weaving

Chapter 1524 The Emperor Summons the Earl of Yongning

On November 24th, at Shenshi (3-5 PM), as darkness fell, the various camps began to hang strings of lanterns and even light campfires to ward off the chill after sunset.

Wisps of smoke rose gently from the chimneys, and the camps were unusually quiet as the soldiers waited for their dinner. Only the cooks of each squad were busy preparing the meal.

The west gate tower of Gonghua City, where the Yongning Earl's headquarters was located, was somewhat deserted at this moment.

Because the movements of the enemy were not yet clear, and Zhang Cheng estimated that once Emperor Chongzhen learned of his arrival in Gonghua City, he would surely summon him to the palace for an audience. Therefore, he ordered the generals to set up camps to guard against enemy attacks, and also ordered each camp to quickly send scouts to investigate the enemy's movements.

At the beginning of the hour of You (5-7 PM), just after the Earl of Yongning had finished his dinner, a personal guard suddenly came to report that an imperial edict had come to deliver an imperial decree.

Zhang Cheng hurriedly ordered people to prepare incense burners and altars, while he himself went out of the gate tower and down into the city to greet the angel.

He had just reached the bottom of the stairs when he saw Wang Dehua slowly walking up. Zhang Cheng said with a smile, "Oh, Your Excellency has graced us with your presence. I am sorry for being late in welcoming you."

Wang Dehua had a very kind expression. After walking up the city wall with a smile, he immediately took Zhang Cheng's hand and said, "Oh, Earl Yongning, you've finally arrived!"

He held Zhang Cheng's hand and said as they walked, "Does the Earl of Yongning know that His Majesty has been eagerly awaiting your arrival in the capital to save him?"

With a guilty expression, Zhang Cheng said helplessly, "I have committed a capital offense by causing Your Majesty such distress."

"Oh. Let's not talk about guilt or guilt anymore. It's good that the Earl of Yongning can come. His Majesty was overjoyed when he heard the news that the Earl of Yongning had led the loyal army to the capital. That's why he immediately sent us to visit the Earl."

"It is truly Zhang Cheng's fault that Your Highness has come in person." While continuing to apologize to Wang Dehua, the Earl of Yongning explained, "Zhang Cheng also wanted to lead his troops to defend the king as soon as possible, but the soldiers had just returned home after suppressing the bandits, and it took some time to regroup them..."

Only then were Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lin Dengyou and Lieutenant General Xiong Tingrui dispatched to guard the capital and protect the Emperor's safety. After assembling my troops, I also rushed to the capital to defend the Emperor, without daring to rest for a moment.

Zhang Cheng gripped Wang Dehua's plump hand tightly and said sincerely, "Please, Your Excellency, put in a good word for me before His Majesty and make sure to explain things properly for me."

At this moment, they had already entered the city gate tower. Although Wang Dehua still had a smile on his face, he had released Zhang Cheng's hand and said, "Good, good, of course I will speak on behalf of the Earl. Besides... the Earl of Yongning is the 'Model of the Three Armies' personally bestowed by the Emperor. How can we not have the Earl to protect the Emperor? Don't you think so?"

After Wang Dehua finished speaking, his expression turned serious, and he raised his voice and shouted, "Earl of Yongning, Zhang Cheng, receive the imperial decree."

Zhang Cheng was mentally prepared and immediately knelt down in front of the incense table, kowtowing to the ground. The officers of the Yongyi Army who were with him also knelt down in the same way.

Wang Dehua stepped behind the incense table and said loudly, "His Majesty's decree: Zhang Cheng is truly hateful. I summoned you to the capital, why have you been so late? Now that you have arrived in the capital region, why do you not come to see me at once!"

This imperial edict from Emperor Chongzhen left Zhang Cheng dumbfounded. Although the edict contained some complaints about Zhang Cheng's late arrival in the capital, its tone was more of a jest.

