weaving

Chapter 1234 Asking for help from Earl Yongning

He Biao, the chief pacifier of the Yongyi Army, had been replaced by Wang Yuanjing as the pacification officer of the "Xiaoyuan Camp". He was originally going to rush back to the Kaifeng army, but because of the unexpected arrival of Sun Chuanting, the governor of the Three Borders, he hurried to Kaifeng with Sun Chuanting, the governor of Shaanxi, under the escort of Shen Jingbang, the commander of the front unit of the Xuanwu Camp.

In fact, Li Jiyu's Xuanwu Camp has now been divided into four parts. The newly formed central and right units, along with the deputy general Gou Changsheng, are staying behind on the right side of Xuanzhen; the left unit, along with the deputy general Liu Shizun, is at Jinglongkou to guard the safety of the "Xiao Chuangying" and Huimei.

Now, the only ones following Li Jiyu were Ji Zhiying's rear troops. Even his central army cavalry, artillery, and chariot divisions followed the central officer Zhou Ruli and stayed in Wu'an County to train Xiaoyuan Camp.

Although Li Jiyu was somewhat reluctant in his heart, he did not dare to show it at all. Moreover, Zhang Cheng, the Earl of Yongning, had also warned him that "everything is for the great cause of suppressing bandits. Although he has not achieved any merit on the battlefield, the significance is the same, and he will be rewarded for it in the future."

He had just received the transfer order, so he led Ji Zhiying's rear troops to Xinchengji to wait for orders...

…………

It would take at least half a day for Sun Chuanting, He Biao and other more than a thousand people to cross the vast and turbulent Yellow River. After crossing the river, he did not wait for He Biao, but slowly walked towards Kaifeng City with his servants, staff and the ten guards.

Ma Weizhong was both Sun Chuanting's family servant and his long-time bodyguard. At this moment, he wore a long sword on his waist and rode his horse closely following Sun Chuanting not far away. He was very alert and kept looking around, especially at the open space in the distance.

Although he already knew that all the Cao rebel troops were heading to Zhuxian Town and were in a stalemate with Yongning Earl Zhang Cheng from the north to the south, and that there were also a thousand soldiers of the Yongyi Army behind them, Ma Weizhong still adhered to his duties and did not dare to relax at all.

In fact, they had already sensed something strange when they reached the south bank of the Yellow River.

The depression here is obvious. Although there is not much prosperity on the north bank, there are people coming and going in the county town, the market town, and the dock.

But once we got to the south bank, this scene came to an abrupt end, as if it was a world of ice and fire. The only people visible on the south bank were armored soldiers or militiamen in uniforms. Occasionally, we were lucky to see one or two villagers doing hard labor.

After reaching the official road, this contrast is even more obvious...

Although the official road on the north bank of the Yellow River is not bustling with people, you can still see merchants coming and going, and carts, pushcarts, mules and horses taking turns, so you will never feel lonely.

But once they set foot on the official road on the south bank, there was no one in front or behind them. There were only a dozen or so riders riding slowly on their horses. Looking around, the fields were extremely empty. Occasionally, a lone Ming army messenger would gallop past, as if reminding them - there were still living people in this world!

Ma Weizhong was always alert and looking around, holding a bow in his left hand and an arrow in his right hand, not daring to slack off for a moment...

Sun Chuanting did not agree with this. He stretched lazily on his horse and said to his staff with a smile: "Let's speed up and get to Xincheng Market before dark."

All the staff members were shocked. They looked at each other. Chen Jitai, a staff member who had always been trusted by him, came to his side and whispered, "Mr. Sun, why don't we go to Kaifeng to see King Zhou, Governor Zhang, and Minister Gao?"

Sun Chuanting waved his hands carelessly and said, "Shaanxi's affairs are urgent, so we will go straight to Xincheng and not enter Kaifeng."

Chen Jitai was shocked. He seemed to want to hold back, but he still said: "Mr. Sun, are we really going to ask Earl Yongning for help?"

"Ugh!"

Sun Chuanting sighed and said, "I know what you are going to say, but Shaanxi is already in ruins and there is a lot to be done. I don't know how long it will take to recruit brave men and train the army without asking for the support of the Earl of Yongning."

He then sighed, "Time is running out. For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, what does my little bit of face mean?"

Sun Chuanting immediately burst into laughter, which was filled with resentment. He whipped his horse and shouted, "Follow me!"

Leading the way, he galloped straight towards Kaifeng on the deserted official road...

…………

Yongning Earl Zhang Cheng learned about the arrival of the new Governor-General of the Three Borders of Shaanxi, Sun Chuanting, from letters between He Biao and Li Jiyu.

However, he never expected that Sun Chuanting would come so soon, let alone that he would leave behind his chief governor He Biao and rush to Xincheng to gather the military headquarters alone with a few followers and staff.

