Late Tang Dynasty: I

Chapter 96 The Emperor's Disposition

After Zhu Zhen rested in Tongguan for half a month, she received the emperor's edict to send troops to attack Fufang.

The next day, His Majesty the Emperor personally led the army into Tongguan to join forces with him.

As a professional thug, Zhu Zhen has self-knowledge, and of course he also has his own pride.

No matter where he is, the soldiers under him are the foundation of his life, and the strong combat power of the soldiers under him is his confidence in facing the emperor.

Zhu Zhen had seen what the imperial court's forbidden army looked like, and even Zhu Zhen could confidently say that with more than ten thousand soldiers under her command, she could pick the entire forbidden army.

But when she saw the army led by the emperor, Zhu Zhen's self-confidence was compromised.

Regardless of combat strength, he was superior to Zuo Huwei's army in terms of military discipline and demeanor.

Regardless of the cavalry or infantry, they all hold their heads high, walk neatly, have strict orders, and the upper and lower levels form their own system.

Such an army generally has little difference in combat power.

After the two armies were united, the emperor summoned Zhu Zhen to enter the account.

"Why is Jing Xiang in the tent? And he's the one on the right, so his status isn't low."

Li Ye smiled and introduced Sun Weizui, Sun Dezhao, and the commanders of the various armies to Zhu Zhen, and finally pointed to Jing Xiang: "I won't introduce Jing Xiang, you should be familiar with it, Jing Xiang is now my marching commander , Bachelor of Imperial Academy."

Zhu Zhen clasped her fists and said, "The general has met Jing Sima!"

Jing Xiang replied, "General Zhu is well!"

Li Ye said: "Today, all the soldiers are called for a banquet. The first is to get to know each other, and the second is to wish that all the soldiers will unite sincerely and fight bravely to eliminate thieves. It is not suitable for the army to drink alcohol. I will replace wine with water. I hope the Tang Dynasty will be victorious."

"Wan Sheng!"

"Wan Sheng!"

The next day the army set out, this time Li Ye didn't have to ride the dragon chariot, but rode with the army on horseback.

Li Ye was very interested in Zhu Zhen's military training, so he took three hundred personal guards and mixed into Zhu Zhen's army.

And Zhu Zhen didn't want to know the emperor's disposition, saying that being with the emperor is like accompanying a tiger, Zhu Zhen also didn't want to encounter the emperor's bad luck one day.

The more contact, the more frightened Zhu Zhen became.

During the march, the emperor was able to let go of his airs, go to the various armies to inspect, ask the soldiers about their health, and solve their needs.

When making meals, the lieutenant soldiers were called to eat together. Once, they went directly to the ordinary soldiers to eat together. While eating, they said that there was too little meat, and more meat should be provided later. Not only should the soldiers be full, but also eat. good.

The gang of pawns who got involved were both apprehensive and moved.

Even during a meal, His Majesty the Emperor promised to find a wife for each of the soldiers, starting with the meritorious soldiers, but the soldiers were so happy that they vowed to fight the enemy bravely and make meritorious deeds.

It took only three to five days, and Zhu Zhen felt that if he wanted to raise the flag of rebellion at this time, none of the soldiers in the army would support him.

Especially Huo Cun, the one-sided commander, his eyes seemed to light up when the emperor came.

However, it is also understandable that His Majesty the Emperor just married him a wife. Before the expedition, the daughter-in-law vomited for days and didn't think about eating or drinking.

The emperor's grace is mighty!
The army marched northward from Tongguan, and after leaving Fenglingguan, they arrived in the territory of Tongzhou. The houses on both sides of Li Yeguan Avenue were sparse, and most of the farmland was barren.

Li Ye said to the left and right: "Why is this place with convenient transportation so depressed?"

Jing Xiang said: "Your Majesty, the traffic is convenient, and most of them are main roads for marching. If the Lord General does not restrain military discipline, he will pass by along the way, and there will be many looting, so the common people will avoid the road when farming. People dare to plant."

