In the early morning of the next day, Liang Xiao wore the military uniform given by the Son of Heaven, carried a jade sword, and strode into Weiyang Palace.

The officials at the gate of the palace welcomed them, unconcealing the envy in their eyes, and even a little jealousy. There are a lot of people who have joined the army, and there are only a handful of people like Liang Xiao who can be crowned marquis after a few years, and more are like Li Guang, who has fought all his life, and there is no hope of being a marquis.

The young marquis, appreciated by the Son of Heaven, and favored by beauties, this is the greatest ambition that most people can imagine, just like countless people in later generations hope to become CEOs, marry Bai Fumei, and reach the pinnacle of life.

Liang Xiao stopped, said hello to the Lang officials, and made a few jokes.

"Bo Ming, when you come back from your meritorious service this time, you have to marry Lord Huainan Weng, right?" A Lang official squeezed his eyes and said with a wicked smile: "Don't let the beauty wait too long, otherwise, you won't be allowed to go to bed on the wedding night." ”

"You think it's you." Another Lang official squeezed him away and looked Liang Xiao up and down, snorting. "You see, it's still people who rely on clothes, and it's really majestic to wear this armor. If you walk around Chang'an Street, I don't know how many girls are going to be pregnant. ”

"This is Bo Ming's life to earn, you are red-eyed, you also earn it." An older officer walked over and pushed his companions away. "Bo Ming, hurry up and go in, don't let Your Majesty wait. What do you have to say to these rabbits, they are timid and red-eyed, and they are useless. ”

The officials burst into laughter. Liang Xiao also smiled, waved his hand, and walked into the palace gate. If it weren't for His Majesty in the palace, he wouldn't have dressed so flamboyantly. Traveling in brocade clothes and returning to their hometown is the privilege of successful people in this era. Not really. Not enough to comfort life. He wasn't used to it. There is always a feeling that the villain is rich as if he is suffering.

I have to say that although he has been reborn in the Han Dynasty for four or five years, his appearance is no different from that of ordinary Han people, and he still has not fully adapted psychologically.

When they arrived near the front hall, the officials said that the Son of Heaven was in the Chengming Hall and was discussing affairs with Yan Zhu and other close ministers. Liang Xiao hurriedly rushed to the Chengming Hall again. The Son of Heaven saw that Liang Xiao's clothes and armor were distinct, and his eyes lit up. praised: "This is my Han family's son." ”

Liang Xiao bowed. "This is Your Majesty's grace, and the minister must not forget it."

The Son of Heaven smiled. "I put on this armor and went to Longyou, and told the soldiers that the court has prepared a rich reward, just waiting for your triumph. Liang Xiao, I have already asked people to clean up the Beique, you can catch some more prisoners and come back, so that I can hang their heads on the gate and pay tribute to the first emperors of the Liedai. ”

Liang Xiao said angrily: "With Your Majesty's trust, the ministers dare not to serve their lives with death." ”

"Very good!" The Son of Heaven encouraged Liang Xiao a few more words. Only then did Liang Xiao leave the palace.

Out of the palace, Liang Xiao stepped on the horse. With his personal guard knights, along the street, out of the straight city gate, away from the dust.

He traveled day and night with two horses, and it took only six days to arrive in Longxi.

Out of Longguan, Liang Xiao felt the atmosphere of battle. On the road, you can see teams of servants at any time, driving cattle and horses, pulling carts of freshly harvested grain and various supplies, rushing to the front line. Most of them were dark-faced, shabby, haggard, and taciturn. Seeing Liang Xiao and his party in fresh clothes, they didn't see much excitement in their eyes, but there was some fear or disgust hidden deeply.

Liang Xiao knew that for these ordinary people, war meant a heavy burden, especially for forced labor, and the government did not pay them, and sometimes they encountered bad officials, and even food would be deducted. The cattle and horses are also their own, and if they die, it is also an unbearable loss. They pay the price, but they will not gain anything, and if they win the war, it is the warriors who are rewarded, and it has nothing to do with them.

At this moment, Liang Xiao couldn't take pity on them. In his opinion, how to remove the threat of the Huns at the lowest cost, so that these people can live in peace and no longer have to worry about the threat of the Huns, is the only thing he can do for them.

Liang Xiao came to the county guard mansion and saw Li Guang, Li Xi and others.

Li Guang was busy, surrounded by a group of subordinates in the middle to report various data, and it was obvious that he was not very impatient. Li Guang is literate, but he can't talk about any culture, he has been in the office for many years, and he has also done many jobs in the border county, and he still refuses to do these trivial things. Seeing Liang Xiao, he immediately stood up, as if he had found a scapegoat, and smiled with relief.

