While the Fengzhou immigrants were plowing their land in full swing, Guo Song had quietly left Fengzhou. He led a dozen of his trusted generals to Lingzhou to take over the 6,000 Tang troops who were about to be transferred to Fengzhou.
The emperor Li Yu approved Guo Song's request for an additional 12,000 troops. Li Yu decreed that 2,000 troops from each of Longyou, Hexi, and Shuofang would be deployed to strengthen the Fengzhou garrison. Another 6,000 troops were given to
Fengzhou's quota and various military resources need to be raised by Fengzhou itself.
More than a dozen generals were among the seventy-five surviving warriors who followed Guo Song to the Western Regions. Last year, they were named brigade commanders and took over Fengzhou's three thousand troops.
Now that a new army has arrived, Guo Song is preparing to promote a group of outstanding among them to captains to take over the new army of six thousand.
This was also what Guo Song had negotiated with Duan Xiushi in advance, and he appointed all the captains of this 6,000-man army.
The group of people rode horses and galloped all the way, and arrived in Lingzhou three days later.
In the early morning, a group of people entered Lingzhou City. The warm sunshine shone on Guo Song. He squinted his eyes and looked at Shuofang Jiedu Mansion in the distance. He wondered if he had seen it wrong. Just for a moment, the name of the big flag above
The number is not Duan, but Li.
Guo Song stared at it for a moment. He was sure that he had read it correctly. The name on the banner was no longer Duan, but Li. What did it mean? Could it be that Duan Xiushi was no longer the military commander of Shuofang?
At this time, a group of troops rushed out from Jiedushi's mansion. They were all female soldiers. The leader was a female general with slightly dark skin and handsome appearance. She was Duan Sanniang, whom she had not seen for several years.
Although Guo Song had been in Fengzhou for more than a year, this was the first time he met Duan Sanniang. He heard from Duan Xiushi that she brought fifty female soldiers into the capital and was summoned by the empress.
Duan Sanniang passed by Guo Song. She was suddenly startled, stopped her horse quickly, and asked in surprise: "Guo Song, is that you?"
Guo Song smiled slightly, cupped his fists and saluted, "Miss Duan, long time no see."
A smile appeared on Duan Sanniang's lips, "We haven't seen each other for several years. I just came back from the capital last month. I heard from my father that you were serving in Fengzhou and had done a good job as an official. I just told you to go there when I have time."
Come visit.”
"Has Miss Duan been in the capital all this time?"
Duan Sanniang nodded, "I am actually the female guard of the palace now, responsible for protecting Queen Dugu when she travels. I can only stay for a short time when I come back this time, and I will return to the capital in a few days."
It turns out that Duan Sanniang really went to the capital to work, so no wonder he didn't see her.
Guo Song glanced at the banner and asked, "Why did the name on the banner change to 'Li'? Is your father about to be transferred?"
Duan Sanniang sighed and said: "My father who was just appointed is no longer the governor of Shuofang. He has been appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment and will return to Beijing to report on his duties."
Guo Song's heart sank. Duan Xiushi was indeed leaving Shuofang Jiedu Mansion. Some time ago, there were rumors that Duan Xiushi had been in Shuofang for too long and the imperial court would transfer him. No one took the rumors to heart. Unexpectedly
The rumors turned out to be true.
However, it is not surprising that Duan Xiushi was transferred. He had already served as Shuofang Jiedushi for two terms. The imperial court had learned the lesson of An Lushan, and a general in charge of the army would not serve in one place for more than eight years at most.
"Who is the new Shuofang Jiedushi? Is it Li Changshi?" Guo Song asked.
Duan Sanniang shook her head, "It's not Li Hui. Li Hui seems to be transferred as well. I heard that the new Jiedushi envoy is called Li Huaiguang, who previously served as the Jiedushi envoy of Xingning."
It turned out to be Li Huaiguang, who was a traitor in history!
"Is it your father or Li Huaiguang who lives in Jiedu Mansion now?"
"My father is still here. In a few days, he will go to the capital to take up a post in the capital."
Duan Sanniang hesitated and asked in a low voice: "How is Liang Wu doing now?"
Guo Song perked up and said quickly: "He performed meritorious service in defending the city last year and has been promoted to general. He has the demeanor of a general. Don't Miss Duan go to Fengzhou to see him?"
"I'm just asking. I don't have time to go to Fengzhou. Mr. Guo, we will see you later!"
After saying that, she whipped her horse and rushed towards the north gate with dozens of female soldiers, stirring up billowing yellow dust.
Guo Song waited until she disappeared and then shook his head. It seemed that Liang Wu and Duan Sanniang no longer had this fate. Duan Xiushi left Lingzhou, and the possibility of coming back was slim, and Duan Sanniang would never come back. The distance and time
Separated, the line of fate was broken.
Guo Song sighed and urged his horse to run towards Jiedu Mansion...
Duan Xiushi heard about Guo Song's arrival and personally welcomed him out. He said to Guo Song apologetically: "You must have heard about my transfer, right?"
Guo Song nodded, "I met Sanniang just now and heard what she said. When was this decision made?"
"Actually, I heard the news not long after the locust plague ended. However, there was no official appointment or removal at that time, so I didn't mention it until three days ago when I received the imperial edict to officially remove me from the post of Shuofang Jiedu Envoy.
, transferred to the imperial court, appointed Li Huaiguang as the new Shuofang Jiedushi, I want to go to Beijing to handle the handover."