After hearing this, Li Ye sighed deeply, and his heart became even more serious about confinement to Tongzhou.

In the afternoon, the army marched to Chaoyi County, where there was a pass at Pujin Pass. The county magistrate Zhuang Huan led the gentry from the city to eat pots of pulp to welcome the king's army.

When Li Ye got off his horse, an old man came forward and offered him food and wine.How could the emperor's diet be arbitrary? The servants rushed forward to test the poison, and Li Ye called the county magistrate Zhuang Huan to ask if he was right.

"Magistrate Zhuang, how many people are there in Chaoyi now?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there are five thousand households and twenty thousand people."

"How much land is there, how much land has been cultivated."

"During the Kaiyuan period, there were 300 million mu of land, but now less than 50 mu have been cultivated."

"Why are there so few? How many cattle are there, and are the farm tools complete?"

Zhuang Huan replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, there are only five farm cattle in the whole county, and there is a shortage of agricultural tools. There are countless farmers who plan by hand, and most of them do not work carefully. They sow seeds and see how much crops God can produce.

"Did the county government do anything during the spring plowing?"

Zhuang Huan said helplessly: "There is no shortage of land in the imperial city, but there is a shortage of people, cattle, and farm tools. The officials recruit refugees to enrich the population and call in craftsmen to make farm tools. However, there is a shortage of pig iron and very little equipment.

As for the farming cattle, the minister gathered the strength of the whole county and bought [-] cattle, all of which were requisitioned by the governor of Tongzhou. "

Li Ye frowned, but this Zhuang Huan was an official, and he knew the data of the population of the field, and blurted it out.

Moreover, the county government has also issued many decrees in response to the problem, but there are too many constraints to make things happen.

"If I grant you the post of governor of Tongzhou, will the county magistrate Zhuang have the confidence to govern Tongzhou well?"

Zhuang Huan hastily pushed back: "How can a humble minister dare not look forward to this position."

Li Ye said with a serious face: "I care for the common people, if a man can do it, he can do it, there is no need to evade it."

"Chen...Chen...have confidence!"

"it is good!"

Li Ye returned to the army and said to Jing Xiang: "Send someone to investigate the facts of the dynasty. If Zhuang Huan's words are true, I will give him the governor of Tongzhou."

Jing Xiang said: "Your Majesty, how will the king's appointment be arranged?"

Li Ye really didn't like Wang Xingyue, and said: "I want to build a general staff academy, thinking that the whole army is a think tank, specializing in the strategy of marching and fighting, so Wang Xingyue should be a staff officer!"

After thinking about it again, Li Ye shook his head and said, "Forget it, let's find a job to support him!"

As the army marched all the way, Li Ye called Zhu Zhen to come forward and play duet on horseback.

"I have observed that generals train, march, set up camp, and fight in a very orderly manner. I want to compile a new infantry and cavalry drill code as a model for the entire army, and I still need generals to offer advice."

Zhu Zhen has never read a book or attended a military academy. From a low-level soldier to the current commander-in-chief of the first army, training, marching, and fighting are all groped through practice again and again. These experiences are essential to Li Ye's understanding of this. The era of cold weapon warfare is particularly important.

"Your Majesty, the last general, the last general is a wild way..."

Li Ye said: "The methods that can be used are all good ones. General Zhu does not need to be too modest. After compiling it into a book, I will list your name in the book. This is a matter that will last forever."

"This... the last general will take the order!" The man has made great achievements, his name will last forever, and he has his wishes firmly in his ears. How can it not be exciting.

Li Ye turned to Qian Zhong and said, "Tell Du Chongwei to see you!"

After a while, Du Chongwei stepped forward. Du Chongwei was formerly the commander of the three capitals of the Zuo Shenwei Army. He had outstanding military exploits in the Ten Thousand Years War. After recovering from his injuries, Du Chongwei was kept by Li Ye's side.

　One chapter will be released first, and there will be two more chapters today
　　
　
(End of this chapter)