Back home, Song Xin was still uneasy and regretted that he had not paid attention to the effectiveness of the invisibility charm. After arriving at Shanshui Lingze, he asked Xiaoyu: "Xiaoyu, did you notice something when you asked me to promise her just now?"
Xiaoyu said: "I think she is more anxious than you."
Song Xin frowned and asked, "What do you mean by this? I heard her tone was very calm."
"As our cultivation level increases, we ghosts can gradually feel the emotions in people's hearts. When she talked to you, she was anxious and frightened. It's just that she hid it very well."
Song Xin nodded and said, "Indeed, our history books at that time once said that because Cao Cheng had killed Dong Guiren, Empress Fu was also frightened."
Xiaoyu said: "Well, she is more worried about life and death than you are now. She wants something from you, so she shouldn't dare to threaten you too much. I noticed that the queen doesn't seem to have any intention of harming you, which is very different from when she faced Lu Ying."
Ever since Lu Ying's incident, Song Xin has believed in Xiaoyu's judgment of people's hearts and said, "In this case, I can feel more at ease."
The next few days were peaceful, with no news coming from the palace. However, there is still good news. Huangpi and Bangu seem to be showing signs of breakthrough. In order to help them, Xiaoyu temporarily retreats with them.
A few days later, on the fourth day of the fifth day of September, Song Xin went to the outside of the city to join the imperial sacrificial brigade, and together they walked to Shou Mountain in the south of Xudu. We arrived at Shoushan near noon. Along the mountain road, every few steps stood a forest guard wearing red armor, with a ring-shaped sword on his waist and a flag in his hand, making a hunting sound in the wind.
Looking at the place where he fought against the monsters, there are now banners all over, incense is strong, and people are standing all over the mountains and plains. It has become a blessed land and cave filled with immortal energy. Everyone wants to get a touch of immortal energy. Song Xin couldn't help but find it funny. A smile appeared inadvertently.
Wei Tong, who was walking beside him, saw Song Xin smiling and asked, "Brother Xian, why are you smiling?"
"Nothing, nothing, I just find it interesting." Song Xin quickly put away her smile and straightened her clothes.
After a while, the emperor's and empress' chariots also came slowly. Song Xin saw Empress Fu sitting in the phoenix chariot at a glance. Fei Peng followed her phoenix chariot and walked with a large group of palace people.
However, the two of them were far away, and Fei Peng did not see him.
This sacrifice was presided over by Taichang Xu Qiu. Before the ceremony began, Xu Qiu held out a black stone slab and walked to the emperor.
"Three days ago, the people here dug out a stone slab at the place where the auspiciousness occurred, and wrote a letter saying: "The country has loyal ministers, and the Han Dynasty should be prosperous. The evil spirits are in the south, and they are fighting against the rebellion on behalf of heaven." "
After reading it out loud, all the civil and military officials were amazed when they heard it, with different expressions. Xu Xuan glanced at the expressions of the officials, and then presented the slate with both hands to the emperor.
The emperor stared at the stone slab thoughtfully for a while, and then said, "Taishi ordered me to come forward."
"My lord, Wang Li, listen to the announcement."
"My dear, can you interpret the writing on this stone tablet for me?"
Tai Shiling looked at it for a while and said: "The loyal minister of the state is Prime Minister Cao. The evil is in the south, which refers to the rebellion in the south and Sun Quan. The crusade on behalf of heaven is to ask your majesty to issue an imperial edict to defeat the rebels and destroy the evil for heaven."
"Well, I understand, please step back. Xu Aiqing, the festival can begin."
"promise."
"All officials are in place." When everyone heard Xu Xuan's voice, they all began to straighten their clothes and crowns. Under his guidance, the emperor led all officials to begin the sacrifice. Song Xin and others stood in the crowd to watch the ceremony. .
After the sacrificial ceremony, the emperor turned to the officials and said: "I heard that there is another rebellion in the south. Today I received a revelation from heaven. As the emperor, I should respect the destiny of heaven. I ordered the prime minister, Cao Mengde, to suppress the rebellion on my behalf and appease him. common people."
Cao Cao stood up and replied: "I am doing the hard work of your majesty. This southern expedition, with God's protection and your majesty's great kindness, will definitely succeed."
