Xiao Jingxuan rested in Fengzhou City for three days. On the afternoon of three days, Xiao Jingxuan received a letter from Longzhou. It turned out that he had received the last reward.
The Ministry of War issued a document officially appointing him as the fourth-rank general of Toyosu, General Zhongwu.
However, along with it was the prince's rebuke, blaming Xiao Jingxuan for not respecting orders, attacking Fengzhou without authorization, and undermining the entire strategy of the commander's mansion.
He also strictly ordered Xiao Jingxuan to rush to Yinchuan County. After reading the letter from the Prince's Mansion, Xiao Jingxuan picked up the letter from his uncle.
As expected of his own family, his uncle first affirmed Xiao Jingxuan's achievements, and then said that he had submitted the battle report to the court. He also asked Xiao Jingxuan if he had any difficulties.
However, Xiao Jingxuan's biggest problem now is the shortage of manpower. Almost half of the eight thousand cavalry have been lost, and half of the remaining ones are recovering from injuries.
Nowadays, only two thousand cavalry can be mobilized. What role can they play?
Xiao Jingxuan was very distressed. He couldn't ignore the prince's order. Forget it, let's take the remaining people for a trip to Yinchuan County.
Thinking of this, Xiao Jingxuan integrated the cavalry in his hands into two rates. This time, Xiao Jingxuan planned to use war to support war. Change his strategy.
This time Xiao Jingxuan brought two guerrillas, Li Xiaoyun and Zheng Qiaoan, while the rest stayed in Fengzhou City to recuperate.
With more than two thousand people, it was difficult to fight. Xiao Jingxuan turned his attention to the prisoners of war and discussed with the two. Xiao Jingxuan's strategy was approved by the two.
So, Xiao Jingxuan took the two of them back to Yinchuan County.
After sending more than 40 ranger sentries, Xiao Jingxuan once again led everyone into Lingwu County.
Although the barbarian team in Lingwu County was not large, it was not small either. After ambushing some barbarian cavalry, Xiao Jingxuan began to recruit those who were willing to fight with Xiao Jingxuan among the young captives escorted by the barbarian cavalry.
As long as you know how to ride a horse or shoot an arrow, Xiao Jingxuan will give it up. You know, this is a border town, and there are many people who can do both.
Although these people cannot be called cavalry, they cannot even be called qualified soldiers.
But it doesn't matter, Xiao Jingxuan never intended for them to kill many enemies, just to build momentum.
Xiao Jingxuan jumped out of these people who were cavalrymen, and organized the rest into a team to serve as auxiliary troops temporarily.
War horses? The barbarians have them. Do they have weapons? The barbarians have them. Only the armor is a bit troublesome.
Originally, most of Xiao Jingxuan's troops wore leather armor, but leather armor was not the standard armor of the Wei cavalry.
In the Wei army, the hierarchy is very strict. Let’s talk about the armor of this army.
Generally, soldiers wear cloth armor, cotton armor, paper armor, etc. This is determined based on the nature of some places.
High-ranking commanders and all officers above the rank of captain wear iron armor. Then, depending on the rank, the styles of armor are also different.
The higher the grade, the higher the defense of the armor and the more elaborate it is.
The production cost of leather armor was too high, so it was generally not used by the Wei cavalry.
Most of Xiao Jingxuan's leather armors were captured from barbarians and then remade.
So it still looks different from the barbarian armor.
Now these newly added armors must be dealt with. They cannot be allowed to wear civilian clothes on the battlefield.
After thinking for a while, Xiao Jingxuan asked them to wear barbarian leather armor with a layer of Wei clothes on top.
Fortunately, the weather is not hot yet.
After settling all this, Xiao Jingxuan continued to launch an attack on the Barbarian Rangers.
As the number of auxiliary soldiers increases, occasionally, Xiao Jingxuan will take advantage of the number of soldiers to let the auxiliary soldiers practice their skills.
In this way, time passed little by little. Another month passed in the blink of an eye. Xiao Jingxuan actually did not achieve much results in Yinchuan, but the barbarians retreated.
Because the barbarians have already looted enough loot.
And in this war, except for Xiao Jingxuan's night attack in Fengzhou, there was no more commendable battle.
Originally, Xiao Jingxuan planned to return to Fengzhou, but due to the prince's move, Xiao Jingxuan had to go to Longzhou.
At this time, Xiao Jingxuan's team was still quite large, increasing from more than 2,000 people to more than 6,000 people now.
After arriving in Longzhou, Xiao Jingxuan asked Li Xiaoyun to lead everyone to find a place to camp outside the city, and he also took Xu Ce and four personal guards into Longzhou City.
Similarly, Xiao Jingxuan did not see the prince that day.
So, Xiao Jingxuan went to meet his great-uncle Xiao Yan.
After some pleasantries with his great-uncle, Xiao Jingxuan found out, and both the government and the public expressed their dissatisfaction with the results of the prince's victory this time.
Although you must know that last time, in the same situation, the eldest prince achieved much better results than the prince.
The only difference is that in the early stage of the battle, the eldest prince was in name only, but in the later stage, his performance was still commendable.
