Snowflakes are falling from north to south.

Of course, although the Yanshan snowflakes are as big as mats, they are only the size of goose feathers when they reach Zhending Mansion, and they just disintegrate when they reach the Yellow River.

It was also early November, and a light snowfall, almost like mist, came unexpectedly in the city of Tokyo during the Song Dynasty, attracting the attention of many people.

In fact, according to common sense, or judging from the chaotic situation before the army set off, the snow should have attracted greater attention or even riots... On that day, the Zhao Guan family suddenly mentioned launching the Northern Expedition due to the sudden death of the third prince of the Jin Kingdom, Yin Liduo. The reason why the riot in the Yuetai camp outside the city was caused was that the incident happened suddenly and the army moved too hastily. On the other hand, it was also because the Song Dynasty did not follow the weather and sent troops in winter.

There is no way around it. Since ancient times, the people in the feudal era have been most afraid of freezing and hunger. The Zhao Guan family's disobedience to the weather will naturally cause the imperial army to rush to buy cold-proof clothing and food.

However, now, with the successive victories in the frontline areas, especially in the Hedong direction, a large number of prefectures, counties and cities have been recaptured, and the Zhao Guan family's personal expedition has somewhat reduced the panic of some people in the early stages of the war.

Because just like in the past, the common people were more concerned about the words "frozen and hungry". Nowadays, the judgment of the war situation in the market is mostly based on the reports in the newspapers that a city will be recovered today and a state will be recovered tomorrow... This is obvious to the common people. See, something tangible is more effective than anything else.

What's more, these recovered places are not unclear or unknown places.

Speaking of Anyi, countless people will recall the days when Hedong salt and Jingdong salt were used side by side in the capital; speaking of Hedong City, there will be merchants who will talk about how they sold sheep in the past and saw the Stork Tower from a distance, which then attracted people's attention. Some people talk about how high that building is, and some people sigh about how many poems there are in that building.

Not to mention, there are countless exiled people from Hedong in the city of Tokyo, and they know the landscape and situation there better than anyone else.

This caused the city of Tokyo to fall into a strange dynamic and busy stability after adapting to the initial chaos.

"Give in, give in! We are also contributing to the country!"

Let's say that outside Donghua Gate, several scholars were standing at the corner of the intersection talking with their hands behind their hands. They saw the palace in front of them was dark, and the horse-drawn streets behind them continued to be bustling. Thousands of miles away, there were gold and iron horses, and rain and snow were falling above their heads. It was really They were really worried about their family and country. But as soon as these people gathered around one of the young people who were leading them and said a few words, suddenly, a dozen wheelbarrows flying the flag of the Gozenban came speeding from south to north. , the momentum was astonishing, and he was shouting as he came, which shocked these young people and ran away in panic.

All the worries about family and country that I had to say before were swallowed up in an instant.

You know, according to the wartime instructions issued by the province a few days ago, it was originally just a suggestion that "pedestrians and vehicles in the capital should keep to the right", but now it has become a wartime rule, and these food delivery people, because they are supplying the palace, the government It's used, and it actually got the title of 'military supplies'.

In this case, once they are collided by these unicycles coming from the direction of Yu Street and walking on the right, they will only be hung up and scolded by Yan Xiaozhong, the black, thin and short Prince Yan, even if they make trouble in Kaifeng Mansion. Records were left in Taixue, which affected further studies and imperial examinations.

Of course, after this rush, these people originally wanted to gather together again. However, starting from this convoy, the takeaway trucks in the direction of Yujie actually came and went intermittently, as if they were like tiny snowflakes above their heads.

The large group of people who went to deliver food around Yujie are turning back.

During the war, there were far more local officials in Yujie, the center of affairs, than in the past, and the scale of food delivery was also far greater than usual.

In desperation, these Taixue students could only put aside their thoughts on the young classmate Qia, and said goodbye to the young master they bumped into by chance. Most of them walked south along the palace wall back to the vicinity of Taixue, and the young master

Then he stuck to the outside of the takeaway cars and headed towards Maxing Street.

In fact, this young man was expecting the takeaway truck to come back at noon, and the shops on Mahang Street could prepare for the evening takeout, so he came here. However, he happened to meet a group of junior students from the Imperial Academy, and because of his special status, he came here.

Just got stuck.

Just like that, when this person came to Ma Xing Street, he started from Mrs. Song's Fish Soup and went to three or four shops in a row, but he only ordered a dozen vegetable soup, with some ginger and soy sauce as usual in winter.

It's just two tables, one large and one small.

However, despite this, these genuine stores with huge brands and high consumption are all respectful and serious. In the end, it is often the owner of the store who personally sends the young master away, and even promises that he will definitely be there in the evening.

Delivering takeaways to your house in person will never go wrong... The reason couldn't be simpler. This young master is none other than the eldest son of the current Prime Minister, the one called Zhao Fen.