The emperor looked at Cao Cao, took out the sword and military talismans and put them in the tray. Cao Cao stepped forward, took the sword in his right hand, and picked up the military talisman in his left hand. He raised his arms and called out: "According to the emperor's order, we must wipe out the rebels and restore the emperor's authority."
All the officials knelt down to salute, Song Xin and others looked
Different people saw everyone kneeling down, and they also knelt down and shouted long live.
The expressions of the soldiers below were relatively simple. They heard that the gods in the sky were blessing them with a smooth expedition. They were a little scared at first, but now they are not afraid anymore. This is the effect Cao Cao wants. The morale that was originally sluggish after the failure of the Battle of Chibi took this opportunity to revive.
After returning to Xudu, Cao Cao immediately summoned the generals at the Prime Minister's Mansion to issue orders. Song Xin followed Cao Chong and Cao Pi and listened.
"The truth has been arranged for this expedition, and everyone will obey the order."
"The general is here!" The generals immediately stood up and waited for orders.
"Former General Xiahou Dun!"
"The end will be here." Xiahou Dun responded and stood up.
"I order you to lead the troops to Huainan and Shouchun, supervise the war and coordinate the coordination of various ministries, and oversee the food and grass."
"promise!"
"The minister in charge ordered Xun Yu."
"I'm here!"
"I order you to sit in Xudu and work with my son Cao Pi to collect grain, grass and weapons to support the front line."
"promise."
"Xu Chu, a tiger-riding guard, Cao Xiu, a leopard-riding guard, and Cao Xiu, a dragon-riding guard, really obey orders!"
"The general is here!"
"The three of you will lead the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to join me in stationing at Hefei."
"promise!"
"Xun You, Cheng Yu, Jia Xu, Hua Xin, Wang Lang, Pei Qian, Liu Jie, Huan Jie, and Cao Zhi obey the order."
"I'm here!"
"You will follow my army on the expedition."
"promise!"
"The Central Leader Xia Houyuan"
"The general is here!"
"I order you to command the fifth school lieutenant and the second battalion of the Zhongba to station in Jiugong Mountain and guard the main route into Tongbai Mountain to prevent Lei Xu from escaping to the west."
"promise!"
"General Huwei is banned."
"The end will be here."
"I order you to lead the troops to march into Shucheng and attack the leader of the thieves, Mei Cheng."
"promise!"
"The bandit general Zhang Liao and the Pingdi general Zhang He obey the order."
"The general is here!"
"I order you two to lead the troops as the left and right vanguards, go south along both sides of the Lishui River, attack Qianshan, and attack Chen Lan."
"promise!"
"Weilu General Zang Ba."
"The end will be here."
"I order you to lead 10,000 troops to garrison Tongcheng to stop Sun Quan from coming to aid Mei Cheng."
"promise!"
Listening to Cao Cao issuing so many orders at once, Song Xin's eyes looked at the entire map of Lujiang County in the middle of the meeting hall, and found that Cao Cao was dividing his troops into multiple directions, attacking in three directions: east, west, and north. If it could be implemented smoothly, Lei Xu, Chen Lan, and Meicheng will be separated, and finally an encirclement will be formed. Even if they can't encircle them, they can be forced to flee south into Qianshan, and then be annihilated in one fell swoop.
Cao Cao pondered for a moment, looked at Song Xin and Zhou Wenzhi and said, "Song Xin, Zhou Wenzhi, are you two willing to go with us on this expedition?"
Before Song Xin could answer, Hou Zhou Wenzhi said: "Prime Minister, I am not familiar with military matters, so I am willing to stay in Xudu to assist the young master. Brother Song has made military exploits before. If he can go out with the army, he will definitely be able to make new ones. "
Cao Cao glanced at him and said, "Chong'er, this time you will work with Mr. Wen Ruo and Zi Huan to take care of the important matters of food and grass. Zhou Wenzhi will be with you to help you. Song Xin, just follow Wen Yuan."
"No!" Song Xin agreed.
"The generals will hurry up and prepare. Two days later, at Mao hour, we will assemble at the east gate of Xudu and set off."
"No!" Everyone agreed and dispersed to prepare.
