Chapter 5: Spring Dawn (Part I)

The training site of the Flying Dragon Forbidden Army was at the White Horse Fort, ten miles south of the city, which was more of a small city than a military camp. Since the 11th year of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, His Majesty the Emperor adopted the suggestion of the then Prime Minister Zhang Shuo and gradually replaced the government military system with the conscription system, and this place has become a place for the examination and training of new recruits of the Praetorian Guard. The people of the Tang Dynasty are still martial, and young people are often proud of the country's conquest. Therefore, the assessment standards of the Praetorian Guard have also been mentioned again and again. In addition to the requirement of good health, it also requires several conditions such as a solid family, many brothers, brave talents, and good background. Therefore, anyone who can join the Praetorian Guard will not be too shy in their pockets, and it is common for them to take leave after training and run out to buy wine and meat around the camp. When the people saw a business opportunity, they spontaneously formed a grass market to sell some daily necessities and various snacks to earn copper coins in the hands of the military masters. Soon, the first batch of people who did business with the soldiers made a fortune. As a result, the reputation of the Praetorian Guards as "rich and stupid" quickly spread, and all kinds of businessmen gathered more and more around White Horse Fort. Over time, teahouses, restaurants, and brothels near the barracks were also established one after another, and the singing and singing continued every day, and the lively place was not inferior to that of Pingkangli in the city. (Note 1)

Today, however, the atmosphere at White Horse Castle is a bit of a gloomy one. The sun had already risen, but the doors of the shops near the barracks were still locked. In the past, there was not even a ghost around the stall selling lamb tripe soup, and under the cauldron that three people could hold hand in hand, white charcoal embers were piled up. Occasionally, the wind blows, and the ashes, which have completely lost their weight, fly up one after another, making the surrounding scenery even more desolate.

As early as more than two months ago, Wang Xun was once dragged by Yu Wenzhi and others to White Horse Fort to have a full mouth, and the most profound memory is the huge iron pot near the barracks. Seeing the bleak scene in front of him, he couldn't help but pause, took his mount, raised his head and looked around.

After looking at it, he was even more surprised. In my memory, the place where the doors of people were wide open, and the lively places where idle people and other people kept coming and going had long disappeared. In its place, it was a heavily guarded military town with many sentry posts. At the main gate, several children of the eunuchs of the Beijing division who had come to report early were ordered to jump off their horses and line up in a column one by one. The large bags and small bags he was carrying were all thrown aside, and some servants volunteered to pick them up, and immediately cut their heads and covered their faces with whips from the officers.

"Grandma's, do you think it's for you to travel in the mountains and rivers, and you still have so many things with you." A guy with a huge scar on his face whipped around with a leather whip and yelled at the same time. "Look at your bear appearance, you are embarrassed to say that you came to be a guard for the Son of Heaven! If something happens, let Your Majesty protect you, or will you protect Your Majesty? Put your hands down and straighten your waist. I didn't eat breakfast, I didn't eat and go home, come back when I'm full! ”

Wang Xun's heart jumped suddenly, and his beautiful vision for the Flying Dragon Forbidden Army was swept away. Among the people in line to be scolded were several familiar faces. They are all evil young people who walk sideways in the Beijing Division, and when they see the official sedan chair of the Imperial Doctor, they may not be willing to give up a step. Now that he was forced to the door of the barracks by his parents, he was scolded by a seven-rank lieutenant as a grandson, how funny and funny the scene was.

At this moment, a large group of soldiers of the Flying Dragon Forbidden Army ran past him, all with their helmets crooked, sweating profusely. Seeing the recruits who were being scolded in front of the door, everyone had obvious schadenfreude expressions on their faces. "Someone sent it to the door again to be scolded, this year is really rare!" "Isn't that cheap? Hehe, it's a good day, but you have to be used as a donkey! ”

"You guys, hurry up!" Another officer dressed in a lieutenant's uniform rode over, and the ash pole in his hand swung sharply, hitting the backs of several guys at the very edge of the line, making a "pop" sound. "Don't stand in the way, either report to the camp gate, or hurry home!" The lieutenant turned his head and shouted angrily at Wang Xun and the servants beside him, and then took his mount and ran forward at a gallop.

"Virtue! Isn't it just that you've killed a few big cannibals, what's there to show? A beaten Wyvern Praetorian spat at the officer's back and cursed in a low voice.

"It's just that you don't have a chance to go. Otherwise, which is their turn to be in the limelight with Anzai hillbillies! Another Wyvern guard clenched in a whisper as he stretched out his tongue and gasped.

Wang Xun shifted his mount outward, trying to stay away from the group of soldiers who returned from morning exercises. It can be seen that the soldiers of the Flying Dragon Praetorian Guard were tossed enough by the Anxi officers brought by Feng Changqing. Thinking that he was about to become one of them, he couldn't help but hesitate a little. The Wyvern Praetorian Guard is indeed a good place to avoid trouble, but for the sake of the disaster that has not yet appeared, the price of sending yourself to the barracks and foaming at the mouth is not necessarily too great.

