gnovel Chapter 54 Paving the Way
Chapter 54 Paving the Way
Three days later, at the Song army's training ground outside Zezhou City, battle flags fluttered and the generals exuded murderous intent.
Tens of thousands of imperial guards stood in perfect formation, like an iron torrent, their eyes fixed on the center of the training ground.
There stood a hundred heavily armored assassins, each wielding a short sword and with ropes around their waists. Their eyes were fierce, and their mere presence exuded a menacing aura!
Since Chai Rong came to power and implemented sweeping reforms to the military system, the Later Zhou Dynasty had a strict selection mechanism for the Imperial Guards.
Besides the basic requirement of being at least five feet five inches tall and having a bow draw strength of at least one stone, there are different levels of requirements for skill and combat ability.
For example, the Longjie Army needed to be proficient in saber slashing and thrusting, as well as mounted archery, and be able to hit the bullseye thirty paces away while galloping.
For example, the Crane Control Army requires participants to go through a sword-testing phase, engaging in actual combat with the instructor. Only those who remain undefeated within ten moves are selected.
The best among them would be directly selected into the palace guards, becoming the emperor's personal guards.
Therefore, even though Zhao Kuangyin had not yet carried out the reform of the Imperial Guards at this time, after going through these layers of assessment, the quality of any Imperial Guard was quite good.
Ma Quanyi selected the elite of the elite.
When Zhao Dezhao followed his father from the central command tent to the reviewing stand on the training ground, he couldn't help but nod in approval upon seeing the hundred warriors.
No wonder, some extraordinary figures in history were able to accomplish unparalleled feats by leading only 800 men.
Faced with these hundred warriors, Zhao Dezhao began to harbor ambitions. If he were given several hundred more such elites, the hot-blooded young man might do something else entirely.
Just then, Zhao Kuangyin glanced at Zhao Dezhao, who immediately understood and strode forward, exposing his frail body to the tens of thousands of fierce soldiers.
When they saw that it was Zhao Dezhao who walked out instead of Zhao Kuangyin, the officers on both sides of the training ground were all stunned, and a few surprises flashed between their brows.
They exchanged a knowing glance, then their gazes returned to the high platform.
When tens of thousands of gazes, some fierce, some inquisitive, and some domineering, were all fixed on him, it was impossible for Zhao Dezhao not to be nervous; even his calves began to feel weak.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and slowly scanned the training ground before speaking loudly:
"Bring the stuff in!"
Upon hearing this, Li Chuyun, who had been preparing for a long time, immediately led several imperial guards to carry several heavy wooden boxes to the high platform. With a 'bang,' he placed them on the ground, lifted the lids, and caused all the imperial guards present to exclaim in surprise!
The wooden box was filled with strings of copper coins, their bright orange color dazzling in the torchlight.
The way all the Imperial Guards looked at the box changed instantly.
Greedy, burning, and rapid breathing filled the air.
During this period, only these most practical interests can truly move people's hearts!
If you don't give money, there are plenty of people who are willing to give money. If all else fails, they can give money to themselves!
Zhao Dezhao turned his gaze to the hundred assassins, his slightly immature voice echoing across the training ground:
"His Majesty has ordered a surprise attack on Zezhou tonight! The danger is immense! But those brave warriors who are willing to risk their lives and ascend the mountain under cover of darkness deserve a great reward!"
He pointed to the wooden box filled with copper coins, then looked at the hundred assassins:
"In addition to the reward of ten strings of cash for each of you who die in battle, you will receive fifty strings of cash! Your coffins will be sent back to your hometowns, and your families will be supported by the imperial court. I guarantee they will have no worries about food and clothing!"
"Whoever scales the city wall will be rewarded with two hundred strings of cash! Their merit will be recorded as third-class merit, and they will be promoted one rank!"
Before he finished speaking, the drill ground was already in an uproar.
The hundred assassins' eyes flashed with a sharp light, and their breathing suddenly became heavy.
But then, the glint in their eyes completely transformed into a blazing flame!
"The first to reach the summit will be rewarded with five hundred strings of cash! His merit will be recorded as first-class! I will personally pour him a celebratory drink, and he will be promoted two ranks!"
"For the rest of the soldiers, those who behead enemies in this battle will receive double the reward, and those who die in battle will receive twenty strings of cash!"
"Whoosh—!"
This time, not only the elite soldiers, but the entire Imperial Guard in the training ground was in an uproar!
Ten strings of cash were almost a year's worth of food for a family of three!
Not to mention two hundred or three hundred strings of cash?
Once they climbed the city wall, it meant that their entire family would not have to worry about food and drink for at least twenty or thirty years!
If they were the first to arrive, then there's no need to mention it!
In the military, there have always been four great merits: being the first to scale the walls, breaking through enemy lines, beheading generals, and capturing flags. Anyone who can achieve even one of these is destined for endless wealth and glory in this life!
So when they saw the five large boxes full of copper coins and heard Zhao Dezhao announce the generous rewards, the troops were completely excited!
At this moment, a fervent light gradually emerged in their eyes as they looked at the thin figure on the high platform!
"Long live Your Majesty! May His Highness the Crown Prince live forever!"
Someone shouted first, and then a roar like a tsunami swept across the entire training ground, the sound shaking the clouds and soaring into the sky!
These imperial guards were all those who followed Zhao Kuangyin in his coup. Everyone witnessed the scene when Zhao Dezhao was given the crown prince's robe.
Now, looking at these gleaming copper coins, at least in the hearts of those ordinary imperial guards, Zhao Dezhao's title of Crown Prince is now completely confirmed!
Zhao Kuangyin stood quietly to the side, a slight smile on his lips, and did not utter a word to stop him.
Seeing this, the officers present were not fools. They exchanged glances without making a sound and instantly guessed Zhao Kuangyin's intention.
Your Majesty... this is paving the way for His Highness the Eldest Prince!
Li Chuyun, standing behind Zhao Dezhao, was already grinning from ear to ear, secretly plotting something in his mind.
Once a follower of the dragon, twice a follower of the dragon, if—he meant if…
If they were to use merit again, wouldn't the Li family rise to immense power?!
No, no, my daughter is only a month old, how can a father do this?
But...those are members of the royal family!
"Waaaaah—!"
As the bugle call signaled the army's official departure, Li Chuyun's eyes narrowed slightly, and his gaze towards Zhao Dezhao's retreating figure took on a different meaning.
……
The night was as dark as ink, and the city wall of Zezhou, illuminated by torches, resembled a lurking giant python.
People thronged the city walls, and the guards were all on edge, knowing that the Song army was just outside the city. No one dared to let their guard down.
"It's been half a month, why hasn't the Song army retreated yet?"
"Alas, in my opinion, the Song army will not give up so easily..."
A few soldiers guarding the city were chatting idly on the city wall, their eyes casually glancing at the dark night outside the city.
"Whoosh—!"
An unusual whooshing sound alerted him. He had just focused his eyes on the direction from which the sound came when he saw dozens of stone projectiles, each the size of a human head, pierce the night sky and hurtle violently toward the city wall!
Song army's catapults!
His pupils contracted sharply, and he immediately let out a piercing roar:
"Enemy attack!!!"
boom--!
Amidst the cracking sound of the stones, all the guards on the city wall understood what had happened and immediately raised their bows and arrows, firing several arrows into the dark night outside the city.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!
"Kill them!!"
Amidst the increasingly rousing drumbeats, the Song army's attacking forces surged towards the walls of Zezhou like a tidal wave, officially commencing the night raid!