In February, the snow in the north had just begun to melt, and many places were still covered with ice. The Huns couldn't bear it any longer, and began to gather on a large scale, annexing each other while starting to move south.
This winter had a great impact on them. Cattle, sheep, and horses kept freezing to death. Even many elderly people and children could not survive. A large number of slaves also froze to death.
They don't care about the life and death of the slaves, but if the slaves are dead, who will graze them, they can't let their noble self graze them themselves.
"General, there are traces of the Huns ahead." A scout reported on flying horses.
"How many people?" Li Mu asked while wiping his spear.
"It's very, very large. I can't tell the exact number of people. There are also tents pulled by chariots. There are Huns for more than ten miles from east to west." The scout said urgently.
"Let me take a look." Li Mu pinched the horse's belly and walked to a high ground. He immediately saw a black line in the distance approaching slowly in his direction.
"The Huns are indeed here, send the order to withdraw the troops." Li Mu shouted loudly.
He only led a hundred cavalry. If he encountered the Huns who were less than a thousand, he would still be able to fight. A thousand to two thousand could fight with his personal force. But with such a boundless army, there was no need to think about it. Walking is the best.
…
"Our Zhao Kingdom has not yet gone north, but the Huns have gone south first." Zhao Kuo put the battle report sent by Li Mu on the table and said with a smile.
This is what happens in troubled times. Either you hit others, or others hit you. No one can stay out of it.
Fortunately, Zhao State had already made preparations. Even if the Huns did not come, they would send troops north to attack the Huns. Now it saves me the trouble.
"Your Majesty, the last general invites you to fight." Lian Po immediately stood up and said loudly.
"The last general will also attack the Huns." Pang Nuan also stood up and said.
Then, all the generals stood up, especially those who had just joined the Zhao Kingdom and had not made any achievements, were even more impatient.
Zhao Kuo glanced around and nodded with satisfaction, a smile on his face. Although the Zhao State cannot be said to have a large number of soldiers now, it can definitely be said to have a large number of generals. There are more named generals than two hands.
Among the six countries, except Qin, no country can rival Zhao.
The civil servants on the other side were also eager to try. Wei Wuji and Lin Xiangru were both people who had been on the battlefield, but no one asked to fight. They were all looking at the generals next to them with smiles.
"I wonder how many troops your Majesty is planning to send?" Wei Wuji asked with a smile.
He has never fought such a rich battle, and he is many times stronger than when he was in Wei.
Zhao Kuo made an estimate in his mind. Without affecting the development of Zhao State, Zhao State can currently recruit up to 100,000 people. Any more will affect the development of the country.
However, although 100,000 people could defeat the Huns, they were far from Zhao Kuo's goal.
"Leave 10,000 troops to defend Handan, and all the rest of the army will follow my king in the northern expedition. In addition, I sent an order to recruit 130,000 soldiers from Daijun, Yanmen, and Yunzhong. In addition, 50,000 troops guarding the Great Wall. A total of 250,000 troops. Zhao Kuo thought for a moment and said.
During the Warring States Period, all countries implemented a conscription system, but except for a few major wars, most wars would only recruit soldiers close to the war location to participate in the war. Rest and recuperate in other places. Wait until the next big war occurs in this place, and then recruit soldiers from this place and another place. You will get a chance to recuperate.
If soldiers from a place are frequently recruited, it will cause the people to wither and flee the country.
The war in Zhao ended last year, and order had just been restored. Recruiting soldiers again would not only destabilize everyone's newly settled life, but also seriously affect farming, destroying the household registration and agricultural tax systems that had just been implemented.
The three counties in the north mostly focus on herding, supplemented by farming, and only a few soldiers from the three places were recruited during the previous Battle of Changping.
Therefore, in addition to the regular legions, Zhao Kuo only recruited soldiers from the three northern armies. Although it would still have some impact, it was minimized.
Wei Wuji nodded. This was indeed the most appropriate approach. He handed over his hand and said, "I will collect the supplies as soon as possible."
