Chapter 93: Meeting

Chapter 93: Meeting

Chapter 93: Meeting (Additional update for the December of the year when the leader is unable to wake up)

After breakfast, more news came.

Zhang Fang sent a small number of cavalry to operate outside the city, but the main force did not move.

Shao Xun put himself in Zhang Fang's shoes and made the following deduction.

Yesterday's attempt to seize the gate was probably a spur-of-the-moment decision, and after the failure, the opportunity slipped away. And since there was no way to break into the city by surprise attack, we could only wait for the main force to arrive and then attack head-on.

In history, Zhang Fang's army would not have been larger than it is now, but no one knows how he entered the city. Could it be that Shangguan Si and Miao Yuan also failed in the battle outside the city and then lost Luoyang?

Forget about him. In the current situation, we cannot fight a field battle. We can only waste time. After a few months, Zhang's troops will be tired and our side will gradually improve. By then, the situation will be different.

The second piece of news was about the defeated soldiers.

People from outside the city started running back one after another. Some were captured by Zhang Fang, and some saw that the city gates were closed, cursed, and left in a hurry.

Not all of them may be defeated soldiers, there may also be some generals, officials, and ministers.

When you saw that the city gate was not open, you must have felt very desperate, right?

The last slightly more important piece of news was that Bingzhou Governor Sima Teng and Youzhou Governor Wang Jun gathered troops and intended to attack Sima Ying.

The two also introduced foreign aid.

The former brought in the Tuoba Xianbei, and the latter contacted the Duan Xianbei. Each of them led their troops and looked like they were going to fight.

Apparently, the Battle of Yecheng during the Northern Expedition was an important node for the Central Plains.

Before this, everyone also used Hu soldiers, but the scale was definitely not so large, and they were not even troops under their direct control.

For example, the Xianbei cavalry under Sima Ying in Yecheng were directly affiliated with the army and had nothing to do with the grassland.

There are also some in the central army of Luoyang.

The Youzhou Tuqidu was an armored cavalry unit composed of a mixture of Youzhou Han people and Xianbei people.

But what is it like now? To put it nicely, it is called "righteousness", to put it bluntly, your status is equal to theirs, he joins the war as an independent force, you can only suggest what he should do, but you cannot order him to do what he should do.

A new (bad) era is coming.

After breakfast, Shao Xun had no time to rest. After tidying up his appearance, he went to the princess's residence first.

Jinyong City was not big, and there were many people and eyes on it, so he only spoke for a while outside the door, mostly asking for instructions.

The princess naturally agreed to all of them.

After leaving, Shao Xun went to see the tenants, guests, servants and maids of the manor settled in the city, especially the 104 student soldiers of the second phase of Luoyang. After seeing them learning cultural knowledge step by step, they quietly left and assembled their troops in the square outside Jinyong City.

Wu Qian brought a lot of valuables with him, mostly various cloths, miscellaneous copper coins and many other utensils - it was really hard to calculate the value, so we could only make a rough estimate.

"During yesterday's battle for the gate, I sent people to shout, 'Those who return to kill the enemy will be rewarded with a higher rank.' Keep your word!" Shao Xun looked at the soldiers standing in neat rows and said, "Those who fought the bandits yesterday should line up in turn to receive their rewards. I have to say this in advance. If anyone pretends to claim the reward, he will be killed without mercy. You can all point out each other."

No one came forward for a while.

Shao Xun glanced around and saw a person who seemed to have some impression of him. He walked directly to the queue, pulled him out, and asked: "In the battle of seizing the gate yesterday, I remember you picked up a spear and turned back to resist the enemy. Why don't you stand up?"

This man was also a veteran soldier, and he looked to be over 30 years old. He lowered his head and said, "I've met the two superiors before, and they both didn't keep their promises. I fought to the death yesterday to protect myself..."

"That's enough!" Shao Xun interrupted him and said, "I keep my word."

After he finished speaking, he had someone bring two pieces of cloth over and said, "This is your reward."

The soldier took it in a daze, his expression quite moved.

"What is your position?"

"Corporal."

Shao Xun thought for a moment, grabbed a bunch of copper coins of different sizes and new and old from the carriage, stuffed them into the soldier's hand, and said, "Since you are an official, I will give you more rewards. Go down. Who else?"

The soldier returned to the line in a daze, holding the cloth and copper coins.

It is only natural that those who have made contributions should be rewarded.

But even this kind of thing was often not resolutely enforced. As the dynasty progressed, there were more cases of withholding and embezzlement of rewards.

