Chapter 428: Tianyuan Pond

Chapter 428: Tianyuan Pond

Chapter 428: Tianyuan Pond

By early November, Hanoi was fairly calm.

King Liu Yao of Zhongshan led his troops away and no one knew where they went.

Liu Can, the King of Henei, continued to stay, but his military strength had been greatly reduced. During this period, his only achievement was to defeat Guo Mo, the commander of the Wubao, who intended to return to the Jin State in the south - how should I put it, it was considered an explanation.

Shao Xun asked Guo Mo to lead his troops to camp near the north city, and the people were withdrawn to the south bank for resettlement.

On the fifth day of November, more than 3,000 newly recruited Silver Spear Army soldiers and student soldiers arrived at the North City.

Some of them were used to fill vacancies and improve the organization of each building, and the rest were organized into four buildings of new recruits (21-24). After the reorganization was completed, they were sent to Zhongyu City for training as a reserve force.

After absorbing hundreds of private soldiers from various families, the number of volunteers has recovered and now exceeds 3,200.

After some adjustments, the troops left on the north bank were about 15,000, including 6,000 Silver Spear Army, 1,200 Volunteer Army, and the rest were auxiliary troops composed of Xuchang hereditary soldiers and military farming troops.

There are 2,400 new recruits with silver spears in Zhongyu City.

There were more than 1,500 Black Legion soldiers in the South City, plus a large number of men from Heyang who could be recruited.

On the sixth day of November, Shao Xun led the Silver Spear Army, the Free Cong Army and nearly 6,000 personal soldiers back south and crossed the river on the downstream floating bridge.

Before leaving, he strolled along the long embankment with Wang Que'er.

"This month, Wei Cang will transfer 100,000 bushels of millet. The court will also provide grain to the city construction workers, and all of it will be stored on the north bank." Shao Xun said, "In this way, the stored grain can last until the end of February."

"The South Bridge will probably be completed before the ice freezes over, so don't worry. After it's completed, the floating bridge downstream can be dismantled."

"If the bandits come, as long as they don't harass the craftsmen and servants and delay the construction of the city, just ignore them and continue to defend. I estimate that they won't be able to move many people in this winter, and the real fight will start after the beginning of spring next year."

"Be cautious and don't fight recklessly. Remember this, remember this."

Shao Xun said a lot in one breath, and Wang Que'er responded respectfully.

Soon he thought of a question, so he asked: "If the Huns attack from the ice, should we send people to chisel the ice?"

"You are the commander of 20,000 troops in the three cities of Heyang. Don't ask others about everything. You must dare to make your own decisions." Shao Xun patted him on the shoulder and said seriously: "This is a test that a general must pass. When you make an important decision for the first time, you may be panic, worried, and doubtful, but you must make a decision."

"Then we can mobilize the people to chisel the ice near the river bank and the floating bridge." Wang Que'er said.

When he said this, he subconsciously looked at Shao Xun, hoping to get his affirmation.

"Think for yourself." Shao Xun laughed, and then said: "In the previous battle to attack the camp, I saw that you were in command and did not hesitate. Why are you so indecisive now?"

"The battle was intense at the time, and I was so focused that I issued all the orders in a hurry." Wang Que'er said, "Afterwards, I thought about it and realized that the lives of tens of thousands of people were in my hands. I was so scared that I broke out in a cold sweat."

"You gave the right orders without thinking, which shows that you have a solid foundation." Shao Xun encouraged: "I didn't hand over the defense of Heyang to others, but to you, because you have the ability. Do your best and don't think too much."

"Okay." Wang Que'er replied.

"I'm leaving. The Silver Spear Army is our foundation, so don't throw them away lightly." Shao Xun gave another reminder and then left.

Wang Que'er has been in the army for almost ten years. He actually has a solid foundation and is very familiar with military affairs.

In the Battle of Zhamadi, he commanded the entire frontal assault alone, and Shao Xun did not intervene. It turned out that he was fine afterwards. At least, he had a good sense of the battlefield, and his deployment of troops was in line with the rules, without any obvious flaws.

People always have to grow up slowly.

If he continues to cultivate his confidence and command one or two successful battles, Wang Que'er will be able to slowly eliminate the last bit of his lack of confidence, break through the mental barriers, and become mature.

At this time, he can be sent out alone to lead the war in one direction, instead of having his teacher backing him up like this time.

He is too busy to do everything himself.

******
On the eighth day of the eleventh month, the atmosphere outside Guangmo Gate in the north of Luoyang City was extremely strange.

In the light snow in the early morning, a long dragon-like team descended from Mangshan Mountain and soon approached Luoyang.

After leaving the city, Taiwei Wang Yan, the newly appointed Northern Army Lieutenant General Liu Mo, Left Guard General Pei Kuo, Right Guard General Li Yun, Cavalry General Wang Hu and others dismounted from their horses at a distance, looking anxious.

The hundreds of riders leading the charge rushed straight towards the city gate as if they hadn't seen them.

The gatekeepers were extremely conflicted and felt that they should stop the cavalry, but the officers remained silent and did not issue any orders. So they stood by the road like puppets, watching the Yicong cavalry enter the city.

Behind the Yicong Army was a large group of armored soldiers from the Silver Spear Army.

They are the six soldiers from the right camp.

Among them, the eleventh and twelfth buildings had participated in the war last year. They first escorted grain to Luoyang, then played a trick on the Xianbei Lu Zhuyan, and returned to Xingyang through Dayi Mountain.

Buildings 13 to 16 participated in combat for the first time this year, and they started with a high-intensity battle like the Battle of Zhamadi. With the veterans of Zuoying leading them, their performance was not bad, and they had accumulated some combat experience.

