Jizhou.
Shi Wansui held a horse in his hand and advanced slowly along the left side of the official road. His eyes were always fixed on the army on his right.
On his right was a large group of soldiers.
These soldiers were neither wearing armor nor carrying weapons, and were marching empty-handed.
Even with their bare hands and bodies, these people look extremely ferocious.
They are generally tall and wear various hair accessories. They march in a stable formation and at a fast speed.
At the front, there were fully armed knights and infantry leading the way, and at the rear there were more than a hundred infantry, chariots and horses transporting grain, grass and weapons.
On both sides of the army, many knights from the Mandrill Battalion shuttled back and forth.
There are nearly three thousand people with bare hands and white bodies in the middle.
These are Jinyang soldiers.
A group of old soldiers from Jinyang who do not engage in farming, but only practice killing skills all day long, and can eat and drink a lot. They are far ahead in terms of physical fitness and training.
Two young officers followed Shi Wansui, looking a little unhappy.
"General, ordinary soldiers can do things like transporting soldiers' money and food. Why should we help them escort them? Can they be robbed within our own borders?"
"I heard that the general has ascended the throne, but we can't participate in the celebration in Pingcheng, but we escort things in this damn place. It's really disappointing!"
The two officers heard many times on the road that post officials or officials mentioned the matter of enthroning, and people everywhere were also celebrating.
As the core army of the general, they were very resentful for not being able to participate in the enthronement ceremony.
Shi Wansui glanced at the two of them, and then carefully stared at the Jinyang soldiers on their way.
"You think we are here to protect these people?"
"Jinyang soldiers have always been fierce, and they don't have a familiar general at the moment. Even if they are bare-handed, if something happens, these more than a hundred Shuozhou soldiers really can't stop them. If a hundred people run out, that pair
It is extremely harmful to the local area.”
"Previously in Jinyang, they even dared to attack the imperial palace. Without our help, how could we safely escort them to various places?"
The two officers no longer refuted, but were still a little helpless.
Shi Wansui said again: "Don't worry. When we finish these things, we can naturally return to Pingcheng. General, your majesty will definitely reward you!!"
Everyone is happy.
The current king of Liu Taozi is the same as the king of the Pseudo Zhou Dynasty. His king's title is similar to that of the Emperor of Zhou, a little worse than the emperor, but much stronger than the princes and kings. It can be regarded as a retro behavior unique to this era.
Therefore, in terms of titles and etiquette, the emperor's system is basically adopted, but it is much simpler. There is no separate year name, but there is a king's year name. For example, this year is the first year of the Han Dynasty.
Everyone walked quickly to the road. Shi Wansui deliberately avoided some villages and farmland along the road, and even dense forests that were suitable for escape.
Although this approach may take a little more time, it can at least reduce many risks.
Before leaving for the trip, Gao Yanzong warned him many times that he must not trust these guys easily. If someone said that he was sick and could not walk, he must not hesitate and whip him directly.
If there are people around you who want to intimidate you, then grab them all, tie them up, and don't lower your head even if they are hung on the saddle and dragged along.
If these tigers and wolves find out that you are not that vicious, they may bite you back at any time.
Gao Yanzong's words made Shi Wansui a little shocked when he heard them.
When he was under his father's command, he had seen his father manage the army with benevolence, so the soldiers were willing to work for him. This was the first time he had heard of such an army management method.
However, Shi Wansui knew that he had come a long way and was not as familiar with Jinyang soldiers as Gao Yanzong, so he followed his advice. Along the way, he did not give Jinyang soldiers a good look, and there were a few who made excuses to stir up trouble.
, were all tied up by Shi Wansui, and were directly tied into the prison van and walked at the end.
All the way from Jinyang to Jizhou, everything went smoothly and nothing major happened.
Mandrill Camp still played a lot of role in deterring people.
No matter how fierce the Jinyang soldiers are, facing the elite knights in full armor, they have to think twice about whether they can really escape.
As they got closer to Xindu, more and more people met along the way.
There were many bonfires on both sides of the official road, and many people were warming themselves in front of the bonfires. When they saw the marching soldiers, they all looked very frightened and hurriedly hid on both sides.
The knights from Mandrill Camp explored the surroundings and arrested a few more people for questioning.
Come back soon to report to Shi Wansui.
"General, these people are all former Hebei people. I heard they came across the river and said they wanted to return to their homeland."
"oh?"
Shi Wansui was a little confused, "Ji people? Coming across the river?"
He seemed to understand something, "If it's just a dead person, then don't worry about it, just don't let them get close."
"only!!"
The closer we get to Xindu, the more and more dead people we see. Fortunately, there are officials at some important intersections registering and accepting these dead people. When they learn that the army is coming, they actively come to help and maintain order along the road.
, to prevent the dead from casually contradicting the army.
When Shi Wansui vaguely saw the outline of Xindu City through the sunlight, he also saw the Jizhou Army waiting in formation in the distance.
The opponent has more than a thousand people, mostly cavalry.
The man in the lead, wearing heavy armor and with a solemn face, was none other than Jizhou General Kou Liu.
