I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 288 Empire Nova
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Zhao Yu knew very well that while playing and having fun were fine, if he made these entertainments his main occupation, like Zhao Ji who was obsessed with art and Yelü Yanxi who was obsessed with hunting, then he would not be far from becoming a ruler who would bring about the downfall of his country.

Therefore, Zhao Yu only indulged in pleasure during his leisure time. When it was time to work, he was absolutely diligent and cared for the people, never slacking off or neglecting state affairs due to his indulgence in pleasure. He deeply understood that as the ruler of a country, he bore a heavy responsibility; the well-being of the people depended on him, and he could not afford to be negligent in the slightest. Crucially, if he failed as emperor, it wouldn't just be him enjoying other people's wives and daughters, but rather other people dividing up his wives and daughters.

Zhao Yu never forgot that right now in the northeast, a force capable of destroying the Zhao Song Dynasty was rapidly rising.

Therefore, after dawn, Tang Kuo Ling'er and Gao Guangyu, whom Zhao Yu had been focusing on the previous night, were reluctant to part with Zhao Yu and wanted him to sleep with them a little longer. However, Zhao Yu patted their bottoms and asked them and several other newlywed young women to help him get up.

Then, Zhao Yu spoke as if to Tang Kuo Ling'er and Gao Guangyu, who were in low spirits, and also as if to himself: "It is not that I do not appreciate your kindness, but the affairs of the state are of utmost importance. How can I let personal matters interfere with public duty and harm me, and also harm you?"

After saying that, Zhao Yu went to the training ground.

As usual, Li Lin waited for Zhao Yu here.

With Li Lin's help, Zhao Yu changed into his training clothes and began practicing yoga.

"Relax your shoulders first," Zhao Yu instructed softly, slowly raising his arms from his sides. When his palms faced each other, they seemed to be supporting flowing clouds, then suddenly dropped to his chest. His shoulder blades retracted with the movement, and then expanded like butterfly wings when he inhaled.

Li Lin stood to the side and behind, her fingertips hovering lightly over Zhao Yu's waist. When Zhao Yu assumed the Downward-Facing Dog pose, she noticed his heels trembling slightly. She bent her knees and gently pressed them against the back of Zhao Yu's thighs, saying, "Your Majesty, breathe more deeply and lower your hips."

Zhao Yu let out a soft "hmm" from his throat. When he inhaled, his abdomen swelled up like a full moon, and when he exhaled, it tightened like an empty sac. His body pressed down evenly, and the force of his arms supporting him on the ground was astonishingly even. His wrists were at a right angle to the ground, and his fingertips were deeply embedded in the mat without the slightest wobbling.

Zhao Yu remained in this position for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, beads of sweat trickling down his chin. Li Lin promptly wiped away the sweat for Zhao Yu.

Next, Zhao Yu switched to the "One-Legged Pigeon Pose," with his right knee bent and flat on the ground, and his left leg extended straight back, his instep taut like a string. As his upper body twisted, his left hand precisely grasped his left ankle. The movements were fluid and graceful, and the muscles of his waist and abdomen were faintly visible under his thin clothing, showcasing the smooth lines honed through years of yoga practice.

"Let's switch to Convict Conditioning."

When he finished his stance, Zhao Yu's breathing was even, without him even panting, which shows how good his stamina was.

Before long, Li Lin had brought over the horizontal bar wrapped with thick hemp rope.

Zhao Yu walked to the bar, his knuckles turning white as he gripped it, his arms shoulder-width apart. He first did a set of standard pull-ups, without using any leverage as he went up and down. On the hundredth pull-up, he suddenly changed his form, suspending his legs in the air and bending his knees, using his abdominal muscles to pull his knees towards his chest, and then slowly lowering them. He repeated this, his sweat-soaked clothes clinging to his back, outlining the contours of his firm back muscles.

Li Lin counted the number of push-ups and noticed that Zhao Yu's elbow angle was slightly off when he did the close-grip push-ups. So she squatted down and tapped Zhao Yu's elbow with her fingertips to indicate that Zhao Yu's movement was slightly incorrect.

Zhao Yu immediately adjusted his posture, his muscles tensing up as he tucked his elbows in. Each time he bent over, his chest muscles almost touched the ground, and when he pushed himself up, his arms were as steady as a rock. Even his breathing was in rhythm with his movements, his panting carrying a steady force.

Finally, Zhao Yu practiced hanging leg raises. He gripped the bar with both hands, suspended in the air with his legs straight and together, and slowly raised them until they were parallel to the ground. The explosive power of his waist and abdomen made his whole body as stable as a scale.

Li Lin stood directly below Zhao Yu, looking up at his taut jawline. Seeing his abdominal muscles solidify as he raised his leg, she said softly, "Your Majesty's waist strength has improved considerably."

Next, Zhou Tong and others came and taught Zhao Yu some martial arts skills.

