I was living in the Five Dynasties period, just after crossing the Zhongdu Bridge.

Since Shen Lie took over the post of Commander of the Capital Garrison and led this group of proud and fierce soldiers to garrison at Niangziguan, more than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

Nothing major happened this month.

Aside from the daily morning drills that never stopped, a group of men would gather around a brazier, chatting and joking.

Fuwei was a newly formed army specially promoted by Liu Zhiyuan in order to contend for the world, so the treatment was naturally excellent. Although they didn't have meat at every meal, they were given enough wheat rice every day, and they could even have some meat every few days.

In this world where starvation is rampant, having such a place to go is like snatching a life back from the clutches of the King of Hell.

Inside the tent, the brazier was burning brightly, with a cooking pot on top, simmering with large chunks of mutton, sprinkled with salt and wild onions. The muttony smell mixed with the aroma of meat wafted straight into one's nose.

"Lord Commander, the meat is rotten."

Yang Ting, the dark-faced man who once wanted to set rules for Shen Lie but has now become Shen Lie's number one lackey, was diligently using a wooden spoon to skim off the foam and first served Shen Lie a full bowl, which was full of good quality pork loin with a good balance of fat and lean meat.

"Serve a bowl to Sanlang as well."

Shen Lie sat on a stool, his tattered brown robe long since replaced by a well-fitting scarlet battle coat, covered by iron armor, with a long sword at his waist.

"Alright!"

Yang Ting chuckled and served Liu Qing, who was squatting on the ground swallowing his saliva, a large bowl of soup.

This silly boy has finally found a lucky place.

Shen Lie didn't make him do anything else, he just made him a personal guard who carried the flag.

After a month of this, all he did every day was eat and train his strength. Now, this simpleton is wearing a half-worn leather armor and is squatting in a corner, slurping his rice while holding a huge bowl bigger than his face.

As for that old man Liu Yan, he was indeed a knowledgeable person.

Having been sent to the stables for only a month, he had already taken good care of those fine horses and even became familiar with the army's food procurement staff.

"Life is comfortable."

Seeing Shen Lie eat the meat, Yang Ting cut off a piece for himself, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed it vigorously, muttering indistinctly, "We're just so bored. Our Fuwei Capital is called Fuwei, but why do we spend all day holed up in Niangziguan watching the snow?"

"Isn't it nice to see the snow?" Shen Lie wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth. "In a few more days, I'm afraid we won't be able to see it even if we want to."

"Too."

"Commander, I heard from the men who came back that the Khitan emperor Yelü Deguang is already in Bianliang."

Yang Ting held the bowl, slurping the scalding hot broth as he asked indistinctly.

"It's strange, really. The Khitans have already reached our doorstep, so why didn't Shi Chonggui send a golden edict to Hedong to request reinforcements? Our lord has 100,000 elite troops under his command. If he just gave the word, wouldn't we rush to his aid?"

Upon hearing this, the previously noisy slurping sounds inside the tent subsided.

Dozens of eyes turned to Shen Lie.

Over the past month, Shen Lie has not only been physically strong, but has also managed to subdue his group of arrogant and unruly soldiers.

More importantly, this commander was well-educated, knowledgeable in military strategy and history, and could speak eloquently about the state of the world, leaving these roughnecks who only knew how to kill in awe.

Shen Lie put down the ceramic bowl and wiped his mouth with a cloth.

"Ask for help?" Shen Lie sneered. "He'd have to be in time to ask."

"Not enough time?" Yang Ting asked, puzzled. "Although Bianliang is far from Taiyuan, it only takes a few days by express courier, which travels 600 li."

"it's useless."

Shen Lie interrupted him, "Do you think this fall of a country is a game? Are you just slowly waiting for me to go and call for reinforcements?"

The cruelty of history often lies in its suddenness.

When later generations read history books, it only takes them the time it takes to turn a page before the fall of the Later Jin dynasty.

But being in it, the suffocating feeling of the sky collapsing is unimaginable to ordinary people.

