In early winter, outside Jianmen Pass and on the post road, there are thousands of mountains and valleys, towering cypress trees, and surging rivers. It is a unique scene.
A column of vehicles moved forward, and Cui Yu, the Sichuan commander, was among them. He urged his horse to move slowly, his brows seemed to be furrowed.
"Ms. sir, why don't you look unhappy when the emperor re-appoints you?"
Cui Er, the accompanying family member, looked at the vehicle escorted by the sergeant behind him and entertained Cui Yu.
"I am over sixty years old, and I have long forgotten about gains and losses. It is not easy to return to my roots after falling leaves!"
Cui Yu stroked his white beard and looked at the warm sun hanging high in the sky. The light was dim and lifeless, and he subconsciously wrapped his clothes tightly. .
"Ms. sir, your body is strong and strong, even a villain can't compare to it. You can live a long life, and the villain wants to enjoy the blessings with you!"
Cui Er complimented his old master.
Since his wife died of illness when he was young, Cui Yu has not been close to women, but he also pays attention to health. His health has always been very good, no worse than that of young people.
"Longevity?"
Cui Yu laughed, with a look of helplessness on his face.
"To be honest, if the emperor hadn't imposed taxes three times that of Guangzhou Prefecture to pressure me, I wouldn't have come."
Thinking of the emperor's cruel tricks, Cui Yu couldn't help but smile.
To threaten him with the people's livelihood, this official is really boring.
"My lord, the emperor is putting you in high esteem. Didn't you see that Zheng Sun? He was recalled to Lin'an City before his buttocks were even hot. From a villain's point of view, in a few days, my lord will be granted the title of marquis and the prime minister." Congratulations to my husband."
Cui Er's face turned red from the cold, but he was still smiling.
"Become a Marquis and Prime Minister?"
Cui Yu smiled slightly and shook his head gently.
Being granted the title of Marquis and Prime Minister, fame and wealth are nothing more than external things. Talking about martial arts, promoting new policies, and training new armies, he was somewhat looking forward to what the new emperor would do.
"Ms. sir, depositing money and food is just a small thing. Why do you have to go there yourself? It's not easy to walk on the mountain trails in this winter."
"In a few days, the emperor will personally inspect the entrance of Shu. I'm not worried, so I'd better go there in person."
Zhao Hong attaches so much importance to the defense of Shukou, and he, the Sichuan envoy, does not dare to take it lightly.
"My lord, it's time to teach martial arts, and it's time to train a new army. It seems that the emperor is planning to build a large-scale military force!"
Cui Er's eyes were full of envy.
"Whether it is a blessing or a curse to use weapons rashly is yet to be determined!"
Cui Yu sighed quietly.
"Ms. sir, look, the Lizhou camp has arrived!"
Cui Er pointed to the Jialing River in front and shouted loudly.
Cui Yu looked forward, and sure enough, a large camp was in sight, with a towering arrow tower clearly visible.
"Mr. sir, there seems to be someone!"
As Cui Er spoke, a large group of people came rushing over at the fork in the road ahead. The first few officials bowed their heads, with apologetic smiles on their faces, and bowed in reverence.
"Guo Zhengsun, the pacifying envoy of Lizhou West Road, pays homage to the Prime Minister of Zhizhi!"
"Chen Li, the pacifying envoy of Lizhou East Road, pays homage to the Prime Minister of Zhizhi!"
"Uncle Gao Tai, the governor of Lizhou, pays homage to the Prime Minister of Zhizhi!"
Several officials saluted together, and Cui and his horse returned the salute.
"Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen."
"Xiangong Cui, Lizhou Yamen has prepared food and wine. Please ask Cui Xianggong to move to Lizhou Yamen."
Uncle Gao Tai, the magistrate of Lizhou, came up and said respectfully.
"My dear sirs, I am going to send money, food and supplies to the Lizhou camp. Do you want to go together?"
Cui Yu stroked his beard and laughed.
When they arrived at the gate of the military camp, Cui Yu couldn't help but be startled.
After not seeing each other for a few months, the size of the Lizhou camp has been expanded several times, and the fences, arrow towers, etc. have been renovated and are in order and presentable.
Everyone was about to rush into the military camp, but the sergeant on guard at the camp gate stretched out his hand to stop them.
