Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

Previously, before Zhao Ceying ascended the throne, the two were husband and wife.

Even if he had concubines, there were only one or two.

Moreover, influenced by traditional customs, concubines often had no background.

Conversely, the matriarch and eldest daughter-in-law were a "suitable match" in terms of social standing.

In comparison, the concubine had no human rights whatsoever and dared not disobey the mistress in the slightest.

If the mistress of the house had a strong personality, she might even sell or beat her concubines to death.

But the imperial palace is different!

It is true that the empress was the emperor's wife.

But the imperial concubines were not necessarily in a weak position.

The bigger problem was that she, as empress, had no background.

In fact, the maternal clan's influence was far less than that of some of the concubines.

Before the new emperor ascended the throne, he was just a member of the imperial family from a remote area. The eldest daughter of a sixth-rank official was his wife, which was considered a good match in terms of social status.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, her father became a fifth-rank military commander.

The problem is that many of the concubines who entered the palace had powerful backgrounds, and the old man's father was just a fifth-rank military commander, which was nothing special.

Even more remarkably, some of these women were the legitimate daughters of noble families.

In comparison, the Empress's background was far inferior to that of the concubines!

How can this be used to control people?

Gao's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she looked very serious.

Those concubines really put a lot of pressure on her, making her feel an unspeakable sense of crisis!

But she didn't dare say anything.

If the empress were jealous, she would be impeached and killed, losing all her reputation.

"There are two new concubines, both of whom have been favored once and are said to have been given the title of 'Talented Lady'," the personal maid replied.

"Hmm." Gao nodded, trying her best not to show any joy or anger.

However, in the end, she was just the legitimate daughter of a fifth or sixth-rank military officer. She had never received the exclusive education of a "noble lady from a prestigious family," and her so-called "lack of joy and anger" was actually not well hidden.

The sound of light footsteps could be heard as Gao Shi walked with a furrowed brow and a somber expression.

In any case, we must find a way to make the mother tribe stand up straight.

Otherwise, she would not feel at ease sitting on the throne of empress.

After traveling for about half an hour, a eunuch from the Imperial Household Department reported:

"Your Majesty the Empress, the Imperial Uncle requests an audience."

"Big brother?"

Gao's eyes lit up.

It really means Cao Cao Cao Cao has arrived.

Her eldest brother was named Gao Zunyu, and he was an eighth-rank deputy lieutenant.

"Send someone to the side hall for a talk," Madam Gao hurriedly ordered.

Within the imperial palace, etiquette was extremely complicated. Even when relatives met, they had to be on a specific occasion and witnessed by eunuchs and palace maids before they could meet.

The reason for this is to avoid the practice of "borrowing sperm".

If royalty makes a fool of themselves, they will be remembered for all time.

Side hall.

With the curtain as the boundary, Empress Gao and Gao Zunyu met.

"Brother, what brings you to the palace?" Lady Gao asked.

The imperial harem was strictly controlled, so the shorter the meeting time, the better; everything had to be brief.

"Sister."

Gao Zunyu, with his stubble, stroked his beard and said, "Recently, there has been constant fighting on the border. Could you perhaps put in a good word for me with the Emperor and send another group of officials to the border so that I can also gain some merit?"

"this--"

Gao hesitated.

After a long pause, he still didn't refuse.

Chapter 192)

Hezhou, Dingqiang Village.

Half mountain, half river, with hills and valleys intertwined.

One hundred thousand soldiers, both Han and non-Han, were stationed here, some holding spears and forming ranks, a dense array of spears and halberds, others wielding swords and slashing, their blades flashing.

There were also armored cavalrymen, holding the reins and urging their horses on, galloping back and forth, their hooves shaking the fields.

Catapults, crossbows, siege ladders, and battering rams stretched out in a long, unbroken array.

As the young general Zheng Xiao waved his command flag, experienced junior officers responded and directed the Han and non-Han soldiers to change formations, sometimes clustering together like a black tortoise on a rock, and sometimes scattering like stars across the fields.

The 100,000 garrison troops, wherever they went, even caused the earth's veins to tremble.

In addition, the hillsides were also used by infantrymen to practice their foot combat methods, fighting with their backs to the city, their shouts echoing through the air.

Hills, valleys, and plains—the drills never cease; as far as the eye can see, there are soldiers clad in armor and wielding weapons.

At the drill platform, Jiang Zhao led the way, followed by Zhang Fangping, Wang Shao, Zhong E, Zhang Ding, and Bao Shun, all with solemn expressions, as they observed the drill.

"Judging from this formation, it already shows the style of an elite force."

"Of the 100,000 soldiers, many are veterans who experienced the expansion of the borders in Xihe, right?" Jiang Zhao asked slowly, gazing into the distance from the railing.

The term "veteran" does not refer to the age of the soldier, but rather to their rich combat experience.

