Seeing that Zhao Kuo agreed, Zhao's mother was a little relieved, and then continued: "This battle is your first war. The soldiers on the front line are fierce and dangerous, and you can't live without your own people by your side."
After a brief pause, Mother Zhao continued: "Most of the people left behind by your father are too old to be used for much purpose. Only Xu Li is still in his prime. He has a lot of experience in military affairs and battle formations, and he also has martial arts, which can be considered worthy. For one use. Since he also came to persuade you the day before yesterday, I hope he can serve as a general to protect my son, so that I can feel more at ease."
"Yes." Zhao Kuo immediately agreed. It would be best to have someone by his side.
Amidst the intermittent sound of wind chimes, Zhao's mother was nagging about Zhao Kuo's expedition, and before she knew it, it was already getting late. It is said that the mother is worried when her son travels thousands of miles, which is probably the case.
...
Early the next morning, Mother Zhao stayed up all night. On the trays in the hands of the maids behind her were all the things that Mother Zhao had prepared for Zhao Kuo overnight - clothes, armor and a long sword.
As the rooster crows gradually, Zhao Kuo also slowly gets up. After washing up, Zhao Kuo's mother has come to Zhao Kuo's room. She personally puts on Zhao Kuo's armor, hat, and a snow-white robe. , then he held back tears and sent the neatly dressed Zhao Kuo out of the mansion in person.
The eunuchs in the palace who had been waiting in front of the Zhao Mansion then led Ma Fujun Zhao Kuo to Longtai Palace.
Due to the urgency of the war, the original etiquette of going on stage to pay homage to the general had to be simplified, and only the awarding of the tiger talisman and the farewell ceremony were held in the Assembly Hall.
"It's said, Lord Mafu, come to the palace!" (Zhao Kuo inherited his father's title, so he is also called Lord Mafu.)
A high-pitched voice came from the Longtai Palace. Outside the palace, eunuchs repeated the summons every ten steps. Mingming had already heard the summons inside, but it wasn't until the eunuchs around him sang the summons that the eunuch in charge of guiding guided Zhao Kuo into the palace.
The heavy palace door was slowly opened from inside, and the not-so-bright early sun instantly poured into the palace through the opened door. A figure was slowly walking out of the light.
He wears a frost-covered sun-shining helmet with a handful of red tassels sprinkled on it; he wears a pair of armor made of iron leaves, with a red velvet belt tied around his waist, and fine iron beast faces on the front and back covering his heart. There is a snow-covered white robe on top, two green velvet ties hanging from it, and a pair of yellow leather-soled boots on her feet. Under the golden light, there is a young and resolute face, which makes anyone look at it and call him "good boy".
The person who came was none other than Zhao Kuo, the horse warrior who was about to embark on the battlefield. It has to be said that such a handsome and upright person is rare even in the land of Yanzhao where many men live. Coupled with the customized armor, it adds a bit of power, and he immediately astonishes everyone when he appears.
Sonorous steps echoed in the empty hall, and in a few steps, Zhao Kuo had already reached the imperial steps. He clasped his fists in both hands, knelt on one knee, and saluted King Zhao: "My lord, Ma Fujun, Zhao Kuo, I have met the king!"
The loud and deep voice woke up everyone in a daze, and King Zhao who was sitting on top also said quickly: "General, please get up."
"Yes!" Zhao Kuo agreed simply.
King Zhao then glanced at Mr. Pingyuan beside him, signaling that it was time to start.
Immediately, Lord Pingyuan received a silk letter from the hand of the eunuch Ling on the side, looked at Zhao Kuo who had a calm face, and said slowly: "The king's order!"
There was a loud crashing sound. It turned out that the ministers in the palace knelt on the ground after hearing the words, and Zhao Kuo naturally knelt down on one knee.
With a "pop" sound, Mr. Pingyuan showed the silk book in his hand and said loudly:
"The safety of the country lies in the hands of the generals. Now Zhao and Qin are tired of fighting on the side of Danshui. Lian Po is old and the army and veterans are tired. There may be something unexpected. May the horse obey Zhao Kuo and command the army to respond.
Specially, I worshiped Zhao Kuo, the king of horse service, as the general, and led an army of 200,000 (a false claim, not that many in reality) to aid the battle of Danshui. Du Pingjun and Tian Shan were assisted.
Grant, Tiger Talisman. Give orders to the whole army. If they don't obey, they can be killed first and then reported. "
With that said, Mr. Pingyuan skillfully held a scroll of silk book in his hand and held it in front of Zhao Kuo.
Zhao Kuo then raised his hands, took the silk book, and replied: "I, Zhao Kuo, receive the king's order."
A slightly old-fashioned voice behind him immediately replied: "I, Tian Dan, take the king's orders."
Immediately afterwards, King Zhao, who was sitting at the top, slowly stood up and came to Zhao Kuo. An eunuch followed King Zhao holding a wooden tray.
In the tray is a simple bronze vessel that looks like a tiger with open teeth - the Zhao Guohu Talisman.
"Gift, Tiger Talisman!" Lord Pingyuan's voice sounded again.
Zhao Kuo turned his head slightly and temporarily deposited the royal order silk book in his hand into the tray held by another eunuch who had already knelt beside him.
"The safety of the Zhao Kingdom depends on you. Do not let me down." King Zhao gently picked up the tiger talisman on the plate and placed the tiger talisman in Zhao Kuo's hand.
The tiger talisman made of bronze feels cool to the touch, but the bronze vessel weighing only two ounces seems to be of great weight. The mottled green on it has written all the glory and disgrace of the Zhao Kingdom for hundreds of years. Countless heroic spirits have carved deep and shallow marks on the surface of the bronze. The streaks of blood-red as deep as ink hidden among the green and green silently tell their story. Witnessed the bloody storm.
"Fight for the country, no matter how hard your heart is, you will not hesitate!" Zhao Kuo made his promise in front of all the ministers.
Although Zhao Kuo was forced to go to war, and although Zhao Kuo also knew that he would lose more than he won, the moment he received the Tiger Talisman, Zhao Kuo was still excited, and his belief in "fighting for the country" almost blurted out.
You know you can't do something but you do it, even if you die nine times, you still don't regret it! The feelings of family and country, maybe that’s what it means!
King Zhao helped Zhao Kuo up with both hands, and all the officials behind him also stood up.
King Zhao held Zhao Kuo's arm and stood under the jade steps facing the ministers. The ministers, led by Zhao Sheng, Lord of Pingyuan, bowed one after another to salute Zhao Kuo.
Said: "May the general have a safe journey and return in triumph!"
Full of civil and military officials, bowing to each other, the pinnacle of life, nothing more than that.
Pride arose spontaneously. Of course, Zhao Kuo understood that all these honors were not obtained by his own ability. One part was the legacy of his father and Ma Fujun, and the other part came from the pressure of the people in the country who desperately wanted a savior. The remaining seven points are for other countries, especially Qin.
If you accept it calmly, how beautiful you will be today, and how miserable you will be once you return from defeat.
After calming down slightly, Zhao Kuo still calmly accepted Manchao's farewell. Without him, since he is determined to resist Qin and protect Zhao as a country, it is enough to be treated as such a great gift. As for victory or defeat, it is just a matter of fortune.
He turned around, cupped his fists with his hands, and bowed slightly to King Zhao as a parting gift.
As soon as he lifted his white robe, he walked towards the sunshine outside the palace.
...
