The sun was shining brightly. Guo Shao sat for a long time and then went to see a square formation of hundreds of people on the parade ground.
More than 20 people were standing in a line, organizing their formation. The ten generals were identifying people in their respective lines. When Guo Shao passed by, the generals greeted him one after another. He waved his hand and walked into the line with several generals.
The soldiers immediately raised their weapons and stood up straight. Guo Shao walked through the gaps between the rows, looking at everyone's face. The soldiers did not dare to look directly at him, but their attention was definitely on him.
A mediocre commander disregards the lives of his soldiers and lets them go to die, but a wise commander will lead you to win victory after victory. Guo Shaozhong was full of energy and said firmly, "You have experienced hundreds of battles and are extremely brave. Today I want to tell you that on the battlefield, the brothers around you are the ones you can trust and rely on."
After saying that, he turned around and looked at Yang Biao. Yang Biao seemed to remember something and clasped his fists and said: Brother
After Guo Shaoxun finished speaking, he hurried to other commands and did not stay for long. At this moment, someone suddenly shouted without warning: Han'er will never be a slave. All the soldiers shouted this happy sentence.
After hearing this, Guo Shao couldn't help but look back again, as if he understood something.
He said to Zuo You: I remember there are storytellers in the teahouse. We can hire a few of them to tell stories about Wuqi Town and other events in the military camp. Mr. Zuo, do you understand what I am talking about
After hearing this, Zuo You said: I understand, I will take care of it.
Guo Shao visited ten camps in a row, repeating the previous process, sitting for a while at the place where rewards were issued and lists were made, and then inspecting the camps. He also asked about the status of the war horses, baggage and supplies of each commander.
Each commander had a number of people who were firemen and miscellaneous soldiers, most of whom were soldiers with poor martial arts skills. They worked normally and could also be used when they took up weapons in battle. When the imperial army was stationed in Tokyo, these miscellaneous soldiers were responsible for taking care of the war horses; other soldiers would also take turns to do such work.
Most cavalry were light cavalry, mainly riding Khitan Madar horses, which were almost the same breed. Those who could become cavalrymen not only had to be proficient in horsemanship, archery, and horse fighting, but also usually had a good understanding of the habits of horses. The miscellaneous soldiers of the cavalry units were also equipped with war horses. However, the generals were usually equipped with a heavy cavalry, which was more troublesome. Good horses were difficult to raise and the armor was heavier. A heavy cavalry had at least one or two military followers who specialized in helping the knights take care of the horses and armor.
The imperial guards of the Zhou Dynasty were all professional soldiers. In addition to working hard for their pay, they also had to do a lot of work in their daily lives.
The so-called elite means that the number of troops is not bloated, and one professional soldier can do the work of several people in a ragtag army. Of course, the resources and costs of maintaining such an army are different.
The imperial court had tried to use local soldiers many times and formed some local militias, but the combat effectiveness was not good. This was mainly because the civilians were not familiar with military affairs, and the military discipline and rules were not well understood. It was very troublesome and chaotic to cooperate. Most of the time in combat was just daily cooperation, and there were very few real fights. They even had difficulty marching and arranging battle formations, and they collapsed as soon as they went into battle.
Guo Shao left the military camp before the hour of You because he invited Fu Zhaoxu to his home.
After the hour of You, Fu Zhaoxu indeed arrived outside the door with a group of followers. Guo Shao personally went out to greet him and exchanged a few words with him.
This mansion doesn't seem to have changed at all. Fu Zhaoxu said as he came in, "It's just more lively than before, it seems like there are a lot of people living here. It used to be very deserted with few people here."
Guo Shao smiled and said: It sounds like Brother Fu has also lived here.
Fu Zhaoxu smiled and said casually: People from the Fu family have lived here before, but they usually lived in the courtyard in the west of the city, which is bigger. This place was originally used as a villa. Why don’t I talk to father and ask Brother Guo to change to another one? The gate there is more suitable for Brother Guo’s current status and position.
Guo Shao thought of the short but unforgettable time he and Fu Ermei had spent here. It seemed as if every blade of grass and every tree had the shadow of Fu Ermei. He then said softly: Forget it, moving is troublesome, as long as the house is big enough for us to live in.
I have heard from someone somewhere that people tend to get older when they are nostalgic. But Guo Shao is now at the age when he just graduated from college in his previous life. How can he be old? However, he can't help but feel nostalgic for the places he lived in, especially the places where he lived with the people he missed. He has an indescribable feeling. He even couldn't bear to sell the blacksmith shop in Longjinfang, the outer city, and handed it over to the blacksmith Huang.
That's right. Fu Zhaoxu smiled and pointed to a tree in the front yard after passing the screen wall. Ha, that pear tree is still there. Brother Guo, let me tell you, a few years ago, I can't remember which year it was, but my sixth sister didn't know how to climb up there, and she couldn't get down after she got up there, and she cried there. I told her to jump from below, but she didn't dare, and finally she jumped down.
"Brother Fu, did you catch it?" Guo Shao asked with interest.
Fu Zhaoxu said: She was less than ten years old at that time, so of course I could catch a child.
Guo Shao and he had a great conversation, and even Zuo You, who was accompanying him, could not get a word in. Guo Shao found that as long as he had something in common with someone, even if the relationship was indirectly related, he would always have something to talk about.