With the same troop strength, the higher the proportion of veteran soldiers, the stronger the combat effectiveness.

In terms of combat strength, the veterans almost completely outclassed the new army.

“Just as you said, sir,” Wang Shao replied.

Jiang Zhao nodded and watched silently.

The advantage of the garrison soldiers was that they were almost all veterans.

Once a war breaks out, after about ten days of proper training, one can go to the battlefield.

I watched for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Suddenly, Zhong E, the deputy commander of the army, looked back twice, bowed and said, "Sir, my nephew has a treasure to present."

"Oh?"

The group of people were all taken aback.

Offering a treasure?

Jiang Zhao turned around and looked in the same direction as Zhong E.

About a hundred paces away, there was a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy in a brocade robe, with a resolute face, carrying a three-foot-long crossbow in his hand.

"Is it a crossbow?" Jiang Zhao asked.

"Exactly."

As he spoke, a hint of anticipation appeared in Zhong E's eyes.

The boy's offering of the crossbow was clearly part of his long-planned scheme.

crossbow!

Jiang Zhao became somewhat interested.

There are two types of crossbows in the army: small crossbows and large crossbows.

Among them, small crossbows are represented by two-handed crossbows and yellow birch crossbows, with an effective range of about 100 paces, or 150 meters.

Large crossbows are represented by the bed crossbow, with a typical bed crossbow having an effective range of about four to five hundred paces, or about six to seven hundred meters.

If it is a three-bow crossbow, the range can reach seven or eight hundred paces, or one kilometer.

Occasionally, they can hit from a high position to a low position, or even from a greater distance.

During the Battle of Tanyuan, three crossbows shot and killed the Liao general Xiao Talin at a range of 700 paces, which shocked the people for a time.

The crossbow carried by the young man in the brocade robe was only three feet long, and was undoubtedly a single-person crossbow.

If the crossbow was deliberately presented, then there must have been a breakthrough in some aspect of crossbows.

"Let him come over," Jiang Zhao said, flicking his sleeve.

After the words were spoken, Jiang Zhao couldn't help but feel a sense of regret.

When did he become the object of being presented as a treasure?

Zhong E was overjoyed and quickly waved.

Upon seeing this, the boy quickly grabbed his bow and crossbow and ran over.

Standing about three or five steps apart, the young man bowed respectfully: "Zhong Shidao, the seventh son of the Zhong family, greets Your Excellency."

The Way of the Master?

The Grand Marshal?

Jiang Zhao's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded calmly, extending his hand in a gesture of support: "No need for formalities."

Zhong E straightened his body, took the crossbow, and presented it with both hands.

The crossbow is 3 feet 2 inches long, the string is 2 feet 5 inches long, the stake is 1 foot 8 inches long, the gourd head is 4 inches long, the stirrup is 2 feet long, the stake is 2 feet 3 inches long, and the corner eaves are 4 feet 5 inches long.

Jiang Zhao picked up the crossbow and tried to pull it.

Without stretching, it's about half a person's height; with stretching, it can even be taller than a seven-foot-tall man.

It is about two feet larger than a regular single-person crossbow.

"How far can this crossbow shoot?" Jiang Zhao asked, having only glanced at the crossbow presented.

“Three hundred steps!” Zhong Shidao replied clearly.

"Huh?" Zhang Fangping, the pacification commissioner, was startled.

The Tibetan leader, Bao Shun, also looked surprised and suspicious.

A single-person crossbow, three hundred paces?

Generally speaking, the commonly used two-handed crossbows are already quite good, but their range is only about 100 paces.

A standard ballista has a range of only four or five hundred paces.

This single-person crossbow is almost as good as a ballista?

"Western Xia crossbows?" Wang Shao, who had commanded troops for many years, immediately thought of the Western Xia crossbows when he heard "three hundred paces".

The so-called Western Xia crossbow is a special crossbow technique mastered by the Western Xia, whose range almost completely surpasses that of conventional crossbows.

Furthermore, the Western Xia even established a special crossbow corps, which at one time, along with the Iron Falcons and the Step-Bearers, were known as the three main military forces.

In the early days of the Western Xia Dynasty and in the Battle of Haoshuichuan, crossbowmen were one of the main forces, inflicting heavy losses on the Zhou army.

If we were to say what gave Li Liangzuo the confidence to march south, his powerful crossbowmen would definitely be one of his trump cards.

This is also one of the few "heavyweight" weapons that the border troops should take seriously.

Of course, the craftsmanship of making crossbows in the Western Xia Dynasty was difficult and passed down orally, so some techniques have been lost.

Some of the materials used to make crossbows have become increasingly scarce after decades of consumption.

Especially rhinoceros horn, once it's taken, there's one less left.

The small size of the territory meant that the Western Xia Dynasty was destined to have scarce resources and difficulty in recycling them.