The governors all went to Pingcheng, but not all the local generals went. Many generals in important areas chose to stay behind. After all, the place could not really be left empty, especially in terms of military command.
Kou Liu did not go.
But this does not affect his status in the country, nor does it affect the rewards he receives.
Shi Wansui sped up and came to the front of the team. After encountering the opponent, he dismounted first and bowed to see him.
"Meet General Kou!!"
Kou Liu nodded and looked at the old Jinyang soldiers who were bare-handed behind him, with a slightly complicated expression on his face.
"Nothing big happened along the way, right?"
"No."
Shi Wansui lowered his voice, "You only bring these people? Can you make it happen?"
Kou Liu frowned, "It's okay."
Shi Wansui then took a few steps back and asked the soldiers to help transport these old soldiers to the Jizhou Campus.
Kou Liu and Shi Wansui walked at the front, and Shi Wansui continued: "General Kou, these people are not easy to manage and there are so many of them. Please don't rush to arm them. Their families will be sent over soon.
After becoming a military household in Jizhou, General Gao Yanzonggao told me: At least for a month, we should not rush to give them weapons, but we should keep a strict eye on them to prevent them from escaping or insulting the local new soldiers."
Seeing the sincere face of Shi Wansui Kou Liu, he no longer had a sullen face and smiled bitterly.
"Brother, you believe in us people too much. Three thousand tiger and wolf soldiers were sent here. The new soldiers under my command are less than five thousand. I have just practiced formation. If I can't suppress it, something big will happen."
.”
"They should be sent in batches."
“There are many things going on in Jizhou”
Shi Wansui hurriedly explained: "My lord should also want to let the place train as soon as possible. The war is imminent, and he is not willing to delay it any longer."
"If General Kou is inconvenient here, I can stay longer."
Kou Liu looked at this young man, he was pretty good.
"No, you can go back when you're done. Although I'm not a great general, I will not be overwhelmed by some old soldiers. I have my own way."
Shi Wansui nodded.
Everyone came to the campus together.
The new recruits have already lined up and waited around the school grounds. The school grounds were newly built and occupy a huge area. There are eight camps on all sides, each of which can accommodate thousands of troops.
The location of the university campus is in the southeast of Xindu, like a satellite city.
After Shi Wansui brought these people in, he asked the military officials to start the handover.
A total of 2,764 people were sent, three of whom were arrested for violating military law on the road, leaving 2,761 people.
The military officials under Kou Liu came to register these Jinyang old soldiers one by one with documents.
The veterans are currently staying in the Chinese army camp, looking around curiously.
Their arrogance is almost etched on their faces. They stare with big eyes and don't look away from others, giving them a full sense of oppression.
Many people looked at the campus and made comments.
"It's not as good as Jinyang, it doesn't even have a Pegasus."
"Oh, people here don't know anything about Pegasus. Look at those pawns, they look so childish that they can't even form a formation well."
"Hahaha, do you think they are afraid now?"
Shi Wansui watched the handover between the two sides and the lawless appearance of the soldiers. He felt a little worried in his heart. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Kou Liu rushing out on horseback.
The few people who were talking loudly just now felt a strong wind blowing before they could finish their words. The next moment, Kou Liuzong's horse appeared in front of them, and the horse raised its front hooves high.
Several old soldiers subconsciously took a few steps back, and the rest of the people even exclaimed, almost starting to change formations.
Kou Liu stared at the people in front of him.
"Start today!!"
"You are the Jizhou soldiers under my command!!"
"Jizhou soldiers were reorganized into 15,000 men!"
"Have a rest today and start training together tomorrow to see how good you are. Those who are capable will be rewarded and promoted to officials, and those who are incompetent will be dismissed and go home to farm!!"
"Just keep your spirits up today, and let me see what you can do tomorrow!"
Kou Liu roared loudly, and several messengers rode on horseback to convey his words all the way.
The old soldiers were silent for a moment. Will they be rewarded and promoted to officials tomorrow?
Except for a few of the veterans standing here, most of them are ordinary soldiers, not officers.
The treatment of soldiers and officers is actually quite different.
Especially for people like them, whose family members are military households, the higher their status, the better the treatment of their family members.
And the reorganization of 15,000 people means that there are at least nearly a hundred mid-level officers and more than a thousand junior officers vacancies are waiting for them.
The old soldiers who were still talking about the situation suddenly fell silent at this moment, looking at each other with inexplicable colors in their eyes.
They are not afraid of not passing the training at all. If they fail, then there will be no one who can pass the training.
But is this officer’s position up for grabs?
I was just a soldier in Jinyang at first. If I could become an officer here, I could even take a step forward and become a captain or a general.
Kou Liu looked at the people in front of him and asked displeasedly: "Didn't you hear what I said?!"
Jinyang soldiers quickly restored the original order.
"only!!!"
After listening to the crowd's shouts, Kou Liu nodded with satisfaction and rode back to Shi Wansui's side again.
Shi Wansui touched his bald chin and said, "General Kou, this is"
"Promise it for profit."
