Zhao Jiu raised his hand to signal, and Yang Yizhong stepped forward to identify and call out the names of the generals present.
So-called:
The independent commanders of the Left Army of the Imperial Camp were Jie Yuan, Cheng Min, Wang Sheng, Wang Quan, Yue Chao, Xu Shi'an, and Zhai Chong, a total of seven people;
The independent commanders of the Right Army of the Imperial Camp were Liu Bao and Tian Shizhong, two in total;
The former independent generals of the Tokyo Garrison Command—Wang Shan, Li Qiong, Ma Gao, Sang Zhong, Zhang Yong, Cao Cheng, Liu Wenshun, Li Hong, Ma You, Xu Yan, Qi Fang, Liu Zhong, and Li Bao, a total of thirteen people;
The four independent generals under the command of the former Jeju Governor: Zhang Xian, Tang Huai, Li Kui, and Fu Xuan;
The generals under the command of Lu Jing, the former commander of the Three Yamen of Xijing: Niu Gao, one person;
The former independent commanders of the Imperial Camp Central Army were Hu Yantong and Fu Qing (the latter escorted the Prime Minister's group), a total of two people;
The original independent commanders of the Eight Character Army under Wang Yan: Meng De and Jiao Wentong, a total of two;
The original independent generals of Li Yanxian's army in Shanzhou: Zhai Xing, Zhai Jin, Shao Long, Shao Xing, Shao Yun, a total of five people...
Therefore, there must be many people who did not have time to arrive... For example, the several central army commanders who stayed in Nanyang and Xiangyang, and the same was true for Hu Cheng, Wang Gui and others who were confronting Jinan Prefecture on the eastern front. Although Yang Yi Zhong and Liu Yan had the same official positions as these people, they were in a high position and were not counted among them... But no matter what, roughly speaking, except for the rear army, the core forces of each unit in the reorganized imperial camp are basically here, a total of thirty-six people.
"How did you become sworn brothers in Fugou?" Under the incredulous looks of several ministers and most of the civil officials, Emperor Zhao calmly asked about the professional procedures. "Do you want to worship Guan Gong and burn incense?"
"Good instructor, you know, we didn't worship any gods at that time, but swore an oath of blood." Ma Gao answered stiffly. "Ten people cut their palms and poured their blood into the wine, then swore an oath with the wine, and finally drank the blood wine together, and it was considered a done deal."
"That's easy." Zhao Jiu raised his hand to signal. "Good minister, go and bring a jar of imperial wine to the stage..."
For some reason, Han Shizhong also began to panic, but he dared not not go... A moment later, the wine was brought, and Emperor Zhao stood up, took a dagger from Yang Yi's waist, and said in front of the seat: "Everyone raise your heads!"
The thirty-six generals looked up at the same time, and saw that Emperor Zhao, who was wearing a red robe under the dragon banner, directly held the knife with his bare hands, rubbed it slightly, and then dripped a few drops of blood into the wine jar in front of him in public. Then he put away the dagger and signaled to pour the wine. It seemed that there was no need for these people below to drink together... Seeing this scene, all the civil and military officials became stern, because they realized that this official was not joking, at least he did not treat this matter with a joking mentality.
After a while, following the emperor's oral order, the seven generals poured wine and held bowls one by one, and served blood wine to the thirty-six generals below. Yang Yi Zhong and Liu Yan also removed the imperial desk in front of the emperor for him, so that there would be no barriers between the emperor and these generals.
"My lords, I returned to Tokyo and saw the desolation in front of me. I felt that the prosperous scene in the past had turned into a spring dream." Zhao Jiu had already sat back in his seat, but he looked at his palm that was still bleeding and sighed slightly. "At that time, Zong was left with his life and was dying, but he was afraid that I would seek peace in the future. Before he died, he forced me to swear to restore the two rivers. Little did he know that I felt that a mere oath was not enough to express my ambition... There are hundreds of state troops and tens of millions of people in the two rivers, and the blood feud is like the sea. How can a few oaths express the anger in my heart? But on the other hand, in the situation at that time and now, how can I express my heart except for a few oaths? Therefore, today, the ten commanders swore an oath without authorization and caused a great disaster, but I am not demanding at all. As long as you show your ambition to resist the Jin and save the country, I can tolerate everything!"
At this point, everyone was silent, and many angry officials also quieted down. Zhao Jiu looked around and said solemnly: "Everyone stand up and hold the bowls!"
Thirty-six commanders and leading officers stood up together and held the bowls carefully.
The seven generals did not dare to be negligent and stood solemnly on the right side; the ministers looked at each other in silence... At this point, they had no choice but to lead the civil officials on the left side to stand up.
"I say one sentence, and you repeat it!" Zhao Jiu said solemnly while sitting upright. "Today, thirty-six of my Imperial Camp soldiers will swear an oath on behalf of the two hundred thousand soldiers in the Imperial Camp..."
There was a moment of panic below, and no sound was made for a while.
But at this moment, Yang Yizhong suddenly grasped the dagger, led Liu Yan, took half a step forward, and then raised his voice: "Today, thirty-six of my Imperial Camp soldiers will swear on behalf of the two hundred thousand soldiers in the Imperial Camp!"
"Today, all the soldiers in my imperial camp will swear an oath together!" The thirty-six generals paused for a moment, then held the bowls together and repeated the oath.
"Drink this blood wine, worship the emperor, form brotherhood, trust each other with life and death, help each other in good and bad times, depend on each other for happiness and misfortune, and support each other in times of trouble." Zhao Jiu spoke without hesitation, and it was obvious that he had a draft in mind before today.
"Drink this blood wine, worship the emperor, form brotherhood, trust each other in life and death, help each other in good and bad times, depend on each other in fortune and misfortune, and support each other in times of trouble." As Yang Yizhong repeated it, the words below were no longer uneven, but gradually became neat and consistent.
"I will devote my entire life to avenging the humiliation of Jingkang, reviving the Song Dynasty and destroying the Jin Dynasty, helping the people and saving the country. I have no other ambition!" Zhao Jiu continued to swear, but his eyes became a little cold, because he knew that the people below were his absolute hope, but it was also these people, most of whom were just a group of soldiers, bandits, and so-called righteous army who brought chaos to the people, fought for credit and shirked responsibility, and had extremely bad habits. His road would be both long and difficult.
"I will devote my entire life to avenging the humiliation of Jingkang, reviving the Song Dynasty and destroying the Jin Dynasty, helping the people and saving the country. I have no second thoughts!" The generals continued to swear. Now that things had come to this, their originally confused minds were put away.
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