On the same day that Li Luo issued the recital, Zong Tian led more than 5,000 Jurchen elite soldiers to arrive. He left his soldiers and horses outside the city and came directly to meet Li Luo.

"Zong Day, meet Lord Lang!"

Li Luo couldn't have imagined that Cui Xiuning would send Zong Tian to lead more than 5,000 Jurchen elite soldiers to help, which was really unexpected.

"Lord Lang, this is Madame's letter." Zong Tian took out a sealed letter and presented it to Li Luo.

Zong Tian took another package, "This is the boots that Madame made for Lord Lang herself, what kind of cotton is used." Madame said that winter was coming soon, and it was cold in Japan. ”

Li Luo took the letter and the package, "You have worked hard all the way, and now you are camping outside the city to rest." Wait until tomorrow, and then I will go out of the city to reward the soldiers. Li Luowen said. Of course, the so-called reward is not the point, the point is to meet the five thousand Jurchen elite soldiers, so that they can meet their own masters.

It wasn't until Zong Tian left that Li Luo opened Cui Xiuning's letter. The first thing that catches your eye is a familiar font that is not good-looking: "Luo, see the letter like a face..."

didn't look at the two lines, Li Luo trembled excitedly.

Cui Xiuning has it!

That month, I didn't work in vain, I was going to be a father.

Is it male or female?

"Someone!" Li Luo shouted.

Liu Dadao, the chief of the guard on duty, came in, "The lord asks for instructions." ”

Li Luo smiled and ordered: "Pass the order, each person in the whole army will add one pound of meat and three taels of sake today!" But don't get drunk! ”

"No!" Liu Dadao was confused, thinking to himself if there was any happy event for the lord?

Li Luo was happy, but he had to suffer from gains and losses. He is not a patriarchal person, but the problem is that boys are far more important than girls at the moment.

If it's a boy, it's really a successor. The military and the people's hearts of the Tang State will be more consolidated.

Then, Li Luo couldn't help but laugh dumbly. It's really a trick, two years ago, he and Cui Xiuning were still incompatible with each other, but now, this police flower has become a child's mother.

Cui Xiuning also said in the letter that everything is fine in Haidong, the autumn harvest is about to begin, and it should be another bumper harvest. More than 30,000 immigrants from Liaodong also divided their land.

Haidong finally discovered the first open-pit iron mine, which was not large-scale, but enough for Haidong's own use. She is still organizing prospectors to find copper and sulphur in preparation for artillery.

She finally made the first sample of modern black powder, which was obviously more powerful than the black powder of the Yuan army. However, Haidong lacked saltpeter, so she could only slowly collect folk nitrate powder for filtration, and the output was very small.

At the beginning of September, she began to form an 800-strong mountain combat regiment, named the Mountain Leopard Regiment, compiled a set of mountain special warfare teaching materials, and began training.

At present, the Mountain Leopard Regiment is to deal with Shengfan, and at the same time, it is also training and cultivating mountain combat talents, and then it can be expanded into a Mountain Leopard Division and a Mountain Leopard Army, which can deal with Annam and Burma.

Li Luo is very satisfied, otherwise why would he say that Cui Xiuning is a virtuous helper. She knew that she would definitely fight Annam-Burma, so she would simply start training mountain combat troops now.

The last page of the letter is a plain face, drawing Cui Xiuning himself. Her sketching skills are very basic, her paintings are lifelike, and her voice and smile seem to be in front of her.

A line of small words on the side of the painting: Safety first, cherish. Don't worry me. March is not seen, such as three autumns. Peaceful.

Li Luo put away the letter in his heart, opened the package again, and saw how the cotton shoes made by the little police flower were.

To be honest, it's really average, it looks a little clumsy, and it's probably what she has learned and done. Good thing it's the right size and it's warm.

Although it is not delicate enough, Li Luo likes it very much.

Li Luo felt a warmth that he had never felt before. Growing up, no one has ever cared so much about him. It was the first time he had received such a gift.

At this moment, suddenly Li Yang had something to report, interrupting Li Luo's thoughts.

"Owner, the passive team has captured a group of samurai who have infiltrated Kyushu Island, and they have been smuggled from the Seto Inland Sea."

