Preface
At the peak of the Spring and Autumn Period, there were one million soldiers in Zhao and 300,000 soldiers in Qi, and in the early days of the Han Dynasty, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses in the army contrasted with each other. There is no shortage of female heroes in history, female generals who can compete with men. The twelve widows of the Yang family are among the outstanding representatives, and Mu Guiying is the most talked-about among them. She and her husband have been on the battlefield side by side for decades, establishing Zhang Bensheng's heroic exploits, but after her husband died in battle, she still led the female generals of the Yang family to take revenge, and finally became a hero.
Is Mu Guiying's death tragic? or ridiculous?
In a traditional patriarchal society, it is an exception for women to enter the military camp and fight on the battlefield. What's more, in the Northern Song Dynasty, an era of strict feudal etiquette. Mu Guiying not only rode his own horse to lead the troops to kill the enemy, but also trained as usual during pregnancy, and continued to fight soon after giving birth. It can be said that it has completely turned the time upside down.
Such a legendary life deserves a legendary ending. However, ten thousand arrows pierce the heart on the battlefield, and the love of the world is goodbye, how can it be her wish?
Fate makes people, or is it self-inflicted? To understand this, we have to start with her starting point.
The rise of a generation of heroines
In 960 A.D., deep in Lishan.
This year, Mu Guiying was 15 years old. Unlike other girls, she did not learn to carry water and roll noodles, but followed her mother Mu Tianshi to Xi martial arts in the deep mountains and old forests.
Mu Tianshi's Mu family grappler, which has been passed down from generation to generation, is infinitely powerful. Every day when he returned to the wooden house, Mu Tianshi personally instructed Mu Guiying to fly and capture the enemy. The hard training did not defeat the little girl's will, but made her grow into an extraordinary girl.
When Mu Guiying was 16 years old, the man who changed her fate appeared.
"Mother, what is this?" Mu Guiying knelt in front of the hospital bed and looked at the pale young man.
This person claimed to be Yang Zongbao, and he was the eldest son of Yang Ye, a general of the Song Dynasty. He was wounded in battle with the Liao soldiers and fled to our mountains. ”
"General of the Song Dynasty?" Mu Guiying's heart moved, and he couldn't help but look at him a few more times.
This look turned out to be a lifetime.
Meet the iron-blooded man and love three lives and three lives
As soon as Yang Zongbao recovered from his serious injuries, he intended to return south immediately. But Mu Tianshi solemnly said that his injuries were not yet fully healed, and he could not be in a hurry. Yang Zongbao stayed.
Day after day, Mu Guiying tirelessly took care of Yang Zongbao. I don't know if it was the fresh air in the mountains or the effect of ginseng tonics, Yang Zongbao recovered very quickly.
"Mother said that if it weren't for your careful care, the generals would have been exhausted. Yang Zongbao was a little embarrassed.
"The military general is too humble. We mountain people are simple and ignorant, and it is the greatest honor to be able to do our best for the Great Song Dynasty. Mu Guiying replied shyly.
The two of you came and went, and unconsciously developed feelings. Yang Zongbao is cheerful and calm, and his demeanor is generous, which is not related to those wild horses and cows. Mu Guiying thought to herself that if she spent her life with such a person, she would be happy.
After all, there will be a day of parting.
"Gui Ying, I must return south. In any case, it is necessary to serve the motherland. Yang Zongbao looked unhesitating. "If you want, leave here with me and go to the Great Song Dynasty. ”
Mu Guiying was a little embarrassed. She looked at her mother's aged back, biting her lip and saying nothing.
"I understand. Yang Zongbao sighed, "If I get married, I will come back to pick you up." Wait that day......"
奇袭穆柯寨 兵到城下终须还
In 968 AD, Yang Zongbao led an army to Huaixi.
At this time, he and Mu Guiying had not seen each other for 4 years. People are emotional animals, Yang Zongbao often thinks of the mountain cabin, and thinks of the simple and kind girl.
News came from the army that the northwest frontier was raided by Liao soldiers. Yang Ye ordered Yang Zongbao to go north to rescue. The place was mountainous, and the vanguard troops were repeatedly defeated. When Yang Zongbao was at a loss, he suddenly remembered that on the top of Lishan, the deep mountain where he was injured a few years ago, there lived a unit that was good at mountain warfare.
This time, Yang Zongbao led the army directly into Mukezhai. When Mu Tianshi, the owner of the village, came out to greet him, he found that the leader was actually Mu Guiying, the daughter of Yang Zongbao, who had saved him back then.
It turned out that after Mu Tianshi died, Mu Guiying, who was only 20 years old, inherited the position of the owner of the village.
Seeing each other again, it has been 6 years since we met. Mu Guiying still chose to stand on Yang Zongbao's side and shared the family heirloom cottage formation with him without reservation.
That night, the house of the owner of the village was brightly lit. Yang Zongbao and Mu Guiying talked all night, and the conversation ended in the morning.
Heart-to-heart, you have me, I have you
At dawn the next day, Yang Zongbao led his army north, and Mu Guiying also accompanied him.
"Why don't you sit in the village, wouldn't you take the risk of going into battle in person?" Yang Zongbao was a little puzzled.
"Since I have promised you with body and mind, I will follow you by your side. Making contributions is also my wish Mu Guiying. ”
Yang Zongbao was stunned, and then solemnly took her hand.
