Three thousand miles in exile

Liu Zhan sent an urgent courier from [-] li to Xingye to Beijing to report the victory. The courier was Zheng Fengtian, deputy lieutenant of Qi Yunjun's Right Army Battalion.

Zheng Fengtian held the token of the Qi Yun army, and stuck the red flag of success on his back. Every time he passed a place, the local city defense immediately let him go.

"Happy news from Northern Xinjiang!!" Zheng Fengtian rushed to the main gate of the palace, holding up the seal. "Northern Xinjiang Great Victory!!"

The guards at the gate immediately released the token after identifying the authenticity of the token.

According to the ancestral system established by Da Chu, one can enter the palace on horseback for urgent military reports, and Zheng Fengtian ran into the palace with his seal held high.

Song Fenglin repeatedly explained that the main hall directly in front of him was the Zichen Hall where the emperor went to court, and he had to be there in time for the early court.

"Happy news from Northern Xinjiang—!"

The topic of the morning court today was still the war situation in northern Xinjiang. The ministers were arguing, and Emperor Xuan's face was extremely ugly, and he was about to be furious.

Zheng Fengtian strode up to the Zichen Hall and knelt down in the middle. He took out King Yan's gold crown from the bundle on his chest and raised it high above his head to report loudly.

"Liu Zhan, General Qi Yun stationed on the northern defense line, led his troops from Tongtian Pass to the hinterland of the Yan Kingdom and went straight to the royal court, beheading more than 1000 Yan nobles and destroying nine tribes in Yan."

"Capture King Yan's banner, King Yan's golden clothes and crown, burn Yan Dadu and turn Yan King's Court into ruins, King Yan retreats to Yangguan and relieves the crisis in Jinyang City!!"

"Great victory in northern Xinjiang!! Long live my emperor!!"

The ministers were astonished.

Prime Minister Zhou showed surprise, Liu Zhan, couldn't it be the Liu Zhan his son Zhou Chan kept suppressing?

Among the ministers on the other side, Liu Tongxin was shaking with excitement and almost fell down while holding the court board. Fortunately, Zhao Hengfu, the grandfather of Liu Zhan, the patriarch of the Zhao family, supported him in time.

On the imperial steps, Emperor Xuan took three ecstatic steps and walked down the imperial steps in two steps. With trembling hands, he took the golden crown of King Yan presented by Zheng Fengtian.

"My dear friends, is this really the clothes of King Yan?" Emperor Xuan was surprised, delighted and suspicious.

Immediately there are ministers out. "I was on an envoy to Yan State ten years ago, and I was fortunate enough to meet the old King Yan. This set of golden clothes is indeed exactly the same as in my impression!"

Another minister said: "This exquisite crown cannot be made by the people, and the gemstone on the crown is priceless, and the possibility of imitation is very small."

"The minister also agrees, this crown should be genuine."

"I congratulate Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

The ministers came out to congratulate Emperor Xuan.

This was the greatest victory of Emperor Xuan since his reign, and it was enough to avenge his shame. Emperor Xuan laughed while holding the crown of King Yan. "I decided to choose a day to open the Taimiao to worship the ancestors, and dedicate this clothes to the late emperor!"

All the ministers knelt down and shouted long live.

Zhao Hengfu's heart skipped a beat, he exchanged a look with Liu Tongxin, they couldn't miss this opportunity.

"Great victory in Northern Xinjiang, I implore Your Majesty to reward General Qi Yun." Zhao Hengfu came out and proposed loudly.

"Yes! I want a big reward!" Emperor Xuan held his head high, his whole face radiant. "Prime Minister, how do you reward him?"

The prime minister came out. "The Great Victory in Northern Xinjiang, Prince Rui has worked hard and made great achievements. He can be called back to the capital and reward his subordinates for their meritorious service."

Such great military exploits only mention Prince Rui but not General Qi Yun?

Just expose it like this?

Isn't General Qi Yun from the Zhou family?

