Commanders from various states successively headed south to Jiangning Prefecture. At the Zaojiafang Wharf outside the city of Dongjing, a large number of armor, firearms and crossbows were being loaded onto ships; it was said that there was a workshop in the Military Equipment Bureau in Songzhou that specialized in making crossbows. There was a constant flow of ships on the Bian River.
At this time, several people were arguing on the dock. When the generals of the Five Military Governor's Office received the armor, they thought it was not up to standard, so they went to find the officials of the armor workshop to argue.
In front of the officials, the general stabbed a breastplate with his sword. There was a sound of metal friction, and the plate armor was pierced by the sword. The general said angrily: Look, you can also hand this over.
The official said in a deep voice: General, you don’t know, this batch of armor is like this
The general said coldly: "You want to fool me? It's not like I haven't worn our new armor before. When has it ever been so fragile?"
Are you a military officer of the Imperial Guards
The general said: I worked in the Imperial Guards.
The official said: No wonder, General, don’t worry, listen to me.
The armor we delivered to the Imperial Guards in the past, of course, did not have such problems. It was just that the armor was made with high-quality iron materials in the early stage, so it would not break during cold forging. After being thinned by the hammer, it became harder and tougher. If the iron materials were not good, the iron ore in the Central Plains contained more sulfur impurities, so it was hot forged and annealed, which required experienced craftsmen, and even experienced craftsmen could not always succeed. It might be too soft, or, as in the case of that set of armor, the outer layer might be cracked.
Now, more and more armors are being forged, and many of them are not hard enough and need to be re-forged. However, the Military Equipment Bureau wants us to make armors for the Imperial Army and the Rural Army at the same time, which is too much for us to handle. The higher-ups ordered that armors that are not hard enough should also be issued and given to the Rural Army of the Five Military Command.
After hearing this, the general cursed loudly.
The official said: They are local militia, it is good enough for them to have armor, how can they use all the best? The court cannot afford it, and our armor-making workshop is too busy to handle it.
The general said angrily: Don't fool me, the second-rate armor is kept in the dock warehouse and not on the ship. I will go and ask my superiors to see if what you said is true.
The official had been talking for a long time, but he was getting impatient and snorted: "It's all up to you, my Lord."
The soldiers under the command of Kaifeng gathered in the camp outside the city of Tokyo one after another, and set out south two days later.
Yu Liang stayed in the camp for a long time, and he wanted to see Hongying and say goodbye. He didn't know why, but maybe he wanted to let Hongying see that he had found a way out.
He entered the city in a military uniform with a saber on his waist. Passers-by on the road looked at him sideways, not to mention Yu Liang's uniform. He was handsome and looked good, and he looked better than the imperial guards. Of course, in terms of combat effectiveness, he basically knew nothing about marching and fighting.
Yu Liang walked with his head held high and chest puffed out, and for a moment he felt that he was very imposing. He was in a very good mood, as he now had his own job and no longer felt depressed about relying on Hongying for a living.
Sure enough, he saw her at Hongying's house. Hongying looked her up and down and said with a smile: Wow, you have a good outfit and look more energetic than before.
This woman can actually laugh. Yu Liang calmly clasped his fists and said: Today I am here to say goodbye to Madam Hongying.
Hongying asked him about his affairs with concern.
As the saying goes, one should not hit a smiling person. Originally, Yu Liang was still a little angry, but unexpectedly, after just a few words, his anger towards Hongying was no longer there.
Yu Liang sighed, feeling a little sad. Some resentment can only last for a short time. Unless it is a deep hatred for someone's parents' murder, who can remember it for so long? Even if you feel very angry at the time, it is only a small matter after all, and you will forget it soon.
Hongying asked again: When will Yu Lang come back
Yu Liang replied: "I don't know yet. The superiors only said that we should go to the Jiangnan camp to train troops and then march south. It seems that we will not be able to return for a year or two."
After hearing this, Hongying showed a sad look on her face and said quietly: After this separation, I don't know when we will meet again.
Yu Liang was also affected by this emotion. Among the sad things in this world, separation is probably the most common one.
Hongying said gently: If you are asked to go into battle, you must pay attention to your safety. If you lose your life, what is the use of fame
Alas, Yu Liang felt warm and sad at the same time when he heard her pleasant voice, and he sighed deeply. He whispered: I will remember what Madam Hongying told you to do in Tokyo, and take good care of yourself.
The two looked at each other and unknowingly came closer.
Hongying whispered again: Do you still blame me
Yu Liang shook his head: Madam Hongying treats me well
Hongying glared at him and said coquettishly: It's good that you know
At this moment, a servant came to the door and said, "Madam, General Yang has arrived at the front yard and wants to see you."
"Didn't Yang Ye return to Hedong?" Hongying asked immediately.
The servant said: It was General Yang Ye, he said he had just arrived in Tokyo.
Hongying stood up hurriedly, gathered her hair in front of the bronze mirror, and said: "Go and tell someone to prepare some tea, I'll go see him right away."
Yes. I bow.