He held a visiting card from Shaanxi Governor Sun Chuanting in his hand and said with a smile, "Mr. Sun, have you ever seen such an unreliable governor of the three borders?"

Sun Shixiang followed behind Earl Yongning and shook his head and said, "This Governor Sun is too impatient."

"Isn't he in a hurry? Shaanxi is in such a mess. He's here to borrow money, so he should look like he's asking for help."

Zhang Cheng turned his head to look at Lin Fangping who was gossiping, and said, "Sun Baigu is a man of real ability. He dared to wander around Kaifeng with only a dozen people. This alone makes him much better than other officials in the imperial court."

Lin Fangping stuck out his tongue and said softly, "I just feel that he doesn't look like a governor."

"Ha ha……"

Zhang Cheng walked and laughed, saying: "Only in this way can he be worthy of the name Sun Baigu!"

The dusty Sun Chuanting, accompanied by a few of his trusted aides and ten knights as guards who looked very strong but a little depressed, were waiting outside the gate.

Zhang Chengfang, the military officer of the Yongning Marquis, was accompanying Sun Chuanting outside the camp. He was about to introduce Sun Chuanting to him, but he saw Sun Chuanting had already stepped forward to greet him, bowed and said, "How dare Chuanting trouble the Yongning Marquis? I am really flattered!"

Zhang Cheng smiled and walked over quickly, saying, "It's a shame to have troubled Mr. Sun to wait outside the gate for so long... a shame."

Coming closer, Zhang Cheng said, "I just saw the visiting card and realized that it was Mr. Sun who came. He is a rare guest and I am quite surprised."

Sun Chuanting also smiled and said, "I'm sorry for coming to visit you. I hope Earl Yongning won't blame me."

Zhang Cheng smiled and took Sun Chuanting's hand, saying, "Mr. Sun, what are you talking about? Everyone in the court knows your ability. Now that you have come to Xincheng, you must give me some advice on how to deal with the war with the bandit Li!"

Sun Chuanting followed Zhang Cheng into the camp gate. As he walked, he said, "The Earl of Yongning is a great hero of the time. He has fought bandits and slaves many times and has made remarkable achievements. How dare Chuanting show off his skills in front of the Earl of Yongning?"

…………

Soon, the group arrived at the central military tent. Many people on both sides were strangers to each other, so after a brief introduction, the host and the guest took their seats.

Zhang Cheng said, "By the way, I haven't congratulated Mr. Sun on his promotion to the position of Governor-General of the Three Borders. With Mr. Sun in charge of Shaanxi, the situation in the future will surely be different."

Sun Chuanting had a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, but he smiled and said, "How can I, a humble official, compare with the achievements of the Earl of Yongning?"

Zhang Cheng glanced at him and thought secretly: "This Sun Baigu, when did Sun Chuanting become so easy to talk to?" However, if you look closely, you can still see a hint of arrogance in the depths of his eyes, which shows that his arrogant heart has not changed, but he has deliberately hidden it.

Zhang Cheng stopped talking. He first ordered someone to serve fragrant tea, and then ordered cigarettes. Then a personal soldier brought up a silver tray with two very exquisite gold boxes on it.

He first stopped beside the Earl of Yongning, took out a golden box and placed it on the table in front of him. Then he came to the Governor of Shaanxi Sun Chuanting and took out a golden box and placed it down as well.

Afterwards, another personal soldier came with an equally exquisite wooden tray, on which were two finely crafted fire starters, and placed them on the desk in front of Earl Yongning and Sun Chuanting respectively.

This fire starter is not only exquisitely crafted and compact, but is also inlaid with jade and jewels, and has gold and silver edging. If it were placed outside, it might even be considered a collectible.

"Come on, come on, have a cigarette first, then we can talk business later."

This is exactly how Yongning Earl Zhang Cheng entertains his guests. However, when outsiders come to visit, this fixed procedure is essential. However, the cigarette boxes and fire starters are not fixed but vary from person to person.

The more distinguished the guest is, the cigarette boxes and fire starters will change accordingly!

The purpose of Zhang Cheng's move was to make his own cigarettes completely popular, making them a must-have item for entertaining guests in official circles, military circles, businessmen, and civilians, and to create a new social trend, thereby expanding the sales of his own cigarettes.

Sun Chuanting is a well-known heavy smoker!

However, he used to smoke only dry pipes. At first, he was too lazy to even look at the cigarettes produced in Xuanfu, and he only loved his own big pipe.

But after he personally traveled to Xuanzhen, he miraculously fell in love with Xuanzhen cigarettes, and finally said goodbye to the heavy pipe he had smoked for nearly thirty years.

"Oh, this is Yunyan. This humble official is really blessed by the Earl of Yongning!"

