It was only two days since the Liao Kingdom went to Beijing to send troops to the Southern Court. The explosions of "bang bang bang..." were heard from time to time in the north city, and it never stopped. It was the palace tent army training war horses; the Liao people asked the Nancheng craftsmen to prepare gunpowder and stuffed them into the hard bamboo tube to compact them, and then exploded them at a glance. The smoke of gunpowder filled the camp, as if setting fire.

When Yelu Xizhen met at Xiao Siwen's mansion, he said, "When Duke Xiao was the king of the Southern Court that year, he rushed to send troops south, and the Khan became more suspicious. Now Yelu Xiuge knocked on the edge, but he didn't know whether it was a merit or a fault?"

Xiao Siwen said: "When the three Lis in Zhou State wanted to rebel, I should respond and support myself."

After hearing this, Yelu Xizhen nodded and said, "Although I feel that the Khan is a little unfair, Yelu Xiu Ge is still very relieved to break through the city of Zhou, and he received a vent from the beginning of the year! The southerners became more and more arrogant, and went north to flirt. I really didn't take the Great Liao seriously?"

"The blacksmith Guo is not afraid of the Great Liao." Xiao Siwen said calmly, "This time, after returning from the hunting of the Great Khan, I will write a letter to advise him not to go on a tour again and to stay in Shangjing to deal with the affairs in the south."

After hearing this, Yelu Xizhen pondered for a moment and said, "Will Guo Blacksmith come to Youzhou north?"

Xiao Siwen said: "Who is right? But there is no harm in being cautious."

Yelu Xizhen bowed and said, "Duke Xiao is far-sighted."

Xiao Siwen said: "There is no need to worry too much. At the beginning of the year, the blacksmith of Guo could not conquer Youzhou. It has only been more than half a year, and the situation is no different. It is said that the Southern Han State was destroyed by the Zhou State, and the Zhou army added 100,000 new troops, but those who attacked the foolish and small countries such as the Southern Han State were still available, so it was a joke to transfer them to fight against the Liao Dynasty!

The Liao Dynasty has not been at ease these years. I do not advocate any trouble and provoking Zhou State. But the matter has already happened, so we don’t have to be afraid. The rules on the grassland still apply to the southerners, and they still have to speak with force after all!"

Yelu Xizhen bowed and said, "What Mr. Xiao said is very true. If the Great Liao Dynasty cannot stand the battle, how can the grassland tribes obey us?"

Xiao Siwen stood up and paced back and forth a few steps: "Let's not attack Yelu Xiu Ge for the time being. If the Zhou army takes the opportunity to go north, Yelu Xiu Ge is still okay to use troops. This person has some brains on the battlefield."

Because Xiao Siwen led his troops to invade the south and never broke through important towns in Hebei, he came back after robbing in the countryside. Yelu Xiu Ge successfully made a profit from Yizhou City Gate, but he was not a man who beat the barbarians and bumped the barbarians.

Xiao Siwen thought of this and said again: "Everything is the most important thing. If the blacksmith Guo wants to make another Northern Expedition, his situation will be worse if he fails once. I will wait for him to die first!"

...

On the first day of September of the second year of Xuanren, the shorter the day and longer the night.

The huge Tokyo metropolis has awakened early. On the Xuande Gate Tower, a group of soldiers walked up neatly. Under the dim and white sky, there were shadows of the same height. A general came forward to report his official position and checked with the night-level general. The two of them clasped their fists and bowed. Then they heard a short military order: "Change defense!"

Not long after, a long shout of Yaoyao: "The time is here, open the city gate..."

The sound of drums suddenly disturbed Qingmeng, who was still sleeping in the neighborhood. On the side of the female wall, the soldier with a stern armor was holding a cherry gun, standing on it with his legs raised his head. The yellow, red and blue pennants were flying in the air, and a general walked on it with his sword, turning his head to look at the scene outside.

Outside the city tower, there is another scene on the long Yu Street. A long light extends into the distance, like a huge lantern dragon, which is particularly spectacular. Today is the day of the dynasty. For no special reason, officials above the fifth rank in Beijing have to go to the palace to worship. These people are the officials who come to the court, and the accompanying guards and followers. There are traffic on Yu Street before dawn, and there are a lot of people.

"Wow..." The heavy city gate rubbed against the brick floor and slowly opened, and the lights in the city were shining.

