Chapter 175: Expedition to the Southeastern Pillar

Wei Yuan was stunned.

In the past, he didn’t believe in ghosts and gods.

However, after the ‘time travel’ incident, his materialism was shaken.

Now, hearing such a story again, he was shocked.

Wei Yuan asked, "Brother Yan, do you believe in the so-called ghosts and gods?"

Yanda shook his head and said, "No, I don't believe it, but His Majesty does."

Wei Yuan said, "You didn't report this to His Majesty?"

Yanda said, "If I had, I'm afraid that Yuzhou Tuanlianshi would have been involved in the two kings' case."

Wei Yuan smiled and said, "From now on, the lifeline of Zhao Tuanlianshi's family is in your hands."

Yanda said, "It should be said that it was held by our brothers. Yuzhou is close to the capital, and perhaps he will be useful in the future."

Wei Yuan was puzzled, "Why did you give me such a big favor for no reason?"

Yanda said, "Didn't you give this favor a long time ago?"

"Now you and I are on the same rope. You will be an assistant minister in the future, and I will be a military general. I can't get along with Shangshu Wang."

"Only the two of us can depend on each other."

Wei Yuan was silent. This was the best response.

Yan Da stood up slowly, "It's lively in the palace tonight, please do as you please, brother Wei."

After saying that, he left.

Wei Yuan stayed for a while, and he didn't leave the palace until the emperor went back to rest.

After the New Year's banquet tonight, the court's New Year's holiday was over.

The court officials began to go to the yamen one after another.

Wei Yuan gave the soldiers a long rest time, about seven or eight days before and after the New Year.

It was not until the fifth day of the first lunar month that the new army began to train normally.

Now the equipment of the Manjia Camp is about to be in place, and there are about 100,000 taels of silver left.

Wei Yuan took out another 30,000 taels of silver to buy wine and meat, and invited the new army soldiers to have fun.

After another two days, everything was on track.

Wei Yuan also announced in a high-profile manner that the military competition of new and old soldiers officially began.

For a period of seven days, the competition content includes competitions of various military branches, single-person competitions, confrontations between new and old regiments, and cross-country survival.

Among them, the most important are the two items of confrontation between each branch of the military and the new and old regiments.

To put it bluntly, it is a battle between the red and blue armies.

From all aspects and multiple dimensions, 300 warriors were selected from the 80,000 new troops to serve as soldiers of the full armor camp.

The soldiers of the full armor camp are far superior to ordinary soldiers in terms of military pay and treatment.

Training soldiers, methods are certainly important.

However, spending money is also important.

If you are proficient in the method of training soldiers, the soldiers you train may be elite.

But if you are proficient in the method of training soldiers and are willing to spend money, then the soldiers you train are "death soldiers".

Regarding the part of the whole army competition, Wei Yuan gave full authority to Yang Huairen, Chen Daniu and others.

Although Yang Huairen was promoted by Wei Yuan, he was also quite loyal to him.

However, he still had a defensive heart towards Yang Huairen, thinking that if Chen Daniu and others were his direct line, then people like Yang Huairen were pseudo-direct line.

If he were to face a life-and-death battle in the future, perhaps Wei Yuan's mentality would change.

In the past few days, the court has gradually returned to its previous state.

But there are still many people who are talking about what happened at the New Year's banquet.

Among them, the incident in which Wei Yuan killed the Japanese warriors was particularly controversial.

Nowadays, in the streets, teahouses, taverns, or when nobles get together, this incident will be used as a topic of conversation:

"That day in Daqing Palace, I heard that General Wei killed the warrior with just his fist. His head was cracked"

"Hiss! This is too scary!"

"We girls can say anything else, so let's not talk about this, it's creepy."

"We ordinary people have no chance to see General Wei take action. I heard that General Wei punched the Japanese warrior's head in the palace that night."

"So cruel? General Wei is really invincible!"

"I saw General Wei take action. He killed the Liao envoy in the street. He killed the guy with just one knife. The speed was so fast that no one could react!"

