Step by step, Zhao Long walked calmly to the south gate of Xingqing Mansion.

Widths of blue smoke were still emitting everywhere in the city, and Zhong Yan's big flag was already flying on the top of the city.

As we walked higher and higher on the stairs, the whole picture of Xingqing Mansion became clearer and clearer. There were no more intact buildings in the city nearly twenty miles around. Among the dozens of wardrobes divided by the wide streets, there were columns of white or black smoke rising into the air. There were no sounds of people, and there were no fewer figures. Only the shrill sound of the wind blew away the columns from time to time.

The city is dead.

This sentence flashed through Zhao Long's heart.

He did not catch up with the battle to capture Xingqing Mansion, nor did he catch up with the previous battle to defeat the Liao army with the Dangxiang people. But this does not mean that he did not know how Zhong Yan captured Xingqing Mansion.

Xingqing Prefecture is a rare big city in the west. When Weiming Yuanhao established his capital at this time, it expanded into Dalili for the sake of the Dabai Gao Kingdom. It was enough to accommodate 300,000 soldiers and civilians. There were less than 200,000 people living in the city. Many places were even filled with vegetable fields and fish ponds, and several barracks had a schoolyard, covering an area of ​​about the size of the square in front of Zichen Hall. Da Gongding led his clans to move here, and the entire Bohai tribe only accounted for half of the city.

Today, all the tribes of all races who fled into Xingqing Prefecture were only 70,000 or 80,000, accounting for less than half of the city. Although the Dangxiang people in the city fled to death, many of them were hiding there. Needless to say, their deep blood hatred with the Liao people, Renduolingding and Ye Boma began to fight the Liao people, so they tried to set fire in the city. First, there were no one neighbors, then there were temples with heavy buildings, then there were deep houses where people lived, and finally even the warehouses where food and grass were stored were burned.

Most of the soldiers who could enter the battle were taken away at that time, and the troops left in the city were only able to defend the six city gates and the royal palace. How could the elderly, weak, women and children stop the Dangxiang people who were determined to take revenge and were well aware of geography? In the end, even the royal palace in Xingqing Prefecture was burned into broken walls.

Before setting fire, the entire royal city was not damaged. It was not that the Liao people deliberately kept it, but there was no time. Before the Dagong Ding led his troops to enter, the Liao army occupied this place just dismantled the things that were taboo. After the Dagong Ding arrived, it directly blocked the entire royal city, and moved into the house of Liang Yi, the former prime minister of the Western Xia Kingdom. However, the remaining fire from the Dangxiang people turned all the inside and outside of the royal city into ashes, and the last symbol of the Dabai Gao Kingdom no longer existed.

When Zhong Yan led his troops to the city of Xingqing Prefecture, there were already flames in the city. The Liao people in the city had already opened the north gate and fled in all directions. When they entered the city, they did not even spend any effort.

Zhao Long, who was already standing on the top of the city wall, could not see any complete buildings except the city walls and street bridges at his feet. How could a Song man from Guanxi feel sorry for this city that was soaked with the shame of the Song people? Apart from excitement, Zhao Long regretted that he was unable to participate in the battle to destroy the city.

When he received the military order from the head of the General's Mansion, the Dangxiang people in Qingtong Gorge had already left for several days. Zhao Long immediately reorganized his army to the north without any hesitation, but he still couldn't catch up with this battle.

Standing at the door of the enemy building, Zhao Long cleared his throat, and then said respectfully: "Zhao Long pays homage to the Grand Marshal."

………………………………………

Lu Huiqing had already placed his commander's mansion in Pule City.

The general under the tent Qu Zhen was still preparing to advance north to Xingling. Less than one-fifth of the troops mobilized from the Yongxing Army and Huanqing Army, it had already filled this small military city. As for the elite soldiers on the Fuyan Road, they supported the empty Yinxia Road to avoid being occupied by the Liao army.

Now north of Hengshan, even the soldiers who received a salary of 600 a month knew that the new Privy Councilor and Xuanfu Envoy was the backstage of the Wu Taiwei of Zong. General Manager Zhong dared to attack Liao north and was approved by Xianggong Lu.

Earlier, Xianggong Lu sent someone to inform Zhao Long of Jingyuan Road and ordered him to lead troops north so that he could support the fifth Taiwei. This happened to be announced on the same day that the Dangxiang people in Qingtong Gorge had exited the gorge in the north, and there was no time delay. Starting from the edge of Lingzhou River, as long as you cross the Baili Mountains and Trail west, you can reach Mingsha City at the southern end of the Qingtong Gorge. That small road is difficult to pass, but it is very easy for a few messengers to pass.

In the past two days, all the troops that Xuanfu Department could use for a while were mobilized, and the position of seeking full strength was to be fully inspired.

This is a revenge on the Liao people's breaking the alliance. They dared to tear the agreement just signed to attack the border town of Emperor Song. Can China still tolerate such provocation?

The Western Army soldiers who had just destroyed the great enemy of life and death but failed because of the cunning of the Liao people, admired Lu Huiqing's courage and praised Lu Xianggong in their words.

