Wuchuan, Nanxiaochang.
"General Yao!"
Zhang Heizu bowed his head and saluted, and then looked at Lord Changsun next to Yao Xiong.
Yao Xiong cleared his throat, "This is Duke Changsun, our captain in Cheng'an."
He added: "The general's green lion was a gift from him."
Zhang Heizu then saluted him again and said, "Meet Changsun Gong."
Kasyapa, the eldest grandson, was a little surprised, "Are you also from Cheng'an? Why haven't I seen him before?"
"He is also from Cheng'an, but he has never worked in the county government, so you don't know him. Anyway, most of us here are from Cheng'an. There are at least 40 or 50 officers and generals in Cheng'an, and then there are them Bo Ling
He is from Wuchuan."
Kasyapa, the eldest grandson, was not surprised by this. It was normal to promote his fellow countrymen.
Yao Xiong introduced again: "He is called Zhang Heizu, and he has some merits."
Zhang Heizu then led the two of them towards the school grounds. On the road, Yao Xiong was still explaining to Changsun Gong beside him, "They practiced well before I left, but I haven't come back for a long time. I don't know.
What do they look like now?"
When the two of them walked into the school grounds, the auxiliary soldiers in the grounds stood neatly in their respective positions. They formed a huge square formation in military formation so that they could go out from the three gates at any time.
I saw that they were all standing upright, wearing strong armor, fierce faces, and solemn formations.
Yao Xiong looked at them blankly, rubbed his eyes again, walked closer, and looked at them.
They are really those auxiliary soldiers!!
He looked at Zhang Heizu beside him in astonishment. Before he could speak, the eldest grandson Kasyapa nodded repeatedly, "Yes, the formation is neat, the fighting spirit is high, and the training is good."
Yao Xiong knew what kind of virtue these people had in the past. He pursed his lips and said, "Black feet? Did you train them?"
"This is the merit of the generals."
"Awesome, why didn't I realize you had this ability in the past?"
"Auxiliary soldiers can be trained like this??"
Zhang Heizu said: "General, although he is already proficient in formations, he is not yet considered an elite. He has never seen blood, and he is not considered strong. He is stronger than the county soldiers, but much worse than the border soldiers."
Yao Xiong shook his head, "No, no, being able to practice like this is already very impressive!"
He looked seriously at Kassapa, the eldest grandson beside him, "When I trained them, I practiced for several days, but I still couldn't make them distinguish between left and right."
Kasyapa, the eldest grandson, laughed and said, "It's all the same. It was the same when I was a soldier. I was afraid and couldn't do it well."
"Yes! Yes! The general told me that too!"
Yao Xiong looked at Zhang Heizu and nodded happily, "Your martial arts skills are not too outstanding, but your military training is quite good. This eldest grandson has experienced many wars, and the general is going to let him help train the auxiliary troops.
Don't be arrogant, ask him for advice and learn more!"
"only."
Kasyapa, the eldest grandson, shook his head hurriedly, "I don't dare, I don't dare, I'm not someone who can train soldiers."
"Master Changsun, don't be humble!"
After Zhang Heizu sincerely asked for advice, Changsun finally expressed his thoughts.
"There is nothing left for this army to train now. All it lacks is experience."
"They don't have to stay in the school grounds all the time. They can go out to see blood when appropriate, or just fight some little thieves."
"Mr. Changsun, this is a border fortress. There are border soldiers everywhere. How can any little bandit dare to run here?"
"Then let them do patrolling and guarding. You can't train real elites in the school grounds."
Yao Xiong stood aside quietly, watching them chatting.
Zhang Heizu arranged a residence for the eldest grandson Jiaye, and he limped away from here. Zhang Heizu then came to Yao Xiong's side and said, "General Yao, I went to the government office today. They said that the general is not in Wuchuan. I don't know the general."
Where?"
"I am the Auxiliary General! If you have anything, just tell me!"
"The food and fodder given to us by the temple was based on the allocation of county soldiers. It cannot withstand such training, and the food in the auxiliary barracks began to be short. General Yao wonders if he can distribute some more?"
"General Er went to Jinhe to check on the enemy's situation. He will be back tomorrow."
The wind was strong and the weeds on the ground were trembling.
Liu Taozi stood on a high slope, looking at the Jinhe River in the distance, and then at the Zhou people's camp further away.
