The crown prince arrived at the front line, which greatly surprised Li Tangbin and Gao Renhou who were in charge of Xiangcheng.
The two of them knew very well why King Xia sent the crown prince to the front line. They wanted to increase their knowledge, accumulate experience, and get to know generals. This was the standard model for cultivating heirs. They first assisted in supervising the provision of grain and grass in the rear, and understood what this important link in a military campaign was.
What's going on? Let's feel the atmosphere of the military camp, accept the influence of war, and lay a solid foundation for further study and accumulation in the future.
But what's going on now? Can't sit still in the back? This happened!
Li Tangbin was the head coach, and to put it harshly, his status in the Kansai martial arts group was not lower than that of the Crown Prince of Xia, and so was Gao Renhou. So, they sent Hu Zhen to persuade the Crown Prince to go back to the rear.
Assist the people of the Eastern Capital Shogunate in transporting and distributing grain and supplies.
Hu Zhen captured the prince Shao Chengjie in Yingqiao Town.
Darling, they all ran to the front. When Wang met this sick man, he actually led the crown prince to the military camp. That was really...
"Hu Zhen is coming." Shao Chengjie was squatting there and watching the auxiliary troops trimming the horseshoes. When he saw Hu Zhen coming, he immediately stood up and saluted.
Hu Zhen returned the favor. After thinking about it for a while, he was about to speak, but was stopped by Shao Chengjie's hand.
"For famous generals in ancient times, the most important thing is the morale of the army. Hu Canjun is also a veteran on the battlefield. Have you ever seen a famous general sitting in a big tent and not even knowing what the sergeant is thinking?" Shao Chengjie asked.
"No." Hu Zhen replied.
"My grandpa found a foal for me a long time ago, but I haven't learned how to trim a horse's hooves yet. In the past, my followers did it. I find it very interesting." Shao Chengjie continued to watch the auxiliary soldiers' movements and asked from time to time.
After a few words, he turned to look at Hu Zhen and said with a smile: "Okay, there's no need to rush Hu Shenjun. I brought a lot of food and wine, and I'll treat Jiang Silang to two drinks soon."
"Who is Jiang Silang?" Hu Zhen asked.
"Hu joins the army, and my servant is Jiang Silang." The auxiliary soldier stopped what he was doing and saluted respectfully.
Hu Zhen didn't know what to say. An old soldier, who had been in the army for so many years, was still an auxiliary soldier. Generally speaking, when there was a vacancy for combat soldiers, they would be selected first from the auxiliary soldiers, and then Lingzhou Yuan, Shaanxi Province, etc.
The new recruits sent by the prefectural hospital were recruited into the auxiliary battalions. This man had been selected for so many rounds, but he was still an auxiliary soldier. It was obvious that he had no real ability, and Hu Zhen did not want to talk to him too much.
Hu Zhen found Zhang Maza to sit down and waited patiently while carefully observing the military camp.
The Dingyuan Army had fought some battles since they arrived at Yingshui to set up defenses. The scale was not large, and they were mainly sneak attacks across the river and counter-sneak attacks. The casualties each time were only around 200 people. After adding new soldiers to the continuation army, the current establishment is complete and morale is still good.
Not bad.
This army participated in the war to conquer Hewei, pacified the gold merchants, stormed Luyang Pass, and also defeated the Liang people in Shazha Valley and returned to Xiban. The most recent battle should be the battle to attack Ruzhou.
Participated in the attack on the three passes of Luonan.
Each unit of the Xia Army has military history files. The Tielin Army has the longest record of eighteen years. The records are immersed in the heroic and dangerous battles on the battlefield.
The experience of fighting against different types of opponents has accumulated rich war experience and forged the soul of a strong army.
Perhaps, these are the elite soldiers who founded the country.
Hu Zhen thought of the Huazhou legion he once led, which was now scattered, and the biggest embers were in the hands of Ge Congzhou, stationed in Zheng and Meng. It was a pity.
Half an hour later, Shao Chengjie's personal entourage brought wine and food, and several people sat on the floor and started eating and drinking.
Hu Zhen was also called over, and he didn't mind anything. He just sat on the ground and ate and drank together.
"I heard that the prince went hunting with the army officers yesterday?" Hu Zhen asked suddenly.
Li Tangbin told him about this. Shao Chengjie and more than a hundred soldiers of the Dingyuan Army went hunting in the mountain valleys dozens of miles away. They came back with great fun, roasted the prey together, drank for a long time, and even rewarded them with some property.
There is no doubt that the prince is trying to buy military morale and accumulate fame.
How old are you children to do this? Hu Zhen sighed.
He was also born into a local tycoon, and his family was in a good situation, but when he was twelve years old, he was still wandering around the countryside, taking a horse with him, drinking and having fun with his friends. Although he also accumulated a lot of fame, it gave him the opportunity to start a business in the future.
Capital, but these are all done unconsciously, imitating others, and he himself has no such awareness.
Children who are born into powerful and wealthy families should have different things from the rich and powerful like them since elementary school. Hu Zhen was a little embarrassed. He was so far behind when he started. How can he compare when he is older? Well, from this point of view, the prince’s father
What's even more remarkable is that he has built such a huge territory from such a low starting point. He is the same type of person as Zhu Quanzhong and Yang Xingmi. Well, it seems that more than half of the military leaders in the world are from the lowest level. Hu Zhen was discouraged.
"I shot a few rabbits, but they are not worth mentioning." Shao Chengjie said nonchalantly: "The bow is too small and cannot shoot larger prey. I was also unlucky, not a single tiger or leopard was seen."
