Guo Song shook his head, "That's boring. In the end, we rely on power to win first place. Why do we participate in this kind of competition?"
"So everyone is competing for second place. We know very well that second place is first. Everyone will say, it's not easy. Such and such team was the leader of the previous term. No one has ever mentioned Qianniuwei. In the end, Qianniuwei himself
I don’t have any face, I’m looked down upon everywhere.”
Guo Song laughed, "This is shooting themselves in the foot, and they deserve it. Also, I would like to ask, where was Shuofang's army last year?"
Qiao Jin blushed and said with embarrassment: "To tell you the truth, Shuofang's army has never been ranked. We were all eliminated in the first round. If we must be ranked, some good people ranked one last year. We
Shuofang ranks 21st.”
"How many teams are participating in the competition?" Guo Song asked.
"There are twenty-four teams in total."
Guo Song gasped, this is the fourth from the bottom! It's so embarrassing.
Qiao Jin said: "Isn't this because our Shuofang Army is too small? There are only 7,000 people in total, and the cavalry is only 3,000. The Wanqi Battalion has 80,000 cavalry. It is incomparable!"
Guo Song remembered what the emperor had told him. After disbanding the Shence Army, the military expenditures and elite soldiers of the Shence Army would be transferred to the three armies of Shuofang, Hexi and Longyou. Among them, the Shuofang Army would be restored to the level before the Anshi Rebellion.
Guo Song was thinking wildly, and Qiao Jin introduced him: "The eight teams that are recognized as the strongest are the Left and Right Guards, the Left and Right Xiaowei, the Wanqi Camp, the Zuo Jinwu Guards, the Longyou Army and the Lulong Army, Mr. Guo
, are you listening?”
"I...I'm listening, the game starts the day after tomorrow!"
"How can we? It starts tomorrow. Tomorrow we start grouping and drawing lots. The twenty-four teams are divided into four groups, and two teams are eliminated from each group. Sixteen teams advance to the second round..."
Guo Song was surprised to hear this. Isn't this just like the football matches of later generations?
At this time, the game was over. The Wanqi Battalion defeated the Shuofang Army nine to three. There were thousands of spectators around, but everyone knew that there were many spies from each team, so whether the Wanqi Battalion or the Shuofang Army
, all had reservations and did not show their true strength.
Li Ji wiped his sweat and walked down and said: "Wanqiying is a monster this year! It is much more powerful than last year. It is obvious that he is chasing the leader."
Lin Tai also said: "I heard that they also have an extremely powerful newcomer named Wang Fan, who did not play today."
Lin Tai smiled at Guo Song again and said, "Did Guo Song meet his opponent this time?"
Guo Song rolled his eyes and said calmly: "It sounds like I really want to play for your Shuofang team."
As soon as these words came out, everyone became anxious. Li Ji's eyes almost turned red. He glared at Guo Song and said, "It's okay to joke, but don't be serious!"
Liang Ling'er also took Guo Song's arm and begged: "Brother Guo, don't abandon us at this critical moment!"
Guo Song sighed and said: "It's not that I want to abandon you. If you report my name, it's okay if they don't check it. If your grades are good and you get into the top eight, people who are interested will start to find trouble. Yo! This Guo Song is not Shuofang.
He is from the army! How can he represent the Shuofang Army in the competition? There is a problem with his qualifications and his ranking will be cancelled. Do you think this will happen? "
Everyone was silent. Guo Song was really right. They didn't consider this issue before because they just wanted to participate in the competition. Anyway, they were eliminated in the first round, and no one cared about Guo Song's qualifications.
But if they reach the top 16 or even the top eight, how can no one keep an eye on them? Now with Guo Song's fifty-step ball, they have no problem reaching the top 16.
Only then did Li Ji think of Guo Song's qualifications, and he was a little confused for a moment.
Liang Ling'er was very smart and immediately said to Li Ji: "Brother Li, you should discuss this matter with my father."
Li Ji suddenly realized, why had he forgotten the leader?
But before discussing with the team leader, you must make a good deal with Guo Song, lest he refuses to agree in the end.
"Guo Song, I will find a way to solve your qualification problem, but you must agree to help us."
Guo Song smiled and nodded, and because of his friendship with Li Ji and Liang Wu fighting side by side, he would also give his full help.
.........
After listening to Li Ji's suggestion, Liang Yundao put his hands behind his hands and was silent. Guo Song's qualifications are a bit troublesome. This kind of polo match is not like the Lingzhou Martial Arts Tournament. Each family also allows one foreign player to participate. The regulations of the polo match
It is clearly written in the text that contestants must come from all armies.
"Is there really no other way to join the army?" Li Ji asked anxiously.
"There is a way, but it may involve wronging Guo Song."
Liang Yundao said slowly: "I can now send a pigeon letter to Duan Shijun and ask him to add Guo Song's name in the military register. But the problem is that appointments above brigade commander must be approved by the Ministry of War before they can take effect. In other words,
If you want Guo Song to become a member of Shuofang's army, but the Ministry of War does not have his name, there is only one way to appoint him as a brigade commander or below, a team leader, a fire chief or a soldier."
Li Ji pondered for a moment and said: "It's just a title, not actually joining the army. I'll talk to him again."
