Apprenticeship at Qingcheng Mountain, Senior Brother Yu Canghai

Chapter 225: Thousand Miles of Attack, Beggars' Sect Rescue

In the endless grassland wilderness!

Qiao Feng and Chu Yuan's master Ma Dayuan traveled together, followed by a hundred elite members of the Beggar Gang, and they headed for Shangjing, the capital of the Liao Dynasty.

After all, this is within the territory of Liao. Large-scale personnel movements might be noticed by Liao and lead to a siege by Liao's army. So Qiao Feng and the Beggars' Sect chose to split up into smaller groups, dividing the Beggars' Sect disciples into dozens of groups and rushing to Shangjing, the capital of Liao.

The eight branches and four elders of the Beggars' Sect, plus tens of thousands of disciples with good martial arts skills, all participated in this operation.

Just then, a melodious call of a hawk was heard from far ahead.

This was an agreement made in advance by the Beggars' Gang. After entering the Liao territory, they would communicate with each other by imitating the sounds of birds.

"Stop."

When Qiao Feng, who was walking in front, heard the voice, he stopped and waved his hand to give orders to the Beggar Gang disciples behind him.

He recognized the melodious sound of the hawk in front of him as a spy sent out by the Beggars' Sect to investigate the situation.

Hearing Qiao Feng's voice, the Beggar Gang disciples, led by Deputy Leader Ma Dayuan, stopped and stood there waiting.

Not long after, a galloping horse appeared and ran to the crowd from a distance.

Sitting on the horse was a dark-skinned man wearing a local herdsman's jacket and with shaved hair. He did not look like a disciple of the Beggars' Sect, but more like a young man from the Liao Dynasty.

These are the very few Beggars' Gang disciples who live on the border between Song and Liao and can speak Khitan. They were simply disguised and sent into the Liao territory to gather information.

law!
The spy on horseback rode up to Qiao Feng and the others, stopped the horse, and after the horse neighed, the spy jumped off the horse and knelt on one leg in front of Qiao Feng.

The spy bowed to Qiao Feng and Ma Dayuan beside him and said, "Master and Deputy Master, just three days ago, a great change occurred in Shangjing, the capital of the Liao Dynasty. The Qinglian Envoy has escaped danger. We don't need to go to the capital of the Liao Dynasty."

Ma Dayuan asked anxiously: "What happened? Is Yuan'er okay?"

Breaking into the enemy's capital alone is no small matter.

What's more, before Chu Yuan left, he said that he wanted to negotiate with the Emperor of Liao.

No matter how powerful Chu Yuan's martial arts were, even if he was the best in the world, he could not withstand the siege of the Liao army!
So, while he was still in charge of gang affairs at the border, preparing to welcome the Liao army's attack on the Song Dynasty, when he heard his gang leader's words, he immediately decided to sneak into the Liao territory with Qiao Feng without hesitation and decided to go to the Liao capital Shangjing to rescue Chu Yuan.

Qiao Feng asked, "Yes, how is my second brother?"

After learning from A-Bi that Chu Yuan went to Liao alone and wanted to persuade the Liao emperor not to use military force against Song, he immediately took all the elite members of the Beggars' Gang and sneaked into Liao.

Before setting off, Duan Yu, who was visiting the Beggars' Sect, felt that since the three were sworn brothers, they should share the joys and sorrows, so he followed him regardless of life and death. However, he was not with him. At this time, he was with other Beggars' Sect disciples.

Because there were so many people, the speed was a little slower. It took him five days to lead a group of Beggar Gang disciples here.

When the spy heard what Qiao Feng and Ma Dayuan said, he did not speak immediately, but had a strange look on his face, with eyes full of awe, admiration and worship.

Qiao Feng asked: "What's going on?"

Hearing from the spy that Chu Yuan had escaped danger, he finally felt relieved. However, he was still very curious about what Chu Yuan had done when he went to Liao alone, and how he had escaped danger in the end.

The spy then said, "Boss, Deputy Boss, what the Green Lotus Envoy did this time was simply too incredible. It simply doesn't seem like something a mortal could do."

