At dusk, the evening sun releases a soft and brilliant light, and the sky is covered with a gorgeous sunset glow. A little of the heat of the day has dissipated, and the summer wind brings some coolness to Waqiao Pass, which is particularly pleasant.
Inside and outside Guancheng, the Northern Army officers and soldiers who gathered received deep greetings and rewards from the emperor. Dozens of carts of wine and meat were imported into the military villages and camps, allowing the Northern Army officers and soldiers to celebrate together. The sound of cheers and joy lingered in the Pass. An atmosphere filled the city.
In the Guan Yamen, all the generals of the Northern Army were sitting together, almost filling the entire lobby. The monarch and his ministers were all present, wandering in a harmonious atmosphere. In addition to Liu Chengyou, the person in charge of the case was the Queen Dafu, and the two All of them attended in formal attire to show respect for the generals in the north.
After the banquet started, Liu Chengyou held the wine glass and said with a smile in a friendly tone: "You have worked hard to guard the country's borders and have made great achievements. I am in Tokyo, and I miss you all the time. I miss you very much! Today, you and your ministers will meet in Beiguan. I would like to say this: This wine will comfort you all!"
"Your Majesty, thank you for your concern!" An Shenqi took the lead and responded.
After finishing the cup and filling it up again, An Shenqi stood up, looked around, and said loudly: "Everyone, Your Majesty rarely visits the north and is waiting for our soldiers. Your Majesty is here now to express your condolences personally. On this good occasion, let's come together Long live your majesty and saint!"
When all the generals heard this, they all raised their glasses to each other, and their voices were uniform and vigorous.
"I and the queen, thank you all!" Liu Chengyou answered, holding a cup. Next to him, Fu Hou was also ordinary, covering his face with his sleeves and sipping, his movements were noble and elegant.
After drinking and filling the cup again, Liu Chengyou stood up, walked to the hall, pondered for a while, and said with emotion in a sincere tone: "Since the end of the Jin Dynasty, the world has been boiling, the barbarians have invaded the south, the Central Plains has fallen, and the dust has flown into the darkness. , Jingluo was surrounded by fog. The late emperor took charge of the masters and disciples in Hedong, invited heroes from all over the world, fought against the emperor, expelled Beidi, saved the country from danger, and helped the common people in Lunxu.
Unexpectedly, the year will not be off, the achievements will be completed, the country will be determined, and the crape myrtle star will fall. My virtues are shallow, and with my humble bow, I have been praised by Hongxu. At the beginning of my inheritance, there were internal and external troubles, the country was poor, and the people were poor. Walking on thin ice, working hard and sleeping hard at night, not daring to slack off.
Fortunately, thanks to the support of virtuous ministers and brave generals, they suppressed riots, resisted foreign aggression, and protected the country and the people. In the past ten years, some achievements have been made, including expanding to Huainan in the east, conquering Jinling, recovering Qinfeng in the west, conquering Chengdu, and taking Jinghu in the south. Wei Panyu.
We can hope for frequent successes in matters in the south and the unification of the world..."
A large but empty speech attracted everyone's attention, with different expressions. Feeling the gazes of the generals, Liu Chengyou paused briefly and continued: "But I know very well that the success of the south is also due to the work of the north. All the gentlemen here are loyal ministers and good generals of the Han Dynasty. They guarded the passes and endured the cold and heat for a long time. By the time of the founding of the country, the northern frontier was at peace. You, your gentlemen, are all in good hands.
If there were no generals who worked hard and did their best to keep the peace in the north, there would be no achievements in the imperial expedition to the south. To reward you for your hard work, I offer you another toast! Please!"
Liu Chengyou's words seemed very sincere, and he affirmed the contribution of the soldiers in the north, which made the generals here feel very satisfied. The emperor's meaning is also very obvious. I know your contribution, and I also understand your suffering. Will not forget.
In fact, for today's Northern Army, peace of mind is more important than peace of mind. Liu Chengyou's "affectionate" confession had this intention. Of course, he would not simply think that relying on words would To be able to calm down, you have to rely on real benefits.
In the early days of the Republic of China, due to the threat of powerful enemies in the north, the imperial court paid more attention to the border generals in Hebei than to the other border generals. The generals had room for improvement at a fast pace. However, with the overall shift of the national strategy to the south, they were subject to Its influence gradually became inferior to that of the Central Plains and Southwest China.
