I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 422 Send out troops!

Messengers with red feathers pinned to their heads set off from Jinling, using waterways and roads as their network to deliver the letters they carried to various places.

Sanwu, Huainan, Yuzhang, Jiangxia, Changsha, Jiangling, Xiangyang...

This marks the first time in history since the Han Dynasty rose from the ashes that a full-scale mobilization has been undertaken.

A large number of cargo ships were requisitioned, and many workshops related to people's livelihoods withered away, but the throughput of workshops closely related to the military suddenly increased!

Food supplies, winter clothing, armor, weapons, warhorses, spirits...

The peaceful atmosphere was shattered in an instant. After the war against Shu, the sleeping dragon in the south finally loosened its body and revealed its body that had been curled up for too long.

After so much time and effort, the Han Dynasty should finally be known to everyone what it looks like.

More than 500 military units across the country mobilized. These young men, who usually farmed and were mobilized during the war, put down their hoes and donned their armor, bidding farewell to their families one after another.

"Father, mother!"

Someone knelt in front of the door, saying goodbye to their parents.

For some reason, what I noticed first were the white hair and wrinkles.

"My son, I can't bear to part with you."

This battle has been talked about for so long that even the old farmers tilling the land and the old women weaving cloth know what it means.

Even my parents, who have been reserved their whole lives, can now utter the words "I can't bear to part with them." These tangled and incoherent thoughts seem to say nothing at all, yet they also seem to say everything.

"Father~ Mother~"

Some people feign magnanimity.

Some people burst into tears.

More often than not, they forcibly suppressed their emotions, waved their hands, and replied with the same three words, "I know!"

It was as if they weren't going to do anything extraordinary, not to fight a war that concerned the Han Dynasty, or even the future of China, but rather to go to the back mountain to pick some mushrooms and gather some wild fruits.

Others say goodbye to their childhood sweetheart.

"Can't you just not go? Go and beg your father? Or should I beg my father?"

Zhuge Jin's daughter, Lady Zhuge, who was just beginning to experience love, was tugging at the sleeve of Zhang Zhao's son, Zhang Cheng, with a worried expression.

“Your father is the Grand Secretary of the Han Dynasty, and my father is the Grand Censor of the Han Dynasty! If they go together to plead with His Majesty, His Majesty will surely agree!”

Zhang Cheng's lips twitched a few times, but in the end he couldn't bear to be harsh.

"I must go to this battle."

"Many people don't know why they are fighting this war, or why the emperor is fighting this war, but I do know."

"This battle, on a small scale, is for my own family. On a larger scale, it is for the country and for the people."

"If we lose this battle, the Han dynasty will be cut off, powerful families will seize power, it will be difficult for the poor to rise up, and the common people will be unable to make a living."

Having been influenced by his father Zhang Zhao, Zhang Cheng was very clear about the purpose and necessity of this battle!

However, the girl in front of him clearly didn't understand those things.

Zhang Cheng had no choice but to try a different approach.

"After we return from this battle, I will have my father go to your house to propose marriage!"

Zhuge's face, which had been streaked with tears, suddenly turned bright red: "Why are you saying all this?"

He took something out of his pocket, held it in both hands, and handed it to Zhang Cheng.

"I'm waiting for you!"

Zhang Cheng took a look and immediately blushed.

What he was holding in his hand was actually a sachet.

For men and women who have not yet reached adulthood... their collars and tassels are all associated with foul odors.

Especially when you hold it in your hand, you can feel its warmth, and your cheeks feel so hot that you can't speak.

I will come back! I definitely will!

……

Similar scenes are constantly playing out in the Sanwu area.

Liu Miao, who had already moved into the military camp, examined the map while listening intently to the faint cries carried on the wind.

"Your Majesty! The chef has prepared a seafood soup today! Would you like a bowl?"

Zhou Tai didn't stand on ceremony. He held a large porcelain bowl in each hand and moved closer to Liu Miao.

Liu Miao pulled over a folding chair and sat down. He picked up the wooden chopsticks and stirred the food a couple of times. He immediately felt a strain in his hands, and at the same time, a large amount of kelp, tofu, and a large piece of tender white fish were stirred up in the bowl.

"Are you crazy? Why is there so much food at this meal?"

"We're about to set off! Wu Jing, who's in charge of supplies, said that we won't be able to eat this kind of seafood anymore once we get to Pengcheng, so he made a lot of it! This is what the soldiers outside are eating too!"

Liu Miao stirred it a few more times, while Zhou Tai had already started wolfing it down.

"Did I hear soldiers crying today?"

"They're all good-for-nothings!"

Liu Miao stared at Zhou Tai suspiciously: "Youping, have you cried?"

Zhou Tai's eyes widened immediately upon hearing this, but his uncontrollable hand continued to shovel fish into his mouth, making it impossible for him to be serious. "Your Majesty can inquire! I have never uttered a sound since I was born!"

"Ah!"

Liu Miao was amused: "Then you would have been suffocating long ago!"

Liu Miao casually ate a couple of bites before putting down his chopsticks, while Zhou Tai had already finished a large bowl of fish soup, about the same size as Liu Miao's.

Zhou Tai looked at Liu Miao with a puzzled expression: "Your Majesty has no appetite?"

"I had hot pot with my ladies at noon, and I'm stuffed."

"Then... shall I come?"

"Get lost! One bowl isn't enough for you? Give this bowl to Zilie!"

"He's already eaten!"

"Okay! You eat it!"