The ministers who can be in the imperial class are all good people, and they immediately sensed Zhou's subtle attitude on this matter.

The Patriarch of the Chen family spoke immediately. "Your Majesty, for such a great achievement, General Qi Yun should be rewarded heavily to show the majesty of the Great Chu Emperor!"

The head of the Lu family also came out. "Your Majesty, who is General Qi Yun? I didn't even know there was such a person in Northern Xinjiang?"

This question really hits the point.

Emperor Xuan immediately looked at the prime minister. "I want to know too."

In order to suppress Liu Zhan, Zhou Chan never reported all the military achievements of Qi Yunjun under Liu Zhan's command in the past three years, and Qi Yunjun did not register his name in the Ministry of War.

Except for the people who were born and raised in Northern Xinjiang, no one outside Northern Xinjiang knew that there was an army named Qiyun Army in Northern Xinjiang.

Prime Minister Zhou closed his eyes, he felt as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer on his chest, how thoroughly Zhou Chan had suppressed Liu Zhan all this time, now he would not be able to step down.

"Prime Minister?" Emperor Xuan felt that the prime minister's attitude was wrong.

It is impossible for the prime minister to hide it from his son for Liu Zhan's meritorious service that can be recorded in the annals of history. He has no choice but to remain silent.

At this time, Zhao Hengfu had a flash of inspiration, and he asked the messenger who was kneeling on the ground. "Tell me who your general is? What is the origin of your Qi Yun army?"

Zheng Fengtian had already prepared a draft, and Song Fenglin had prepared all of this in advance.

"Our general is from Wuyuan County in northern Xinjiang. He came from a poor family. In the seventh year of Hongzhi, he was appreciated by Prince Rui during the battle of Giyang Pass and included under Prince Rui's command. General Qi Yun, our army has been stationed at Qi Yun Mountain for three years now."

For a while, hundreds of officials talked about it.

The Patriarch of the Chen family immediately asked: "Why, old man, I have never heard from the Ministry of War that there is such an army in the northern border and the northern defense line. How many people are there in your army?"

"A total of 3 people." Zheng Fengtian replied.

Liu Tongxin is the servant of the household department. If he doesn't speak now, let alone when. "Our household department has never paid Qi Yunjun's food and salary, and the northern border has always only paid for the Northern Army's food and salary. What do you Qi Yunjun eat?"

"Military households are self-sufficient in food collection." Zheng Fengtian replied again.

The ministers were in an uproar for a while.

You have to know how much astronomical figure the 25 soldiers of the Northern Army have to pay for a year, and this Qi Yun army actually claims that they are self-sufficient?

At the same time, everyone present immediately thought of a possibility.

The reason why they are self-sufficient is because this Qi Yun army was marginalized and excluded by the general. If there is no military salary, it can only be self-sufficient, and it cannot be reused, so it has been unknown.

"Prime Minister, don't you explain?" Emperor Xuan's expression was slightly gloomy, which was a sign of his displeasure.

Emperor Xuan also thought of what the ministers could think of. Although Emperor Xuan was headstrong and conceited, he was not stupid. If he was an ignorant and stupid emperor, he would not have brought down the former important ministers Liu and Song at the beginning of his accession to the throne.

At this moment, seeing the silence of the great prime minister and the uproar of the officials, Emperor Xuan thought that the Zhou family almost covered the sky with one hand in Dachu, and his expression became even more gloomy.

What a Zhou family, there is an army of 3 people in northern Xinjiang, and he, the emperor, doesn't know it?How many things is Zhou still hiding?How rampant could the Zhou family be?

Emperor Xuan stepped up the imperial steps, and he sat back on the Dragon Throne with a gloomy expression.

How could Mrs. Chen miss any opportunity to step on Mrs. Zhou. "Zhou Chan concealed and failed to report the military situation in northern Xinjiang. It is an unforgivable crime to deceive superiors and subordinates! I implore Your Majesty to immediately rectify Qi Yunjun's name and dismiss Zhou Chan at the same time!"

