It was just dawn, the palace lanterns outside were still on, and the carved windows were glowing with orange light. Fu Jinzhan's eyes were blurry and sleepy, her face was still tired, her movements were soft and weak, and she seemed to have not recovered from the exhaustion of last night.
She forced herself to cheer up and continued to help Guo Shao dress and tie his belt carefully. Guo Shao kindly advised: Jinzhan does not need to go to court, she can sleep more.
Fu Jinzhan reached out and smoothed the fabric on his shoulder, and said softly: Taking care of my husband makes me feel like a woman. This is God's blessing to me.
Guo Shao was moved and excited, and felt very happy in the morning.
Jinzhan was really attentive. She combed Guo Shao's hair neatly and helped him put on his clothes, which were as neat and tidy as if they had been ironed. Her slender fingers caressed Guo Shao's body, gently and comfortably, as if a trace of affection penetrated his muscles and went straight to his heart. He seemed not to be doing anything, but to be enjoying the tenderness of the moment.
Suddenly I felt very powerful, as if I could do anything, Guo Shao said comfortably.
Jinzhan said softly: Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and is very powerful. There is something about your Majesty that fascinates me.
That place is very big, Guo Shao asked seriously.
Jinzhan punched Guo Shao's chest with her pink fist, looking coquettish. Guo Shao was praised by her, and for a moment he felt very good.
At this time, the emperor's carriage and procession had already arrived outside the Zide Hall. They were the only ones waiting for the emperor, and there was no emperor standing at the door waiting for them to prepare.
No one said a word. Not only did they not dare to make any noise, but it was also probably because they had just gotten up so early and their minds had not yet fully recovered. People always talk very little in the morning.
There was dim light and hazy lights, and the gloomy air was filled with morning mist. Everything was peaceful.
Wang Zhong stood at the bottom of the steps, waiting patiently. Cao Tai was supposed to be on duty today, but last night Cao Tai had bossed Wang Zhong around, saying that he had received the Queen's order to arrange for the concubines to sleep with him today, and there couldn't be any mistakes.
Wang Zhong realized a problem. No matter which concubines he recommended to sleep with him, it was useless. It seemed that the emperor favored the newly-appointed Queen Dafu these days. As the queen's favored eunuch, Cao Tai would become more and more powerful and suppress him. The concubines with status in the harem would try to curry favor with such a key figure in order to win the emperor's favor.
Does he have to be humble when he sees Cao Tai in the future
After a long time, the Queen and a group of palace maids escorted the neatly dressed Guo Shao out. Guo Shao walked down the platform and looked back before getting on the imperial carriage.
A group of people surrounded the carriage and walked along the central axis street through Xuanyou Gate and went to the Jinxiang Hall in the front court.
The sky was getting brighter, but before the sun rose, it was still bitingly cold, and the leaves on the roadside were covered with a layer of white frost.
In the east council hall, the three-day meeting of important ministers continued as usual.
After the ceremony, people soon started talking about the war in Pingxia. It was already late autumn, and it was time to make a decision to prepare for winter operations. War had always been the top priority of the government.
There are two main strategies recently, and the civil and military officials are discussing them. One is to attack Pingxia and Dangxiang from three directions from the east, west and south. Supporters of this strategy think it is safer. As long as they are not defeated one by one, there will always be one of the three directions with weak resistance and rapid progress.
The other advocated a combined attack, mainly considering the financial burden. The Tangut armed forces were very conscripted, claiming that everyone was a soldier, and the total force might reach hundreds of thousands. In order to avoid being defeated one by one, the three routes of Daxu had to mobilize hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, and the cost was incalculable.
While they were arguing, Guo Shao was very decisive and confident. He quickly said: I am determined to lead the army in person and push forward with all my might.
Guo Shao's tone was full of confidence and unquestionable attitude. The twenty or so people immediately stopped talking.
Guo Shao reviewed the situation and said: Pingxia Army only needs more than 70,000 people. The Huben Army dispatched more than 10,000 cavalry and the Control Crane Army dispatched 30,000 cavalry infantry to form the first, second and third corps of the Pingxia Army as offensive forces; the 30,000 guards formed the fourth corps of the Pingxia Army, occupying and repairing the cities and fortresses along the way to prepare for support and protect the retreat and food routes.
Zuo You immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, think twice. If we follow this strategy, the actual force in front is only more than 40,000. I heard that the Tanguts have more than 100,000 soldiers. It is not a safe strategy to fight against a large force with a small force alone."
The strength of a force is not just about the number of people, Guo Shao said calmly.
Guo Shao did not come up with this deployment on a whim. It was the conclusion he reached after weighing and weighing financial revenue and expenditure again and again. Moreover, as the supreme commander of the imperial guards and a professional warrior, he had a clear idea of the combat effectiveness of his own army. However, as Zuo You advised, war is ever-changing, and Guo Shao was a little hesitant.
But today, a strong intuition suddenly came to his mind, which strengthened his confidence.
Guo Shao said calmly: I want to use this battle to prove the strength of Daxu.
That was his intuition and impulse. He wanted to prove himself, prove the power he possessed, and prove the effectiveness of his series of military reforms. He did not want to be questioned.
