Chapter 26 first quarter

On the afternoon of May 26th, when the Liao and Song armies were still fighting fiercely on the front line of Baigou River, it was also the time when Ma Kuo and Wang Jieru, the negotiating envoy of the Liao side, came galloping from north to south. During the trip to Yanjing, Ma Kuo performed the task with the highest efficiency. That is to say, he has done everything he can, but it does not mean that he has completed all the tasks he asked to complete.His diplomatic career over the past few years has tempered his thinking to be complex, sharp and meticulous.Experience told him that all major military plans involve the interests of many people, and are always unpredictable and elusive.A victory that is not at hand is by no means a victory, and victory in sight does not mean that victory is within grasp.The biggest obstacle in front of him is that although Empress Xiao decided to surrender, according to his judgment, it was indeed sincere, and it was decided by the imperial meeting, but she did not obtain the consent of the frontline generals.They have heavy troops in their hands, so it may not be so easy to submit.They may still have objections, and may have to put forward very harsh conditions to preserve their strength.A tough negotiation is yet to come.The Liao military may even take drastic measures to kill the negotiating envoys of the two parties to undermine the peace agreement.Various possibilities exist, and Ma Kuo has estimated them all.He kept discussing with Zhao Jie along the way, and raised his vigilance and strengthened security measures to prevent unexpected changes.

There was only one possibility that he ignored. He didn't expect that Yelu Dashi and Xiao Qian would launch an unexpected cover-up battle after receiving the queen's handwritten letter to urge surrender. When they took a break at a shop less than twenty miles away from the new city, they discovered an unusual atmosphere.They saw the townspeople and shopkeepers whispering and chattering, not as a sign of welcome to their party, but of astonishment, as they had encountered on their way.There may be some articles here.He sent his entourage to inquire, and the residents also had their own opinions, and they couldn't agree on what to do, and no one could give an authoritative answer.Taken together, there seems to be such an impression: the two armies on the front line are engaged in a dramatic battle that has not occurred since the war began.The inhabitants also deduced it from various unusual signs, which were not yet confirmed at the time.

A word of hearsay startled Ma Kuo and made him suddenly realize that it might be true news.In fact, the possibility of war always exists. When Ma Kuo bid farewell to Tong Guan, he repeatedly reminded Tong Guan to prevent the other party's sudden attack.With this kind of vigilance, he himself set off for the first journey to Liao territory.Afterwards inspection, the main reason why he changed his mind and relaxed his guard was because when he passed the Liao army's position, he saw Yelu Dashi's bluff and pretended to be suspicious of the layout of the formation, and concluded that he would never start a war.He was so attached to this judgment that it never occurred to him that it might be wrong, or that it might change.He was extremely annoyed by being fooled by Yelu Dashi because of his nervousness.

Thinking about it now, the problem is so clear, if Yelu Dashi and others were unwilling to surrender when an order from Empress Xiao reached the front line (this, according to the information he got from Li Chuwen and his son, there is no doubt about it), why would they bother with the envoys? Playing tricks on them?Just launching a war directly will actually destroy the peace agreement, which clearly shows their attitude: if they want a war, they can choose no better time than today.Dogs jump over the wall in a hurry, people jump over the beam in a hurry, they will no longer have any worries.All of this is so naturally in line with reasoning, Ma Kuo can only blame himself for not thinking it through further.

Sure enough, things were quickly confirmed, and from the worst side.In the evening, they arrived at the Xincheng Hotel to rest. There is a better mass base here, and the residents have told them the news of our army's defeat.Then I saw about six or seven victorious envoys of the Liao army galloping towards Yanjing one after another.They proudly followed the memorials of the victory and the large bundles of military flags they had collected from the battlefield.Ma Kuo was very familiar with the number and the name of the general on the military flag.Some of them belonged to the West Route Army, and some belonged to the East Route Army, which shows that the Liao Army has won extraordinary victories on both the east and west routes.Among them, the most shocking thing is Yang Keshi's recognition flag with black letters on a white background, trimmed with red satin edges, and hanging with light yellow tassels. From the wrinkles and blood stains on the flag surface, it can be seen that the Eastern Route Army has been hit hard.This undoubted conclusion was like a dagger stabbing into Ma Kuo's chest.

