gnovel Chapter 70 I will control all the armies in the world!
Chapter 70 I will control all the armies in the world!
August, the first year of the Jianlong era of the Great Song Dynasty.
The court debate over the eldest prince's marriage has come to a complete end, and Zhao Pu, the Vice Privy Councilor, submitted a memorial offering advice:
"The eldest son of the emperor is precocious and intelligent, and should be given the coming-of-age ceremony."
The emperor accepted the advice of Zhao Pu, the deputy chief of the Privy Council, and issued an edict to personally bestow the courtesy name "Rixin" upon his eldest son.
The day after Zhao Dezhao underwent his coming-of-age ceremony, Li Chuyun, the Commander of the Palace Guards, submitted a memorial:
"According to the rites and systems of the Han and Tang dynasties, once a prince has undergone the coming-of-age ceremony, he is considered an adult and should be granted a government office and a military post."
The emperor accepted Li Chuyun's suggestion again, but fearing that building a new residence for the prince would be a waste of resources and manpower, he issued an edict to the Ministry of Works, ordering them to renovate the remaining half of the former prince's residence.
This decree caused another stir in the imperial court.
As everyone knows, when the emperor first ascended the throne, he had already bestowed half of his former residence upon his younger brother Zhao Guangyi, while the other half was set aside under the pretext of suppressing the dragon's aura.
Now that this half of the former residence is suppressing the dragon's aura, how can it be disturbed again?
Many ministers submitted memorials to the emperor, but he resolutely refused to listen, citing his concern for the people's well-being.
By the eighth day of the eighth lunar month, the half of the former residence had been completely renovated. It was almost separated from Zhao Guangyi's residence by only a small road. The eldest prince, Zhao Dezhao, moved in by imperial decree.
On the day the eldest son of the emperor established his own residence and military headquarters, the emperor issued another edict:
"It is said that when the imperial family prospers, the nation is secure; when the princes are outstanding, the country is well-supported."
"I have received the mandate of Heaven and govern the four seas. I am diligent day and night and dare not slacken. I believe that the bond between relatives is crucial to the foundation of the nation, and the reward of the virtuous is of utmost importance in the court. I wish to establish this grand ceremony to bequeath to future generations."
"Prince Dezhao is my eldest son. He is gentle and respectful by nature, and possesses both wisdom and intelligence. From a young age, he received his education under renowned scholars, immersing himself in classical texts and delving into their meanings. Whenever he engages in discussions, his intelligence is exceptional, and he has shown remarkable talent from an early age."
"As he grew older, his talent and strategic acumen gradually became apparent. In the past, Li Jun plotted a rebellion, causing chaos on the borders. I personally led the Six Armies to suppress him. The prince accompanied me on the expedition, personally braving arrows and stones to protect the imperial carriage amidst thousands of soldiers. He achieved a great feat in Luzhou, his meritorious service is evident, he has lived up to the expectations of the imperial family, and fulfilled the needs of the nation."
"Now, following the established precedents of past emperors and commending their outstanding achievements in loyalty and virtue, a special imperial edict is issued to formally confer this appointment:"
"The prince Dezhao is enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wugong, granted a golden book and seal, and given a fief of one thousand households. He is to establish his own government and garrison Guizhou, and is appointed the Guizhou Defense Commissioner."
"He is permitted to enter the court to discuss state affairs and advise on important matters, so as to demonstrate his strategic vision and assist in the governance of the country."
"You shall respectfully accept this imperial decree, diligently cultivate virtue and conduct, be respectful to your sovereign and father above, and care for the common people below, so as not to fail the trust I have placed in you, and forever secure the foundation of the dynasty."
"Proclamation shall be made to the whole world, so that all may know."
The moment this edict was issued, it drew attention from both the court and the public once again.
First came the coming-of-age ceremony, then the establishment of a government office outside the palace, and finally the issuance of an edict to bestow official titles—three edicts in quick succession within ten days.
The emperor's intention to groom his eldest son was already quite obvious.
……
Just as the court and the public were discussing the matter, Zhao Dezhao, dressed in full armor, quietly arrived outside Kaifeng.
A vast military camp, consisting of endless tents, chariots, banners, spears, and halberds, surrounded both banks of the Bian River, forming a magnificent imperial guard camp!
The elite troops of the realm all came from the Imperial Guard.
Having decided to recruit soldiers from the imperial guards, how could Zhao Dezhao miss out on the Imperial Guard camp?
On the drill ground, two large banners fluttered in the wind, one bearing the inscription "Song" and the other "Zhao".
"The Zhao Song Dynasty... the Zhao Song Dynasty!"
As Zhao Dezhao gazed at the vast camp area stretching to the horizon, a sense of pride welled up within him.
"Please, Your Highness, follow us into the camp!"
Outside the camp, Shi Shouxin and Murong Yanzhao, who had received the imperial decree early on, raised their hands to invite Zhao Dezhao to get into the carriage. The two of them personally drove Zhao Dezhao to the camp.
