Half a month passed in a blink of an eye, and it was the Chinese New Year.[][]..[] Xue Shao clearly remembered that at this time last year, he and Xue Chuyu served the late emperor Li Zhi to the head of Zhuque City and celebrated the festival with all the people.

In a blink of an eye, things change.

A spring snow attacked the military town of Fengzhou, which was even more severe than the heavy snow that was two years ago. Xue Shao and 100,000 soldiers could not feel the breath of spring at all, and still had to fight the arduous cold.

Xue Shao originally wanted to organize a new round of training, but because of the lack of meat, he had to give up for the time being. As time went by, Xue Shao's sense of crisis increased day by day. Compared with other generals and schools, Xue Shao, who had gone deep into the grassland to fight Turkic nobles many times, knew better about the enemies he was facing.

After the severe cold, the Turks who had been in danger for a long time will definitely make a comeback and invade the Tang Dynasty. This season is the critical moment of the Tang Dynasty's spring plowing. A large amount of manpower and material resources in the Central Plains will be invested in agricultural production, and border defense will inevitably be relaxed. At the same time, the Turks who survived a difficult and cold winter consumed too much food and material reserves and urgently needed supplements.

A war is about to rush and kill as the cold subsides.

The only thing Xue Shao couldn't tell was where the Turks would attack. The north of the Tang Dynasty, from Youzhou in Hebei to Fengzhou on the southern foot of the Yinshan Mountains, looked like a long table full of delicious food. Where to get down, the initiative is completely within the control of the Turks.

This annoyed Xue Shao, but he had no choice but to do anything. For thousands of years, the Central Plains people, who mainly farmed, have been in such a passive defensive state due to their natural disadvantages in the war with the northern nomads.

Xue Shao could only use predictions to estimate the area where the Turks were about to attack, just like many border guards from ancient times to the present. He looked at the northern defense line of the Tang Dynasty. Youzhou was an important border defense center of the Tang Dynasty. It had a strong military force and a strong city and a geographical location deviated from the wealthy Hebei hinterland. The Turks should not have forced their attacks. It would be thankless. The situation of Fengzhou where Xue Shao was in charge was somewhat similar to that of Youzhou, and the troops were stronger and stronger, poorer and colder, and the Turks had no reason to attack. Because what they lacked now was not the victory of a war, but the clear purpose of plundering resources and wealth.

After a method of elimination, Xue Shao believed that once the Turks went south to invade, there were only two destinations - Yunzhou and Shuozhou in Hebei.

Shuozhou and Daizhou are the same, like the two gates of the Bingzhou Grand Governor's Office, and are also the northern gates of the Tang Dynasty. Once these two states are captured, the Turks can march straight into the hinterland of Hebei and rob and even threaten the northern capital of the Tang Dynasty.

The last time Pei Xingjian made a northern expedition, the two prefectures of Shuoday were the main battlefields of the war. At that time, Xue Shao and the governor of Shuozhou Cheng Wuting and the governor of Yunzhou Li Wenjian fought side by side to fight against the Turks. Xue Shao used a black tiger to attack Heisha with his heart, thus forcing the Turkic army to retreat and become famous in one battle.

Now Li Wenjian is still in charge of Yunzhou, but Cheng Wuting, who was most afraid of the Turks, has been transferred back to the imperial capital to take charge of the imperial army.

After further calculation, the two prefectures of Shuoday were most likely selected by the Turks as the breakthrough point for the southward invasion after the beginning of spring!!

Thinking of this, Xue Shao immediately thought of someone.

——Xue Rengui!

After the return of this 70-year-old general took over the burden of Cheng Wuxing and was in charge of Shuo Dai to guard the northern border.

The injured beasts were even more vicious. After the defeat in the last battle of Huanghuadui, the Turkic people had been in danger for a long time. Once they made a comeback, they would inevitably bring an unprecedentedly powerful war storm to the two prefectures of Shuodi.

