According to the force allocation of the Privy Council, the Forbidden Army of the two capitals will send nearly 70,000 soldiers for this Northern Expedition, especially the infantry troops under the jurisdiction of the Palace Front Division and the Guard Division.
Half of the forbidden troops around Tokyo have been deployed, and the bulk of them are here in Xijing. Tieqi, Longjie, Longqi, Xiaodi, Husheng, and Fengguo troops are all included in the deployment sequence, as are the forbidden troops at Heluo Pass. Moved to the north in an organized area.
However, the soldiers who set off directly from Luoyang City in Xijing only had 20,000 cavalry. The hundreds of thousands of troops heading for the Northern Expedition did not just assemble and set out together, but were mobilized in batches to go to their respective destinations, and Youzhou was the largest gathering point.
In Xijing, in addition to the expedition ceremony in front of the Qianyuan Palace, there was also a city exit ceremony. The soldiers who were ordered to conduct the Northern Expedition all set out from the main gate of the imperial city, crossed the river bridge, walked along Luoyang Tianjie, and exited through the south gate. Go north again.
The number of people who went on the expedition was not large, but it caused quite a stir. This was the first time since the founding of the Han Dynasty that there was such a ceremonial expedition parade.
On both sides of Tianjie, there were hundreds of thousands of Luoyang citizens watching. The crowd was crowded and the crowd was loud, but they all consciously stayed outside the cordon.
Among the soldiers and civilians, there were some who saw off their children, some who encouraged the soldiers, and some who were just watching the excitement. There was no deliberate organization, but the momentum was huge.
Looking at the banner, the armor is bright, the light reflected from the spear is sharp and dazzling, and the neat military appearance shows a strong temperament. Although the Imperial Army of the Han Dynasty has been at peace for many years, the self-confidence cultivated by the long-term victories since the founding of the People's Republic of China has always existed. In addition, the construction work of the army has never been relaxed. When the men of the Han Dynasty put on their armor and stepped on their swords, they still It is the powerful army that looks down upon the world.
Amid the cheers and cheers of the crowd, the soldiers who went on the expedition could not help but puff up their chests and move with more sonorous and powerful steps. The feedback from the people of Luoyang was even more enthusiastic. They seemed to have recovered the long-dormant confidence and enthusiasm of the residents of the ancient capital. The pioneering and enterprising spirit and pride of the great men also burst out in this atmosphere.
Among the people watching, there were also all kinds of people, from all over the world, officials, scholars, farmers, industry and merchants. Of course, this also includes the businessmen and expatriates of all ethnic groups living in Xijing. Many of them have lived in the Han Dynasty for a long time and have seen a lot of surprising things. However, the scene of this expedition, with the mighty and strong soldiers and the enthusiastic and excited people, These scenes they witnessed still shocked them. While they admired the prosperity of the Han Dynasty, they also felt more awe and yearning.
As the Han Dynasty prospered, Emperor Liu, through Secretary Xuanwei's propaganda for many years, had been silently building the people's sense of identity with the court and the country. After more than 20 years, it has begun to bear fruit.
In addition to the Han people, the same applies to all ethnic minorities. Among the cheering and shouting people on both sides of Tianjie, there are many Tubo, Miao, Yao, Yi, Dangxiang, Uighur, Jurchen, even Goryeo, Fusang, and even those wearing turbans. msl......
As Zhao Kuangyin said before, most of the soldiers in the Northern Expedition were young and handsome. After so many years, the Han soldiers have been replaced by new generations, with rising stars emerging one after another. It’s also full of talent. Most of the nobles who were ennobled by Kaibao had their children serving in the Northern Expedition.
Among the Yellow River ferries north of Luoyang, the most important are Mengjin and Xiaopingjin. They are both ancient ferries with a long history and important transportation routes. With the development of the Xijing government, they have become increasingly dynamic in recent years, especially after the imperial court moved westward.
As for the army heading north this time, except for the 10,000 forbidden cavalry who had been transferred to Shanyang in batches, the remaining soldiers planned to go northward via the Yellow River and the canal by ship. Although taking a boat is more difficult for many landlubbers, it is still much more convenient and faster than marching on land.
With the opening up of the government and the advancement of shipbuilding technology, Han Dynasty's shipping naturally ushered in vigorous development, especially under the background of interoperability between the north and the south after reunification.
Maritime transportation and maritime trade have gradually become more and more impressive. Several mature routes have been opened in the south. Guangzhou, Quanzhou, Fuzhou and other places are the source. The Han folk fleets have reached as far as the Indian Ocean, communicating with the Asan countries. The influence of the Han Dynasty has also been significantly improved in the increasingly intensive and prosperous economic exchange activities.