People got out of the car, got out of the horse, tidied up their clothes, and walked towards Xuande Gate.

All civil and military officials came to the main hall of Jinxiang Hall one after another, standing in the hall according to high and low order, waiting to go to court.

But the dragon throne above was empty for a long time. After waiting for a long time, the sky outside the hall was already bright, the sun was almost coming out, and there was still no movement on the throne. The eunuch stood on both sides of the steps, and no one came up to explain or pass the order.

Gradually, some people finally noticed what was going on today. There were many empty seats in the front row, and some important ministers did not attend court.

However, the Beijing officials were quite calm. Everyone noticed that the atmosphere was not right, but no one whispered to each other, just stood there waiting. At some point, these people could stand for three days and three nights even if they didn't eat or drink, but they were fighting for perseverance and patience.

... Of course, Guo Shao hasn't slept, he is no longer in the palace.

On the imperial guard camp, the gate of the camp was wide open. Guo Shao, wearing a tall crown, walked in with a sword, and on the left was Wang Pu, the Privy Councilor with a gray beard, and on the right was Li Chuyun, a red face with a thick beard. Behind, there was a team of straight cavalry in the inner hall with distinct armor.

There was a large area of ​​iron helmets on the school ground, and swords, guns, flags were like trees.

Guo Shao rushed into the barracks. When the troops saw him, they raised their swords and guns and shouted. Inspired by the atmosphere, Guo Shao drew his sword from his waist and pointed at the crowd to greet the soldiers.

The atmosphere became more lively, and everyone shouted: "Long live! Long live..."

The generals around came together on horseback and knelt on one knee in front of Guo Shao's horse.

"All the generals." Guo Shao's voice was loud and powerful, full of energy, showing people his health and strength.

Everyone said, "I will thank the emperor for your kindness!"

Guo Shao kicked the horse and ran out. The generals hurriedly got up and turned over and chased after him. A herd of horses ran along the front of the army, and the shouts and horse hooves were like a torrent of water.

He held down his war horse and shouted: "In trouble in the country, the people of the country are the only ones who are willing to fight bloody battles for the world!"

Dong Zunhui's voice shouted: "Bloody battle to the end!"

The troops were in an uproar, and they all stared at each other and shouted. The barracks were even more lively than the downtown area.

Shi Yanchao jumped off the horse, clasped his fists and said straight: "Just as the Liao people invaded, please be the forward!"

Seeing this, the generals expressed their opinions: "Your Majesty's sword is pointed at, even if it is a sea of ​​swords and fire, the last general will never frown..." "Your Majesty wants to use troops, and I am ready to follow Your Majesty at any time." "I am grateful to Your Majesty for being kind to you, but only to fight to the death..." "I am willing to drive forward for Your Majesty, and repay the emperor's kindness..."

Guo Shao sat on the horse, feeling the attitude and breath in the army. No matter what, he was at least sure that he was supported by the military.

With the current system of the Great Zhou Dynasty, warriors supported wars quite well. Only with wars could they rise and receive rewards, and be relied on, otherwise their voice and status would decline. There are also military generals in the middle and lower levels. Everyone knows that wars will kill people, but it is better to fight a big battle than to be in the army for ten years. The soldiers at the bottom of ten years were old! Just like in the previous dynasty, many people started their own lives in one battle.

Only many civil officials may not support it. They are different from military generals. Fighting war will not benefit them. They are unwilling to see that they have to maintain the operation of the court in all aspects. The resource consumption is too high, taxes, labor service, and levying people to strengthen their strength are unfavorable to stable rule.

The timing is also very appropriate. Usually, the emperor personally led his troops to gain the world. He has a high prestige and familiarity in the army, and it is easier to personally mobilize the army to start a war. If the descendants of emperors cannot lead troops directly and the military power is divided into the hands of ministers, it will not be so easy to start a war, which will be a very complicated and troublesome thing.

Moreover, the powerful ministers around Guo Shao, such as Wang Pu, Wei Renpu, Wang Pu, Li Gu, and other prime ministers, and even cabinet ministers who participated in politics, have already attracted and gathered around him. He must do something and will easily get the support of his confidant ministers.

This is the case in front of Guo Shao. He could mobilize the entire imperial guards in just one word, and his control was still very strong.

