"Then don't go today. It's very cold outside. Don't get sick from the cold. Mom can go alone."
Mr. Han suddenly became generous and saved his daughter from the trip to the mountains with a wave of his hand.
Xue Tao was overjoyed and took his mother's hand and said, "Mom, why don't you go too!"
Mrs. Han sighed, "As promised, if I don't go, I won't give others face, and I will offend them."
"That"
Xue Tao thought for a while, then put the white fox fur around his mother's neck and said with a smile: "Wear it, no one will dare to laugh at my mother anymore."
Han hurriedly said: "This is impossible. Master Guo gave this to you, how can I wear it?"
Xue Tao smiled sweetly and said: "Since you gave it to me, it belongs to me. What does it matter if I wear it for my mother? It's cold outside, so wearing it will keep you warm."
Mr. Han was moved because her daughter was considerate!
"Okay! Mom, just wear it and show it to them so they can laugh at me for being poor again."
Mrs. Han happily put on her daughter's white fox scarf and got into the carriage to go to the Yang Mansion.
Seeing her mother happily getting into the carriage, Xue Tao finally made up her mind. If the family was really in extreme embarrassment, she would sell the sapphire. Guo Song's favor could be returned slowly, but she could no longer let her parents live in poverty.
And there was a quarrel.
Maybe this favor doesn’t need to be repaid.
Xue Tao sat in front of the window with his chin in his hands, his thoughts having flown thousands of miles away.
After more than two months of hard work, the inner and outer city walls of Jiuyuan County were finally completed ahead of schedule before the first heavy snowfall. The outer city walls were raised from two feet to three feet, and were widened and reinforced. At the same time, the inner and outer city walls were built.
The city platform is a high platform that protrudes from the city wall. The protrusion outside the city is called a horse face. People standing on the city platform can shoot arrows at the enemy's back. This structure can still be seen on the Pingyao city wall.
The inner city platform is also called the inner city horse face. It is a large platform protruding into the city. Its function is generally used to install large-scale city defense weapons, such as trebuchets, stone cannons, etc.
Guo Song led his generals to inspect the newly repaired inner city wall. The inner and outer city walls were one hundred and twenty steps apart. The design was very clever. They were just within the killing range of the Tang army. However, the bows and arrows of Xue Yantuo and other nomadic peoples were at this distance.
At the end of the powerful crossbow, it was unable to cause damage to the Tang army.
However, the wall of the inner city is slightly shorter, only two feet high, so the key is to defend the outer city. The outer city must not be abandoned unless it is absolutely necessary.
"There are finally a few air bridges between the inner city and the outer city."
Guo Song suggested: "It is more appropriate to use a ropeway and rope bridge. Soldiers can use the ropeway and rope bridge to travel during peacetime. In times of war and crisis, they can be cut off with a single sword. General Li, you can arrange it!"
Li Ji clasped his fists and said: "I humble my duty and obey the order!"
Guo Song looked at the gloomy sky in the distance and said: "A blizzard will come soon. Xue Yantuo's army should not come again. The first-level alert can be canceled and returned to normal alert to allow the soldiers to recuperate."
A blizzard came as expected. After a few days, the blizzard stopped. The sun shone on the heavy snow, and Fengzhou completely turned into a snowy world. Fengzhou in winter was quiet and peaceful. Women were busy making noodles and steaming steamed buns at home.
, the men stayed in various taverns chatting and drinking from morning to dusk, and went home in high spirits.
Since the addition of tens of thousands of immigrants and disaster victims, Jiuyuan County has become extremely lively this winter. Although everyone has no money in their pockets, the government has set up a market in the north of the city for the people to set up stalls and exchange surplus goods with each other, which saves money.
The worry of lack of money was gone and everyone bartered.
In the large military camp outside the city, 10,000 soldiers are undergoing rigorous training. Although the Xueyantuo people were forced to give up their plan to retaliate against Fengzhou in the autumn due to threats from the Sijie tribe, it does not mean that they will swallow the bitter fruit of losing soldiers and generals. What about next spring?
?
Training with the soldiers of the Tang Army, there were also 15,000 militia soldiers, all young and strong men under the age of 30. The imperial court gave Fengzhou a self-recruitment quota of 6,000 people, and naturally gave away the corresponding armor and equipment.
Arrive at Fengzhou.
The militia soldiers also wore the same armor and uniforms as ordinary soldiers. Except that they did not have military badges, their food and accommodation were exactly the same as ordinary Tang army soldiers.
The person in charge of training the militia soldiers is Liang Wu. Liang Wu also gained a promotion last year, from a school captain to a general. General Lang is an intermediate general. In just a few years, he was promoted from brigade commander to general.
General, the envy of countless people.
"kill"
Thousands of soldiers roared and thousands of spears thrust out at the same time.
Soldiers of the militia are training spear techniques. These are the thirteen spear techniques compiled by Guo Song. They are very simple and practical. They are suitable for individual combat, spear formations, and even immediate battles.
The standard Guo Song set for them was to practice the thirteen moves thoroughly, and then forget about the moves and attack randomly. Only then would they be able to master this set of spear techniques.
Far away from the school grounds, Liang Wu was introducing the training situation to Guo Song.
"Everyone is not very interested in training these two days. It may be because of the upcoming Chinese New Year. The soldiers are not interested in training. There is no point in training like this. I suggest you take a holiday early!"
Guo Song pondered for a moment and said: "Since everyone doesn't want to train, let's not train. But there are still more than ten days before the New Year. Let everyone go home two days late and find something to do for them."
Liang Wu smiled and asked: "What do you intend to ask them to do?"
Guo Song looked at the militia soldiers training in the distance and smiled slightly: "Let them deliver goods to the countryside!"
