Chapter 494: First up
Three days later, it was June 7, the second year of Taiwu.
Han Chang followed the Ganling camp where he was located to the camp in Pingyuanjin.
This is a huge camp that stretches for several miles, and the entire camp is located on this large river beach like an astrolabe.
From time to time, you can see three or five riders running on the military road.
Han Chang had never seen such a majestic and powerful scene, and he was full of awe. He may have never seen as many people in his life as he did on this day.
Seeing the armored cavalry coming out in all directions and the tough sergeants who were practicing in the camp, Han Chang shuddered. It turned out that their Taishan Army was so strong.
The leader of the team told Han Chang that these sergeants were not the garrison troops, but the officers and soldiers of the Marshal's Department of the Fifth Army of the Taishan Army.
The Marshal's Headquarters of the Rear Army was stationed in the field at Dongwucheng in Qinghe, specializing in the defense of the southeast of Jizhou. After the conflict broke out in Pingyuanjin, a group of soldiers stationed in Ganling came first under the leadership of general Zhou Gui.
This ranger from Xinzheng was admired by Ding Sheng for his fierce revenge and was now a general in charge of an army of five hundred.
After Zhou Gui's troops arrived, the rear army marshals stationed in other counties also arrived one after another.
Then Zhong Wu and Guo Shu also rushed over from the station one after another.
When the school captain Jin Quan arrived with the school headquarters, after inspecting the river defense on the opposite side, he decided to send out garrison troops from all over Qinghe River for reinforcements.
In this way, when Han Chang arrived, the camp on the east bank of Pingyuanjin already had 2,000 rear army officials and 2,000 garrison troops, not counting the civilians.
After seeing the majesty of the Taishan Army's field officers, Han Chang wanted to join the field ranks.
But unfortunately, it is still very difficult for Han Chang to become a military official at this time. Because at this time, after more than half a year of training, the Hou Military Academy's Lieutenant Division was full, and there were no extra opportunities for this highly motivated young man.
But the excitement that followed quickly diluted Han Chang's disappointment at the moment.
After the garrison troops from various counties gathered at Pingyuanjin Camp, they did not immediately participate in the battle. Instead, they began training under the supervision of rear army training officers.
Han Chang and others were first issued a set of summer clothes. Although they did not fit well, they were enough to make Han Chang and other local soldiers excited.
Later, Han Chang and his team were given cloth boots. They were old, but they were ones that Han Chang and his team had never worn in their lives.
Fortunately for Han Chang and the others, as local garrison soldiers, they still had straw sandals to wear. After all, they had been practicing marching for a long time and they couldn't walk very long without shoes on their feet.
But that's not the case for those Guizhou leaders. Except when traveling far away, they are always barefoot.
So when the cloth boots were sent to Han Chang and others, the whole community was boiling.
They caressed each other carefully, feeling the soft texture of the cloth boots, and then began to change shoes between each other. After a commotion, these Ganling men began to pace carefully in their cloth boots.
Among them, Shitou saw Han Chang standing still and asked in confusion:
"Scarface, why are you staying here? Let's go and try on the shoes."
Han Chang murmured:
"This, we dare not leave."
This time something seemed strange, and I asked why.
But I heard Han Chang say this:
"We, we feel like we are stepping on shit when we step on these shoes."
As soon as this statement came out, everyone present laughed, and then took two more steps involuntarily.
Not to mention, it really feels like stepping on shit.
In the days that followed, new things always happened to Han Chang and others. There were too many novel things in the military camp.
First of all, the food here is better than in the village. You can eat one meal of meat every three days, and then you can eat enough millet every day.
This is too important to Han Chang. He hasn't had enough to eat since he was a child, and although he has grown into the shape of Gao Wei's soldier, he is still a little thin after all. Later, when we arrived at Zhenshu, we ate a little more.
But how can Zhenzhai compare with this place? Eat as much as you want every day, and still have food and water. Then after eating, it's time to train. They have practiced military flags and golden drums, so now they mainly practice martial arts.
Han Chang was previously used as a rifleman because of his tall height and long arms, but as he became stronger and stronger at Pingyuanjin Camp, he has become a swordsman.
The old soldier who raised Han Chang was the Daozhen soldiers, so after being divided into Daozhen soldiers, Han Chang was like a fish in water.
Han Chang himself was also very proud, because he saw that the rear military officials of their team had pointed at him several times.
Han Chang felt happy and felt more confident about joining the field army.
But one thing was not good, that is, the trainers asked them to drink a lot of water every day, but he often didn't like to drink it.
