weaving

Chapter 1026 Ruixue Welcomes Guests

On the 15th of January in the 29th year of Chongzhen, which was the third day after the Yongyi Army completed the awarding ceremony, Bian Yongqing, the eunuch newly appointed by the emperor to supervise the Yongyi Army, and Zhang Ruoqi, the right servant of the Ministry of War, arrived in Xuanbei at the same time.

After hearing the news, Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng first sent the commander of Weiyuan battalion Wu Zhizhong and Tengshe battalion commander Wei Zhice to lead [-] elite riders from the battalion, go out to Diaohaobao to meet them, and escort them all the way back.

Then he dispatched Fu Hebiao, General Commander of the Yongyi Army, Zhang Guodong, General of Qinglong Battalion, and Zhang Guangda, General of Zhuque Battalion, to represent him and lead [-] elite riders to Yangtianbao to welcome them.

And he himself also went out of the south gate of Chi Castle early, and set up a curtain next to the large school grounds, and erected a large curtain in the middle.

Surrounding the curtain are warriors wearing red cloth face armor, standing in a circle around the curtain. They are either holding tiger guns or new-style Yunzhou blunderbuss. They all stand upright, looking very mighty .

In the distance, there is a cavalry team composed of more than ten cavalry, also wearing red cloth face armor, even the iron helmets on their heads are red, but there is no red tassel on the tip of their helmets, but a Feathers dyed red instead.

This is the elite Habayashi cavalry in the brave army. Among them, the ordinary knight has a red bird feather on the tip of his helmet, his armor has two red bird feathers, and the team officer has three red bird feathers.

However, Baizong no longer uses red bird feathers, but replaces them with silver-white pheasant feathers. Baizong inserts one, and Qianzong inserts two. Qianzong has three silver-white pheasant feathers.

The purpose of doing this is not only to show the difference between the ranks of officers and generals, but also to make it easier for the team officers, armor commanders, and soldiers to identify and recognize the master, quickly gather in their respective hundred chiefs, and form a battle formation around the chief.

Wang Yuanjing, the camp staff officer, was by Zhang Cheng's side, and said softly, "General, I wonder if this border supervisor is a good friend."

"Whether it's a good relationship or not, it's not up to him!"

Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng didn't seem to care about Wang Yuanjing's words, he just continued to say lightly: "If he is a good friend, we will get along well with him.

If he is not a good friend..."

Zhang Cheng turned his head to look at Wang Yuanjing and Liu Minshen, and said in a slightly sullen tone, "Could it be that Ben is still afraid that he will fail?"

Liu Minshen looked thoughtful when he heard the words, but Wang Yuanjing looked at the smoke and dust in the distance, and reminded: "General, it seems that Zhang Zhongjun is back."

Zhang Cheng looked in the direction he pointed, but saw more than ten riders galloping towards him, looming in the cloud of smoke and dust, galloping like a red dragon.

When I got closer, I saw that it was Zhang Chengfang or who it was. He rode on a bay red horse, shook the red armor on his body, and reported loudly: "General, He Zhenfu is accompanying the border supervisor and Zhang Shilang." I have passed the Nanguan Emperor Temple, and I am rushing here."

Zhang Cheng nodded slightly, but he was still sitting on his grand teacher's chair. He didn't get up because of this, but just said lightly: "Teachers, please be more energetic, don't fall into the prestige of our brave army for nothing."

Liu Minshen understood immediately when he heard the words, and he ordered loudly: "Yu Shangke on the left side of the cannon carriage, prepare to fire the cannon, we are going to welcome the distinguished guests."

"Here!"

The messenger raised his golden ordering arrow and galloped away, and then the soldiers around the curtain acted according to the order, and a series of light Fran cannons were pushed out from behind the curtain.

The gunners nervously fixed the gun positions, loaded gunpowder, but did not load the cannons. Obviously, the 36 Franco cannons were all used as salutes, and all of them fired empty ammunition.

Wang Yuanjing looked a little nervous, and he reminded softly beside him: "General, do you want to come out to meet me?"

"No need."

Zhang Cheng shook his head, and said softly to him: "Commander Jin is waiting outside the tent, and Ben is waiting for them here."

…………

At the end of the day, the sun had already slanted to the west, the cold wind suddenly picked up, and pieces of snowflakes slowly fell from the sky. Looking up, the sky was completely white.

Yongningbo Zhang Cheng leaned on the grand teacher's chair, gently put down the hot tea in his hand, looked up at the sky, and said leisurely: "It's really Ruixue to welcome the distinguished guests!"

As soon as he finished his words, he heard the sound of "Boom! Boom! Boom!..." The sound of the guns shot up into the sky, and the black holes of the muzzles continuously sprayed out clusters of flames, like fire dragons spitting flames. Not only was the momentum amazing, The scene is also very intimidating.

The continuous sound of rumbling guns lasted 36 times before finally stopping.

