My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 376 Everything is ready!

"Wang Xuan! Wang Xuan!"

Li Wenshu and Guo Qiannie arrived together and shouted loudly outside Wang Xuan's house.

It doesn't take a while.

Wang Xuan then walked out of the courtyard, looked at his two close friends, and grumbled, "Disturbing my peaceful sleep so early in the morning!"

Li Wenshu chuckled and teased, "Disturbing your peaceful dreams isn't like disturbing your good things."

They all knew that Wang Xuan's wife was pregnant, and that a pregnant woman couldn't perform sexual acts.

"Can't I take a concubine?"

"Hey, let's talk about taking a concubine after you've made some contributions and been promoted."

Li Wenshu smiled and pressed on, "Tell us in detail about the matter of the honorary title."

Wang Xuan and his group of veterans who came from Luoyang were all literate, so it wasn't difficult for Gao Yu to convey the policies he formulated.

Wang Xuan also gave a brief explanation.

Gao Yu's system was actually based on the Tang Dynasty's merit system, which consisted of twelve ranks.

He was promoted to the rank of Military Cavalry Captain, equivalent to a seventh-rank official.

Second promotion, Yunqiwei, equivalent to a seventh-rank official.

He was promoted to the rank of Flying Cavalry Captain after three promotions, and was considered a sixth-rank official.

………………

Eleventh promotion, Pillar of State, regarded as a second-rank official.

After twelve promotions, he became a Pillar of State, equivalent to a second-rank official.

The honorary title was not a substantive position.

However, they have certain privileges, and the higher the rank of their honorary title, the greater the privileges and benefits they enjoy.

Of course.

For ordinary soldiers, the biggest advantage of honorary titles is that they don't consider family background.

As long as one makes enough contributions on the battlefield, one can be promoted to the corresponding rank.

Why were the warriors of the Tang Dynasty so obsessed with open field battles instead of defending cities?
Because of the greater merit in field battles, especially in winning with fewer troops.

He was promoted to the fifth rank upon entering battle.

"Going into battle" means attacking with fewer troops against a larger force, and "the highest success rate" refers to the percentage of enemies killed.

One only needs to win a battle against overwhelming odds once to be promoted to the fifth-rank cavalry captain, which is considered a fifth-grade official.

The core essence is still to encourage soldiers to fight bravely against the enemy.

It further encourages achieving victory with fewer resources.

Having fewer people is a disadvantage, but it's also a golden opportunity!
As long as you can win against overwhelming odds and crawl out of a pile of dead bodies, that is a great achievement that can bring glory to your family and lead to a meteoric rise in your career!
The news has already spread throughout Qingzhou and Nanqingzhou, which are Gao Yu's carefully cultivated base and also the two prefectures with the most soldiers.

Xuzhou and Yanzhou only had a small number of local militia.

Because Gao Yu needed to transfer troops from Qingzhou and Nanqingzhou to the north, he sent Cui You and others to Xuzhou to further expand the size of the troops.

Although the Southern Liang might not necessarily invade, Erzhu Rong might not necessarily attack from the south.

However, necessary precautions must still be taken, and the garrison troops of Xuzhou can also serve as a reserve force. If the pressure on Xuzhou is not too great, Gao Yu can always mobilize the garrison troops from Xuzhou to go north again.

In addition to determining the ranks of honored officers.

Gao Yu also planned to promote his subordinates further.

Historically, Yuwen Tai was at a significant disadvantage when facing the Eastern Wei dynasty established by Gao Huan. He had no choice but to distribute his power and military authority to his eight generals in order to win over the people.

Gao Yu was not in a position of absolute disadvantage like Yuwen Tai, so there was no need for him to go to such lengths.

However, as the territory expanded and the battle lines lengthened...

He had to grant his subordinates greater autonomy through systems and positions, because given the efficiency of information transmission in ancient times, it was impossible for them to consult him on every matter.

Gao Yu led his troops north to attack the lands of Yan and You.

When the Southern Dynasty invaded Xuzhou, Erzhu Zhao had no time to send someone to convey the message to Gao Yu and then wait for Gao Yu's military orders to act accordingly.
By the time this happens, the opportunity will have been lost. Besides...

Gao Yu isn't in Xuzhou, so he doesn't know the actual situation. Without the right to investigate, he has no right to speak. How can he guarantee that the decisions he makes will be correct?
Giving military commanders greater autonomy during wartime is inevitable.

………………

December 30th.

Gao Cheng and Gao Yang personally arrived in Dongyang City with the emperor's edict.

The contents of the imperial edict were actually not complicated.

On top of Gao Yu's original official positions, a whole host of new ones were added.

"He is hereby promoted from General of the Heavenly Strategy to Grand General, concurrently holding the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, both within and outside the capital..."

Gao Yu silently recited to himself that his long list of official titles, which sounded like a tongue twister, seemed to be no less than that of the two emperors in history.
He respectfully accepted the imperial edict.

His subordinates also realized that Gao Yu had already made a private deal with Gao Huan.

After the contents of the imperial edict were conveyed.

Gao Yu specially hosted a banquet to entertain the Gao brothers, Gao Cheng and Gao Yang. He had watched them grow up since they were babies.

“In a few days, I will set off for Qinghe County to pay homage to the new emperor. You two should come with me then.”

Gao Cheng shook his head and said, "Uncle, when I came here, my father told me to stay in Dongyang City from now on."

Ok?
Stay in Dongyang City?
Did they deliberately send over a 'proton'?
"I wish to become an apprentice of Cui Jijiu under my uncle's command, and I hope my uncle will grant my request."

The term "Cui Jijiu" refers to Cui Jishu.

He currently serves as the Eastern Chief Libationer of the Tian Ce Mansion, which means he wields considerable power.

Gao Yang also spoke up, "I will stay in Dongyang City like my brother, and when I grow up, I will follow my uncle to the battlefield to fight the enemy!"

Gao Huan also had several other young sons.

However, he sent over his eldest son, Gao Cheng, and Gao Yang, who was about the same age as Gao Cheng, all at once.

Is this a way of showing further goodwill and bowing down?

"Since it is your father's opinion, then you two brothers shall stay in Dongyang City from now on."

“Since you are so willing to become my disciple, I will personally explain the situation to Uncle Zheng.”

"Now is a time of great contention, a good time for men to make achievements. You two will be able to establish yourselves in a few more years. I have high hopes for you two brothers. Do not let me down, and do not let your father down either."

They were instructed to settle the two people in.

Gao Yu is also making final preparations.

Mulan, Peng Le, Yang Kan, Yang Zhong, and others have all returned to Dongyang City from other places.

The second day of the new year.

Gao Yu finally received the message from Liu Taozhi.

Ashina Tumen has led his tribe's bravest warriors to infiltrate Heba Yun's ranks, and Heba Yun is currently leading his men to Hejian County.

There's an inside man.

Gao Yu was practically opening his third eye.

Although real-time information transmission is not possible, as long as Gao Yu knows the general direction of the enemy's march, he can summon his generals to conduct simulations and make corresponding arrangements!
"it is good!"

"Someone, convey my military order: summon everyone to the Tian Ce Mansion for discussion!"

Everything is ready!

The next step is to proceed according to the original plan!

March north!

With swift and decisive action, they pacified the Yan and You regions, opened up access to the grasslands, eliminated any worries about their rear, and also obtained high-quality warhorses from the Ashina tribe.

and then……

They marched south again to fight Erzhu Rong in Hebei!

(End of this chapter)