At dusk, the evening sun releases a soft and gorgeous light, and the sky is covered with a layer of gorgeous sunset. The heat of the day has dissipated, and the summer wind brings some coolness to Waqiaoguan, which is particularly pleasant.
Inside and outside Guancheng, the soldiers of the Northern Army who gathered here received sincere greetings and rewards from the emperor. Dozens of carts of wine and meat were brought into the military stronghold and camp, allowing the Northern Army officers and soldiers to celebrate together. The sound of cheers lingered in the pass, and an atmosphere of joy permeated the city.
In Guan Yamen, all the generals of the Northern Army were sitting together, almost occupying the entire lobby. Both the monarch and his ministers were present, wandering in a harmonious atmosphere. In addition to Liu Chengyou, the person in charge of the case was Queen Dafu. Both of them attended in formal attire to show respect for the generals in the north.
After the banquet started, Liu Chengyou held the wine glass and said with a smile in a friendly tone: "You have worked hard to guard the country's borders and have done a great job. I am in Tokyo and miss you all the time. I miss you very much! Today you and your ministers will meet in Beiguan. I would like to say this This wine will comfort you all!"
"Your Majesty, thank you for your concern!" An Shenqi took the lead and responded.
After finishing the cup and filling it up again, An Shenqi stood up, looked around, and said loudly: "Everyone, Your Majesty rarely visits the north and is waiting for our soldiers. Your Majesty is here now to express your condolences personally. On this good occasion, let's come together Longevity to Your Majesty and the Saint!"
When all the generals heard this, they all raised their glasses to each other, and their voices were uniform and vigorous.
"I and the queen, thank you all!" Liu Chengyou answered, holding the cup. Next to her, Fu Hou was also ordinary, covering her face with her sleeves while sipping, her movements noble and elegant.
After drinking and filling the cup again, Liu Chengyou stood up, walked to the hall, pondered for a while, and said with emotion in a sincere tone: "Since the end of the Jin Dynasty, the world has been boiling, barbarians invaded the south, the Central Plains fell, and the dust flew into the darkness. , Jingluo was surrounded by fog. The late emperor took charge of the masters and apprentices in Hedong, invited heroes from all over the world, fought against the emperor, expelled Beidi, saved the country from danger, and helped the common people in Lunxu.
Unexpectedly, the year will never go off, the achievements will be completed, the country will be determined, and the crape myrtle star will fall. My virtues are shallow and my actions are weak, and I have received great praises with my humble bow. At the beginning of my inheritance, I was faced with internal and external troubles, the country was impoverished and the people were poor, so I was walking on thin ice, working hard and sleeping nightly, and did not dare to slack off.
Fortunately, with the help of virtuous ministers and brave generals, they fought against riots and foreign aggression, and protected the country and the people. Now, with ten years of hard work, we have made some progress, expanding to Huainan in the east, conquering Jinling, restoring Qinfeng in the west, conquering Chengdu, taking Jinghu in the south, and imposing Panyu.
Things in the south will be won frequently, and the world will be unified. We can sincerely hope..."
A large but empty speech attracted everyone's attention, with different expressions. Feeling the gazes of the generals, Liu Chengyou paused briefly and continued: "But I know very well that the success of the south is also due to the work of the north. All the gentlemen here are loyal ministers and good generals of the Han Dynasty. They guarded the passes and endured the cold and heat. For a long time, by the time of the founding of the country, the northern frontier was peaceful. I hope you all will do so.
If there were no generals who worked hard and did their best to ensure peace and stability in the north, there would be no achievements in the imperial court's southern expedition. To reward you for your hard work, I would like to toast you again! please! "
Liu Chengyou's words seemed very sincere and he affirmed the contribution of the soldiers in the north, which greatly benefited the generals present. The emperor's meaning is also very obvious. I know your merits and your sufferings, and I will never forget them.
In fact, for today's Northern Army, peace of mind is more important than peace of mind. Liu Chengyou's "affectionate" confession had this intention. Of course, he would not simply think that he could win over by words, but by real benefits.
In the early days of the Republic of China, due to the threat of powerful enemies from the north, the imperial court paid more attention to the border generals in Hebei than to the other border generals. The generals had room for improvement and were fast. However, with the overall southward shift of the national strategy, affected by it, it has gradually become inferior to the Central Plains and Southwest.
The idea of being loyal to the emperor, serving the country, and making meritorious deeds has been promoted in the military for many years, with good results, but they are afraid of comparison in everything. For ordinary officers and soldiers, it is naturally best if they can train peacefully without fighting and wait for their rotation or retire and return home.
