Chapter 8, My Own Team
The Tiger Ben and Yu Lin under the command of the Minister of Rites were particularly indignant
How can that be seen?
Zhang Ji supported the court's relocation to Shan County and had the same intention; thus, the two had a foundation for cooperation
He himself was no exception; he removed his crown and ceremonial robes, donned armor, and joined in the training.
Lady Tang sat in the tent, one hand holding a needle and the other grasping an old garment awaiting mending, listening intently to the roars from the plain, a flicker of unusual emotion passing through her eyes
Liu Xie returned to the plain with these fifty-one individuals, passing by the camps of the Weiwei and Guangluxun, attracting considerable attention. Upon learning that these were the elite selected personally by the Son of Heaven from the ranks of the Zhi Jinwu to serve as attendants, many people's eyes revealed a glimmer of envy.
"Guo Zi was not defeated last time due to a lack of strength, but rather because he was caught off guard, which is why he chose to flee." Wang Chang said confidently, "Guo Zi has a very good relationship with Zhang Ji. With Zhang Ji blocking the way, after Guo Zi gathers his defeated troops, he will undoubtedly join forces with Zhang Ji. He comes from a background of banditry and will never allow himself to suffer losses without retaliation; he will certainly find a way to take revenge and restore his dignity."
Finally, Shi A and Wang Chang selected thirty-nine spear bearers, while Guo Wu chose twelve cavalrymen.
Fu Wan looked at Liu Xie in surprise, and after a while, he finally reacted and let out a sigh
He is well-versed in reading and interpreting texts, but he knows nothing about wielding swords or leading troops into battle. Since taking on the role of Chief of the Imperial Guards, he has been exhausted every day, living a very difficult life
How many spear-wielding infantry and how many cavalry are under the command of Zhi Jinwu?
Even when fully staffed, the Imperial Guard consists of no more than seven hundred individuals
Apart from Wang Yue speaking a little less, Shi A, Wang Chang, and Guo Wu discussed many matters that Liu Xie was not very familiar with
Deng Quan was in a very awkward situation, his face alternating between red and white, and his expression was quite unnatural
Liu Xie was very satisfied with Fu Wan's attitude. "There is no need for too many, thirty to fifty people will suffice. You go back and prepare, in one hour, I will go to inspect the Imperial Guard camp."
However, after listening to Wang Chang's words, he realized that he might have reversed cause and effect
He has been contemplating whether Li Jue will come, yet he has not prioritized Guo Si.
A total of fifty-one people
After finishing lunch, Liu Xie brought Wang Yue and others to the camp of the Chief of the Imperial Guards
Before coming, he had already instructed them to maintain certain standards, which should neither be too low nor too high
He now needs personnel, but cannot solely rely on the elite troops drawn from the Zhi Jin Wu camp
As a member of the royal family, how should he speak up so as not to be ridiculed?
Fu Wan pondered for a moment and said with an awkward expression: "The times are turbulent, the court is in disarray, the ranks of scholars and soldiers are incomplete, with only a little over 300 holding spears, and even fewer cavalry, merely over 100 people"
In chaotic times, one must resort to martial prowess; the Son of Heaven strives diligently for strength and improvement, and he is certainly gratified by the rigorous training in martial arts
Only! After responding loudly, he was somewhat surprised again
The standards are too low; although many individuals have been selected, they cannot be utilized effectively. Furthermore, this will deplete the core strength of the Jinjingwu camp, resulting in Fuwan being unable to fulfill its basic responsibilities
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The Son of Heaven personally arrived, and Fu Wan did not dare to be negligent, making ample preparations
Liu Xie promptly appointed Wang Yue as the Chief Instructor, with Shi A and Wang Chang teaching infantry combat, and Guo Wu instructing cavalry combat, initiating the training.
Although Liu Xie personally experienced that battle, as an emperor, the details he could comprehend were limited
He is making a show of strength to intimidate others. The true main force of the Imperial Guards, which is the focus of the reform, lies with the Weiwei and the five generals of the Northern Army, excluding the Guanglu Xun and the Zhi Jinwu.
The outcome is the result of the combined effects of many random factors. It is quite normal for the situation to change after the emergence of this variable, and history may not necessarily continue to develop along its original trajectory
The sound reached Deng Quan's ears, making him feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles, his back drenched in cold sweat, feeling a chilling sensation
If even a mere warrior understands this principle, why does Wang Yun not comprehend it
Liu Xie deeply agreed and was filled with emotions
Some began to inquire why the Son of Heaven had suddenly come to the Zhi Jin Wu camp to select infantry and cavalry, and why he personally visited the Zhi Jin Wu camp
Liu Xie was somewhat surprised
The standards are too high, making it difficult to select a few individuals
Liu Xie set up a seat in front of the imperial tent, sitting on the ground with Wang Yue and three others. While eating, they chatted casually with Wang Yue and inquired about the details of the recent battle at Xinfeng.