  On the front of the golden cigarette case was a mountain peak, surrounded by clouds and mist, and a small poem was written in the blank space next to it:

"Leaning on the railing, inhaling the clouds and smoke,

Half into the breeze, half into the throat,

The breeze also carries the sorrow of the world!"

Sun Chuanting played with the golden box in his hand, reciting softly the poem "Tun Yunyan" written on it, and for a moment he could not bear to open it.

Earl Yongning saw everything and smiled gently. He opened the golden box very skillfully, took out a "Yunyan" cigarette from it, and shook it gently on the table a few times to make the tobacco inside the cigarette denser.

Then, he put one end of the cigarette into his mouth and held it gently with his lips. Then he shook the fire stick to light the other end of the cigarette outside. He took a small sip and swallowed it, letting the smoke stay in his lungs for a moment before slowly exhaling a puff of smoke.

Sun Chuanting finally couldn't hold back any longer. He imitated Zhang Cheng's actions and lit the cigarette in his mouth step by step. However, his first puff was not a light inhale, but a deep one, followed by a fierce exhale.

"Good. Good smoke! Ahem..."

Maybe it was because he took a breath too quickly and hard that he started coughing involuntarily after saying a few words.

Zhang Cheng raised the corner of his mouth and thought to himself: Oh, I still can’t change my habit of smoking a pipe!

Sun Chuanting coughed a few times before continuing, "The Earl of Yongning really knows how to live. This cigarette case and folding paper are very delicate and small, and very lovable!"

"Haha. If Sun Du likes it, I'll give it to you."

Zhang Cheng did not beat around the bush and asked directly, "I wonder if Governor Sun has anything to offer you since you have visited Xincheng?"

Sun Chuanting was a man of strong determination and courage. Since he had decided to come to the Earl of Yongning for help, he naturally no longer cared about his own reputation, which was not very noble.

He just said directly: "Indeed, Chuan Ting is really a man who 'never comes to see you for no reason'. This time, he came to ask for help from Earl Yongning."

Although Zhang Cheng secretly laughed in his heart, he pretended to be surprised and said, "Oh. What is it, Governor Sun, that you need my help?"

He looked at Sun Chuanting and said, "You and I are both ministers in the same court. Why are you asking for help? Please tell me, Governor Sun, and see if I can help you!"

Sun Chuanting showed a trace of embarrassment on his face. Although it was very subtle, Zhang Cheng saw it clearly.

He just waved gently to his trusted aide Chen Jitai who was standing beside him, then he took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to Liu Chengzu, the personal painter of the Earl of Yongning.

Zhang Cheng took the booklet from Liu Chengzu, flipped it open and took a quick look, then smiled and said, "I and Governor Sun are both ministers in the same court, and we have both worked hard to suppress the bandits. It is understandable that we support each other. But..."

Sun Chuanting originally thought that this trip would go smoothly, but when he heard Zhang Cheng say the word "but", his heart skipped a beat. He didn't know what to say, but Zhang Cheng continued, "What Governor Sun wants is too many. I'm fighting with bandit Li right now, so I'm afraid I won't be able to help you for the time being."

Sun Chuanting was also a little anxious. He cupped his hands and said, "Please think carefully, my Lord, and try your best to help me. When I train the Shaanxi soldiers again, I will definitely help the Earl of Yongning to eliminate the bandits."

"Ugh……"

Zhang Cheng sighed heavily and said with difficulty: "Director Sun also knows that tens of thousands of soldiers of my Yongyi Army are supporting the suppression of Henan Province. The daily expenditure is huge, and the court is also short of money and food. I am struggling to support this alone. I really have no spare energy..."

When Sun Chuanting heard Zhang Cheng's words, which seemed to be a direct rejection, his mood instantly fell to the bottom and his face couldn't help but show a gloomy look.

Zhang Cheng was actually just trying to whet his appetite. After all, making it easy for Sun Chuanting to get assistance would neither be conducive to bargaining with him nor would it arouse his gratitude.

He pretended that he couldn't bear to see Sun Chuanting like this, and sighed and said, "Let's do this. Governor Sun, don't worry for now, let me study it for a while. Whether it succeeds or not, I will definitely give Governor Sun a quick death within three days!"

Sure enough, Sun Chuanting showed joy immediately after hearing this, but he raised three fingers greedily and asked, "Three days?"

Zhang Cheng pretended to be very embarrassed and said: "I have to plan for the suppression of bandits in Henan Province. I can't lack food and military supplies here, otherwise Kaifeng will be in danger, and the crime will be unforgivable!"

He then added, "Three days, just three days, no more, no less. But if there is any news, I will inform Governor Sun."

Sun Chuanting looked a little disappointed, but he forced a smile and said, "Of course, it should be so, it should be so!"

The several staff members beside him all gritted their teeth and said nothing when they saw this, and it was obvious that they all felt humiliated in their hearts...