Shortly after the Zhengzhou defense envoy Shi Yanchao left, the deputy envoy of Zhengzhou defense was appointed and left Zhengzhou. With the strong recommendation of Hou Dayong, Shi Hu was appointed as the deputy envoy of Zhengzhou defense. Shi Hu followed Hou Dayong and killed Liu Hai, the chief general of the Cangzhou army outside Cangzhou City. From then on, he had a prosperous career. In less than a year, he went from being a captain to General Guoyi, and now he became the deputy envoy of defense.

The Zhengzhou garrison had originally 6,000 troops, divided into the Eastern Army, the Western Army and the Three Battalions of the Prince Guards. After Shi Yanchao left, he took away one thousand guards, and the Black Diao Army brought another thousand. Now there are still 6,000 troops, divided into the Eastern Army, the Western Army and the Black Diao Army. The Eastern Army was stationed between Zhengzhou and Kaifeng, and the Western Army was stationed in Qili, the western army and the Prince Guards of Zhengzhou. The city of Zhengzhou was originally stationed by Shi Yanchao's personal guards. After the Black Diao Army arrived in Zhengzhou, it replaced Shi Yanchao's personal guards and was stationed in the city.

As the deputy defensive envoy, Shi Hu was in charge of the Eastern Army of 3,000 people. Shan Zongyuan, the captain of the Lang Camp, commanded 1,000 people in the Western Army. The Black Eagle Army was specifically commanded by Kuang Cao and the captain of the Hu Camp, Guo Jiong was the deputy and served as the captain of the Lang Camp, and He Wulang was the captain of the Jackal Camp. The number of Black Eagle soldiers decreased, but the equipment was further strengthened. Each soldier was equipped with a war horse, a long sword, a waist knife, and a yellow Hua crossbow and a bow and arrow. The equipment was so exquisite that the other troops were far inferior.

Since the founding of the Black Eagle Army, it has made many great contributions, and the soldiers have received many rewards, injured or died in battle, and have a generous pension. The food is also very good on weekdays. The soldiers are very proud of being in the Black Eagle Army.

The Black Diao Army was treated well, but its military discipline was stricter than other armies, especially the "three major disciplines and eight points of attention" formulated by Hou Dayong. If they violated the offense, they would be punished. After the Black Diao Army arrived in Zhengzhou, the people in Zhengzhou were surprised to see that the Black Diao Army had strict military discipline and did not disturb the people. The Black Diao Army also invited local famous wealthy families to visit the army to train. The wealthy families were treated with courtesy and exchanged their respects, and they would give some food and meat to the Black Diao Army. Soon, the military-civilian relations got very harmonious.

The Great Zhou followed the Tang system, and the military system mainly implemented the recruitment system. Whenever soldiers were recruited, they "firstly seize talents, then leaps and goes, and then gave them money to the public, and then gave them money to the public." After becoming soldiers, their families were allowed to live with the army, and the soldiers could get money for clothes, grain and pickles. In addition, they were rewarded for recruitment, fighting, and catching thieves.

After the Gaoping War, Hou Dayong had a direct understanding of the armies of the Great Zhou at that time and found that the soldiers of each army were generally not trained enough and had low morale. When they encountered weak opponents, they were fierce and cruel. When they encountered strong enemies, they would scatter. During the Battle of Bagongyuan, there was a thousand people in the main infantry of the Right Army who surrendered to the enemy in front of the formation.

Hou Dayong visited the East and West armies one after another. Seeing that although the number of troops was large, their combat effectiveness was too far inferior to that of the Black Eagle Army, he decided to carry out military training activities in the Zhengzhou army. Hou Dayong selected sergeants with good looks from the Black Eagle Army and formed a training team. Then, he ordered military academies at all levels of the East and West armies to take turns to train for training.

The commander of the Western Army, Xiang Dongyang, disagreed with the training camp, and despised Hou Dayong, a new nobleman in private many times. The commander of the Western Army, Xiang Dongyang, had served as the commander of the Sanyuan Commander of the Guards Department, and was a clan member of Xiang Xun of the Southern Court of Xuanhui and a family. He and Li Chongjin had a long-term disagreement. Li Chongjin was originally an arrogant and narrow-minded person. During the Battle of Gaoping, he found Xiang Dongyang's minor mistake. He wanted to punish him. Xiang Xun of the Southern Court of Xuanhui was pleaded with Chai Rong, so Xiang Dongyang was squeezed out of the Guards Department and demoted to Zhengzhou to command the Western Army.