"You came so quickly, you arrived just two days after the paperwork arrived."

Liang Xiao hurriedly saluted. "I've seen two generals. The big war is about to begin, and if you arrive a day early, you will be able to familiarize yourself with the situation as soon as possible. General, how are you preparing? ”

"You ask them." With a wave of his hand, Li Guang pulled a scribe in front of Liang Xiao. "I'll leave it to you here, if you don't understand anything, just ask General Li Xi. He was stationed on the border for many years and was very familiar with the Huns. I have something to do, I need to go out for a while. Li Guang laughed, patted Liang Xiao's armor with his big hand, and said in a low voice: "Boy, are you deliberately stimulating me?" ”

"No way, it's an edict from the Son of Heaven." Liang Xiao shrugged helplessly. "The general doesn't have to blush. After this battle, it's time for you to be a marquis. ”

"I hope so." Li Guang raised his eyebrows, turned around and left. Li Dang hurriedly followed, and Li Jiao also wanted to run, but was dragged by Liang Xiao. "You can't be too many, you father and son have all run away, leave this mess to me alone?"

Li Jiao grinned and begged for mercy: "Boming, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that I'm not good at this." ”

"If you're not good at it, I'll be good at it?" Liang Xiao said angrily: "Isn't it a brother?" If you are brothers, you will be in trouble. ”

As he spoke, Li Dang had already rushed to the door, leaving Li Jiao with a gloating grimace. Li Jiao had a bitter face, so he had to stay.

When Liang Xiao and the Li family's father and son were laughing, Li Xi had been sitting quietly on the side, and only then did he stand up and arch his hands. "As soon as Liang Junhou arrives, the morale of our army will inevitably increase greatly, and we will be able to defeat the enemy in one battle."

Liang Xiao didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute. Li Xi is not well-known in history, but in fact he is an experienced and fierce general. This time, the Son of Heaven accepted his suggestion and placed the main direction of attack in Hexi and Henan, and then transferred Li Xi to help. Li Xi is a native of the Northland, and has commanded troops for many years, so he is very familiar with the terrain here. There is also experience in commanding operations.

"The general has been awarded. The kid didn't dare to be. Sneak attack harassment. can rely on the courage of blood and spirit, the two armies face each other, and they must rely on a veteran general like the general to command. ”

Li Xi smiled slightly. "The prince is humble. The prince became famous as a young man, but he has such a mind, which really makes me ashamed. ”

Liang Xiao smiled all over his face, and hurriedly said a few more modest words.

From the moment he received the order from the Son of Heaven to dress up, he knew that he was being pushed to the cusp. The officers and men in the army are mainly in the six counties in the northwest, and Li Guang and Li Xi are both young soldiers. After fighting for half his life, he has not had the opportunity to be a marquis, he is a young man from the east, and he will be a marquis in the first battle, which will inevitably cause jealousy. The Son of Heaven ordered him to be so public, and let him be Li Guang's general instead of the general Li Xi, this is the hatred of Hongguo Guodila.

There is no way, at this time, I can only lower my posture and try to have a good relationship with my colleagues as much as possible. He flattered Li Xi half-truthfully, and revealed the meaning in and out of his words. Nominally, he was second only to Li Guang, but in fact he was just a supervisor sent by the Son of Heaven. Li Guang and Li Xi are the main generals. This is the opportunity created by the Son of Heaven for them to be vassals, you must seize it well, and don't be rash.

Although Li Xi is not a cultural person, he is not as nervous as Li Guang. He heard the warning from Liang Xiao's seemingly modest attitude, of course he was unwilling to act rashly, which not only offended the Son of Heaven, but also wasted this good opportunity to be a marquis. Since Liang Xiao is so low-key, he will not be angry with a young man and have trouble with his future.

With the help of Li Xi and Li Jiao, it took Liang Xiao two days to basically figure out the preparations in Longxi. The officials of the Taishou Mansion and the Military Mansion are similar to Li Guang's father and son, not like the scribes, but more like a martial artist. There is no way, there are too few people here who can read, they can write their own names, and those who can mentally calculate addition and subtraction within a hundred are considered literati. In the face of tens of millions of figures, they are all a little blind.

The results were very bad, and many supplies were not in place as planned. The biggest problem is the strength of troops, the estimated 30,000 troops have only reached more than 20,000, the cavalry is only 10,000, and the number of war horses is insufficient, only more than 13,000.

