Dragon vs Wolf

Mountains and Rivers Follow the Wind (Seal)

The Three Dukes of the Wall

Yanze Sikong

Yan Sikong murmured this doggerel softly. It was only a small part of a long poem, but these few words were enough to pierce his heart.

The three dukes are riding on the wall, and the thieves in Yan are thinking of the sky.

He hated the eunuch party the most in his life and spent most of his life fighting against the eunuch gang, but he never expected that one day he would become a "Yan gang".

In the hearts of the people, is Yan Sikong as evil as the eunuchs and is he punishable by anyone?

When he heard the word "swallow thief" from the mouth of a young child who could only imitate parrots, he knew that this bad reputation must have spread throughout the world and was destined to be recorded in history and be infamous for thousands of years.

He thought he had really become numb, but this was his hometown, Guangning, the place he and his adoptive father had risked their lives to protect. It was the only pure land in his heart that he had longed to return to countless times in his dreams.

It's a pity that the people of Guangning have forgotten the great hero who died unjustly twenty years ago, and only remember the Yan thief today.

Yan Sikong opened the window. It was midwinter and the cold wind blew into the house, making people shiver. He leaned against the window, looking at the cars and people coming and going on the street. What appeared before his eyes was the appearance of this street twenty years ago. That brief and happy time in his youth may have exhausted his life's luck.

A bitter smile appeared on his lips, and tears fell uncontrollably.

Dad, Kong'er is unfilial and has become a "thief".

——

The swaying carriage stopped, Yan Sikong took a deep breath and got off.

Shen Hexuan brought him to see Liang Huiyong, and before that, he had also discussed the matter with Liang Huiyong.

Twenty years later, Yan Sikong still vaguely remembered Liang Huiyong's appearance. Back then, Liang Huiyong was a young general under Yuan Mao's command. He was brave and resourceful in battle, and was also very righteous. He was a talented person. If Liang Huiyong had not rescued him from the execution ground, he would have been captured and exiled by Han Zhaoxing.

When he saw Liang Huiyong, Yan Sikong recognized him at a glance. He was already the deputy general of Liaodong at that time, just over 40 years old, and full of vigor and vitality.

When Liang Huiyong saw Yan Sikong, he also widened his eyes. He seemed to be unable to recognize him for a moment, but soon became determined. He opened his mouth, but was unable to speak.

Yan Sikong took a step forward and knelt on one knee: "Thank you very much, General Liang, for saving my life."

Liang Huiyong was overwhelmed with emotions, and quickly helped Yan Sikong up, saying in a trembling voice: "Sikong, you are really Sikong."

Yan Sikong nodded heavily: "General Liang, I am Sikong."

Liang Huiyong sighed heavily: "It's been twenty years, twenty years. I never thought that I would see you again one day."

"I never thought... If General Liang hadn't come to my rescue, Sikong wouldn't be where he is today."

"You are the son of a Yuan general, how could I stand idly by?" Liang Huiyong recalled those years with deep emotion.

Yan Sikong said, "General Liang must have had a hard time under Han Zhaoxing these years."

"Well, let's not talk about it." Liang Huiyong said bitterly, "If it weren't for the people of Liaodong, I would rather retire and return to the fields than suffer at the hands of that bastard."

"General Liang endured humiliation and sought the best for himself. The people of Liaodong will all remember this."

Liang Huiyong shook his head. "After the fall of the eunuch party, General Zhao guarded Liaodong. Fortunately, I was recognized by the general and promoted all the way. I thought that Liaodong, which had been doomed for decades, was finally saved. But I didn't expect..." His eyes turned red as he spoke. "I didn't even get to see the general for the last time."

Yan Sikong grabbed Liang Huiyong's hand and said in a deep voice: "General Zhao handed Liaodong over to General Liang. General Liang will definitely defend Liaodong."

"I am willing to dedicate my life to my hometown, but Guangning has only 40,000 soldiers and horses, which is no match for the Jin Kingdom's 200,000-strong army."

"General Liang, do you still remember my father?"

Liang Huiyong said excitedly: "How dare I forget the achievements of the Yuan generals."