Li Luo sneered: "Did you recruit it?" "He knows the methods of spies, but if anyone falls into the hands of spies, few of them can die to the end.

Li Yang said: "There are seven people in total, what kind of ninja is it." After some interrogation by his subordinates, four of them died of pain, and the other three were recruited. "The so-called interrogation, of course, is torture to extract confessions, otherwise how can a prisoner be allowed to die painfully?

"Their purpose is threefold. First, he wanted to infiltrate the governor's mansion and assassinate the owner. The second is to find out the intelligence of the Eastern Expeditionary Army. The third is to contact the rebels in Kyushu and rebel again. ”

Li Luo said: "What did they recruit?" ”

Li Yang said: "The good sect master knows. The shogunate and the Kyoto court have been united and jointly opened to the outside world. Almost everyone of the ministers, including landlords and merchants, donated money and grain. Hojo Tokimune and the Emperor of Japan jointly ordered the mobilization of 300,000 soldiers and horses, the requisition of all merchant ships, and the preparation of a decisive battle to the south. ”

"Today, there are more than 150,000 soldiers and horses in the state, and they are still gathering. It's just that the Maguan Strait was blocked by our army, and the Japanese had insufficient naval divisions, ships, and ordnance, so they would not be able to go south for a while. However, at the latest in early October. ”

By early October at the latest? Li Luo frowned, this was earlier than he expected. It is now mid-September, that is, at most half a month, he will face a Japanese army of 300,000.

Li Luo paced back and forth in the pavilion with his hands behind his back, and it seemed difficult to decide.

With the addition of more than 5,000 Jurchen elite soldiers, then there are more than 10,000 of his descendants in Kyushu.

Do you still want to stick to Kyushu Island and wait for Hojo Tokimune to take the initiative to fight?

The reinforcements of the Yuan court will definitely not come in the short term, because there are no ships. Just requisitioning and searching for a large number of ships will not be done quickly. But it is not ruled out that the Yuan court will send a partial division to aid him as soon as possible.

But the problem is that Hojo Tokimune is likely to attack Kyushu Island before the Yuan Dynasty reinforcements arrive. More than 10,000 sailors are far from enough to blockade the coast of Kyushu Island.

At that time, the shogunate's heavy army was pressing the border, and there were resistance forces inside, so it was very passive. Maybe if he can't wait for the Yuan army to come to help, he will be finished.

Now, there are 5,000 Jurchen elite soldiers, it's better to... Take the initiative to attack and defend?

Well, let's listen to what the generals have to say.

Thinking of this, Li Lu immediately ordered the drum to be raised.

Soon, all the generals above the deputy 10,000 households came to the council hall that was changed to the governor's mansion.

"The last general meets the general!" The congregations will bow together and then sit in order.

Li Luo was dressed in armor, with a heroic face, and he looked very powerful and capable.

Li Luo first bowed to the west, "Ben Shuai has already reported to the imperial court, and a large army will come soon." It's just that I heard that the Honshu shogunate has mobilized 300,000 troops. The commander estimated that when the shogunate had all the ships and ordnance, it would be overwhelmed by early October at the latest. I may not be able to wait for the imperial court to come to my aid. What should you do next, speak freely and express your opinions. ”

Mongol Wanhu Zheza first stood up and said: "Then please ask the general to raise troops to attack that Honshu, and the last general is willing to be the vanguard!" We Mongols are hunters, not prey. Hunters, do not wait for their prey to bite themselves. ”

Jiang Jun also said: "The last general also advocates attacking as defending. Take advantage of the shogunate's lack of preparation and strike first. ”

Du Lie said: "Although it is easier to defend, when the Japanese are fully prepared, our army will fight more difficult." It's better to take the initiative. Although our army has few soldiers, its morale is high and its armor is complete, so what is there to fear! ”

Then others also advocated attacking and defending.

Although the generals underestimated the potential of the Japanese country a little, Li Luo was very satisfied with their attitude. This shows that their morale and fighting spirit are very high.

Of course, Li Luo also tends to attack and defend, so that the generals are the same.

"Good! Ben Shuai is very relieved! Then take the initiative to attack Honshu! When you return to the camp, you will immediately prepare for the northern expedition. September 18, the army sent to this state! ”

September 18 is a special day. Li Luo's choice of September 18 to attack Honshu certainly has its own deep meaning.