The contest between fear and courage. The reduction of military power was indeed due to fear, fearing that the throne would be threatened from within. However, Guo Shao was unwilling to admit that he had given in to fear. He mustered up his courage again, because at this moment he felt that he could do anything.
At this moment, Li Chuyun took the lead and stepped forward, clasped his fists and said in a decisive tone: "I request to accompany you into the war and serve Your Majesty at all times."
Guo Shao immediately turned to look at Li Chuyun. It was not that he was suspicious, but every suggestion of these ministers did have its considerations.
Li Chuyun and his generals obviously supported the war. He also supported the all-out attack to reduce financial expenditures and reduce resistance. However, in order to show his public spirit, he did not encourage the emperor to take risks, so he volunteered to go with him.
General Li probably had this in mind.
Shi Yanchao also stood up and said: I have always been the vanguard for Your Majesty. This time when we attack the Dangxiang, I hope Your Majesty will not abandon me and let me be the vanguard.
All the generals volunteered.
Guo Shao slapped the armrest of the throne and said decisively: Shi Yanchao will be the vanguard, Li Chuyun will be the commander-in-chief of the first army in the center, Yang Biao will be the commander-in-chief of the second army of the Pingxia army on the left wing, and Luo Yanhuan will be the commander-in-chief of the third army on the right wing. Cao Bin will be the commander-in-chief of the fourth army of the rear army. Li Gu will be the transport envoy, in charge of military supplies, grain and fodder.
The imperial city issued an imperial decree, and the war machine immediately began to operate
Luo Yanhuan followed the order of the Privy Council and first established a branch of the Third Corps Military Office in the parade ground in the northern suburbs of Tokyo. He sent people to summon the officials of the four yamen of the imperial guards under his command, and then gathered the branch of the Third Corps of the Qianying Military Office organized by the Privy Council.
At this time, the army was still in a scattered state. In terms of command units, some commanders were on duty in Tokyo, and some were being disbanded. Now under the new recruit system, Luo Yanhuan's first task was to get the various government offices to cooperate and mobilize the army.
A group of hundreds of people gathered in the lobby of the simple parade ground barracks. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Luo Yanhuan, wearing armor and cloak, holding the sword bestowed by the emperor, walked to the north and stood still, followed by several personal soldiers carrying things.
Everyone looked up, their eyes fixed on his face.
Luo Yanhuan stood up straight, unfolded the imperial edict with his own hands, held it up for display, and ordered his personal soldiers to hold the imperial edict and walk down, slowly walking among the people, so that everyone could come closer and take a closer look.
Then came the Privy Council's order to mobilize troops and the letter of appointment for mission.
Luo Yanhuan waited silently for a while, and seeing that no one raised any objections, he took up the seal in one hand and the imperial edict in the other, and said solemnly: In compliance with the imperial edict of Emperor Daxu, I am appointed as the commander of the Third Corps of the Pingxia Army. From now on, I have the power to command, deploy, and punish the following commanders of the Imperial Guards: the first commander, the second commander, and the twenty-one commanders of the Third Corps of the Control Crane Army. Anyone who disobeys military orders in battle will be punished according to military law.
He put down his things, raised his sword and said solemnly: God bless our emperor, long live the emperor
After some pretense, Luo Yanhuan raised the imperial power and emphasized the title of the emperor's divine right, and declared his military power. When everyone heard the emperor's worship, they dared not be disrespectful, and hurriedly worshiped together: God bless our emperor, long live the emperor
The shouts of the crowd seemed like an acknowledgement of Luo Yanhuan, and everything became a natural thing.
Luo Yanhuan raised his hand to calm the noise in the hall, and then said: All the officers of the military divisions, sign the military order and send it to the commanders. The commanders will sign the cinnabar note and order all the soldiers to go to the northern suburbs to camp within 15 days. Those who fail to do so will be punished according to military law.
Everyone bowed and said: We obey your command.
This barracks became the headquarters of the Third Army of the Pingxia Army organized during the war, and military orders were issued from the headquarters. The various military sub-offices of the imperial army were actually divided among officials from the four offices of the Privy Council, the Ministry of War, the Metropolitan Government, and the Military Equipment Supervision. They issued military orders to the commanders under their jurisdiction in accordance with the military power and military orders of the commander of the Third Army. The commanders then used the military orders jointly signed by the military sub-offices as proof, and after verification by the deputy commander and the civil servants in charge of the messenger soldiers, they gathered the soldiers from each city and team.
When the Third Corps of the Pingxia Army was mobilized, the officials of the four yamen of the original Imperial Guards could no longer take charge, and each commander would act in accordance with the military orders of the chief general Luo Yanhuan and his shogunate officials.
The weapons, armor, food, and the requisition of able-bodied men and supplies from the civilian population were all under the full control of Li Gu, the transport envoy of the front camp, and his subordinates. The army did not have to worry about logistics and only needed to fight.
Mobilizing the army is now more complicated than before, requiring the joint approval of various government offices. And with so many people involved, the confidentiality of launching a war is completely lost.
Everything is above board and laid out on the table
Guo Shao appointed Zan Jurun, the military supervisor and vice minister of the Ministry of Works, as the military supervisor. During the process of mobilizing the army, he inspected and observed the progress everywhere. Guo Shao asked about the actual operation process at any time, and he was also testing the war machine he designed. ... ...