weaving

Chapter Four

On the third day of October, at the end of noon, Zhang Cheng was riding his horse to Changling with his uncle Zhang Yan.

Changling, located at the southern foot of the main peak of Tianshou Mountain outside Changping City, is the joint burial tomb of Ming Chengzu Zhu Di and Empress Xu. It is the ancestral tomb of the Ming Tombs.

Among the Ming Tombs, the Changling Tomb is the largest in scale and covers an extremely wide area. Its plane layout is in the shape of a front and a back circle. The city, shaped like a castle, has a tall enclosure inside.

There is a door in the center of the south side of Baocheng, and you can go up to Daminglou along Dengdao.

The Ming building is square, with coupon doors on all sides, a cross-shaped vaulted ceiling in the middle, and a yellow tile roof with double eaves and Xieshan style. The word "Changling" is written on the forehead under the eaves, and there is a stele in the middle of the building. ", and the seven characters "Tomb of Emperor Cheng Zuwen" are engraved on the body of the stele.

He was awarded the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of War and the imperial censor of the right capital, and gave Shangfang a sword. The governor of the world worked hard for the king's soldiers and horses. Lu Xiangsheng, the governor of Xuan, Da, and Shanxi, didn't even use lunch.

He rode his favorite horse, Wumingji, in the middle, and the officers of Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi Townships, deputy generals, generals, guerrillas and other officers followed him, carrying sacrifices prepared on the way from Dahongmen. Enter, go all the way to Changling, to pay homage to the martial arts emperor Zhu Di.

Zhang Cheng happened to come to welcome Duchen Lu, and was lucky enough to catch up, and was called by his uncle General Zhang Yan to accompany Duchen Lu and other generals to Changling to participate in the worship of Emperor Chengzu Yongle.

At this time, Zhang Cheng knelt behind his uncle Zhang Yan, and peeked at Lu Xiangsheng, the governor of Xuanda who was kneeling on the ground. He looked very young, less than 40 years old, with fair skin and a slightly dusty look. A little pointed, it looks very thin.

Sure enough, as described in the history books, he was fair and thin, with a sparse beard on his chin. He was completely like a scholar, not at all like a person who was good at riding and shooting, and could take the lead and charge forward.

But his sword-brows, high cheekbones, and broad forehead conveyed a calm and resolute air.

According to historical records, Lu Xiangsheng is not only extremely powerful, but also superhuman in martial arts. He often uses a sword weighing nearly a hundred catties as a weapon, and he is also good at archery, including foot and horseback riding.

What's more rare is that he is a literati, but he is good at running the army and training soldiers. He can share the joys and sorrows with the soldiers.

Moreover, Lu Xiangsheng is not only good at running the army, but also good at farming. During his two years as Governor of Xuanda, he not only purges military affairs, but also trains Xuanda soldiers into first-class strong troops of Ming Dynasty.

He also encouraged land reclamation, and saved 20 shi of grain and rice in two years. He is truly versatile in both civil and military affairs and a pillar of the country. Unfortunately, he turned out to be a tragic hero in the end.

In my ears, I heard the governor Lu Xiangsheng kneeling on the ground, choking and wishing: "I hope to rely on the spirit of the second ancestor and the ancestors to wipe out the Tartars and strengthen our frontier defense, so as to fulfill the duties of a humble minister. Even if the minister is heartbroken, he is willing!"

After Zhang Cheng knelt and listened to Governor Lu Xiangsheng's congratulations, his heart couldn't help but waver, a force shouted in his body, only such a person deserves his respect and protection.

He knew that only Lu Xiangsheng was the hero who could save Ming Dynasty, but the Battle of Julu not long after was the place where this hero fell. In his heart, he shed tears unconsciously.

After the Xuanda governor Lu Xiangsheng finished his congratulations, he offered sacrifices to Emperor Chengzu Yongle. After all the worship procedures were completed, everyone followed the governor Lu Xiangsheng and left Changling together.

