This series of appointments was basically centered around the old Shuozhou troops, integrating the Jinyang defenders and the rebellious Cao and Liu troops, and building a complete military and political system with the Little Jin Prince Yinji as the nominal leader and Zhao Muyun actually in control.
Cao Jun and Liu Pan were also awarded the rank of colonel, but their troops were disbanded and incorporated into various armies.
After the baptism of blood and fire, the land of Hedong was finally united into a stable and powerful base.
Zhao Muyun glanced at the generals in the hall and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, although the siege of Jinyang has been temporarily lifted, the Li Feng pseudo-regime is still in place, the country has not been restored, and the northern barbarians are eyeing us covetously."
"The Long March is only the first step. The revolution has not yet succeeded. We still need to work hard!"
"I hope you will all perform your duties diligently, train your troops diligently, appease the people, and accumulate strength. When the time is right, the royal army will march south to recover our homeland!"
"I will obey the general's orders! I am willing to follow His Highness and recover Dayin!"
The generals responded with a roar, and the sound shook the roof tiles.
A vigorous vitality and firm belief rose in the Jinyang Marshal's Mansion.
And the golden words Zhao Muyun said in public, "The revolution has not yet succeeded, and the revolution still requires efforts", also became the motto of a group of generals and officials in Hedong.
The era of Zhao Muyun and Yin Ji officially began as the smoke of war in Langyu dissipated.
What follows will be a wider world and confrontations with more powerful opponents.
But at least now, they have a solid starting point.
The afterglow of the great victory in Jinyang had not yet faded, and this ancient capital, which had been baptized by war, was regaining new vitality at an astonishing speed.
Under Zhao Muyun's overall planning and Yin Ji's support, the Hedong Grand Military Governor's Office operated efficiently, with political and military orders issued and implemented one after another:
Militarily, the organizational structure of the Five Armies continued to improve, the recruitment and training of new soldiers was in full swing, and the captured weapons and horses were quickly distributed.
The Shenji Camp expanded its scale and stepped up the development and improvement of the Zhentian Bomb and Shenji Cannon.
In civil affairs, Fan Nan demonstrated outstanding logistical skills, encouraging land reclamation, water conservancy construction, and comforting refugees.
Together with Zhou Hong, he rectified the administration of officials. Within a short period of time, order was restored in all parts of Hedong, people's livelihood began to recover, and taxes and grain reserves grew steadily.
In terms of personnel, officials and generals at all levels each performed their duties. The old subordinates of Shuozhou, the original faction of Jinyang, and the surrendered generals of Cao and Liu gradually merged through the process of running-in. A dynamic new group with Yinji as its banner and Zhao Muyun as its core has taken shape.
The entire Hedong area is like a strong bow that is gradually being drawn to its full length, accumulating strength and looking towards a more distant direction.
Whether looking north to the northern desert or south to the capital, Zhao Muyun and Yin Ji both knew that they needed a more solid foundation and a better opportunity.
However, the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop.
Just as Hedong was preparing for war, an 800-li express horse from Longyou, carrying Tang Yanhai's handwritten letter asking for help, rushed into the Jinyang headquarters, breaking the brief peace.
The content of the letter instantly made the atmosphere in the Marshal's Mansion solemn.
After reading the letter carefully, Zhao Muyun passed it to Yinji, Fan Nan, Zhou Hong, Han Zhong and others.
He frowned slightly, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle as he swept over the main generals who had rushed to the hall after hearing the news.
"Everyone!"
Zhao Muyun's voice was steady, yet held a hint of unquestionable determination. "Urgent news from Longyou. Pei Lun and Tang Yanhai are in serious trouble in the Western Regions."
Everyone suddenly looked solemn.
It turned out that after Pei Lun and Tang Yanhai successfully opened up the trade route to the Western Regions and established contact with Zhang Zan, the governor of Longyou, and Guo Xiaoti, the commander of Ganzhou, their influence had penetrated deep into Longyou.
However, this move affected the interests of many parties around Longyou.
Taking advantage of the fact that the battle in Jinyang had no time to look west, King Loufan and the Wulingha tribe accelerated their westward infiltration, winning over small countries in the Western Regions, and colluding with small countries such as Chechi State, which held a grudge against Pei Lun and others, to set a trap.
Yang Yan, the governor of Xijing and the left prime minister of Dafeng, together with his cousin Yang Yi and Li Hu, the nephew of Li Jingang, have long coveted Longyou, a strategic location connecting the Western Regions and overlooking Guanzhong.
He actually allied with the newly rising Qiang and Rong regime in the Hehuang area, and took advantage of Zhang Zan's dispatch of troops to rescue Pei Lun to launch a surprise attack on the eastern pass of Longyou.
Pei Lun and Guo Xiaoti were ambushed and surrounded on Heidu Mountain outside Guazhou City. Their situation was critical.
The 5,000 reinforcements sent by Zhang Zan were ambushed by the joint forces of Beidi and Chechi Kingdom and were completely wiped out.
In the east of Longyou, Yang Yan and Li Hu's Dafeng Army threatened Xiaoguan and Suzhou, in the south, the Qiang and Rong cavalry were eyeing him covetously, and in the west, the coalition forces of Beidi and Chechi besieged Pei Lun. He was surrounded by enemies and in imminent danger.
Pei Lun and Tang Yanhai were stretched thin with insufficient troops and could not hold the fort alone.
"General Pei Lun and Captain Guo are trapped, Yanhai is alone in the crisis, and Jiedushi Zhang Zan has suffered heavy losses. If Longyou is lost, our Hedong flank will be exposed, and the trade route to the Western Regions will be cut off, which will further encourage the arrogance of Beidi and Yang Yan!" After reading the letter, Yinji's young face was full of worry.
Upon hearing this, Wu Shangzhi, Shi Yong and other generals glared and asked for battle:
"Grand Commander! Your Highness! I am willing to lead my troops to the aid of Longyou and crush those evil spirits!"
"We cannot sit idly by and watch Lord Pei Lun and Captain Guo trapped! Please send troops!"
Fan Nan pondered and said, "Longyou's geographical location is extremely important. It is a battleground on all sides and is also the throat leading to the Western Regions."
"If they fall into the hands of Beidi or Yang Yan, it will be extremely detrimental to our future."
"However... our army has just secured Hedong. If we concentrate our efforts westward, we're afraid that the Northern Di and Han Yanshou will seize the opportunity to attack, or that Li Jingang may make some unpredictable moves."
According to the latest intelligence, Li Jingang's army has crossed the river from Shandong in the Hejian Prefecture area of Hebei Province and is preparing to expand northward.
Zhou Hong also added: "Food, fodder and weapons can support a major war, but if the battle line is too long and goes deep into Longyou, careful planning is required."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