Liu Xie ordered Shi A and Wang Chang to wield the halberd, while Guo Wu was tasked with testing the cavalry.
Your Majesty, I do not know whether Li Jue will come, but Guo Si will certainly come again said Wang Chang with great confidence
Liu Xie was not in the mood to quibble over Fu Wan's negligence, not even clear about the number of his subordinates, only aware of a vague figure. "The world is in turmoil, and I intend to strengthen military affairs. I wish to draw some elite infantry from the Inspectorate to serve as my personal guards."
The Son of Heaven was selecting individuals in the camp, and Guanglu Xun Deng Quanyang acted in defiance of his duties, only recommending Wang Yue and three others. This news quickly spread throughout the camp. Those who had previously not taken it seriously now felt a sense of imbalance upon witnessing this scene, and they began to chatter among themselves, claiming that Deng Quan was obstructing their future prospects
It now appears that, regardless of whether Li Jue will come or whether Yang Feng and others will attack Duan Wei, Guo Si is highly likely to arrive
If selected, there will be a significant increase in income, not to mention being in close attendance to the emperor, with a bright future ahead
If the Son of Heaven were to ask him to practice martial arts together, he would have no choice but to resign
He has been contemplating whether Li Jue and Guo Si would come to pursue under the premise that Yang Feng and others are attacking Duan Wei. If Yang Feng and others do not attack Duan Wei, would Li Jue and Guo Si still come?
Your Majesty is inclined towards military affairs, which is a great fortune for the Han Dynasty. May I inquire how many you intend to select? I shall return to make the necessary preparations.
Even if one is slow to react, it is still evident that the Emperor is dissatisfied with him
With Zhang Ji as an ally standing in front, Guo Si will not easily let it go; he will certainly seek revenge and may even regain control of the court
However, he did not ask whether the Son of Heaven was willing to go to his camp, as he could not obtain such a request
The Son of Heaven led by example, and no one dared to be careless; everyone was filled with high spirits. Although there were only fifty-five people, they shouted with the momentum of over a hundred, effectively suppressing the thousands of officials and guards in the vicinity. Even the distant camp of Dong Cheng was stirred, sending flag signals to inquire about the situation
Is it merely because Zhi Jinwu Fu Wan is the father of the Empress
Returning to the original place, Liu Xie ordered someone to summon Deng Quan to handle the onboarding procedures for these new grooms.
The Tiqi and Zhiji are ordinary guards, without rank. However, the Huben and Yulin have ranks, with salaries starting from 200 shi.
After a long while, she let out a gentle sigh
Is this your opinion? Liu Xie felt uneasy in his heart, but his face remained impassive.
Having just been promoted to the Emperor's close attendant and sharing a drink with the Emperor, although the food and drink were quite simple, it still stirred the blood of Wang Yue and others, filling them with excitement and prompting them to open up in conversation
Deng Quan, with a humble demeanor, withdrew and subsequently summoned the generals of the Tiger Ben and the Feather Forest to discuss strategies
"Fu Qing." Taking advantage of a break in martial arts training, Liu Xie summoned Fu Wan to his presence
Liu Xie asked them, do you think Li Jue will pursue us
It is merely a matter of selecting individuals, why must the Son of Heaven personally attend
Liu Xie did not say much, but earnestly told him that in extraordinary times, everyone must be prepared for battle. The Tiger Ben and Yu Lin are the emperor's personal troops, and they must strengthen their training and not be content with mere ceremonial duties
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Fu Wan stood to the side, watching the Emperor practice his swordsmanship with great focus, feeling anxious and even somewhat dejected.
The cavalry and those wielding halberds stood in formation, each one brimming with spirit and vigor
However, for him personally, this is not good news
Fu Wan stepped forward to pay his respects, his expression timid, his lips moving, yet he did not know what to say
The selection of attendants for the Son of Heaven should primarily be based on their merit, yet it is disconcerting that those wielding halberds and the imperial guards have taken precedence instead
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As night fell, Empress Fushou sent someone to invite Liu Xie to dine.
"I do not possess such insight," Wang Chang said, shaking his head in embarrassment. "It is what the envoy, the servant of the Emperor, Huangfu Li, has stated. Your Majesty, to speak candidly, in terms of military campaigns and operations, the people of Guandong are far inferior to those of Guanshi, especially the people of Liangzhou. Your Majesty has the ambition to pacify the world, and it is imperative to employ the people of Liangzhou."
Wang Yue and others, as members of the Tiger Ben and Yu Lin, possess slightly more information than he does
As the conversation progressed, the topic shifted to the current situation before us