Mr. Zhao came out this time for no other reason than because the battle reports from the front were sent back. Zhi Guanxing was locked and Linfen was advancing like a tide. After the Jin army lost the Hezhong Basin in a hasty battle, they simply abandoned the Linfen Basin.

And the hometown of Zhao Ding and Mr. Zhao is no other place. It is Wenxi where Lu Yihao is currently training. How can he not know the topography of his hometown? Therefore, after this experience, Mr. Zhao is completely relieved and knows that Wenxi no matter what

In any case, it is considered a completely safe return.

From now on, I will no longer be considered a homeless person.

Therefore, it is inevitable that some people are like the exiled people in Hedong, who must indulge in drinking when singing at night. But in the capital, secret pavilion, and public pavilion, they still calmly behaved like prime ministers, but secretly couldn't help but make an exception and handed a note to their son.

, let him prepare a banquet with wine.

Of course, Mr. Zhao Fen was also very happy about this, but although his name had Fen, he had lived in Beijing with his parents a long time ago. He only had a few vague impressions of his hometown, but he was not necessarily excited to that extent.

However, it was not until the evening of that day, when Zhao Fen, who had arranged everything at home, that his father returned and saw tonight's guests, that he realized that he had underestimated his father's excitement at the moment.

There were only two guests, one was the then Prime Minister Zhang Jun and Zhang Deyuan, the other was the Minister of Industry Hu Yin and Hu Mingzhong... plus his own father who was sitting on the throne, the current Prime Minister Zhao Ding and Zhao Yuanzhen, it was the so-called

The three ministers of Jingkang Taixue were like this.

This time it was a typical private banquet. Although Zhang Jun's son was still young, his clan was very large, so he brought three or five adult nephews to help with the housekeeping. It was similar to Hu Yin, who had his own half-brothers Hu Hong and

A distant cousin who came to study accompanied him... For a time, it was a bit lively with the Zhao family, which already had a prosperous heir apparent.

When the banquet was spread out, there were only two tables. One table was outside. Zhang Fen gave the first place to Hu Hong, who had passed the Jinshi and was already serving as an official. Then he took his younger brother and a few others to sit with him. On the other table inside, there were only

There are only three protagonists, and there is not even anyone to serve them.

It even makes those people outside secretly wonder.

“There’s actually ginger fermentation.”

The three people inside sat down. Zhang Jun glanced at the food and wine on the table and laughed on the spot. "Brother Yuan Zhen has not forgotten his roots."

"The essence is the beginning, everything must have its beginning." Zhao Ding also twisted his beard and smiled when he heard this. "The official was in Hangzhou before, and when he talked here, he kept saying this... Everything must be traced to the beginning, how can people do it?

Forgot your roots? How can you forget the merits of 'Chief Minister Jiang' and the kindness of the officials?"

After saying that, the two of them laughed together, and the tension they felt when they first came relaxed by three points.

Hu Yin, on the other hand, still looked the same as he did ten years ago. He stood up without saying a word, took the initiative to pour a glass of wine for the two people who could almost be called sworn brothers, and then sat back down calmly as usual.

"Although it's a family banquet, we still have to celebrate with a glass of wine first." Zhang Jun smiled slightly and raised his glasses. "Although Hedong Wang Normal University's advance was expected, but as far as brother Yuan Zhen is concerned, it is

I have found my roots and am no longer a wandering person... Congratulations."

Upon seeing this, Hu Yin immediately stood up and held the drink, while Zhao Ding nodded, rarely showing any humility, and drank it all in one gulp.

Immediately, Hu Mingzhong poured wine for the three of them again. After finishing pouring the wine, he sat back down and ordered his chopsticks directly, starting with the steaming fish soup in front of him.

As for Zhao and Zhang, they each had a drink, but they were speechless. They just sighed, as if they were recalling the past and thinking about their origins, and they were filled with emotion.

"Isn't it snowing heavily?" I don't know why, but after a while, the two of them were almost speechless after having known each other for more than ten years, so that Zhang Deyuan had to talk about the weather as if he had nothing to say.

"It's not big." Zhao Yuanzhen continued as if he had come to his senses. "I have asked many elderly people, and they all said that there is no abnormality in the climate this year. According to experience, this month is mostly water from small rivers and wells.

If there is ice, even if there is a severe cold and the river freezes, it will have to wait until the first few days of the twelfth lunar month... However, we are here to prepare for the worst no matter what the weather is like... Where is Chen Shuxiang (Chen Gui),

It’s time to put more emphasis on it, and the ice-breaking service on the Yellow River must be organized in advance.”

"That's right." Zhang Jun nodded repeatedly, but then sighed again. "Actually, the key lies in Daming Mansion. If Yue Pengju can defeat Daming Mansion in one fell swoop, everything will be easy."