Actually, it's no wonder Shi Zhonggui was slow to react.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Bianliang City was still filled with singing and dancing. Although the battle at the front was intense, all the civil and military officials were still dreaming that Du Chongwei could defend Zhongdu Bridge.

It wasn't until that evening that the news of the defeat reached the palace like a bolt from the blue.

Du Chongwei has been demoted.

The news caused a stir in both the government and the public.

Shi Chonggui panicked and tried to gather troops to defend the city.

But things in this world are often just that absurd and hopeless.

Before the official could finish writing the edict, and before the messenger could ride out of the city gates on horseback, the death knell of the Jin Dynasty had already tolled.

The seventeenth day of the first lunar month.

That is, the day after receiving the report of defeat, before dawn.

Zhang Yanzhe, the vanguard who had surrendered to the Khitan, had already led two thousand cavalrymen and charged forward under the cover of night, directly reaching the gates of Fengqiu.

What was Bianliang City like back then?

The defenses were weak, and people were filled with anxiety.

The imperial guards defending the city had long been sent by Shi Chonggui to support Du Chongwei, and that group was later slaughtered at Zhongdu Bridge.

At this moment, the once vast palace was left with only five hundred men under Li Yantao's command!

Five hundred men faced off against the ferocious Khitan cavalry and Zhang Yanzhe.

The result is self-evident.

Zhang Yanzhe barely had to exert any effort to seize the gate, and he proceeded to burn, kill, and loot along the way, heading straight for the inner palace.

Shi Chonggui showed some backbone at this moment, even setting fire to prepare to immolate himself, but was stopped by Xue Chao, the general of the personal guard.

After Zhang Yanzhe delivered Yelü Deguang's letter to the Empress Dowager, he ordered the fire to be extinguished and then instructed Hanlin Academician Fan Zhi to draft a surrender document.

From the moment I learned of the defeat to the fall of the city and my capture, it all happened in just one day.

Now that the deed has already happened, there's nothing wrong with Shen Lie telling this to these thugs.

After listening to Shen Lie's explanation, Yang Ting remained silent for a long time before taking a big bite of the mutton in his hand.

"Damn it! What a pathetic battle this is!"

Yang Ting cursed, "If our lord were here..."

"It's no use even if the Lord is here."

Shen Lie interrupted him, his tone somewhat cold, "Du Chongwei has surrendered, and the Central Plains are like a naked young woman, left to be abused by the Khitans. If we send troops now, we'll be using our lives to fill that bottomless pit."

This may sound blunt, but it is the truth.

Liu Zhiyuan's decision to remain inactive at this time may have been morally wrong, but strategically it was the most correct choice.

He is waiting.

When the Khitans can no longer stay in the Central Plains, and when those nomadic tribes have squeezed the last drop of blood from the people of the Central Plains, thus inciting a popular uprising, that will be the best time for the Hedong Army to descend from the mountains.

"Alright, stop worrying about that."

Shen Lie stood up, patted the armor plates on his body, and said, "Bianliang is far away from us. The most important thing right now is to train the skills of our few hundred people in Fuwei Capital."

He looked around at the soldiers inside the tent.

After a month of training, these once undisciplined soldiers now sit and stand properly. Although they are not yet completely obedient, they at least resemble a regular army.

"Get moving after you finish eating."

Shen Lie straightened his belt. "We'll practice formations again this afternoon. Anyone who still can't tell left from right can skip the meat soup tonight and go feed Old Liu's horses!"

"promise!"

The crowd responded in unison, their voices loud and clear.

Yang Ting quickly shoveled the meat out of his bowl, wiped his mouth, and chuckled, "Don't worry, Commander, if anyone dares to embarrass you, I'll cripple them without you even lifting a finger!"

Shen Lie nodded, lifted the tent flap, and went out.

The snow outside has stopped.

He squinted and looked south.

That's the direction of Bianliang, in the heart of the Central Plains.

By now, the place must be filled with foreign languages ​​and reek of fish.