What needs to be done after taking the city, including appeasing the people, restoring order, etc., after the military officials and staff took over, everything was done smoothly. What the army has to do is to intimidate the residents of Kaifeng and show its military power.
For this reason, Ding Haijun joined the troops fighting today and entered the city overnight from east, west, north and south.
Since Guo Ning suddenly launched his army to attack, most of the soldiers have experienced high-intensity marching operations for half a month. Liu Ran's troops went south from Jizhou. They first marched in hot weather, then boarded boats and crossed the sea to Shandong. After entering Nanjing Road, although they did not serve as vanguards, they continued to sweep away the Jin armies from various places. They fought endlessly and beheaded more than 500 people. class.
Not to mention the battle before Lincaiguan. Zhang Pingliang killed no fewer than twenty enemies with his own hands on this day, and led his troops to behead two of the famous Jin army's thousands of households.
A familiar officer came specifically to tell Zhang Pingliang that his performance in blocking the enemy was personally praised by Duke Zhou. If nothing else happens, he is expected to be promoted soon, at least to the rank of lieutenant. Considering that after this battle, the ministries under Zhou Guogong will definitely expand significantly, maybe the positions of generals and lords will not be expected.
This is very enviable, and Zhang Pingliang is also very satisfied with himself. Because he was in a good mood, he was not harsh on the residents of the city and maintained good military discipline along the way.
It took him five years to go from an ignorant refugee who was forced to sign for the army to a veteran soldier who kills without blinking an eye. It only took him less than a year to go from an ordinary soldier to an officer who could firmly control his subordinates and at the same time plan to find a wife.
Not only Zhang Pingliang, but almost all the soldiers in the entire team advancing along the side street had their fate changed drastically in this year. Some people go from being refugees to soldiers, and some people go from being soldiers to officers, and everyone feels that they have the opportunity to go further. It just depends on the speed and the order.
Of course, the further prerequisite is that you must undergo rigorous training and study in a military academy. Of course, the most important thing is to survive each battle.
These things are not easy.
The selection of the Jin Army has always been lax, and the training is in vain. Many of the guards and soldiers in Zhongdu City are unable to hold a bow; not to mention the local defense troops, those with better skills will never come from formal training, but are the result of the competition among the soldiers. .
In comparison, the training procedures of the Ding Navy and the training of grassroots officers are at least a hundred times better.
Zhang Pingliang remembered that he had wavered several times under that kind of training. When he received officer training and was forced to read and recite military regulations, he was pointed at the nose and scolded by the instructor several times until he burst into tears. He also seriously thought about it, it would be better to disband and return to the fields, and honestly be a farmer.
However, when he thought about leaving the army, he was always reluctant to do so.
Because in the army, the partners around me are all fierce and ambitious. They all want to make great achievements on the battlefield, stand out through military exploits, and strive for the wealth and honor that will be passed down for their wives and elders at home. These people actually think exactly the same as Zhang Pingliang.
But the reason goes beyond that.
What he cared more about was the sense of pride that filled the army. At this moment, ordinary soldiers like Tuyan and Shanji also felt that Ding Haijun was one of Zhou Guogong Guo Ning's own. Under the rule of Zhou Guogong, they enjoyed special economic privileges and political status. They were all proud of being a part of it and would never look down upon the Jurchens they used to look up to.
But if anyone cannot withstand the rigorous training, he will immediately lose his status as a military household, and at the same time, he will also lose the benefits granted by the Marshal's Palace. What's even more frightening is that I will no longer be a member of this powerful group.
Zhang Pingliang couldn't bear this outcome, so he persisted and soon became a qualified officer and a reliable person who was regarded by his superiors as the mainstay in difficult and dangerous battles.
Of course, this is inseparable from a little good luck.
During today's fierce battle, Liu Ran's troops were at the forefront. After the war, the count showed that more than 300 people were reduced from more than 1,000 people, of which nearly 200 were killed in the war, and many of the remaining ones were seriously injured. For example, Sun Huzi, the leader of Liu Ran's soldiers, persisted in fighting at first after being hit by an arrow in the thigh. Half an hour later, he fell into a high fever and fell into coma. Now his body was convulsing and he was afraid that he would not survive the night.