However, the most rapidly developing category is inland waterway shipping, with thousands of miles of canals as the backbone, supplemented by the north-south water system, and private boat traffic is particularly frequent. Boaters, river workers, trackers, and watermen all over the country directly refer to river transportation for food. Millions of people. Not to mention the north-south water transportation, between the east and the west, through the transformation and expansion of Shimen, goods from the south of the Yangtze River can be imported into the customs more smoothly.
And when these water transportation conditions are used in war, the energy they unleash is huge. In order to transport these soldiers and military supplies, Zhang Mei was responsible for the water and land transfer of this large army supply, allowing Zhang Mei to easily raise more than 300 large and small ships, most of which were civilian ships, including hundreds of passenger ships to make the soldiers comfortable... ...
In addition to the burden it brought to the country and the people, the war also had a significant stimulating effect on the Han's industry and commerce, especially shipping and military-related handicrafts. This point was already reflected after the Northern Expedition was issued.
The next day, Emperor Liu did not stay in the palace. He set out early and left Mang Mountain in the north. He wanted to watch them board the ship and embark on the Northern Expedition.
Emperor Liu did not come to the ferry, but climbed to the top of Mang Mountain and looked at the ferry in the distance. After moving west to Luoyang, Emperor Liu had climbed Mang Mountain several times and stood on the peaks with a panoramic view of the Heluo River and Luoyang. However, he had never been as emotional and turbulent as this time.
The sun is getting higher and higher, hanging in the east, and the golden light shines on the peaks of Mang Mountain. The sun is getting brighter and brighter. It is a beautiful weather. Mengjin's ferry was bustling with shouts and shouts. All preparations had been made. The soldiers who had rested all night followed the arrangements and boarded the ship in an orderly manner. Although they were busy, they were not chaotic. The army is always the most disciplined. , the most efficient organization.
Emperor Liu felt very comfortable under the spring evening breeze, and he did not feel tired even after standing for a long time.
"Your Majesty, half of the ships have already set sail, and the rest will be able to set sail at noon at the latest!" Zhang Yong, who was favored by Emperor Liu and transferred to the cabinet bachelor, received the news and came to report it.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Liu asked, "Where is Zhang Mei?"
Zhang Yong said: "Zhang Shijun is at the ferry, personally arranging the transfer!"
Nodding, Zhang Mei has always been impeccable in this regard, and has rich experience in feeding the army. This is why Emperor Liu put him in charge of this matter.
Looking to the north, although his field of vision had an end, he seemed to be able to see hundreds of boats vying for water on the river. Boats loaded with soldiers, ordnance, and grain and grass were driven eastward through the waves under the control of the boatmen...
Emperor Liu's eyes also became deeper, and he finally moved north. His surging mood calmed down, but he couldn't help but feel empty in his heart. After calming down, doubts began to appear again.
The Northern Expedition started with great vigor, but what about the victory or defeat this time? Can it be launched smoothly? Can strategic goals be achieved? How will Liao respond? Will it end in disgrace like Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty?
With hundreds of thousands of troops, could there be any problems with overall planning? Can the prince Liu Yang play the role he should play well? Will Zhao Kuangyin and Gao Huaide betray his trust?
Thinking too much, Emperor Liu even couldn't help but wonder, if Liu Yang used this Northern Expedition to establish his prestige and had hundreds of thousands of troops at his disposal, would he dare to...
In addition to several ministers and brothers Liu Xu and Liu Xi, the most beloved princess was Liu Jia. At this time, seeing that Emperor Liu was in a daze, he couldn't help but ask: "Dad, are you tired from standing?"
Hearing the sound, he turned around and looked at his eldest daughter, who was as tall as his chin. She was full of youth but looked more and more like a big sister. Emperor Liu's eyes flashed and he said with a smile: "Li Jilong, Guo Yi, and Zhao Dezhao are all in the Northern Expedition. Now, You went there to make meritorious deeds on the battlefield. You haven’t told dad yet who you have fallen in love with. When they return home in triumph, you will..."
As soon as Emperor Liu's words came out, Liu Jia blushed. Before that, the prince's children had entered the palace one after another, not only for the queen to see, but also for the princess to choose.
As for Liu Jia, although she said no, she looked towards the north, and there was still obvious expectation in her clear eyes. The girl was already pregnant without knowing it.
"Let's talk about it when we get back!" Liu Jia murmured.
Listening to his words, looking at his expression, that beautiful and shy face made Emperor Liu a little bit disgusted...