"But you have to think carefully, he has never played polo before." Liang Yundao was a little puzzled that Li Ji valued Guo Song so much.
Li Ji shook his head and said: "Everyone is begging Guo Song to help Shuofang team so that Jun Zhizhi doesn't understand the situation."
Liang Yun apologized and said: "It's my fault. I've never seen him play, so I took it for granted."
"You can't blame Shijun. Everyone thought it was impossible before. Even I thought so. Guo Song's role is only to replace the injured Liang Wu as a substitute. But the facts have taught us a lesson. If we want to reach the top sixteen, even
To reach the top eight, we can only rely on him."
Liang Yundao nodded, "Okay! As long as he can accept it, I will immediately send a pigeon letter to Jiedushi."
Guo Song was in the Jinzou Courtyard at this time. He sat on Liang Wu's bed and comforted him with a smile: "It's not that after the competition this year, there will be no competition next year. If you can't participate this year, it will be the same if you participate next year!"
Liang Wu's wounds gradually healed, but he would have to stay in bed for at least ten days, not to mention strenuous polo sports. He was destined to be unable to catch up with this competition.
Liang Wu smiled bitterly and said: "Before, I was too utilitarian, but now I think about it. If it doesn't work this year, I'll do it next year!"
"Can playing polo be beneficial?" Guo Song asked curiously.
Liang Wu laughed, "It seems I have to explain it to you properly, lest you take advantage of me and not be grateful!"
Guo Song jumped up immediately, "Who wants to take advantage of you? If it weren't for the sake of you taking a stab for me, would I agree to you?"
"Sit down! Sit down!"
Liang Wu grabbed Guo Song and said, "I'm just joking with you, don't be so excited!"
Guo Song sat down angrily, "Just tell me!"
Liang Wu thought for a while and said: "Take our attack on Xue Yantuo's logistics camp as an example. A total of thirty people participated, including you and Guo Chongqing, and there were twenty-eight others. However, they were finally recognized by the court, and were promoted to full-time officers.
There are only six of them, and the others are just rewards. This is what war is like. Li Ji participated in the war against Xue Yantuo for more than ten years and was recognized as the best scout. However, he was only promoted to the rank of captain, and he was promoted to the rank of Guo in the last battle.
Captain Yi, this is because he participated in countless wars and crawled out of the dead.
But if it is not a war period, then you have to rely entirely on your own backstage. A small backstage is not enough. There must be someone in the court, but this is a very small number after all. Most people have to go through qualifications, but even if they have enough qualifications,
No, for example, according to regulations, you can advance to a higher level in four years, but there are a lot of people with sufficient qualifications, but the court only gives two or three places, so what should you do? It depends on each person's reputation in the army, and the number of people who join the entire army.
The highest prestige can be gained by playing polo."
After listening for a long time, Guo Song was interested in the last sentence, "You mean, polo players have a high prestige in the military?"
Liang Wu nodded, "The premise is that you can participate in the army competition in Chang'an. No one in the army will know you. Guo Song, you are already well-known in Lingzhou, but it is not enough. If you can help Shuofang Ma
If the team reaches the top eight, then you will be the hero of Shuofang Army. If you say something in Shuofang Army, everyone will listen. If you object to something, even the military governor will consider your opinion."
Guo Song smiled and said: "I'm not going to Shuofang Jiedu Mansion to develop, so what do I need to do with this reputation? Tell me it's useless!"
"I know, you don't care about fame and wealth, and you only participated in the competition because I took a stab for you!" Liang Wu said bitterly.
"As long as you understand, have a good rest!"
Guo Song patted his arm, stood up and went out. As soon as he reached the yard, he met Li Ji head-on.
"Guo Song, I was looking for you!"
Li Ji was a little preoccupied. He pulled Guo Song aside and said after a while: "Military positions above brigade commander must be approved by the Ministry of War. It will take at least half a year for the application to be approved. There is no time."
Guo Song laughed and said: "It's just in name, am I really going to live in Shuofang Military Camp? I can't bear that kind of restriction."
"Since you don't care, I'll be wronging you by appointing you as captain."
Guo Song shook his head and said, "There is no need for a team leader, just soldiers. This way everyone can relax."
"The soldiers are too low, it won't work! Absolutely not!" Li Ji shook his head like a rattle.
Guo Song laughed loudly, "It's just in name, do you really want to give me orders?"
Li Ji thought about it and it was right. It was just a name, but he was overthinking it.
However, Guo Song was willing to agree, which could be regarded as solving a big problem.
"Then do you need a military card?" Li Ji asked again.
"I don't care, you can make up your own mind. Just don't ask me to go to the military camp for training."
If military cards are needed, a registration number must be created, and a pigeon letter must be sent to inform the military envoy. If military cards are not required, there is no need to notify the military envoy. No one will check the authenticity of a soldier anyway.
But Li Ji is a serious person. He doesn't want to leave any excuses to others. He also hopes that Guo Song can participate in the competition next year!
Li Ji nodded and said: "I understand, you don't have to worry about anything, I will take care of everything for you."
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[Let Lao Gao take a breather today, there are only two updates, and three updates tomorrow!]