There was indeed a large-scale war on the front line, and the victory belonged to the Liao side. The overall situation has changed rapidly. Not only is the future of the peace talks very bleak, but it is also difficult to predict whether their group can go back safely.Faced with this rapid change, Ma Kuo tried his best to restrain his grief and indignation, so as not to expose his weakness in front of Liao envoy Wang Jieru and others.He thought about it calmly for a while, and then came to a conclusion: he believed that personal safety and loss can be ignored, but this mission, the results of untold hardships, and the inside information of Liao that they collected from many sources must be Let the Xuanfu Division and the High Command know as soon as possible, so that they can still follow the general situation after a setback.Make the right countermeasures, and not get discouraged and lose your mind.

After midnight, he quietly found Zhao Jie and Sha Zhen. "It's only ten days before I leave the country. I don't want the overall situation to be so bad." Ma Kuo's conclusion is not difficult to find evidence.At this moment in the middle of the night, they still heard the sound of the Liao envoy's horseshoes.This rush of Mercedes.There were also the triumphant expressions of the Liao envoys they had seen, and some Liao envoys who found out their identities deliberately displayed the captured military flags to show them their achievements, all of which formed a deep impression on them.Ma Kuo first asked the two of them for their opinions, and asked, "Brother, brother, let's see what happened today, how should we deal with it?"

"I know the inside story of Liao most clearly," Zhao Jie said after analyzing the general situation. Xuan Zanxiu has lost his spirit. Besides, Yelu Dashi is full of tricks, and the success envoys sent one after another are not deceitful. The outcome of the front line is yet to be found out." "Our army's flag, as far as I know, cannot be forged by Yelu Dashi. The defeat on the front line is probably true, so there is no need to further scrutinize this." "Since this is the case, Yelu Dashi will definitely not let Xuanzan go back to the south." Zhao Jie put forward an earth-shattering suggestion, "Why didn't Xuanzan follow my brother into the mountains and raise volunteer soldiers to disturb the Liao army?"

"I've thought about this too," Ma Kuo thought for a long time before nodding his head and said, "It's just that it's time for Fei. I was ordered to go on an envoy, not to Tong Guan, but also to the court. Yelu Dashi won't let me go, I have my own countermeasures. The most urgent thing is that I am afraid that he will arrest me. The Xuanfu Division and the Commander-in-Chief do not know the details, and after a setback, I suddenly want to retreat. This is really out of control." So Ma Kuo proposed My own thoughts, I asked them to be detained before they were detained.Immediately sneak back to the army's position and tell all the situation to Zhong Shidao.

Zhao Jie had very complicated thoughts, but he still agreed to Ma Kuo's request, and thought carefully about some issues: "Since Xuanzan attaches great importance to the front line, I'll go back as ordered. It's just that neither of my brothers have seen the old-fashioned businessman, so he went rashly. Wouldn't he suspect that it was a secret agent sent by Yelu Dashi? You must bring Xuanzan's Only by writing in handwriting or as a token can you see the letter in him.” "Brother is thoughtful. It's just that after the war, the front-line investigation must be more stringent. If my handwriting is found out, it will be even more unfavorable to the overall situation. I think the two brothers might as well go to Xiaozhong after sneaking back to the army. Lue Xianggong finds my father in the army and asks him to take him to see the commander-in-chief."

