weaving

Chapter 86 Zhang Chengchu Worships Emperor Chongzhen
In the 11th year of Chongzhen in Ming Dynasty, October 22nd, it was the end of time.

Beijing, the Forbidden City, the Meridian Gate, the sun hangs high in the sky, and the sunlight is extremely dazzling.

From below Najia Lazhangjing Harba, 55 Qing army captives knelt on the ground in front of the Meridian Gate one by one. They were pushed by four sergeants, unable to struggle at all.

Hundreds of officials and nobles standing on the two sides of the inner road stared at the prisoners all the time, when suddenly a large flag caught their eyes, several of them exclaimed.

"The banner of Jialazhangjing is really the official banner of Jialazhangjing..."

"That's still fake, you see so many heads, it's not fake..."

"...Which one is Jiala Zhangjing, the one in the middle in front..."

Zhang Cheng is dressed in military uniform, bright armor, and his vigorous figure is particularly eye-catching.

Amidst the discussions of hundreds of officials and honorable officials, he walked towards Liu Zhifeng, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, and handed over the list of prisoners of the Qing army with both hands, and shouted loudly:
"Zhang Cheng, a thousand households in Xuanfu Town, presented 370 seven heads of Donglu, 55 of Donglu's raw captives Jialazhangjing and Harba, Donglu Jialazhangjing, official flags, golden drums and armor without banners. Forget it, please check it with the department hall.”

Liu Zhifeng, Minister of the Department of Criminal Justice, received the roster, got up and walked to Shou Jie's case, holding the roster in both hands, knelt down and said:
"...The slaves are rampant, repeatedly violate the border, and slaughter the people...Fortunately, I have the title of the right servant of the Ministry of War, the governor of the world, the king of Qin, Ma Lu Xiangsheng, the king of loyalty...Yang Guozhu, the general officer of Xuanfu Town, made a sudden decision...The town marked the right-wing battalion General Zhang Yanyong fights slaves...

... Zhang Cheng, a thousand households, was unparalleled in bravery. He repeatedly attacked the slave formations, beheaded hundreds of captives and cavalry, and captured 55 of the slave bandits Jia Lazhangjing and Harba alive, and dedicated them to Quexia...

...Slaves and thieves ravaged the capital, captured my people, and beheaded according to the law to deter...Now we are going to the city of Cao to carry out the execution, and we specially ask for an order. "

After finishing the performance, Liu Zhifeng, the Minister of the Department of Criminal Justice, handed over the memorial to the small inner prisoner who was waiting by the side and sent it to the Meridian Gate Tower. After reading it carefully, Emperor Chongzhen just sat on the throne, waved his hand and said softly: "Take go!"

Wang Dehua and Wang Chengen, who were standing by his side, repeated in sharp voices: "Take it!"

Then there were four more people around drinking in unison, and the orders continued in this way, until finally 360 guards called Dahan Generals yelled in unison, and the sound was like thunder, resounding through the Meridian Gate.

A group of Qing army captives, 55 from Zhengbai Banner Jialazhangjing Harba, were escorted to Xishi by officials of the Ministry of Punishment and Jingying officers and men, where they beheaded as a public display.

Their heads will be built together with the 370 seven tanned heads, together with Zhang Cheng's gains from Ma Fang in the past, in the capital's Xishi City, and they will be rewarded by everyone.

…………

After the ceremony of presenting the captives, before driving back to Qianqing Palace, Emperor Chongzhen left a decree to call the cabinet minister Yang Sichang and the new Xuanda Governor Chen Xinjia into the palace to meet with His Majesty.

The emperor also specially ordered Wang Dehua to come to the Meridian Gate to convey his will to Lu Xiangsheng and others.

Due to the continuous artillery fire outside the city and the tense battle, in order to prevent most of the Jiannu cavalry from attacking and harassing, Lu Xiangsheng and Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief, led the army and horses to return to the southern defense area of ​​the city without entering the palace to thank them.

However, Zhang Cheng, a thousand households in Xuanzhen, was left alone to enter the palace to meet with His Majesty. After the meeting with His Majesty, a decree officer would follow Zhang Cheng back to Lu Xiangsheng's Supervision Camp to read out the imperial decree of the award.

Lu Xiangsheng didn't say much, just knelt down again towards the Meridian Gate Tower, kowtowed three times and bowed nine times before getting up and leaving. Zhang Cheng vaguely saw a line of clear tears streaming down the corner of his eyes.

General Yang Guozhu followed Lu Xiangsheng to kowtow three times and bow nine times. When he turned to leave, he gave Zhang Cheng a meaningful look.