Several confidants brought by Xiang Dongyang from the Guards were serving as captains of various teams. Seeing the commander's attitude, they all said they would not come to be sick and excluded Shan Zongyuan from both sides.

When Hou Dayong learned about this, he did not happen at that time. He immediately ordered Shan Zongyuan to go to the Western Army to investigate quietly. After knowing the whole story, he got the list of Xiang Dongyang's confidants. After the second order was issued, four people still claimed that they would not come to the scene. Hou Dayong would definitely not allow the anti-order and disobey the orders in the army. He decided to use thunder to conquer the troops and then appease them later.

Hou Dayong checked the pistol that he had been reluctant to use, and took He Wulang, Du Gang, Chen Meng and other twenty-five guards to the Western Army camp. Twenty people entered the camp, and five people were waiting outside the camp. If there was any abnormality in the camp, they would notify the Black Eagle Army immediately following at any time.

When Xiang Dongyang saw Hou Dayong bringing twenty personal guards to the Western Army, he knew that it was for training and he gave military salutes carelessly and ignored them. Seeing that Xiang Dongyang was bright in armor and the small ornaments on his military uniform were quite exquisite, showing the differences between the children of the aristocratic family and other generals.

Hou Dayong did not talk to Xiang Dongyang and asked straight to the point: "Ship Commander Xiang, why did the Western Military Academy not obey the general's order and said he was sick and did not come to the training camp."

Xiang Dongyang said: "It's not that he doesn't follow the general order, but he is really sick and cannot go. I have agreed to them recuperate."

Hearing Xiang Dongyang took things on his head, Hou Dayong said: "I brought some good tonics and went to see the sick captain together."

Xiang Dongyang said: "It's not hard to defend yourself." After saying that, he did not move.

Hou Dayong turned to Shan Zongyuan without waiting for Xiang Dongyang and said, "Take me there." Then, the group walked straight towards the camp tent, and Xiang Dongyang could only follow behind. When he arrived at the camp tent, he had to pass the training ground first. On the playground, many soldiers were doing boxing, practicing knives, and shooting arrows.

Shan Zongyuan pointed to the people who were moving and said, "That's the people who are ill."

Hou Dayong turned his head and stared at Xiang Dongyang, slowly saying, "How to say this." Xiang Dongyang saw that things could no longer be covered, and was not afraid or explained, and his hand was habitually placed on the sword.

Hou Dayong said: "Add to the tent, all officers will go to the tent."

After beating the drum three times, the Western Army officers rushed to the tent one after another. Hou Dayong ordered his personal guards to guard the tent and did not allow anyone to approach. Xiang Dongyang saw Hou Dayong's face turned pale, and knew that Hou Dayong clearly wanted to give him a warning. Xiang Dongyang was a naughty man, relied on his family's power and was in his own tent, so he was not afraid of Hou Dayong at all.

Shan Zongyuan nodded, Hou Dayong knew about the people and ordered the four captains who said they were sick and were not in the training team to leave. Hou Dayong said: "I see that the four are in good health, why can't they come to the training camp?"

The four of them looked at Xiang Dongyang, and Xiang Dongyang looked dull.

Hou Dayong slapped the table with a "slap" and said in a singular voice: "What should we do if we don't listen to military orders?"

Xiang Dongyang stood up and said, "That's my order. If you have the ability to come to someone."

Hou Dayong sneered, "Okay, then no wonder someone."

"Come here, drag Xiang Dongyang down and give him fifty whips."

Xiang Dongyang pulled out his sword and shouted: "Come."

Hou Dayong shouted: "Xiang Dongyang, are you going to rebel?"

The confidant soldiers facing Dongyang outside the tent had confronted the Black Eagle Army guarding at the door. Shan Zongyuan drove them out to prevent the soldiers on both sides from doing anything too much.

Recently, Hou Dayong has been practicing the Heavenly Void Technique and has become more and more agile. Before Xiang Dongyang can draw his sword, the long sword has already taken action. Xiang Dongyang was the first to make a mistake, but Xiang's boss took action. After drawing out the sword, he was shocked when he heard Hou Dayong say that he was treasonous and could not stab the sword in his hand. However, Hou Dayong did not hesitate, and the long sword slashed Xiang Dongyang's right shoulder, and then put the knife on Xiang Dongyang's neck.

The four lieutenants had already pressed their hands on the hilt of the knife, but they saw Hou Dayong subduing Xiang Dongyang with one move, and showed no mercy. Thinking that he had not followed the general's order and was in a position to surrender, he did not have to lose his life for such a trivial matter. The four of them looked at each other, and they shared their hearts and knelt on the ground together, willing to accept the punishment.