"But the flag should be changed after the new Jiedushi takes office! Did Duan Shijun change it too early?"
Duan Xiushi shook his head and said: "Since I have been officially appointed, I should change the flag. If I don't change it for a long time, others will think that I, Duan Xiushi, am in love and won't leave."
"This Li Huaiguang is said to be difficult to deal with!"
Duan Xiushi snorted coldly and said: "He is not easy to deal with. I heard that he was recommended by Chang Xiangguo. He has a strong sense of faction. What he often says is that those who follow me will prosper and those who go against me will perish. However,
Don't pay attention to this. You are the military envoy of the three towns. All the troops under your command belong to the military affairs office of the three towns and have no direct relationship with Shuofang Jiedu. Even if you don't obey him, he can't do anything to you."
Guo Song said silently, "I came to Lingzhou this time mainly to take over six thousand troops."
Duan Xiushi nodded, "I know, the army is just outside the city, it's still early, let's go directly to the military camp!"
The two left Jiedu Mansion and rode outside the city. Duan Xiushi glanced at Guo Song's dozen men and said with a smile: "These are the twelve captains you want to appoint!"
"It's them, please help Duan Shijun."
Duan Xiushi nodded, "According to my principles, this kind of thing can't be done. You can't place your cronies in the army at will. Although this is already a common practice in the army, I still can't agree. If it were normal, I would never agree.
But I’m resigning, so I’ll make an exception to help you this time, but there won’t be a second time.”
Guo Song said with a smile: "This is my confidant, not your confidant. In fact, your confidant did not make an exception."
"You brat, if I remove all the captains from the army and put your people in, what's the difference between doing it myself? It's essentially the same thing, nepotism."
"It's not called nepotism, okay? You have to fight with father and son in battle! Is it also nepotism? The key is your own people. The command is smooth and the military orders can be conveyed thoroughly, just like directing one's own arms. During the war, the commander's orders can be implemented to the maximum extent.
intention......."
"Okay! Okay!"
Duan Xiushi stopped Guo Song's tirade and said with a smile: "I know your little thoughts, so don't speak so openly."
Guo Song rolled his eyes and stopped talking, as long as Duan Xiushi agreed.
.........
Six thousand troops are stationed in an independent camp outside the city. Duan Xiushi is currently serving as the temporary commander-in-chief. Below the commander-in-chief are three middle-ranking generals and six generals. These are middle-level and high-level commanding generals. There are almost two thousand people with one middle-ranking officer.
The generals, followed by the left and right generals, each command two battalions of a thousand troops.
Below General Lang is the battalion, which is equivalent to a company in later generations. It is an extremely important command point. The specific number of people in a battalion varies. The infantry has about 500 people per battalion, the cavalry will be less, and there are about 300 people per battalion. The scout battalion,
Logistics camps, etc., will not have too many people.
This 6,000-man army is basically infantry. The number is relatively standard. There are 500 men per battalion, a total of 12 battalions. The captains of each battalion have been separately appointed. This time, Duan Xiushi directly brought Guo Song.
Twelve of his close men were appointed as school captains.
This is a very common practice in various armies. Everyone is aware of it and has no objections. It would be strange not to do it.
Duan Xiushi did not hand over power to Guo Song immediately. He first let the twelve captains familiarize themselves with their own camps. These twelve captains were all brigade commanders before. After defeating the Xue Yantuo people last year, each of them was promoted to one level by accumulated merit.
As captains, they all have some experience in leading troops, and all of them are very good. They quickly adapted to their respective roles.
In the afternoon, Duan Xiushi summoned three Zhonglang generals and six Lang generals and formally introduced Guo Song to them.
One of the three lieutenant generals was from Longyou, named Li Qian. He was born in the Li family of Longxi. He was somewhat related to Guo Song. His cousin Li Sheng was Guo Song's second senior brother in Kongtong Mountain, Gan Yun.
Yun and Guo Song only came down the mountain after being in contact for a month. Unlike Zhang Lei and Yang Yu, who were as close as brothers to Guo Song, Guo Song had only met Li Sheng once since he came down from the mountain, and it was when Li Sheng came to pay homage to the physical statue of his master.
of.
But with this kind of relationship, it's still easier to get along with them.
Guo Song, a lieutenant general from the Shuofang Army, knew Zhao Yunlun, the chief referee of the Lingzhou Martial Arts Association at the time. He was the captain of Lingzhou and a confidant of Duan Xiushi. Duan Xiushi was afraid that Li Huaiguang would mislead him, so he arranged for him to go to Fengzhou.
Although it was a bit embarrassing to be Guo Song's subordinate, Zhao Yunlun would rather go to Fengzhou. Once Li Huaiguang takes office, he will definitely be among the first to be purged.
The third lieutenant general is from Hexi Jiedu Prefecture. Guo Song really didn't expect that he was actually someone he knew. He was Bai Tinghai's deputy guard who captured Zhang Sen. He had accumulated merit and was promoted to lieutenant general. This time he was drawn
Two thousand people went to Fengzhou. Zhang Sen used the relationship with Zhao Tengjiao, the governor of Hexi Province, to grab the quota of leading troops. In this way, he was promoted from Lang Jiang to Zhong Lang Jiang. If it hadn't been for this opportunity, he would not have survived.
You will not be promoted until the Year of the Monkey and the Horse Month.
Duan Xiushi introduced Guo Song to everyone, nodded and said: "The next step should be for Guo Shijun to give lectures to the troops, beat the drums and gather the troops!"