Perhaps it was due to the huge threat from the Mongols. Even though they controlled a vast territory, the officers and soldiers of the Ding Navy generally felt that a powerful enemy was on their side and started to build their foundations. No one was particularly indulgent at the banquet.
Guo Ning himself is not fond of luxury. In his daily life, he maintains a simple and capable military style in food, clothing and accommodation. Tonight's banquet is just ordinary wine and meat. He himself is not that good at wine. He claimed that a few days ago I drank too much with Yin Chang, so we all drank a few glasses. The idea was realized and everyone was happy.
On the contrary, it was much more lively inside the military camp.
After the military government won the battle, the soldiers and horses did not get a rest immediately, because the territory expanded, and then the army was mobilized, the station was changed, the organization was reorganized, and other things could not be delayed, and each one became more troublesome. The soldiers started fighting We were so busy mentally that the military government rewarded us with wine, meat, and money, so that everyone could relax and have fun for a while.
Among the six general managers under Guo Ning, those who are scheduled to lead the troops and be stationed in Yidu Mansion are Monk Luo and Guo Zhongyuan. Monk Luo's troops are stationed in Nanyang City, while Guo Zhongyuan's subordinates are in Dongyang City to the north of Yangshui. Occupying half of the camp.
Dongyang City was originally a military fortress, and many camp facilities were permanent but in disrepair. In addition to the huge camps, there were also school grounds, stables and many other facilities.
The school grounds were built by Wanyan Salara that day and could accommodate 20,000 to 30,000 people. It was particularly spacious. So when Guo Zhongyuan arranged the food and drinks, he added an additional activity of testing archery skills and horseback thrusting to add to the fun.
Unexpectedly, the walls surrounding the school grounds collapsed in several hidden areas. So when the archery competition started, a group of local Yidu vendors and people sneaked in.
Vendors wandered along the marked aisles between the troops, selling snacks to the newly rewarded and well-off soldiers. This behavior was actually inconsistent with the strict military regulations, but everyone was in high spirits at the moment. The military government also reiterated many times that the new vast territory must be treated with leniency, so the officers turned their backs and let the traders make a small fortune.
The people were a little timid at first, but later they elected a leader and appealed to Guo Zhongyuan.
After asking, Guo Zhongyuan found out that what they meant was that there was a newly opened land in the corner of the school grounds. At the beginning of the year, the common people planted some wild garlic and potatoes. Could they ask the military men not to trample on it?
Guo Zhongyuan sent someone to see it, and then he realized that the soldiers had gathered there to watch the competition, and the land had long been leveled and firmly planted.
The reason is very clear. Where is the important land of the school grounds that can be used to grow garlic? But seeing the frustration on the faces of the people, Guo Zhongyuan felt soft and simply took out his own money bag and gave dozens of large coins to expose this matter.
The result of this move was that as the archery and spear spearing competitions progressed, and one after another extraordinary warriors competed on the stage, people began to climb on the walls around the school grounds, watching and shouting.
Yidu Prefecture is the capital of Shandong East Road. When the Mongolian army attacked earlier, they only passed by and failed to enter the city to massacre and loot, so the number of people was quite large.
They pushed against the wall. Guo Zhongyuan was afraid that they would knock down the wall and kill himself. After thinking about it, he simply made extra space in the school grounds for them to come in and watch.
The game itself is naturally exciting, otherwise it would not attract the people.
Among the thousands of soldiers, there are quite a few who have confidence in their own martial arts. Many high-ranking officers and officers at the level of generals were coaxed out by the soldiers of their units, forcing them to come forward to overwhelm their opponents and ruthlessly defeat them.
He ruthlessly gave face to his brothers.
If you lose at this time, how will your face be saved? Will you be able to lead soldiers in the future? Therefore, once the officers appear on the stage, the competition will become more and more intense. There will be several consecutive games, and the difference will be only a few centimeters, making it difficult to determine the winner.
burden.
At the other end of the school grounds, there is the territory of the Tuotou Army. They lit a dozen bonfires to roast meat and cook vegetables for the soldiers to enjoy. The soldiers watched the competition for a while and then sent representatives to collect food from the Tuotou Army to share.