In fact, there was no reward at all, the court felt that it was unnecessary...

After the first person received the reward, more and more people came forward.

The documents were registered one by one and auxiliary soldiers were issued according to the number of people.

The so-called "super rewards for festival levels" means, as the name suggests: 1. Rewards are given according to levels; 2. The overall reward amount is higher than the average level.

The money given as reward came from the spoils, which were actually the proceeds from the looting by Shangguan Si's troops.

No matter who comes to ask for this money, Shao Xun will not return it, no way.

Giving it to a noble family like you may not necessarily bring you good results, because people think you deserve it.

Giving it to the soldiers is an important prop for establishing one's own prestige.

You must make it clear who your base is.

Only with a basic base can we carry out various operations to win over and absorb other forces.

His background destined him to follow the improved version of Shi Le, there was no other way.

The resources of the aristocratic families are tempting, but they are like poisonous honey and you may not be able to get them.

Concubine Pei cannot represent the Pei family. She is just a princess.

He didn't even dare to get too involved with the Wang Yan family.

As for the Yu Liang family, if it was just their family, it wouldn't be a big deal. The problem is that the Yu family of Yingchuan is not the Yu family of Xinye. They have great potential power. Maybe their family background is not particularly high, but they are also a well-known big family in Yingchuan.

The best strategy for now is to expand the base so that we will be qualified to try other tricks.

"Good boy, you actually fraudulently received the reward." While he was thinking, Chen Yougen's thunder-like voice came to his ears.

Shao Xun looked over and saw the soldiers of the training team holding down two trembling soldiers and cursing at them.

"what happened?"

"Report to the general." Chen Yougen said loudly, "These two people are the defeated soldiers of Manfen's army. They entered the city through Guangmo Gate and falsely claimed the reward. They were identified."

Shao Xun nodded and said, "Behead him."

"Yes!" Chen Yougen drew out his heavy sword with a fierce smile and swung it down with all his might. In an instant, two heads fell to the ground.

"Please check, General." Two soldiers from the training team each held a head and presented it.

Shao Xun took it and looked at it, then threw it back and said, "Hang it on the city wall to serve as a warning to others."

"promise."

"I will keep my word if you have made meritorious contributions and will be rewarded. If anyone has been wronged or has a family problem, you can come to me. I will never let my men suffer injustice." Shao Xun looked at the increasingly solemn soldiers and said, "But there is one rule. Anyone who disobeys my orders and violates military discipline will be killed without mercy."

"Yes!" Thousands of soldiers responded in unison.

"Teaching team, train the troops in batches!" After giving the order, Shao Xun appointed Chen Yougen to stay behind temporarily, and he himself went to the palace city accompanied by Huang Biao Chuang's 600 soldiers.

******
Outside the magnificent Taiji Hall, soldiers were training endlessly, the sounds shaking the roof tiles.

After Shao Xun entered the Duanmen Gate, he watched the training in front of the Taiji Hall for a while.

This was the troop of which he concurrently served as the leader, consisting of nearly 600 men, some from the 3rd, 7th and 11th teams of the original lower army, and some from the new recruits of the Manfen unit.

To put it bluntly, they are all newcomers, including student soldiers and officers.

Some of the newcomers have fought in battles, twice at Daxia Gate. The first time was to attack Shi Chao, and the second time was to defeat Zhang Fang's cavalry.

Most people have never fought a war.

But Shao Xun just likes this unit because his student soldiers can control the situation.

If we replace the soldiers with the old remnants of Chen Jing's army who surrendered yesterday, they will definitely not obey the discipline of the student soldiers, and that would not be good.

He gave this group of people the military nickname "Silver Spear".

This is a complete private army. In time, even if the king of heaven comes, they will only listen to themselves.

The Wang Guojun was just a tool for him to achieve merit and gain fame.

The Silver Spear Army is the guarantee of his life and property.

"Jin San, what do you feel about entering the palace again?" During a break in training, Shao Xun pulled Jin San, who had been promoted to the position of Du Bo, and asked with a smile.

"In troubled times, strength is everything." Jin San said without hesitation: "The more powerful the Silver Spear Army is, the more likely Master Shao's ambition will be realized."

Wow, Jin San has a complete muscular man mindset.

The last time he took an exam on "applied questions", he used the strategy of clearing the countryside with strong defenses, which was quite ruthless.

This guy must have a lot in common with the Hu people. I still need to remind him more in the future that it is good to attach importance to military force in troubled times, but we should not go to extremes and think that strong soldiers and horses can defeat everything.