Yan Heijing stood next to Liu Taozi. He was actually not too short, but standing next to Liu Taozi, he looked a little too petite.
"General. That's right there."
"Um?"
Liu Taozi didn't hear clearly, so she lowered her body slightly and turned her head.
The wind is too strong.
Yan Heijing said loudly: "General!! Over there is the enemy's front camp!! There are less than a thousand sergeants!! The construction started a few days ago!!"
"Are they elite?"
"yes!!"
"Have you ever fought?"
"No! But they are very good at riding and are very alert!"
Tian Zili stepped forward slightly and said, "Brother, you can't act rashly."
"They are deliberately provoking!"
"They built a large camp outside our city just to attract us to attack. However, destroying this camp will not be of any use to us. Instead, it will break the agreement between the two countries."
"When the time comes, the Zhou people will use this as an excuse, and there will be many people in the country who want to deal with you."
Yan Heijian glanced at Tian Zili and said to Liu Taozi: "General!! I don't know these big things, but what I know is that if the enemy is allowed to build the camp's arrow tower outside the city, then we will have to give up the gold.
The river is broken. The people we sent cannot enter the city at all, and the people in the city cannot come out!"
"Although Jinhe is strong, it is too far from the garrison and too close to the main force of Zhou soldiers. We cannot allow the Zhou people to set up camp here!"
Tian Zili shook his head and stroked his beard, "I think the gains and losses of one city and one gate are not that important. This Jinhe is a new gain. There are no dangerous cities around it to rely on. The risk is too great and it is not worth it.
If you invest too much energy, it would be better to leave it to the Zhou people to strengthen the defense line around the white horse."
Liu Taozi didn't speak. He raised his head and looked further away.
"If there is a golden river, you can choose Shibi and fertile fields in the north, and you can choose Liangu in the south to return to the true state."
Tian Zili smiled bitterly, "But...how are we going to defend it?"
Liu Taozi looked around and suddenly asked: "What is the name of this high slope?"
Yan Heijing was stunned and said, "General, there is no name here and there is no one here."
“The terrain here is good.”
Liu Taozi looked around and then looked into the distance.
The two men under his command were both at a loss at this moment, wondering what the general was doing by suddenly saying this.
Liu Taozi asked: "Zili, if we want to build a high-walled stronghold here within ten days, how many civilians will be needed?"
"At least 60,000 people are needed"
Tian Zili hurriedly said: "General, there is no shortage of civilians at the border fortress. We also have stones and wood for repairs. But this place is too close to the Zhou people. If the civilians haven't come close yet, the enemy's scouts will find out. When the time comes, they will attack with a large army. Only
I’m afraid we’ll suffer heavy losses.”
"The enemy's main force is in Guizhen and Yongfeng. It takes one day to spread the news, two days to send people to inquire about the capital, one day to discuss the results in the capital, two days to send them back, two days to organize the troops, and one day to come here.
.This is on the premise that they handle it as quickly as possible."
"As long as we are quick enough, we can repair the city walls and gullies before they send out troops."
Tian Zili asked: "What if the enemy general does not go to the temple to report to him, but directly decides to send troops?"
"Then be prepared for an attack."
"It happens that the border soldiers have had no military merit for a long time."
Liu Taozi looked at the worried Tian Zili, and explained: "General Hulu told me: The one who stayed in Yongfeng was a man named Yuwen Qianwei. He had never fought in a war, and he died because of Yuwen Hu.
was entrusted with important tasks,
A year ago, General Hu Lu attacked the surrounding garrison towns. This man hid in the city and did not dare to come out. On the other side of the city, it was Xue Yusheng, the third division commander of Yitong. He was also a confidant of Yu Wenhu. When General Hu Lu came earlier,
, he abandoned the city and fled."
"Not only did Yuwenhu not kill him, he also promoted him."
Tian Zili's lips trembled.
It’s true that everyone is pretty much the same.
If that's the case, then it's a good thing that they're attacking.
The Zhou people's small army was quite elite, but if someone like this led them on an expedition, Tian Zili felt that even Yao Xiong could chop off their heads.
Who are these people occupying the upper positions?
After such a comparison, it seems that my Majesty is actually pretty good.
Gao Yan rode his horse and walked on the official road. He stared calmly into the distance. Several advisers were following him, discussing many important matters.
Gao Guiyan also walked in the front.
He whispered about what happened in Yecheng.
