Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 39 Pre-war meeting
Looking at Huo Xian's hurriedly leaving back, Wei Zifu and Liu Ju couldn't help but feel a little worried.

"Zi'er, you should know what Shan'er, a junior, has done for you in the past few years." Wei Zifu said earnestly, "The horseshoe is such a divine weapon, and now people outside think it was made by you and Shan'er. You can't forget this!"

Liu Ju nodded. Two years ago, Huo Xian asked him for a few horses. He originally thought that he wanted to kill them for meat.

But who would have thought that horseshoes would be invented and are now being produced in large quantities.

Some important officials had also heard of these artifacts, and realized that these seemingly simple things could actually protect horseshoes. They knew that this could continue to strengthen the Han Dynasty's cavalry and bring many benefits to farming.

Prince Liu Ju had made "great contributions", and when anyone asked, Huo Shan's answer was that the prince had asked him to create it and it was the prince's idea.

Including the Gaoqiao saddle, it was the prince's idea, but he simply ordered the playboy Huo Shan to make it.

Some high-level people know what is going on, but most ordinary people don’t.

This was naturally of great benefit to Liu Ju's reputation. Whether in the army or among the people, the prince was known to be wise, brave, and enterprising.

"Mother, I have always remembered what Shan'er has done over the years." Liu Ju also spoke up, "I am Shan'er's cousin. If anything happens, I will protect him."

Wei Zifu nodded with relief and said, "Your cousins ​​are unreliable. It's good that they don't cause trouble for you. The only one you can count on is Shan'er."

Liu Ju knew what Wei Kang, Wei Deng, and Wei Buyi were like. Gongsun Jingsheng looked pretty good, but that was only compared to the others in the Wei family. He was the tallest among the short ones.

Wei Zifu and Liu Ju couldn't help but start to worry, because it seemed that a war suddenly broke out, and it was a big war.

Even though the Han Dynasty had been waging war everywhere in recent years, it would occasionally stop for a year or two. However, just after the reign title was changed from Yuanfeng to Taichu, the court began to prepare for continuous military operations.

If Huo Xian is sent directly to the battlefield now, it is likely that a relatively large war will occur.

Huo Xian rushed to the Xuanshi Hall like a gust of wind, and was immediately embarrassed.

Prime Minister Shi Qing, Grand Minister of Agriculture Sang Hongyang, Imperial Censor Er Kuan and other civil officials were in the palace, and they were all wearing official uniforms.

General Wei Qing, former Marquis of Hao Wang Hui, Marquis of Xuye Zhao Po Nu and others were also here. This Wang Hui and the proposer of the Mayi conspiracy just had the same name.

Gongsun He, Gongsun Ao and other officers who lost their titles, as well as Shangguan Jie, Wang Shensheng and other young captains are also here.

There is also Li Guangli, and it seems that he is really going to be sent to attack Dayuan.

The position of a lieutenant is not low, this is not the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty when generals were everywhere. The generals of the Western Han Dynasty were very "valuable", and the ranks of lieutenants ranged from 2,000 dan, less than 2,000 dan to 600 dan.

A colonel like Huo Shan was naturally a two thousand stone official in the central government, including the "eight colonels" previously established by Liu Che, all of whom were senior military officers.

The salaries of some local captains are definitely lower.

Wei Qing frowned slightly, but then said nothing more.

Civil servants all wear official uniforms, and officers all wear military uniforms.

And Huo Xian ran over in gorgeous clothes.

No one cared. People who knew Huo Xian knew that he dressed like this in the palace. People who didn't know him had heard that this champion liked to wear full armor and a bronze mask when leading troops and training them. But in private, he liked brocade clothes, delicious food, and fruits. He didn't like music but often watched dance.

This is a very complex and contradictory person. He looks like a dandy, but he seems to be really capable.

Liu Che pointed to the location and said, "Stand beside the general."

It seemed like no one said anything about this. Although Huo Xian was a colonel, he had the title of Marquis of Guanjun.

Zhao Po Nu smiled at Huo Shan. This brave general used to be Huo Qubing's right-hand man. And his son Zhao Anguo is also Huo Shan's right-hand man now.

Huo Xian just nodded slightly. This was a serious military meeting and no jokes were allowed.

Liu Che opened his mouth and said, "Dayuan killed my envoys, looted the caravan, and took my property. It must be punished!"

The civil and military officials had no objection. The court was unable to obtain good horses and the envoys were killed. This revenge had to be avenged. If there was no response, the prestige of the Han Dynasty in the Western Regions would disappear in an instant. You have to know that many of the Western Regions are fence-sitters, wavering between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu.

Liu Che continued, "Let Li Guangli be the Second Division General, Zhao Shicheng be the Chief of the Army, Li Duo be the Colonel, and Wang Hui, the Marquis of Hao, be the Guide, and lead 6,000 cavalry from the vassal states and 10,000 infantry from the prefectures and kingdoms to fight against the enemy."