Xue Shao had no reason to question the ability of the Tang Dynasty war god Xue Rengui, but he had to sweat a cold sweat for him - after all, he was seventy years old, and marching and fighting was both physical and mental work. This old man had been away from the battle formation for a long time and had no particularly capable assistant around him. Can he handle it?

The northern border defenses of the Tang Dynasty were thousands of miles long, showing a line of connection. Once a gap appeared at one point, a disaster would inevitably occur, and no matter how well the other points were guarded, it would be useless. The Turks had gone alone to rob the Helong Horse Supervisory Bureau before, which was the lesson of the past!

Xue Shao was thinking about it and had a headache. Guo Yuanzhen and Xue Chuyu came to report some military affairs together as usual.

Xue Shao said, "Brother Chu Yu is here just in time. I have something to discuss with you."

"Then should I avoid it?" Guo Yuanzhen said with a smile.

"Don't talk nonsense." Xue Shao said with a stern face, "We know something in our minds. Once the cold is gone, the Turks will go south and invade. I just compared it with the military map for a long time, and I was scheming in my mind. The Turks are likely to choose the two prefectures of Shuoday as a breakthrough point with the intention of invading Hebei."

The two generals were in a state of sternness, and Xue Chuyu said, "It's a coincidence! The last general and General Guo were just about to ask the young marshal for advice. We discussed it privately, and we also thought that the Turks were likely to attack the two prefectures of Shuoday!"

Guo Yuanzhen no longer laughed and said seriously: "The Turks have always chosen two periods of time to invade south. One is the spring plowing time of busy farming in the Central Plains, and the other is the autumn harvest of the Eagle in September. After the last battle of Huanghuadui, the Turks retreated to the desert to recuperate and recuperate, which has been more than several months. I think they have already held their strength and are waiting for the battle in the spring. Now, conservative estimates are that the Turkic rebels control at least 300,000. Such a huge force is better than the previous two times.

The rebel forces were much stronger. Moreover, Ashina Gu Duluo and Ashide Yuanzhen were far more powerful than Fengshi and Fu Nian, but their ambitions were also greater. Through this period of internal rectification, it is necessary for us to believe that Gu Duluo and Yuanzhen had unified the military power of the grassland departments and strengthened their authority. In this way, their biggest shortcomings were compensated... Once they made a comeback, they would inevitably be more fierce!"

Xue Chuyu's face became very serious after saying this. He said: "A few years ago, I received a letter from my elder brother, saying that the court had expected the Turks to invade south after the beginning of spring, so he frequently dispatched troops to condemn the Hebei border defense. The elder brother Xue Na was transferred to Daizhou as Sima and assisted his father. However, the court moved the capital back to Xijing again, and the troops were captured by Jing. Hebei border town is currently facing an unfavorable situation where the defense line is too long and the troops are few. Once the Turks invade south, I worry that my father and brother will not be able to support it in the Shuo Dai two prefectures!"

"I want to tell you this is the problem." Xue Shao said, "It is not a bad thing for the court to move the capital to his Majesty to return. But it also means that the situation of our Tang Dynasty is still very turbulent. Internal instability and no way to resist foreign powers. But Gu Dulu and Yuanzhen took this opportunity to further consolidate their position on the grassland and their strength became more prosperous in the past. One has changed and the other has increased. I think this year will be a very difficult year for us. Not only should we defend the Fengzhou defense line, develop Yinchuan military farms, and consolidate the strength of the army, we also need to deal with the crazy attacks of the Turks on our friendly forces. This is definitely not meddling in other people's business, because Youzhou, Yunzhou and Shuoday and Fengzhou where we are, form the entire northern defense line of the Tang Dynasty, and are in one. I don't need to say more about the truth that the lips are dead and the teeth are cold."

"But Hebei's military is not within the jurisdiction of the Young Marshal." Guo Yuanzhen reminded, "Even if the Young Marshal just wrote to the court to ask attention, it would be suspected of usurpation. The Border General's prediction to national affairs is a taboo!"

"I'm having a headache about this." Xue Shao said, "If I transfer troops privately and leave my post, it will definitely be a death sentence. There are some people in the court who have always hated us, the border generals, the most for making decisions and not following their condemnation. Therefore, it is most difficult to apply for a letter to fight."

