Chapter 3: Lady Wei, Shao Ge'er, and Yu Lian (3)

Guo Shao was momentarily taken aback and quickly replied in a loud voice: "I am the one in command! Following the orders of the king, I am indeed the commander of the Fourth Division and its ten generals"

The hardest to let go of is still the living person, his sister. Later, his sister hurriedly married into a relatively wealthy family, and most of his educational expenses were covered by her husband’s family. However, he vaguely learned that her husband was not good to her; many times he wanted to ask his sister if she did this for his sake, but in the end, he did not ask.

Then a voice shouted from the front: "Order of the Privy Council, we shall march in five days! You are all to prepare your supplies and report to your respective barracks within three days. Those who fail to do so will be punished for dereliction of duty. There must be no mistakes"

After speaking, Guo Shao found a clean inner garment and, early in the morning, drew well water to bathe. In the chilly springtime, those who dare to draw well water for bathing must have a robust constitution. It is said that changing into clean underwear before battle can effectively reduce the risk of wound infection after injury. After arriving in ancient times, Guo Shao also developed a habit of bathing and changing clothes whenever possible before donning armor.

Guo Shao immediately became alert upon hearing the call for Yang Biao, as Yang Biao was the head of the district he belonged to.

Yulian asked, "Do you have an older sister?"

She and Guo Shao have both stayed at Li Shouzheng's residence, and it is evident that the lady referred to is Mrs. Fu. This young daughter-in-law, Yu Lian, usually keeps to herself, but Guo Shao discovers that she is quite intelligent and knowledgeable. He calmly shakes his head: "What is truly worth loving are those who genuinely care for you; it is simply a matter of reciprocating kindness to those who are kind to me. It is not her wealth or beauty that entitles her to others' devotion; she is not related to you in any way."

When Guo Shaoshou emerged from the bedroom, he had transformed into a man encased entirely in iron armor. The heavy and weighty metal emitted a chilling and terrifying luster, and each step he took resonated with a clanging sound, his gait heavy and deliberate

At that moment, a burly man with a horse-like face squeezed out of the line. A nearby military officer immediately scolded, "Yang Biao, do you know your crime?"

Several hundred people stood still, not daring to make a sound. Yang Biao was immediately pinned to the ground by a few of his personal guards. Soon, he became quite a ridiculous sight, his upper body completely stripped, yet still wearing his helmet, resembling someone who had been shaved.

Sister, sister...

Upon seeing the head of the Dong family, Lao Huang's eyes revealed a sense of awe. Outside the door, Yu Lian's expression also turned serious, and the two of them bowed to Guo Shao in greeting. The armed presence caused the gentleness on Guo Shao's face to vanish, and a pair of sword-like brows emerged, exuding an imposing aura without anger. The usually gentle Shao Ge had transformed into Guo the Tenth General.

One day, I will rise to prominence and earn a great deal of money to compensate for all of this

In a daze, he felt as if he were in a past life, where his ailing mother, on the brink of death, wished to eat watermelon. It was winter; where could one buy watermelon? He felt an immense sense of regret. There were more pressing issues; once his mother passed away, they would have to arrange for the funeral. The medical expenses had already drained the family's finances; where would they find the money?

I had a nightmare. " Guo Shao mechanically repeated a sentence

Although I am an old acquaintance of Guo Lang, you need not be so kind to me. Yu Lian said this, yet she showed little intention of declining; she must indeed be in need of it. She then asked, "Why don't you keep it for yourself?"

The man with a horse-like face said indignantly: "They were cheating at gambling, otherwise I wouldn't have brought people to smash that damn place... I may have gone a bit too far, injuring someone badly..."

The breastplate, just crafted, was hanging on the wooden rack in the bedroom. Today, Guo Shao did not intend to wear it, as he was not going to battle and saw no need to dress differently. He donned his chainmail as usual, which weighed over fifty pounds and required calling in Lao Huang for assistance to put it on properly. He then took down a protective dagger hanging on the wall, leaving behind all long weapons and bows.

These individuals are not merely a uniform and visually appealing group; there are also some intangible qualities. For instance, the armor worn by Guo Sha weighs over 50 pounds, and without a certain level of strength, it would be difficult to walk while carrying such weight along with weapons. Furthermore, those skilled in long-range combat, known as divine archers, have trained since childhood, typically requiring at least three to five years of practice; they cannot simply be assembled from a few strong men. The infantry and cavalry of each army have also been battle-hardened, bearing the scars of conflict, and have continued to engage in warfare through various dynasties without interruption.

In the era of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the words of An Zhongrong from Later Jin revealed a profound truth: "Is the Son of Heaven truly of noble birth? It is the strong and powerful who prevail." Amidst the chaos of warlords and the suffering of the common people, this period ironically presents a favorable opportunity for ambitious individuals, as the fate determined by noble lineage is no longer absolute. Of course, one must survive in order to achieve military merit and rise in rank

Guo Shao was immediately baffled, wondering how the commander’s subordinate, with over 500 men, could remember such a minor figure as himself so clearly. Moreover, what merit or capability did he possess to suddenly be promoted several ranks, going directly from a small team leader to a hundred-man captain (doudou)?

Fortunately, not many lashes were struck before Commander Wang raised his hand, saying, "Alright, there’s no time to let him recover. Remember to settle the score when you return. Yang Biao, you need not continue as the captain; you will be demoted to the tenth officer of the Fourth Team of the Ben Du. Is the tenth officer of the Fourth Team of the Ben Du named Guo Shao?"

The commander of Guo Shao and others is Zhang Yongde, the Chief Commander of the Front Palace, but he is not very accommodating. It is easy to see the commander in the picture and book, yet after half a day, not even the shadow of Chief Commander Zhang has been seen.