Yan Sikong thought that many people had forgotten. Even if he rehabilitated Yuan Mao in the capital, it would be insignificant to the people of Guangning. However, he could not blame the people for their bad memory. The people had been suffering for a long time. It was not easy to live. What else could they ask for? He said, "Twenty years ago, we defended Guangning under the leadership of my father. At that time, we did not even have 10,000 soldiers, but we resisted Zhuoletai's 100,000 troops three times. Today, we can definitely defend Guangning and Liaodong."

Liang Huiyong looked at Yan Sikong steadily: "Sikong, are you here for Guangning?"

"Exactly."

Liang Huiyong shook Yan Sikong's hand vigorously and said softly, "Do you know? Even if everyone in the world slanders you and scolds you, I know in my heart that you are definitely not that kind of person. You have been a good child since you were young. You are doing this to avenge the Yuan generals and to eradicate the traitors. You single-handedly destroyed the eunuch party that had been a scourge to the country for decades. You rehabilitated the Yuan generals. If you had any selfish desires, you would have enjoyed endless wealth and glory long ago. Why would you do this?"

Yan Sikong's eyes were moistened, and he said hoarsely: "General Liang's words comforted me greatly."

Fu Zhanqing couldn't help but say, "The people don't think so."

Shen Hexuan coughed lightly and Fu Zhanqing lowered his head.

Liang Huiyong then remembered Shen Hexuan. He hurried over and bowed, saying, "Sir Shen, please forgive me for my impoliteness."

"Deputy General Liang, you are too polite." Shen Hexuan bowed and said, "My legs are not working properly, so I won't stand up to return the greeting."

"No need, no need." Liang Huiyong said, "Someone, bring the tea."

Several people sat around in the house and discussed the current situation.

After crossing the Huangshui River, Zhuoletai did not rush to attack, but set up camp first. It is said that Zhuoletai spent a lot of money to buy many firearms and cannons from the Luosha Kingdom, which were specifically used to deal with the Han people's city wall artillery.

Zhuoletai, the former eldest prince of the Jurchens, has become a king. The greatest shame of his life was that he was defeated by a mere few thousand remnants of an army of 100,000 at the gates of Guangning City 20 years ago. In these years, he has been keeping a low profile and preparing his troops, but his desire for Liaoning and even the entire fertile Central Plains has never diminished. He has waited for so long, and finally waited for the civil strife in the Central Plains, and he himself is strong and ready to go. This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that he cannot miss.

For more than twenty years since the loss of the seven prefectures of Liaobei, the Jin people have been sending out teams of cavalry to roam the cities, towns, villages and counties of Liaodong all year round. Wherever they went, they burned, killed, looted, raped and plundered, committing all kinds of atrocities. Once troops were sent to pursue them, they would immediately disappear without a trace. This happened over and over again, and the soldiers and civilians of Liaodong lived in deep fear day and night.

After finally waiting for a wise general who could truly defend Liaodong, they saw the light at the end of the tunnel, but were thrown into darkness again.

On the other hand, the Jin people have built up a strong army and horses in recent years, and have been eyeing the Central Plains covetously, with their morale even higher than before.

Under such circumstances, the morale of the army was already broken before the battle even started.

Today is different from twenty years ago. Miracles are called miracles because they only happen once in ten thousand.

They might be able to stop Zhuoletai for a while, but this time Zhuoletai's force was overwhelming and he had obviously prepared for a long battle. After a long battle, their troops, food, and morale would surely be exhausted.

Right now, there is only one person who can save Liaodong - Feng Ye.

Only by sending troops to the wilds can Liaodong be saved from danger.

Liang Huiyong said, "I have sent many letters to the court asking for help. I heard that the Wolf King is trying to mobilize troops, but he..." He glanced at Yan Sikong, "At this time, the King of Chu and the other princes are waiting for an opportunity to act, and he is reluctant to send out the Feng Family Army."

"Of course he doesn't want to." Shen Hexuan said, "In fact, he is now in the same predicament as the imperial court back then - unable to take care of multiple fronts."

Fu Zhanqing nodded: "Yes, if not, how could he take over the world so easily." After he finished speaking, he suddenly felt something was wrong and glanced at Yan Sikong secretly.

After all, everyone in the world knows what role Yan Sikong played in Feng Ye's entry into the capital.

But Yan Sikong's face remained calm.

Liang Huiyong said: "The most important thing right now is to find a way to get the Wolf King to send out troops. Sikong, you..."