"Yue Pengju is not a god." Zhao Ding couldn't help but smile bitterly. "There are five ten thousand households behind Daming Mansion, plus the four to five ten thousand households of Longde Mansion, which can be reached in a few days. Their military strength is much weaker than the opponent's, not to mention

Daming Mansion itself is also a fortified city, facing big rivers on three sides, natural obstacles... Where can the city be broken? He is a partial division, as long as he can firmly attract the east route army, it will be fine. If he can attract the west route army

Army, that is the best situation, but then it will be Yue Fei's turn to defend the city, and it is a good thing that it will never snow again."

"Yue Pengju is a famous general." Zhang Jun sighed immediately. "I think if we can fight with him more soldiers, it is unlikely that this Northern Expedition can directly open a gap in Hebei... Do you think, if we can directly break through it years ago?

Daming Mansion... When the Jin army is at a loss, they can only unite their troops between Longmu, and then wait for the two wings of the king's division to rest properly, then they can join forces on the banks of the mountains and rivers to cut off the bandits in one fell swoop."

Zhao Ding hesitated to speak, but in the end he had to look at Hu Yin who had already lowered his head and ate half of the fish.

"The military and national affairs are important. Officials have their own considerations. They have already decided on the strategy of focusing on Hedong. How can we change it?" Hu Yin blurted out without raising his head. "What's more, the weather does not allow it... If we want to break the city, it is not impossible."

Methods, for example, use the boat division to sail into both sides of Daming Mansion, and then use heavy troops to cut off the rear, so that the Jin army reinforcements cannot get close to the city, and also make the king's division have a partial advantage in strength, so that it can be used... The martial arts school and the Privy Council previously formulated

This was one of his strategies, but that was when the troops were sent out after the spring when the water was strong, but now they are marching in winter. Not only is the water shallow, but it may even freeze. Unless there is a way to break the city immediately, the situation will be very bad.

Who dares to throw it away lightly?"

Zhang Jun was embarrassed for a moment.

Hu Yin did not save face for his old brother at all, but continued to persuade seriously: "Brother Deyuan, it has been almost fifty days since the third prince of the Jin Dynasty died suddenly, and it has been four days since the official ordered to send troops.

It has been more than ten days. Hebei has recovered three states, and Hedong has recovered six or seven states. Are you still thinking about personal gains and losses, and can't you calm down and serve the country? If so, why not take the initiative to resign?

Take a few days off and just leave the matter to Brother Yuan Zhen, and then I, Liu Ziyu, and Lin Jingmo will help from the side and do all the work for Brother Deyuan?"

Zhang Jun was startled for a moment, then panicked, and Zhao Ding was also at a loss for a moment.

Without him, both of them knew that Hu Mingzhong was not a person who would fight for power or position, nor was he a timid person. On the contrary, he was a serious person who regarded the Northern Expedition as everything. He said this, the ten

Most likely, I really think so, and may even try it.

For a moment, Zhang Jun was in a hurry, but he didn't know how to explain it. However, Zhao Ding calmed down a little and then seriously persuaded him: "Ming Zhong... things don't work that way. De Yuan has been in the pivot position for a long time. Once he moves slightly, it will cause trouble."

There is suspicion both internally and externally, and then this incident itself will shake up the situation in the DPRK and affect the front line."

"Yes, Brother Deyuan holds a high position and has his own system. Once he is shaken, it will be detrimental to the country." Hu Yin continued to respond seriously. "But if this is the case, Brother Deyuan should respect himself. Why are you still working all day?

If that’s the case, that’s fine, but if that’s the case, so what?”

"Ming Zhong." Zhao Ding already regretted interrupting Hu Yin to eat fish. "Isn't this a private banquet today, where the three of us are talking privately? I have some personal secrets to express here, so that I can take up the role of Prime Minister in Chongwen Academy.

of."

Zhang Jun nodded quickly.

"If that's the case, why did the officials below me say that Brother Deyuan lamented in front of everyone in Chongwen Academy before posting the official letter to his residence, saying that it was a pity that he didn't use the letter he wrote to make Fan Sanzhao famous... This

Is this what you should do as a prime minister?" Hu Mingzhong still asked seriously.

Zhao Ding finally lost his temper, but Zhang Jun was already sweating profusely.

To be honest, if it were someone else, even if Zhao Ding said these words himself, Zhang Deyuan would have flipped the table and left immediately, but it would be impossible for someone else to question him like this, right?

That is to say, this little brother who has known each other for more than ten years can ridicule him like this at a rare private banquet where only three people are reminiscing about the past!

That's right, Zhang Deyuan has determined that Hu Mingzhong did it on purpose, taking the opportunity to express his dissatisfaction. The little brother who only lowered his head to eat ginger soy sauce now has the opportunity, and his mouth is full of fangs.
To be continued...