On the way back to the camp, Hua'an Lema stopped for a moment around a rice field, watching the green rice already tasseled, Hua'an understood that the day of sending troops to the Northern Expedition was not far off.

Riding back to the camp of the Northern Expeditionary Army, Hua An rested for a while, and then asked the Thunderstorm about the daily training of the soldiers, and then personally selected more than a dozen soldiers from the more than 10,000 troops to fight with him.

After a few simple moves, Hua An nodded with satisfaction, the combat power of these soldiers has not weakened at all, and it seems to have increased a lot.

The Northern Expedition is imminent, and all the armies of the Great Jin Dynasty are making final preparations, and more than 10,000 soldiers under the command of Hua'an are also sharpening their guns.

After a year of continuous 'devil's training, as well as many actual combat tests, Hua'an has a relatively clear understanding of the combat power of more than 10,000 soldiers under his command, this army can be regarded as an elite division, but there is still a gap between the elite soldiers of a hundred battles, and the elite soldiers of a hundred battles must be fought on the cruel battlefield many times to get it, which is far from what training can create.

The soldier's personal combat strength is very important to the victory or defeat of the battle, but the battlefield battle is more important for the strict formation, orderly advance and retreat, when the Northern Expedition is about to begin, Hua'an greatly weakened the training of the soldier's personal combat strength, and most of the time is used to practice the formation, and constantly hold real confrontation drills to train the battlefield adaptability of the soldiers under his command.

At the beginning of August, the southwest direction of the Great Jin Dynasty came with good news, Guangzhou Assassin Shi Deng Yue broke through the six cities of Shu, captured the enemy general Huo Biao, expanded the territory of 200 miles, won the first battle, Yu Liang joined the army Zhao Song is even more overwhelming, breaking through Ba County, Jiangyang many cities, shocking the enemy's courage, greatly increasing the momentum of the Jin army.

Knowing that Deng Yue and Zhao Song had made meritorious contributions to killing the enemy, the officers and soldiers of the other armies of the Great Jin Dynasty were also gearing up to prepare for the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains and kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions.

In August, the veteran of the Three Dynasties, Sikong Xi Jian, died suddenly, and the Northern Expedition was imminent, and Xi Jian's death was another big blow to the Northern Expedition.

Emperor Sima Yan was even more sad when he learned that Xi Jian had died, Wang Dao had just left in July, and Xi Jian followed in August.

As the only important minister of the three dynasties and the respect of the uncle, Yu Liang became Sima Yan's last support, and the power of the court naturally belonged to Yu Liang.

At this time, Yu Liang's confidant and favorite general, the vanguard of the Jingzhou Army, the general Mao Bao, the general of the conquest, had already led 10,000 elite soldiers to advance to the ferry north of Wuchang City, as long as the imperial court gave an order, he could cross the river and take the lead in attacking the Central Plains.

The elite regiments of Jing and Yang have also drawn their camps to the north, but the Northern Expeditionary Army has not yet received any orders, and 30,000 elites are training as usual in the large camp.

In the palace of the capital, Yu Liang, who was about to go to the front line in person, officially bid farewell to Emperor Sima Yan.

"Your Majesty, the old minister will go to Wuchang City early tomorrow morning, and I have come to bid farewell to the emperor today." Yu Liang clenched his fists.

Sima Yan hurriedly helped Yu Liang up and said, "Uncle doesn't have to be polite, please get up quickly." ”

"Your Majesty."

Sima Yan looked at Yu Liang and said worriedly: "Now, my Dajin has broken two important ministers in a row, Wang Aiqing and Xi Aiqing have left me one after another, and my country depends on my uncle, and my uncle has left Beijing, if something happens in the court, I don't even have anyone to discuss!" ”

"The emperor trusts him so much, and the old minister is terrified." Yu Liang looked flattered, paused, and said: "The emperor has been in power for many years, and it is time for the court to make his own decisions. ”

"Hmm." Sima Yan nodded and said, "Uncle, I have been in peace for many years, can this Northern Expedition really recover the Central Plains lost by my ancestors, Uncle feels that there is a chance of victory." ”

"With all due respect, the odds of victory are unknown, if Murong Haoken of Liaodong does his best to attack the northern border of Zhao State, the chances of my Great Jin will be greatly increased."

"Since there is no certainty of victory, why does my uncle repeatedly insist on the Northern Expedition." Sima Yan was a little puzzled.

Yu Liang frowned and said: "Your Majesty, the Central Plains is my Great Jin homeland, I can't help but take it back, even if I can't catch it, I must go on a timely Northern Expedition, so that my Great Jin subjects will not forget that the Central Plains is my homeland, besides, even if I take back a few counties, it can also increase the strength of my Great Jin, and the old minister just hopes to do a modest part for the Great Jin in his lifetime, so as not to do nothing and have no shame to see the emperor after death." ”

Sima Yan frowned and said, "Uncle is in good health, why is he so emotional." ”

"The prime minister and Sikong have passed away one after another, and the old minister is over half a hundred years old, but I am afraid that the time will not last, the emperor can rest assured, the old minister will do his best to recover his homeland for the Great Jin."

"Uncle is loyal to the Great Jin, I remember it in my heart, this Northern Expedition, my uncle must take care, I am waiting for my uncle's triumphant return in the capital." Sima Yan stared at Yu Liang and encouraged him.

"Emperor Xie, the old minister retired." Yu Liang clenched his fists, turned around and slowly left the hall.

Looking at Yu Liang's somewhat staggering figure, Sima Yan couldn't help but feel a little emotional, the orphaned ministers of the year left one after another, and the only remaining Yu Liang was also old, maybe it won't be long before he will leave him.

"The old ministers have left me one by one, who will protect my country in the future?" Sima Yan muttered to himself.

####

In late August, Yu Liang, the general of Zhengxi, arrived in Wuchang City, and after inspecting the army and grain and grass gathered near Wuchang, he issued an order for the official Northern Expedition.

Since the grain and grass were not yet ready, Yu Liang decided to let more than 100,000 main forces temporarily stationed near Wuchang City, and at the same time let the captured generals Mao Bao and Xiyang Taishou Fan Jun lead 10,000 elite soldiers to cross the river first and occupy Yicheng on the north bank of the river.

At the same time, the 50,000 horses of the Yangzhou Army had also crossed the river and entered Guangling County according to the order to contain the nearly 100,000 troops of Zhao Guoqing and Yan Erzhou.

Han Qian's Northern Expeditionary Army, with 40,000 horses, as a general reserve, was temporarily stationed in the capital, ready to reinforce the front line at any time.

Mao Bao and Fan Jun lived up to expectations, occupied the important town of Yicheng in the north of the Yangtze River on the day they crossed the river, and sent some troops to occupy all the villages and towns near Yicheng.

Standing on the tall city wall of Yicheng, Mao Bao looked at Fan Jun next to him, and said: "Lord Fan, although Yicheng is strong, it is built against the river, it is a lonely city, once my army of more than 10,000 people is surrounded, the consequences are unimaginable. ”

"General Mao is too worried! The city is strong, our more than 10,000 troops hold the city, even if the enemy army has 100,000, it may not be able to capture within a month, the main force of our Jingzhou army, at most half a month can cross the river for reinforcements, what are you afraid of. Fan Jun was very unimpressed.

"What Lord Fan said is that if you stick to it for a month, you will be very sure, hahaha!" More than 100,000 main forces crossed the river to reinforce in the near future, and Mao Bao was not worried that he would be surrounded by the Zhao army.