"I don't know your father, and when the military is tense, your father may not be willing to trust us." "Yes," Ma Kuo nodded, took out a pair of hemp shoes from his bag, and said, "Brother, put on these new shoes. When he saw my father, he said that these shoes were brought from Tokyo. My father Seeing its style and stitching, you will know that it belongs to my family, and you will not be mistaken. In case you lose your shoes on the way, the two of you will follow my words: "Father and son have the same foot size, a pair of shoes made , both of them can be worn.' After hearing this, my father knew that the relationship between the two of you and me is very special, and he must love and extend it, and he will talk endlessly." Zhao Jie changed his shoes and asked: "I'll leave now, what else does Xuan Zan want?" "Brother, brother, let's go. If you can go back to the south, I will rest assured." Ma Kuo saw that Zhao Jie seemed to have something to say, and he said what he meant first. "If after the First World War, the Liao Army's interrogation became more stringent, the eldest brother quickly brought his brother into the mountains to join the rebel army, so as to keep him alive and make a big plan. Hugh wasted his life on the front line, and the younger brother was in endless suspense. " "Third brother, let me tell you, and my younger brother has something to say from the bottom of his heart." Ma Kuo finally got the long-awaited title, and there was a hot feeling in his eyes.This is the first time Zhao Jie has changed his name since they met.This change marks that from now on, no matter what the situation is, whether they are together or scattered in two places, their destiny has been closely linked and inseparable.From "Xuan Zan" to "Third Brother", what an extraordinary psychological journey has been experienced.Then Ma Kuo heard Zhao Jie's more frank confession: "My little brother was originally a rebel army under Zhang Guanyu's subordinates. This time I brought my family to the south, and I also followed the order of my brother Zhang, in order to get acquainted with the heroes of Nanzhong, so that we can cooperate with each other and drive out the Tartars. This trip is as follows: Don’t return to the south, you should go into the mountains together with Brother Sha. Don’t worry about this, third brother!” "Brother's behavior is unusual. I have long been in my heart, and it really is so." Ma Kuo said happily, "Brother has been ordered by Brother Zhang to come south, and he will go back in the future. In case you don't see younger brother, you can go with Liu When Zi Yu, the son of the staff officer, met him, he said that his younger brother introduced him to him. This man is bloody and courageous, and he is capable of conspiring with us in great matters." "Brother, keep it in mind." "Furthermore, Brother Sha is still young. He has seen the world and weathered the wind and rain. Although he has to experience it by himself, he still depends on someone to take care of him. The elder brother takes care of him." "I understand this," Zhao Jie said, holding Sha Zhen's arm. "On the way to Yanjing, Brother Sha has already met Brother Zhang. His heart is so warm!" "I'll follow Brother Ding," Sha Zhen said with a blushing face, "Where does Brother go, I'll follow him, and I'm afraid that Brother will abandon Brother? It's just that Third Brother will be with us in the future." Sha Zhen said what Zhao Jie was thinking. The northern rebels opposed not only the oppression of the Khitan nobles, but also the exploitation of the Han landlords.The meaning of this double resistance was at least unambiguous in Zhao Jie's mind, so he only regarded the Song Dynasty army as fellow travelers in the anti-Liao cause, and they could only cooperate in half of the cause.But Ma Kuo, who has already developed a brotherly relationship, should put forward higher requirements. Although he understands that under the current situation, Ma Kuo cannot fully accept his suggestion. Didn’t he just say that now is not the time? ? "Brother Sha is right." He tried again, "Not only against the Hulu, but we will fight them all. Now that the emperor is faint and the ministers are mediocre, the power and treachery are in power, and the people suffer. The situation in Liao and Song is exactly the same. Third brother In the Southern Dynasties, I had a better understanding of the affairs in the south. My younger brother said that after sweeping away the dust, these corrupt officials must be uprooted. Only in this way can the common people’s suffering be relieved. The ultimate goal of the uprising soldiers is this. Wait until When the common people rise up to be enemies of the government, the third brother must stand by the common people." Zhao Jie's words illuminated Ma Kuo's chest like a flash of lightning. The powerful words reminded him of the conversation with Liu Kai and Li Shishi in Tokyo, but he had never thought of the concept of "uprooting". Yes, it too flashed across his mind like a flash of lightning. "Brother sees far, younger brother will keep it in mind." Ma Kuo answered him solemnly but without thinking deeply, and then held their hands tightly, as if wanting to share his passion, trust and longing for them. It is completely conveyed to them through these hands.After a long while, he let go of his hand and said: "It's past the second watch, brothers, go to take off your clothes, bring some bags, and take away these old shoes. It's time for brothers to go. It's just that there are people standing guard outside the gate. Patrolman, how can we go out quietly, so as not to startle the snake?" "That's easy." Sha Zhen said confidently, "Let's just climb over the back wall and go out. I've seen it before, and the stretch is wasteland, unguarded." "Walking on the post road in the middle of the night, we must also guard against trivial questioning by the cattle guards." "I'll take care of this myself." "Okay!" Ma Kuo finally made up his mind to let them go, "Let's go, two brothers! We will meet later. Take care, brother!" "Third Brother, take care!" Ma Kuo didn't go to sleep until he heard them climb out of the back wall.Just because neither of them knew the possibility of meeting again in the future, the words "sometime later" became particularly heavy on them.