about to call out to Yu Chifeng to stop, he heard the sound of horseshoes in front, and it was the two light horsemen who were exploring the way turning back.

Those two looked very flustered, they hurriedly rolled off their horses, bowed their heads and said: "General Wei, Young General Yuchi, we can't go any further."

Yu Chifeng was taken aback for a moment, and hurriedly asked, "Why?"

"Ganzhou...Ganzhou has been occupied by Yanyu people!"

"What?" Wei Changxuan and Yu Chifeng asked in surprise at the same time, and the two asked the same question, "Has Panmen Pass been breached?"

"Yes... yes..." a sergeant stammered, "I heard that Panmen Pass was captured five days ago. The Yanyu people drove straight into Ganzhou, and the Hexi garrison had to retreat to Liangzhou."

Yu Chifeng jumped off the horse and pulled him up, and asked anxiously, "Where are the reinforcements we sent from Anyang? Where are they?"

"The Anyang army also retreated to Liangzhou. I heard that the general guards are discussing how to deal with the next attack of the Yanyu army in the past few days."

Hearing what he said, Wei Changxuan frowned: "Since Ganzhou is occupied by Yanyu people, where did you find out about this?"

The sergeant turned around and pointed to the direction behind him: "There is a small camp ahead, which was left by the Hexi garrison. Some wounded soldiers have not had time to be taken away, and they live here temporarily. They told me this news."

Wei Changxuan and Yu Chifeng looked at each other, and then said to the back: "The herald, order the whole army to stop moving forward, and camp in the valley tonight." He paused, "Follow me to the personal camp."

The camp that the two sergeants mentioned was actually very small. Wei Changxuan could smell a strong smell of blood as soon as he stepped in. It could be seen that these people were stranded here because of their serious injuries. They looked like two medical officers. The people are busy bandaging them.

Yu Chifeng found several old Anyang troops, and questioned them carefully about the battle situation some time ago.He was talking, but heard a few low cries of women and children from behind the camp. Wei Changxuan felt a little strange, walked out of the camp and looked in the direction of the crying sound.

The medical officer in the army noticed his sight and explained: "That is the people who escaped from Ganzhou City, and they have been secretly hiding behind our military camp these days." He sighed, "It's a pity that we can't protect ourselves now , can’t control them.”

"I'll go and have a look." Wei Changxuan said, walking to the back of the tent alone.

I saw a dozen or so people lying here and there under a half-turned-down canopy, all of them old and weak. Due to the hot weather, there was a smell of sweat and a faint rancid smell.Wei Changxuan lowered his head, and saw a man's leg sticking out. The leg was broken from the shin bone. The wound was exposed and rotted. White maggots were swarming in the wound.Strangely, with such a serious injury, the man didn't even groan, and just lay there straight.Wei Changxuan looked up his legs, but he didn't see the man's face. His head and face were covered by an old straw hat, like a farmer dozing off in the field.

"He..." Wei Changxuan opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but facing this group of dull and numb people, he was speechless for a moment.

"He's dead," whispered an old voice in the corner, it was a gray-haired old woman, she raised her head, looked at the young officer in front of her with cloudy eyes, and said in a low voice, "The breath I just swallowed last night .”

Wei Changxuan was taken aback for a moment, and quickly said, "I'll have someone carry him to bury him."

The old woman shook her head slowly: "My lord, you can't save the living, so what do these dead people do?"

There was a sudden silence in the canopy, and those refugees with numb faces gradually showed a panicked look. They were obviously afraid that the words of the old woman would anger the young officer.Unexpectedly, the young man did not get angry, nor did he leave in a huff. He lowered his head slightly, and a trace of sadness slid across his dust-covered face.

Suddenly a child's cry broke the silence, Wei Changxuan turned his head, and saw a half-grown child staring at the long knife at his waist, crying uncontrollably.The skinny woman beside him hugged him tightly, coaxing him constantly: "Er Mao is not afraid, not afraid, A Niang is here."

As if she was afraid that Wei Changxuan would blame him, the woman coaxed the child and explained: "Don't blame me, Er Mao was frightened, and now I'm scared when I see soldiers."

Wei Changxuan couldn't help but took two steps back, he hesitated for a long time before asking: "How many people in Ganzhou City escaped from this battle?"

The faces of the refugees all dimmed, and the woman holding the child wiped away her tears: "How can anyone escape? The city was clamoring for war before, but everyone said that Panmenguan has never been breached since the dynasty was built. However, Yanyu people will never enter Ganzhou. Just like that, everyone didn’t even think about leaving, they just waited for news at home. Unexpectedly, Yanyu people suddenly broke through the Panmen Pass and entered Ganzhou a few nights ago. Zhoucheng. These evil spirits set fires everywhere in the city, burning, killing, looting, and doing all kinds of evil. The city became a sea of ​​​​flames in a blink of an eye. At the gate of the city, the Yanyu people chased after him, and Da Mao just...just..." Speaking of this, she seemed to recall the tragedy of that night, and covered her face and began to cry again.

Her crying was shrill and ear-piercing, causing Wei Changxuan's eardrums to hurt, and he could barely stand. A voice echoed in his heart, it was too late, we were too late.He suddenly remembered the day Tian Wenli was bestowed to death, he rode his horse and galloped desperately, and it seemed that he was chasing after Chen Shao on the vast ice field that day.No matter what, it was a step too late, and in the end, he couldn't save anyone.

