In the months that followed, the DPRK and China did not urge again. After the Xianbei royal court removed the initial shouts, it was as if it had never lost the surrendered city, and spent the light and five years of winter quietly.

The newly recruited soldiers were all trained by Gao Shun and Jiang Yan and others, and the Li Jin brothers were also pulled by Jiao Meng to help. It is said that Jiao Meng and Li Jin are brothers, but they don't know each other. After Xiang Ao ordered Jiao Meng to arrange the two, Jiao Meng took the two directly to the school. Li Jin's brother Li Zhu is also a reckless person, and he was provoked by Jiao Meng's words. The two of them fought on the school grounds.

Jiao Meng is not as violent, this person is so violent, and he has to fight with him with all his strength. Maybe the reckless people are more straightforward, and after it was difficult to distinguish the winner after a hundred moves, Jiao Meng and Li Jin were so good. and have similar tempers, it didn't take long for the two to hook up their shoulders and leave Li Jin alone. In the days since, it is common to have Jiao Meng pulling Li Zhu to compete in the school field, the two of them have extraordinary martial arts, and they are open and close, and the momentum is so shocking that the soldiers who are still practicing are terrified.

Originally, Gao Shun was very angry when he saw the two of them disturbing the soldiers' drills, but when the two were fighting, the soldiers were practicing even harder, which made Gao Shun worry a lot, so he didn't care too much. If Gao Shun was really angry and stepped forward to scold, Jiao Meng had to leave in disgrace. Maybe he was born to restrain each other, every time Jiao Meng saw Gao Shun, he felt worried in his heart for some reason.

Compared with Gao Shun, who is too serious, Jiang Yan's attitude is much better. After many contacts, Li Jin became close to Jiang Yan, and the two trained soldiers together and discussed strategies. However, Gao Shun still has great respect for Jiang Yan, so Jiang Yan returns to Mr. Hao every time he has a lunch, inviting everyone to eat or discuss the art of war, and the relationship between the two people has become closer and closer.

In the entire capital palace, the busiest is Hu Zhao. Xu Fu is still in the surrendered city and has not returned, and almost all the matters of the capital protection mansion are decided by Hu Zhao. Although it was busy, the political affairs of the three or five counties were difficult for Hu Zhao, and Hu Zhao went to Xiang Ao's mansion every once in a while to cry tired, which made Xiang Ao embarrassed. Xiang Ao had no other way, there was no celebrity to serve for the time being, and the imperial court did not support the sending of people.

As for the officials sent by the DPRK to supervise Xiang Ao, they can be idle every day. The person who came was a eunuch, and only Liu Hong valued Xiang Ao, and he was not too embarrassed. Xiang Ao is also a heavy pair of gold, with good food and drink, and even found a lot of dusty women to serve him and have fun. Xiang Ao and his retainers did not leak their mouths when they saw this person, they all called the monarch and did not call the lord, so as not to fly into trouble.

It's rare to be quiet, Xiang Ao finally found time to talk to Jiang Yao'er and me. From the beginning of winter in November to the beginning of spring and February, after Xiang Ao finished handling political affairs every day, he would pay Jiang Yao'er to wander around the entire Northern Regions Protectorate. Or go to Jilu to experience the desert scenery, or go to the Hetao to watch the endless farmland. Xiang Ao is already mighty and handsome, and Jiang Yaoer is also outstandingly beautiful. Every time the people of the entire Northern Regions Protectorate see the monarch and the beauty of the amusement, they all ask how long it will take to add a little monarch to the Metropolitan Protectorate. Every time, Jiang Yao'er's face was flushed.

The fly in the ointment is that Xiaoya accompanies almost the whole process, and the excuse is to protect Xiang Ao. I don't know how Xiaoya asked Hu Zhao for his consent, so she recruited nearly 100 girls among the people to train as female soldiers. In two years, Xiaoya actually trained the 100-person team well, and resisted the onslaught of twenty or thirty Xiang Ao's personal guards without falling behind, which made Xiang Ao look sideways at Xiaoya.