In addition to these, Han Chang also learned a few military songs in the camp. They had also sung them in Zhenzhai before, but they were not as magnificent as these.
Han Chang didn't understand the meaning of those words, but he felt extremely passionate just by singing them.
It was also from that moment that Han Chang felt in his heart that it was good to be literate.
At this point, Han Chang couldn't help but laugh at the Lingqiu Camp across the camp.
Their rustic accents singing these majestic military songs are like a flock of ducks, really a flock of earth hammers.
But what Han Chang and the others didn't know was that they heard the same thing from the other side.
But this is just Han Chang's realization.
For the Tongshi garrison soldiers, after experiencing the initial excitement and freshness, life in the entire camp became more boring and unbearable.
Endless physical training, always running in circles, running in circles. I am exhausted every day and often fall asleep while eating.
What made them even more uneasy was that they had vaguely heard that some officers and soldiers at the head of the camp had engaged the Han army in the southeast.
This is evident from the groans and wails of the medical camp.
But Han Chang took these things that ordinary people regarded as painful and took pleasure in them. In the words of his teammates:
"This scarred face was born to be a good soldier."
The military camp is Han Chang's stage, and he is at ease here.
But the time of happiness is always short-lived.
On June 15th, the Ganling camp where Han Chang and the others were located was ordered to set off again.
This time they set off together with the former Colonel and Lieutenant of the Taishan Army's rear marshal's corps.
The leader of this field army was Guo Shu, who had a close relationship with Liu Hui. Liu Hui was just a latecomer in the army. Although he was the queen of Changshan King, he didn't care about this in the Taishan army.
But Zhang Chong appreciated Liu Hui's decisiveness, wisdom and courage. After completing several beautiful military affairs, he was promoted in the army.
However, this promotion declined after his sister Liu Qian entered the palace.
But does anyone know what this means? Therefore, when Ding Sheng, the marshal of the rear army, lacked a 500-member general in his army, he petitioned the Privy Council to transfer Guo Shu to take up the post.
The Privy Council and the Political Affairs Hall, as two major institutions, one military and one civil, are located on the left and right sides of the front hall of the Taiping Palace. There are six departments in the Political Hall, while the Privy Council has power over five marshals, local garrison troops, and four departments including armaments, general staff, transportation, and medical and nursing departments.
The reason why Ding Sheng did this was simply to show favor to Liu Hui. However, Ding Sheng showed kindness to everyone, including the Zhao family, the Zhen family, and the Liu family.
Unlike other generals, he, Ding Daqi, wanted a bowl of water to be leveled. They were both from Kui's wife's family, so they had to express themselves no matter what.
It is precisely this kind of behavior that Ding Daqi has always believed that he is not only the best in military merit, but also the best in conduct.
There is no way, Ding Daqi is just so good. But when Guo Shu came and the army took office, Ding Sheng said that he had found a treasure. Originally, he was just transferred to the deputy department to make a transition first. But after Guo Shu showed his outstanding fighting skills and knowledge, Ding Sheng directly promoted him to the rear general of the former military academy.
Jin Quan, the former military academy lieutenant, was an old subordinate of Ding Sheng, and his subordinates were the elite of the Marshal's Department of the rear army. Guo Shu was directly arranged here by Ding Sheng, which shows Ding Sheng's recognition of Guo Shu.
Now, the Ganling camp where Han Chang and the others are located is operating with such an elite force.
After leaving Pingyuanjin Camp, the partial division of a thousand people walked along the west bank of the river for forty miles to Gaotang.
Here they boarded the boat. Until they crossed the river, the gate of Gaotang, not far from here, was still closed.
Guarding Gaotang was a member of Liu Yu's clan, named Liu Hao. For unknown reasons, Liu Hao did not choose to go out of the city to meet the Taishan army outside the city.
But the target of Taishan Army is not them either.
When the officers and soldiers of Ganling Camp were extremely nervous and thought that the first battle of their lives was about to begin under Gaotang City, the army suddenly sent an order to move south.
Han Chang was just a small official and had no idea what the military strategy was or who they were going to fight.
In short, following his Paoze brothers, Han Chang and the others set out south again under the fluttering "Ganling" town flag.
From Gaotang to the south, there is no main road, and there are few people along the way. It was very difficult for Han Chang and others to supply supplies here. In order to save military rations, the army ordered a quota of rations to be eaten twice a day.
But such hard days did not last long. Two days later, they arrived at the bank of Jishui.
