Warrior in Turbulent Han Dynasty

From the twelfth lunar month to the first lunar month, Tokyo is extraordinarily bustling, and festive decorations and a warm atmosphere make the cold winter no longer deserted. Guo Shao found that it was easier to celebrate the festival after becoming emperor, because he no longer had to go to the houses of his colleagues and friends to maintain friendship, and now he only needed to read the congratulatory memorials from the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs.

After the beginning of the new year, the new "Xuanren" was used for the reign title, which is the first year of Xuanren.

During this period of time, the Gao Yanchou Department stationed in Jiangning Mansion was transferred back to Kaifeng Mansion. At this time, the number of Jiannan Army has been replenished to 40,000 in the reorganized second chamber... According to the rules of the Great Zhou Forbidden Army, the army that can fight can be expanded; the numbers that are not capable of fighting will be gradually reduced in size to save military expenses.

The garrison in the old land of the Southern Tang Dynasty was reduced, and Cao Bin was also ordered to return to Tokyo. However, some soldiers were mobilized from the southern Central Plains and Huainan towns to settle in the south of the Yangtze River, and the military power was completely checked and balanced by the officials sent by Tokyo and the civil officials of the Southern Tang Dynasty. The Southern Tang Kingdom does not have any strong armed forces now, and the limited garrisons are stationed in several major cities; however, the court ministers judged that the separatist forces such as the Wuyue Kingdom and the Southern Han Dynasty did not have the strength and courage to invade the south of the Yangtze River, and the military threat to the south was very small. Doing so weakened Jiangnan's war capabilities. The advantage was that the warriors in Jiangnan were divided and restricted, which was beneficial to maintaining the peace of Southern Tang.

Guo Shao also made clear the military and political affairs and personnel arrangements for several routes left behind in Tokyo, and they had prepared them years ago. As the weather got warmer, Guo Shao decided to launch a war against the Northern Han.

... On the third day of February in the first year of Xuanren in the Great Zhou Dynasty (AD 960), in the year of Gengshen, it was written in the almanac that it is appropriate to sacrifice, travel, build, and break ground.

The weather is fine, and the ice and snow in Tokyo have long since melted. When Guo Shao walked from the study room of Jinxiang Palace to the corridor in the middle, the sky was already bright and the sun had not yet risen. At this time, the old buildings and brick floors, the light is not very clear, the color is dim, and they look more primitive.

Guo Shao was accompanied by Jingniang, the eunuch Cao Tai, Li Shanggong and others, but today his appearance is very different from his usual one, he is no longer wearing a fine yellow robe, he is wearing a plate lock armor, his whole body is covered with heavy metal, and he is wearing a purple cloak, as if he has returned to the appearance of a warrior. Even the walking posture and heavy footsteps are different.

As soon as he reached the end of the corridor, a small white petal on the brick floor made him stop for a while. He looked up and saw that there was a wintersweet plant. The flowers on the branches and leaves were already incomplete, and the petals were falling in the air. When a gust of wind came, the petals fell more quickly.

Guo Shao's mood was a little touched at this time, he stretched out his hand to catch a white petal, spread it out in front of him and looked at it, the delicate|tender flower was very different in his rough palm bound with cowhide, although it was white, it had a light red color.

Without saying a word, Guo Shao touched the fluoren head (waist decoration) around his waist with his left hand. It was embroidered with strange stitches and was very old. Silk fabrics will get old after a few years. He glanced back in the direction of Zide Hall, threw away the petals in his hand, and strode out again.

People around him may be very curious about his waist ornaments, but no one dares to ask the origin.

Walking out of the Jinxiang Hall, Lu Chengyong, Dong Er and others were already waiting there with fine armored cavalry. Everyone looked up at the emperor in heavy armor, and hurriedly knelt down on the ground and shouted long live. The court ladies and eunuchs who followed Guo Shao had no choice but to kowtow.

Cao Tai said in a loud voice: "Slaves and servants are waiting to send you off to Your Majesty, I wish His Majesty an early victorious class teacher and return to court!"

"Get up, let's go!" Guo Shao said.

Cao Tai hastily moved a stool and placed it next to the tall black horse, kneeling on the ground to support the stool. Guo Shao walked over, let out a "hum", supported the horse's back, stepped on the stirrup with one foot, and turned on the horse vigorously. Immediately, the shouts of "drive" and "drive" sounded, and a group of armored soldiers followed him on horseback.

Guo Shao went out of Daqing Gate, joined Wang Pu, Li Gu and other ministers, and took the emperor's umbrella cover, chariot guard and other ceremonial guards, and continued to walk south. In front of him was Xuande Gate, the main gate of the Great Zhou Imperial City.

A drum sounded, and in the morning light, a neat group of soldiers walked to the tower of Xuande Gate. A young general checked the military amulets and military orders with the guards according to the code, and then a voice sounded: "The Son of Heaven is going out, open the city gate!"

The heavy front gate of the imperial city slowly opened, and the scene outside gradually appeared in sight. Guo Shao continued to ride his horse slowly towards the city gate, and the loud sound of bells and drums on the city gate shattered the nostalgia in his heart. His state of mind was gradually changing, and he said silently: Farewell for the time being, the beautiful woman, the luxurious and comfortable court life, but I am leaving to protect all these beautiful things.

Guo Shao, who was covered in battle armor, rode out of the imperial city on a tall black horse, and beside him was Wang Pu, a minister with gray hair and beard, and an equally tall and strong general, who swaggered out from the main gate. Behind a group of guards with a guard of honor.

At that time, the sun had just risen from the east, and the earth was full of light. Guo Shao's chest widened, and his blood was ignited again, and he went back to his life's professional life: martial arts.