"General Wei has the courage of Huo Qubing and the wisdom of Wei Qing!"

"."

In short, Wei Yuan once again became famous in Bianjing City and even the whole world.

Famous with him is the Japanese warrior he killed.

After all, few Japanese individuals can be recorded in the historical records of the Han Dynasty.

But the Japanese warrior can.

Afterwards, the Japanese envoy Ping Zhongsheng came to Wei Yuan again, saying that he wanted to apologize.

Wei Yuan still refused to see him.

Ping Zhongsheng felt humiliated and simply gave up the idea of ​​getting to know him.

Later, Fuchangbo and his son presented a visiting card to Wei Yuan, but Wei Yuan refused it on the grounds of training the new army.

Seven days later, the new army competition ended.

Three hundred winners have been selected.

They are all the best in each branch of the army.

Among the three hundred people, only three people can be regarded as superior by Wei Yuan.

The three people are Chai Gong, Kou Zhuang and Jiang Ji.

It is worth mentioning that Chai Gong is a descendant of the Chai family, the royal family of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Of course, he is now called the "Duke of Chongyi", and his status is similar to the "Duke of Yansheng" of the Kong family and the Zhang family of the Tianshi Mansion.

Chai Gong is just a branch of the Chai family. Chai Gong's great-grandfather was once a concubine's son.

If the Great Zhou Taizu had not been crowned with the yellow robe, the Chai family should be in charge of the Great Zhou now.

And Chai Gong's status can be better, but worse than Zhao Zongquan.

But he is not a big soldier in the army.

Kou Zhuang's ancestors were imperial guards, and his generation was inherited. He practiced martial arts since he was a child and had a good physique.

Jiang Ji studied, but unfortunately he did not pass the exam to become a scholar. Later, he encountered variables and had no choice but to join the army.

All three were promoted to "Dutou" by Wei Yuan.

Afterwards, Wei Yuan went to the palace to meet the emperor and handed over the list of 300 people who formed the heavy armored cavalry to Zhao Zhen without any error, saying:

"These are the best players picked from the new army. It is most appropriate for them to serve as the heavy armored cavalry."

Zhao Zhen did not look at the list and smiled: "Wei Qing can make the decision on these matters alone. Why do you need to come to the palace and report to me?"

Wei Yuan said: "Before, everyone in the court said that the new army is my private army, but I know in my heart that the new army is your Majesty's new army and I am your Majesty's general."

"No matter how big or small the new army is, it should be reported to your Majesty."

Zhao Zhen was very pleased, "In the future, Wei Qing can make the decision on such matters alone. There is no need to report everything to me. I believe you."

After leaving the palace, Wei Yuan began to prepare to lead the troops to the south.

In the Bo Mansion

Wei Yuan invited Xu Changzhi and said:

"When I return triumphantly, I will hold a military parade in Beijing. I have already told His Majesty about this."

"At that time, I will invite some military and political ministers from Liao and Xia to take this opportunity to make the new army famous."

Military parade?

Xu Changzhi was puzzled and said: "The new army is now a killing weapon. If we fight with Liao and Xia in the future, we can use the new army to attack them by surprise."

"If we hold this so-called military parade, I am afraid that the two countries will be afraid and take precautions in advance."

Wei Yuan said: "I am now a celebrity in Liao and Xia. It is well known that His Majesty asked me to form a new army. They cannot be unaware of it."

"Instead of doing this, it is better to put this new army that makes the two countries "afraid" on the table completely."

Xu Changzhi was relieved, "That's great."

Wei Yuan said again: "When the war in the southeast is about to end, I will submit a letter to form a navy , stationed in the southeast."

Xu Changzhi said: "You and I will stay in the capital for a long time. Once the navy is established, who should be sent to rule?"

Wei Yuan shook his head, "I haven't thought about it yet, let's observe it."

Xu Changzhi nodded, "Anyway, in the future, when people talk about Brother Wei, they will inevitably add a sentence that Brother Wei is the pillar of the southeast."

Wei Yuan chuckled, "Don't make fun of me. I don't know what the situation is in the southeast, and what power Your Majesty can give me."