Around noon, Zhao Yu, along with Li Lin, Zhou Tong, and others, went to the camp where the Shenji Army was stationed to inspect Zhao Yu's greatest asset in this world.

Because war might be imminent, Zhao Yu reorganized the Shenji Army and selected a new commander, supervisor, and deputy commander.

The vanguard of the Divine Machine Army is commanded by Han Shizhong, with Zhan Du as the supervisor and Zhao Li as the deputy commander.
The Central Army of Divine Machine Commander: Commander-in-Chief Wang Bing, Supervisor Zong Ze, and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Wang Yan;
The Rear Army of the Divine Machine Army was commanded by Zhai Xing, with Chen Gou as the supervisor and Zhai Jin as the deputy commander.

The Left Army of the Divine Machine Army, Commander-in-Chief Zhang Jun, Supervisor Zhang Shuye, and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Li Yanxian;

The Right Army of the Divine Machine Army was commanded by Wu Jie, with Liu Ge as the supervisor and Wang De as the deputy commander.

Zhao Yu also made adjustments to the four auxiliary armies.

Northern Auxiliary Army, Commander-in-Chief Liu Fa, Supervisor Li Miao, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Liu Yi;
Southern Army, Commander-in-Chief Zhong Shizhong, Supervisor Zhe Yanzhi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Guo Zhongxiao;

Eastern Army Commander-in-Chief Zhong Shidao, Supervisor Qiu Yu, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Yao Youzhong;
The Western Army was commanded by He Guan, with Xu Huiyan as the supervisor and Huo Anguo as the deputy commander.

In addition, Zhao Yu also made adjustments to the generals and supervisors of the Western Army, the Tiger Army, and a number of imperial guards.

In short, through this adjustment, Zhao Yu promoted those capable and loyal rising stars of the empire and placed them in key positions, ensuring that the Zhao Song Dynasty could cope with battles of any intensity.

After the adjustments, Zhao Yu issued an imperial edict ordering all armies to train actively in preparation for the upcoming major battle.

As for the most important Shenji Army, including the Four Auxiliary Armies, Zhao Yu not only had Li Lin keep an eye on them for him, but also personally inspected the Shenji Army whenever he had time.

For example, today, Zhao Yu randomly selected the Right Army of the Divine Machine Army. ...

The sun was high in the sky, shining directly on the camp of the Divine Machine Right Army. The flags fluttered in the breeze as Zhao Yu and his entourage marched in orderly steps into the training ground, which was filled with a solemn atmosphere.

On the training ground of the Divine Machine Right Army, several areas were divided, and soldiers in each area were practicing according to different subjects, with strict discipline evident in their movements.

In the drill training area, soldiers clad in padded armor, some carrying Li Lin muskets, others wielding crossbows, stood in neat rows and columns, marching, turning, and halting at the instructors' commands. Their footsteps on the ground sounded as if performed by a single person, even their breathing gradually synchronized. If a soldier's steps faltered, an instructor would immediately strike them with a wooden stick, helping them find their rhythm in the shortest time possible, until the entire formation became perfectly square, like a moving iron plate on the ground.

The artillery training area was even more impressive. Several Li Lin guns were set up at the edge of the drill ground, their muzzles pointing directly at distant targets. The artillerymen were divided into groups; some were responsible for carrying shells, some for calibrating the gun barrels, and some for cleaning the breech. Their movements were as practiced as if they had rehearsed a thousand times. With a command from the instructor, an artilleryman ignited the fuse, and the cannon roared to life. The iron shell whistled through the air and accurately struck the earthen wall a hundred meters away, sending dust flying. Then, the soldiers quickly moved forward to clean the breech and reload. The whole process was seamless, and in no time, preparations for a second firing were complete.

While the training for the "Tiger Crouching Gun" wasn't as tedious, its precision and speed were equally breathtaking. These mortar-like guns were quickly set up, muzzles slightly raised, like beasts poised to pounce. Three gunners, each with a clear role: one aimed, one loaded the gunpowder and shells, and one provided cover and backup. At the instructor's command, several Tiger Crouching Guns fired almost simultaneously, the deafening roar echoing across the training ground. Shells rained down on the distant targets, kicking up clouds of dust and gravel.

Meanwhile, the soldiers training with grenade-throwing drills were practicing on an open area on the other side. Each of them carried three grenade-like explosives on their waists. During training, the soldiers would pull the fuse, take a few steps forward, and use the momentum of their turn to throw the grenade into a pit several dozen paces away. The hissing sound of the burning fuse mingled with the dull thud of the heavy object hitting the ground. Moments later, a series of muffled booms erupted from the pit, sending rubble and dirt flying several meters high. The instructor watched from the side, recording the distance and accuracy of the throws, and frequently giving orders to adjust their posture—the throws had to be far enough, but more importantly, the fuses had to be completely burned out upon landing so that the enemy wouldn't be able to pick them up and throw them back.