After the two armies met, they were arranged according to the Mujia cottage formation, and the Liao soldiers were quickly defeated. The Song court was overjoyed and named Yang Zongbao as the Duke of Yingguo, and Mu Guiying as the female general of Huaiyuan.
In 973, the two fell in love and got married.
In 976, Mu Guiying gave birth to Yang Wenguang, the eldest man of the Yang family, in the army.
Less than 10 days after giving birth to her son, Mu Guiying returned to fight side by side with Yang Zongbao. As the daughter-in-law of the Yang family, she is well aware of her responsibilities.
In 980, Yang Zongbao led an army to attack the fierce Huangchao peasant army in Hongzhou. Mu Guiying stayed at the base camp and successfully defended the base camp with a force of 40 to 60.
The two great victories made Yang Jiawei famous. Yang Zongbao was named the assassin of Hongzhou, and Mu Guiying opened the government to take charge of political affairs.
But the days of peace were short-lived. In 485, after the Song destroyed the Southern Tang Dynasty, he became hostile to the Western Xia. Fierce fighting ensued between the two sides. In 978, at the age of 60, Yang Ye died of illness. The following year, Yang Zongbao officially took over his father's army and led the army to resist the Western Xia. Mu Guiying naturally became his most powerful help.
Bloody battle in Jade Dragon Mountain, fight to the death
In this battle, Yang Zongbao did not expect the cunning and ferocity of his opponent.
Yulong Mountain winds for hundreds of miles, and the terrain is complex. The Western Xia army sat on the mountain, set up a vertical village, and marched step by step.
Yang Zongbao personally led a large army to attack the main peak. Who knew that climbing the mountain halfway was extremely difficult, like wading through mountains and rivers. By the time they reached the top, the army was already exhausted.
"Oh no! I saw that the Western Xia light cavalry flocked from all directions, surrounding the large army in the deep mountains and old forests.
Yang Zongbao led the remnants to fight hard for three days and nights, until the soldiers were all dead, and he himself was seriously injured.
Yang Zongbao knew that he would not be able to escape death today. He entrusted the letter to his deputy and watched him leave.
In the blood light, he saw a red-clothed figure galloping on horseback.
"Zongbao—" Mu Guiying couldn't cry.
Yang Zongbao reluctantly raised his already cold hand and gently wiped away the traces of tears on her face.
黄泉相送 不生不灭
Mu Guiying gently carried Yang Zongbao on his horse and rushed to the base camp.
Everyone was stunned. The Yang family missed the coach, and the general trend has gone. The widows and their sons and daughters wept bitterly. Yang Zongbao died of illness overnight.
Mu Guiying didn't cry. As soon as she could, she straightened out the morale of the army and did a good job of defense.
Everyone expects the elderly Yang Ye's wife, Yu Niangtai, to come forward to take command. Unexpectedly, Yu Niangtai shook her head directly: "How difficult it is for my Song Kingdom today, it should be General Mu Nu who is heroic." ”
"I'm going to live up to expectations!"
Mu Guiying took over the banner, trained soldiers and bought horses with all her family property, and vowed to take revenge.
In June of the following year, Mu Guiying personally led the twelve widows of the Yang family and Yang Wenguang to go to Yulong Mountain and go deep into the rear of Western Xia.
This time on the battlefield, she will stay there forever.
Swear to take revenge and burn the jade
Jade Dragon Mountain is still steep and treacherous.
The Western Xia army relied on the geographical advantage, and the fortified city stood in the mountains. On the high watchtower, the Yang family's military flag was also hung as a trophy.
Seeing this scene, Mu Guiying was furious. She personally led the elite troops to capture the outpost, and ordered her granddaughter soldiers to raid the Xixia Zhai camp in three ways.
Soon, the camped camp under the mountain was lost. The Western Xia army had to draw reserves to participate in the battle. When Mu Guiying heard this, he immediately ordered the whole army to raid the main peak.
"Look how I cut off your dog's head!"
She took the lead in the main peak Dazhai, with spears like forests and martial arts like tigers. Kill several enemy leaders one after another.
The defenders in the village were in chaos. Just as he was about to retreat, he only heard the faint roar of war drums behind the mountain, and Yang Wenguang had already been killed. The Western Xia army was caught in two fires.
At this moment, a divine arrow roared out from the mountainside, and shot at Mu Guiying's face with unmistakable accuracy!
"Don't come here! Get out of here! Bao Yang Wenguang-"
Mu Guiying suddenly fell from her horse, and more than a dozen sharp arrows pierced through her vest and nailed to the ground.
The catastrophe is gone, and the sound is there
"Mother's ——!!!"
Mu Guiying struggled to raise her head and met her son's eyes.
How much like his father, so clear and firm.
She didn't even have time to say anything before she fell into the abyss.
The Western Xia soldiers were in chaos, and the Yang army took the opportunity to annihilate them all. finally avenged the blood feud of the first battle of Yulong Mountain.
epilogue
Afterwards, Yang Wenguang rescued his mother's body and buried it on the mountainside of Yulong Mountain. Every Qingming and Cold Food Festival, there are always pilgrims around the mountain to worship and remember this female general who is powerful on the battlefield.
And her deeds and spirit live on forever, becoming a source of strength to inspire future generations. Whenever the country is in danger, there will always be people who think of the twelve widows of the Yang family, full of pride and allegiance!