Bian Yongqing, the eunuch who supervised the army, and Zhang Ruoqi, the right servant of the Ministry of War, sent by the imperial court, accompanied by He Biao and other brave officers, also stepped towards the curtain expert.

But up to this moment, Zhang Cheng still had no intention of getting up, Liu Minshen, who had been by his side all the time, sighed in his heart, that he really did not vote for the wrong person, it is extraordinary to see the general's actions, and he is indeed calm.

But Wang Yuanjing was not as calm as he was. He clenched his hands tightly, beads of sweat kept oozing from his palms, and his eyes kept turning back and forth on Banner and Zhang Cheng in front of him.

In his opinion, the eunuch who supervises the army represents the current emperor, and he can be said to be a person who "talks about the constitution of heaven". It is the disaster of destroying the family!

Although Wang Yuanjing has become more and more important under Zhang Cheng's command, and has even joined the inner circle of the brave army, but perhaps he has not yet recovered from the pain of losing his wife and son.

Therefore, he is definitely not worried about his own future or life and death, but he is obviously worried about Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng, for fear that he will offend the eunuch who supervises the army because of his arrogance this time, and ruin his life. Have a great future for yourself.

Seeing that Bian Yongqing and Zhang Ruoqi had entered his line of sight, Zhang Cheng said, "Careful, on behalf of Benbo, meet the director and enter the account with Zhang Shilang."

Liu Minshen seemed to have expected it a long time ago. After he smiled and promised softly, he went outside the curtain to meet the supervisor Bian Yongqing, and the servant Zhang Ruoqi who came as an angel to pass the reward letter from the Ministry of War.

…………

It wasn't until Bian Yongqing and Zhang Ruoqi came to the curtain door talking and laughing that Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng got up from the chair of the grand master, and he said with a smile: "The supervisor is willing to brave the wind and snow, and travels in the starry night to come here." In the bitter cold place on the frontier of the Xuan Mansion, the heart shines brightly on the sun and the moon, this uncle really admires me."

Bian Yongqing was chatting and laughing with Zhang Ruoqi before entering the account, but after hearing Zhang Cheng's words, his complexion suddenly tightened, and he said in a soft voice: "Our family is the emperor's servant, and we should do our best for the master. work."

Although he was talking, his feet did not stop, and he was already inside the curtain at this time, but he did not walk towards the desk on Zhang Cheng's left, but stopped by the stove in the tent, and continued. Said: "Uncle Yongning, bandits and bandits are rampant in Yu Province today, attacking prefectures and plundering counties, and besieged Kaifeng again. Zhou Fan is in danger, and the emperor is also very worried about this.

I don't know when the courageous army will leave the Xuanfu to aid Yu Province, undo the crisis of seal, and suppress the bandits and stabilize the people? "

What Zhang Cheng is most afraid of is talking about business, so he immediately replied with a smile: "The supervisor doesn't know something, the soldiers of my brave army just came back from the Liaodong War a while ago, there were quite a lot of casualties in the battalion, and the soldiers were exhausted.

What's more, the gunpowder and cannons in Benbo's army were consumed a lot this time around to rescue them, so they can't be replenished in a short while, and the armor and armaments of his soldiers are also damaged, and it will take some time to rest and recuperate until the gunpowder is replenished. After repairing the armor and weapons, it is time to send troops to suppress the thieves again. "

What Zhang Cheng said is indeed the truth, but it is slightly exaggerated, but how can outsiders tell how much of it is true and what is false?
Sure enough, after hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Bian Yongqing also fell silent, and after a while, he said again: "Our family also knows about Yongningbo's difficulties, and we also know that Yongningbo has a lot of friends in the capital, and he is very close to several stewards in the inner court. Some exchanges, personal friendship is very thick."

At this time, his conversation suddenly changed, and he said again: "However, our family's visit to the Xuanfu to supervise the Yongyi Army this time is based on the emperor's will, although we will not interfere with Uncle Yongning's recruitment and training of soldiers. But sending troops to Yu Province to help suppress the bandits is a matter that cannot be delayed for a moment.

If this errand is not done well, or if the military period is delayed intentionally, no wonder our family does not recognize anyone, and we must report the reason to the emperor. . "

"What the supervisor said is exactly what Benbo is anxious about."

Zhang Cheng took a step forward, and continued with a serious face: "Zhang Cheng has been guarding the border for the Ming Dynasty since the shadow of his ancestors. Since my uncle died for the country and died on the battlefield, he is full of loyalty. He has received the favor of the emperor. How can he not now?" Thinking of killing thieves for the country, to repay the country's favor, and relieve the emperor's worries?"

When he said this, Zhang Cheng also showed a look of embarrassment, and continued: "It's just that the soldiers are exhausted, the armor and equipment are not in order, and the food and grass are in short supply. If the troops are forced to send troops, they may be unstable. , wouldn’t you miss the emperor’s errand.”

Bian Yongqing didn't know what to say at this time, armor, food and grass were indeed difficult to deal with, now that the Ming Dynasty used troops year after year, and there were constant famines, how could they gather more food and grass?

