Warrior in Turbulent Han Dynasty Chapter 600: The wind is rising
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Xuanren first year in June. Guo Shao discussed with the Secret Envoy Wang Pu and set the time for the Northern Expedition as next spring.
The time for the various countries to launch wars is mostly in the spring. Since the Battle of Qin and Feng, they have been launched almost in the spring. Because the traditional Chinese New Year is the most important festival for the Han people, it is easier to mobilize the people and the people after the New Year; the cold in the north makes it very difficult to use soldiers in winter.
But at that time, it was probably the time for the Liao people to guess and guard. It was even more difficult to ensure the suddenness of the war.
At this time, there is still half a year before the Northern Expedition.
Soon, the local officials of Hebei reported the merits and captured several Khitans on the north bank of the Yellow River. ＋＋＋m
The process of capture was very simple. The inspector ran into a few strange-looking people and interrogated them, only to find that they could not speak Mandarin, and they were Khitanese in the first instance.
The number of Liao people inquiring about news is not surprising. At this time, there seems to be no concept of spies in all countries. At best, they can be called scouts, they are the kind of people caught. I'm afraid the Liao scouts didn't think they would be caught, because they didn't want to go to Tokyo to inquire about the news, but to inquire about the situation near the Yellow River.
Because Zhou Jun must cross the Yellow River if he wants to expedition to the north at this time...a lot of pontoon bridges need to be erected.
Observing the floating bridge on the Yellow River was the quickest and direct way for the Liao State to judge the large-scale northward movement of the Zhou army.
At this time, the Liao Kingdom sent scouts to deepen, apparently already alert to Zhou Jun's intentions of the Northern Expedition; but they don't know exactly when Zhou Jun will make the Northern Expedition.
The Zhou court only had a dozen people in the center who knew about the Northern Expedition, and they only knew that the court had already decided on the Northern Expedition, but they still don’t know the specific time; at this time, the only people who knew completely were Guo Shao and Wang Pu... Fu Jinzhan.
Some ministers’ suggestions to send people to contact Gaoli and Hebei Hanjiang in advance were rejected.
Goryeo is far from Tokyo, and also far from Youzhou. It cannot directly influence the battle of Youzhou. Although Goryeo has always been ambitious about the "old land of Balhae," it has insufficient offensive capabilities. Alliances have only long-term strategic benefits and no tactics. Benefits... The most unfavorable reason is that it is easy to reveal the approximate time of the Northern Expedition.
Contacting Youzhou Han will do the same. It is easy to reveal signs of the Northern Expedition.
... Mid-Autumn Festival in the first year. Tokyo is bustling with lights, and the scene of festive banquets and moon watching remains the same as usual.
At this time, the hot summer weather has passed, getting cooler...When the temperature reaches the coldest, it is the time of the Northern Expedition. The gradual cold weather is like a signal that time is approaching.
The military supervisor Zan Jurun reported that the test of the first batch of newly-cast Long Xiao Cannons has been completed.
The structure of the new cannon is almost the same as that of the old one. They are both large-caliber mortars that project stone bullets. The only difference is that the cast iron material is changed to bronze, which is believed to make the artillery more durable.
Soon after, the first batch of matchlock guns were also manufactured. The barrel is still cast in bronze; the gun machine has been improved several times and fired with matchlock.
It's just that the ignition device has been improved, which is more convenient than the lead of an open flame, but the range of the fire|gun has the same lethality as before. So it is still only equipped, because it is far less practical than a bow|crossbow.
……In September, the envoys sent by Tokyo arrived at the Southern Han Dynasty King's Mansion (Guangzhou), and the ruler of the Southern Han Dynasty was denied entry to Beijing, so that Rhythm had been expelled from the Southern Han Dynasty.
Shortly after, the Privy Council established the "Xingwang Mansion Front Camp Military Mansion" and mobilized officials to form a perfect organization from top to bottom... At this time, they were dealing with the envoys of the Southern Han Dynasty to collect information from the Southern Han Dynasty.
So many people in the Tokyo officialdom also speculated that after the imperial court regained Hedong, Fanglue would be placed in the south, and would gradually regain Wuyue and other places in the Southern Han Dynasty to complete the great event of unifying the world.
However, this "Xingwang Mansion Qianying Military Mansion" is well organized, and with just one imperial decree, it can be transformed into the staff mansion of the Northern Expedition.
Next, the Privy Council ordered the Yizhou Festival Envoy Sun Xingyou to build a city in the southeast of Yizhou; and sent Fu Zhaoxu to the north, recruiting a large number of people from Hebei provinces to excavate the foundation stone needed for the city in a stone field near Yizhou.
...In October, the civil servants of the northern and southern states of the Yellow River were conquered and conscripted to build the Yellow River embankment.
All actions are confusing. As a big country, there are some decrees in Dazhou every year. Whether building a city or repairing a dike, it is not a matter of concern.
A few months passed, and Tokyo saw no sign of the Northern Expedition, and even the Beijing officials did not think that the court was preparing for a war.
However, the Zhou army’s siege artillery needed a large amount of stone bullets. To open the stone field for repairing the city, the mine found the stone in advance to recruit a large number of masons. This is something that must be prepared in advance; A large number of strong men...the logistics of the war also require strong men.
To repair the Yellow River embankment, more people are recruited, tens of thousands.
Winter is here and the weather is getting colder. Snow will begin to fall on the southern bank of the Yellow River this winter (November). By the twelfth lunar month, the Yellow River Basin was already freezing cold.
