After Xu Jin's affair was over, Chen Qingzhi immediately led the army back to the Yixing military camp.

According to the previous arrangement, Song Jingxiu and Yu Tianshu began to arrange all parts of the country to recruit brave and loyal people from among the northern refugees, especially those who are good at horsemanship.

Chen Sibao gave full play to his talent for financial management and business, and even though the number of soldiers in the army gradually expanded, he still ensured sufficient military pay and equipment, and the war horses purchased from the north in batches were also continuously sent to the battalion.

The abundance of money and food allowed Chen Qingzhi's army to rapidly expand to more than 7,000 people, and all of them were warriors who were good at fighting and loyal.

Chen Qingzhi has always pursued the principle of "not too many soldiers, but more noble," and with these more than 7,000 people, he suspended the operation of continuing to expand the army and hastened to start training these soldiers.

Everything went smoothly step by step, and Chen Qingzhi devoted all his energy to building this elite army.

Due to the guaranteed supply of war horses and the increasing number of good riders, the elite cavalry that Chen Qingzhi had been looking forward to finally had a certain scale - a team of 2,000 horsemen was constantly honed and improved.

On this day, Chen Sibao came to find Chen Qingzhi, "Ziyun, I have something I want to discuss with you." ”

"Third brother, what's the matter?"

"You see in our army, now the swords, guns and armor are all uniformly customized, but the clothes of the soldiers are colorful and not uniform, I always feel that it looks like a group of miscellaneous troops, and it doesn't show our elite."

"Well, the third brother has a point...... "Chen Qingzhi nodded.

"That's what I think," Chen Sibao saw that he had received Chen Qingzhi's approval, so he continued, "We have enough money and food now, and if we don't increase the number of people, we can completely customize the clothes of the soldiers......"

"Okay, it's uniform, it looks like it's imposing, and it's also a deterrent to the enemy." Chen Qingzhi agreed.

"If Ziyun thinks it's okay, I'll arrange it," Chen Sibao said with some joy, "But there is another point, you have to make up your mind about what color this dress will be made uniformly." ”

"Color ......" Chen Qingzhi pondered, "It has to be eye-catching and imposing......

"Use white!" After thinking for a while, Chen Qingzhi suddenly said.

"White?" Chen Sibao was a little surprised, "Conspicuous is conspicuous, but ...... Something unlucky, right? ”

"How unlucky?"

"Do you think, the robes of our army must be ordinary cotton clothes, and they don't embroider, this pure white cloth clothes are worn, what do you think they look like?"

"Filial piety?" Chen Qingzhi asked with a smile.

"That's right! This soldier has been licking blood with a knife, and he is wearing clothes like filial piety, isn't it a little unlucky? Chen Sibao said with a frown.

"But if you really wear filial piety clothes and go into battle, doesn't it show your determination to fight to the death?" Chen Qingzhi said, "Isn't this the same as the ancients carrying a coffin into battle?" ”

"I don't know anything about war." Chen Sibao muttered, "Do you really think this is good?" ”

Chen Qingzhi nodded, "Third brother, you can do it with confidence." ”

"Okay, as long as you feel good." Chen Sibao sighed and turned around to do it.

In the past few days, Yanran has come to the army almost once a month to bring everyone some good wine and meat. And when she came for the first time, Yanran also brought two large boxes.

It was the bride price given by Chen Qingzhi when he was married.

"Miss Yanran, what do you mean by this?" When Chen Qingzhi saw these two boxes, he was puzzled, "Could it be that you feel that the courtesy is light?" ”

"Brother Chen, don't get me wrong," Yanran said with a smile, "With such a heavy bride price, how dare the little girl feel light." ”

"Then you send it back......"

"That's right, I have accepted these bride prices, and they are my belongings," Yan Ran explained, "so I will add these to the army as military funds, and Brother Chen should not dislike them." ”

"Miss Yanran, why are you ......" Chen Qingzhi still wanted to excuse himself.

"Brother Chen, my future husband is in the army, I will prepare some military funds for him, it is reasonable and reasonable, it is understandable, this is the little woman's heart, please Brother Chen must laugh."

"......" Chen Qingzhi lowered his head and was silent for a while, and finally nodded, "Okay, thank you Miss Yanran." ”

"Brother Chen doesn't have to be polite, it's just that in the future, the little girl hopes to come and visit everyone from time to time, and I hope that Brother Chen will allow it."

"Miss Yanran wants to come, welcome at any time."

Time flies, and the four seasons reincarnate. Emperor Liang set up a new era name - Datong, in the first year of Datong, a succession of good news came from the north, which made Emperor Liang overjoyed, and the time to go on the Northern Expedition again finally came!

For the Northern Wei Dynasty, for Emperor Yuanxu, it was a time when he was anxious.

The destructive power of the rebel army in the six towns far exceeded expectations, and the leader Ge Rong claimed the king without authorization, and the founding name was "Qi", and captured Xinyang, and the troops reached Yecheng, an important town in Hebei.

And the former Qi relics, Xiao Baochun, who originally defected to the Northern Wei Dynasty and survived, actually seized Chang'an, proclaimed himself Emperor Qi, and also wanted to take advantage of the chaos to get a piece of the pie.

Coupled with the large and small turmoil in the country, the Northern Wei Dynasty was in a hurry at the moment, and the Southern Liang naturally would not let go of such a good opportunity and took advantage of the situation.

The goal of sending troops is Xuzhou, which has been decided long ago and has been gained and lost. But for the commander of this expedition, Emperor Xiao Yan of Liang has not yet figured out who is suitable.

So, he summoned Xu Mian and Zhu Yi to hear their opinions.

Xu Mian took the lead in putting forward his opinion, "Your Majesty, Chen Qingzhi is really a general, and he has already emerged in the first few formations, and the old minister thinks that he can take on this important responsibility." ”

"Well, Chen Qingzhi has indeed shown some skills, but my Liang has always been the leader of the family, and I rashly let him be the coach, I am afraid that someone will disagree......" Emperor Liang frowned and said worriedly.

In fact, Xiao Yan's worries are not unreasonable, the generals of the Great Liang are all high-ranking surnames who have been generals for generations, even if Chen Qingzhi has shown his generals, but at this moment he has not made enough achievements, rashly let him be the coach, there will indeed be a risk that it will be difficult to control his subordinates.

Zhu Yi spoke at this time, "Your Majesty, the leading general Cao Zhongzong is the brother of the famous general General Cao Jingzong, and with him as the commander, he will definitely be able to serve the public." ”

"Cao Zhongzong does have the prestige of a famous family, but the old minister thinks that his talent in commanding the army is far inferior to that of his brother, and he is afraid that he will be embarrassed." Xu Mian raised his concerns.

"Actually, it's easy to do," Zhu Yi disagreed, "Your Majesty can appoint Cao Zhongzong as the commander-in-chief, let Chen Qingzhi follow the army on the expedition, and serve as the ...... of the holiday."

"Yanhe, your method is wonderful!" Without waiting for Zhu Yi to finish speaking, Emperor Liang had already understood the potential meaning, and said with a smile.

"Okay, that's it." Emperor Liang made up his mind, "Order Cao Zhongzong as the commander and lead the army to Xuzhou; Chen Qingzhi is a fake festival, and he leads the people of the department to go together; Xunyang guarded Wei Fang too much, led his troops and horses, went to Xuzhou, and joined Cao Zhongzong's army! ”