The three masters around Zhang Pingliang are all veterans who have survived many robberies. When they suppressed bandits on Beijing Road, they were all like wolves and tigers, killing people like hemp. But today's fighting was too fierce, and Tuyan died early in the morning. Both the pheasant and the monkey also suffered injuries of varying severity.
Although the two of them were very energetic at this moment, they were obviously unable to relax after being extremely nervous, and their actions were excessively exciting.
For example, monkeys digging fields and pheasants nibbling on cabbage are very abnormal.
Zhang Pingliang estimated that even if they secretly discussed the thing in their crotches, after tonight, both of them would be seriously ill, let alone the fifth leg. They might not be able to get out of bed for more than ten days, and they would have to Please trouble yourself to prepare meals for these two people.
In fact, including Zhang Pingliang himself, everyone can only rely on their unrelenting murderous intent to bluff others, and it is really impossible to do anything else.
In the early years under the rule of the Kingdom of Jin, signing an army was a life that was exploited. When people arrived at the border, hunger and fatigue were commonplace, and they had to go to the fortress from time to time to fight for their lives. Every year, strong men were forcibly recruited from Hebei and the Central Plains. Their vitality was exhausted in the continuous hard labor and they died immediately.
The soldiers, including Zhang Pingliang, survived like this.
It’s strange, why could I endure it back then, but now I can’t? Isn’t it possible that the delicious food and drinks provided by Duke Zhou were all fed to the dogs?
Zhang Pingliang thought with some sadness that it seemed that the good times had gone too long, so much so that his family was exhausted from dealing with the desperate counterattacks of the Jurchens.
Zhou Guogong's ambition will never be limited to controlling the territory of Dajin. There will definitely be opportunities for war in the future. What would it be like if every battle was fought so hard? I have to be more attentive during training and beat my subordinates hard on weekdays to make them more skilled in martial arts, more skillful in cooperation, and more tenacious in war.
In the words of Zhou Guogong, a warrior is like iron. He must be constantly forged and tempered to become steel. Otherwise, it will rust into powder and eventually be unable to follow Zhou Guogong's progress.
However, now that everyone is out of energy, there are advantages.
The group of people looked majestic from a distance, but when they looked closer, they all looked tired, and there were many injured soldiers riding horses or lying on stretchers between the two horses.
If everyone is exhausted, nothing messy can happen. Even if the anger and anger in the heart cannot be suppressed, they will not burn, kill, and loot. No matter how brave you are, you can only steal two melons and vegetables, which will help maintain the image of the king's teacher. Duke Zhou Guogong mobilized the army that had been fighting for a long time to settle in Kaifeng. In all likelihood, he took this factor into consideration.
Thinking of this, Zhang Pingliang paid special attention to military discipline. Before the pheasant and the monkey had gone far, they wanted to climb over the wall and go to a courtyard to have a look, but he immediately stopped them.
"Ha ha……"
At the main entrance of the military camp they were about to enter, Guo Zhongyuan couldn't help but laugh.
He said to Liu Ran: "Zhang Pingliang is able to control the people under his command. Your unit does have strict military discipline."
Liu Ran couldn't help but smile bitterly, knowing that he had protected his old friend a little too much earlier, and finally fell into the eyes of his boss.
Fortunately, at this moment, Guo Zhongyuan is too lazy to dwell on trivial matters. He said: "Previously, the Duke ordered that after entering the city, no killing, no arson, no looting, no capture of prisoners or taking supplies without permission. You are the only one who has generally done all five things. "
Liu Ran shook his head and thanked him: "There are many old men among my soldiers. Although they are honest now, it is because they are tired and can't be happy. Tomorrow, something might happen. I have prepared all the military sticks. Okay, I have to beat a few of them tomorrow to suppress their bad temper."
"Even if something happens tomorrow, it's not easy to be like this today. You don't know, Zhang Shao's troops who entered the city from the north sneaked into the city for more than a dozen groups to rob and kill people. Now Zhao Jue is watching in person, and tonight we have to Beheading is strictly enforced by military law."