"No!"

"Wow!"

The generals thundered together and received the order together.

The next day, Li Luo personally went to Zongday's military camp outside the city to inspect more than 5,000 Jurchen elite soldiers.

There are more than 5,200 people in total, eighty percent of them are Jurchen soldiers, all of whom are about 30 years old, and almost all of them are old subordinates who raised troops with Yan Duo eight years ago.

The 5,000-person platoon was not neat, but everyone had an air of lean and fierce spirit. After these Jurchens returned to Liaodong, they fished and hunted in the area of the Yalu River, and after seven or eight years, they regained the courage and fearlessness of the Jurchens, and they were not inferior to the Mongols in this era.

Good soldiers! Seeing them, Li Luo was much more confident.

Li Luo had already asked Shaoer Xinzi to provide a large amount of wine and meat, and rewarded more than 5,000 reinforcements. This time I brought it directly.

"You should all know who I am. I only say one thing, if you fight for me, you are my robe. I am not only the lord of you, but also the father and brother. Regardless of life and death, I will share honor and disgrace, and I will live up to it! ”

More than 5,000 people bowed down together, "I've seen Lord Lang!" ”

Li Luo couldn't help but feel that if he wanted to succeed, he still needed to take advantage of it. If he didn't recognize Yan Duo as his father-in-law and didn't inherit Yan Duo's mantle, would these more than 5,000 elite soldiers know who he is? I won't be happy to be loyal.

With this batch, the number of Jurchen warriors serving under Li Luo has now reached 8,000. The Jurchen soldiers were also his earliest source of force, and it can be said that the Jurchen soldiers were Li Luo's starting capital and start-up capital.

Li Luo had a meal with the Jurchen soldiers and met several veterans personally selected by Yan Duo. Then more than 5,000 people were divided into five regiments, and Zong Tian and several veterans were appointed as regiment commanders, all of whom were incorporated into the Chinese army.

Then, Li Luo allocated the captured 4,000 Japanese war horses to make up for the number of their war horses, so that they all became cavalry. Anyway, these can ride horses, and they are considered natural cavalrymen.

Li Luo also discovered an interesting phenomenon, that is, the weapons of the Jurchen soldiers, except for the bows and arrows issued by Haidong, nearly half of them used maces.

It seems that the habit of the Jurchen soldiers to use maces is really a tradition. The mace is a long soldier, which can not only smash, but also stab, and is very suitable for people with great strength.

Familiar with the Jurchen warriors, Li Luo gave them the order to go out the day after tomorrow.

…………

On the east coast of Honshu, Kamakura Castle, Tsuruoka Hachiman Shrine.

Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Hachimangami, the god of samurai guardianship. The so-called Hachiman God is the godhead that Emperor Ojin incarnated after his death.

At this time, the solemn and solemn Tsurugang Hachimangu Shrine, inside and outside the torii gate, was full of great samurai wearing mourning clothes.

The palace is full of magnates and nobles!

Among them were the officials of the Kamakura shogunate, the imperial family of the shogun's imperial palace, the imperial family of the Hojo clan, the local tanti, and the guardians of each of the guardian kingdoms of Honshu.

Even the princes and ministers of the Kyoto court came. It can be said that today's Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine has almost gathered Japanese nobles.

"Bell—"

"Jingle bell, jingle bell."

As soon as the bell chime and rattle bell of the main hall of the shrine rang, in the midst of the smoke, nine "gods" wearing a crown of the former heaven, wearing sandalwood paper, wearing a white Qianzao coat, wearing red straw sandals, and wearing a mask, entered in a slender manner.

These nine mikos, the leader is holding a kagura bell, and the other eight are holding a cypress fan, a bat fan, a sword, a sakaki, a taiko drum, and other objects in turn.

"Jingle bell—" As soon as the quiet Kagura bell rang, everyone's hearts were terrified, and it seemed that the magic thoughts in their hearts were really expelled by the divine bell.

The Son of God, also known as the shrine shrine maiden, is a mediumship that serves ghosts and gods, and has a high status in Japan.

The Son of God at the head slowly sang:

"A thousand years of time, the soul of the bright moon, the sun is brilliant, and the end of the world is on the other side... Since I said goodbye to the world, I will never return... Even if it is not a day full of cherry blossoms, the autumn leaves are also my spring..."

