From the lunar month to the first lunar month, Tokyo is extra bustling, with festive decorations and a warm atmosphere that makes the cold winter months no longer deserted. Guo Shao found that it was easier to celebrate the holidays after becoming an emperor, because he no longer had to go to the homes of colleagues and friends to maintain friendships, and now he only needed to watch the congratulations of the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs.

After the beginning of the year, the era name began to use a new "Xuanren", that is, the first year of Xuanren.

During this time, the Gao Yanyu Department stationed in Jiangning Mansion was transferred back to the Kaifeng Mansion garrison, and at this time, the number of Jiannan Army had been replenished to 40,000 people...... According to the rules of the Great Zhou forbidden army, the army that can fight can be expanded; Those with poor combat effectiveness will be gradually reduced in size to save military spending.

The garrison in the old land of the Southern Tang Kingdom was reduced, and Cao Bin was also ordered to return to Tokyo. However, some town troops were mobilized from the southern part of the Central Plains and Huainan towns to settle in Jiangnan, and the military power was completely checked and balanced by the officials sent by Tokyo and the civil officials of the Southern Tang Dynasty. The Southern Tang Kingdom did not have any strong military force now, and the limited garrisons were stationed in several large cities; However, the ministers of the imperial court judged that Wu Yueguo, the Southern Han and other separatist forces did not have the strength and courage to attack the south of the Yangtze River at present, and the military threat in the south was very small, which was also the basis for Guo Shao's judgment to move the military center of gravity northward. Doing so weakened Jiangnan's ability to fight, and the advantage was that Jiangnan's warriors were divided and restricted, which was beneficial to maintaining the peace of the Southern Tang Kingdom.

Guo Shao, who was left behind in Tokyo for military and political affairs and personnel arrangements for several roads, was also made clear and had been prepared as early as a year ago. So the weather warmed up slightly, and Guo Shao decided to start a war against the Northern Han Kingdom.

…… On the third day of February in the first year of Xuanren of the Great Zhou Dynasty (960 AD), in the year of Gengshen, it was written on the yellow calendar: it is appropriate to sacrifice, travel, build, and break ground.

The weather is fine, and the snow and ice in Tokyo have long since melted. When Guo Shao walked from the study of Jin Xiangdian to the corridor in the middle, the sky was already bright and the sun had not yet risen. The buildings and brick floors of the old age are not very bright at this time, the colors are dim, and they look more quaint.

Guo Shao was surrounded by Jing Niang, eunuch Cao Tai, Li Shanggong and others, but today his appearance is very different from his plains, he is no longer wearing a yellow fine robe, he is wearing plate lock armor, covered in heavy metal, and wearing a purple cloak, as if he has returned to the appearance of a martial artist. Even the posture of walking and the footsteps of Chongshi are different.

As soon as he reached the end of the corridor, a small white petal on the brick floor made him stop slightly, and he looked up to see that there was a plum tree here, the flowers on the branches and leaves were broken, and the petals were falling in the air, and when a gust of wind blew, the petals fell more quickly.

Guo Shao's mood at this time was a little touched, he stretched out his hand and caught a white petal, spread it out in front of him to take a look, the delicate and delicate flowers were very different in his rough palm bound with cowhide, although it was white, but with a light red color.

Guo Shao didn't say a word, and touched the head (waist ornament) on his waist with his left hand, which had unfamiliar stitch embroidery on it, and it was very old. Silk fabrics will become old after a few years. He glanced back in the direction of the Zide Temple, threw away the petals in his hand, and strode out again.

The people around him may be curious about his waist ornament, but no one dares to ask where it came from.

Walking out of the Jinxiang Palace, Lu Chengyong, Dong Er and others were already waiting there with elite cavalry. Everyone looked up at the emperor in heavy armor, and hurriedly knelt on the ground and shouted long live. The palace maid and eunuch who followed Guo Shao out had no choice but to bow down.

Cao Tai said loudly: "Slaves and maids send your majesty off, and I wish your majesty an early victory and return to the dynasty!" ”

"Get up and go!" Guo Shao said.

Cao Tai hurriedly moved a stool and placed it next to the tall black horse, kneeling on the ground and holding the stool. Guo Shao walked over, "snorted", held the horse's back, stepped on the stirrup and turned over the horse vigorously. Suddenly, the shouts of "driving" and "driving" sounded, and a group of soldiers in armor followed him and rode away.

Guo Shao went out of the Daqing Gate, met with Wang Pu, Li Gu and other ministers, and brought the emperor's umbrella cover, chariot guards and other honor guards, and continued to walk south, in front of which was the Xuande Gate, the main gate of the imperial city of the Great Zhou.

A drum sounded, in the morning light, a neat team of soldiers walked to the tower of Xuande Gate, a young military general in accordance with the code and the guard to check the military charms and military orders, and then a voice sounded: "The Son of Heaven travels, open the city gate!" ”

The thick main gate of the imperial city slowly opened, and the scene outside gradually appeared in sight. Guo Shao continued to ride his horse slowly towards the city gate, and the loud sound of the bells and drums on the city gate shattered the attachment in his heart. His state of mind gradually changed, and he said silently in his heart: Farewell for the time being, beautiful woman, luxurious and comfortable court life, but I left to defend all these beautiful things.

Guo Shao, dressed in battle armor, rode out of the imperial city on a tall black horse, accompanied by Wang Pu, a minister with gray hair and beard, and an equally tall general, who swaggered out from the main gate. A group of guards in the back with a guard of honor.

At that time, the sun had just risen in the east, the earth was full of light, Guo Shao's chest was wide, his blood was ignited again, and he re-entered his life's professional life: martial arts.