Half of the ministers knelt down. "I implore Your Majesty to dismiss Zhou Chan!"

The other half of the ministers had embarrassing expressions. They were in the same camp as the Zhou family. At this moment, they really wanted to find a hole in the ground and go in. Emperor Xuan saw their eyes like knives, gouging out their flesh with a knife.

At this time, the prime minister, who had not spoken a word, hissed: "Your Majesty! Zhou Chan has guarded the northern border for His Majesty for five years. He has worked hard without any merit. How can he be dismissed just because of one side's words? It will chill the hearts of the frontier soldiers."

The ministers of Zhou's camp knelt down one after another. "Your Majesty, please think twice."

Emperor Xuan held the dragon head on the dragon chair tightly with both hands, and he was enduring it.

Zhou Chan held the Northern Army in his hand, and he couldn't deal with it hastily, even if he was already very tired of Zhou.

This is also the reason why Emperor Xuan did not appoint Prince Rui as the crown prince for a long time. Zhou's various deeds disgusted him to the bone.

In the end, Emperor Xuan endured his anger and gave the final word.

"I passed on my decree to seal Liu Zhan as the third-rank General Qi Yun, and allow him to supervise Qi Yunshan and have the right to directly report to the heavens. I ordered the Ministry of War to immediately record the generals of Qi Yun's army."

"Besides, I have invited Prince Rui back to the capital, I miss him."

In the end, Zhou Chan lied to others and let the matter go.

But Emperor Xuan didn't make it easy for the Zhou family, he took the opportunity to make arrangements, one was to recruit Prince Rui back to Beijing, and take back the power of Prince Rui's governor of northern Xinjiang, so that Zhou Chan would not be able to use the power in Prince Rui's hands to be lawless.

The second is to rectify the name of Qi Yunjun, and the governor of Liu Zhan, Qi Yunshan, completely divides the line with Zhou Chan.

In the future, the Northern Army is the Northern Army, the Qi Yun Army is the Qi Yun Army, and there is also a half-dead Yan Army. The separation of the three powers in Northern Xinjiang will completely eliminate Zhou Chan's dominance in Northern Xinjiang.

At this time, Zhou Chan was taking Prince Rui to hide in the countryside of Ruichang County, when the news of Qi Yun's army victory spread all over the north of Huangchuan, he only belatedly received the news.

"What? What did you say?" Zhou Chan thought she was hallucinating.

"Report to the general, General Qi Yun went straight to the hinterland of Yan, set fire to the capital of Yan, seized the flag of King Yan, the golden clothes of King Yan, and solved the crisis in Jinyang! The army of Yan has retreated!" The guard repeated again.

Zhou Chan was stunned for a while, and suddenly he came to his senses. "Immediately send someone to Qi Yunjun to ask Liu Zhan to present the golden clothes to Prince Rui!"

The guard took the order, and Zhou Chan stamped his foot to urge him. "Go!"

At this time, Zhou Chan's mind was full of thoughts on how to incorporate Qi Yunjun's military exploits into the Northern Army. He had to come over with that set of King Yan's golden clothes, and the Zhou family presented it to Emperor Xuan personally.

Zhou Chan wishfully thought that Liu Zhan, a bastard from a poor family, would not have the ability to surpass him and Prince Rui.

Little did he know that there was Song Fenglin beside Liu Zhan. Song Fenglin knew the rules of the court like the back of his hand. Under his guidance, Zheng Fengtian had successfully reported victory to Emperor Xuan.

This time Zhou Chan took Prince Rui to hide in the countryside, any news was taken too late, when he knew it was too late.

At the same time, Tongtianguan is preparing for the battle.

The Qi Yun army burned down the capital of Yan, and the king of Yan will definitely not give up. The army of the Yan army who returned to the hinterland will not go south to attack Jinyang, but can attack Qiyun Mountain!

As soon as Liu Zhan returned to Tongtianguan, he immediately organized his soldiers to deploy defenses, and the six counties of Cenzhou were under martial law, and the entire Qiyun Mountain was as if it was facing a big enemy.

