The Forbidden Army was the main force of the Song Dynasty's army. In today's terms, it was the Central Army.
The soldiers of the Forbidden Army in the Song Dynasty implemented a recruitment system. Civilians were recruited from various places, or selected from Xiang troops and rural soldiers, and were directly controlled by the central government. The soldiers of the Forbidden Army in the Northern Song Dynasty had tattoos on their faces and had a lower social status than ordinary people. Once they joined the army, they served for life until they were old.
Retired due to illness. During the Northern Song Dynasty, the number of the Forbidden Army once reached 800,000. Lin Chong, the instructor in Water Margin, was known as the instructor of the 800,000 Forbidden Army.
During the Southern Song Dynasty, due to the constant wars, a large number of troops were stationed on various borders, which were the so-called border troops or border troops, such as the Yangzhou Army under the jurisdiction of Li Tingzhi. The rise of the border troops replaced a large number of forbidden troops and became regular armies. By the late Song Lizong
, there are only nearly 80,000 forbidden troops near the capital to defend the capital, while a small number of forbidden troops stationed in various places have gradually merged with the Xiang army.
The Forbidden Army is divided into three branches: the cavalry army, the infantry army, and the archer army. The infantry army is the main force. The horse army has a small number of people due to the scarcity of horses. The Forbidden Army is under the direct command of the Privy Council of the Imperial Court. There are usually two deputy commanders in front of the palace.
, only in times of war will the post of commander in front of the palace be temporarily added, so the two deputy commanders, Fan Wenhu and Xia Gui, are the highest generals in the Forbidden Army.
In the imperial study room, I took a rough look at the information on the Forbidden Army, and then picked up the summary of the Young Guard and read it in detail.
"This summary by Wen Zhang is very comprehensive, and his ideas on the classification of arms are very good. I will consider it carefully before discussing it with Wen Zhang in detail." After reading it, I said, "Jun Shi, what do you think of our current imperial army?"
Lu Xiufu said: "Your Majesty, since I joined the Ministry of War, I have some knowledge of the Forbidden Army. With all due respect, the Forbidden Army is far inferior to the Yangzhou frontier army, let alone the Mongolian cavalry. I think it is not even as good as Wen Zhang's young man.
guard."
"How can you see such a difference?"
"Back to Your Majesty, for a long time, the Forbidden Army has always been pampered and has never experienced the baptism of war. In addition, the army's lieutenants and generals have formed cliques. Only by joining Jia Sidao and others can they be promoted. Otherwise, they will be ostracized or kicked out of the Forbidden Army.
, most of the mid-level and high-level generals left behind were only thinking about how to please their superiors and had no intention of leading troops. As a result, the lower-level soldiers also had no intention of training and were in a state of confusion all day long."
"Tomorrow I will go to the Forbidden Army camp to take a look. Sooner or later the Forbidden Army will be reorganized." I also know that the Forbidden Army in the late Song Dynasty was completely vulnerable to the Mongolian cavalry.
Lu Xiufu said with some worry: "Your Majesty, I feel that Jia Sidao and others are not well-intentioned. Your Majesty should go with more guards."
Wen Tianxiang also said: "Your Majesty, what you say makes sense."
I smiled: "Jun Shi, Song Rui, you don't have to worry. Although Jia Sidao controls the imperial army, he does not dare to openly rebel. If Jia Sidao has other intentions in the army, even if I bring hundreds of more people, the same will happen."
It's of no use. Just ask Lan Yu and Shen Mo to follow tomorrow, oh, by the way, ask Wen Zhang to go too and see the appearance of a hundred thousand troops."
The camp in the western suburbs of Lin'an is the core of the Forbidden Army, commonly known as the Western Camp. There are 30,000 horses stationed in it. The few horse troops and archers in the Forbidden Army are all here. The other two camps in the north and south are all
There are more than 20,000 infantry troops stationed respectively.
After exiting Lin'anxi City Gate, straight ahead is the West Camp of the Forbidden Army.
"Your Majesty, five miles ahead is the Western Camp of the Forbidden Army. However, the road ahead is still being repaired and it is difficult for the carriage to move forward. Can Your Majesty ride a horse instead?" Jia Si came to a pavilion in the western suburbs.
Dao seemed to be in a good mood and said.
"I don't mind, but my teacher and I are old. Is it possible?"
"Your Majesty, I have been in the army for several years, and I still haven't given up my horse riding skills."
"Okay, my teachers and ministers will continue to grow stronger, and I will not fall behind. Come and prepare your horses."
Xiao Qi took a horse and said, "Guan, please mount the horse."
Before reaching the military camp, Jia Sidao came to do this. Do you really think that I am still the same Prince Zhao Fu who is afraid of riding horses?
Although I don't know much about equestrian skills, my physical performance has been several times better than that of Zhao You. It's not that Zhao You can't ride a horse, but he once fell off a horse, so he has always been frightened. Of course Jia Sidao knows this, so he
Want to give me a show of strength.
After I got on the horse, I smiled and said, "Master, let's go."
Seeing that I had no fear, Jia Sidao said with a smile: "Your Majesty, be careful, I will lead the way."
Yuan Ji Xiaoqi followed closely behind me, and I held the reins of the horse and moved forward slowly. The road under repair was full of bumps and bumps, which was far more difficult than the official road to Kuaiji. However, since the third session of practicing Changquan these days, I am very interested in strength.
