Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 37 Ready
Huo Xian was very busy. He led his troops to various mausoleums to fight against some lawless elements, and occasionally he would also suppress bandits.

I started to bleed a lot, and although I was a little uncomfortable at first, I didn't have any big reaction.

The people under his command would not think there was anything wrong with it. For those who wanted to gain military merit, this was something they would have to experience sooner or later.

It can even be said that these are just small scenes now, and we are bound to experience more tragic and bloody wars in the future.

When Huo Xian led fifty cavalrymen back to Chang'an City, many people looked at him sideways.

Many Chang'an citizens had gotten used to this. The Marquis of Guanjun would lead his troops out every one or two months, sometimes with 10 to 20 cavalrymen, and sometimes with a hundred cavalrymen.

Zhu Anshi is just a naughty boy now, not the hero of Yangling in the future.

Naturally, Huo Xian had no way of arresting and executing Zhu Anshi before he caused any crime, and he could not convict him for something he had not done.

So let's wait and see, let Zhu Anshi continue to mess around. He should also pray that he doesn't commit any crime and fall into Huo Xian's hands.

The war horses' hooves clattered on the stone pavement of Chang'an City, and many people felt that the sound was somewhat different from that of ordinary war horses.

But it was not particularly strange. The champion was wearing heavy armor, even his face was covered with a bronze mask. His mount was also wrapped in thick armor, with only the horse's calves exposed.

Even the twenty riders following behind him had their horses wrapped in thick armor.

Each of these cavalrymen had only their eyes exposed, and each of them held a spear or lance and carried a bow and arrow.

Armed to the teeth, this is truly armed to the teeth, it looks intimidating.

"Sima, take your men back to the camp." Huo Xian said without even turning his head, "We will have a day off tomorrow. I will give each of you two pounds of meat and a cup of wine."

Hearing this, the cavalrymen behind them cheered immediately. They didn't care that this was Chang'an Street, and they didn't care at all about attracting the curiosity and scrutiny of some people.

Zhang Anshi, dressed in linen clothes, couldn't help but look at this group of people. He really wanted to impeach them, but he didn't dare.

Zhang Anshi's father was Zhang Tang. Ten years ago, Zhang Tang was framed by Chief Censor Li Wen, Prime Minister's Chief Clerk Zhu Maichen and others, and was eventually forced to commit suicide.

Zhang Tang's mother insisted that her son was framed and died. She did not choose the lavish burial of the Han Dynasty, but buried his body in an ox cart, with only a coffin but no outer coffin. Although the three chief officials were executed and the prime minister Zhuang Qingzhai was forced to commit suicide, Zhang Tang's revenge was avenged.

Zhang Anshi was also granted an official position because of this, but it was only a small official.

The Marquis of Guanjun is ostentatious, and his troops are equally ostentatious. This is also the perception of the people of Chang'an in the past one or two years.

Huo Xian went straight to the palace and shouted, "This marquis has been ordered to suppress the bandits and now I am returning to the palace to report."

Gongsun Jingsheng left the city gate and asked, "Where is the palace token?"

Huo Shan handed the palace token to Gongsun Jingsheng in a proper manner. Even though the two were relatives and Huo Shan was the emperor's confidant, there were still some things that had to be done according to the rules.

Gongsun Jingsheng checked the palace talisman and said, "Your Majesty ordered the Champion Marquis to wear armor and enter the palace."

"Uncle." Huo Xian lowered his voice and said, "Did he issue an order or did His Majesty just say it casually?"

Gongsun Jingsheng was even more speechless, "Shan'er, aren't you making things difficult for me? How could I know this?"

Huo Xian chuckled and said, "That's right. I'll go back to the palace first. If there really was an imperial decree, I would have known about it long ago."

Although Huo Xian entered the palace leading a horse, which seemed a bit presumptuous, Huo Xian's horse was also the emperor's imperial horse, so it was considered "returning the property to its original owner."

The main reason was that everyone understood that the Marquis of Guanjun was deeply loved by the emperor, so these were not against the rules. However, Gongsun Jingsheng and others also understood that no matter how domineering and flamboyant Huo Xian was, he would not ride a horse in the palace.

When they arrived in front of the Xuanshi Hall, Huo Xian handed the Shu, the ring-handled sword, etc. to the guards, and then entered the palace, "Your Majesty, I have returned victoriously from suppressing the bandits in accordance with your order."

Liu Che looked at Huo Xian and joked, "You wear a mask all day long, so only your eyes can move around. Others get tanned, but it would be strange if you can get tanned."

Huo Xian chuckled, "Your Majesty, this bandit suppression campaign has yielded some results. My twenty riders charged forward, and the bandits were immediately frightened."