Ma Dayuan asked anxiously again: "What did Yuan'er do in the Great Liao? Tell me now!"

The spy said, "According to the information we have gathered, the Green Lotus Envoy arrived at the Liao capital Shangjing three days ago. He first broke into the city, and then, surrounded by thousands of imperial guards, he forced his way into the Wugong Palace where the Liao emperor lived and handled government affairs. He finally persuaded the Liao emperor, Yelu Hongji, who had just ascended the throne, to cancel the attack on Song. In the end, the Liao emperor even personally escorted the Green Lotus Envoy out of the Liao capital."

Qiao Feng frowned and asked, "What will happen next? Will the Liao Emperor be able to swallow his anger and let my second brother go like this?"

He knew how difficult it was for one person to single-handedly break into the Liao capital and palace and force the Liao emperor to withdraw his troops.

He himself had no confidence at all, but he didn't expect Chu Yuan to actually do it.

But the problem is, if he were the Emperor of Liao, he would never let someone who forced him leave easily. He would definitely send a large army to encircle and suppress him.

Compared to the crowded Liao capital Shangjing, Chu Yuan’s danger has just begun once he leaves the Liao capital and ventures into the vast grassland.

The spy's tone was filled with shock: "The Liao Emperor, Yelu Hongji, really let the Qinglian Messenger leave, because before he left, the Qinglian Messenger took action and destroyed the South Gate of the Liao capital Shangjing with one palm."

The spy then added: "Not only that, the Liao emperor has changed his mind and wants to form an alliance with the Song dynasty to deal with Xixia together. It is said that the Liao envoys, carrying the Liao emperor's order to withdraw troops and the desire to form an alliance with the Song dynasty to deal with Xixia together, have already set off for the Song dynasty border."

"Destroy the gate of the Liao capital with one palm!"

Qiao Feng muttered to himself.

No wonder the Liao Emperor let his second brother go.

With his martial arts reaching this level, even if the Liao emperor sent a large army to encircle and suppress him, they might not be able to kill his second brother.

and……

Even if my second brother is no match for the army, wouldn't it be easy for him to escape from them?
He suspected that his second brother's martial arts had reached an unprecedented level.

Even he couldn't easily destroy a city gate with one palm.

"Boss, my disciple's martial arts has reached such a high level!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Dayuan sighed.

Destroying a city gate with one palm is simply unheard of.

He didn't know who else in the world could do it except his disciple.

"Brother Ma, you have accepted a good disciple."

Qiao Feng said to Ma Dayuan.

Ma Dayuan said: "Yuan'er's action this time prevented the Song and Liao countries from fighting, saving countless people from death and injury in both countries."

Qiao Feng said, "Since my second brother is out of danger, let's return to Song territory."

Without having experienced the sworn brotherhood with Yelu Hongji in the original plot, although Qiao Feng knew that he was a Khitan, he did not identify as strongly with the Song Dynasty as he did himself. Besides, he was now the leader of the Beggars' Sect, which had helped the Song Dynasty court many times.

They came to Daliao to rescue Chu Yuan, but the further they went, the tighter the defense of Daliao became, and the greater the chance of being discovered.

Not only did Chu Yuan not need to be rescued, but they themselves were in danger.

"As ordered."

The hundred or so elite soldiers behind Qiao Feng responded in unison.

"Pass the order down and inform the four elders and eight helmsmen to lead the brothers of the Beggars' Sect and return to the Song Dynasty together."

Deputy gang leader Ma Dayuan immediately gave orders to others.

Dozens of disciples behind him who were delivering messages immediately scattered and delivered messages to other Beggar Gang disciples who had sneaked into the territory of the Liao Dynasty and split into small groups.

……

The capital of the Song Dynasty.

Bianliang, Tokyo.

Hall of Wende.

An eighteen-year-old boy sat behind the desk with a sad look on his face.

The young man was wearing a crimson gauze robe, a cloud crown on his head, a gauze skirt and a knee-length guard, a gold and jade belt around his waist, white socks and black shoes on his feet, and a ribbon hanging from his waist.