After the song, he shook the kagura bell again, and all the nobles in the hall "snapped" twice in a row, and said "hehe" in his mouth, and then bowed his head together, closed his eyes and mourned.

Today is the day to worship the samurai who died in battle, such as the young two and the Hojo Minister, and it is also the day of the highest state council of the Kingdom of God.

Hundreds of high-ranking officials and generals gathered together to discuss the state of the country. I don't know how many years have it been since there has been such a grand scene. Even in the Kyoto Imperial Court, this kind of scene would not have occurred.

Ever since he learned that the entire army of Shaoji had been wiped out and that the western capital Dazaifu had been captured by the Motoko, the center of power in Japan was changed from the Shogun's Imperial Palace and the Hojo clan's Gansho Mansion to the Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine in the north of Kamakura Castle.

It seems that with the blessing of the great god Hachiman, the courage and wisdom of the great samurai will be blessed to the greatest extent.

Hojo Tokimune, who was only thirty years old and dressed in filial piety, slowly walked to the lower left of the shrine in the main hall, facing everyone, his face full of coldness.

"The hall is full of vegetarian sacrifices, and I don't want to be ashamed!" Hojo Tokimune's opening is two lines and poems.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today we are sacrificing to the soldiers and civilians of the Kingdom of God, and he is coming to this state, who will sacrifice us? Some people say that regret should not save the Song Kingdom, so that the lips are cold and the teeth are cold, the Yuan Kou destroys the Song Dynasty, and it is finally the turn of the Kingdom of God. ”

"But this theory is an afterword after all, if when the Song envoy asked for help, the monarchs could have such insight, then why should the palace be short-sighted?"

Hojo Shizong said with dissatisfaction. As the eighth shogunate ruler and samurai leader, although Hojo Tokimune had a lot of means and his prestige increased greatly because he successfully defeated the first invasion of the Yuan army, it did not mean that everyone was convinced.

Especially after the fall of Kyushu Island, some people who opposed him spread news unfavorable to him, mainly because they were short-sighted, refused the Song Dynasty to ask for help, and didn't even understand the truth of cold lips and teeth. So much so that he sat back and watched the fall of the Song Kingdom, and let the Yuan Kou invade the Japanese Kingdom again.

This black cauldron, of course, Hojo Tokimune will not carry it.

A few years ago, the Song envoy asked for help, but only a few people thought that troops should be sent to help, and he did not object. Most people, however, advocate that it is not important to hang it high, so as not to provoke Yidi and set himself on fire. Therefore, in the end, the shogunate refused to send troops and only provided a little military supplies.

Now, how did this strategic mistake come to his head? At this time, I take this opportunity to speak out, of course, to take my own responsibility off.

"Ping Yoritsuna, tell me, as of today, how many soldiers and horses have gathered in Kanto? How's it going? Hojo Tokimune defended himself and asked directly about military affairs.

Hei Yoritsuna, a major minister of the family order and a confidant of Hojo Tokimune, bowed and said: "Tell Your Highness the Ruling Highness that as of today, more than 163,500 soldiers and horses have gathered in Kanto, and 35,800 war horses. However, there were only 130,000 carcasses (armor) and only 150,000 weapons. ”

Another important minister, Anda Taisheng, also came out and said: "Your Highness, the morale of the army is high, and everyone has the will to take revenge. But there are not enough ships and armaments. War horses, in particular, are lacking enormously. As for the cavalry, it was even more insufficient. ”

The main force of the Japanese cavalry was the more than 60,000 cavalry brought to Kyushu Island by Utsunomiya Sadatsuna. But with the annihilation of the Kyushu army, the main force of the Japanese cavalry was gone.

These more than 30,000 war horses were made up with the strength of milk. What's even worse is that now even qualified cavalry can't gather more than 30,000 people.

Ping Laigang said: "There are not enough war horses, not enough cavalry, so why be afraid? Nowadays, nearly 10,000 pieces of weapons are produced in various places every day, and they are continuously transported. By the 10th of next month, our army's carcass weapons are all ready, and the attack and defense will be changed. ”

ps: Today, the whole person is a little bad, crab crab everyone supports. Crab crab!

Qingyi literature