"Report to the general! Yan Wang personally led 15 Yan army kings to Qiyun Mountain!"

Yan Jun Wang Shi, that is the most elite army of Yan Jun!

For a while, Qi Yun's army tent was so quiet that a needle could be heard falling.

"Are you scared?" Liu Zhan raised his eyebrows proudly, and his cold eyes scanned these young faces. "Tell me! Are you afraid?"

"Don't be afraid!" These young generals all looked fierce.

Liu Zhan's every word is sonorous and powerful. "Tongtianguan is a city with one pond, one brick and one tile. It was poured with the blood of our compatriots. It can be fought with a hundred people, and it can be fought with a thousand people. Now I have ten thousand people, why can't I fight!"

Liu Zhan held his head high, holding a knife with both hands, and there was no trace of uncertainty in his deep eyes.

"Jiang Changlin, lead [-] field soldiers to garrison Niuji Peak. This general grants you the right to act accordingly. Be sure to keep the Yan people from entering the mountain from Niuji Peak! Set off immediately!"

"The last general obeys!" Jiang Changlin went out to take the order, and immediately strode away after receiving the order flag.

In the past three years, Liu Zhan has checked all the places where Niuji Peak and Jianshi Peak can go up the mountain several times, or destroyed or set up sentry towers and beacon towers. As long as the beacon towers light up the beacon to warn, the field soldiers stationed nearby can immediately send troops to intercept and kill them.

These field soldiers do zipper activities in the mountains once a week, and they are familiar with the terrain and combat methods in the mountains. Even if the Yan army sends 2 people into the mountains, they may not be the opponents of these [-] field soldiers.

The Yan army is not good at field battles in the mountains and forests, and 5000 people are enough.

Liu Zhan continued to arrange. "Li Xiaolian led the right army camp to guard the city wall, and Cao Zhuang led the right army camp to arrange an ambush with the general!"

In this battle, Liu Zhan also did not intend to be beaten passively. The long and narrow road up the mountain from Zhoushukou to Tongtian Pass was a natural ambush ground.

With Liu Zhan's order, the entire Tongtianguan was moved, and the messengers quickly went down the mountain to report to the counties.

In Tiancang Village Qiyun Army General Barracks, Song Fenglin arranged various logistics affairs in an orderly manner.

"Xiao Man, immediately mobilize all the armaments and transport them into Tongtian Pass!"

"Qingshan, you meet with the county magistrate Lu, immediately organize the young and strong to go up the mountain, help transport the wounded, supplies, etc., and mobilize all the county doctors to go up the mountain!"

After Wen Qingshan won the Juren, he first served as the county magistrate in Wuyuan County for a year, and this year he was appointed as a counselor by Liu Zhan, taking care of logistics and military affairs part-time, and serving Song Fenglin together with Zhang Xiaoman.

The entire Tongtian Peak moved, and the young and strong from Wuyuan County continued to go up the mountain.

With so many people, food is also a problem. Song Fenglin also arranged for the villagers to be cooks, and they were cooked in Tianmang Village before being sent to the customs.

On the morning of the third day, the forward of the Yan army arrived at the wilderness outside Zhou Shukou.

To the Yan Jun's surprise, Qi Yun's cavalry was ambushed in the dense forest around Zhou Shukou. Before the Yan Jun's vanguard could even stand still, Qi Yun's cavalry, wielding Mo Dao, galloped out immediately.

Liu Zhan personally led [-] Modao cavalry to wait here for a day and a night!

The forwards of the Yan army are just more than ten thousand cavalry, not the iron cavalry of the Yan army, and it is even less likely to be the opponent of the Modao cavalry, but the Yan people are best at escaping.

When these rangers saw that they were incompetent, they immediately dispersed.

The wilderness is flat and can run in all directions, unless a large net is dropped from the sky, it will definitely not be able to stop these prairie jackals.

"Don't chase, retreat!" Liu Zhan ordered decisively, and they harvested about [-] Yan troops in this battle, which was enough.