……
On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Tokyo is still immersed in the festive atmosphere. The whole city is covered in silver, and the roofs and alleys are covered with snow, but it is not deserted at all. The lanterns and flags are all kinds of red. In the meantime, the market is crowded with people. All kinds of play and drums make the city during this time the busiest time.
But the weather is still cold, and the weather this year is extra cold. In the first month, it is still snowing in the sky.
Except for the cities and villages, there are almost no people in the countryside.
On the bank of the Yellow River closest to Tokyo, there are a couple of riders stationed there. In the monotonous snowy world, these people feel alone.
Guo Shao and Privy Councilor Wang Pu are here. The two stood there and looked out. The surface of the Yellow River in front of them... a white, flat land with nothing on it.
Guo Shao kicked away the snow, then squatted down, reaching out to look away.
"This year is colder than previous years." Guo Shao said to Wang Pu after turning around.
Wang Pu bowed and said quietly: "You don't need to take a floating bridge when you cross the river." After that, he raised his hand and waved his hand.
As soon as he rode a horse, he yelled "drivingly", kicked the horse's belly, and rode forward. Guo Shao stood up and looked at the people who went away for a long time, only to see the shadows getting smaller and smaller.
There was no wind between the sky and the earth, Xiao Xiao fell from the sky, fluttering to the ground, very quiet. The dull sound of horseshoes is very clear.
After a long time, the knight on horseback gradually returned. Wang Pu waved his hand again, a row of more than twenty riders lined up, slowly approached, and ran forward in a sparse formation.
"Set up camp here today and return to Beijing tomorrow." Guo Shao said to Wang Pu.
Wang Pu pondered for a moment, but finally did not persuade Guo Shao. This place is on the southern bank of the Yellow River, very close to the capital, and the surroundings are very flat; there is another elite iron cavalry beside the emperor, and there can be no danger in staying for a day or two.
Wang Pu only asked the soldiers to choose camps to set up tents, and ordered the men and horses to take turns.
Guo Shao can't ask anything for marching and camping. He just waited to set up the tent, set up the fire, and went inside to escape the cold.
Wang Pu soon walked in and saluted him. Guo Shao asked him to sit down. Only then did he sit down by the fire and shake the snow on his body. Wang Pu said: "Tomorrow the Forbidden Army will change defense, the old minister temporarily ordered the generals of the palace's guards and guards, and will not disband the soldiers who have been rotated. The troops will be gathered together, and then money will be sent to the camps to reward the soldiers and let them say goodbye to their families The day after tomorrow you can assemble people and horses to officially set off."
Guo Shao nodded.
Wang Pu said, "As a result, the news of the Northern Expedition will not be made public until tomorrow, and it will be limited to Tokyo. The Privy Council also ordered the Tokyo martial law to begin tomorrow, prohibiting people except forbidden soldiers from entering or leaving. City gate. Try to delay the spread of the Northern Expedition."
Guo Shao said: "For half a year of preparation, we plan very carefully."
Wang Pu said: "Exactly. The new year has not passed. Martial law may affect the hearts of Tokyo, but the surname is not important at the time of the war.
The veteran estimated that after the Great Zhou Army was dispatched, it would take a while for Youzhou to know the news. According to the marching speed of the imperial army, the Liao people may be surprised if they have already attacked Youzhou. "
Wang Pu couldn't hide the excitement on his face.
Guo Shao pretended to look at him with ease and said: "It is unprecedented that we can start a war of this scale?"
"Your Majesty is wise." Wang Pu bowed deeply.
Guo Shao waved his hand: "If you win, let's talk wisely. Capture Youzhou..."
There was a stir in his heart. Desire|Hope gives people motivation, but when things come, it is not necessarily a good thing, it can be distracting. Guo Shao took a deep breath and looked at the leisurely snowflakes and the succinct white snow scene, gradually cooling the various ambitions in his heart.
That's why he stayed here. When I arrived in an uninhabited area in the afternoon, I felt far away from the world.
Guo Shao said in front of Wang Pu: "I have already started, it is useless to think too much. Mainly focus on the matter itself, try to do it well, and the reward will come naturally."
Wang Pu thoughtfully, returned to God and worshiped: "What your Majesty said is."
The dusk is coming gradually, and the sun cannot be seen to go down the mountain, but the light is gradually dimming.
Guo Shao looked at the outside of the tent. There were two riders standing on the hillside where his eyes were directly opposite. They were in the opposite direction, standing motionless in the snow as if they had settled. Instead of knives and guns in his hands, but bows and arrows; under the hillside is an open snow field that can be seen if anyone is at least a few steps away.
But as long as you look closely, you can see that the two riders are not settled. They are holding back against each other, their heads are slowly turning, carefully observing things in the field of vision.
"Gu..." There was a cry of a bird, Guo Shao was attracted, but he didn't know what kind of bird it was. The two cavalry sentries were also attracted and looked up in the sky together.
But the silence soon returned. At this moment, the scene is so lonely, there is no grand battle at all, everything seems to be deliberately hidden in the endless snow scene.
Guo Shaoduan sat there, closing his eyes and resting between the ethereal but open world. His breathing gradually became even and slow, as if a Taoist priest was practicing inner alchemy.
For a long time, he heard it, and suddenly opened his eyes. The flag that was originally hanging outside the tent was blown up and swayed like a water dragon in the wind, the flag surface was unfolded, and a fierce tiger slammed its teeth and claws in front of Guo Shao's eyes.
"Roar..." Guo Shao seemed to hear a low and majestic roar.
The Huru stared down at the earth with his eyes rounded deep inside. Guo Shao's eyes were also round, and he turned into that aura.
Coercive, brave, confident and fearless.