As far as the eye can see, there is a sea of ​​people on the imperial street, a large number of soldiers and horses of the imperial army are already waiting there, banners are floating in the sea of ​​people, swords and guns are like trees, and the sea of ​​armored people is like a torrent. In addition, there are a large number of Tokyo civilians and family members of the imperial army, and the open imperial street and the east and west streets are almost full of people.

The crowd shouted loudly: "The emperor is here!"

Guo Shao rode his horse to the front of the army, looked up at the familiar tiger flag, and saw the familiar generals ahead. People turned their eyes to this side one after another, Guo Shao raised his scabbard and shouted loudly: "Warriors of the Great Zhou Dynasty, restore my rivers and mountains!"

Guo Shao's voice, a word immediately ignited the morale of the soldiers, all the soldiers stared round their eyes, and excitedly shouted long live, the shouts spread quickly in the crowd, as if a storm was sweeping under the sunny sky.

The soldiers of the Forbidden Army gave Guo Shao the greatest trust and reliance. This was not obtained by his instigation|incitement, but he led this group of people to fight in every direction of the country. Got it. Guo Shao is already equivalent to a god in the army, because as long as he leads troops, he will always win!

Guo Shao was also affected by the grand and glorious atmosphere at this moment, and the bright side in his heart expanded rapidly.

He wanted to ride his horse close to the common people outside the Imperial Street, where fish and dragons were mixed together, Jing Niang wanted to stop him, but Guo Shao, who was wearing heavy armor, didn't listen. The black horse was tall and strong, and Guo Shao was also burly. When he and a group of cavalry passed by, the people in front were all scared, and those in front retreated one after another. Some knelt on the ground on the spot.

But Guo Shao said loudly: "I am your emperor, right here! There are billions of people in the world, all of whom are my people, including the people on the territory of the Great Zhou, Northern Han, Southern Han, Wuyue, Youyun... and the same clan of Bohai Kingdom.

I am not militaristic and fond of fighting. However, the Northern Han State hijacked the people in Hedong and recognized the thief as their father, causing thousands of people to live in dire straits. I am the Son of Heaven, how can I sit idly by?

The recovery of rivers and mountains is just around the corner, the Great Zhou will enter a peaceful and prosperous age, the hunger and cold will end, the war will end, the government will be clear, fair, and love the people, and the sun will eventually shine on the land of Kyushu..."

More and more people knelt down on the street, in front of the majestic imperial city, the scene seemed like a pilgrimage.

Wang Pu and other ministers watched quietly from behind and did not interfere with the emperor. It is very rare for the emperor to speak in front of the common people, that is, Guo Shao intends to do this. Although the ancients kept saying that the hearts of the people are in the world, that the people are noble and the emperor is the least, but there are not many people who really take the common people seriously.

Guo Shao rode his horse back to the army, and shouted to the generals and soldiers: "A righteous army defends the people of the country. Victory and glory have always belonged to this banner. This time is no exception. We must win!"

"We must win! Victory..." All the soldiers shouted loudly, and their morale was very high.

Guo Shao then ordered the generals to march out of the city, and the army went out.

... On the south bank of the Yellow River, the land is flat and fertile. After the Lantern Festival, people all over the world have started a busy year again. Along the post road, many farmers can be seen in the fields plowing in spring. The right way is that the plan for a year lies in spring. Guo Shao's army marched from the countryside, and it also carried a strong atmosphere of farming.

However, the soldiers did not have the sadness of going to war in the poems, but were happy after hearing the battle... There were rewards before going to the battle, and there were more rewards after winning. This kind of income was much richer than the usual military pay.

The civil servant seemed to be in a good mood, and Wang Pu was still singing immediately: "Is there no clothes? I'm in the same robe with you. Wang Yuxing master, repair my spear. I have the same hatred with you..."

The spring breeze was blowing, the journey was boring, and the generals couldn't sing, so they asked Wang Pu to teach them to sing, and there was a lot of noise. Wherever a group of people went, the surroundings were also bustling.

Guo Shaoyu drove the conquest in person, but the imperial army who came out of Tokyo was actually only 30,000 people, and the luggage was not much. Their plan was to join Zhang Guanghan's troops after arriving in Liaozhou, and 50,000 elite troops would directly attack Jinyang, the capital of the Northern Han Dynasty... In this way, it only took more than ten days from sending troops to arriving at Jinyang.

A quick attack can seize the initiative and will not give the Northern Han the opportunity to dispatch and deploy. And these 50,000 elite soldiers can only be watched with the strength of the Northern Han army at this time, they have nothing to do with Guo Shao; the main force of the Northern Han Dynasty will be forced to hide in the high wall of Jinyang, very passive.

Otherwise, it will take at least two months to gather more than 200,000 people, from large-scale mobilization to march deployment. Beihan can have more time to prepare. Therefore, Guo Shao adopted the strategy of the Privy Council.

These 30,000 people are all the elite of the front office. Including the entire right wing of the Huben army, the three armies of the left wing, and the horse army of the Crane Control Army, they are also the core troops of Guo Shao's battle. Most of the generals of the Dianqian Division were also dispatched, and only Yang Biao, his deputies Luo Mengzi and Yuan Yan stayed behind in Tokyo to check the military order of the Privy Council.

Preparations had been made on the Yellow River earlier, and multiple pontoon bridges were erected. After the army crossed the Yellow River, it did not take long to enter the east of the river. The elite imperial army marched at a relatively fast speed, approaching the Northern Han Kingdom non-stop. The rhythm of the war that suddenly stopped during the Chinese New Year a while ago, now became urgent again very quickly.

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