"Did our 100,000 Shuofang Army just watch the Turks attack Hebei but remain indifferent?" Guo Yuanzhen gritted his teeth and said, "I hate that I am not the prime minister of the dynasty, otherwise!"

"No need to say nonsense." Xue Shao waved his hand and said, "Chu Yu, what are your opinions?"

"Now I am only worried about my father's safety." Xue Chuyu frowned and said, "Since the big strategy doesn't work, why don't you ask the young commander to give me some holidays and allow me to go to Daizhou to visit my father first, and then check the situation of the battle?"

"I'm just thinking." Xue Shao said, "If you take leave in your private name, it's okay. If the Turks really attack Shuo Dai, you can stay by the old general's side to assist in the military, or send a quick horse to report my emergency."

"But the court..." Xue Chuyu was very worried.

"You don't have to worry about this." Xue Shao's expression was extremely firm. "Daizhou is nearly a thousand miles away, and many relevant mountains block the roads are rugged and difficult to walk. You must set off as soon as possible to get there. You don't have to say much when you arrive in Daizhou, just say it's going to visit relatives. Once the military situation is urgent, you must adapt to the situation-remember! Remember!"

Xue Chuyu took a deep breath and clasped her fists solemnly, "One general, let's go!"

"The road is closed with heavy snow, how can you get off?" Guo Yuanzhen was worried.

"Even if I climb, I have to rush to my father as soon as possible." Xue Chuyu clasped his fists again, "Young Marshal, General Guo, say goodbye!"

"Slow down!" Xue Shao called him and said, "Take a few more capable people to accompany you, dress up as a civilian in a private outfit. Wu Ming raised a group of carrier pigeons and was quite handy. You might as well bring two cages with you. But if you have urgent matters, you can just pass on a letter to me. Remember, use the ninth set of Lantian secret codes!"

"yes!"

Xue Chuyu clasped her fists heavily and thrust her palms loudly. She looked at Xue Shao and Guo Yuanzhen with a deep look in her eyes. He turned around and strided away.

After Xue Chuyu left, Guo Yuanzhen looked at Xue Shao with a frown and suspicious look, and murmured: "You are going to do something extraordinary again, right?"

"Is there any?" Xue Shao curled his lips indifferently.

"Your demeanor and expression are just as good as your former confrontation with Bai Tieyu..." Guo Yuanzhen took a breath of cold air and said, "You can deceive others, but you can't deceive me. You must have another combat plan in your heart!"

"Shut up!" Xue Shao shouted angrily, "I just gave birth to a son, don't talk nonsense!"

"I deserve to die! I deserve to die! I slap my mouth! I slap my mouth!" Guo Yuanzhen raised his palm and slapped his mouth, slapping it, saying while slapping him: "But I still want to remind you that the tactic of attacking Black Sand can only be used once!"

"Stop!" Xue Shao grabbed his wrist with an unusually calm expression and said, "Yinshan is standing in front of him, and Turkic roaming is constantly coming and going. Yuan Zhen is definitely not an ordinary person. The Black Tiger's heart-breaking surprise attack tactic is useless at all."

"Then what are you going to do?" Guo Yuanzhen said with a worrying look, "Erganzi is indeed invincible, and Old Shuai Xue is a generation of war gods who are unprecedented and modern. But no matter how brave the father and son are, they cannot withstand the Turks' strong military force and ants are eroding elephants. The court will never allow our Shuofang Army to go to Hebei to help with the war - I really can't think of any other way to help them?"

Xue Shao slowly walked to the window with a cold expression, looking quietly at the vast snow scene outside the window that was so white that it was dazzling, silent as if the mountain had no words.

However, a chill in Guo Yuanzhen's heart was rising, and he said in surprise: Whenever he was about to do something big, he was so taciturn!... It was bad, it was bad! The famous Young Marshal Xue, who was infamous, had to do some amazing things that were deviant!
Chapter completed!