Seeing that Zhang Cheng was still kneeling on the ground, Wang Dehua reminded him, "Earl of Yongning, accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude."

Zhang Cheng was taken aback and asked quietly, "This... is it over?"

"Yes. Quickly accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude. Come with me to see His Majesty."

"Your subject, Zhang Cheng, thanks Your Majesty for your great favor. Long live the Emperor!"

…………

Just before their departure, Zhang Mingyuan, the commander of the central army, took the opportunity of tying a woolen cloak to Zhang Cheng, the Earl of Yongning, and quietly reminded him: "Father, the Emperor's edict sounds ominous. Can we not go?"

“Disobeying the imperial edict is a capital offense, how can we not go?” “Then… let’s bring more men, just in case that old emperor tries anything funny.”

"Hehe... It's alright." Zhang Cheng didn't seem to care. "The enemy is still lingering around the capital. We're of great use to the court, so nothing will happen to us. Don't worry!"

Looking at his concerned eyes, Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "Have you forgotten? Just a few months ago... we presented the Emperor with a million taels of silver. Now the Emperor is reluctant to kill us. He's counting on me to scrape together some more silver for him."

"Take twenty personal guards with you, and have Fangping take two hundred Imperial Guards with you to come into the city with me to meet the Emperor."

"Only two hundred people? Isn't that a bit too few?"

"Ha! Even if we bring two thousand men, what can they do in this huge capital city?" Zhang Cheng said calmly, "Don't we still have spies in the capital?"

"By the way, hurry up and pick out a few exquisite jade pieces to give to Wang Dehua. You can't let this favorite of the emperor go back empty-handed."

"Here!"

…………

Zhang Cheng and Wang Dehua rode side by side, escorted by their personal guards, rushing towards Desheng Gate, north of the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

It was completely dark, but rows of campfires could still be seen in the distance, which must have been the camps of the various units of the Beijing garrison. Outside Deshengmen, the Liaodong troops of Cao Bianjiao, who had just arrived to provide reinforcements, were also stationed.

As Yongning Earl rode his horse at full speed, he paid closer attention to each campfire, but he couldn't determine where Cao Bianjiao's camp was. He was also very interested in this true tiger general.

“Earl Yongning, His Majesty is waiting anxiously. You don’t need to go back to your residence. Just come to the palace with me.”

Zhang Cheng also owned the Yongning Earl's Mansion in the capital. He had originally planned to go back to the mansion to take a look before going to the palace to meet the emperor, but since Wang Dehua had said so, he could only smile and say, "Zhang Cheng will do whatever Your Excellency says."

He turned to Lin Fangping and said, "You all go to the Earl's residence to rest. Mingyuan will keep me company."

Lin Fangping nodded heavily: "Yes."

After galloping a distance further, the group split into two. Lin Fangping led the Imperial Guards back to the Yongning Marquis's residence, while Zhang Cheng followed Wang Dehua straight to the palace.

…………

Outside the Qianqing Palace, Marquis Yongning Zhang Cheng had been kneeling for a full quarter of an hour. Although his knees were aching, he could only endure it silently without the emperor's permission and dared not get up on his own.

Fifteen minutes later, a eunuch called out from inside the palace gate: "The Emperor has decreed that Zhang Cheng, the Earl of Yongning, be summoned to the East Warm Pavilion for an audience."

Only then did Marquis Yongning Zhang Cheng dare to stand up. Perhaps because he had been kneeling for too long, he felt dizzy the moment he stood up. He quickly supported himself with one hand on the ground to recover before he dared to stand up straight.

The moment he stepped into the palace gate, Zhang Cheng skillfully slipped a ten-tael silver ingot into the hand of the young eunuch.

The atmosphere inside the East Warm Pavilion was slightly tense...

Emperor Chongzhen sat behind his desk, with Wang Dehua standing beside him, bowing and serving. A person was kneeling on the ground in front of the desk, a little distance away, and Zhang Cheng couldn't tell who it was at first.