The weather is getting colder as the autumn wind blows in September. Along the road, the broad leaves of the sycamore trees flutter in the wind, like paper money, adding a solemn atmosphere to the world. The army is marching in such a bleak and desolate environment.
The dust kicked up by the soldiers on the post road fluttered in the autumn wind, mixed with the shadows of fallen leaves, and the air seemed to be filled with flying sand and rocks. In addition to the troops on the main road, there were also troops marching in single file on several small roads between the rice fields on both sides, countless people in groups, as if the earth was occupied by ants moving their homes.
Guo Shao got on his horse, his face was calm. The relaxed mentality at this moment was over. Even if nothing happened, he couldn't relax. After all, he had 20,000 troops in his hands, and if something went wrong, it would be a disaster.
His undershirt was made of grey cotton, because the white cotton lining on the smoky road would easily stain the collar, making it look even dirtier. The tutu around his waist was red satin with embroidered patterns, which was something only high-ranking military commanders could wear. He had just brushed his teeth and taken a bath in the morning, so he was now clean all over. After taking a bath, he muttered to his shadow in the water: I have found my best state.
He just turned 20 last month, and there was no celebration or publicity. No one around him noticed when his birthday was. But Guo Shao looked quite mature, probably because of the long-term exposure to the sun and the sun. Although his face was flat, his skin was yellow and old; the muscles on his body made him look more like a young man. He looked completely different from the young man from a wealthy family. His sword-like eyebrows completely destroyed his elegant and unrestrained temperament. His tall and straight body, long arms, firm facial features, and calm and bright eyes made no one notice the fact that he had just turned 20.
Guo Shao and a group of his generals and soldiers rode out ostentatiously. He reined in his horses and carefully observed the situation of the troops setting out.
At this time, a cavalryman with two infantrymen and a woman came towards the camp. The woman was shouting: I am not a spy, I am not a spy.
Guo Shao thought that he had issued a strict order not to disturb the people, but these soldiers wanted to bring this woman into the camp on the day they set out. He kicked his horse's belly and rode forward, pointing his whip at the woman and said, "What's going on? Where did you catch this woman?"
The cavalry dismounted and reported: "Report to Envoy Guo, she is looking around the army and her whereabouts are strange. We will bring her back and report to the higher-ups."
The woman said anxiously: I came from Kaifeng Prefecture to look for someone
Guo Shao heard her speaking with an accent from Kaifeng Prefecture, and looked her up and down. The woman was covered in dirt and her shoes were worn out. He stared at her eyes for a while and felt that she didn't look like a spy. The woman's face was very dark, as if she had deliberately smeared it, otherwise she would have had time to wash her face by the river, as there were rivers everywhere in Huainan. But Guo Shao still found from the hairline behind her ears that the woman's skin was actually good.
Who are you looking for? Guo Shao asked.
The woman said: I'm looking for Guo Er.
Guo Shao's face darkened: Who is Guo Er? I am asking you who you are looking for and why you are here to look for someone.
The cavalryman who dismounted nearby shouted: Tell the truth, this is our commander-in-chief. If Commander Guo thinks you are a spy, even the gods cannot save you.
The woman was startled and started crying, choking with sobs, saying: Guo Er is my husband. We just got married a few months ago and I haven't had the chance to marry him. My husband was ordered to go to the war and there has been no news since. All the other men in the town have returned with news, except him. My husband is the first commander of the first army of the left wing of the Hujie Army. I asked many people after crossing the Huai River, and they all said he is here.
Guo Shao had 38 commanders in the left wing alone, but he happened to remember that the commander of the first army was Li Dazhu, because this guy followed him to fight Qin Feng's generals. He asked the woman again which city and which team it was.
This woman is quite clever and can express herself clearly.
So Guo Shao ordered: Go find Li Dazhu and ask him to call the ten generals of the second team of the third city to the gate of the central army camp.
Not long after, they heard that the commander-in-chief had summoned them, and the commander and ten generals hurried over. After asking, they found out that there was really such a person as Guo Er, so it was basically certain that the woman was not a spy.
Guo Shao ordered: Release him.
But the woman refused to leave and kept asking the ten generals about her husband.
The ten generals said: He died in battle.
The expression on the woman's face immediately turned ashen. She shook her head and said, "You lied to me, you lied to me."
The tenth general said: Why would I lie to you? Just ten days ago, when we attacked Shouzhou, we were hit by the fierce oil poured down from the wall.
"Okay," Guo Shao stopped him. In his mind, he immediately imagined a tragic scene of his whole body being stuck with petroleum and on fire, with a large area of burns and blood all over his body. It was a way of dying that was worse than death.
The soldiers of the First Army followed him to fight against Shu Kingdom, and they also risked their lives to help him win a life-and-death battle in Shouzhou City. Guo Shao's emotions were immediately affected, and his expression became serious. He said to the woman in a gentle and deep voice: Your husband is brave and loyal. He sacrificed his precious life for the noble cause of ending the civil war and unifying the country, and for the people of the world to live a good life. He died without any pain and very peacefully.