He was none other than the Song Emperor Zhezong Zhao Xu.

After dealing with today's political affairs and reviewing the memorials that needed to be reviewed, he felt an inexplicable irritation rising in his heart when he thought of the conflict between him and the Empress Dowager's old party, as well as the upcoming war on the border.

Because the memorials received in the past few days were all about the news that the Liao Kingdom had deployed 150,000 troops on the border, intending to attack the Song Dynasty.

Once the Liao Kingdom attacked the Song Dynasty, not only would the people on the border suffer, but the Song Dynasty would also have to allocate massive amounts of supplies to support the border troops in fighting this war.

"I want to implement a new policy, vigorously strike down Yuanyou ministers, and banish Su Shi, Su Zhe and other members of the Empress Dowager's old party. If a war breaks out at this time, I am afraid that the power of the Empress Dowager's old party will be further consolidated."

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu became more and more upset, and he stood up and paced back and forth in the room.

"Sir, good news, good news."

Just as Zhao Xu was thinking about how to break the impasse, a voice came from outside, and then a middle-aged eunuch in his thirties, dressed in blue, ran in.

"What good news? All the ministers are against me and refute me. There is almost a war on the border. What good news can there be in the court?"

Zhao Xu looked at the eunuch with dissatisfaction.

Because the court was full of the Empress Dowager's party, and she had been in charge of government for many years, and the ministers in the court used to report government affairs only to the Empress Dowager, after he ascended the throne, there was really no one to use, so he supported some eunuchs around him.

The situation did not improve slightly until the Empress Dowager passed away.

Zhao Xu had had enough of the Empress Dowager's old party over the years, who completely ignored him. He had been secretly planning to depose and exile all of the Empress Dowager's old party.

"Your Majesty, a few days ago our spies in Liao sent us news that a young hero named Chu Yuan from our Song Dynasty, who is a martial arts master, went to Liao alone and broke into the Liao capital Shangjing. He was chased and intercepted by thousands of imperial guards and broke into the Liao palace. He forced the Liao emperor Yelu Hongji to swear an oath that he would not raise troops to attack Song during his reign. The Liao emperor issued an edict that the Liao army on the border has begun to retreat gradually. The Liao also wants to form an alliance with our Song Dynasty to deal with Xixia together. It is said that an envoy has been sent to Tokyo."

The eunuch was in charge of the affairs of the Imperial City Division. His name was Zhangqiu and he was one of the chief officials of the Imperial City Division.

The Imperial City Bureau was responsible for managing palace restrictions, guarding the surrounding areas, and gathering intelligence.

Similar to the Embroidered Robe Messenger of the Han Dynasty and the Bad Guys of the Tang Dynasty.

The Imperial City Bureau sent out many spies, who were lurking in the neighboring countries such as Liao and Western Xia.

"really?"

Zhao Xu was delighted when he heard this. If this was true, it would be a blessing from heaven.

The invasion of the Liao army, which had originally worried him, was unexpectedly resolved by one person.

"This is absolutely true, sir. I believe that the news of the Liao retreat will soon reach the front line."

Zhang Qiu, the chief officer of the Imperial City Department, bowed and said to Zhao Xu.

"That's good."

After Zhao Xu sat back at the desk, he no longer felt annoyed when he saw the memorials placed on the desk.

"He was able to go deep into the enemy country alone, break into the enemy's capital palace, and force the Liao emperor to swear an oath to withdraw his troops. Zhangqiu, isn't Chu Yuan a little too powerful?"

Then Zhao Xu said again.

He had heard long ago that there were some martial arts masters with superb skills in the world who were able to defeat a large number of enemies with a small number of people, or even one against a hundred.

But Zhao Xu had never heard of anyone who could achieve what Chu Yuan did.

Zhang Qiu said: "It is said that when Chu Yuan was leaving, he knocked down a gate of the Liao capital with one palm, so that the Liao emperor did not dare to send troops to hunt him down and could only watch him leave. This Chu Yuan's martial arts is probably extraordinary and far beyond the reach of ordinary people."