After King Changguang was arrested, Gao Guiyan was the only minister who went to Yecheng, that is, when Liu Taozi was in Cheng'an.
Gao Guiyan met with the Queen Mother in Yecheng and conveyed Her Majesty's goodwill.
And when he went out, he took the King of Jinan with him.
Now, Gao Guiyan is walking beside Gao Yan again. He tells about the situation in Yecheng, "The Queen Mother is very wary of her ministers, and Lou Rui is also the same and is unwilling to meet me."
"The Queen Mother said: Never let King Changguang leave her even half a step."
As the ministers listened to his story, Wang Xi frowned and said, "Your Majesty, when we return to the court this time, we cannot be too tough. Although King Dong'an is greedy for money, he speaks the truth. He is absolutely not capable of following the Queen Mother's edict.
Forced to retreat through edicts and troops."
Gao Yan nodded slightly, "I know."
"Later, please don't act rashly. I will go into the city myself and pay my respects to the Queen Mother."
Wang Xi was a little worried, "Your Majesty, why don't you let me go to the city to see the Queen Mother and convince her first, and then you can lead people into the city."
"No need."
"Can the Queen Mother and King Dong'an still plot to kill me?"
Gao Yan asked rhetorically.
No one dared to dissuade him.
While the ministers were discussing countermeasures, Gao Guiyan nodded lightly towards Gao Yan.
Then, he smiled evilly and made a pinching motion to reassure him.
Gao Yan once again looked at Yecheng, which was looming in the distance. He was not reassured, but felt that his heart became more dull and inexplicably irritable.
Xian'an held the reins tightly, stepped forward quickly, and said, "Your Majesty, if you want to enter the city alone, you must first send someone in to report the matter to the Queen Mother, and then it is not too late to go in to pay her respects."
Wang Xi also caught up and nodded, "Yes, there are many followers of King Changguang in the city, so we must be on guard."
"Someone must see the Queen Mother and inform her face to face, and then go out of the city to inform her before His Majesty can enter the city."
Yang Minzong, who had an empty eye, stepped forward and said, "They are right. If the Prime Minister enters the city alone, we will probably kill him."
Gao Yang laughed loudly, "It's such a waste to cut him off, and I'm going to dig out his skin!"
Gao Yan looked at them angrily and suddenly stopped his horse.
"I entered the city alone! Who can kill me?!"
Wang Xi was shocked. He glanced at Xian'an, only to find that Xian'an also had a look of panic. Xian'an quickly lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, I didn't mean that! I just..."
"I'm not talking about you!"
"It's Yang Dadu!!"
Xian'an was stunned, "Your Majesty, who?"
Gao Yan looked aside and reacted suddenly. His face suddenly turned pale, fear clearly flashed in his eyes, and he looked left and right in panic. Gao Guiyan quickly drew his knife and stood in front of him, looking around him warily.
, "Your Majesty! What's wrong?"
"No problem."
"Keep walking."
They moved forward again, and the officials were speechless at the moment, looking at each other at a loss.
Gao Guiyan stayed by Gao Yan's side.
Gao Yan suddenly said: "Later, I will send someone in to report to the Queen Mother."
"only!!"
"Your Majesty, you have been very busy recently. In my opinion, it is better to take some rest first. I heard that there is a famous doctor in Yecheng who can give you some treatment."
Wang Xi was particularly worried about Gao Yan's situation.
Gao Yan used to be just irritable, but recently, he has become very strange.
Especially after Gao Guiyan brought the King of Jinan back to Jinyang from Yecheng, this situation became increasingly serious.
He often talks to himself, sometimes in fear and sometimes in anger.
This made the confidants very worried.
Gao Yan nodded, "Okay."
Xian'an breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty, please let me go into the city to meet the Queen Mother."
"Yes, yes, let him go, let him tell the Queen Mother, where is my son?!!"
"ah!!!"
Gao Yan suddenly roared and drew his sword fiercely.
Gao Guiyan and others were shocked, "Your Majesty!!"
"There are evil spirits! There are ghosts!! Don't you see it?! They are around! There are evil spirits!!"
Gao Yan shouted, and the knights around him started making noises.
"Get out! Get away!! I want to rule the world!! I have contributed to the country!!"
Xian'an looked at the frightened Gao Yan and said quickly: "Your Majesty! The army is here! How dare the evil spirits approach?"