The next morning, horse-drawn sleighs poured out from the east and west city gates, running in all directions.
Horse-drawn sleds are the most commonly used method of transportation in the cold northern regions in winter. The sleds are made of pine wood and are tilted at both ends. The two long wooden poles are connected with more than a dozen wooden poles in the middle. A large amount of supplies are placed on the middle wooden pole, and a layer of material is laid on it.
People can also lie on the bed and quilt.
A tall draft horse pulled a sled loaded with supplies and ran through the knee-high vast snowfield. There were three soldiers on a large sled. One person was responsible for driving the horse, and the other two were responsible for controlling the goods on the sled.
The sled is very fast, and people sitting on it have a feeling of speed.
On the sled were the New Year supplies sent to various villages. They had been divided and placed in sacks. Each family had five buckets of rice, a leg of lamb, a hare, two frozen fish and a pound of salt.
The people currently living in various villages are basically disaster victims, but most of them have signed immigration agreements with Fengzhou. Most of the land has been measured and will be distributed after the spring of next year. According to the agreement, Fengzhou will provide monthly
Give them food until next autumn's harvest.
The men of each family are arranged by the government to work or participate in militia training, and are given a small amount of wages every month, which can be used to purchase daily necessities.
The New Year will be in ten days, so the government provides each family with some grain, rice, meat, and salt, which is considered a welfare of Fengzhou.
The sled quickly entered the river. The river was also covered with thick snow, and below it was several feet of ice. Although it was a little colder, the horses ran safely on it and would not be caught in the ditches or sharp edges under the snow.
Injured by stabbing.
More than a thousand horse-drawn sleighs loaded with large amounts of supplies were running on the river. A carriage slowly stopped in front of Xiabai Village, about twenty miles away from the county seat. He Xiaomen, who was in charge of driving the carriage, shouted loudly at the entrance of the village:
"Everyone, come out and move your things!"
He Xiaomen participated in the militia training. He also drove sleighs in his hometown, so he took the initiative to drive horses on the sleighs, and had to make at least two trips to deliver the supplies.
A large number of people came out of the village and happily moved bags of supplies into the village.
He also came out with his grandson on New Year's Eve. When the little boy saw his father, he was so happy that he hugged his father's legs and shouted: "Daddy, when will you come home?"
He Xiaomen rubbed his son's hair and said with a smile: "Tomorrow! I'll be back tomorrow. You go home first and I'll talk to your grandpa about something."
The little boy ran back to the village with a group of children.
He Xiaomen called his father aside and whispered: "Fengzhou is recruiting 6,000 regular soldiers, and I want to sign up to join the army."
He New Year's Eve's expression changed, and he said after a while: "You have to discuss this matter with your wife, we won't care."
"Dad, you should tell your family first! I think it's good to join the army. I can go home in the winter and have a month's vacation at other times. I'll be back in time for spring plowing and autumn harvest. More importantly, I can get another hectare at home.
For land, you can directly get the title deed and convert it into Yongye Field. You don’t need to wait another ten years. There is no money for food, clothing and housing. You also get a military salary of five guan each month, which is 60 guan a year. The key is that you can defend it by joining the army.
Home, I feel I have a responsibility."
He New Year's Eve sighed and said: "If you have made up your mind, I won't advise you. You only need to help with spring plowing and autumn harvest. I will be enough to take care of the other crops. Your mother and your daughter-in-law should also come to help, but no matter what
How about that? You need to talk to your wife about this."
"I know. I will be back tomorrow. If it is decided, I will officially join the army after the New Year."
Seeing that the sled had been emptied, He Xiaoman got on the sled, waved to his father, and drove the sled away from the river.
On New Year's Eve, he walked home worriedly with his hands behind his back. He really didn't know how to mention to his family that his son wanted to join the army.
The New Year of the 13th year of the Dali calendar has finally arrived. Every household cleans the courtyard, posts up the door, and hangs lanterns on the door.
Today is New Year's Eve. Early in the morning, Guo Song washed and changed clothes and prepared to go out. While Xiaoyu Niang was combing his hair, she whispered: "Other people stay at home during the New Year, but it's better for you, the young master. He has to go out as soon as the New Year. I'm afraid the harvest will be bad."
Our family is the most deserted in the state."
"There is no need for me to celebrate the New Year at home now, let's wait until later! When I get married and have children, I will stay at home honestly."
Xiaoyu Niang's eyes lit up and she quickly smiled and said: "Then young master, hurry up and go on a blind date! Don't the three girls of the Leng family really like the young master? The Leng family also wants to climb the high tree of the young master. I think it is a perfect match."
"I'm not a tall branch. If you climb a branch like mine, you will fall to death. Besides, you are too enthusiastic! The next one is to raise the daughter of the family, and make a final circle. In fact, the purpose is Liang Ling'er, right?"
Guo Song understood Xiaoyu Niang's thoughts very well. He wanted to bring himself and Liang Ling'er together. Isn't this a bit of a mess?
Xiaoyu Niang curled her lips and said, "Good intentions are not rewarded. If someone doesn't want to appreciate it, why should I bring trouble to myself? When will you be back?"
"As per the old rules, I will go to the military camp to celebrate the New Year. When I come back the day after tomorrow, you should go to Xue Canjun's house to celebrate the New Year. Isn't his daughter learning martial arts from you? You, the sworn sister, must be qualified."
Xue Changshou's daughter, Xue Xiaojing, was one year younger than Xiaoyu Niang. She also liked to dance with swords. The two girls played together all day long.
Mom then had a place to go, and she stayed at Xue's house most of the time, and the Chinese New Year was no exception.
Seeing that the young master didn't care about her at all, Xiaoyu Niang felt so angry that she wanted to hit him hard on the head with a comb.