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Chapter 115 Against Lu Xiangsheng's Corruption

In Gaoyang City, in the house of Old Sun Chengzong in Qiange, in the inner hall of the atrium, candlelight lingers, and there are all kinds of exquisite dishes on the four Eight Immortals tables, and the fragrance is overflowing.

Zhang Cheng sat next to Sun Chengzong and didn't eat a few bites of food at all. Sun Chengzong pulled him and kept asking about the details of these battles against the Qing army. formula problem.

Every time he heard something happy, he slapped the table with his palms and applauded loudly. He looked so energetic that he didn't look like a 76-year-old old man at all.

Zhang Cheng's narration is not as exciting as that of Wang Pu, the general soldier of Datong over there, let alone Wang Pu's vivid performance.

However, the truth of his narration is important. Although his voice is not loud, it is extremely penetrating. Everyone in the banquet listened quietly. I can't help but raise my heart to my throat.

…………

The celebration banquet lasted until the end of the You Dynasty, and Sun Chengzong was very happy. He took Zhang Cheng's hand and said to Lu Xiangsheng: "Jiandou, thanks to the brave and bloody battle of Xuanda's generals today, the people of Gaoyang were saved.
The old man wants to honor the generals with a bowl of celebration wine, express their thanks to the people in Gaoyang City, and also respect the bravery of the generals, congratulate Lu Gong, and congratulate the generals! "

Lu Xiangsheng was a little embarrassed. In his heart, he had always admired the old grandson Chengzong of the former court. Now, at the age of 76, he led his family to go to the city to fight against the Tartars. With this loyalty to the king and the heart of serving the country, he Make him admire endlessly.

However, although the slave thief retreated, it was hard to guarantee that he would not turn back again. The military situation changed all the time, so it would be a mistake. He really didn't dare to make the generals under his command drink alcohol, so he said softly with an extremely embarrassed expression:
"Elder Ge's kindness, Lu should not refuse, but although the slaves have retreated, they are still afraid that they will gather troops to attack Gaoyang again. The military situation is changing, so they can't drink alcohol, so as to miss the army. I hope the elders will understand."

Sun Chengzong, however, was very interested. In his twilight years, he seemed to see a glimmer of hope in Zhang Cheng, although he was still not sure whether what he saw was correct.

However, Zhang Cheng's performance since joining the guard, as well as Lu Xiangsheng's evaluation of Zhang Cheng, plus his impression after talking with Zhang Cheng at the banquet, made him believe that Zhang Cheng was definitely different from the three presidents at the other three tables. soldier.

In his opinion, Zhang Cheng's ability may have yet to be verified, but Zhang Cheng's knowledge and vision are much stronger than the three generals including Yang Guozhu. superior.

In his twilight years, being able to see such a young hero made Sun Chengzong happy. He couldn't restrain the inexplicable excitement in his heart. With an old face, he said to Lu Xiangsheng again:
"The words of Jiandou are indeed true. I shouldn't have invited any more, but today I'm celebrating the achievements of the generals. How can there be no wine? Give the old man a thin noodle, and the generals will be allowed to drink a bowl of water and wine. Just drink more.

How? "

Lu Xiangsheng looked embarrassed, but Sun Chengzong had already said this, but he couldn't refuse, and after thinking about it, he replied: "Well, according to what Sun Ge said, it's just that Xiangsheng needs water instead of wine. Let all the officers and men pay respects to Elder Sun Ge, and all the elders of the village, to thank you for your kindness.”

Sun Chengzong stood up, held up the wine bowl in his hand, and excitedly told his sons to go get the wine quickly, and he wanted to pour the wine for the Xuanda generals himself.

Under the persuasion of everyone, Sun Chengzong only filled the wine with Yang Guozhu and other three generals, and then he poured wine for Zhang Cheng himself. .

The rest of the generals were filled by Sun Chengzong's sons. Sun Chengzong loudly ordered Sun Yao to go to the courtyard and fill up a bowl for each of the generals' personal guards.

Lu Xiangsheng straightened himself up. Just as he was about to stand up, Yang Tinglin beside him pulled the hem of his clothes and gave him a wink. He understood Yang Tinglin's meaning and shook his head helplessly, but he didn't stand up to stop him.