These people were wearing sleeve armor captured from the Huns and holding spears. They took control of the Guangmo Gate at the first opportunity and then advanced inward without hesitation.

After walking about two miles, Jin Zheng, the leader of the team, ordered them to stop, looked up at the low wall on the right side of the road (the imperial road inside Guangmo Gate), waved his hand, and said, "Open the door." The soldiers rushed forward, took the gatekeeper and opened the gate.

The command was quickly given, and the Silver Spears lined up reflexively. Soon, under the leadership of a building owner, hundreds of people entered the gate, walked quickly along the lakeside grass, and checked the pavilions and houses next to them one by one.

They even boarded the boats moored at the shore, went to the island in the middle of the lake, and searched the palace rooms carefully.

The lake is named "Tianyuan Pond" because it was dug in the fifth year of Huangchu (224) during the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei. There is a small island in the center of the lake, on which Jiuhua Terrace, also known as Jiuhua Palace, was built. It is actually not very big, with only about twenty houses.

On the left side of the imperial road inside Guangmo Gate, facing the Tianyuan Pond, is the Luoyang Armory. Jin Zhengyi sent people to search it and occupied the commanding heights inside the armory to prevent anyone from using crossbows to stab him.

After doing all this, he sent two more teams of people to move forward more than a hundred steps, placing chevaux de frise and setting up barricades along the imperial road.

Good guy, all I can say is good guy!

This grand ceremony was comparable to that of an emperor's outing. Passersby were stunned and asked whether the emperor was going to leave the city from Hualin Garden for an inspection.

Yes, Tianyuan Pond is located in the northeast of Hualin Garden and theoretically is also part of the royal forbidden garden, but generally speaking, because of the existence of Jiuhua Terrace and the occasional berthing of ships from other places entering Beijing at Tianyuan Pond, many people regard it as another royal garden.

The Silver Spear Army poured into this place with one purpose, because Shao Xun wanted to meet the Emperor here - the Emperor could enter the Tianyuan Pond by going out of the Yunlong Gate on the east side of the palace.

Large groups of infantry and cavalry continued to enter from Guangmo Gate and filled up the Tianyuan Pool and Luoyang Arsenal.

After the people of Luoyang heard the news, they all rushed over to watch the excitement. In a short while, the imperial road inside Guangmo Gate was crowded with people.

"Where is Mr. Chen?"

"Where is Taibai?"

"Don't block me. Shao Taibai is the savior of the people of Luoyang. I want to see what he looks like."

"What's so good about a big guy like him?"

"Isn't it better looking than a androgynous person like you? A strong man like Taibai can make you cry."

"vulgar!"

The crowd was clamoring, standing on tiptoe, raising their heads, and staring towards the north with wide eyes.

Soon, a large group of cavalry entered, escorting a red-robed general.

There were several people following the general, the closest to him was the Grand Marshal Wang Yan.

Someone noticed that General Wang didn't look very good and kept talking nonstop, as if he was trying to persuade Lord Chen?
Mr. Chen didn't respond to him much, occasionally saying a word or two, but most of the time he just ignored him.

The unique skill of "orpiment in mouth" that was so powerful in the Central Plains was actually useless in front of Mr. Chen?

The group quickly dismounted.

Mr. Chen went ahead.

A murderous man with a scar on his face walked quickly to the front to clear the way.

A strong man who looked like a bear followed closely behind, carrying a large flag.

His personal soldiers were scattered on both sides, surrounding him as he entered the Tianyuan Pool.

"The imperial palace is forbidden and you can enter whenever you want. Alas." Some scholars sighed.

Some people thought he was right and said, "No matter what, he is still a minister of Jin, and he should at least give the emperor some respect."

Someone was disdainful of what they said and sneered, "Let me ask you two, how many fewer people are there in Luoyang compared to five years ago?"

"Ten thousand people leave every year, which means at least fifty thousand people leave," someone echoed.

"Fifty thousand may be too many, but there are always thirty or forty thousand." The man from before continued to sneer, "Why leave? Luojing is surrounded every other day, why not leave? My ancestors have made some meritorious contributions, but unfortunately, when it comes to my generation, the family business is all in the manor outside the city and the house inside the city. I want to leave but I can't bear to leave. Shao Taibai defeated the Xiongnu several times and saved Luoyang. With such a great contribution, the emperor should give him respect."

"Yes, in ancient times, great generals went to war and made great contributions. It is not uncommon for the royal family to go out of the city to welcome him. Why treat Lord Shao so badly? If it were not for him, we would all be prisoners of the Xiongnu."

The two of them sang in unison, leaving everyone speechless.

It can also be seen from here that Shao Xun has more and more "fans" in Luoyang City, and their levels are gradually getting higher.

You know, Shao Taibai has been fighting for Luoyang since the era of the war between the three kings of Changsha, Hejian and Chengdu.

How many meritorious deeds had he accomplished in the past ten years? So much so that many people in Luoyang subconsciously ignored his Donghai hometown when talking about him, and regarded him as a Luoyang native.

This year, the situation in Luoyang became more critical. The Xin'an Campaign launched by the emperor ended in a disastrous defeat, while the battle of Zhamadi saw a brilliant victory in which 15,000 Xiongnu prisoners were killed. At this point, Shao Taibai was already qualified to be on an equal footing with the emperor - perhaps a little inferior, but the savior of Luoyang deserved no excessive courtesy.

It would be better to just let him be a lieutenant in the Northern Army so that everyone doesn't have to worry all the time.

(End of this chapter)