"Anyone entering the camp must dismount!"
"Bold! This is a system to make your husband, sir, and he won't back down!"
Uncle Gao Tai stepped forward and shouted at the sergeant.
These lowly warriors and soldiers are too presumptuous to kick their noses and faces.
"Military orders are like mountains. Even if the emperor arrives, the villain is not allowed to disobey, otherwise it will be a crime of beheading!"
The sergeant's face was solemn and uncompromising.
"You're a wretched man, you don't know the right and wrong, so get out of here!"
Chen Li stepped forward and scolded angrily.
The kings of the Song Dynasty and the scholar-bureaucrats ruled the world together. Even the generals had to bend down and kneel when they saw the civil servants. A small soldier dared to be so presumptuous.
"Stand back! Otherwise, we will have no eyesight!"
The vigilant sergeant took a step back, already raising the spear in his hand.
The sergeants on guard at the door came up one after another. They stood in a row, fired their guns together, and aimed at Guo Zhengsun and others.
Uncle Gao Tai and others were shocked and took a few steps back. The following guards stepped forward, drew their swords one after another, and confronted the sergeants.
"Everyone stop it!"
Cui Yu dismounted his horse and stepped forward.
"Sergeant, I am Cui Yu, the envoy of Sichuan Province. I came to Lizhou camp on business. Please go in and report."
Cui Yu looked friendly, and the sergeants dispersed. A sergeant immediately went in to report.
"That's unreasonable!"
Uncle Gao Tai's face turned livid and he let out a bitter cry.
"These despicable men! Do you really think they are the Han Emperor's Xiliu Camp?"
Guo Zhengsun also whispered, looking unhappy.
"This is the Xiliu Camp of today's emperor. Why do you think His Majesty established the Jinling Martial Arts Hall and organized and trained the new army? It is just for today's scene. According to my opinion, this is just the first step. The emperor has a big plan. I’m afraid it’s still to come.”
Cui Yu looked at the densely packed soldiers training on the training ground, his eyes dim.
Everyone looked through the camp gate and fence. On the school field, a group of new recruits were shouting slogans in the cold wind. They were holding long spears and stabbing them.
Everyone was stunned for a while and watched with wide eyes.
"These guys look kind of cool."
Guo Zhengsun's eyes were full of surprise.
"The last general, Cao Youwan, has met the Prime Minister of Zhizhi! I have met all the Prime Ministers!"
Cao You, Wan Fengchen, left the camp and respectfully invited Cui Yu and others to enter the camp.
"General Cao, your Lizhou camp is so difficult to enter!"
Guo Zhengsun didn't know whether it was true or not, so he said coldly.
"General Cao, all the ministers and ministers have to dismount to report. You are so powerful! Does the emperor have to dismount to report when he comes here?"
Since Cao Youwen took over the post of governor of Lizhou West Road, military power was controlled by Cao Youwen, and he became a real civil affairs official.
When he goes back in a few days, he would like to see how Cao Youwen rectifies the border troops.
"General Cao, I am very confused. Who has the final say in the Lizhou camp? Who is the chief officer of the Lizhou border army?"
Uncle Gao Tai, the governor of Lizhou, was also sarcastic and did not give Cao Youwan any face.
Waiting in the cold wind, it has been a long time since he has been in an important position.
"My dear Sir, the Commander-in-Chief did not do this on purpose."
Cao Youwan's temperament and cultivation have benefited a lot from the training at the Jinling Martial Arts Hall.
"My dear sirs, the emperor established the martial arts hall and formulated all the regulations in the military. In the martial arts hall, even if the emperor enters, he must dismount and report. All the rules of the Lizhou camp come from the Jinling martial arts hall, not the final general. Private instructions.”
Cao Youwan invited everyone to enter the camp and talked while walking.
"At the end of the day, when the new arrivals arrived, they rushed their horses directly into the camp. The sergeants guarding the gate asked each other hastily, but no one stopped them. If this was an enemy attack, wouldn't the Lizhou camp be destroyed without attack? The emperor asked me to train our troops. If we are prepared for any danger, if we cannot train tens of thousands of elite soldiers next year, how will we explain it to the emperor?"