At dinner time, the servants gradually placed wine and food in the hall. Fu Zhaoxu seemed to pay special attention to the people working, because they were all women with no beauty, either stout and dark, or middle-aged women, most of whom had rough hands and feet and were from the poorest families.
Guo Shao laughed but said nothing. He knew that in the homes of the rich and powerful, even slaves, as long as they often came in and out of the master's sight, were mostly young maids, who might be pleasing to the eye. Guo Shao felt that since they were young and beautiful, their value lay in their beauty, and it would be a waste to use their beauty to work; on the contrary, those women with rough hands and feet were used to hard work, and their value could be reflected by working.
But perhaps Fu Zhaoxu thought he had seen the big picture from the small details and thought that Guo Shao was not lustful.
However, Fu Zhaoxu soon saw another scene. In the side room at the side of the hall, behind a translucent curtain woven with fine bamboo, a graceful and gentle beauty sat down in front of the musical instrument.
Ding Dong The music played by Yang was very pleasant and quiet.
As expected, Fu Zhaoxu couldn't help but look sideways, and took a look at the beauty inside in surprise. Guo Shao smiled without saying anything. Yang's talent might be slightly inferior to Zhou Xian and Chen Jiali, but she was also quite famous in the culturally prosperous country of Southern Tang. She was not a talented woman that could be easily found in the war-torn Central Plains. Even though the Prince Wei's Mansion was large, it was not certain whether there was anyone with talent that surpassed Yang.
Good. Fu Zhaoxu narrowed his eyes and listened attentively.
Yang said softly inside: Thank you General Fu for your praise.
Fu Zhaoxu turned to look at Guo Shao: Brother Guo, there is a wonderful person in your house.
Guo Shao was not modest. He picked up the wine jug and poured the wine himself. Fu Zhaoxu hurriedly held it with both hands: Excuse me, excuse me.
Although you and I are brothers, and this courtyard used to belong to my father-in-law, but now Brother Fu can only be a guest. Guo Shao said with a smile. The sound of the piano was melodious and pleasant, and the beautiful woman was beside him. The atmosphere was very elegant, so that Guo Shao could not help but speak more gently. People are always affected by the environment.
Fu Zhaoxu raised his cup and said: I toast to Brother Guo.
Why? Guo Shao blurted out.
Fu Zhaoxu was stunned. Guo Shao then remembered that his words and actions were not in line with the customs of the times, so he said casually: Cheers to the fate of this courtyard, we brothers have all lived here.
Drink first as a sign of respect.
After drinking, Guo Shao put down his cup and asked: "There is a martial arts instructor in the Prince Wei's mansion. He taught me archery before. His name is Zhou Tong. I wonder if he is still in the mansion?"
Zhou Tongfu Zhaoxu pondered and said, I don't know this person. This time when I go back to the Fu family's mansion, I will help Brother Guo to find out something.
Guo Shao asked: "I am going to Daming Prefecture with Brother Fu, but I don't know when the trip will be scheduled."
Fu Zhaoxu said: I wanted to leave early tomorrow morning. The Queen Mother has also seen Brother Guo, and I am wasting time in Tokyo, so I want to go back early.
I want to keep Brother Fu for a few more days, Guo Shao pondered, the trip is a bit urgent, how about the day after tomorrow? I will select some soldiers to go along.
Fu Zhaoxu nodded readily and said: The day after tomorrow then, I don’t have anything urgent.
The next day, Guo Shao chose a route, taking Chenqiaoyi, the place where the Treaty of Chanyuan was signed in Chanzhou, and crossed the Yellow River northeast of Tokyo.
Light cavalry went from Tokyo to Chanzhou, and the fast horses arrived in one day. The road was flat. After crossing the Yellow River, the area with Zhangde Army to the west and Fu Yanqing's Tianxiong Army to the east formed an inverted triangle shape; that is, the road of Guo Shao and others was under the control of Fu Yanqing's forces, so the road was very safe.
The road was smooth again after crossing the river, and we reached Daming Prefecture in one day.
After Guo Shao set off, he realized that the distance between him and Fu Ermei was not far, but this distance had separated him and Fu Ermei for three months.
Guo Shao and Fu Zhaoxu were in a hurry and were riding fast horses, so when they arrived at Damingfu, no one had not notified the Prince Wei's Mansion. Fu Yanqing was old and usually did not see anyone. Fortunately, he was traveling with Fu Zhaoxu, who took Guo Shao directly into the palace.
When they arrived at the gate of the inner house, Fu Zhaoxu called a servant girl and ordered her: Go tell my second sister that her husband is here to pick her up, and ask her to come out and pick her up.
Because the two of them had drunk together and talked a lot, they had become quite familiar with each other. Fu Zhaoxu accompanied Guo Shao on a chair in the gatehouse, waiting for someone.
Is his name Zhou Tong? Fu Zhaoxu asked.
What do you mean I'm really sorry? Guo Shao turned around and clasped his fists.
Fu Zhaoxu smiled and said: When we were in Tokyo, Brother Guo mentioned that there was a coach in the Prince Wei's Palace who taught you archery. His name was Zhou Tong.
Guo Shao nodded quickly: That’s the name.
Fu Zhaoxu said: I will send someone to inquire first, but it may not be still in the Fu family. It has been many years.
I have been in the Prince Wei's Palace for nine years since I was thirteen. Guo Shao recalled. In fact, when he was thirteen, he was not who he is now, he was completely two different people.