But Zhong Pu and Zhong Shizhong were worried. They knew a lot more than the soldiers below, so naturally they would not be hiding the gestures made by Lu Huiqing.

"I have sent a letter to Tokyo City, so I don't know if Mr. Han can understand." Zhong Pu said to his cousin beside him. On the way to the head of the General's Mansion, his face was as heavy as his steps.

His father committed a taboo that almost all scholars and officials could not bear. Even if he was close to Han Gang, the possibility of taking action to protect his family was not high.

Master Zhong felt a little relaxed: "Didn't the fifth uncle say it? Although there is a reform faction in the court now and the old party is eyeing it, as long as you win this time, the officials in the court will have to throw themselves into trouble if they want to handle the strict tasks. When the war with the Liao people, wouldn't they have to let the fifth uncle come out?"

Zhong Pu mu shook his head. This is to be a gambler, which is more profound, the fear of the gambler and the rift between the old and the new parties.

But his father has always been good at gambling, but his gambling luck has always been bad. He lost again and again, but whenever he sees an opportunity, he can't help but take risks and take a big gamble.

But with such a father, what can a son do?

"Brother Seventeen, don't worry!" Zhong Shizhong was angry for his cousin, "Don't Mr. Lu have already admitted the matter of sending troops to revive the spirit, and he will block the charge first."

Zhong Pu pulled the corner of his mouth and smiled. What Mr. Zhong said was indeed true.

After being transferred to Zhao Long to the north, it was equivalent to sending people to support Zhong Yan. Even Zhong Yan's actions, if this matter is in fact, it is equivalent to helping to endorse.

Lu Huiqing can be said to take over the whole thing, regardless of the credit or responsibility.

Zhong Pu was naturally happy to see this. He was already prepared to be implicated by his father and could no longer lead the army. Even his uncles and brothers might be transferred to idle positions until many years later.

But now that Lu Huiqing endorsed his father's actions, if he blamed him in the court, the board would hit Lu Huiqing. As for the crime of arbitrary action and arbitrary attacks, although it could not be hidden from the prime minister in the court, he could be perfunctory on the surface.

But in the end, it is just open and secretly. I don’t know how many swords, guns, swords and halberds will be in the future.

When they arrived at the headquarters, the two brothers were immediately passed in.

"Lubu Feijie, who had just entered the city, saw it?" Lu Huiqing smiled happily, "The King's Army has captured Xingqing Mansion!"

Zhong Pu and Zhong Shizhong had heard of this good news. Two days ago, after the news of the Liao people defeated in the decisive battle came, it was predictable.

They bowed together and bowed: "Congratulations to Xuanfu for making this special merit!"

"It's not my merit, it's Lingzun's merit." Lu Huiqing shook his head and said to Zhong Pu, with the smile on his lips full of sarcasm.

Zhong Pu said: "Only by entrusting the full tutoring and planning, you will have the merit of being strict with your family."

The sarcasm in Lu Huiqing's smile became even heavier. After saying a few more words, he signaled the two to retreat, and his face became gloomy.

For a person like Lu Huiqing, the word "incompetence" is more unacceptable than any crime. When things come to this point, instead of recognizing the responsibility of the next ruler and becoming a laughing stock among the scholars and officials, it is better to take risks and take all the responsibilities. Naturally, the merit or charges of defeating the Liao people will also fall on him.

After coming to Pule City, Lu Huiqing did not hide his importance to Zong Pu. Zhuan Shizhong even Li Qing, who was basically left aside, praised him greatly.

Even though he wanted to let Zong Hang down, Zhong Shiheng's tomb in Zhongnan Mountain was dug out, but Lu Huiqing still had a gentle smile. On the first day of entering the city, he patrolled the small Pule City, and the next day he also went to Yaode City not far away.

Now this arrangement has finally achieved some results. Whether it is recognized or not, the first contribution of regaining land from the Liao people since the founding of the Song Dynasty was made by him, Lu Huiqing.

But the cowardly in my heart can't be removed.

‘At worst, I will be punished and went to the south. It will take several years to turn over as my identity. Once I raise my troops to attack Liao in the future, who can stop me, Lu Huiqing, from returning to the court... The credit is credit!’

Lu Huiqing comforted himself, but still gritted his teeth in his heart.

"Prince." An aide suddenly handed over a manuscript.

After only one look at Lu Huiqing, he could see that this was a record of the passing of guarding the city a few days ago. In order to make the appearance of perfection, Lu Huiqing has been doing things with a smile these days. He was so angry that he didn't want to listen to the sons and nephews of the Zong family bragging. He received this record a few days ago, but he only looked at the number of casualties and the credits he had won, and he didn't even glance at the remaining words.

However, on this page that was turned on, the few words drawn by the staff immediately attracted Lu Huiqing's attention: "Rocket? Flying Musket?"

As the founder of the Military Weapons Supervision, Lu Huiqing has sufficient interest and curiosity for any new weapon.

"Where is the thing?" he asked his aide.
Chapter completed!