……

Governor Lu Xiangsheng's superintendent battalion was stationed in Changping City, and his governor Xingyuan was also set up in the city. Surrounded by his subordinates and staff, Lu Xiangsheng rode his beloved Wuming Ji into Changping City.

The soldiers and horse camps of Xuan, Da, and Shanxi towns that came to aid with Governor Lu Xiangsheng were all set up in various places outside Changping City. Among them, the reinforcement camp of Xuanfu Town was set up in Changping City according to the deployment of Governor Xingyuan. This area to the east.

A few miles away from the east gate of Changping, there is a small place called Changjin Village. Not far to the east, there are lakes and small rivers passing by, and a few miles to the north, there are many mountains, and there is no shortage of wood. Great place to camp.

At this time, the reinforcements of Xuanfu Town were already outside the camp, erecting dense wooden fences and repairing the tall gates and watchtowers. Zhang Cheng followed Zhang Yan and rode his horse into the camp.

As soon as he entered the camp, he saw soldiers in the camp setting up tents, building stables, and digging toilets. The whole camp was busy.

Xuanfu Town was ordered to defend Gyeonggi this time, and a total of more than [-] elite horse and infantry soldiers were dispatched.

Among them, Yang Guozhu, the chief soldier of Xuanfu Town, personally led more than 2000 people from the main barracks to join the aid, and there were more than [-] cavalry in it.

The rest of the infantry were ordered to arrive here within three days, and his central army camp was located in the middle of the entire camp in Xuanfu Town.

Zhang Cheng's uncle, Zhang Yan, the general of Xuanfu Township, was the chief general of the Xuanfu Township Biao Right Wing Battalion, and this time he also led more than 500 troops to help.

More than [-] inner cavalry have arrived in Changping, four of which are led by his nephew cavalry commander Zhang Cheng, one of the Chinese army is led by Zhang Yan himself as his guard, and there are [-] infantry in the rest. More than a hundred people were also ordered to rush to Changping within three days, and his camp was placed on the left side of the camp of the general Yang Guozhu's Chinese army.

The rest are the guerrilla generals Li Jianming and Wen Hui of Xuanfu Town. They are in charge of the two battalions of the Chengnan Defense Battalion and the Chengxi Defense Battalion in Xuanfu Town.

They are all the same horses, three steps and seven steps, and the same cavalry rushed to Changping first, and the infantry took three days to arrive. Their camps were placed on the right and rear of the general camp of Yang Guozhu's Chinese army.

The above are all the soldiers and horses who were ordered to defend the capital in Xuanfu Town this time. The reinforcements with a total strength of about [-] troops are all cavalry from each battalion. Where, there are nearly [-] infantry in the rest, and it will take three days to arrive here.

When he returned to the camp of General Zhang Yan, Zhang Yan's large tent of the Chinese army had already been set up, and two personal soldiers were standing outside the tent to guard.

He jumped off his horse and said to his nephew Zhang Cheng, "Cheng, let's have lunch in uncle's tent."

"Yes, my nephew will come as soon as he returns to the camp." After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he rode his horse and left.

About a quarter of an hour later, Zhang Cheng rode his horse back to Zhang Yan's big tent, got off his horse, handed the horse to Zhang Yan's personal soldiers, and entered the big tent.

The layout of Zhang Yan's tent is quite simple, only a large wooden table is placed in the upper middle position, and now there are some meals on it, which is also very simple, only some bacon, steamed buns, rice soup and the like.

The frontier troops in Xuanfu Town and Datong Town were influenced by Governor Lu Xiangsheng, and most of the generals were usually very simple, especially now that they were marching outside and when the camp was newly established, everything was simple and they couldn't be picky.

Zhang Cheng sat down on a wooden pier in front of the big case, picked up a piece of steamed bread and took a bite, just as Zhang Yan came out of the tent, already taking off his armor and changing into his military uniform.

(End of this chapter)