But for generals with certain military positions who want to make progress in the north, the chances are very slim. Especially in recent years, the imperial court strives to keep the north calm and use the south. It can be said that if nothing unexpected happens, there will be no success in the future. In the short term, the current situation will be maintained.
Although I haven't seen it with my own eyes, I know through my ears that the generals who participated in the war in the south, those who were promoted, those who were promoted, and those who were promoted to the northern garrison, have no idea in their hearts.
Young generals may be able to afford to wait, but some veteran generals, especially those who have surrendered since the previous generation, are much more eager. Age is one thing, and the emperor's concern is also another. After all, not all generals are as simple in the emperor's heart as Yang Ye, Ma Quanyi, and Luo Yanxuan.
Therefore, in the past two years, many generals have requested to be transferred to the Privy Council. In view of this, Liu Chengyou tried his best to be considerate and concerned about the mood of the generals in the north.
However, no matter how considerate you are, there is a limit. Although I understand his ambition and desire for fame and fortune, without a solid foundation of military exploits, he is unlikely to be as highly praised and promoted as the generals of the Southern Expedition. In the face of the military and national strategy, someone always needs to make sacrifices, the stability in the north always needs people to maintain, and the border cities also need people to garrison, so it cannot be perfect.
After hearing the emperor's heartfelt words, An Shenqi stood up and said respectfully: "I have been favored by the imperial court and feel your majesty's generous treatment. I only think about doing my best to train troops and horses and protect the country and the people. How can I do that?" He hopes!"
An Shenqi started, and the remaining generals also expressed their attitudes and vowed that the emperor and the court would not have to worry about looking north.
"I know that all the generals have the desire to make achievements, and I can understand it. All of you here are good generals and warriors, so there is no reason for the imperial court to abandon them. Please be patient for a moment, the world is not yet peaceful, and there will be a time in the future when you will be able to make achievements on the battlefield. !" Liu Chengyou laughed softly.
After chatting for a while, the atmosphere slowly became warmer, but the audience always felt restrained. Liu Chengyou said again: "Okay, I won't mention any more gossip. If I continue talking, the dishes will be cold. This time, I have brought a hundred jars of royal wine from Tokyo. We, the monarchs and ministers, can drink together to enjoy the friendship and not get drunk. Not happy!"
"Come here, change the bowls for the generals!" Liu Chengyou said again.
"yes!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
...
As the night progressed, the atmosphere in Waqiao Pass was still extremely lively and noisy. The emperor was working hard and the emperor and his ministers were enjoying themselves. In the yamen hall, the generals were mingling with each other, having fun and having fun. They were all Northern generals. This was a rare opportunity to get together.
However, Liu Chengyou quietly left the table, allowing them to relax more. He took his queen and the couple together to inspect Guancheng. Following beside him were An Shenqi and Luo Yanxuan.
On the Beiguan Tower, looking at the still strict arrangements, Liu Chengyou showed a satisfied look. Paying attention to the emperor's expression, Luo Yanxuan took the initiative and said: "No matter when, Guancheng's defense dare not slack off!"
However, the cheers coming from the city, especially from the lower camp of the city wall, still had an impact on the garrison sergeants who closed the gate. They were in a state of confusion, but after the general arrived, they quickly regained their composure.
Stopping in front of a captain, Liu Chengyou asked: "What is your name and where are you from?"
Liu Chengyou's bright yellow clothes are still very eye-catching even in the dark night. Coupled with the noble and beautiful talisman beside him, the captain, no matter how low-level he is, knows who is asking the question.
With a bit of nervousness, the captain answered: "Your Majesty, the younger one's name is Zhao Kuo, and his surname is Tangyin."
"How long have you been in the army? What achievements have you made? How long have you been guarding this pass in the north?"
"Young Qianyu joined the army three years ago and killed two Khitan bandits. It has been two years since he was transferred to Shun'an Army!" the captain named Zhao Kuo replied.
"Are you homesick?" Liu Chengyou asked.
There was a look of nostalgia on his face, he hesitated a little, and said in a deep voice: "I want to!"
"Any relatives at home?" Liu Chengyou asked again.
"My father was killed by the Khitans in his early years, and he still has an old woman, two younger brothers, and a younger sister at home!" Zhao Kuo said.
"I see that you are not very old. It is not easy for an old woman to take care of you four brothers and sisters!" Liu Chengyou said.