"Brother Wei, will you go on an expedition with General Xia Houyuan this time?" Song Xin went to Wei Tong's house in the evening and asked about the expedition. He had been in Xudu for a long time and knew that Wei Tong was now under the command of Xia Houyuan, the central leader.
"General Xia Houyuan ordered me to protect the Prime Minister's army this time, so I will go out with the Prime Minister's army. You will go out with Generals Zhang Liao and Zhang He. You must be careful along the way and don't violate military discipline."
Soon after returning home, a messenger came to the door and said that Zhang Liao had promoted his account and ordered Song Xin to return to the camp.
After Song Xin received the military order, Zhang Hu and Zhou Zhong came to the door. It turned out that Wei Tong knew that Song Xin was a mere commander, so he asked them to lead a group of soldiers. After they met Song Xin, they found that Song Xin had armed more than a dozen servants in his family and issued armor and weapons. But Zhang Hu and the others didn't know that these were puppets controlled by ghost soldiers.
Song Xin lightly tapped his men, and counting the ghost soldiers who stayed at home, he brought Song Yu, Huangpi, half-bone and other male-looking ghost soldiers, plus the soldiers brought by Zhang Hu, there were sixty people.
Song Xin laughed at himself. When he was in Xiangyang, he was a team leader, but now he has truly earned his reputation and has his own subordinates. However, Zhang Hu and others were still a little disapproving when they saw these ghost soldiers dressed as servants.
Arriving at Zhang Liao's army in the east of Xudu City, they found that Cao Cao's army had gathered here one after another. Many generals have already arrived here at midnight to organize their armies and prepare to set off.
The next day, when the white fish belly appeared in the east, Cao Cao's gorgeous carriage slowly drove out of the city. Behind the car were the ministers and his sons who were staying in Xudu. The cart stopped in front of the army. Cao Pi led Cao Zhi, Cao Chong, and Cao Cao's other sons to lift the curtain for their father and help Cao Cao get out of the car.
Xun Yu and all the officials came forward, bowed together and said, "All officials of Xudu wish the Prime Minister a triumphant return."
Cao Cao stepped forward, took Xun Yu's hand and said, "Mr. Wen Ruo, this time I have to work hard for you to supervise the provision of food and fodder for the army. Zihuan and Chong'er are still young. I hope you can teach them more."
"Xun Yu should do his best." Xun Yu bowed and said.
Cao Cao looked at Cao Pi and Cao Chong again and said, "You guys, come forward." The two men came forward. Cao Cao continued: "This time you two are learning how to handle military affairs. Food and grass are the foundation for a large army to fight. You two can't act like princes and neglect your husband. Seriously follow your husband and learn how to handle government affairs."
"What my father taught us is that we must respect Mr. Wenruo as our teacher and learn from him with an open mind," the two said.
After Cao Cao finished his instructions, he stepped onto the carriage again, and the attendant took out the sword and seal tiger talisman given to him by the emperor. He held these objects in his hands and said loudly to the generals: "Today, according to the emperor's imperial decree, we go south to hunt down thieves. The generals must serve their lives and the counselors must do their best." He glanced at the military commander again and said, "Read the military law." After speaking, he handed the sword to Jun Zheng.
Jun Zheng stepped forward and took the sword respectfully, holding it in his right hand and leaning on his right shoulder. The military law began to be read loudly.
"Those who disobey the army: if they hear the drums but do not advance, if they hear the gold does not stop, if they cannot raise the flags, if they press the flags but cannot lower them, they will be killed.
Those who are arrogant in the army: do not respond to the call by name, do not arrive at the appointed time, do not arrive at the scheduled time, change the teacher's rules, and beheaded..."
Tens of thousands of troops listened quietly to the military law of 17 Prohibitions and 54 Kills read out by the military commander. Song Xin also listened carefully and took notes silently. He glanced at Zhou Wenzhi next to Cao Chong. At this time, Zhou Wenzhi also looked at him.
Cao Cao waited for Jun Zheng to finish reading the military law and took the sword from him. He said loudly: "Military law starts from the original situation, and those who commit crimes will not be tolerated."
The army all knelt down on one knee, "No!"
Cao Cao glanced around and said, "The army is moving."