Guo Shao and his men inspected several imperial guards' barracks in a row, and the morale and condition of the army were relatively good. After half a year of rest and recuperation, the imperial guards basically recovered their combat effectiveness.

It was noon when Guo Shao returned to the imperial city.

He went to the East Hall to discuss with more than 20 ministers. Wei Renpu hung up a map to explain to the ministers and generals the strategies the court had come up with in advance. The discussion continued until noon. As for the civil and military officials in the hall, they still stood there, standing for a long time.

At noon, the emperor finally walked onto the dragon throne in military uniform. The officials in the hall shouted long live.

Guo Shao asked the eunuchs to issue an edict. When the Liao army invaded, the people of Hebei were eagerly looking forward to the royal army. The emperor decided to lead the imperial guards north to patrol the border. During his departure from the capital, the West Hall (Fu Jinzhan) supervised the state, the Privy Council, and the Political Affairs Hall were in charge of the state.

The emperor issued an order directly, and it was obvious that the group of the most powerful officials who were absent this morning had agreed, and no one of the following officials opposed it... According to the situation since the end of the Tang Dynasty, ordinary officials were unable to oppose it, because for military purposes during this period, the court structure was very centralized. This time, unlike the last Northern Expedition, the result was completely unknown, but this time, with experience, the situation was clearer, and many people were not optimistic about the recent Northern Expedition.

The start is relatively low-key now, and it is not nominally claimed to have a decisive battle with the Liao army. It seems that the intention at the beginning was to expel the Liao army from Yizhou.

However, the war began.

... Fu Jinzhan went to the West Hall and saw Guo Shao who was wearing armor and swords waiting on the stone steps at the back door. She looked up at him, as if she had seen the figure of the guard back then.

She gently lifted the hem of the skirt and walked up the stone steps step by step. The spotless embroidered shoes gently stepped on the old stone slab, and Fu Jinzhan's mood was a little ups and downs.

Hearing the remarks of the ministers, Fu Jinzhan also lacked confidence in this war, because in just half a year, the strength of the Zhou army had not improved much.

Some failures have serious consequences and are not easily affordable.

In just a short section of stone steps, Fu Jinzhan seemed to have gone through the ups and downs of the years. Many times of surviving death were the ones Shao Ge'er above accompanied her. It was not easy for them to get to where they are today.

"Your Majesty." Fu Jinzhan's body narrowed slightly and took the lead in giving a gift. Her voice was still soothing and calm.

Guo Shao clasped his fists and said, "I am always a guard."

Fu Jinzhan raised her head, and a slight smile appeared on her beautiful face.

Guo Shao said in a deep voice: "I know the feeling of separation from life and death. Everyone in the world has their own families. Letting people watch their close relatives be robbed and killed is something I can't stand. After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to go on a war again, and the soldiers are willing to fight for the people in the world."

Fu Jinzhan smiled sweetly: "Your Majesty will win the championship, you will never let me down."

Guo Shao was indeed relieved when he heard this, and clasped his fists and said, "This time, Queen Duanci only needs to wait for my good news in Tokyo!"

Fu Jinzhan nodded and said, "I will bathe and fast every day, pray for your Majesty and the soldiers ahead, and wait for the imperial guards to return to the court as soon as possible."

She walked up, reached out to hold Guo Shao's hilt, and gently pressed it. When she heard a "clang" sound, she slowly pulled out. The sword edge was brand new, as bright as a mirror, and very sharp. The only person who dared to hold the unsheathed sword in Guo Shao was probably Fu Jinzhan. However, Guo Shao did not move. He was like that, even if Fu Jinzhan really wanted to stab him, he would not hide.

Fu Jinzhan looked down with a calm smile, lowered her eyes and looked at the hilt of the sword, but the moment she lowered her head, she showed a hint of gentleness and shyness.

She gently pulled out a piece of red silk embroidered with gold thread patterns from her sleeves. Her jade-like hands slowly wrapped the red silk around the hilt of Guo Shao's sword, then buckled it and put the sword back into Guo Shao's scabbard.

After Fu Jinzhan finished doing this, she looked up at him, her face flushed and she was very nervous.

There were many bent palace ladders behind her. This was the first time she had done such a close thing in front of Guo Shao in public. Guo Shao looked silently at the bright red on the hilt of the sword. Behind the quaint and heavy hall, it looked particularly beautiful.
Chapter completed!