Liu Miao laughed when he saw Zhou Tai wolfing down his food, as if he could never get enough.

"You must be a reincarnated starving ghost!"

“Your Majesty is mistaken in what you said (chewing).

Zhou Tai said in a serious tone, "How long has it been since we ate our fill? If we don't eat more now, won't we be starving when there's no food left later? (vomit)!"

Zhou Tai was so disgusted that he choked on his own eyes. He quickly knelt down and drank two mouthfuls of soup to calm himself down.

"That's quite right!"

The fear of hunger is ingrained in the bones of this generation! Wouldn't it be a loss if they didn't eat a single extra bite?

"But after this battle, who knows how many people will never have enough to eat again."

As night deepened, the crying subsided considerably.

"Therefore, I think that someone like me, who led them to the battlefield, will probably have his ashes dug up in the future!"

Zhou Tai looked up and glanced at Liu Miao: "Just like Emperor Gaozu?"

Liu Miao was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "That's right! Just like Emperor Gaozu!"

Zhou Tai wolfed down the other large bowl of fish soup, and Liu Miao kicked it away.

"Get some rest! We'll be setting off in three days!"

Of the twelve generals, only Huang Zhong, the General Who Conquers the South, and Gan Ning, the General Who Pacifies the South, were left in Shu. The other ten all went to the battlefield from their respective places of service.

General Zhou Yu, the Grand Commander of the Northern Expedition, joined forces with General Taishi Ci, the General of the Eastern Expedition, and slowly moved eastward along the Ji River, approaching Dingtao, south of Yanzhou, to form the first line of defense.

General Cheng Pu, who was in charge of the west, and General Wen Ping, who was in charge of the south, joined forces to fill the gap left by the departure of Zhou Yu and Taishi Ci's troops. They were responsible for guarding the three passes of Xingyang, Guandu, and Chenliu to protect the security of the western front.

General Jiang Qin of Anxi, as the vanguard, had already arrived at Pengcheng ahead of Liu Miao's main force, and then reached Xiaopei to guard against Yuan's army in the direction of Dongjun.

General Xu Huang, the General Who Guards the West, led his troops to Shouchun, where they will serve as a support force, ready to provide assistance to various locations at any time.

General Zang Ba, the General Who Guards the North, continued to build a defensive line in Langya to ensure the solidity of the second line of defense in Qingxu and to prevent possible flanking attacks on the Pengcheng battlefield.

General Zhu Huan, General Sun Ce, and General Zhang Liao led their troops from the three Wu regions to join forces with Liu Miao's main imperial guards!
Several armies, totaling 200,000! Combined with farmers and county soldiers, totaling 600,000, claiming to be a million! They all marched to the front lines!
Liu Miao led dozens of officials, including Attendants-in-Ordinary and Gentlemen-in-Waiting, such as Chen Yu, Lu Su, Lü Meng, Lu Yi, Liu Ye, Sima Yi, Pang Tong, Jia Xu, Fa Zheng, and Huang Quan, as his advisors on the expedition!
Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong, Gu Yong, and others remained in Jiangdong to continue the operation of the Han government.

Before his departure, Liu Miao half-jokingly and half-seriously said to Zhang Zhao, "I have left several times, and the Han court is still doing well! Who knows, the Han might not need me in the future!"

But Zhang Zhao looked serious, his eyes were piercing, and Liu Miao had no doubt that if they weren't in public, Zhang Zhao would probably rush up and beat him up!
"The Great Han Dynasty cannot be without His Majesty!"

Zhang Zhao stood with his ministers at the city gate, bowing to Liu Miao and the soldiers who were about to go on their expedition to bid farewell.

"Congratulations to the Emperor of the Han Dynasty on his victorious campaign!"

"The great man is victorious!"

The jade carriage moved forward, with the dragon banner fluttering.

Banners obscured the sky, spears and halberds filled the air, and the earth groaned under the iron hooves and footsteps!

The Han army, like a ferocious crimson dragon, was slowly releasing its body from its lair.

The thick shields, like scales, one after another, were airtight and pressed heavily on the ground.

The sharp spears, like claws, one after another, gleaming coldly, trembled as they faced the sky.

The shield-bearing soldiers were indistinct behind the massive barrier, their uniform crimson turbans visible only like flickering flames on an undercurrent. Their footsteps pounded in unison, "Thump! Thump! Thump!" rolling across the earth like muffled thunder, sending shivers down one's spine.

Just as the shield formation was halfway through, the sounds from inside the palace gates suddenly became louder!

Then came a denser, heavier rumbling sound.

Iron Cavalry!

A torrent of iron-black armor surged forth following the shield formation. Unlike the infantry's heavy, slow advance, the cavalry carried a sharp, aggressive air. Their tall, sturdy warhorses, covered in armor that gleamed in the sunlight, shone brilliantly.

The cavalrymen on horseback wore iron saddles, their thighs lightly touching the high saddles. At their waists hung a type of previously unseen, curved weapon. Each also carried at least three bows and arrows, and two quivers of heavy arrows, a sight that stirred the heart with a single glance!

"Long live the Great Han! Long live the Emperor!"

Among the onlookers by the roadside, someone shouted, and then a deafening roar erupted!

Although they couldn't understand such cavalry equipment, none of that mattered!
All they knew was that this cavalry looked incredibly strong! Strong enough to protect the peace they had created with their own hands over the years!

"Let's go! Destination: Pengcheng!"

(End of this chapter)