An Guogong hurriedly entered Beijing, and the ministers of the court and China were ridiculed for nearly two months, but the result was unsatisfactory. Five million taels is tantamount to a drop in the bucket for the critical situation in the north.

The Qin Cha of the Ministry of Industry is very conscientious, but no matter how conscientious he is, he can only ensure that under the condition of a limited budget, he can only try to repair the city defense of the three border states as firmly as possible, and he can't do anything else.

The Shuobei Army Battalion, the Zhenbei Army Battalion and the garrison soldiers of Yanmen Pass in the three states of the border pass have been under great pressure recently, and there are so many craftsmen who have come to repair the city defense at the border pass, of course the Rongdi people have noticed.

The Rongdi people live as nomads, and there are few craftsmen in the tribe, so they like to plunder the craftsmen of the Great Zhou Dynasty the most. Therefore, these days, Rong Di's attacks at the border pass are very frequent.

Craftsmen build fortifications at the border passes, which usually require three times the number of sergeants to protect them, and the defense of the border guards is extremely stressful. Mu Chengxin, the general of Zhenbei, who originally planned to return to Beijing at the end of October, postponed his plan to return to Beijing because he was not worried about the situation in Youzhou.

"There is no hurry to return to Beijing, and we will talk about it at the end of the year." Mu Chengxin told his eldest brother An Guogong that "at the end of the year, the ground cannot be dug up, and many projects have to be stopped." We can first escort the craftsmen to Heng'an for the New Year. When the craftsmen leave Youzhou, the Rongdi people will not attack so often, and the defensive pressure will be less. Before the New Year, I asked for a decree to go back to accompany my mother and children for the New Year, and come back before the beginning of spring after the New Year. ”

"I originally wanted to take advantage of my two years at the border to let you go back and rest," An Guogong sighed, "Who ......knows?"

"Big brother doesn't have to worry about me." Mu Chengxin smiled: "The second brother and the fourth brother haven't been back for many years. Zhengyi returned to Beijing, and he was going to marry his daughter-in-law next year this year, and he was supposed to go back to the second brother, but it was a pity that he is now serving as a strategic envoy, and the current situation at the border is grim, and he really can't leave the north. ”

"I plan to ask for an order in the next two days," An Guogong said after a moment of silence, "If the increase in troops is not possible for the time being, I plan to ask for an appropriation first, and see if I can first replenish 10,000 war horses into the northern border, and then select some suitable training from the infantry or spearmen to become cavalry." ”

"It's easy to bring in 10,000 war horses, but the burden of grain and grass in the follow-up should not be underestimated." Mu Chengxin's face was a little gloomy, "Besides, there are only 10,000 horses." However, the eldest brother's decision is right, Shuozhou is under the greatest pressure, no matter what, first make up a batch of war horses to go to Shuobei camp. ”

"I'm afraid the Shuobei battalion won't be able to train cavalry again." An Guogong shook his head, "If the situation in Rong Di changes, Shuozhou will bear the brunt, and the pressure on the fourth brother is too great, so we have to give him room to deal with any critical situation." Therefore, I want to transfer the entire Xiaocai battalion of Yanmen Pass to Shuozhou, supplement the war horses into Yanzhou, and select sergeants from the Yanmen Pass camp for retraining. ”

Mu Chengxin was silent for a long time before he spoke: "Separate." Yanmen Pass is also a front line against the enemy, if the cavalry battalion is transferred to Shuozhou, where the second brother will ...... In this way, 5,000 will be transferred from my flying cavalry battalion, and 5,000 will be transferred from the second brother's Xiaocai battalion. We take it separately. I will order me to go down today and select the right sergeants in the infantry battalion and retrain them. ”

"It's fine." An Guogong nodded, "It's just a matter of calculation, even if 10,000 war horses can be added by the end of the year, it's really just a drop in the bucket, but it's actually useless." ”

"It's better than nothing." Mu Chengxin smiled reluctantly, "Also, big brother, there is something I want to discuss with you." Now that Zhengyi has returned to Beijing, Tieyi and Chiyi are both placed in Shuozhou, and it is not good for the two brothers to be tied together. I think, let Chiyi continue to stay in Shuozhou, and Tieyi will go to my town to train in the Northern Army for two years, you see if it will work. ”

"You don't have to go around the bend with me," An Guogong smiled bitterly, "You are my own brother, since you were five years old, I have been staring at you to practice and read military books, what are you thinking, don't I know yet?" You just think that if Rong Di is a big offender, Shuozhou will bear the brunt, and you are afraid that the two children will make a mistake if they stay in Shuozhou. Chi Yi is your own son, why don't you want to keep him by your side and stare at him. ”

"Big brother," Mu Chengxin lowered his head and was silent for a long time before he spoke, "I won't hide it from you, now the expansion speed of several large clans of Rongdi is getting faster and faster, if they don't tolerate each other, it's okay if there is friction, but recently we sent news from the whistle outside the gate, I heard that the Shuomo Department and the Etai Department have begun negotiations. If they are truly united...... I've prepared for the worst. What if...... I still have brocade clothes. But Tie Yi is the little grandfather of the Anguo Mansion, your only son. ”

"They are all surnamed Mu," An Guogong replied with lowered eyes, "they are the next generation of Mu generals." If war breaks out in the north, any Muhammad general should spare his own life. ”

"Big brother," Mu Chengxin raised his head, "There are not only generals surnamed Mu in the north. They're not even twenty years old!"

An Guogong was silent for a longer time this time, so long that Mu Chengxin was already desperate, thinking that he would not answer. But he finally spoke, "You're right, even Zhengyi is only twenty years old, and they are all children, so young...... But the third child, if Rong Di comes to attack in a big way, the entire northern border will be in the flames of war, whether they are stationed in Shuobei or you, they are the front line, what is the difference. ”

"Big brother," Mu Chengxin grabbed An Guogong's arm, "Even so, I can't let the children stand in front of me." Even if Rong Di comes to attack, even if the soldiers in the whole northern territory have to go to the battlefield with their heads in their hands, there should be a sequence. I'm already a battle-hardened general, more experienced than children. I want to try my best to get ahead of the children, to stop the Rongdi people for them for a few more moments, so that they can have a little more life on the battlefield. ”

"Okay." An Guogong finally agreed, he nodded slowly but firmly, and his voice was slightly astringent, "As you said, transfer the iron clothes and the Zheng clothes to Youzhou." It can be regarded as fulfilling the selfishness of those of us as fathers. ”

General Muhammad's only selfish motive was to transfer the young children from Shuozhou, which was the most dangerous, to Youzhou, which was also at the forefront of the enemy, and that's it.

In fact, An Guogong and Mu Chengxin both understand that this is just a psychological comfort that is better than nothing, if Rong Di wants to attack, the entire northern border will be in flames, and there will be no safety in the three border states. As a general, even if the children are young, they cannot avoid the war.

When they really go to the battlefield, even if they want to try their best to protect their children, they can't protect them. On the Shura field, if you can survive, you have to rely on your own ability, as well as God's favor, if you are unlucky, you can only admit that you really leave your life on the battlefield.

In this land in the north, are there still few Mu generals who are buried in the battlefield at a young age?

。