The military camp on the south bank of Zhuoshui.

"The emperor said, "Governor Guo Shao, the commander of the Ma Bu and the Du Yuhou, led the six troops of the Hu Jie Army to defend Zhuozhou. Qin this." A fat eunuch said. The same person was accompanied by the Privy Councilor Wang Pu, who came to inspect military affairs.

When Guo Shao heard Qin's word, the meaning seemed to be like the emperor coming in person. He had to kneel down and take the order with both hands. Wang Pu came forward to help: "The official family has finished speaking, General Guo got up."

Guo Shao really didn't want to get up, so he knelt down for them!

He finally stood up and looked up at the Zhuo River flowing slowly in front of him. Two cavalry and Zhou soldiers were running from the opposite bank. The Hujie Army's defense was the clear and shallow part of the river. The two cavalry rushed to the river and slowed down, then rode their horses straight down the river and rode their horses to the heart of the river. However, the horse did not understand sorrow, and when they got into the river, they drank water and waved their heads, and threw the water on the surface of the river and splashed water.

Seeing this, Guo Shao turned to the south, a green field... The Juma River was in the distance and could not be seen in his sight.

"Oh." Guo Shao sighed, and had nothing to say for a moment.

Seeing this, Wang Pu knew that defending Zhuozhou City was not a good place. The Zhuo River in front was shallow and could not stop the army; the Juma River behind was deep, which caused inconvenience to reinforcements and food transportation.

Wang Pu said, "Please keep guarding. Regardless of whether the government will make another Northern Expedition in the near future, our dynasty will have to keep people on guard at the border since the war with Liao Kingdom. Since ancient times, there is no reason why the two countries are fighting alone and not allowed to counterattack others." He thought for a while and said, "Zhao Kuangyin suggested that after the army was resting, he would seek another opportunity to fight the northern expedition; it was General Guo who he recommended to defend Zhuozhou, and used this place as a stronghold on the north bank of the Jima River... Of course, in the end, the officials believed that it was feasible, so he issued an order."

Guo Shao understood everything in his heart when he heard this. If Zhao Kuangyin hadn't done it on purpose, he wouldn't believe it at all!

He looked down at the river surface, thought for a while, then turned his head and said, "I have seen Gu'an County. The walls are low and are separated from Zhuozhou. It is unlikely that the division of troops will be able to become a horn, but instead disperse the troops...

I want to give up Gu'an, concentrate my troops to defend Zhuozhou, and focus on maintaining the western front; and ask the Longjie Army to garrison at the left wing of Qigou Pass. Advance can support Zhuozhou's union of an isolated city, and retreat can guard the floating bridge and grain road to ensure our supply line. Concentrating troops to actively attack and defend the north bank of Mahe is more stable than passively defending the city. I hope that Deputy Envoy Wang will give a good word in front of the official family and support it."

After hearing this, Wang Pu pondered for a moment and said, "General Guo's strategy is quite good at fighting and defending. I will report it to the official family after I go back."

When Wang Pu left the barracks, Guo Shao summoned his generals and ordered the entire army to retreat to Zhuozhou to guard against the infantry being divided and surrounded in the wild... Without waiting for the court to reply, he gave up Gu'an directly; anyway, he had already told the Privy Council official Wang Pu, and Wang Pu also said it made sense.

The Liao army had a huge number of main forces, and Guo Shao was not sure how many of them were. But he knew that the Zhou army used more than 60,000 elite cavalry during the decisive battle a few days ago. In this way, the army also claimed that "the Liao army had many soldiers." It can be guessed that the main force of the Liao army should be no less than 100,000 cavalry. There are generally Xi soldiers, the Khitans' most trusted servants, who are very strong... What is the consequence if they are divided and surrounded by so many people.

However, as long as you rely on Zhuozhou City, you are not afraid. The total force of the Zhou army on the south bank of the Jima River was estimated to reach 200,000, more than 100,000 elite imperial guards, and many local soldiers in the towns; as long as Zhuozhou is defended, Chai Rong does not have the reason to watch Guo Shao being besieged from the other side of the river... The elite of the Hujie Army is not Guo Shao's personal personalities after all; if Chai Rong really doesn't trust him, he can remove his military power in one sentence.

When the army entered Zhuozhou City, Guo Shao's suggestion was to strive to keep the people's hearts first. So he posted military laws everywhere in the city, and the soldiers bullied the people from being whipped to beheading. The army did not force the houses, and set up tents in the four gates; and occupied the official prefecture government office.

As expected, the effect was good. The Zhou army was stationed in the city and was not only not haunted, but also received support from Han'er, Hebei, and it was easy to gather people to build fortifications.

But how long will it take to defend Zhuozhou? Guo Shao remembered the advice that Queen Fu gave him: After the Northern Expedition, he would return to Beijing at any cost!

He couldn't think of any good way for a moment, and was worried that Chai Rong would keep him in the Hebei border defense for a long time. According to the past practice, only the two armies of the Imperial Guards would often be divided into troops to station outside; the Palace Front Office belonged to the emperor's real guard, and unless the emperor personally fought, they would basically be in Tokyo.

The Guard Division has only two armies: the Hu Jie Army and the Long Jie Army. Guo Shao's troops were originally stationed in Zhuozhou, so the probability of him leaving him to stay on the border is very high.

...I don't know if it was because of my depressed mood, I might have caught a cold in a tent; in order to show my determination to share the joys and sorrows with the soldiers, Guo Shao also lived in a tent and lay the floor. He was sick just two days after entering Zhuozhou.