In the eye, there is a sea of people on the royal street, a large number of forbidden soldiers and horses are already waiting there, flags are floating in the sea of people, swords and guns are like woods, and the sea of ironclad people is like a torrent. In addition, there are a large number of Tokyo citizens and families of the forbidden army, and the open royal streets, east and west streets, are almost all people.

The crowd shouted noisily: "The emperor is here!" ”

Guo Shaoze came to the front of the army and looked up at the familiar tiger flag, which was already the familiar military generals in front. People gathered their eyes here, Guo Shao raised his scabbard and shouted: "Great Zhou warriors, restore my rivers and mountains!" ”

Guo Shao's voice, a sentence immediately ignited the morale of the soldiers, all the soldiers stared at the round eyes, excitedly shouted long live, the shouts quickly spread in the sea of people, and there seemed to be a storm under the sunny sky.

The soldiers of the forbidden army gave Guo Shao the greatest trust and dependence, which was not obtained by his instigation, but led this group of people to fight in the south and the north, and traveled in every direction of the country, experienced a hundred battles without a single defeat! Gained. Guo Shao is already equivalent to the existence of a god in the army, because as long as he leads the troops, he will always win!

Guo Shao was also affected by the magnificent and glorious aura at this moment, and the bright side of his heart swelled sharply.

He wanted to ride his horse again to get close to the common people outside the royal street, where there were mixed fish and dragons, and Jing Niang wanted to stop it, but Guo Shao, who was wearing heavy armor, did not listen. The black horse is tall and strong, Guo Shao's figure is also burly, when he and a group of cavalry passed, the people were all afraid, and the front retreated. Others knelt on the spot.

Guo Shao said loudly: "I am your emperor, and I am here!" The people of the billions of trillions in the world are all my people, including the people on the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Northern Han Dynasty, the Southern Han Dynasty, Wu Yue, and Youyun...... There are also the same people of the Bohai Kingdom.

I am not reckless and war-loving. However, the Northern Han Kingdom held the people of Hedong hostage, recognized the thief as their father, and let thousands of people live in dire straits. As the Son of Heaven, how can I sit idly by?

The recovery of rivers and mountains is just around the corner, the Great Zhou will enter a peaceful and prosperous era, end hunger and cold, end war, the government is clear, fair, and love the people, and the sun will eventually shine on the land of Kyushu......"

More and more people knelt down in the streets, in front of the majestic imperial city, the scene was like a pilgrimage.

Wang Pu and other ministers watched quietly from behind, and did not interfere with the emperor. It is very rare for the emperor to speak in front of the common people, that is, Guo Shao has the heart to do this. Although the ancients kept saying that the people were popular with the world, and the people were noble and the monarch was light, there were not many people who really took the commoners seriously.

Guo Shaoce returned to the army and shouted to his generals and soldiers: "Righteous army, defend the people of the country, victory and glory have always belonged to this banner, and this time is no exception, we will win!" ”

"Victory! Victory ......" all the soldiers shouted loudly, and their morale was very high.

Guo Shao then ordered the generals to drive out of the city and march out of the army.

…… On the south bank of the Yellow River, the land is flat and fertile. After the Lantern Festival passed, the people of the world have started a busy year again, along the post road, you can see many farmers in the fields in the spring ploughing, the right way is the plan of the year lies in the spring. Guo Shao's army marched from the countryside, and it also carried a strong agricultural atmosphere.

However, the soldiers did not have the sadness of the expedition in the poem, but rejoiced when they heard the battle...... There is a reward before the expedition, and there are more when you win back, and this kind of income is much more generous than the usual military salary.

The civil official seemed to be in a good mood, and Wang Pu was still singing immediately: "How can you say that you have no clothes? with the Son. Wang Yuxingshi, repair my spear. Enmity with the Son......"

The spring breeze is blowing, the journey is boring, the generals can't sing, and they shout for Wang Pu to teach them to sing, making a lot of noise. Wherever a group of people went, the surroundings were also lively.

Guo Shao drove the expedition in person, but the forbidden army that came out of Tokyo actually only had 30,000 people, and there were not many baggage. Their plan was to join Zhang Guanghan after arriving in Liaozhou, and 50,000 elites would directly enter Jinyang, the capital of the Northern Han Dynasty...... In this way, from the dispatch of troops to the arrival of troops in Jinyang, it only takes more than ten days before and after.

A quick attack can seize the initiative and not give the Northern Han State a chance to deploy and deploy. And these 50,000 elite soldiers, with the strength of the Northern Han Army at this time, can only watch, they can't do anything with Guo Shao; The main force of the Northern Han Dynasty will also be forced to hide within the high walls of Jinyang, which is very passive.

Otherwise, it will take at least two months to gather more than 200,000 people from large-scale mobilization to marching deployment. Beihan can have more time to prepare. So Guo Shao adopted the strategy of the Privy Council.

These 30,000 people are all the elite of the front division of the palace. Including all the right and left armies of the Tiger Army, the three armies in the left wing, and the Crane Control Army and the Horse Army are straight bows and arrows, and they are also the core men and horses of Guo Shao's battle. Most of the generals of the palace front division were also dispatched, and the only generals who stayed in Tokyo were Yang Biao, as well as deputies Luo Mengzi and Yuan Yan to check the military orders of the Privy Council.

Preparations were made earlier on the Yellow River, and a number of pontoon bridges were erected, and after the army crossed the Yellow River, it did not take long to enter the eastern boundary of the river. The elite of the forbidden army marched at a relatively fast pace, approaching the Northern Han Kingdom non-stop, and the rhythm of the war that had suddenly stopped during the Chinese New Year a while ago was now extremely urgent.