As for the prince, after arriving in Longzhou, the first thing he did was seize power, and that was all. The battle he commanded had not yet achieved decent results.
The actions of the two immediately formed a sharp contrast.
Due to helplessness, Xiao Jingxuan's military exploits were the prince's last fig leaf.
Recently, the prince has also kept a low profile. Not only did he return the military power in Longzhou to Xiao Yan, but he also withdrew Cheng Bao, whose record was not good.
However, things have already happened, and the generals in the northwest did not appreciate it.
After understanding these things, Xiao Jingxuan planned to return to the military camp to rest.
I went to visit the prince again the next day, but as soon as Xiao Jingxuan walked out of his uncle's mansion, the prince's personal guards stopped Xiao Jingxuan not far from the mansion.
After showing the East Palace token, the visitor expressed the prince's intention to come. The prince was invited.
With doubts, Xiao Jingxuan followed the visitor to a restaurant. In the private room of the restaurant, Xiao Jingxuan met the prince.
When Xiao Jingxuan was about to salute, the prince stopped him.
The prince said gently: "Get up, this is not in court, it is in private, please be more casual."
After the prince asked Xiao Jingxuan to sit down, the guards served the dishes.
After the dishes were served, the guards withdrew and there were only two people left in the entire private room.
The prince poured himself a glass of wine, toasted Xiao Jingxuan, and said: "Come on, let me toast you."
After saying that, he finished the glass of wine first.
Xiao Jingxuan quickly picked up the wine glass, drank a glass, and said: "Don't dare to be the last general."
"Presumably, you already know something."
"I wonder what the prince is referring to?"
The prince looked at Xiao Jingxuan who was pretending to be stupid, and did not blame him, but said to himself: "There are some things that Duke Liang must have not told you yet, and I also know some things by chance. You know my greatest misfortune.
What is it?"
Seeing Xiao Jingxuan shaking his head, the prince continued: "As the crown prince, I should contribute to the court in everything, and I need to be public-minded in everything I do, but sometimes, I am not allowed to do this.
To be honest, I envy you. Although your childhood was not happy, you still have people who care about you. You can make the choices you want to make.
In fact, we are very similar, but I choose to bow my head to reality. You haven't made a choice yet, and I'm looking forward to your choice."
The prince's words left Xiao Jingxuan, the second monk, confused. Looking at Xiao Jingxuan's appearance, the prince burst into laughter.
The prince picked up the wine glass, gave Xiao Jingxuan another drink, and said: "You will know everything soon. This day will not be long."
After drinking the wine in the cup, the prince stood up, came to the window, looked out the window, and said: "Everything in the world is for profit. Everything in the world is for profit. I don't know..."
The prince shook his head, smiled self-deprecatingly, and then said to Xiao Jingxuan: "You don't have to be burdened. I also wanted to meet you on a whim today."
Xiao Jingxuan thought for a while and asked: "Prince, I have a question, I don't know..."
The prince remained gentle and said with a smile: "Ask me, I will tell you what I can tell you."
Xiao Jingxuan asked: "The prince doesn't seem to care much about the battle situation?"
"I can answer this question for you. The outcome of a battle has never been the criterion for judging an emperor. Moreover, I have accomplished my set goal, and that is enough."
"The established goal. The prince has obviously lost this war. Is this your goal?"
The prince shook his head and said: "You, that's all. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll talk to you more.
I know what you want to say about the people near Longzhou? But is this something I can change? I only have the Five Guards Army in my hands, and even you dare to disobey me, let alone the other military leaders.
However, in this battle, I have weakened the strength of the northwest military leaders, including yours from the Liang Kingdom. Although the Liangzhou cavalry was not injured at all, it has lost people's hearts. Your great-uncle is indeed short-sighted. No wonder it's not you.
Grandfather's rival.
The other military leaders have also lost their strength and lost the potential to separate themselves. Tell me, have I accomplished my goal?"
It is undeniable that from the prince's point of view, it seems to be correct, but there is something wrong.
Xiao Jingxuan continued to ask: "What the prince said is true, but those military leaders represent the court. If those people lose their hearts, the court may not gain anything."
"Huh, as long as those military leaders don't do much, the imperial court will naturally slowly calm people's hearts. If you do anything, you will naturally have to pay a price."
After the prince finished speaking, he looked out the window, shook his head and said, "Forget it, I'm not interested anymore, let's stop talking today."
Xiao Jingxuan quickly raised his hands and saluted, and said: "I will not disturb the prince's elegant mood. I will retire."
Xiao Jingxuan was silent when he returned to the military camp. It seemed that the prince knew something, and only a few people knew about these things.
According to the prince's idea, I will return to Beijing soon. At this time, Xiao Jingxuan remembered the reminder from his master Cui Xiwen again.
The master also knows something, otherwise he would not remind me and let me stay at the border for a longer period of time.
I don’t know what the opportunity is for me to return to Beijing? How can I make a choice? The prince can’t help himself, as if I can choose freely.
All roads are arranged for you by others, and all your choices are provided by others for you to choose.
In other words, at every step, your choice seems to be your own wish, but in fact it is arranged by others.
The road ahead is long and there are constant choices. This chapter has been completed!