Liang Xiao was puzzled. "Doesn't Longxi Muyuan have nearly 50,000 horses, how can it provide more than 13,000?"

Li Jiao explained. There are 50,000 registered horses in the pasture, but it is impossible to have 50,000 horses that can be used. There are too many places to use horses, except for the young horses and stallions that must be kept in the bars, the retinue knights of officials at all levels are equipped with war horses, the post legends in various places must have spare horses, and the personal guard horses of the generals in the army must also be equipped with horses. These thirteen,000 war horses are already the maximum ability of Longxi Muyuan.

If you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are, Liang Xiao only knew how extravagant he used to be when he came into contact with these affairs for the first time. According to his previous habit of one man and three horses, 13,000 horses could only equip a maximum of 5,000 knights. But to fight against the main force of the Huns, let alone 5,000 horsemen, even if there are 10,000 horsemen, there is not enough chance of winning.

Liang Xiao pondered for a moment: "How many knights have been recruited?" ”

"There are about more than 3,000 horses, and although they have more horses, they are not enough for one person and two horses."

Liang Xiao shook his head, this is still not enough. According to the predetermined battle plan, as the Western Route Army, they not only had to take the rest of the slaughter, but also crossed the desert and cooperated with the other two armies to take Henan. Later, depending on the casualties and battle losses, if there is still strength left, they will go deep into Hexi and sweep the Hexi Corridor.

When Chang'an made a plan, he was cautious enough, but it was still difficult to implement it, and it had to be discounted everywhere. Although Liang Xiao was somewhat mentally prepared, he was still very worried when he saw these figures.

He decided to report to the imperial court immediately.

Li Jiao stopped him. "You're being too cautious, and for us, that's enough. Although the number is insufficient, the morale is strong and the hearts of the people are available. ”

Liang Xiao glanced at Li Jiao, motioned for the officials to go out first, closed the door, and said to Li Jiao in a low voice: "Brother Li, there is something, I think it is necessary to remind you again." ”

Seeing that Liang Xiao was so serious, Li Jiao didn't dare to be careless. "You say."

"This battle is a good opportunity for the general to be a marquis, and I can understand the urgency of your father and son. But that's why we need to be more cautious. Even if this battle is postponed for a year and a half, the general can afford to wait. But in case of defeat, it will be impossible to launch a major war of this scale in three or five years, or even ten years, can the general afford to wait? ”

Li Jiao's brows furrowed, and he was skeptical. "As for it? Not to mention that we have at least a fifty or sixty percent chance of winning, even if we lose, the losses will be limited, so we won't be able to fight again for ten years. ”

"It has nothing to do with strength, it has to do with the face of the Son of Heaven. This was the first battle after the Son of Heaven came to power, and it took so many words to barely win the support of the courtiers, especially the Queen Mother. If defeated, the prestige of the Son of Heaven will be damaged, opposition will arise again, and the Queen Mother will govern, just like when the Queen Mother was alive, how can it be good? Since it is the first battle, you must either not fight, or if you want to fight, you must win, and you must win beautifully. If you are not sure, it is better not to fight. ”

Li Jiao was silent. The Empress Dowager is the grandmother of the Son of Heaven, and she should have died a long time ago. The Queen Mother is different, she has just turned fifty years old, and under normal circumstances, she will live for another ten or twenty years, and there will be no problems at all.

However, Li Guang couldn't wait.

Li Jiao didn't dare to make a decision, and went to find Li Guang with Liang Xiao. Li Guang's attitude was the same as Li Jiao's, and he was a little embarrassed at first, but after listening to Liang Xiao's reminder, he also realized that the risk was far greater than he imagined. However, he was unwilling to give up this opportunity.

This may be his best chance.

The Son of Heaven not only gave him the opportunity to take charge of himself, but also asked Liang Xiao instead of Li Xi to be his general. Generally speaking, the general is not only a substitute for the main general in case of an accident, but also a check and balance and monitoring of the main general. Because of this relationship, it is not uncommon for the general to compete with the main general, and even falsely accuse the main general.

Liang Xiao is different, although Liang Xiao is deeply trusted by the Son of Heaven, he is his subordinate, close to their father and son, and will only help him, not disadvantage him. This is naturally the Son of Heaven's compensation for his last meritorious service. If you miss this opportunity, you don't know who will be there next time.

Li Guang said that this battle must not only be fought, but also won, and it must be won beautifully-

(To be continued.) )

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