On the opposite side of the water, there is a city, which is Zhuacheng, an important town on the Jishui River.
It has been more than seven years since Zhang Chong left Zhu'a. The son of the former Guizhou Li Han has now become a northern landowner. And today, this city is about to welcome the strong army under the command of the northern landowner.
Zhu Acheng is slower than expected.
When Guo Shu ordered the night crossing at the shoal twenty miles upstream of Jishui River, Zhu Aren was still sleeping.
Stepping on the cold river water, I entered the river one after another with my brothers and sisters. For the first time, Han Chang felt that joining the army was not always beautiful. On the contrary, it was very real.
When Han Chang got ashore cold and cold, he heard the brothers nearby whispering some news.
It turned out that a brother drowned just as he was wading into the water.
It’s hard to believe that someone could drown in waist-deep water, but that’s what happened.
Han Chang knew the man who drowned. He had chatted with this man before. He was from Xiaohuaishe, twenty miles away from Han Chang Township.
What a pity, he is a good soldier.
That's how the director sighed after hearing the news.
Yes, it's just a pity, nothing else.
Even Han Chang just listened and put the matter behind him.
They may have little knowledge, but they are no strangers to death. So when they heard that Paoze had drowned, they only paused for a while, and then started shivering to put on their cloth boots. Soon they would be marching quickly, and it was impossible without good shoes.
Don't imagine how sentimental they are, they are the real group of this era.
The army first walked forward hand in hand, and waited until dawn.
People were passing people to each other in front, and the military order was issued:
"The whole army is moving rapidly."
According to the Taishan military system, the army marches quickly for three and a half hours a day, covering sixty miles.
At this time, it is only twenty miles away from Zhu'a and can be reached in an hour.
The sergeants carried their luggage on their backs, and the auxiliary soldiers carried their armor, all the way without stopping, just like mules on their way.
It was just dawn and the weather was crisp and pleasant.
The charm of summer is vividly displayed along this trail.
The rolling hills, lush shrubs, birds and animals freely release the restlessness of life here.
Anyone who sees such a scene will feel that it is time to hang out with one or two friends, instead of rushing to the distant battlefield with the wet brothers here.
Because of the cool weather, the team arrived at Zhuachengdong sooner than expected.
At this time, the sun has fully risen.
The mist in the mountains and forests and the mist rising from Jishui not far away make this small town look particularly mysterious.
Han Chang was also a little stunned. There was also a river outside Ganling, but it had never given him such a shock.
Suddenly a thought came to his mind:
"In the future, I will fight all over the world with the Taishan Army. Will I also have the opportunity to see all these mountains and rivers?"
At this moment, Han Chang felt that the world was big and he might be able to take a look around.
Ganling is a small place. You might not feel it even if you stay in your hometown, but once you step out, you will feel even more cramped there.
The general Qu had already walked to the front of the team and began to order the teams to line up.
Soon, Han Chang stood up with his brothers, and then they all stood at attention. As each team called their names one after another, Han Chang and the others called out one after another.
When they were finally gathered at Guo Shu's place, there were a thousand soldiers in the whole army, and 992 people finally arrived here. Six of them fell ill on the road and two died.
Both of them were from the town garrison. It was the first time I left my hometown, and I was already dead before I had any achievements.
Guo Shu was very satisfied with this number. He had served as a military official in Zhao State before, and he knew that this level of attack was very good.
In particular, the Ganling Camp, which he originally thought would be a drag on him, was surprisingly resilient.
At this moment, he was full of confidence in winning Zhua.
The battle started half an hour later.
Just as the county soldiers at the head of Zhuacheng sounded the alarm, the two battalions of the Taishan Army launched an attack from the east and south.
The battle was intense from the start.
The person responsible for garrisoning Zhua was the local powerful Chen family. Guo Shu did not dare to underestimate this clan of good archers who originated from Chen Jun. After all, the most powerful archers in the army were Chen Huan and Chen Cheng's uncles and nephews, both of whom were from this clan.
But Guo Shu did not let go because of this relationship, because the Chen clan members who stayed in Zhu'a had a blood feud with Chen Huan and the others.
Therefore, in order to achieve the strongest assault effect, Guo Shu focused on the trapping of his subordinates.
But just when Guo Shufang's second team of shooters suppressed the crossbows on the top of the city and prepared to let the assault troops come forward, such news came.
At this time, Guo Shu couldn't believe it. He tilted his head and asked:
"You said the Ganling soldiers had already boarded first?"
Done, let’s go to the Grand Bazaar and eat something good.
(End of chapter)