Everyone was in high spirits.
The vendors saw that there were many soldiers coming and going, so they slowly gathered there, set up stalls by the bonfire, and sold some snacks such as sugar cakes and jujube cakes.
Some local children ran around among the stalls, staring at the cakes at first, but later they felt that the broth stewed by the gang leaders was more fragrant.
These days, there is no chance for ordinary people to eat meat. Now the children can't walk one by one. A few children are from better families and are bolder, so they smile and raise their hands to buy one or two of the things they have saved for a long time.
Show the cheap money to the gang leader. They want to buy a bowl, or take a bite or sip the oil.
However, not everyone was so happy, and Li Quan's surrender was inevitably a bit boring.
Ding Haijun and Li Quan's troops had a fierce battle in Binzhou's Anding Town not long ago. Li Quan's troops lost many troops and suffered many casualties. As for Li Quan's more than a thousand elite troops, there were no casualties. However, they had followed Li Quan in the south and north for many years.
Die loyal.
Li Quan committed suicide in front of their eyes. Although they had to surrender to the new master, they couldn't do it without any reservations or make a sudden change in their stance. This was against human nature.
It is not easy to get these fallen soldiers to return to their hearts.
Generals like Zheng Yande and Tian Si are just given idle positions such as staff officers to hang out for a while, and then make arrangements based on future situations. But for the large number of grassroots officers and soldiers, they cannot be left hanging, but must be appropriately broken up and forced to integrate as soon as possible.
.
Guo Zhongyuan was very careful in this matter.
He arranged the positions of the soldiers to watch the competition, and calculated them in advance, consciously mixing old soldiers and surrendered soldiers. He came out from the banquet at the Nanyang City Military Mansion, and took a few of his trusted subordinates to wander around the school grounds, chatting with the soldiers.
Let's talk about it.
This kind of show of intimacy, even if it is done deliberately, is better than cruel treatment by the superior. As more Jiang soldiers started talking to Guo Zhongyuan, the initial restraint slowly relaxed.
There are only a few who can't adjust their emotions after all, and Yu Maner is one of them.
In fact, he has seen a lot of fighting, and he has long understood the principle of success and defeat, and has no hatred for Ding Haijun. Earlier, when he heard the soldiers of Ding Haijun talking about the land and treatment he received, he even regretted his family's past few years.
I don't know what to say, and I'm a little envious.
However, he really couldn't do anything to show his kindness to the officers of the Ding Navy like his companions. He had tried several times, but he just couldn't pull it off. Thinking of the uncontrollable crying that night, he felt that
Very shameful.
At his age, when his mind cannot turn around, he is full of unhappiness that cannot be vented, resolved, or suppressed. So the other soldiers gradually smiled on their faces, while Yu Man'er always had a cold face.
When it came to the galloping competition, Yu Man'er thought that this was Li Quan's specialty, and became increasingly unhappy. He simply found an excuse and went outside the school grounds.
There were guards at the four gates of the school grounds, but at this moment, because Guo Zhongyuan allowed common people and merchants to enter, the guards were lax. Yu Buser walked out in a big way, and no one paid attention to him.
He walked forward aimlessly and unknowingly got lost.
Yu Man'er suddenly stood still and looked around. Inside the military fort, the roads were not straight and horizontal, but rather winding, mostly for defense reasons.
The sky was getting dark, and he didn't bring a pine torch. He only felt the darkness in front and behind, which was scary.
He listened carefully again, trying to discern the direction of the school ground. There were so many people shouting and shouting in the school ground, and the sound was really loud. The trouble was that his home was in an alleyway, and the sound reverberated off the high rammed earth walls on both sides, falling on him.
In my ears, I couldn't tell where it came from.
He wanted to climb the high wall, but he was worried about his status as a surrendered soldier, so he would not do anything extraordinary and be taken out as a warning to the monkeys and severely punished. After hesitating again and again, he had no choice but to listen again.
This time, he heard regular clanging sounds coming from ahead of the road.
What is that? Blacksmithing? Is there a blacksmith shop there?