…………

Outside the Meridian Gate, the eunuch Wang Dehua, the chief inspector of ceremonies, looked at the young man in front of him, kept looking him up and down, and after a long time, he said, "Zhang Cheng, come with our family into the palace."

Zhang Cheng followed behind Wang Dehua with light steps, for fear of losing his way, at this moment Wang Dehua's soft voice came from his ear: "Zhang Cheng, there are many rules in this palace, we will pick the most important ones for you first. Talk about..."

Wang Dehua simply taught Zhang Cheng some simple etiquettes for face-sacrificing, time is limited, and he won't talk too much at this half-hour, so he can only pick out some important ones and talk about them first.

Zhang Cheng listened carefully, keeping in mind that when Wang Dehua had finished speaking, Zhang Cheng took a quick step forward and said softly behind Wang Dehua's side: "If you have troubled the prince, Zhang Chengcheng can't repay you. If the prince has a mission in the future , will go through fire and water."

Wang Dehua still had no expression on his face, and said without turning his head: "Our family only knows to serve the emperor loyally. If you have such filial piety, you just need to be loyal to the king's affairs."

Zhang Cheng immediately answered and said: "What the prince said is very true, Zhang Cheng must remember the truth of the prince, if there is a chance in the future, he will listen to the prince's teachings again, and he will also be driven by the emperor and devote himself to the king's affairs!"

Wang Dehua did not express his opinion, but simply said "oh", and continued to guide Zhang Cheng all the way into the palace.

…………

Daming Beijing, the Forbidden City, within the East Nuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Chongzhen sat back on the throne just after attending the prisoner offering ceremony. His complexion was rosy, which had not been seen for many years.

The cabinet minister Yang Sichang sat on a floppy seat on the side of the lower head. Although the emperor bestowed him with the greatest favor, Yang Sichang only put a quarter of his buttocks on the floppy bed, and did not dare to sit firmly. His appearance was not as comfortable as Chen Xinjia, the new governor of Xuanda who was standing beside him.

Ever since he learned yesterday that Emperor Chongzhen had summoned Lu Xiangsheng to the city to offer up prisoners, Yang Sichang had been thinking in his heart how to prevent Lu Xiangsheng from being promoted, so as not to threaten his position in Chongzhen's heart after entering the city.

He sent his confidants overnight to contact Gao Qiqian and several generals of the Beijing camp outside the city. The military newspaper was sent into the city early in the morning, and he arranged for the officials of the Ministry of War to be rushed into the palace early in the morning.

Emperor Chongzhen read the military newspaper saying: slaves and thieves have changed, large groups of captives are roaming in the suburbs south of the city, and there is a tendency to attack Yongdingmen.

He hastily summoned Yang Sichang into the palace, and wanted to ask this love minister to help him as a staff officer.

Yang Sichang first praised Lu Xiangsheng, and even suggested that the emperor reward Lu Xiangsheng to comfort his heart, encourage him to fight against the captives again, and protect the capital.

Then, as soon as the conversation turned around, he suggested that Chongzhen temporarily focus on the war outside the city, wait for the Jiannu to retreat, and then summon Lu Xiang to ascend to the face of the saint, and hold a banquet in the palace to celebrate the achievements of the soldiers who expelled the captives and protected the country.

Emperor Chongzhen felt that what Yang Sichang said was a loyal country, but he asked Zhang Cheng to be left alone. He must see what kind of character this young general who fought against Luqi repeatedly and captured Jialazhangjing alive was.

…………

Wang Dehua approached Nuan Pavilion lightly, and said in a shrill voice: "My lord, Zhang Cheng is waiting outside the pavilion."

Chongzhen raised his head, his face was full of red, and he said with a smile: "Let's pass it on."

"Chuan Xuanzhen Zhang Cheng has an audience."

Wang Dehua shouted in a high-pitched voice.

Zhang Cheng was standing outside Nuange, and Wang Dehua had arranged for two young eunuchs to accompany him. At this time, the voice that Wang Dehua had heard came from inside the Nuan Pavilion, but he seemed not to have heard it. He stood there without moving. The eunuch poked him anxiously and vigorously, and then dragged Zhang Cheng back who was out of his mind.

Zhang Cheng, who came back to his senses, hurriedly approached Nuan Pavilion with his head down. After about ten steps, his knees softened, and he knelt on the ground, put his hands on the ground, and knocked his head on the bluestone floor with a "dong dong dong" and said loudly:
"Zhang Cheng, a thousand households in Xuanfu Town, kowtow to His Majesty the Emperor, and may the Emperor live long and live long!"

(End of this chapter)