Yan Sikong said calmly: "General Liang, I was captured by Lord Shen and was to be sent to the King of Chu, but Lord Shen understood the greater good and believed that Liaodong was related to the survival of the country and should be rescued first. I had already retired to the countryside and reappeared for Liaodong. I will serve my hometown until my death."

Liang Huiyong was deeply moved: "Sikong, you are worthy of being General Yuan's adopted son. You will inherit his legacy and complete his unfinished work and completely destroy the gold thief!"

Shen Hexuan looked at Yan Sikong and said expressionlessly: "What good plan do you have?"

"On the one hand, we have to guard against Zhuoletai's attack, strengthen the city defenses, arrange for the transportation of food and grass, and boost morale, and on the other hand, we have to force Fengye to send troops."

"How to force Feng Ye to send out troops?"

Yan Sikong frowned slightly.

From the moment he came out of the mountains, he knew that sooner or later he would have to deal with Feng Ye. Even though that was the thing he least wanted to do in his life, he had no other choice. To save Liaoning, their strength was too weak. Now the entire court and the most powerful troops in the Central Plains were in the hands of Feng Ye alone. If Feng Ye did not save Liaoning, no one could save it.

However, he still remembered the last time he saw Feng Ye. Feng Ye told him with a look full of resentment that he "hated him". Resentment or hatred, he didn't care after dying once. But he had no idea whether Feng Ye would risk being taken advantage of by Chen Yi and send troops for him.

But even if there is a chance, he will try. He can die for Liaodong and face someone he doesn't want to meet in this life. What's wrong with that?

He took a deep breath and said, "I'll write a letter to Feng Ye."

Several people stared at him without blinking.

The grievances and love-hate relationship between Feng Ye and Yan Sikong was also known to the world. Although some of it sounded absurd, there is no smoke without fire. It was true that Feng Ye searched the whole world for Yan Sikong.

"What are you going to write?"

——

"Wolf King! Wolf King!"

Feng Ye was reviewing memorials by candlelight when he heard the guards' anxious report. He frowned. He had been busy with government affairs recently and had trouble sleeping day and night because of one person. Hearing such shouting, he felt a splitting headache.

The guard rushed into the study and fell to his knees. Before Feng Ye could reprimand him, he shouted, "Wolf King, there is news about Master Yan."

Feng Ye's body trembled, and the wolf hair brush in his hand fell on the paper, and the ink stained half of the paper. His heart was suddenly tightened, and he trembled and said, "You, what did you say..."

For more than half a year, he had been desperately trying to get news about Yan Sikong. At first, he visited nearby towns and villages and found some traces of similar people, but in the end, all the news was cut off. He knew that the people below would never dare to speak without any evidence unless they had reliable information.

The guard said excitedly: "Some time ago, our spies found traces of Shen Hexuan in Taiyuan, and then Shen Hexuan left Taiyuan, and the spies followed him all the way. Then, then he..."

"Then what!" Feng Ye asked anxiously.

"Then he followed to Bazhou and witnessed a horse farm where horses were infected with an epidemic. He summoned many people from the martial arts world to diagnose the horses. A few days later, Shen Hexuan took a man away. The man's body shape was said to be very similar to that of Master Yan."

Feng Ye was so angry that his eyes turned red. He growled, "Why did you come to report it now?"

"General Que forbids us to do so. He said that we must not have accurate information and must not disturb the Wolf King. He is afraid that you will be too happy for nothing. Now the spies have reported that they are heading straight to Liaodong, so the general ordered me to come and report to the Wolf King as soon as possible."

Feng Ye stood up suddenly, his face was as pale as paper, his fists were clenched, and his heart was beating so fast that it seemed like it would jump out of his throat in the next moment.

Is it you, Sikong, is it you!

Zhenma and Liaodong, both of these are related to Yan Sikong, and they were taken away by Shen Hexuan himself. Maybe, maybe it was really him, it was really him!

No matter what, as long as there is a little hope, it is enough. As long as he can see a ray of light, he will pursue it without hesitation through thousands of mountains and rivers. Otherwise, he will be completely swallowed up by the darkness, and he will live forever in the regret and fear of losing his loved ones, with no life, no death, and no redemption.

Please, Kong'er, let me find you, let me see you again, let me have a chance to make up for the past.

Even if it means death, let me go with you.