The wind rises and falls from time to time, and the snowflakes in the air are rolled up like catkins all over the sky.
Inside the military camp, Guo Shao watched from his carriage as four-wheeled carts pulled by donkeys slowly came in, and countless people in the camp were also watching. At this moment, a gust of wind suddenly became stronger, and the cloth covering the donkey cart that had just entered was blown away.
Suddenly, the brand new copper coins piled on the cart were exposed. The piles of golden copper coins were very conspicuous. The crowd was immediately in an uproar, many people stared with wide eyes, and there was a lot of noise.
Li Chuyun, who was in the same car, sighed and said, "These are all the money from the imperial treasury, which has not been used yet. We thank your majesty for his grace."
Guo Shaodao: The soldiers fought bravely in the battlefield, this is what they deserve.
He watched for a while and saw that all the vehicles had entered the military camp, so he patted the wooden board of the carriage and said: Go back to the palace.
Every time an expedition was launched, a large amount of money was given as a reward, which was a rule left over from the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Guo Shao was not in a hurry to change the rule, lest it affect morale.
The reward money had been allocated, and the expedition would begin within three days. The curtain of war that had been hidden for half a year was suddenly exposed to the public like the cloth covering the copper coins. Everything had begun.
Guo Shao closed his eyes and cleared his mind in the carriage. All preparations had been put into practice, from confidentiality to deployment. Everything was very detailed. Now all he had to do was follow the prepared path.
In the study room on the east side of Jinxiang Hall, more than 20 important officials of the court stood on both sides of the hall. However, the main generals of the imperial army who were going to go to war were not there. The generals present were Yuan Yan, the commander of the left wing of the Konghe Army, Luo Mengzi, the commander of the right wing of the Konghe Army, Luo Yanhuan, the commander of the imperial guards, and Xiang Gong, the governor of the Xuanhui South Court in Tokyo. They were all generals who stayed in Tokyo.
This time, Guo Shao would take with him almost all the elite troops capable of field combat, including the left and right wings of the Huben Army, the left and right wings of the Longjie Army, the left and right wings of the Hujie Army, and all the cavalry of the left wing of the Konghe Army, totaling more than 100,000 elite troops. This was the largest scale expedition of the imperial army since the founding of the Great Zhou.
More than 100,000 people are all the elite troops of a big country with a territory of thousands of miles after decades of chaos. After half a year of preparation, Guo Shao is going to put all his strength this time.
The remaining squads directly controlled the right wing of the Crane Army and Tiger Jie, and could only defend the city, with insufficient offensive capabilities. Because at this moment, the Great Zhou had almost no major worries, which was why the imperial army could move in full force.
When Empress Duanci came to the official, she sang a line. Twenty or so people bent down and looked at the ground. No one dared to look up at the door, not only because Empress Duanci was noble, but also because she was a woman. The ancients believed that people should not look at anything inappropriate.
Not long after, Fu Jinzhan, wearing a phoenix crown and a yellow robe, with her hands folded in front of her belly and a dignified manner, walked slowly into the palace gate surrounded by a group of palace servants.
The ministers and others pay their respects to Empress Duanci. Everyone shouted.
Fu Jinzhan said: Ministers, please don’t be polite.
The emperor was in the study inside. Fu Jinzhan came here in front of the most powerful official in Tokyo, which also meant that she was authorized by the emperor to take over the government.
Fu Jinzhan was the empress of the previous emperor. She was very famous before and served as the regent for a period of time as the empress dowager. In this dynasty, she was the empress's sister and was given a title by the emperor to confirm her status. Now she is temporarily in charge of the government, and there is no strong opposition from the court officials.
In addition to the eunuchs and palace maids, there were also some female servants in white, who stayed in the hall outside and stood at the door of the study. Fu Jinzhan went in alone.
There was some politeness and greetings inside at first, but I could still hear them clearly because the door was open. Later, Fu Jinzhan sat down opposite the imperial desk and talked about government affairs with Guo Shao. Her voice gradually became lower, but the study was deep and there was a sound of wind, so it could not be heard from outside.
The windows in the hall were open, and it was cold inside, with the whistling wind being particularly clear. However, the light was still bright in the snow.
Guo Shao, who was sitting behind the imperial desk, was dressed simply, with a futou on his head and an old round-necked robe on his body. He looked up from the door, then retracted his gaze and looked at Fu Jinzhan and said: Everything is ready, we will set off the day after tomorrow. I have already issued an order that Jinzhan can make all decisions on all matters in Tokyo.
Fu Jinzhan asked softly: How long will this expedition take
Guo Shao pondered and said: It's hard to say. If we occupy Youzhou City, we will enter the second stage, and we must defend Youzhou and compete with the Liao army until they give up Youzhou.
Fu Jinzhan asked again: You will definitely win
Guo Shao showed a forced smile: On the battlefield, it seems that no one dares to say that they will win. If the result is too obvious, the battle will not be fought and one side will give up voluntarily. But Jinzhan is relieved, this battle is well deployed and there is a great chance of winning.