Just as he was hesitating whether he would go home first and think about it, or if he was rushing in for a long time now, a familiar voice suddenly came from his ears, which was extremely low, as if he had come out of the ground, "Second brother, you are also here, hurry up and send the servants home." The things were also handed over to them to take back, except for a few changes of clothes, don't bring anything else you can! ”

"Straight?" Wang Xun turned around when he heard this, and behind his mount's buttocks, he found his good friend Ma Fang wearing a soldier's uniform, "Why are you dressed like this?" When did you come, didn't you report it today? ”

"Don't mention it!" Ma Fang, who had two tall ash poles of his own, looked around, and tried to hide behind Wang Xun's mount, "My grandfather thought I was an eyesore at home, so he sent me over early yesterday." He was afraid that I would die too slowly, and he told the general, surnamed Feng, that he was strict with me. No, with a wave of his hand, I changed from an officer to a soldier! I won't tell you, so do as I say. Hurry, hurry. ”

After that, he turned around and ran towards a team not far away that had just returned from exercise. lest he be accidentally seen by the officer leading the team, and eat a leather whip in vain.

"Grandma's, it's a blessing or a curse, it's a disaster that can't be avoided!" Hearing that Mrs. Ma personally gave her son to Feng Changqing for a lesson, Wang Xun suddenly became ruthless in his heart. He never believed that Old Lady Ma would really harm his own flesh and blood. The conflict between Ping Su Ma Fang and his father is more like an alternative kind of love. One side is very iron and steel, so he hardens his heart and is a strict father. On the other hand, you say that I will go east and I will go west, and I will do everything against my father, so as to show that I have grown up.

For Wang Xun, a child whose parents died early, it is also a luxury to want a father like Mrs. Ma. As if someone was watching him from behind, he smiled and instructed Wang Ji and Wang Xiang, the little servants who came to report to the barracks, "Leave the package with my change of clothes, and you can bring the rest back!" Tell Aunt Yun and let her not worry about me! ”

"Little Marquis!?" Wang Ji protested loudly, "This is what Ziluo cleaned up for you for three days." If you ...... "

"Didn't you see what's going on over there?" Wang Xun pointed to the gate of the camp with a horsewhip and reminded him angrily. The first of those who reported had already entered the camp one after another, and the packages they had brought were all thrown outside the camp gate, and the servants did not dare to go back to the camp like this without the orders of their masters, and stood by the luggage group one by one, at a loss.

"Go back and make it clear to Aunt Yun that it is a request in the barracks. Feng Lao General is a strict administered army, we can't make trouble for him! Looking at Wang Ji and Wang Xiang's pitiful looks, Wang Xun smiled again and said in a slow tone. It's not that far from our house anyway. After a few days, when the camp is not strictly controlled, I will ask someone to deliver a letter to you, and you will quietly bring me something. Isn't it the best of both worlds? Why do you have to come with me now? Things can't enter the camp gate, not to mention, and drag me down to be whipped in vain? ”

Wang Ji and Wang Xiang thought about it, and they also understood that today's Flying Dragon Forbidden Army camp was different from the past. I had no choice but to nod, picked out a bag of Wang Xun's clothes, put the other luggage back on the horse, and left in a huff.

Seeing them go far in the autumn wind, Wang Xun took a long breath, pulled his mount and a shriveled bag, and strode towards the barracks.

What he had just done in the distance, the officer on duty had already seen it clearly. At this moment, seeing that he was able to take the initiative to dismiss the domestic servants and refuse the extra luggage, he couldn't help but have a good impression of him in his heart. The scar-faced officer, who was in charge of arranging for the recruits to enter the camp, smiled a rare smile and asked in a relatively soft tone, "What are you here for?" Submit your name, age, home address, as well as the recommender, and any other proof of entering the camp, hurry up and take it out together! ”

"My name is Wang Xun, the word is Mingyun, I am seventeen this year, and I am at Chongrenfang. The recommender is General Feng Changqing, this is my waist card! Wang Xun put his legs together, straightened his body, respectfully reported his name and surname, and then handed over his waist card.

"What?" Hearing Feng Changqing's three words, the surrounding officers were shocked. The scarred face of the leader of the team stood solemnly, took the waist card from Wang Xun's hand with both hands, looked at it several times, then nodded with a smile and handed the waist card back, "That's right, it's the waist card sent out by General Feng." Since you kid can get into the eyes of General Feng, you must not be far behind. Do a good job, don't embarrass our general! ”

After that, he patted Wang Xun on the shoulder, called a few small soldiers, and led the other party directly to the depths of the barracks.

It wasn't until Wang Xun led the mount away that several other officers who were also responsible for placing the recruits came back to their senses, pulled their scarred faces, and asked nonchalantly: "Old Zhou, you are not mistaken." Just such a half-grown child? Will General Feng personally recommend him? ”

"yes, the hair hasn't grown yet? It can't be a waist card bought from elsewhere. This Jingshi is no better than Anxi, I heard that as long as you have money, you can buy anything! ”

"Shut your foul mouths!" The officer surnamed Zhou glared at him, and his long scar throbbed with the beating of his eyelids, "What are you talking about?" Is our general a person who can be bribed with money? It's true that the person he fancies is a half-grown child, but who said that a half-old child can't do anything? Ambition is not in old age. I think back then, our Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty followed Gaozu to raise troops, but he was only in his early twenties. still beat the heroes of the world all over the ground to find teeth......."

Hearing him mention the battle of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, all the officers smiled and closed their mouths. Yes, what does age mean? We Datang look at people, and we look at ability. Li Xiaogong, Xu Shiji, Luo Shixin, and Emperor Taizong himself, which one didn't lead an army alone at a young age and make meritorious contributions?

Our Datang, the older generation, the younger generation, and the generations have heroes and heroes, so that the four Yi guests are subdued, and the eight directions are deterred.

Note 1: It is recorded in the Tang Liudian that "all the states in the world send troops to recruit, take many households, have strong talents, select former senior officials, honored officials, some strong and bright, and can be the commander, and the section level is promoted to supplement the commander to unify it." ”