Although he has never been on the battlefield, such a hundred people can see the heroic posture between their eyebrows. Of course, Xiang Ao never thought of letting these 100 people go to the battlefield, after all, war is not for women. Xiang Ao has always regarded Xiaoya as his own sister, and he has never taken care of it, as long as he is not too nonsense.

"Brother Xiang, the little girl begs Brother Xiang!" Xiaoya shook Xiang Ao's arm: "Xiaoya also wants to be a general, next time let's bring Xiaoya together, Xiaoya will definitely be able to kill the enemy!" ”

"Xiaoya, war is not child's play, and it is not suitable for women to participate!" Xiang Ao looked serious: "It's not too nonsense in the Northern Regions, I won't ask more, if the little girl messes around, I will send you and the other women to return home to weave!" ”

"Humph!" Seeing that Xiang Ao was a little angry, Xiaoya was also unhappy, so she ran to Jiang Yao'er's side: "Sister Yao'er, Brother Xiang bullied Xiaoya." Xiaoya can lead the soldiers, my sister looks at them, all of them are good hands! ”

"Little girl!" Jiang Yao'er stroked the little girl and comforted: "Brother Xiang is for the good of the little girl, and the woman is really not suitable for dancing knives, the little girl can be used as a play, and it must not be taken seriously." When the little girl heard this, she pouted, and she was angry and didn't know where to start.

"Xiaoya, it has been two years since Ah Liang went to Changshan, and he has not been informed by a letter, and I have sent someone to inquire and have not learned the news." Xiang Ao's heart moved, stared at the little girl and said, "If the little girl leads dozens of people to find Ah Liang, if she finds it, it will be a great achievement, can you?" ”

When the little girl heard this, her eyes lit up. "Okay, okay!" Although it is not really a battle, there are also tasks that are not, and Xiaoya is happy to accept the order. Returning to Wuyuan, Xiang Ao recalled Wang Wu, ordered him to lead more than a dozen cavalry to accompany him, and privately wrote a letter to Wang Wu, ordering him to bring Xin to the government for help if there was any difficulty in the place he passed.

Originally, Xiang Ao planned to go to Jingzhou to visit Sima Hui and others, and stop by to see Cai Yong and Cai Yan. However, in order to be able to send troops safely, Xiang Ao still let go of his worries and concentrated on military and political affairs. After the beginning of spring in February, Xiang Ao reluctantly left Wenrou Township and began to arrange the dispatch of troops.

Lu Bu and Gongsun Zhan were friends, and Xiang Ao wrote to inform them of his plans a year ago, and the two were also actively preparing. In order not to be controlled by the court, the officials who were not familiar with the rest of the Daigun, such as Kamiya, did not write to inform them for the time being. The announcement will be made after the imperial court urges the edict to be issued.

During this period of tranquility in the Metropolitan Protectorate, Xiang Ao also diligently sent people to find people who were good at business, but there were few famous people in the prefecture and the border, and it was unsuccessful. Xiang Ao also took the matter of the scribes mentioned by Hu Zhao many times, and all parties investigated, and sent people to visit those with a little knowledge. There are many talents who can manage townships and counties, which greatly expands the number of low-level officials in the Northern Regions. However, the talent of governing the county has not been recruited, although Xiang Ao has an official position in the north, and even a marquis, but after all, he is not a famous family, and few scholars come to defect.

What's more, in the eyes of the people of the Central Plains, northern Xinjiang is so barren and far away from the government and the opposition. Whenever he thought of this, Xiang Ao sighed and resented. The scholars monopolized learning, leaving the people with no way to study. Those who occasionally have the opportunity to acquire knowledge are only mediocre and cannot be reused. Coupled with the system of recommendation by the imperial court, if there is no family relationship, there is almost no way to enter the court as an official.

Xiang Ao thought: After he has a very strong voice in the court, he must try to get His Majesty to agree to open up the people's knowledge. Xiang Ao has already considered a lot, the people will be stopped by the family when they hear about learning, but they can formulate a system for studying, and in such an environment, they can find a gap for the people and see the way to study. Or through the efforts of several generations, there can be a time when learning can be universally realized.