The idea of being loyal to the emperor, serving the country, and making meritorious deeds has been promoted in the military for many years, with good results, but everything is afraid of comparison. For ordinary officers and soldiers, it is natural to not fight, to train peacefully, to wait for rotation, or to retire and return home. the best.
But for generals with certain military positions who want to make progress in the north, the chances are very slim. Especially in recent years, the imperial court strives to keep the north calm and use the south. It can be said that if nothing unexpected happens, there will be no success in the future. In the short term, the current situation will be maintained.
Although I haven't seen it with my own eyes, I know through my ears that the generals who participated in the war in the south, those who were promoted, those who were promoted, and those who were promoted to the northern garrison, have no idea in their hearts.
Young generals may be able to wait, but for some veteran generals, especially those who have surrendered since the previous generation, their hearts are much more urgent. Age is one thing, and the emperor's attention is also another. After all, not all generals are like Yang. People like Ye, Ma Quanyi, and Luo Yanxuan are so simple in the emperor's heart.
Therefore, in the past two years, many generals have requested to be transferred to the Privy Council. In view of this, Liu Chengyou still tried his best to be considerate and concerned about the mood of the generals in the north.
However, no matter how considerate you are, there is a limit. Although you understand his ambition and ambition for fame and fortune, without a solid foundation of military exploits, it is impossible for him to be praised and promoted like the general of the Southern Expedition. And in the face of the military and national strategy, there is always Someone needs to make sacrifices, the stability in the north always needs people to maintain, and the cities at the border also need people to guard them. It can't be perfect.
After hearing the emperor's heartfelt words, An Shenqi stood up and said respectfully: "I have been favored by the imperial court and feel your majesty's generous treatment. I only think about doing my best to train troops and horses to protect the country and the people. How can I do that?" He hopes!"
An Shenqi started, and the remaining generals also expressed their attitudes and vowed that the emperor and the court would not have to worry about looking north.
"I know that all the generals have the desire to make achievements, and I can understand that here are all good generals and warriors. How can the imperial court abandon them? Please be patient. The world is not yet peaceful, and there will be a time in the future when you will be able to make achievements on the battlefield. !" Liu Chengyou laughed softly.
After chatting for a while, the atmosphere slowly became warmer, but the audience still felt a sense of restraint. Liu Chengyou said again: "Okay, I won't mention any more gossip. If I continue talking, this dish will be cold." This time, I have brought a hundred altars of royal wine from Tokyo, and we, the monarchs and ministers, will drink together to enjoy our friendship, without getting drunk or having fun!"
"Come here, change the bowls for the generals!" Liu Chengyou said again.
"yes!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
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As the night progressed, the atmosphere in Waqiao Pass was still very lively and noisy. The emperor was working hard and the emperor and his ministers were having fun together. In the yamen hall, the generals were mingling with each other and having fun. They were all Northern generals. This was a rare gathering. Opportunity.
However, Liu Chengyou quietly left the table, allowing them to relax more. He took his queen and the couple together to patrol Guancheng. Following him were An Shenqi and Luo Yanxuan.
On the Beiguan Tower, looking at the still tight arrangements, Liu Chengyou showed a satisfied look. Paying attention to the emperor's expression, Luo Yanxuan took the initiative and said: "No matter when, the defense of Guancheng does not dare to slack off!"
However, the cheers coming from the city, especially from the lower camp of the city wall, still had an impact on the garrison sergeants who were guarding the gate. They were in a state of confusion, but after the general arrived, they quickly regained their composure.
Stopping in front of a captain, Liu Chengyou asked: "What is your name and where are you from?"
Liu Chengyou's bright yellow clothes are still very eye-catching even in the dark night. Coupled with the noble and beautiful talisman beside him, the captain, no matter how low-level he is, knows who is asking the question.
With a bit of nervousness, the captain replied: "Your Majesty, the younger one's name is Zhao Kuo, and his surname is Tangyin."
"How long have you been in the army? What achievements have you made? How long have you been guarding this pass in the north?"
"Young Qianyu joined the army three years ago and killed two Khitan bandits. It has been two years since he was transferred to Shun'an Army!" the captain named Zhao Kuo replied.
"Are you homesick?" Liu Chengyou asked.
There was a look of nostalgia on his face, he hesitated a little, and said in a deep voice: "I want to!"
"Any relatives at home?" Liu Chengyou asked again.
"My father was killed by the Khitans in his early years, but he still has an old woman, two younger brothers, and a younger sister at home!" Zhao Kuo said.
"I see that you are not very young. It is not easy for an old woman to take care of you four brothers and sisters!" Liu Chengyou said.