"Jinyang soldiers are also human beings, and as humans they will have pursuits. If they can get better treatment and a better position here, then they will naturally not think about escaping."
"Waiting for tomorrow, first promote those who are capable and obedient and let them serve as officers, and then mix the new soldiers with the old soldiers. I will gradually take control of this army."
"However, I'm afraid I still have to establish a little authority in the middle. It depends on whether there are any thorns in the side who will take the initiative to stand up."
Shi Wansui understood.
Kou Liu glanced at the busy people and said, "Let them be busy first. You must be tired from escorting us all the way. I will take care of you and wash away the dust for you. Let's go!"
Kou Liu took Shi Wansui to a simple mansion in the rear army camp, where many generals lived.
The house here is small, and the inner room can only accommodate three or four people, but the facilities are relatively complete. The two of them just sat down, and a soldier brought some food.
Kou Liu asked about the situation in Jinyang.
"Before we arrived in Jinyang, the place was destroyed by rebel soldiers. Nine of the ten rooms were empty. Jinyang soldiers were also seriously damaged, so they pulled out so many people. Then the lord wanted to return to Pingcheng, so he asked us to stay and help
The local garrison will conduct escort work."
"Except for the farther places, the troops from other places should have been sent."
Shi Wansui scratched his head. He could still tell something about the situation in the army, but he could only give a rough idea about the situation in the local area, and he didn't know more details.
But he had many questions to ask Kou Liu.
"General, I saw many dead people along the way, and they all said they were from Jizhou. What's going on?"
Kou Liu laughed and said, "When we went to recapture Jizhou, these people all crossed the river and ran to the south. Then they learned that the Han Kingdom was established in the north, and they ran back one after another."
"There are all kinds of nursery rhymes and prophecies in the south right now."
"I didn't understand why the country was named Han before, but now I understand. These people believe these things."
"They said he was a general of Qi State, but they didn't know it, but when he said that the Han Kingdom was established in the north, they regarded it as their destiny and rushed home."
"The people in the country are also like this, they are so nagging."
Shi Wansui was a little surprised, "General, you don't believe this?"
Shi Wansui knew that Kou Liu was from Xianbei, and there was no Xianbei person he knew who did not believe in destiny, ghosts, gods, and prophecies.
Even Gao Yanzong himself believed this. Before escorting Jinyang soldiers, they even hired wizards to perform divination and sacrifice before sending out soldiers.
Kou Liu waved his hand, "I used to believe it a lot, but after visiting a few temples with my brother, I no longer believe it."
"When I was in Liyang, I once saw that under the magnificent Buddha statues, there was a secret passage filled with robbed women and their corpses piled up in mountains. I thought, if there are really ghosts and gods, shouldn't these temples be the first to do so?
Are you being punished by God?"
Shi Wansui was stunned, "They have been punished by God."
"It's okay if you think so. After seeing it too much, you don't believe it so much. Evil people run rampant, but good people have no place to stay. Those who do evil often end well, and those who do good cannot live long."
Kou Liu said a few words and then stopped continuing the topic.
"You just said that a war is imminent. Are you planning to attack Duan Shao?"
Only then did Shi Wansui realize that he had leaked the secret before. He hurriedly covered his mouth and widened his eyes.
Kou Liu laughed loudly, "You kid, if it's a secret, don't tell it out easily in the future, lest you suffer disaster."
Shi Wansui bowed his head and said yes.
The two of them finished the meal and talked happily.
"Even if you don't tell us, we can actually tell a little bit. My brother ascended the throne. I didn't dare to leave easily because of the deceased's affairs, but Yao Xiong didn't even go. This is obviously a problem. Yao Xiong
, even if the sky falls, you will not miss this kind of fun, I think, maybe you are doing something very important?"
"However, I won't ask too many questions, and you shouldn't say too much."
"I wish him success!"
Kou Liu raised the water bag in his hand and knocked it with Shi Wansui, thinking it was wine.
Shi Wansui lived on campus that day.
The next day, while Shi Wansui was still sleeping, he heard shouts of killing outside. Shi Wansui was shocked, took out his weapon and rushed outside.
As soon as I rushed out of the yard, I saw the old soldiers charging hard in the distance.
They held wooden guns and constantly changed and formed formations. They formed teams of a hundred and practiced repeatedly in various places.
Kou Liu passed by them on a war horse, constantly recording something.
The new recruits just stood around, watching the demonstrations of the veterans, their eyes full of fear.
The gap between the two is quite big.
Shi Wansui returned to the hospital, changed clothes and freshened up, and then came to watch the drill.
Kou Liu first asked them to demonstrate their most basic skills, which was to form an array.
Then start to increase the difficulty, showing shooting, horse riding, mounted shooting, reading maps, reading and writing military orders, etc.
It was okay at first, but when the difficulty started to increase, many veterans began to be eliminated, with faces full of regrets.
Shi Wansui looked at the busy Kou Liu in the distance and did not dare to disturb him any more. He led his knights, gave a few instructions to the military officials, and then left quietly.
On the way back, everyone was in high spirits and the speed was much faster.
Shi Wansui's face was even more full of smiles.
Chapter completed!