I have quite a lot of experience in controlling the horse. The thighs and calves, knees and feet work together to slightly raise the buttocks, lean forward, and tighten the reins. Although I still dare not let the horse gallop, at least the movements are simulating.
Wen Tianxiang, Lu Xiufu, Wen Zhang and others also mounted their horses and followed, followed by twenty imperial guards led by Lan Yu and Shen Mo.
Even if the army has no combat effectiveness, tens of thousands of people are lined up in a dark crowd, which is quite shocking.
After entering the camp, I dismounted and walked. Jia Sidao saw that I was still in high spirits, with a slight surprise on his face. He then took Fan Wenhu, Xia Gui and other major generals of the Forbidden Army to accompany me to review the Forbidden Army. Jia Sidao's expression flashed by, but
I don’t know that I have a panoramic view of everything.
First, there are about a thousand horse troops. This is the Xiaoxiong Army, known as the trump card of the horse army in the Forbidden Army. This is the first time that I have reviewed the army at such a close distance.
The Xiaoxiong army all looked tall and well-armored. Each man held a saber in his hand, which made him look majestic. The horses were all of the same color. Even though they were riding on horses, they were all neat and tidy. With the flags fluttering, they looked very majestic.
It seems to me quite impressive.
"Master, this Xiaoxiong army is very impressive."
"Your Majesty, this is the leader of my imperial horse army. The late Emperor would praise him every time he came to review."
"Well, not bad, he is indeed my great Song Dynasty athlete."
Xia Jiangang, the commander of Xiaoxiong Army, dismounted his horse and took a few steps forward, saying: "Prime Minister, please review."
After hearing this, Jia Sidao said angrily: "You bastard, your Majesty is here, what nonsense are you talking about? Of course, you are asking for your Majesty's review."
Xiao Qi, Wen Zhang and others next to them were all furious. How could the emperor turn a blind eye when he was here?
I glanced at him as a sign of calmness.
Xia Jiangang hurriedly knelt down and changed his words, saying again: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your Majesty did not know that Your Majesty was coming. Please inspect Xiaoxiong's army."
Xia Gui from behind also said angrily: "If it was not unintentional, I would definitely be beheaded."
"It's not surprising if you don't know." Seeing that Xia Jiangang didn't look frightened, I sneered.
Jia Sidao hurriedly smoothed things over and said, "Your Majesty, this Xia Jiangang is Xia Gui's cousin. He has led the Xiaoxiong Army for ten years. He is stupid. Your Majesty, don't blame him."
I said calmly: "Master, it's okay, let's continue."
Jia Sidao snorted at Xia Jiangang and said, "Damn, your Majesty forgives you. Get up and go on."
Xia Jiangang stepped back a few steps, turned around, mounted his horse, raised his sword high, and said loudly: "Xia Jiangang, the commander of Si Xiaoxiong Army of the Forbidden Army Horse Army, led all the officers and soldiers of Xiaoxiong Army to invite the emperor for review."
As soon as he finished speaking, all the soldiers of Xiaoxiong Army raised their swords high and shouted in unison: "Long live the emperor, long live the emperor."
The shouts of these thousand people at the same time were so loud that I trembled in my heart and thought, if Jia Sidao gave the order, my life would be over. Yuan Ji followed me closely and saw me trembling, so he whispered:
: "Your Majesty, don't panic, I'm here."
I am not timid, but I felt my heart tremble in such a scene. It was just a natural reaction. I calmed down, stepped forward, waved my right hand and said loudly: "Good men of the Song Dynasty, I regard you as my
Rong, I am proud of you, I need you, the Song Dynasty needs you, you have worked hard."
"Long live, long live."
I kept waving my right hand and walked over with a smile on my face. Jia Sidao followed me over expressionlessly, but Fan Wenhu looked disappointed. Such a formation failed to scare the emperor.
Followed by about a thousand infantry troops. It can be seen from the flag that this team is called Xiongwu and belongs to the Infantry Division of the Forbidden Army. Like the Xiaoxiong Army, they are all tall and tall. It is obvious at a glance that this Xiongwu Army also has military power.
Majestic.
"Your Majesty, this is the Infantry Ace Xiongwu Army." Jia Sidao introduced.
"Well, that's right, Master, you are very qualified as a Privy Councilor."
Jia Sidao smiled: "I don't dare to take it seriously."
I glanced around and saw that Jia Sidao seemed to be highly praised by me. His expression told me that of course, I, Jia Sidao, had a good way of managing the army.
"Master, why do you need to be so humble? Otherwise, Commander Meng would not recommend you to succeed him that day."
"Your Majesty, thank you for the award. Further ahead are the elites of the Archery Division of the Forbidden Army, the Cavalry and Archery Army. Our court is in dire need of war horses, and there are even fewer who can shoot well on horseback. This Cavalry and Archery Army came with the ministers from Meng Shuai in Central Sichuan.
." Jia Sidao said with some pride.
"Really? Those are elite soldiers."
"Of course, Meng Shuai once had three thousand cavalry and archery troops, but over the years there are only a few hundred left in front of him." After saying this, Jia Sidao also felt a little lonely.
The cavalry and archery troops are also all mounted on war horses. They are more powerful in number, Xiaoxiong is smaller, with only about 600 people. It seems that our country is indeed far inferior to those in Mongolia who are good at cavalry and archery. Fortunately, there are city walls to defend against, otherwise in the field battle