Use a substitute on your wedding night to scatter the ashes of your entire family

Daliang adopted the Wei Suo system and established military Wei laws. Wei Suo were built across the country to control key points. A Grand Marshal's Office was set up in Sijiu City. Chen Guifei's father, Chen Tinghua, was the Grand Marshal. Everyone called him General Chen, and his residence was also called General Chen's Office.

However, expeditions, garrisons, training, etc. were all under the command of the Ministry of War. In case of war, the Ministry of War would mobilize troops according to the emperor's order. The emperor would send out tiger talismans and call on generals. When the war was over, the tiger talismans would be returned.

In addition to the 150,000-strong guards of the 26 guard camps that guard the 49 cities, the armies of the local guards total 650,000. Currently, Daliang has a total of 800,000 troops on the payroll.

The army adopted the military farming system, with three-tenths of the soldiers in the border areas guarding the city and seven-tenths farming.

The inland troops were divided into two parts to guard the city and eight parts to plant crops.

Among them, there were 100,000 troops stationed on the borders with Zhao State, Northern Qi State, and Northern Jin State, totaling 300,000. There was no border with Xia State, and there were 350,000 troops left in other places.

According to the emperor's intention, 240,000 troops should be drawn from the 350,000 troops, and another 60,000 should be drawn from the 24 guards' camps, adding up to the 100,000 troops guarding Rangcheng, for a total of 400,000 troops.

Minister of Revenue Zhao Yiqing accepted the order, but he was also worried. When the previous emperor was in power, extravagance was prevalent. At the end of last year, he had just built a Zhaixing Tower for Concubine Chen Gui, which cost several million taels of silver.

The national treasury is not full now. It is very difficult to raise food and military supplies for an army of 300,000 within ten days.

But the country was in crisis, and as the Minister of Revenue, he had no choice but to shoulder these difficulties.

Gu Xingyuan and General Chen Tinghua looked at each other and a sarcastic sneer appeared on their lips. How could they not know the current situation of the national treasury? It was difficult to provide food and supplies for an army of 100,000, let alone 300,000.

They just sat back and watched how Zhao Yiqing raised the funds for 300,000 soldiers and horses for a month in such a short period of time.

Gu Xingcheng gave orders again, drawing 80,000 troops each from Zhenzhou, Beizhou, and Wuzhou, and another 60,000 troops from the 24 guard camps, and combining them to form a total of 300,000 troops to head to Rangcheng, which was connected to Suizhou City.

Rangcheng originally had a garrison of 100,000 soldiers, so a total of 400,000 soldiers were enough to fight against the Zhao army.

If the enemy doesn't move, I won't move. If the enemy moves, I will defeat him.

Military orders were issued by the Ministry of War to all states, and the armies in each state would move upon hearing the orders.

Gu Xingcheng understood that many of those local military garrisons took orders from the Grand Commander Chen Tinghua, and it was not easy to mobilize these 300,000 troops, so the commander was particularly important.

He looked around at the civil and military officials in the hall. His father had been in power for nearly thirty years, and he valued civil officials over military officials. There was a lack of talented generals in the court. Now, after looking around, he couldn't find a suitable candidate for commander-in-chief.

This is why Chen Tinghua was able to run rampant for decades.

Gu Xingcheng slowly came down from above, walked among the ministers, and asked, "As for the commander-in-chief, do you have any candidates?"

General Liang immediately stepped out of the line, knelt on one knee and saluted: "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops, please allow me."

Gu Xingcheng looked at the white-haired General Liang and personally walked over to help him up: "General Liang has been a soldier all his life. Now that he is old, he should spend his remaining years in the city. How can I bear to let you lead troops to fight again at your age?"

General Liang is now nearly seventy years old. His eyes are bright and his voice is strong and powerful.

"Your Majesty, the people of Zhao are ambitious. Although I have never had a direct confrontation with that great general of Ava, I have been studying his military tactics and am familiar with his battle strategies. If Zhao dares to invade Daliang, I will expel them from the country. I hope Your Majesty will approve it."

Gu Xingcheng did not agree, but he did not refuse immediately as he did before. He walked around the hall with his hands behind his back, and after a while he returned to sit on the dragon throne.

There is a shortage of military generals in the court. After a few years of peace, those generals have become fat and big-eared. If they are asked to lead the troops to fight, the outcome can be imagined.

He had just ascended the throne, and if Zhao State really attacked, he would urgently need a big victory. This would not only consolidate his throne and prevent Chen and others from attacking easily, but also deter neighboring countries such as Northern Qi, Northern Jin, and Xia State that were eyeing him covetously.

General Liang had two sons. The younger son, Liang Tianyou's father, died in a battle with Northern Qi two years ago.

Now his eldest son is stationed on the border with Northern Qi and cannot be withdrawn.

In fact, Chen Tinghua is an extremely suitable candidate. Although he is nearly sixty years old, he is in good health. He has been in the Twenty-Six Guards Camp to guard the safety of the Sijiu City over the years. Unlike General Liang, he was injured many times on the battlefield in his early years.

Moreover, when Chen Tinghua was young, he had fought against the great general Wang Ava of Zhao State. Although he failed to win once, he had experience in peace and war and was familiar with his way of using troops.

In addition, whether in terms of personal martial arts and strategy, or in the use of troops and defense, he ranked first among all military generals.

The reason why General Chen's Mansion has been able to stand for more than a hundred years is not only because of the favorite concubine Chen Guifei, but also because of Chen Tinghua's personal ability which cannot be underestimated.

If the third brother became the emperor, he would definitely assist him wholeheartedly.

But now, he is on the throne, and it would be good if Chen Tinghua did not take this opportunity to stab him in the back.

"Your Majesty!" General Liang said anxiously, "This battle is of great importance. Although I am nearly seventy years old, I can still eat three bowls of rice, kill a cow with one fist, and still carry a sword to fight the enemy!"

Gu Xingcheng had no choice but to agree: "I... General Liang, I'll leave Rangcheng to you."

"Yes, I will definitely fulfill my mission."

Gu Xingcheng looked at the Minister of War Gao Yarong and said, "The Ministry of War is responsible for the weapons, arrows, bows and crossbows and other supplies. They must also be completed within ten days and handed over to General Liang."

Just as Gao Yarong was about to respond, he noticed the look Gu Xingyuan was giving him.

Gao Yarong immediately understood in his heart. No wonder His Royal Highness Prince Chen gave such an order some time ago.

When he faced Gu Xingcheng who was sitting on the dragon throne, his face was filled with sorrow and even his voice was choked with sobs. He did not have the momentum he had when he started speaking just now. "Your Majesty, it is easy to collect food and fodder, but it is really difficult for me, an old minister, to prepare weapons and supplies in just ten days."

Gu Xingcheng looked at him solemnly.

"Iron ore is scarce in Daliang. In recent years, the country has been peaceful and the people have been safe, with few wars. Therefore, most of the iron mined is used to make farm tools. If the emperor can give me half a year, even if I lose my legs and all my wealth, I will go door to door and exchange silver from the people for farm tools, and melt them down to make weapons."

At this point, he burst into tears: "But, in just ten days, Your Majesty, even if you kill me, I can't do it."

"Really?" A deep, masculine voice with a man's special magnetism came from outside the hall.

"The Ninth Prince has arrived!" As the little eunuch sang loudly, a tall and upright figure appeared at the door of the Council Hall.