Because of Xue Shao's words from the sick son who did not die, 100,000 living men got out of the warm bed and left the blazing fire, and came to the ice and snow outside the Great Wall to train soldiers!

Winter training is one of the primary traditions of the Tang army. Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, whether it is the forbidden army in the imperial city or the soldiers of various prefectures, they will hold hard training for up to two to three months in winter.

But Xue Shao was the first one who dared to train outside the Great Wall.

On the first day of the training, Xue Shao ignored Zhang Cheng and Wu Yuan's best efforts to stop him, and insisted on riding a horse outside the city to personally inspect the army. Zhang Cheng and Wu Yuan couldn't stop it, so they had to invite the generals to help and persuade them. In desperation, Xue Shao had to take a compromise plan, if you don't ride a horse, you can do it, and I have to go around in the car!

The generals had no choice but to accept it.

So Xue Shao got into an old military car (only an umbrella cover was exposed on all sides) and walked outside the Great Wall.

The 100,000 army lined up in a mountain and shouted "Xue Shuai", overwhelming the mountains and the sea and shaking the earth.

Xue Shao never cared about such scenery and pomp, but today, he felt that he had to show off. Because he has been ill for too long, all kinds of rumors are flying around in the army, and the army's heart is already turbulent. If you don't show it again, your morale will be lost, and the situation will get out of control, which is very likely. Of course, the most important thing is that Xue Shao wants some other people to see his firm belief that he will still go on the Northern Expedition after he recovers from his illness.

With Xue Shao's understanding of Wu Zetian and the imperial court, their envoys must already be on the way, it is just a matter of distance.

The training began.

Generals at all levels are working hard, because they have just experienced the difficult taste of losing a boss without a leader. Now that the commander is back, this army is like a lost soul who has escaped death and regained his soul. So they are full of new love and passion for everything they are looking for.

Xue Shao only walked around the city for a while, and was semi-forcibly pulled back to the Great Wall. At the very least, he could only stand on the Great Wall and watch the army's drills from afar. But if there is an order, it can only be conveyed through scouts.

Xue Shao felt that he was almost about to become a "puppet boss" who was coerced and set aside. It's just that this coercion and elevation comes entirely from the respect and care of the soldiers for him, so he can only be painful and happy.

The army has been training hard for more than a month, and it has definitely been fruitful. Under the conditioning of the generals and the joint superintendent and Zhang Cheng and Wu Yuan, Xue Shao's body also recovered well. Now, he is able to ride horses and shoot arrows with ease.

The day before Chinese New Year's Eve, Xue Shao ordered the entire army to suspend training and rest for five days, and all of them were pulled back to Chengguan to celebrate the New Year together. Xue Shao prepared a large amount of good wine, meat, snacks and fruits for them, and also invited several groups of Maiko musicians from neighboring prefectures and counties to perform music and dance for the soldiers in various camps, which not only added to the joy of the New Year, but also entertained and relieved pressure.

So the three armies were excited and grateful.

Some soldiers took advantage of the excitement to gain courage and privately brought a group of military prostitutes or their own concubines into the city to celebrate the New Year together. Although the military discipline of the Tang Dynasty is quite loose in the control of this kind of thing, and there are even special "official prostitutes" who are obliged to provide services, Xue Shao has always been strict in governing the army. After receiving the letter, the subordinate generals had to hurry to report it.

But Xue Shao's answer was a little unexpected for them, he said: "Don't bother me with this kind of trivial matter. ”

The implication is that as long as they don't go too far, just turn a blind eye and forget it.

The vast majority of officers and soldiers in the army have not known the taste of meat for several months, and Xue Shao's attitude is simply an extrajudicial favor and unexpected surprise for them!

How did they know that as a veteran who has been in the military for two lifetimes, Xue Shao has always known very well in his heart that the mental pressure that soldiers are under is unimaginable to ordinary people. If this pressure has been accumulated and cannot be released, no matter how strong the heart is, it will not be able to withstand it for long. In the words of the ancients, it will go crazy. In today's parlance, you will suffer from a mental illness called "veteran syndrome". This is not only a factor of instability for the military, but will also have a serious negative impact on the normal life of military personnel in the future.

The best way to relieve the inner pressure of military personnel is, of course, to carry out professional psychological counseling and cooperate with drug treatment. This was obviously impossible to do in Shuozhou in the Tang Dynasty, so there was only another "expedient measure" left to simplify the rapid and quite effective - sexual treatment.

Zhang Renyuan asked Xue Shao in private, why was he so conniving with his soldiers this time?

Xue Shao replied that no matter how brave and fearless a soldier is, he is also a living man. I can't do anything that only allows the governor to set fires and prevent the people from lighting lamps.

Zhang Ren smiled and said that if Xue Shuai had ideas, his subordinates could arrange it.

"What can I think of a sick medicine jar?" Xue Shao smiled, "You can go by yourself, don't worry about me." ”

Zhang Renyuan nodded and said no more, but what he thought in his heart was: I see that you have recovered very well, and if you want to fight alone, I may not be your opponent now. It's just because those vulgar fans can't get into your eyes, right?