"By the way, send people to spread the news throughout the Central Plains, saying that all Xia are one, and it is everyone's responsibility and obligation to conquer the Xiongnu." Zhao Kuo suddenly thought that this was another good opportunity to increase his reputation.
In fact, for the Central Plains, the vast majority of people do not know who the Xiongnu are at all, and there is no concept of the Xiongnu. The unity of the Xia Dynasty is only spread among the upper class.
Zhao Kuo now wants to make the names of Xiongnu and Hu people sink into the ears of ordinary people. This creates the illusion that the State of Zhao has helped everyone block the invasion of the barbarians, preventing everyone from being persecuted in their lives, and increasing everyone's sense of identification with the State of Zhao.
Although Zhao State's resistance to and attack on the Huns had nothing to do with the Central Plains, and was only for its own interests, the existence of Zhao State did allow the countries in the Central Plains to avoid the infringement of the Hu people, and even the monarchs of various countries had to admit it.
Zhao Kuo took advantage of this and shamelessly gained favor in everyone's hearts.
"Leave this matter to me." Zhao Mu stood up and said.
The person who is most well-informed in Zhao and has the strongest ability to convey information is not Liu Ping, but Zhao Mu.
Zhao Guo Chamber of Commerce is spread all over the world, and any troubles cannot escape Zhao Guo Chamber of Commerce. Similarly, as long as the Zhao Guo Chamber of Commerce is willing, it can deliver the news to every corner of the world.
With the shouts from the Chamber of Commerce, this news will flow to every village, making it difficult to guard against it.
"Pang Nuan, Rong Chen, Qing Qin, listen to the order." Zhao Kuo stood up, glanced around, and said loudly.
"The general is here." Pang Nuan, Rong Yan, and Qing Qin strode to the center of the hall, clasped their fists and said.
"The three of you will immediately lead an army of five thousand to the northern Xinjiang, recruit soldiers from Daijun, Yanmen, and Yunzhong, and work with Li Mu to resist the Huns. Before the arrival of the few, we must focus on defense and not attack." Zhao Kuo ordered. road.
"No." The three of them looked excited.
Pang Nuan had been hidden in the ice for decades and had never had the opportunity to lead troops in battle. Rong Ben and Qing Qin had not long since defected to Zhao, and they had been waiting for the opportunity to make meritorious deeds.
If they were allowed to attack Yan State, they might still have some scruples in their hearts.
But to fight the Huns, isn't it just right for me to hit my son?
The remaining staff looked at Zhao Kuo with burning eyes. Now there were three fewer places, and their opportunities were even less.
"Leyi, Lianpo, Yanzhou, Qingshe, Lejian, Yanju, Yanxiong..." Every time Zhao Kuo clicked on a name, someone walked to the center of the hall.
Finally, Zhao Kuo set his sights on Meng Wu, "Meng Wu."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Meng Wu said excitedly, but he didn't expect that he would still be a part of it.
"I started leading troops in battle when I was as old as you. You must also work hard and don't live up to the expectations of your father and Lord Du Ping." Zhao Kuo said.
"Yes." Meng Wu said loudly.
"Cai Ze, Lu Zhonglian, Li Fu, Li Si, Han Fei, and Huang Shigong are accompanying the army as staff officers." Zhao Kuo continued.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Everyone bowed and bowed.
"Meng Ao led an army of ten thousand to Handan." Zhao Kuo said.
"The general will obey the order." Meng Ao said with his fists clasped.
"I'll leave all the rest to the ministers." Zhao Kuo faced the ministers and bowed.
"I will do my best." All the ministers returned the greeting.
In mid-February, Zhao Kuo appointed Leyi, Lianpo, Pang Nuan, Yanzhou, Mengwu, Qingshe, Lejian, Rongben, Qingqin, Yanju and Yanxiong as generals. Cai Ze, Lu Zhonglian, Li Fu, Li Si, Han Fei and Huang Shigong joined the army.
Raised troops for the Northern Expedition.