By convention, this kind of regulation could only be observed by the emperor himself!
However, Murong Yanzhao and Shi Shouxin had a life-or-death friendship with Zhao Kuangyin, and they also had a good impression of Zhao Dezhao, so an exception was made.
"My two uncles, outside the gate, you may simply call me your nephew."
Zhao Dezhao immediately stepped onto the carriage, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with a smile, "I'm truly sorry to trouble you two uncles!"
He didn't put on any affected manner, because he knew that in the military, excessive humility wouldn't earn respect from others, but would only have the opposite effect.
In the military, only military merit and prestige are true strength!
He had already proven himself in the battle of Shangdang, and coupled with his status as the eldest son of the emperor, he boarded the carriage with a clear conscience!
As Zhao Dezhao's carriage slowly entered the camp, the two rows of generals who had been waiting for a long time inside the camp gate shouted in unison:
"Welcome, His Highness the Eldest Prince!"
"Beat the drums!"
Zhao Dezhao, filled with heroic spirit, shouted in a deep voice.
With the flags raised and the drumsticks struck hard, the surface of the "Black Tiger" drum immediately rippled, and a neat and heavy sound spread out in all directions!
The war drums sounded.
At dawn, infantry and cavalry in black armor surged onto the drill ground like a tide. After the third drumbeat, the drill ground had become a black sea. The troops in black armor stood in neat rows under the banner with the character "Song" on it, ready for battle, like tigers poised to pounce.
Heavy and somber!
Standing before the infantry and cavalry, gathered in two formations, were many imperial guards generals, including Gao Huaide and Wang Shenqi.
"Welcome, His Highness the Eldest Prince, to the camp! May Your Highness live a long life!"
As Shi Shouxin led the shout, an astonishing shockwave suddenly erupted across the entire training ground. Tens of thousands of imperial guards roared in unison, their voices carrying far and wide, startling countless citizens of Kaifeng who looked out of the city in bewilderment.
Looking at the tens of thousands of fierce soldiers on the training ground, Zhao Dezhao's heart was filled with excitement.
So this is what it feels like to command an invincible army?
To be in control of the world when awake, and to rest one's head on the lap of a beautiful woman when drunk—the pleasures of this are not for outsiders to know.
And this was only an army of 80,000.
Uncontrollable ambition arose in Zhao Dezhao's heart!
He wants to become emperor! He absolutely must become emperor!
Before becoming emperor, he wanted to control all the military forces in the land!
"Your Highness, His Majesty has decreed that only 800 men can be selected for the Imperial Guard this time, of which 500 will be infantry and 300 will be cavalry."
Murong Yanzhao, who was standing nearby, offered a reminder.
"Eight hundred people it is."
Zhao Dezhao nodded slightly and took half a step forward. In an instant, countless seasoned warriors turned their imposing gazes toward the high platform.
Being stared at by tens of thousands of dangerous gazes in an instant would have made Zhao Dezhao's legs go weak in the past.
However, after three days apart, one should look at a person with new eyes!
Zhao Dezhao's expression remained unchanged, his gaze steady as he lightly swept over the 80,000 people below the stage, and he said in a deep voice:
"Orphans of fallen Imperial Guards, step forward!"
The first selection order was issued.
Murong Yanzhao, Shi Shouxin, and the other generals were startled and turned to look at Zhao Dezhao in the center of the high platform.
Although I didn't understand its meaning, I was deeply shocked.
Upon hearing the call, the 80,000 soldiers sprang into action, and nearly 20,000 soldiers with solemn and sorrowful expressions stood at the front of the ranks, while the generals remained silent.
During the chaotic Five Dynasties period, with constant warfare, every county in the land suffered death and every village was draped in mourning. Of those who succeeded their fathers, only one in ten did so.
"One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand." Which of the many generals present did not rise to power by stepping on the corpses of their enemies and comrades?
But this is a chaotic world, who can we blame?
Zhao Dezhao took a deep breath and continued, "The above includes the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, the border prefectures of Hebei, the Guanzhong region, and the former territory of Weibo. And then there's the next step!"
Of the more than 20,000 people, several thousand more soldiers stepped out of the ranks.
Both Murong Yanzhao and Shi Shouxin glanced at Zhao Dezhao with surprise.
Since the late Tang Dynasty, the people in the areas bordering the Khitan, Hedong, and Dangxiang were known for their fierce and warlike nature. This was because the border was between two countries or even between regional warlords, and there was a lot of fighting and chaos. Without a long-term plan, one would die early in the chaos of war.
Even during the Tang Dynasty's three towns in Hebei, these areas developed a culture of "valuing martial arts over literature and being ashamed of agriculture and commerce."
Even today, these places still retain the old custom of "privately keeping troops and preparing their own armor and weapons".
The number was still well over eight hundred, so Zhao Dezhao immediately drank again:
"Those aged 15 to 25, please advance further!"
Half of the men stepped forward together!