The general on the inspection platform stood for a while, then took a quick turn and swaggered off on horseback. After a while, the commander of Guo Shao's group returned on horseback. The commander's name was Wang Degong, a middle-aged man with a round face and a thick black beard. Guo Shao recognized him, as the commander was the direct leader of their troops.

At this moment, Guo Shao was shaken awake, sitting up abruptly and staring blankly with his dazed eyes at the person who had roused him. The woman's voice said: "Guo Lang, you had a nightmare"

Commander Wang Degong rode forward with his personal guards, dismounted, and immediately shouted: "Yang Biao! Where is the captain Yang Biao?"

With a crack, the whip suddenly lashed out without warning. "You ignorant fool who knows nothing of the rules!" After cursing, he turned to observe the expression on Commander Wang's face. Noticing the bearded man slightly nodding, he sternly commanded, "Disarm, take off your armor, and fight for me!"

Tens of thousands of people gathered in a training ground. Initially, it was somewhat chaotic, but once the time arrived, they began to organize the ranks, with each commander counting the personnel and reporting. The overall situation was different, but the procedure seemed quite similar to modern military training under Guo Shao. The soldiers stood with their legs apart and heads held high, the ranks were very orderly and disciplined, and at least it appeared that the imperial troops had a somewhat elite demeanor.

Walking to the northern parade ground, soldiers from various homes and garrisons in the city gradually arrived. In an instant, dust and mist obscured the sky, and the crowd was immense, resembling a vast sea of iron and steel.

On the streets, common vendors and passersby avoid them at all costs; no one dares to provoke a group of armored soldiers, even if they lack formal escort and are merely walking. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the status of martial men was high. From the Eastern Capital to various local cities, most martial men were professional soldiers who had spent years in relentless battles, killing without mercy. If a military officer held a position of power and acted arrogantly, local officials were generally helpless against them, and ordinary citizens dared not provoke them.

"You will replace Yang Biao as the captain," Commander Wang said calmly

According to the military organization of the Zhou Dynasty, during combat training, operations were typically conducted with a command unit of five hundred personnel. Senior commanders generally did not directly involve themselves in the specific affairs below the command level; only the commanding officer served as the direct leader of the lower-ranking military officers and soldiers. Each command was divided into five divisions, each consisting of approximately one hundred personnel, with the leader being a military envoy or division head. Each division was further divided into four teams, with each team comprising over twenty members, led by a commander known as a "Ten General." Guo Shao was one of the Ten Generals, commanding over twenty soldiers. Each command was divided into five divisions, each consisting of approximately one hundred personnel, with the leader being a military envoy or division head. Each division was further divided into four teams, with each team comprising over twenty members, led by a commander known as a "Ten General." Guo Shao was one of the Ten Generals, commanding over twenty soldiers

The families of professional soldiers migrate with them, and the garrison is stationed near Tokyo for an extended period, so most people's homes are also in Tokyo. During peacetime, aside from the troops on duty, other soldiers often return home to rest and can conveniently bring their military pay and provisions back home; thus, many, like Guo Shao, come directly from their homes to gather.

The biggest question is, where does one’s own connection come from? Zhang Yongde is not only a general of the Imperial Guard, but also the brother-in-law of the current emperor, someone who is completely unrelated... After much contemplation, could it be due to Madam Wei Guo, the Fu family?

Yulian did not persuade him either, only softly said: "You are still thinking of the lady in your heart..."

"I want to be rich, I want to stand out..." Lying on the old bed, Shao Ge'er was sweating profusely, mumbling in his sleep. Outside, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and the blackened wooden window, stained by smoke, rattled as the faded torn paper was blown by the wind

Guo Shao did not respond, and after a while, he took the land deed out from a hidden compartment under the bed. Yu Lian looked at him in surprise, and Guo Shao said, "This shop benefits from its prime location, with many people coming and going. You can make a living doing just about anything here, so it is still useful for you to keep it."

However, at this moment, it was clearly unwise to engage in idle chatter with the commander. Guo Shao quickly responded, "I am deeply grateful to Commander Wang for your promotion and cultivation!"

Guo Shao was at a loss for words; how could he win the people's trust when he had only risen to power through connections? Indeed, he cast a glance at Yang Biao, who was "plucking feathers"; the latter's gaze was already quite unfriendly.

Yulian turned her head, avoiding his gaze with her swollen left cheek, and handed over a wet towel. Guo Shao wiped his face carelessly and then turned over, pushing aside the wooden bed to start searching.

Wang Degong cast a glance and unexpectedly revealed a hint of a smile: "You, a mere Ten General, have actually received a personal commendation from Commander Zhang. How could I not regard you with newfound respect?"

When he spoke these words, he was very serious, as if he were opening his heart to the world. Yulian understood as well; she lifted her head, and the light of dawn flowed from her eyes, her expression a blend of a smile and something else, which was entirely at odds with her usual timid and apprehensive demeanor

The sound of the whip cutting through the air and striking flesh is chilling. The burly man with a horse-like face, pressed to the ground, gritted his teeth and did not utter a single cry.

After a long time, I finally saw a group of heavily armored cavalrymen holding banners, escorting a general as they rode in from outside the training ground. Among the cavalry, I noticed someone draped in a red cloak. They galloped past the front of the military formation, and Zhang Yongde did not even get a clear look at their face before they passed by

Guo Shaotou said without turning back, "The Northern Han and Khitan forces are marching south, and everyone in the streets of Tokyo knows this. The Lu Prefecture's Zhao Yi army has suffered defeat, and the imperial troops are frequently mustering. It is highly likely that an expedition will take place in the near future. I must go to war and cannot manage the shop."

Before long, a soldier outside the shop shouted for Guo Shijiang. Guo Shao then strode towards the front door and walked out.