Cao Youwan talked eloquently, and Guo Zhengsun and others felt more comfortable.
Looking at these new troops being trained on the training field, they are all tough and brave, and they look like a strong army.
"Xiangong Cui, I heard that the newly trained army will be paid two guans in the first three months, four guans after three months, five guans after one year, and six guans after participating in actual combat. But is this true? "
Guo Zhengsun looked at the new recruits who were training in formation on the training ground and shook his head secretly.
What's the use of spinning around like this without moving for a long time?
"That's true. Your Majesty raises the salaries of officers to stimulate military morale and boost morale. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many good men from good families coming to join the army."
Cui Yu smiled while stroking his beard.
He is already over seventy years old and takes personal gains and losses very lightly. He is 100% supportive of the imperial court's training of the new army.
These guys have only been training for a few months, but they are already impressive, proving that the emperor's method of training troops is correct. And with these firearms, at least it can be beneficial to the invincible position.
"Then did your Majesty say how many soldiers the Lizhou Camp needs to train?"
Guo Zhengsun asked curiously.
"General Cao, how many recruits do you have in your camp now?"
Chen Li, the pacifier of Lizhou East Road who had been silent, couldn't help but ask.
Lizhou Camp originally had 5,000 soldiers, but looking at the camp being full, there were at least tens of thousands.
"In addition to the newly recruited soldiers, plus the original soldiers in the camp, there are now more than 30,000."
Cao Youwan said respectfully and changed his face to a smile.
"Ms. Cui, please inspect the officers later. You can check carefully. There are absolutely no false reports or empty pay. Military police have been set up in the army, and they will only report to Cao Youwen and Cao Dutong. Even if it is a false report of one soldier, it will be difficult to detect under military law. Allow."
Cui Yu was here to give money and food, but at this time, he still had to lose his smile.
"Xiangong Cui, did your Majesty say when he will visit Sichuan in person?"
Uncle Gao Tai couldn't help but ask.
How can it not be exciting when the Emperor of the Song Dynasty comes to Shukou?
"His Majesty said that he will set off in early spring. From Lin'an to Shukou, he will probably arrive in Sichuan in March next year."
Before Cui Yu could speak, Cao Youwan had already replied for him.
All the civil servants looked at each other and shook their heads secretly.
Even the civil servants like them didn't know the whereabouts of the emperor, but these warriors knew it clearly. It seems that the relationship between the emperor and these warriors is particularly close.
Doesn't this violate the ancestral family law?
"General Cao, gather all the troops. I want to see the military power of our Song Dynasty border army."
Cui Yu looked at the lively military training scene in the cold wind and said with a smile.
"Yes, Mr. Cui."
Cao Youwan bowed his hands in salute, and then issued military orders to the officers next to him.
"Beat the drums and gather the generals, the three armies are assembled!"
The thundering drum beat sounded, and sergeants from all directions on the teaching field rushed to the high platform, busy but not chaotic, in an orderly manner.
With the command and dispatch of the officers, various arms were in place, rectangular blocks were chopped with swords and axes, cavalry, pikemen, sword and shield bearers, grenadiers, artillery, baggage troops, engineers and so on.
The recruits were weathered, tough and dark, and the formation was solemn and orderly, full of murderous intent. Standing in front of the battle formation, Cui Yu, Guo Zhengsun and others all changed their colors.
Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, the only ones with such strong armies were the imperial guards in front of the palace when Taizu founded the country, and Yue Wumu's "Yue Family Army".
"General Cao, let's begin."
Cui Yu nodded, Cao Youwan issued the military order, and the sergeant's drill began immediately.
"Pikemen, come out!"
"Grenadiers, get out!"
"Sword and Shield Bearers, come out!"
"Gunner, get out!"
Watching the soldiers' drills, Cui Yuyu stroked his beard and watched with joy.
He who has strong soldiers and horses wins the world. With these elite soldiers and generals here, Shu will have no worries.
"General Cao, after reviewing the new army, I will return to Chengdu. When His Majesty comes, I will have to greet him in Chengdu. The Lizhou camp will be handed over to the general."
Generals like Cao Youwan managed the military training in an orderly manner. It seemed that this trip for him to come over personally to check on the military training was superfluous.