Zhao Xu was thoughtful: "Chu Yuan... this name, why do I feel familiar with it?"

Zhang Qiu said, "Your Majesty, I have reported this man to you before. This Chu Yuan is a young master who has risen rapidly in the Beggars' Sect in the past two or three years. He is also the most prestigious and skilled person in the Beggars' Sect, except for the leader Qiao Feng."

Zhao Xu suddenly realized, "No wonder it sounds familiar to me."

Since there is a martial arts world in this world, the imperial court naturally also has institutions that influence and check the martial arts world.

This organization is the Imperial City Bureau.

In the Imperial City, many people have strong martial arts skills.

Even Zhang Qiu himself is a master in the martial arts world.

In addition, the Imperial City Bureau is also involved with many righteous sects in the martial arts world, including the Beggars' Sect and Shaolin.

These sects received relatively implicit support from the imperial court, and the sects helped the Song Dynasty court.

Zhao Xu said, "You reported to me before, Zhangqiu, that you wanted to depose Qiao Feng, the leader of the Khitan clan. It was Chu Yuan's sudden move that ruined the Imperial City Division's plan."

Previously in the apricot forest, Qiao Feng was framed by Kang Min, who revealed Qiao Feng's Khitan identity. Many people rebelled and wanted to drive Qiao Feng out of the position of leader of the Beggars' Sect. In addition to Kang Min's jealousy of Qiao Feng, the Imperial City Bureau was also secretly fanning the flames.

After the Imperial City Division learned of Qiao Feng's Khitan identity through people within the Beggars' Sect who had connections with the Imperial City Division, they became concerned about Qiao Feng, a Khitan, continuing to serve as the leader of the Beggars' Sect. It just so happened that Kang Min, a woman, hated Qiao Feng, so they took advantage of the situation. That's why so many people rebelled against Qiao Feng.

But all these plans were disrupted by the sudden appearance and rapid rise of Chu Yuan.

Although the influence of the Imperial City Bureau on the major martial arts sects in the Song Dynasty is not obvious, it is pervasive.

Zhang Qiu said: "Yes, it was Chu Yuan who destroyed our Imperial City Division's plan."

Zhang Qiu added: "But now it seems that although Qiao Feng is a Khitan, he is loyal to the Song Dynasty. Fortunately, Chu Yuan appeared and stopped that woman from framing Qiao Feng."

Zhao Xu thought for a moment and said, "Chu Yuan is so powerful at such a young age. He can threaten the Liao emperor to change his mind and national policy just by relying on martial arts. He is the one we need to win over. Zhangqiu, go and make the arrangements. I want to meet him."

Zhang Qiu said: "I will go down and make arrangements right away."

After Zhang Qiu left, Zhao Xu stood up and walked to the door with his hands behind his back.

Looking at the golden crow rising in the sky outside, Zhao Xu smiled and said, "I never thought that there would be such a talent in my Song Dynasty. He has practiced martial arts to this level. I'm afraid he is even stronger than Bodhidharma, the founder of Shaolin Temple. Such a talent should be used by me."

……

After Chu Yuan left Shangjing, the capital of the Liao Dynasty, he headed south to the territory of the Song Dynasty.

Now that the matter has been resolved and the goal has been achieved, it is natural to return to the Song Dynasty.

Compared to the rush when he came, Chu Yuan was much more relaxed when he left.

The Liao Dynasty had a vast territory, covering the northeastern regions of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, and parts of Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi, etc. The capital of the Liao Dynasty, Shangjing, was located in the Inner Mongolia region of later generations.

Along the way, Chu Yuan saw vast grasslands, winding rivers, grazing herdsmen, and so on.

It was midsummer now, and the grassland was full of green, which looked refreshing.

Chu Yuan traveled very quickly, and after another day, he arrived at Yanmen Pass.

After passing Yanmen Pass, he returned to the Song Dynasty.

In ancient times, most of the borders were uninhabited areas except for fortresses where troops were stationed.

With Chu Yuan's light skills, he can come and go easily and freely.