Hu Zhen was speechless. Hundreds of thousands of troops from both sides had been locked in a stalemate across the river for several months. Which tiger and leopard was so blind and insisted on coming over?
"Your Majesty, the Yingshui front is complicated. From time to time, bandits cross the river to the west and attack our military camps. The sergeants who go out to collect firewood often suffer casualties. At this time, it is better not to go out, right?" After a moment of silence, Hu Zhen looked at
Shao Chengjie looked good, so he cautiously advised: "Li, Second Commander Gao is still waiting for the situation to change and the army to cross the river and march eastward. Why don't the prince return to Linru to supervise the transportation of grain and grass, and then return after the situation is settled?"
? It’s not easy for the king’s army to be an envoy if you are stuck on the front line like this. As far as I know, the Dingyuan Army will be the first batch to cross the river. If the prince is still here, it will be too dangerous. The army is fierce and the battle is dangerous. Who can
I can’t say that I will definitely win.”
Shao Chengjie didn't answer. He was surrounded by more than ten followers, all the children of Shuofang Army generals. Those who practiced civil and military skills with him were considered his small team. At this time, everyone was looking at him, waiting for him to make up his mind.
.
"That's all, my uncle asked me to supervise the construction of Qingshu Palace, so let's go to Guangchengze and have a look." Shao Chengjie sighed and said, "Let's see if those craftsmen have taken snake prevention measures. They are not like Taizong.
Every now and then a snake comes in."
Hu Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. In the entire Luoyang camp, the only person Li Tangbin had trouble managing was probably this man. Now it seems that the prince likes to be active rather than quiet, and likes to mingle with warriors. He is even eager to go into battle and experience it, regardless of him.
That small body can't cope with it.
"The instinct to want to control the military is almost the same as that of his father, but there are some differences. He is not as cautious and protective of himself as his father. Could it be that this is a temperament brought by the blood of the Zhe family? The children of the Zhe family, indeed
She likes to rush and fight fiercely." Hu Zhen thought secretly: "Although the princess is virtuous and kind, she is also said to be a hero among women who can ride a war horse and drive a bow. She is just married to Queen Xia and has been raising her husband and children.
That's all. It's not surprising that the prince has such a temper."
Hu Zhen felt that as the heir to King Xia, it was within the tolerance range for the crown prince to solicit military support on a small scale. But if it went too far, even between father and son, there would be no family ties to talk about.
If you have the ability, you can raise an army yourself. This may be more acceptable to the King of Xia.
"Let's go and come back to Linru." Shao Chengjie greeted, and a group of half-grown teenagers began to pack their bags.
"Go to Guangchengze and see how the palace is being built. Don't let Duan Ning fool you." Shao Chengjie said: "When I bring people to live here, I don't know how many more brothers and sisters will be added to my palace.
Will it not be enough?"
Looking at the narrow smile on Shao Chengjie's face, Hu Zhen could only smile bitterly.
…
Shao Chengjie indeed has another sister.
At the end of September, Mrs. Chu gave birth to a daughter at Jinxian Temple. According to the medical officer of the Imperial Medical Office, the princess is in good health and everything is fine.
Shao Shude was in a good mood after receiving the news, but he didn't pay too much attention.
He has sixteen biological children, which is indeed a lot. Moreover, he is still young, and with so many women around him, there will definitely be many more children born in the future. But he is not worried about what burden it will cause to the new dynasty established in the future. He plans to
Like Li Tang, no descendants of emperors have been born in the five servers. They can take exams, serve as officials, and do business. There is no need to be completely supported by the state, which would put too much financial pressure.
After putting these things aside, he concentrated his energy on the battle in Henan.
"Your Majesty, we are still using the old method for this battle." Chen Cheng, who rushed back from Lingzhou (Huile County), said: "The Weisheng Army has entered Caizhou, and some of the Huaining Army have also gone north. According to Li Tangbin's strategy, it is
We plan to fight a battle of annihilation in Caizhou first to eliminate the Liang Army's mobile forces in Caizhou and shake Pang Shigu's main force in Yingshui, and then fighter planes will appear."
Shao Shude hummed, and he also approved of this combat plan.
Pang Shigu had 120,000 men and horses stationed in Xuzhou, and he mainly relied on the five states of Chen, Xu, Cai, Ying, and Bian for supplies.
Among them, Chen, Xu, Ying, and Bian are connected by Yingshui and Caishui, which are also the backup waterways of the Bianshui Rating Road between China and North Korea. Caizhou and Xuzhou are connected by Rushui.
Since June, both sides have carried out raids and counter-attacks around these transportation lines. Liang Jun's transportation efficiency has been greatly reduced, and now the supplies on the front line are not very sufficient. Severe cold weather is coming soon, and the rivers will freeze. The Liang people can only
Transshipment by land is even more difficult. Of course, the same goes for our own side.
Taking advantage of the Tang and Guang towns that have been operating for many years, and letting the Feilong Army and Bizhang Department cooperate to win the battle in Caizhou and Yingzhou and eliminate some of the enemy forces, we may be able to leverage the entire situation and find the enemy's weaknesses.
The two armies have been facing each other across Yingshui River for five months, with deep ditches and high forts, which is almost the length of the stalemate between Qin and Zhao at Changping. Shao Shude gave Li Tangbin great patience. After the autumn grain was put into the warehouse in September, Wei Shengjun and Huaining
The army began to hoard supplies, summoned local warriors, and finally began a decisive battle.
"Let Qibi Zhang cooperate with the Weisheng Army and the Huaining Army." Shao Shude said: "Just tell Qibi Zhang that I will give everything to you on the Rouzhou grassland. The Qibi family will always control Rouzhou, and it is hereditary.