One Piece of Song Dynasty

Xiao Qian looked at the continuous bonfires at the foot of the mountain and felt very annoyed. He thought that once the Ever Victorious Army launched an attack, he might really be annihilated. Xiao Qian looked around. He didn't believe that he would be buried on this dark hill. He was extremely anxious. Why hadn't Yelu Dashi arrived yet?

Yelu Dashi was stationed in Xincheng on the north bank of Baigou River. He learned that Xiao Qian was surrounded by Guo Yaoshi on a hill near Yongqing and was in critical condition. He immediately gathered his team and went north for rescue. In order to prevent being attacked from both sides, he left a small number of soldiers and horses to disguise themselves as a large army and confuse the Song army on the north bank of the river. Then, he led the main force to the north quickly, and the Song army on the south bank was not aware of it.

Yelu Dashi personally led a thousand light cavalry and galloped towards Yongqing County. These thousand elite soldiers were personally organized by Yelu Dashi when he served as the governor of Xingjun. They are all brave men who fight to the death.

Suddenly, Yelu Dashi noticed a bright bonfire outside Yongqing County. Not knowing what the enemy situation was ahead, Yelu Dashi ordered to stop advancing. He thought, could it be that he was too late, the battle was over, or that Xiao Qian, the king of the Fourth Army, had been captured. Yelu Dashi felt nervous and hurriedly sent someone to inquire.

Soon, the spies sent by Yelu Dashi came back, leading several Liao soldiers. These Liao soldiers were left by Xiao Qian to report to Yelu Dashi. About an hour ago, Xiao Qian left dozens of Liao soldiers on the mountain to confuse Pharmacist Guo, while he disguised himself as Liao soldiers, went down the mountain with a dozen soldiers, pretended to surrender, then snatched the horses and ran away.

Upon hearing this, Yelu Dashi immediately ordered the team to turn around and head north, heading straight for Yanjing.

Xiao Qian was riding towards Yanjing on horseback. He was very happy to be able to hide from Yaoshi Guo and escape from death this time. He thought, this is really Xiao Qian who is immortal.

Xiao Qian divided his soldiers into three groups, one to follow him north, one to block the pursuers, and the other to report the news to Yelu Dashi. He knew that Yelu Dashi would definitely come to rescue him, and he could not let Yelu Dashi fall into the encirclement of Guo Yaoshi to save him.

Pharmacist Guo didn't know that Xiao Qian had escaped from under his nose. He looked at the dark lonely mountain in front of him and felt a little strange. Why is there no movement at all? Could it be that Xiao Qian committed suicide? Pharmacist Guo ordered the net to be closed: "We must find Xiao Qian. If we want to see him alive, we must see his corpse."

Knowing that Xiao Qian had already disguised himself as a soldier and escaped down the mountain, Pharmacist Guo regretted deeply. He didn't know that at this moment, Yelu Dashi also led his army and quietly slipped away from him.

Xiao Qian and Yelu Dashi returned to Yanjing one after another and entered the palace to pay homage to Concubine Xiao De. Although Xiao Qian suffered a huge defeat and could be said to have completely wiped out his army, he still talked and laughed happily and did not look discouraged at all, which made Yelu Dashi admire him very much.

Prime Minister Zuo Qigong spoke highly of the fighting spirit of the Liao army. He wrote a poem: Beacon smoke rises from the sky, and the galloping iron horses make a loud noise. Worthy of the heroic spirit of Liaohe, he sang triumphantly and frightened the enemy all the way.

The next day, Concubine Xiao De suddenly received a report that the Jin army was advancing towards Yanjing in three groups. Concubine Xiao De was shocked when she heard the news and hurriedly summoned Xiao Qian and Yelu Dashi to discuss countermeasures.

Concubine Xiao De said: "We have just defeated the Song army's attack, and now the Jin army has launched another attack. What do you think we should do? The Jin army's golden arms and iron horses are very powerful and invincible."

Concubine Xiao De sent people to Fengsheng Prefecture five times to submit memorials to Jin Taizu, requesting reconciliation, and expressed her willingness to become a vassal state of the Jin Kingdom, but she was flatly rejected by Jin Taizu.