"If I am restricted by the frontier officials in the southeast, I am afraid that this job will be difficult to do."

——

More than half a month later.

The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War began to raise the food and wages needed for the new army to go to the southeast.

At least it can be guaranteed that the food and grass needed for the new army for half a year will be collected before mid-March.

This is not a pressure for the current Ministry of Revenue.

On February 2, the court announced to the world that sea transportation was officially opened.

The Ministry of Personnel personally selected more than ten Jinshi who were awarded in the second year of Jiayou and were full of passion to serve the country to go to the Maritime Customs in the southeast.

At this time, the head of the Sheng family, Sheng Hong's cousin, came to the capital and asked Sheng Hong about shipping.

Sheng Hong was devoted to his career and knew very little about shipping. In desperation, he had to ask Wei Yuan for help.

Sheng Hong brought Sheng Wei and prepared many gifts to visit Wei Yuan, hoping to learn about shipping from him.

Wei Yuan's answer to them was also very simple,

"Don't get involved in the interest disputes between famous families. You can still make some money by building a fleet of moderate size."

With the background of the Sheng family, it would only be a dead end to plan for big things.

Those nobles and famous families in Bianjing City will eat them up until there is nothing left.

Early March

Zhang Guifen and Minglan came to the Bo's Mansion and personally prepared some daily necessities for Wei Yuan on the way to the southeast.

Wei Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Why do you need these things when you lead the army to the battle?"

Minglan refused and said, "Uncle will go to the south and it will take a long time for him to come back. How can the things outside be as good as those in the capital?"

After that, she glanced at Zhang Guifen.

Zhang Guifen lowered her head and said nothing, unable to hide her sadness.

Minglan said, "Aunt, didn't you make a set of clothes for uncle?"

Zhang Guifen just remembered and quickly took out a piece of underwear from the things she brought and said:

"The armor is heavy. It is inevitable that it will be uncomfortable if you wear it for a long time."

"This is a close-fitting garment made of fine silk. After Brother Wei puts it on, he may feel better when wearing armor."

Wei Yuan touched the garment and it was indeed very smooth.

He accidentally touched Zhang Guifen's fingers, which were even smoother.

"Sister Guifen is thoughtful."

Wei Yuan took the close-fitting garment and smiled.

Zhang Guifen should have started sewing this garment after the New Year. It took her a month or two.

However, judging from the completeness of this garment, Zhang Guifen's needlework has indeed improved a lot.

As soon as Wei Yuan finished speaking.

Zhang Guifen looked at him without feeling shy or timid, and actually looked at him straight.

It made Wei Yuan feel a little uncomfortable.

After a long time, Minglan quietly left.

Zhang Guifen said with tears in her eyes:

"Brother Wei, remember to think of me after you go to the southeast."

Wei Yuan nodded solemnly.

——

On the ninth day of the third month, the court held a meeting, and everything went well.

Emperor Zhao Zhen created a new official position and announced it to the world, conferring Wei Yuan the title of "Southeast Pacification and Recruiting Envoy".

He was ordered to be in charge of the military and national affairs in the southeast, and Fan Chunren, the son of Fan Wenzheng, went with the army to the expedition as the Southeast Economic Envoy, in charge of the financial power of the southeast.

The reason why it is called a new official position is that in the past, the word "economic" was added before the Pacification and Recruiting Envoy.

It means that it is in charge of the military and political power of a place.

But now, Wei Yuan is only responsible for the military, not the politics of the place.

Zhao Zhen's intention of letting Fan Chunren go is also very clear.

The three routes in the southeast cannot be decided by Wei Yuan alone.

That is a small half of the Great Zhou!

In any case, Wei Yuan is now a frontier official, and he holds a heavy power that few people can match.

Afterwards, Zhao Zhen and all the officials decided on the date of the expedition, which was March 15.

Since the battle was only against Japanese pirates or bandits along the way and the scale was relatively small, Zhao Zhen did not offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, but only asked all officials to see Wei Yuan off on the day of the expedition.