The high fever did not go away, and he knew that he had a severe cold without taking the doctor's pulse. The generals sent the doctor to visit him and asked him about his well-being, but Guo Shao ignored it. He didn't care about the cold at all, and he was still worried about how to return to Beijing.

Are you taking the opportunity to be sick now? But I am afraid that Chai Rong will let him cross the Jimahe River to recuperate and leave the army behind. This is the most likely situation, there is no need to transfer 20,000 troops... Just change someone to Zhuozhou, such as Gao Huaide; Gao Huaide's military position is the commander of the Guard Infantry Division, and it is most appropriate to come to take over the left wing of the Hujie Army.

Therefore, Guo Shao decided not to act rashly and just to waste his time on the situation.

The sick physical discomfort increased his depression. He felt that the Northern Expedition was very bad this time. He was filled with righteous indignation in Tokyo, but he did not make any contribution to Hebei. As expected, no matter how he denounced and hated foreign enemies, it was useless. It was nonsense to defeat everything. And he might not be able to go back here!

"Wet poison invades the body, and sometimes wind evil is felt..." A doctor muttered before the collapse, and said, "The general can no longer live in a tent, so he has to find a comfortable and dry house to rest."

"The government office and the officials' homes have placed a large number of wounded soldiers left behind a few days ago. It is difficult to keep them screaming and making noise every day. Lord, we can only requisition the house nearby." Zuo You said softly.

Guo Shao didn't speak out, so he could let them arrange this matter.

At this time, the doctor said, "Oh, the chief general of the Zhou Dynasty army had no place to live. I really mean that the people of Zhuozhou were blind. I have a humble room. Although it was a wall, it was quiet, with only two people inside and outside. If the general did not mind, it would be better to stay at my house."

After hearing this, Zuo You immediately said, "It's so good that it's just right for the old man to visit the disease... a little reward is not respectful. Please do your best to make the lord recover quickly."

Guo Shao was sent to a house near the military camp in a daze. Sure enough, the environment was clean and quiet, and the very ordinary tiled house was not a rich family, but it looked even poorer.

There is no special medicine in this era, and even if you have poor physical fitness, you may die if you catch a cold. Guo Shao was not arrogant at all, and he did not object to living in a private house, so he could drink the medicine. There were fewer rooms, so he had to take turns to guard Luo Mengzi and Lu Chengyong, the personal generals, took turns to wait and take care of him; the guards could only stay outside.

Guo Shao had a sweat in the evening and found that he had subsided his fever the next morning. He suddenly felt that this folk doctor was really capable. He had a fever and cold in the future. He might have to be hospitalized for injections and drip; the doctor cooked a pot of herbs for him to drink, and it was fine for a day and a night.

He asked Luo Mengzi to find the doctor to thank him and asked again: "Mr. Is the name of the old man?"

The doctor said, "I dare not, Lao Jiu's surname is Lu, the general just calls me Lao Lao Er." A smile appeared on his face, "The people of Zhuozhou often call Lao Jiu Doctor Lao Liu, haha, it is suspected of being elevated, but for some minor illnesses and pains, the old man can cure the disease."

Seeing that his bag was placed on the cabinet at the head of the bed, Guo Shao got up and took it over, and touched a gold belt buckle. He immediately placed it on the table in the house and said, "I'm going out to fight, there's nothing valuable on my body. Thank you for Dr. Lu, a gadget, please accept it with a smile."

The divine doctor Lu hurriedly refused.

Seeing this, Guo Shao picked up the buckle, pulled the old man's hand over, and slapped it in his hand: "I am a general, I have nothing to say politely. I say thank you for giving it to you, I must give it to you."

He got up to clean up, then got up and put on his clothes. The doctor said, "Although the general's condition has improved, he should be well-off. But if you stay here, you don't have to stay in a tent anymore."

Guo Shao pondered for a moment: "Does Divine Doctor Lu have family members at his home?"

Old Man Lu said: "I have passed away for several years, and my family only has a little girl."

"With female family members at home, it is not convenient for the soldiers to live for a long time." Guo Shao said.

Old Man Lu said, "You can tell what the general is doing in Zhuozhou City at first glance. I am not worried." After hearing this, Guo Shao said, "Let's talk about it when I come back. Now I have to go out. Third brother, send someone to call Li Chuyun to the Central Army."

Guo Shao went out and took a carriage to the headquarters of the Central Army. He met Li Chuyun and other generals, asked about the city defense and the enemy situation, but he felt relieved when he learned that there was no movement for the time being. Li Chuyun also asked many rangers to patrol north and south of Zhuoshui, setting up posts everywhere.

Soon after, he reported to the general Zhang Ying for a visit, and Guo Shao invited him to come in.

Zhang Ying was a new recruit from Guo Shao. In the early stage of the Zhou army, the Han generals in Zhucheng surrendered when they heard the news. A small number of Khitan troops fled north. Zhang Ying was the owner of the animal husbandry near Waqiao Pass. When the soldiers were in chaos, he took the opportunity to gather the villagers and rob the hundreds of horses raised by the Khitan soldiers on the ranch to pay. Guo Shao then rewarded the horses to Zhang Ying, appointed him as the capital, and composed dozens of brothers in his hands into a capital, giving them generous rewards.

"Meet Marshal Guo." Zhang Ying is a thirty-year-old man with a big face.

Guo Shao said kindly: "I'm exempted from tribute."
Chapter completed!