The whistle sounded, and the Modao cavalry gathered quickly.

When the news reached King Yan, King Yan, who was already full of anger, was so angry that he wanted to kill someone.

"It's all trash! What's so scary about the thieves going down the mountain, order [-] cavalry to wipe them out!" King Yan roared.

The accompanying generals had different expressions.

Now that the enemy's situation is unknown and the army is still on the way, it is not appropriate to attack suddenly.

The right general, Wu Lin, wanted to speak out, but his younger brother Wu Sen pulled him, shaking his head to indicate not to touch King Yan when he was furious.

Yan Dadu, which has only been passed down for a generation, has been reduced to ruins, and the royal court has been burned to nothing. How can King Yan, who is so shameful and humiliating, be calm.

Not only that, before the army arrived at Yan Dadu, some generals resigned one after another.

These generals found that their tribe's whereabouts were unknown, and they were unwilling to stay even if they said nothing. They took the soldiers of their tribe and left that night in disregard of King Yan's order.

The army of more than 20 people went less and less, and finally there were only 10 people.

King Yan used the royal power to suppress it, and then the tribes came back one after another, and finally gathered 15 people to kill Qi Yun's army.

In this battle, it is impossible for King Yan to retreat, and his anger cannot be appeased unless he leveled Qi Yunshan.

The [-] Yan army cavalry galloped away, but when the Yan army cavalry arrived outside Zhou Shukou, it was quiet here.

The rangers who were scattered by Qiyun cavalry's sudden sneak attack also gathered back when they saw the Yan army's iron cavalry arriving. In the wilderness outside Zhou Shukou, there were no Qiyun cavalry except for the Yan army.

"Send people into the woods to find out if there is an ambush." ​​The lieutenant general who led the team learned his wisdom and made arrangements carefully.

Soon the probing striker returns. "Report to the general, there is no ambush in the woods."

"Hmph, I'm afraid after all." The lieutenant was full of disdain. "Set camp on the spot and wait for King Yan."

Early the next morning, the messenger brought back the news that Qi Yun's cavalry had run away.

King Yan's chariot is a mobile palace that can only be pulled by eighteen horses. It is not moving fast, and it has not gone far after most of the day.

"Send a battalion up the mountain to explore the road first!" King Yan sat on the throne, he walked slowly but he could let the forward attack first.

A battalion of the Yan army is 5000 people, so this arrangement is not impossible.

Among the generals present, probably only Wu Lin felt uneasy from the beginning to the end.

The ordered soldiers arrived at the forward camp in the evening.

"It's getting late at this time, why not send troops after dawn tomorrow." Someone suggested.

Lieutenant General Yan Jun hesitated for a long time and finally shook his head. "No, King Yan is in a fit of anger. If he knew that I didn't send troops immediately after receiving the king's order, I would be furious and condemned."

In the end, the vanguard of the Yan army sent [-] soldiers into Zhou Shukou in the twilight.

Liu Zhan once ambushed 1000 Yan soldiers with [-] people in Zhou Shukou, and the scene reappeared at this time.

After all the Yan soldiers entered Zhoushukou, a big rock suddenly fell from the sky and cut off their retreat. Cao Ming led the soldiers to attack from both sides of Zhoushukou Canyon.

None of the five thousand Yan soldiers survived.

"A bunch of trash!!" King Yan was furious, as if he wanted to eat people.

Before the official confrontation, he had already lost more than 8000 people. As if God wanted to oppose him, he was planted again and again by an unknown young general.

Seeing that King Yan wanted to increase his troops again, Wu Lin hurriedly stepped forward to persuade him. "King Yan, the thieves are waiting for work with leisure, and they are full of tricks. It is safest to wait for the army to arrive and then clear the mountain."

The Wu family is the King of Yan's courtiers, and the King of Yan may not listen to others' words, but he still gave face to Wu Lin's words.

Liu Zhan looked forward to it all night, but it was a pity to see that the Yan army did not increase its troops.