Another man in the canopy also whispered: "Yanyu people are really no different from evil spirits. They deliberately lit the city on fire, but there was no fire in the east. The whole city ran towards the east gate. Chasing behind on horseback, killing people all the way, my arm was cut off by them at that time." He sat up and showed Wei Changxuan his empty right sleeve.

The man went on to say: "Actually, at that time, it was a blessing to be able to save one's life. The others..." He sighed, and pointed in the direction of the old woman with his chin, "Grandma Meng has a family of seven, and now she is the only one left. people."

Wei Changxuan no longer dared to look at the old woman, nor did he dare to look at the woman and the child, he lowered his head and hurriedly said: "My condolences to all of you, I will send you to Liangzhou for resettlement tomorrow."

But someone behind him asked: "My lord, can Ganzhou be taken back again?" The voice gradually dropped, "I still want to go back and collect my wife's bones."

Wei Changxuan paused with his back, he stood silently for a long time, then nodded vigorously.

After walking out of the camp, Yu Chifeng had just come out of the camp of the wounded soldiers, his face was very gloomy, and seeing Wei Changxuan, he said, "I heard that this time Ashinanur played a dirty trick and raided into the pass at night. The soldiers guarding the pass were unprepared, and were caught off guard. This time, Panlong Pass fell, causing more than [-] casualties, and countless civilian casualties in Ganzhou City."

Wei Changxuan said in a low voice, "I already know all of this."

"What shall we do now?" Yu Chifeng asked anxiously.

Wei Changxuan thought for a while, then he pointed in the direction of Ganzhou from a distance and said, "Young General, do you find it strange that the people of Yanyu broke through Panmen Pass by chance, and the next two hundred miles of Ganzhou plains are safe to defend?" , They could have fought all the way to Liangzhou, why didn't they continue to attack, but stayed in Ganzhou for several days?"

Yu Chifeng scratched his chin: "I can't figure this out either, but Ashinanur is cunning by nature, and he will never let go of the meat around his mouth. He didn't continue to attack, presumably for the greater good. "

"That's right," Wei Changxuan folded a branch and drew on the sand on the ground, "Liangzhou City is the place where the Tuoba clan lived for many years, and it is also the throat of the Western Regions and the Central Plains. The most valiant Donghu is stationed here. Even if the Yanyu army attacked the city, it would be difficult to break through. As long as there is a delay, our imperial army, as well as the reinforcements from Guanyou and Huining, will come from both sides of the plain, and the Yanyu army will It's in jeopardy."

Yu Chifeng nodded again and again: "That's right, Ashinanur must have been scruples about this, so he simply treated himself like a turtle, and took Ganzhou City as his turtle shell."

"Furthermore, since Panmenguan is the gate of Hexi, once it is lost, the court will be shocked. I guess Ashina Nur stood still at this moment, because he wanted to wait for us to negotiate peace with him as he did a few years ago."

Yu Chifeng thought for a while, and came to a daze: "A few years ago, when the Northwest Protectorate was taken, I had no choice but to pay tribute to Yan Yu for several years. It was not until they lost a battle last year that I stopped the annual tribute. .It seems that Yanyu Khan has tasted the sweetness, and wants to repeat the old tricks, forcing us to continue to pay tribute to him."

Wei Changxuan nodded and said: "These are just our guesses. It's hard to say what the current situation in Ganzhou City is. I'll send two scouts over there to investigate first."

"Scouts will naturally be sent, but what about us?" Yu Chifeng asked, "If not, let's take these troops to Liangzhou to meet up with the Hexi garrison, and then we will hear the results of the discussion between the chief guards."

"Liangzhou is [-] miles away. It takes too much time to go back and forth. Our troops are already scattered. I'm afraid we can't stand the trek."

Yu Chifeng looked at him strangely: "What do you mean?"

"I want you, Major General, to go to Liangzhou and inform everyone that reinforcements have arrived in the capital city. If they agree on a strategy to retreat from the enemy, you can send a letter to me. And I will lead the imperial army to station there, waiting for scouts to inquire. Know the situation in the city, and if the time comes, I will lead the troops to retake Ganzhou."

Yu Chifeng's eyes widened suddenly, and he almost roared: "What nonsense are you talking about? Yanyu's army is 20, and now we don't count the supply battalion and heavy infantry that are still on the road. There are only 5 people in total. How dare you Want to attack the city?" After he finished his roar, he said angrily, "Besides, although you have led soldiers before, all you fought were field battles. I guess you don't know how to attack the city at all."

He said this bluntly, Wei Changxuan was not angry, but just said in a low voice: "I don't know how to attack the city, so can the people of Yanyu defend the city?"

Yu Chifeng was taken aback by his question, Yan Yu was born on horseback and lived by water and grass, never built a city at all, so naturally he didn't know how to defend the city.

"If we want to fight, the people of Yanyu will definitely come out of the city and fight me. We can't talk about whether to attack or defend the city." Wei Changxuan paused, and then said, "Besides, your father fought Ashina Nur before. More than once, you should also know that he is the most cunning and cautious person, I guess he will not bring all 20 troops into Ganzhou City. We still have to wait for news from the scouts about the strength of the troops in the city."

Seeing that he had made up his mind, Yu Chifeng sighed helplessly: "You have the worst temper. You have forgotten the order we received in the capital earlier? This time we lead troops to help Hexi The garrison guarded the Panmen Pass, but we didn’t let us lead the troops to meet the enemy privately, if something goes wrong, how can you bear it?”

Wei Changxuan said in a low voice: "Yes, we came here under orders to help the Hexi army defend the Panmen Pass." He suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "But now that the Panmen Pass has been lost, shouldn't we seize it? Come back!"