Cao Yue assigned the newly formed ten Guards Divisions as follows: the Second Guards Division and the Tenth Guards Division were the garrison units of Nanjing, guarding the city of Nanjing, and the rest of the Guards Divisions were formed as field troops.

The Second Guards Division is composed of veterans except for the First Division, which is thought to be the strongest combat effectiveness in the Ming Guards. The 10th Guards Division was basically a new recruit with average combat effectiveness. With a very strong combat effectiveness and an army and a newly formed garrison force in Nanjing, Cao Yue wanted to use the coordinated training of the two divisions to let the rich combat experience of the second division influence the 10th division, and the combat effectiveness of the two divisions would be improved together.

In this Northern Expedition, Cao Yue planned to use almost 100,000 horses in the five guard divisions, and the second and tenth divisions naturally had to stay in Nanjing as the Nanjing garrison, and the 7th to 9th divisions had more than 60,000 men and horses.

Cao Yue didn't tell anyone that there was another purpose of his Northern Expedition, that is, he wanted to take the opportunity to try Zuo Liangyu's true intentions.

In order to give Zuo Liangyu the greatest sincerity and win the trust of the military and people all over the world, the imperial court promised to let Zuo Liangyu recover and come to Nanjing again after receiving a request from Zuo Liangyu to come to Beijing for a later period after receiving a request from Zuo Liangyu to take up his illness, but gave him a deadline. Now, only about a month before the deadline given by the imperial court for Zuo Liangyu to take up a post in Beijing, Cao Yue knows that Zuo Liangyu must make a choice before this deadline comes.

The newly built Ming Guards Army has 200,000 horses, and its combat effectiveness is well known to everyone in the world, if these 200,000 horses are all gathered on the front line of Nanjing, Zuo Liangyu will not be able to ignore scruples, and maybe he will come up with some tricks to deal with it again. But if most of the men and horses leave Nanjing for the Northern Expedition, Zuo Liangyu is likely to take this opportunity to attack Nanjing.

Cao Yue didn't want to drag on Zuo Liangyu's matter any longer, and he didn't want to see Zuo Liangyu find an excuse to delay the time after the deadline arrived. He didn't want the land of Hubei to be out of the control of the imperial court, and he hoped that he would lead the army to the Northern Expedition so that Zuo Liangyu could make the final choice.

Now most of the officials in the court advocate appeasing Zuo Liangyu, and many people are worried that Zuo Liangyu will rebel, after all, his command is known as 800,000 horses, if his subordinates rebel against the court, the situation will worsen, and it may bring ruin to the small court of the remnants of the Ming Dynasty. If Zuo Liangyu didn't make a choice, or didn't take drastic measures and raise troops to rebel, then he wanted to take decisive measures against his subordinates. There are a lot of opponents. But if Zuo Liangyu takes this opportunity to raise an army, he can solve it justifiably, even if a war breaks out, Cao Yue will not hesitate.

Because he knew that in history, Zuo Liangyu finally chose to betray the small court of the Southern Ming Dynasty and start a rebellion. And when he occupied Hubei, it brought great disasters to the people in that area, and Cao Yue did not mind settling it with a war, although this may not be what everyone wanted to see, but Cao Yue had prepared for the worst and was ready for everything.

Cao Yue ordered his confidant Cao Neng to stay behind and command the three guard divisions. and gave a secret order, as long as he received his order, he would immediately march west and fight against Zuo Liangyu's department. Cao Yue also sent a message to the red lady who was monitoring Zuo Liangyu's department. Keep his troops on maximum alert and ready to fight.

Of course, Cao Yue hoped that Zuo Liangyu could understand current affairs like Gao Jie, Huang Degong, and Liu Liangzuo, and obediently hand over military power. Came to Nanjing.

Leaving a few guards to deal with Zuo Liangyu's department, Cao Yue also told Cao Jie about this arrangement, and Cao Jie was naturally very grateful for Cao Yue's trust. He said he would not disclose confidential matters to anyone, even if he lost his life.

After some secret talks, Cao Jie also left, and immediately went to familiarize himself with and receive the newly developed artillery and muskets of the Nanjing Arsenal. Cao Jie believed what Cao Yue said that the newly developed artillery and muskets were more powerful and easier to use, but what about the specific performance, he and several capable generals under his command had to go to see it in person, receive it in person, and ship it to the front line of Xuzhou in the shortest possible time.

After Cao Jie left, Gao Hongtu, the head of the household, came to the Yanziji camp.

Although the news of the Northern Expedition was not announced, Gao Hongtu, who was willing to follow Cao Yue, already knew that the New Guards of the Ming Dynasty were preparing to carry out a large-scale military operation. The soldiers and horses did not move, the grain and grass went first, Cao Yue wanted to prepare for the Northern Expedition, and he must get the cooperation of Gao Hongtu, and the military grain and grass should be prepared by this household book, and after the army was pulled, the follow-up supply of grain and grass materials should also be responsible.

Knowing that Cao Yue was busy with affairs, if there was anything important, Gao Hongtu would personally go to the Yanziji camp to discuss with Cao Yue.

He came over today to tell Cao Yue about the preparation of various materials and follow-up plans.

Although Gao Hongtu has a similar character to other officials in the Ming Dynasty and likes to fight for power and profit, his ability is really good, he is very organized, and he has done a very good job of Cao Yue's deliveries, and he has almost never disappointed Cao Yue. This time it was the same, everything was handled in an orderly manner, and even many aspects surprised Cao Yue, which surprised Cao Yue.

Gao Hongtu also reported to Cao Yue what had happened in the court in the past two days, the remarks and movements of various officials, including Sun Chuanting, as well as the disputes in the court.

Because he was in charge of military affairs in the Yanziji camp, Cao Yue often did not participate in court meetings. Although Gao Hongtu knew that Cao Yue could get news from the court from other channels, every time he saw Cao Yue, he would tell the court in detail, and he was very smart to show his allegiance to Cao Yue in this way.

When Gao Hongtu left the Yanziji camp, it was already evening, and after Cao Yue summoned the commanders and envoys of the guards stationed in and near the Yanziji camp, he finally ended the day's busyness, and it was already completely dark at this time.

Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan and Dong Xiaowan, as they did a few days ago, accompanied Cao Yue to dinner, and chatted some homely gossip, and then left separately to busy themselves or go to rest.

Because of the special status of the three girls, Cao Yue arranged a separate place for them to live, which was in his line, and no one was allowed to approach him except him. After leaving his line for a while, Chen Yuanyuan sneaked back, she walked to Cao Yue's side with a red face, and said softly: "Brother Yue, you are busy every day, you must be tired, the slave family has learned the method of pinching, let's press it for you today, okay?" ”

Chen Yuanyuan has already taken a bath, but she is still dressed as a man in a green coat and a small hat, and this dress coupled with her twisted expression makes her more and more charming and cute. Looking at the beauty with a charming look, and then smelling the seductive fragrance emanating from her body, Cao Yue, who was a little lustful and was teased by the two beauties during the day, was immediately ready to move.

He beckoned Chen Yuanyuan to come to his side, and after Chen Yuanyuan obediently walked to his side, he pulled the other party into his arms, and in Chen Yuanyuan's red face and red ears, he smiled evilly: "Baby, you have to pinch it for General Ben today, and you are not allowed to be lazy, otherwise you will be punished well!"

As he spoke, he gently patted Chen Yuanyuan's plump buttocks, Chen Yuanyuan let out a low exclamation, turned his head and threw himself into Cao Yue's arms. Cao Yue took the opportunity to pick up Chen Yuanyuan and walked in the direction of the bedroom without any hesitation! (To be continued.) )