Excited Li Guangli knelt down immediately. His chance to be granted a title of nobility was coming!
Just as Huo Shan was about to speak, Wei Qing grabbed Huo Shan's wrist and shook his head slightly.

Zhao Po Nu's previous 700 cavalrymen defeated Loulan, showing everyone that some small countries in the Western Regions were too ordinary. If Li Guangli had more than 10,000 people, plus good military marquises and lieutenants to assist him, it would be easy to conquer Dayuan.

Giving Li Guangli the opportunity to be conferred a title of nobility was not only to favor Lady Li, but also to restrain Wei Huo.

The emperor valued Wei Huo, but that didn't mean he was completely unguarded, and many people understood this.

However, many people may not have expected that Li Guangli would drag this war for nearly three years, resulting in countless casualties and huge losses.

Liu Che then looked at Wei Qing and Huo Xian and said, "Order General Wei Qing to go to Shuofang to prepare for the Xiongnu."

Huo Xian was a little confused. Wei Qing had not led troops out for many years, and there had been no large-scale wars with the Huns in recent years. Why was Wei Qing suddenly needed to lead the troops?
In fact, a few years ago, before Liu Che's Fengshan ceremony, he led an army of 100,000 all the way north to challenge the then Xiongnu Chanyu Yizhixie, but Yizhixie retreated. At that time, Huo Xian also followed Liu Che and traveled all over the country.

Liu Che continued to make arrangements, saying, "Appoint Gongsun Ao as General Yinqi, and choose a site northwest of Gaoque Pass in Shuofang County to build the Surrender City."

Huo Xian looked at the sand table carefully. Shuofang County was one of the northern border counties. The Han Dynasty sent troops from here to attack the Xiongnu several times. It was located in the northwest of the Yellow River Hetao and had reached the northwest of Inner Mongolia.

The city for accepting surrender that Gongsun Ao wanted to build had already arrived in Outer Mongolia.

But it is not a deserted place. It is the foot of the Altai Mountains and there are still many oases there.

"The Surrender City?" Hearing this name, Huo Xian's imagination ran wild. "Is there an important figure from the Xiongnu coming to surrender?"

Liu Che suddenly looked at Huo Xian and asked, "You have always wanted to go to war. Do you dare to join the army now?"

Huo Xian immediately clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, I will go to the battle and return victorious!"

"What an ambition!" Liu Che said happily, "I will appoint you as the lieutenant of Piaoyao, and lead your troops to follow the general to the battle!"

Huo Xian was only seventeen, but he had already become a lieutenant. And almost everyone in Chang'an knew about his eight hundred cavalrymen. Although they were not formally organized, they were considered the first guard force of the Jianzhang Palace, which had just begun construction.

Elite. That cavalry team of 800 people was the Han Dynasty's most elite force on the surface.

They were all from good families, receiving the best training and supplies, especially those who even rode their horses in full armor, which made some soldiers from the Northern and Southern armies envious, as many of them could only wear leather armor.

Liu Che looked at Huo Xian and said, "This Lieutenant Piao Yao was originally your grandfather's. He is brave and fierce. I think there is no one like him in the world! Remember, don't lose the reputation of Marquis Guanjun and Lieutenant Piao Yao, and don't let your grandfather be ashamed!"

Huo Xian said very seriously, "Your Majesty, when I return to the capital, I will definitely be promoted to General of the Cavalry!"

Liu Che was even happier. "If you kill tens of thousands of people, I will promote you to Grand Marshal and General of Cavalry!"

Wei Qing immediately coughed. If it was the "General of Cavalry", it was originally a so-called "general with important titles", and this General of Cavalry was originally specially established for Huo Qubing. Generally, he was the commander of an entire empire's cavalry-based army. If he was really given the title of "Grand Marshal", he would be above the three officials.

It is already a bit too much to confer the title of General of Cavalry, and if he is promoted to Grand Marshal, it would be too much.

But if you think about the emperor's partiality and love for Huo Qubing and Huo Shan, father and son, such a thing is really possible.

Gongsun Ao, Gongsun He and others were also jealous. They could only be given the title of general in wartime, and those were just "generals with miscellaneous titles" and they dared not say a word.

And this Marquis of Guanjun, who hasn't even gone out to fight, is already thinking about asking for an official position after winning the battle. And the emperor just buys into this!
"Captain, please step down." Liu Che continued, "General Ershi and others should also step down."

Huo Xian looked around, not knowing whether he should withdraw. Now it was a matter of military rank, not title.

Liu Che spoke up and said, "Shan'er, stay and help me set up the sand table and discuss the matter of attacking the Xiongnu."

(End of this chapter)