"Train your troops well." Shao Xun patted him on the shoulder and left.

In front of the Taiji Hall, following Huang Biao's unique rhythmic commands, a large group of soldiers dispersed inside and outside the hall gate to serve as sentries.

After a while, Huang Biao led people into the hall to inspect it, and then nodded.

Shao Xun understood and stepped into the hall.

Shao Xun was somewhat surprised when the prince summoned him today and asked about the situation in the city.

If you can't find anything, why are you looking for me?
In the end, there is only one conclusion: you are a bit too big, and even if you want to hide, you can't escape the eyes of those who are interested.

Hey, what a mess! I just wanted to control everything from behind the scenes.

"Greetings to the Crown Prince." Shao Xun bowed, then his eyes fell on a slender figure behind the curtain and said, "Greetings to the Queen."

"Sir Shao, please don't be polite. Please take a seat." The prince straightened his body and extended his hand.

Shao Xun looked at the golden armor on his body and said, "Please forgive me, Prince. I can't kneel down while wearing armor."

The prince choked.

It was indeed rare to see anyone entering the palace, whether civil or military, wearing armor.

Somehow, he suddenly thought of Shangguan Si. Could this Shao Xun in front of him be the same kind of person as him?
Thinking of this, I didn't dare to say what I had thought of, and fell silent for a while.

Perhaps because the atmosphere was somewhat dull, the queen's clear voice like an oriole rang out from behind the curtain: "In the first month of the year, Sima fought bravely in the palace and captured the traitor alive. Yesterday, he swept the city with lightning speed and killed the rebels, saving the ancestral temple and the country from danger. Both times were the merits of Qingtian's protection. Sima can be said to be a loyal minister. Now the troops are stationed outside the Taiji Palace and are training non-stop, but I don't know what they mean."

"Replying to the Queen and the Crown Prince," Shao Xun said, "The palace guards have already fled. If there are no soldiers to guard the palace, I'm afraid it will be difficult to stay safe. If the Queen and the Crown Prince are not happy, I will order the troops to withdraw and station elsewhere."

When he said this, his face was a little serious. When the prince saw it, he hurriedly said, "It's okay, it's okay."

The queen was silent for a moment before she asked, "Will Sima keep this area peaceful?"

"I am a soldier, and I have lived on the shores of the East China Sea for generations. I have been farming and fighting in the land of Qingxu. I have been taught by the king since I was young. I admire the king's teachings. I am overjoyed to be selected as a filial and honest official, and I am honored with a higher rank. I am extremely terrified." Shao Xun said, "Please rest assured, Prince and Queen. With my soldiers by your side, no bad person can harm the royal family."

The prince was skeptical.

The Queen thought that this man spoke elegantly and would not be as greedy, tyrannical, and unruly as Shangguan Si. Besides, he saved me last time.

Yang Xianrong glanced through the gap in the beaded curtain at Shao Xun, who was standing respectfully, and said, "Sima is loyal, brave, and resolute. He is a great blessing to the country. Luoyang has just encountered a great turmoil, and people's hearts are unsettled. There are also rebels from Hejian outside the city, who are rioting and attacking the palace. If we let them in, the face of the royal family may be difficult to save. Fortunately, we have Sima. I hope you can take care of repelling the enemy. If you can make new achievements, the title of general is not impossible."

Yang Xianrong made a big promise, but Shao Xun ignored it and said, "I am so grateful that I want to kill all the bandits to repay the kindness of the heavens."

"Go down and do your job diligently." Yang Xianrong said as she lifted the pearl curtain, revealing a delicate and pretty face.

"I'll take my leave." Shao Xun walked out slowly.

The hall was empty for a moment.

Yang Xianrong lowered the beaded curtain and said, "Now that you have seen him, you should feel relieved, right? This may be Cao Cao, but it is definitely not Shangguan Si. After today, my son will stay in Zhaoyang Palace and review the classics and history."

The prince murmured yes.

"Some things are not a blessing if you get involved too early. Remember, remember." Yang Xianrong sighed and said.

It is not easy for two people who may be crippled at any time to survive, trembling with fear and treading on thin ice.

Yang Xianrong looked at Shao Xun's figure gradually going away.

First, he said "Don't be afraid", and then he asked today's question. In her mind, she had slowly formed the image of an ambitious and pretentious warrior.

I just want to survive...

She let down the bead curtain with melancholy.

(End of this chapter)