The former son of Lantian was unparalleled but had a very high vision, even if Xue Shao forgot it himself, others still remembered it very clearly.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, in addition to the soldiers stationed at Chengguan, the rest of the troops were still immersed in the relaxation and joy of the New Year. Li Xiaoyi arrived in Shuozhou with a group of carriages and horses, saying that he had come to reward the army and to pay New Year's greetings to Xue and the generals.

Xue Shao knew that this was a bad comer. As a feudal official, it is the busiest time during the New Year's holidays, and he came to visit Li Xiaoyi, a guest of the governor of the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion of Bingzhou, and was able to line up from Bingzhou to Chang'an. No matter how conscientious and selfless Li Xiaoyi is, he will not set off from Bingzhou in the wind and snow in the past few days of the New Year, and go to Shuozhou, where the ice and snow are not pulled, to pay New Year's greetings.

The only thing that could drive him to do so was the power from the imperial court.

So Xue Shao was curious, which hard-scalped guy would Wu Zetian send to lobby me?

"Xue Shuai, how to deal with it?" All the generals also knew it in their hearts, so they came to ask Xue Shao first.

"Say I'm still bedridden, and go and receive them first." Xue Shao said, "But there is news, come and report to me." ”

"Yes!"

The generals promised to leave, and it didn't take long for Zhang Renyuan to sneak back quietly, saying that the envoy sent by the imperial court was Prime Minister Cen Changqian. accompanied by Song Jing, the servant of the imperial history.

"Ho, this is an interesting combination!" Xue Shao smiled on the spot, one was my old boss, who was lenient and humble and polite, but very principled; The other is the world-famous dead stubborn donkey, although I have a relationship with me, but I have never recognized reason.

Well, the combination of rigidity and softness and softness is the combination of hard and soft, right?

"As soon as they come, they will inquire about your condition." Zhang Renyuan said, "We all said that Xue Shuai was seriously ill and could not be a director, and it was even more inconvenient to meet guests. They are unrelenting and insist on seeing you. Now, how is it good? ”

Xue Shao thought for a while and said, "Since the words are all spoken, then I really won't see them." This old and young can all say, three days and three nights without stopping. I'm afraid to drown alive in their spit! ”

"My subordinates heard that Xue Shuai, Cen Changqian, and Song Jing still have some personal relationships." Zhang Renyuan was a little worried, "It's really gone, it's not very good?" ”

"They are not the kind of people with small stomachs, and the distinction between public and private is even clearer, and they will definitely not hold a grudge against me for such a trivial matter." Xue Shao smiled and said, "Of course, if they bring a mandatory order from the imperial court, it's a different matter. ”

"How?"

"If they just come and listen to the truth, and then they want to be lobbyists. The fact that I was not seeing the troops behind closed doors and at the same time was stepping up military training was tantamount to showing my attitude. This can also save friends from verbal wars and-for-tat confrontations, and avoid ruining personal relationships because of official business. Xue Shao said: "However, if they come with a mandatory order from the imperial court, then I can only inevitably stand up and fight my two friends to the end!" ”

Zhang Renyuan couldn't help but be taken aback, looking at this style, Xue Shuai was already mentally prepared to be tough to the end and even tear his face with the court. If Cen Changqian and Song Jing really came with a holy decree, that situation would be very bad!

"Go ahead!" Xue Shao calmly picked up a book and said, "Deal with them as I say." ”

"Yes!"

After Zhang Renyuan left, Xue Shao slammed the book on the table, and secretly muttered with his eyebrows: Now it depends on how much trust and respect Wu Zetian has for me!

In the evening, Zhang Renyuan quietly came to see Xue Shao again, saying that his subordinates had inquired about it, but Cen Changqian and Song Jing were very tight-lipped, and they never mentioned anything about the "holy decree", but repeatedly asked to see Xue Shuai.

"Don't ask anymore." Xue Shao said with a smile, "If you don't even have the ability to keep secrets, you won't come to Shuozhou." ”

Zhang Renyuan sighed, "Between the armies of the imperial court, don't you even have this point of trust?" ”

"Throughout the ages, there has been no one more suspicious of kings than generals who lead troops abroad." Xue Shao smiled and said, "After mixing for a long time, you will naturally get used to it." ”

Li Xiaoyi, Cen Changqian, and Song Jing stayed in Shuozhou for a few days, but Xue Shao avoided them. On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the 100,000-strong army drove out of the city to continue the winter drill. In the hearts of Cen Changqian and the others, their attitude towards Xue Shao was quite clear.

They didn't say anything more, but left a bunch of tonic herbs and a letter of condolence to Xue Shao, and left quietly.

The generals, who had been pinching a cold sweat, took a long breath in unison.

Xue Shao also exhaled, and at the same time felt a hint of comfort: Finally, Wu Zetian no longer treats me like a little girl. This may be her last resort, but it is also the smartest thing to do.

Maybe she hates me now just like she hated Cheng Wuting back then.

But I don't care anymore!

I don't want to do my best, but I don't just want to be a selfless little scalper.

So, starting today -

This country, this history, is no longer something she can say alone!