In particular, the morale of the army should not be ignored. If, as Yongningbo said, the mutiny was caused by excessive pressure, even if it finally subsided, how long it would take to delay sending troops to Henan.

At the moment, he could only say to Zhang Cheng with a bitter expression: "Kaifeng is besieged, Zhou Fan is in danger, and there is no room for any delay. As for the money and food for armored weapons, our family will report to the emperor, and the imperial court is requested to mobilize as soon as possible." That is.

In a word, if Kaifeng falls and Zhou Fan is in trouble, Yongning Bo and our family will have nothing to do with each other! "

Zhang Cheng is no longer the little general at the beginning, but now he is the majestic Yongningbo, the chief officer of Xuanfu Town, and the general of Zhenshuo. His status is in the entire Ming Empire. Resurrection, that is also a head lower than him.

The tens of thousands of heroic soldiers of the six battalions under Zhang Cheng's command are even more famous. Even the once famous Liaodong Iron Cavalry may not be able to hold a candle to them now.

Regardless of status or strength, Zhang Cheng is no longer what it used to be. Now he has completed a magnificent turn, and has perfectly leapt to a position that ordinary people can't reach in his entire life.

The current him, even in the face of the eunuch Bian Yongqing, who has Tianxian in his mouth and can even represent the imperial power to a certain extent, is full of confidence and does not flinch.

After hearing Bian Yongqing's words, he walked slowly outside the tent with his hands behind his hands, and said as he walked: "The supervisor is worried about Zhou Fan's safety, but in Benbo's opinion, it is inevitable that Zhou Fan is besieged by intruders this time." It was another disaster.”

I don't know whether they were intimidated by Yongningbo's aura or attracted by Zhang Cheng's words, the military supervisor Bian Yongqing and the military servant Zhang Ruoqi followed behind him and stepped out of the curtain in unison.

A gust of cold wind blew across Zhang Cheng's face with dots of snowflakes falling on Zhang Cheng's face. He couldn't help shivering. Zhang Chengfang, a Chinese military officer, hurried forward and tied a thick woolen cloak around his shoulders. superior.

Yongningbo Zhang Cheng held the sides of the cloak tightly with both hands, and continued to walk out, and said to the two of them: "The supervisor Ding Qirui is in the south of Henan, and there are more than tens of thousands of soldiers under his command, and the governor of the three sides Wang Qiaonian also He has led tens of thousands of strong soldiers from Shaanxi to leave Shaanxi and enter Henan.

What's more, in Kaifeng, there are more than ten thousand elite soldiers from the former governor Yang Wenyue, especially Baoding General Soldier Hu Dawei, who has always been known for being brave and good at fighting. That's more than enough! "

Both Bian Yongqing and Zhang Ruoqi were very surprised by this. When they left Beijing, the news that Kaifeng Prefecture was besieged again had just reached the capital.

Even Zhang Ruoqi, who is not the right servant, only knows that there are hundreds of thousands of bandits, and the whereabouts of the other soldiers and horses of the Ming Dynasty, even he, the servant of the Ministry of War, only knows a little bit.

But how did Zhang Cheng know such details when he was living in a cold and isolated place on the border?

Although Zhang Ruoqi had known Zhang Cheng for a long time, and had fought together in Liaodong for a while, he still couldn't understand this, and couldn't help thinking to himself: "Could it be that Yongningbo's eyeliner is also densely spread in the capital?"

Bian Yongqing, the superintendent, said, "Even if, as Yongning Bo said, there are Ding Qirui and Wang Qiaonian in Yu Province, but the bandits are always cunning and cunning, how can we judge that Kaifeng will be able to hold on?
If Kaifeng was really attacked by the bandit army and Zhou Fan was in trouble, wouldn't it be too late to regret at that time! "

"Ha ha……"

Uncle Yongning laughed wildly for a while before he said: "The frontier guards don't need to worry about this. Benbo also fought against Chuangni under the city of Kaifeng. It was only mediocre and far less ferocious than the rumors said.

What's more, Kaifeng City is high and thick, and there is General Chen Yongfu guarding there. I believe it will be able to hold it for three to five months. There are also thousands of strong soldiers stationed in the city by the governor Yang Wenyue, so it must be safe.

As for the soldiers and horses of Governor Ding and Governor Wang, with these few months, wouldn't they be under the city of Kaifeng. Invincibility! "

Although Bian Yongqing felt that Zhang Cheng's words were quite reasonable, he did not dare to completely agree with them, but he had only just arrived in the Xuan Mansion, so he couldn't force Zhang Cheng too quickly, so he could only follow him temporarily.

Before they knew it, a few people came to a row of carriages, and saw that these sedan cars were all very beautifully built, and they were covered with thick felt cloth for protection from the cold.

"Bian Jianjun, Zhang Shilang, I will pedal into the city first, and we will discuss other matters later."

(End of this chapter)