After the five people were subdued, Hou Dayong controlled the overall situation and ordered each of the four people to receive twenty whips. After the beating, Hou Dayong said: "The past is cancelled, and the past is not punished. If you have any merits in the future, you will be rewarded; if you have any mistakes, you will be punished. Do you understand?" The four of them felt relieved when they heard Hou Dayong say this.

Regarding Xiang Dongyang, Hou Dayong made up his mind to drive him out of the army, and it was a disaster to keep him. So despite Xiang Dongyang's injuries, he beat Xiang Dongyang with a whip and made Xiang Dongyang's skin bloom. At first, Xiang Dongyang was still tough, but after twenty whips, Xiang Dongyang began to beg for mercy.

After the whipping, Hou Dayong announced among the officers of the Western Army: "While Xiang Dongyang was recovering from his injuries, Shan Zongyuan would lead the Western Army. Whoever did not obey the military orders would be killed or abandoned." Hou Dayong's move was actually deprived of Xiang Dongyang of military power.

After subduing the Western Army, no one in the Zhengzhou Army dared to despise Hou Dayong's authority. The military academies took turns to the training team for training. New formations, commands, internal affairs, and military songs were slowly implemented in the Zhengzhou Army.

Just as Hou Dayong was reorganizing the army and setting up an iron shop in Zhengzhou, the head of the Limi sect sent the guardians of the sect and sneaked into Zhengzhou city with the masters of the sect. Hou Dayong has now become the number one enemy of the Limi sect. The Pizhou General Hall was wiped out by the Black Diao Army. The abbot of Wanshou Temple was the leader of the Limi sect in Dezhou. Wherever the Black Diao Army went, he destroyed two important strongholds of the Limi sect, making the Limi sect in Dezhou and Cizhou's years of hard work turned into nothing.

During the Five Dynasties, Buddhism flourished, and the temple had a large amount of land without taxes, forming a strong force. The Limi Ksai Dharma Protector was a great monk. He had known the abbot of Kaiyuan Temple for many years. After coming to Zhengzhou, he lived in Kaiyuan Temple. He worked with the monks of Kaiyuan Temple on weekdays, but secretly arranged for people to find an opportunity to assassinate Hou Dayong.

Hou Dayong always brought three or five personal guards when he went out. He usually stayed in the yamen and did not go to restaurants and other places. The guardian never found a suitable opportunity to start.

Time flies, and soon the Zhongyuan Festival is a traditional folk festival in Zhengzhou. On the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, the people in Zhengzhou have to go to the grave to burn paper to pay homage to the dead, and to save the dead and wild ghosts in parallel, commonly known as the "Ghost Festival". During the Zhongyuan Festival, many families in Zhengzhou hold fast and recite scriptures and recommend the ancestor examination. The government worships the city and the altar, which is called "City God's Patrol". In the evening, men, women, old and young gather in the city to fill the road and alleys, and there are various teams in the streets, using golden gourd axes to pedal the sky and half to the imperial carriage as a guard of ceremonies. Some of the people pretend to be horse children, some pretend to be prisoners, some pretend to be local ghosts, some bow to the local ghosts, some bow to the shackles, some kneel, and some jump and change, with a loud voice, seven or eight miles up and down, without any gaps in the ground.

According to convention, during the Zhongyuan Festival, the highest officials in Zhengzhou would come out to worship the Litan. The guardian arranged for eight killers to hide hand crossbows, put on loose clothes, and ambush the place where Hou Dayong must pass. Two other ones pretended to be local ghosts. When Hou Dayong approached, the two pretended to be ghosts and stopped the horse's head, and the eight people fired crossbows at the same time.

On the eve of Zhongyuan Festival, Liang Shouheng arranged various activities according to the practice and found an excuse to put some scoundrels in Zhengzhou City into prison, so as not to take advantage of the chaos to do bad things. Only after Zhongyuan Festival were released.

A thug was locked in prison. He did too many bad things on weekdays. I don’t know what happened. He was an old man. Without waiting for the police to ask, he took the initiative to say something that attracted the attention of the police. He reported it to the judging department. The judging department did not dare to be careless and reported to the record officer to participate in the military. Liang Shouheng hurriedly reported to Hou Dayong.

"There is such a thing. I don't know what their purpose is. It's better to do it quickly." After hearing the incident, Hou Dayong immediately decided to take action first to avoid future troubles.
Chapter completed!