The banquet is extremely joyful, but it is the end of gatherings and departures.

After Sun Chengzong toasted the wine, everyone said something more, and Lu Xiangsheng led the Xuanda generals to leave and left Sun Chengzong's mansion.

Originally, Sun Chengzong had arranged for the people and prepared the guest rooms and beds, but Lu Xiangsheng insisted on returning to the camp, so he was inconvenient to force him to stay, so he sent Lu Xiangsheng and other generals out of the mansion, and asked his second son and fifth son Sun Yao to stay with them all the time. Lu Xiangsheng and others sent them to the north gate.

…………

In the 11th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, on the tenth day of the first month of November, in the morning, Lu Xiangsheng wrote vigorously, reporting the battle against the Eastern Captives the day before yesterday in a written report, and pleading for credit for the Xuanda generals.

Sun Chengzong also wrote a memorandum in handwriting, in which Lei Zhibo, the magistrate of Gaoyang County, abandoned the city and left the city, neglecting all the people in the city. The deeds of Wang Pu and other generals who bravely killed slaves and retreated captives in bloody battles are written in a special book, asking for credit and rewards for the Xuanda generals.

Lu Xiangsheng sent a team of over [-] sergeants, led by Zhang Guodong, a thousand commander of his supervising battalion, to escort the captured heads of the Eastern captives, as well as those golden banners, broken, bloody armor, and military battles. and many more.

As for the memorabilia of his victory, he sent elite riders and fast horses to the capital to deliver the news. Sun Chengzong’s second son and grandson also led several servants to Beijing, and he carried Sun Chengzong’s memorabilia with him. Send it to the capital in person.

On the same day, in the afternoon, at dusk.

The earth was pale, Director Jun Gao Qiqian led the generals of the Liaodong towns, leading an army of [-], they arrived late, he didn't say that he waited and watched all the way, but failed to arrive as expected.

Instead, he accused Lu Xiangsheng of being greedy and aggressive, and before he joined forces to attack the Qing army of Haoge's troops, the slaves were able to retreat, and they failed to wipe out all the cavalry in one battle.

Fortunately, Sun Chengzong's memorial was reported to the capital together with Lu Xiangsheng's victory report, so that Yang Sichang did not dare to stop him, so the real situation in Gaoyang City was uploaded to the heavens.

Although Chongzhen has learned about Lu Xiangsheng's military exploits in rescuing Gaoyang, defeating the slaves of the Haoge tribe, and beheading more than a thousand ranks, he still believes Gao Qiqian's report and naively believes that Lu Xiangsheng is really greedy for meritorious service.

Otherwise, wouldn't it be better if thousands of Tartars from Hauge's tribe could be cut off in one go.

On the evening of November [-]th, before Emperor Chongzhen delivered the imperial decree to Gaoyang's army, although he praised Lu Xiang's promotion to relieve Gaoyang's danger and killed more than a thousand slaves, he criticized him for not being strict with his command, attacking without waiting. Take a high dive to complete the encirclement, and miss the opportunity to wipe out the enemy with one blow.

When this matter spread to Sun Chengzong, even he felt aggrieved for Lu Xiangsheng, but he was also helpless because he was far away from the court.

During this period, Zhang Cheng was invited many times to visit Sun Chengzong's home in the city. He also took the opportunity to persuade Sun Chengzong that it would be best to leave the city with his family to live temporarily in Baoding in the near future.

Although the Eastern Prisoners attacked Gaoyang once, they were driven back temporarily by Lu Xiangsheng and other generals, but Lu Xiangsheng could not stay in Gaoyang permanently.

Sun Chengzong was also reluctant to leave Gaoyang at first, but he couldn't stand Zhang Cheng's persuasion, so he reluctantly agreed. After a few days, he took his family to Baoding temporarily and stayed for a while.

It happened that there were dozens of wounded soldiers in his battalion, who were going to be sent to Baoding to recuperate. He originally wanted to leave a sergeant to take care of him for protection, but Sun Chengzong, the fifth son, Sun Yao, volunteered to propose that there was no need to leave the sergeant to take care of them, and these wounded soldiers would be handed over to him. He made sure to keep the wounded safe and take care of them.

(End of this chapter)