Gao Yan seemed not to have heard, and the war horse under his crotch also became restless due to the strange behavior of its owner, moving randomly. Wang Xi, with quick eyes and quick hands, jumped off the horse and pulled the reins.
Gao Guiyan was shocked when he saw Gao Yan looking like this. He hurriedly stood in front of Gao Yan with his sword and waved it around a few times, "Gao Guiyan is here! Who dares to harm my lord?!"
"
Gao Yan finally calmed down.
He gasped for air and looked at Wang Xi beside him.
"go back."
"Let's go back to Jinyang."
Wang Xi and many other confidants had no energy to think about Yecheng at this moment. When they were about to arrive in Yecheng, the army chose to return, and Gao Yan left Yecheng as if fleeing.
Lou Rui, who was guarding Yecheng and thinking about how to face Gao Yan, was confused when he learned that Gao Yan had left again and couldn't figure out the situation at all.
Jinyang Palace.
A bonfire is burning on the ground.
There were more than ten people standing outside the bonfire. They were wearing strange masks, strange clothes, and holding various musical instruments.
Jumping back and forth around the campfire with weird steps.
Their postures were flexible, they chanted spells in their mouths, and kept accelerating their speed. As their beating speed became faster and faster, even the bonfire burned more fiercely.
Gao Yan firmly held Hu Luguang's hand and walked towards the bonfire with his support.
When he got close to the bonfire, the wizards dipped branches in water and began to surround Gao Yan. They kept pretending to slap Gao Yan with the branches, causing water splashing everywhere.
After a long time, the wizards stopped, and the leader said resolutely: "Your Majesty, those little evil spirits have been driven away by us, and they will not come near again."
Several confidants in the distance looked at this place worriedly, their eyes full of despair.
There were also a few people with twinkling eyes.
Gao Yan looked at these people one by one and looked around him.
The headless swallow Xian was looking for its head all over the ground, Gao Yang was taking a big gulp of wine, and Yang Min was laughing.
Gao Yan looked at the wizard, "It's true, I can't see them anymore."
He looked at the ministers and said, "Send someone to inform the Queen Mother that I am not feeling well and cannot go to Yecheng. I have to recuperate in Jinyang."
Wang Xi and Xian'an looked at each other, and suddenly their eyes lit up.
Wang Xi stepped forward and looked at His Majesty excitedly, "Your Majesty, could it be that you are?"
Gao Yan pursed his lips and nodded slightly, "Well, don't ask any more questions, just tell me."
Hu Luguang seemed to be relieved at this moment, "Your Majesty, it's fine."
Yan Zixian came up and said, "Prime Minister, please do me a favor and ask Hu Luguang to return my head to me."
Gao Yan looked at Hu Luguang and said, "I'm fine with you. I've been bothering the general for these days."
"General, I talked about the matter between Liu Taozi and your second daughter last time. Has the general made a decision now?"
Yang Min sneered and said: "You killed the last prince and still want to protect your own prince? Hu Luguang and Liu Taozi are married to your prince, so what? He will also die miserably!"
Hu Luguang did not dare to hesitate this time. He nodded quickly, "It is really an honor for me to have such a good son-in-law. I agreed, but my daughter is still young and cannot leave home. Now I can only make a decision first."
The engagement has been made."
Gao Yang laughed loudly, "Look, this fool thinks that you won't be able to achieve anything and will die sooner or later. He is trying to delay it!"
Gao Yan nodded, "Okay, it's great for the general to say that."
"Then let's make an engagement."
Hu Luguang suddenly said: "Your Majesty, when General Liu was chatting with me on horseback, he didn't ask anything else but asked about the military affairs of the frontier fortress."
"But this time, as soon as he arrived in Wuchuan, he mobilized civilians and built a walled city outside Jinhe before the enemy could react. From a high position, it connected Jinhe and various garrison towns!"
"The generals of the Puppet Zhou Dynasty are really angry right now!"
"I think even Wei Xiaokuan has to adjust his strategy slightly. Hahaha, having such strong men is really a blessing to the country!"
"Your Majesty has been working too hard in recent days. It is better to rest for a few days. Don't be too anxious. There are many virtuous people in the country, and the country will be governed by your Majesty!"
Hu Luguang saluted him, then turned and left.
Gao Yan shuddered, his expression gradually became firm, and he looked to his left and right again.
It was quiet inside the palace.
"My generals are as fierce as the clouds... I am not afraid of your evil spirits."
Chapter completed!