Yu Liang was standing nearby and suddenly laughed bitterly. Hong Ying then turned to look at him and said: I am really sorry, Mr. Yu, General Yang has come all the way to Tokyo, I have to excuse myself for a moment.
Yu Liang shook his head and laughed again, unable to speak. He was a big shot in his hometown, but here he was not respected by others.
Hongying gave him a cold look. The two of them were speechless and she walked straight out of the room.
Yu Liang called out, and Hong Ying turned around to look at him. After a long time without hearing him speak, she urged him: "Yu Lang, what do you want to say?"
Yu Liang sighed and said: My wife is so hot and cold, it's really hard to bear.
Hongying thought for a moment and said, "I know what you came here with today. Yu Lang is not that cunning. I'll tell you the truth. I don't look down on you."
Yu Liang frowned: Oh
Hongying whispered: Even if you can't achieve success, if I follow you wholeheartedly, I will have a good ending.
Yu Liang was speechless.
Hongying laughed: Everyone in the world is thinking about themselves, who is more heartless than who
Hongying was warm and gentle to Yang Ye, and Yang Ye was also very happy. He joked in a deep voice: "A husband and wife for a day are bound by a hundred days of grace. After all, we lived together day and night in the past. When I came to Hongying, I felt like I was back home."
Hongying gently pulled his arm and said in a tender voice: General Yang is praising me, do you feel like a guest at home
Haha Yang Ye laughed.
The two exchanged greetings for a while. Although Yang Ye had a smile on his face, he was secretly worried.
Hongying asked sympathetically: What's troubling General Yang
Yang Ye pondered for a moment and said: Hongying has heard nothing from Madam Shen about the inside story of the court.
Yang Ye was summoned to the capital to participate in the discussion of the Northwest Strategy, which was something the emperor had mentioned before. On the one hand, Yang Ye felt very lucky, after all, being able to participate in the court affairs would gradually help him gain a foothold in the Great Zhou court; on the other hand, he was somewhat apprehensive, because he knew too little about the people and things in Tokyo.
The matter will be discussed tomorrow. In fact, when the matter is put on the table for discussion, what is said is nothing more than expressing one's attitude. The real weighing and thinking and some mutual consultation process are in private.
Yang Ye's problem was that he was originally from the Northern Han side and had very little connections in Tokyo. In the power arena of the Great Zhou, the person he had the deepest friendship with was Emperor Guo Shao.
At this time, Hongying suddenly covered her mouth and laughed: General Yang thinks too highly of me. Even if I were Madam Shen, how could she know the inner workings of the court? I think only the prime minister can give me a clear answer.
I'm afraid General Yang has also heard what I know. They are all common knowledge. The court is expanding its troops and is going to use military force against the Southern Han. Anyone who is not blind can see the troops heading south on the post road and the military ships on the river. It's such a big scene, everyone knows it.
Yang Ye was slightly disappointed after hearing this, and said with a fist: I was just asking casually. I thought that since Mrs. Shen was familiar with Han Xizai, she might also know Prime Minister Li Gu.
Hongying said: As far as I know, Madam Shen does not know Li Gu.
She thought for a moment and said: The last time I met Mrs. Shen, she said that making friends with too many people in official circles is not necessarily a good thing.
Oh Yang Ye looked at her.
Hongying said: After all, we are just merchants, we just need to run our business in peace and not be bullied. If we get too close to officials, we will board the same boat, but the official boat is not necessarily more reliable than the business boat.
Yang Ye thought for a moment and then said with a smile: That makes sense and is an interesting statement.
Hongying asked someone to prepare a table of wine and food, and chatted with Yang Ye. When they were half drunk, she played the pipa and sang songs, which made Yang Ye very happy. In the gentle land, his worries were relieved for a while.
Yang Ye did not leave at night and stayed at Hongying's house. He had a happy night and only lamented that the summer nights were too short.
The next morning, before daybreak, Yang Ye got up in a hurry, packed his things, and rushed to the court.
The sun rises early in the summer, but when Yang Ye went out, it was still dawn. There was a long string of lights on the Imperial Street. It was a grand court day, and the scene was very spectacular. At the end of the lights, the towering Xuande Gate seemed to be towering in the sky. The lights on the Imperial Street were like the bright stars in the sky.
In addition to many civil and military officials on the road, there were even more slaves and attendants. One official could have more than one attendant, resulting in a very large number of people.
Yang Ye followed countless officials into the corner gate of Xuande Gate. They did not need to be searched when entering the imperial city. It was only when they reached the platform of Jinxiang Hall that eunuchs and two rows of imperial guards stood there, and they searched everyone one by one before entering the court.
Yang Ye was a man who had seen the world. He was not nervous at this kind of occasion, because there were so many people together, and he didn't need to say anything, he just went through the motions. After the grand court was over, it was estimated that some important people would gather together to discuss business.
At this point, Yang Ye had no choice but to adapt to the situation and first listen to the court's attitude towards the northwest. He made up his mind not to speak or take a stand easily.
I wish all my book lovers a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and a happy family.