Xiao Qian said: "We can defeat the Song Army, but we may not be able to stop the Jin Army. If the Song Army is a group of sheep, then the Jin Army is a group of bloodthirsty wolves. I think Yanjing cannot hold it anymore, I suggest Withdraw to Jianyan Mountain, where there are high mountains, dense forests, deep ravines, complex terrain, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it is also the area of ​​the Xi tribe, which is safe and easy to survive, and has the opportunity to develop and grow."

Yelu Dashi disagreed with this plan. He said: "The place in Jianyan Mountain is too small, there is no room for maneuver, and it is surrounded by the Jin army. I feel there is no way out. I suggest going to Jiashan to defect to Emperor Tianzuo. If Jia Shan cannot stay, we can still go all the way to the west. The northwest is vast and difficult to be surrounded. It is easy to survive and the space for development is wider."

Concubine Xiao De did not express her position on the spot. From the bottom of her heart, she did not agree with Xiao Qian's plan. She also felt that the area around Jianyan Mountain was too narrow and was not conducive to survival. She felt that Yelu Dashi's statement made some sense, but she had doubts. She was afraid of seeing Emperor Tianzuo, and she was worried that Emperor Tianzuo would hold Yelu Chun responsible for his ascension to the throne and punish her.

Two days later, at dusk, Concubine Xiao received another report that the mountain wall at the Juyong Pass suddenly collapsed, the Liao army collapsed without a fight, and Zong Wang had led the Jin army to occupy Juyong Pass.

Concubine Xiao De felt that the situation was very critical and she had to leave Yanjing tonight. Once Yanjing was surrounded, she would not be able to get out. At three o'clock in the middle of the night, Xiao Defei, Xiao Qian, Yelu Dashi and others led the Liao army's chariots out of the city, claiming to build a position outside the city to face the Jin army.

Concubine Xiao De said goodbye to Zuo Qigong and other officials who were seeing her off at the gate of the city. Concubine Xiao De said: "The national crisis is now here. I will personally lead the troops to fight for the country. If we win, we will see you again. Otherwise, you will die. You must work hard to protect the people. Don't be killed indiscriminately by the enemy." Before she could finish her words, she was already crying like rain.

After Concubine Xiao De, Prince Xi Xiao Qian and Yelu Dashi withdrew from Yanjing, they headed northeast and did not stop until Gubeikou.

Gubeikou is a throat connecting Guanwai and the North China Plain.

To the north of Gubeikou is the inhabited area of ​​the Xi people. The Xi people are a very ancient ethnic group, belonging to the Donghu family. They were called Kumo Xi during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. They were relatively powerful during the Tang Dynasty and were divided into five tribes. They are distributed in eastern Inner Mongolia and southern Liaoning Province today. land. When Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty conquered Goryeo, Su Zhi, the great chieftain of the Xi tribe, followed him and served with meritorious service. During the period of Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty, the Xi people rebelled and were at odds with the Turks, so they were known as the "Two Bos". The Xi people sometimes attached themselves to the Tang Dynasty, and sometimes attached themselves to the Turks. In order to stabilize the northeastern border, the Tang Dynasty adopted a policy of appeasement towards the Xi people. Later, the Xi people were attacked by Yelu Abaoji, Taizu of the Liao Dynasty. Taizu of the Liao Dynasty conquered the Xi people several times. It took more than ten years to finally bring the Xi people into the Khitan regime.

Concubine Xiao De, Xiao Qian, and Yelu Dashi held another meeting at Gubeikou to discuss where to go next.

There are two roads to take out of Gubeikou, one is to Liaodong and the other is to the northwest. Xiao Qian still insisted on going to Jianyan Mountain in Liaodong, which was not too far away from Jianyan Mountain. However, Yelu Dashi strongly opposed it. He still advocated going to the northwest and going to Jiashan to seek refuge with Emperor Tianzuo.

The prince-in-law Xiao Bodie had objections to Yelu Dashi's view. He said: "We are going to Jiashan to seek refuge with Emperor Tianzuo. Aren't we going to die? Don't you know Emperor Tianzuo well?"