"Ahem... Zhang Shao's subordinates, including Hu Di, are too numerous and difficult to manage."
"Then there is Li Jieshuai's command... He is responsible for the south, west and inner city of the city. Normally..."
Guo Zhongyuan couldn't help but sigh.
He turned around and pointed at the red light dancing in the sky: "Did you see it? Here, there is a new fire set by Li Ting's troops. It is said that it has also spread to the residences of many important officials in the inner city, and many of them were burned to death. People! Just now, a messenger from the Chinese army arrived, saying that the Duke was furious and had gone to Li Ting's camp to suppress him..."
Before he finished speaking, on the road on the other side of the military camp gate, the sound of hooves sounded like thunder, and more than a dozen knights came galloping towards them.
These dozen cavalrymen all wore the uniforms of the Military Justice Department. Each of them held their flags high, crossed Guo Zhongyuan's position without stopping, and shouted loudly: "The Duke has strictly ordered that all troops entering the city are not allowed to kill, set fire to, or plunder without authorization, nor are they allowed to capture prisoners or take supplies without authorization! If there are any more offenders, , no need to interrogate, immediately behead without mercy!"
After more than ten riders, dozens more riders arrived. These dozens of horsemen were all personal guards of Duke Zhou. Each of them was holding a straight sword and patrolling along the street, watching with eager eyes, as if they were ready to behead someone at any time.
Fortunately, Liu Ran's military discipline was really good. On both sides of the street, those kneeling and waiting were trembling, but they were obviously not disturbed.
Guo Zhongyuan patted Liu Ran's arm: "Okay, you've made me look good!"
"Don't dare to take it seriously."
The two of them were quiet for a moment, watching Zhang Pingliang's troops slowly enter the military camp. Hundreds of Alixi who had arrived earlier came up to catch them.
"In the next few days, the Duke will appoint civil and military officials on Nanjing Road. I will be the governor of Nanjing and Kaifeng, and I will also be in charge of the military and horse capital. The transfer envoy on this road will be strict. In addition, the deputy governor will be This is Yin Chang. The Xuanwu Army in Guide Prefecture will be handed over to Guo Alin. The Wu Army in Caizhou Chang will be in Yanning. Zhennan, Wusheng and other military governors will all have veteran generals. You have very little qualifications, but you can manage the army. , I will recommend you to the Duke to be the judge of the Nanjing Road Military and Horse Capital, and you will be in charge of all the affairs of the general palace and the division of troops for me."
Liu Ran was startled and said hurriedly: "I'm afraid my talent and virtue are not enough..."
"Don't be humble." Guo Zhongyuan laughed twice: "How talented and virtuous you are is a matter of public opinion. You don't need to worry about it. There is another key point for me to use you. You may have thought of it?"
Liu Ran concentrated for a moment and then replied: "I think it's because I was a deserter from Beijing Road, with little qualifications, mediocre talents, and no foundation in the military, but I was favored by my superiors and promoted repeatedly... Since I can have a future, Nanjing Lu's old officials and the remaining members of the Thirteenth Captain also have hope."
"That's the truth. There's no need to speak so badly of yourself..." Guo Zhongyuan said with a smile: "You're not the only one. Look, Guo Alin and I are both from the middle capital; Yan Shi, Yan Ning, and Yin Chang are from the same family. The heroes who surrendered in Shandong Province, you are the new converts on Beijing Road. None of us can be regarded as the Duke's old subordinates or direct descendants, but we can be trusted by the Duke so much and granted such great power, which shows that the Duke is generous and employs people. No doubt."
Liu Ran responded repeatedly.
Guo Zhongyuan continued: "However, now that the influence of the Duke will spread throughout the territory of Daijin, in the eyes of the new people, we are all old people and the close followers of the Duke. In this case, we must do a decent job in our own family. It won’t disgrace the Duke’s view of promoting me as a humble person, right?”
"Jie Shuai, oh no, don't worry if you stay behind, I will do my best." Liu Ran bowed his head in agreement.