Training in the three-man formation best demonstrates teamwork. Each small formation consists of three soldiers, three armed with either a Li Lin musket or a crossbow, standing in a triangular formation. On command, the three move in unison, covering each other as they advance and taking turns covering the rear as they retreat. When faced with a simulated enemy charge, after the front rank fires, the soldiers in the back rank, armed with Li Lin muskets or crossbows, swarm in like locusts. The three quickly change positions to create space for the next volley of fire. Throughout the entire process, the distance between the three remains within three paces, their coordination impenetrable. If close combat is required, the soldier with the Li Lin musket immediately fixes his bayonet, while the soldier with the crossbow discards his crossbow and draws a broadsword from his back.

The combat training area was smaller, where soldiers, some wielding bayoneted Li Lin muskets and others broadswords, were practicing against wooden dummies or with their comrades. However, their bayonet and broadsword techniques didn't focus on flashy moves; they were mostly simple and practical actions like thrusting, slashing, hacking, and parrying. They particularly emphasized how to quickly break through the defenses of close-range enemies with bayonets or broadswords after running out of ammunition. The instructor stressed, "Long-range combat is fundamental! Bayonet fighting and broadsword techniques are only for survival! If the enemy gets close, you're already half dead; if you don't fight desperately, you'll lose the other half too!"

Throughout the training ground, long-range combat training was the core focus. Li Lin gunners and archers stood in several rows, practicing three-stage firing. The "whoosh" of arrows leaving the bowstring was incessant, the arrowheads striking the distant bullseye with a dense, pincer-like array. The firing of the Li Lin guns was even crisper; soldiers, in formation, took turns raising their guns, aiming, and pulling the trigger. Lead bullets pierced the holes in the target paper in neat rows. After the smoke cleared, the gunners immediately bent down to load the gunpowder, their movements so fast they were almost simultaneous.

Zhao Yu watched all this and nodded secretly, then said to Li Lin beside him, "You've practiced well."

Even someone as strict as Li Lin nodded and said, "It's alright."

At the same time, Li Lin thought to herself, 'A renowned general is indeed a renowned general; although young, his abilities are truly extraordinary.'

Wu Jie is not yet twenty years old, and is not old enough to lead an army on his own, let alone serve as the commander of the most important Shenji Army.

Moreover, Wu Jie had very few opportunities to fight, and in reality, he only made some military achievements during the suppression of Fang La, and did not have many more.

After that, Wu Jie was transferred to Zhao Yu's personal guard and personally trained.

Six months ago, when Zhao Yu reorganized the generals of the various armies, the position of commander of the Shenji Right Army became vacant.

At that time, the Privy Councilor Su Shi recommended Yao Gu or Liu Yanqing to serve as the commander of the Right Army of the Divine Machine Army.

However, Zhang Chun said that although these two were good generals, they were not capable of shouldering great responsibilities.

Zhao Yu, who was also familiar with the history of the Song Dynasty, knew that what Zhang Chun said was true. Therefore, he rejected Yao Gu and Liu Yanqing on the grounds that he wanted to appoint some young generals as the commanders of the Shenji Army.

Su Shi then recommended Yao Pingzhong and Liu Guangshi, but Zhao Yu, who knew that even the former was not suitable, still did not agree.

In the end, to everyone's surprise, Zhao Yu listened to Zhang Chun and Li Lin's recommendations and chose the unknown Wu Jie.

In addition, Wu Jie's younger brother, Wu Lin, also became Zhao Yu's son, Zhao Qing, to accompany him in his studies.

At the time, this matter caused a great stir, and some even spread rumors that Wu Jie and Wu Lin were Zhao Yu's illegitimate sons.

Please!

Zhao Yu was less than ten years older than Wu Jie. Even if he was fond of women, it was impossible for him to have a child before the age of ten!

Crucially, Zhao Yu had not yet time-traveled when Wu Jie was born.

However, this also reflects the uproar caused by Zhao Yu's appointment at the time. Rumors from the outside world, like autumn leaves, were numerous and difficult to dispel. But Zhao Yu remained unmoved, for he had his own plans.

Now, Wu Jie has proven to the world with his real abilities that Zhao Yu did not make a mistake in choosing him.

In the future, Wu Jie will prove to the world with his unparalleled achievements that Zhao Yu still knows how to recognize and use talent.

Zhao Yu firmly believed this!
Upon seeing Zhao Yu arrive, Wu Jie, Liu Ge, Wang De, and others quickly came to greet him.

Accompanied by Wu Jie and others, Zhao Yu strolled slowly between the various training areas, his eyes filled with admiration and anticipation. He occasionally whispered to Wu Jie and the others beside him, offering his insights on the details of the training...

……

(End of this chapter)