Liu Che could not help but complain, "The cost of one hundred heavy cavalrymen in your camp is equivalent to the cost of five hundred light cavalrymen I have."

Wei Qing smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it's not just that. The armor of those 100 cavalrymen was purchased with money from Xian'er herself. If the court maintained such a heavy armored cavalry, 100 cavalrymen would cost as much as 1,000 light cavalrymen." Huo Xian chuckled and became even more proud. "Your Majesty, uncle, when facing the enemy, I will lead these 100 cavalrymen to the center of the formation, and then we can charge into the battle."

It is too difficult to raise thousands or tens of thousands of heavy armored cavalry now, but a small team will definitely be no problem.

Huo Xian continued to defend himself, "Uncle, I only made a few weapons. I dare not make armor privately. That is a serious crime. Your Majesty has allowed me to make armor."

Liu Che laughed and said, "Yes, I asked you to make the armor. No one will blame you!"

In history, Wei Qing died of illness in the fifth year of Yuanfeng, but now it is the sixth year of Yuanfeng. Although Wei Qing is often ill, there is no need to worry too much for the time being.

Even though Wei Qing was the Marquis of Changping, the hardships he suffered in his youth, the frequent expeditions and sleeping in the open air as an adult would have seriously affected his health.

In this day and age, a cold can kill a person, let alone other things.

But Huo Xian valued his life, so he ate and drank well. The cavalrymen under his command also needed to pay attention to personal hygiene and take frequent baths and do their housework in the barracks.

No one goes to war without a cowhide naan wrapped around his waist, filled with boiled water.

Whether Huo Qubing got sick because he drank raw water is also a historical mystery. However, Huo Xian not only paid attention to this himself, but also told people around him not to drink raw water.

Even Huo Xian "derived" the Five Animal Exercises based on Zhuangzi's Two Animal Exercises, claiming that it could prolong life.

For the rulers and ministers of the Western Han Dynasty who liked to pursue health preservation, this thing was worth practicing. Liu Che and Wei Qing also practiced it from time to time.

Looking at the heroic Huo Xian, Liu Che asked, "You have been training for almost four years, and you have been going to practice frequently in the past year or so. If you were asked to fight, would you have the confidence?"

Before Liu Che finished speaking, Wei Qing became nervous, "Your Majesty, Xian'er is only fifteen!"

"Sixteen!" Huo Xian said hurriedly, "I'm almost seventeen! Uncle, I'm almost eighteen, why can't I be a general?"

Liu Che immediately laughed and scolded, "Eighteen? Why don't you call yourself twenty?"

Wei Qing calculated Huo Xian's age in years, and Huo Xian said his age in lunar years. If he rounded it up a little, he would only be seventeen next year, but he dared to say eighteen. If he really wanted to use more, it would be twenty.

Huo Xian was thick-skinned. "Even a man in his twenties or thirties is not as strong as me!"

"Don't go out for training now, prepare yourself well." Liu Che said, "You will go to war in one or two years."

Seeing Huo Xian's excited look, Liu Che knew he couldn't stop her, and Wei Qing also knew he couldn't stop her.

If Huo Shan was not released, the next time the imperial court deployed troops, Huo Shan might not just make trouble. Huo Shan did not dare to do things like privately mobilize troops, but he certainly dared to make trouble and keep asking for war.

Seeing Huo Xian leave, Liu Che said helplessly, "I don't want Xian'er to go to war so early, but I'm afraid I can't control him."

Wei Qing also understood the emperor's distress and said, "Your Majesty, Shan'er is still obedient."

"You are obedient at other times and a good boy, but you can't mention war." Liu Che was helpless, "Back then, Qubing was a lieutenant at 18 and a general at 20. I have no choice, because you and Qubing are the only ones who can be generals in the court."

Li Guang, Gongsun Ao, Gongsun He and others are all good, but it is difficult for them to become real generals.

Liu Che continued helplessly, "It's almost the same now. Apart from you, I can only count on Shan'er to be the general."

The court is not without generals. What it lacks now are generals who can lead thousands of troops and win great victories.

Wei Qing was silent for a long time before he said, "Your Majesty, it was I who led Xian'er in his first battle against the Xiongnu."

Liu Che nodded and said, "I am afraid of this too. I am afraid your body cannot bear it."

Wei Qing smiled and said, "Even if I die on the battlefield, it is a worthy death. It is my honor to be able to repay your majesty for your kindness. If I can watch Shan'er grow up, I will have no worries."

Liu Che nodded slightly, and then said, "Live well and take Shan'er to win the battle! If you can hold on for a few more years, I can send two more armies to directly destroy the Xiongnu!"

(End of this chapter)