After returning to the Song Dynasty, Chu Yuan thought about it and felt that he should first go back to the Beggars' Sect headquarters in Luoyang to report his safety to everyone who was worried about him.

Two days later, Chu Yuan returned to Luoyang City.

The streets of Luoyang City are very busy, with many people walking around, and the people of the Song Dynasty are living their lives as usual.

After Chu Yuan entered the city, he did not hear anyone talking about him breaking into the Liao Dynasty palace alone.

"That's right. The spread of news is always delayed, not to mention in ancient times. How could something that happened just a few days ago spread so quickly to the heartland of the Song Dynasty three thousand miles away?"

The thought that popped up in Chu Yuan's mind made him smile.

Chu Yuan crossed the street and came to his own house in the west of the city. He pushed open the door and walked in.

After walking in, Chu Yuan heard intermittent piano sounds coming from the yard. He looked around and found that it was A-Bi sitting in the pavilion in the yard playing the piano.

But A-Bi’s piano playing seemed a little messy, and she made several mistakes without realizing it.

Not only was A-Bi playing the piano in the pavilion in the yard, but A-Zhu was also there, sitting next to A-Bi.

"Brother Chu!"

Seeing the courtyard door being pushed open and seeing Chu Yuan walking in from outside, A-Bi looked over, with a look of surprise on her face, and suddenly threw herself into Chu Yuan's arms.

Chu Yuan did not dodge and quietly let A-Bi, whose eyes were red, hug him.

After a long while, A Bi came back to her senses, her face turned red, and she let go of Chu Yuan.

Chu Yuan looked at Ah Zhu who had just sat next to Ah Bi and said, "Sister-in-law, you are here too?"

When Ah Zhu saw Chu Yuan coming back and Ah Bi hugging Chu Yuan, a smile appeared on her face: "Ah Bi was worried about you. I happened to have nothing to do, so I came to accompany her. I hope she comes back safely."

"Sister, who is back..."

At this moment, a girl in purple came out from Chu Yuan's backyard.

Chu Yuan turned around and saw that the girl in purple was Ah Zi, whose martial arts he had destroyed before.

As soon as Ah Zi saw that it was Chu Yuan, her happy expression immediately fell.

"Sister, I have something else to do, so I'll go back first."

Ah Zi snorted coldly, ran out of the yard, and disappeared.

"Second brother, please don't mind..."

Ah Zhu quickly explained to Chu Yuan.

Chu Yuan said nonchalantly: "It's okay."

In his opinion, A Zi just needed to be disciplined, and he did not regret what he had done to A Zi before.

Ah Bi then said, "Brother Chu, how could you go to Liao alone and say you wanted to negotiate with the Liao emperor to change his mind? It would be good if you came back."

Chu Yuan said: "The Liao Emperor has promised me to withdraw the troops. This war between Song and Liao can be avoided."

Ah Bi was shocked and said, "How is this possible? It's only been five days. How can Brother Chu get from Luoyang to the capital of the Liao Dynasty in five days..."

Chu Yuan looked at A-Bi quietly. A-Bi felt that Chu Yuan didn't seem to be joking, and her voice gradually faded away.

She believed what Chu Yuan said.

Just because others can't do it doesn't mean Chu Yuan can't do it.

When Chu Yuan climbed up from the cliff on Gongba Peak of Baima Snow Mountain, she still could not forget the scene of the sky rising more than thirty feet into the sky.

Ah Zhu was also moved: "Second brother, did you really go to the capital of the Liao Dynasty and ask the Liao emperor to agree to withdraw the troops?"

Chu Yuan nodded: "Not bad."

Ah Zhu looked at Chu Yuan with a look of doubt and uncertainty.

If Chu Yuan could accomplish all these in four or five days, it would be a great deed, and he would have avoided a war that would have caused countless casualties among the people of both countries.

Chu Yuan asked Ah Zhu: "By the way, sister-in-law, where are my brother and the others?"

Ah Zhu looked somewhat helpless and strange: "They took the elite members of the Beggars' Sect to the Liao Dynasty to rescue you."

Chu Yuan: ...

(End of this chapter)