Fu Jinzhan said: I am waiting in Tokyo for your majesty to return victoriously.
Guo Shao nodded.
The two were silent for a moment, and then they could hear the whistling sound of the wind. The windows were shaking and creaking from time to time.
Fu Jinzhan turned his head to look outside, sighed softly, and said: I remember when you were a guard of the Fu family, I never seemed to care about you.
Guo Shao smiled generously and said: That's for sure, it's human nature.
Fu Jinzhan said: "My late mother was very strict at that time, but my father and brothers loved me very much. I was the apple of their eye. And you know, the Fu family has been a high-ranking family for many years. I think I will have a bright future and will get a lot. Think about the wealth and honor, the status and reputation respected by the world, the beauty and intelligence loved by everyone, and a husband who is good at everything and loves me like my father and brothers do.
Hmm. Guo Shao groaned to show that he was listening, very patiently. It wasn't because he was going to go to war the day after tomorrow that he was very busy. On the contrary, when he was doing big things, he was the most patient and in the best mood, probably because his mental state and emotions were adjusted to the positive side.
His eyes swept across Fu Jinzhan's face and he felt that what she said was very true. A beautiful woman with a good family background would naturally have high standards and high aspirations.
Fu Jinzhan took a breath and said softly: But after experiencing so many things, I found that it was not what I thought at first.
Guo Shao followed her meaning and asked: What does Jinzhan think now
Fu Jinzhan turned and looked at him: Everyone has his own destiny. My purpose is to form a marriage alliance with the Fu family. When I am no longer useful, everything will end for me. When I returned from Hezhong Prefecture and almost became a monk, I suddenly understood.
She forced a smile and said: "Later, I kept trying to find ways to play the game of power, and made many people fear me, especially those in the palace. Maybe some people think I want power, but how much does it mean to me?"
Guo Shaodao: What does Jinzhan want now
Fu Jinzhan murmured: There is never a lack of people around me, but I always feel that I am alone. I just want to have someone very close to me, to accompany me all the time, and to go on like this.
Guo Shao was slightly moved after hearing this, and felt as if he had lost all his beauty. He could not help but look at Fu Jinzhan carefully. She looked like a young woman, with fair and smooth skin. Guo Shao could even see the sparse and fine hairs on her hairline pores under the bright light.
She looked into Guo Shao's eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly: Shao Ge'er is that person. Whenever I feel down, I wonder when you will come to see me, ask about my well-being, be so kind to me, never leave me, and hold me. I feel that life is so good and so happy.
Her voice became lower and lower until it was almost inaudible.
Guo Shao felt warm and a little sad in his heart. Unprepared and inexplicably, something in the deepest part of his heart was suddenly touched.
sister
She was like a sister, even closer than a sister. In this world, besides his sister, there was someone who could devote so sincerely to him, protecting him, caring for him, training him, and sincerely helping him to succeed when he was weak and had no way to make progress.
Fu Jinzhan was a little surprised, with a hint of sadness between her brows, but she looked at him with a forced smile.
Guo Shao looked at her. In the bright sunlight of the day, her fair face, full of life, seemed to be shining with light. She was so beautiful. The loose and heavy dress could not hide her gentle figure. Her round and soft breasts were the tenderness of motherhood, and her graceful figure was the beauty of a woman.
The beauty was so moving that Guo Shao was deeply moved, and his heart was filled with sunshine and light.
Guo Shao said in a trembling voice: "If we win back the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, I will be a wise emperor with enough prestige. I am rich in the world. I can compensate you for whatever Jinzhan wants."
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and his eyes became bright: I will definitely win.
Fu Jinzhan said: "Of course Shao Ge'er can win. Everyone thinks you are the God of War Dayi. Isn't it true that the God of War will definitely win?"
Guo Shao pondered for a moment: Everything will go according to plan, and we are well prepared. It is hard to imagine how we could lose. Until now, the Liao people still know nothing. We are well-equipped and heavily armed, and we will definitely capture Youzhou City. If we take Youzhou City, the Liao people will have a hard time supplying supplies, and they will not be able to outlast us. Jinzhan will wait for my good news in Tokyo.
Fu Jinzhan nodded seriously.
Guo Shaodao: I want to hold the golden cup
Fu Jinzhan smiled at him, not surprised or saying anything. There were many people outside, and although they didn't dare to peek in, they could probably see what was happening in the study. Guo Shao certainly wouldn't do anything reckless.
He thought for a moment and whispered: We are right in front of you and can smell each other's scent. How about closing your eyes and hugging each other in your imagination for a while
When Fu Jinzhan heard this, she covered her lips lightly and almost laughed out loud. After a moment, she restrained her smile a little: Okay.
She turned her back to the door, tilted her head back and gently closed her eyes, her beautiful smiling face looking like a fairy.
Guo Shao stopped talking and closed his eyes gently, still smelling her faint breath in his nose, as if he could feel that warm body gently pressing against him.