The soldiers around him were in awe. The general quickly echoed: "Before he died, Guo Er told me that when I see his wife, I should tell her to marry a good family and live a good life."
Guo Shao ordered his soldiers to send her to Xiacai Town to find Jingniang. Let Jingniang take care of her first and bring her back with her when she returns to Tokyo. I will personally pay 50 strings of cash to support Guo Er's family.
But the woman refused to leave. Her tears washed away the dirt on her face, leaving two rows of white marks. She shook her head and cried: "I don't believe it. I want to see him, his body."
The tenth general whispered: Too many people died that day, and the soldiers of the Southern Tang Dynasty and the Zhou Dynasty were mixed together. The soldiers were afraid that if they were delayed for too long, there would be a plague, so they buried them all at once. No one knows where they were buried. There is a pit in the east of the city, where hundreds of people were buried.
When the woman saw him pointing, she ran towards the east of the city. Two of Guo Shao's personal soldiers followed her after being ordered to escort her to Xiacai.
Guo Shao did not force it and led his army out of the camp. He turned around and said to his generals: When you lead troops to fight, try to reduce casualties as much as possible and send orders to the generals. It is strictly forbidden to kill innocent people along the way.
Yes. The general clasped his fists in response.
At this time, Yang Biao said: What was Zhao Chao thinking when he ordered the killing of 3,000 surrendered soldiers in one night? What good would it do
A general took over the conversation and said: Some people are evil-minded and just like to do this, without any reason.
Guo Shao and others walked onto the post road. He turned his head and saw from afar the woman desperately digging the soil with her hands, and the personal soldiers behind her came over with a shovel.
So pitiful
He couldn't help thinking, if he could survive, he must live. Of course, high-level generals didn't need to fight in battle, the chance of being killed in battle was very small. The biggest danger to his life came from his own people.
The lack of security made Guo Shao feel uneasy. The person who made him a little nervous was Li Chongjin. In his impression, Zhao Kuangyin was the one who could accomplish great things. He had no idea who Li Chongjin was before, and he would definitely not be able to accomplish great things. However, whether he could accomplish anything was not important for the time being. What was important was that this guy could threaten him at the moment.
This made Guo Shao have an instinctive reaction that he urgently needed to increase his power, otherwise he would suffer in the future under Li Chongjin.
Human needs are really endless, and the desire for survival and security is endless. For most people of this era, I am afraid that they would envy Guo Shao's status in their dreams; but when they reach this status, they will still be eager to want more
It’s not that Guo Shao is greedy. He is already quite satisfied with his current material life, which is much better than those countless people who can’t even get enough food to eat. But his power is small and his strength is weak, so he feels insecure.
Military exploits bring greater power; marriage brings wider connections and stronger backing.
Haozhou, Chai Kehong had just received his appointment letter. He now began to take over the military power of the 50,000 troops in Haozhou City and all the Tang troops in the entire Haozhou area, and was fully responsible for deploying defenses.
Li Jing, the ruler of Southern Tang, had high hopes for this famous general. The earnest words in the imperial edict seemed to ring in his ears. The emperor was almost pouring out his heart to a military official. Huainan and even the entire Southern Tang depended on this battle. He hoped that Chai Kehong could defeat the Zhou army, boost the morale of the soldiers across the country, and reverse the situation of being defeated again and again by the overwhelming force.
Chai Kehong walked up to the city wall of Haozhou. The Tang army soldiers on and off the city wall cheered. The atmosphere was as warm as if it was a New Year's Day.
Haozhou finally had hope. The officials, generals, and even the soldiers and civilians in Haozhou City were extremely excited.
Chai Kehong waved to the people below the city, and there was immediately another round of crazy and enthusiastic cheers. The enthusiasm of the scene was no less than that of modern star-chasing gatherings.
The invincible general of the Tang army has defeated tens of thousands of Wu Yue troops in Changzhou since he went on the expedition. He also defeated the elite Zhou army with his old and weak body. He is the hope of millions of soldiers and civilians in Huainan. The Southern Tang soldiers who are afraid of the elite and powerful Zhou army will follow this general to regain the dignity of the Tang army.
At this time, a general walked up to the city and whispered to Chai Kehong: According to reports, the 20,000-man vanguard of the Zhou army has already set out from Shouzhou. The leader is Guo Shao, who defeated Liu Renzhan.
Hahaha, Chai Kehong suddenly raised his head and laughed. He said loudly: I just received military intelligence that the Zhou army is coming. The main general is Guo Shao, who defeated Liu Gong of Shouzhou. However, he met my soldiers and villagers of Haozhou, Chai Kehong. Wait and see how I will help Liu Gong regain his face. Hahahaha
The generals of Haozhou City were stunned because they were not familiar with Chai Kehong. Chai Kehong's own generals were not surprised because their lord was such an arrogant person, but Chai Kehong had the ability to be arrogant.