Although they did not seek talents, there were many skilled craftsmen who came to vote. Whether it is a carpenter, a blacksmith, etc., anyone who is requisitioned by the general's palace can receive a lot of wages, which is much more than the income of ordinary farmers. To Xiang Ao's surprise, there were winemakers among the refugees who came to vote.

If it was just an ordinary winemaker, Xiang Ao would not have been so happy, but this person was very different from others.

This person's surname is Guo Mingzhi, and he is a fellow villager of Xiang Ao's friend Cao Cao. Although it is not a scholar, it is an ancestral winemaking technique. Xiang Ao has also tasted the finished wine made by Guo Zhi. There are ten varieties, each of which is different. What Xiang Ao liked the most was spirits and dark fruit wine.

The liquor is called Roast Immortal, and its taste is as good as the name, just one sip, and a burst of hot will come out from the stomach from top to bottom, straight to the top of the skull. Even with the amount of alcohol consumed by Xiang Ao and others, the lower abdomen of three or five catties was already dizzy, and the heat was unbearable. I don't know what the dark fruit wine is made of, Guo Zhi said that it is an ancestral heirloom, but he did not disclose it. Xiang Ao didn't ask much.

After discussing the winemaking process with him, Xiang Ao proposed some methods to purify the liquor and make the liquor stronger. Guo Zhi was very excited when he got this method, and he immediately worshiped Xiang Ao, which made Xiang Ao feel abrupt.

"Don't be surprised!" Seeing Xiang Ao's blank face, Ma Jun explained: "The lord doesn't know, since ancient times, all skills are unparalleled, no matter what the industry, they are all passed on by word of mouth, only to relatives. Today, the lord proposed such a skillful technique for Guo Zhi, and it is of course to worship the lord! ”

Xiang Ao was stunned. Although Guo Zhi is a refugee, he knows a lot about the ways of Confucius and Mencius and is knowledgeable. Xiang Ao ordered Guo Zhi to work for Cangcao and assist Ma Jun in handling affairs.

In this attack on the royal court, Xiang Ao reduced the remaining soldiers in various places as much as possible, and then drew out 15,000 troops to prepare to send troops outside the fortress. Fifteen thousand is certainly not enough to attack Xianbei, not to mention that there are 5,000 foot soldiers accompanying him, and 10,000 cavalry should be too few.

However, with the addition of the troops of Yanmen and Shangdang counties, about 20,000 soldiers and horses can be gathered. Although the 30,000 soldiers and horses could not all obey Xiang Ao's orders, they did not go on an expedition, and it was not impossible to only cooperate to win the Xianbei royal court. In this regard, Xiang Ao repeatedly discussed with Lu Bu and Gongsun Zan how to send troops.

The Wuhuan rebellion in Youbeiping has not yet been quelled, which is also the reason why Gongsun Zhan was unable to attack with a large army. The total number of troops in Yanmen County is only 3,000, and if it sends troops outside the fortress, it will only get 2,000.

Although the soldiers and horses were insufficient, Xiang Ao had no intention of attacking. Jiang Lu lurks in Xianbei, and he will definitely be able to trick Helian out of the city, not to mention that there is such an ambitious helper as Yuwen Mohuai. As long as it can be designed to get rid of Helian, the Xianbei Royal Court can easily take it. As for the fierce generals such as Bu Dugen and Ke Bineng in the royal court, they cannot compete with Xiang Ao, Lu Bu and other unequaled generals.

What's more, Xiang Ao also received the two Li Jin brothers, who were very brave. His younger brother Li Jin is especially like this, and he can fight with Xiang Ao on a par with each other. However, the two did not fight to the death, but they didn't know who was better.

Although Xiang Ao consciously arranged it properly and should be foolproof, the battlefield is changing rapidly, who can predict the final result? It is up to people to plan things, and it is up to heaven to make things happen, that's all.