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Chapter 93 How to Fight or Not to Fight

Zhang Cheng and Lu Xiangsheng, one behind the other, stood on a hill in Lu Xiangsheng's supervising camp.

The sun is constantly climbing into the sky. Although the sun is not strong, it is still dazzling.

Zhang Cheng looked at Lu Xiangsheng, who was surrounded by the sun's rays in front of him. His slightly thin body was incomparably stalwart at this time, but he also looked extraordinarily lonely. .

He knew how ambitious Lu Duchen was when he first entered the guard, but things backfired. In the palace, between Emperor Chongzhen's swings and wars, Yang Sichang, the cabinet minister in the court, set up obstacles everywhere, and the director general Gao Qiqian... Castration is always constrained.

All of these have now become Lu Xiangsheng's lingering nightmare, making his journey to serve as king difficult, coupled with the repeated division of troops, it makes him even more worried about future wars.

Lu Xiangsheng stood proudly on the hill, letting the cold autumn wind blow mercilessly on his face, but he didn't care. He just stared at the Liangshui River in front of him. The Qing army camp was located dozens of miles to the northeast.

Looking at Lu Xiangsheng in sackcloth and filial piety, Zhang Cheng felt extremely uncomfortable, but he didn't dare to step forward rashly, for fear of disturbing Duchen Lu's thoughts.

The gentle autumn wind blew on him, making him feel colder and colder, and he couldn't help saying to himself: "Winter is here!"

Lu Xiangsheng, who was standing on the hill, seemed to have heard what Zhang Cheng said. He raised his head and looked at the sky. The sky was still clear just now, but at this time, a large cloud came from the east, and the autumn wind became stronger, blowing the hills withered. The branches and leaves kept rolling.

Lu Xiangsheng still didn't move, he waved to Zhang Cheng, motioning Zhang Cheng to come closer, he probably had something to say.

The general Chen An has followed him for many years, and he has never seen Lu Xiangsheng so angry and depressed like this at this moment. At this moment, he empathizes with him, and his eyes turn red, and he hurriedly motioned for Zhang Cheng to come forward.

…………

Zhang Cheng hastened two steps, stepped forward and gave a deep salute, Lu Xiangsheng's body moved slightly, but he didn't turn around, still quietly looking at the countryside across the Liangshui River.

After a long time, he just said quietly: "At the beginning of the month, when Lu first arrived in Changping, he commanded tens of thousands of King Qin's army and horses. How high-spirited he was, he just wanted to fight to the death with the captive cavalry, so that he would feel fear and let them Don't dare to underestimate me, Da Ming.

But I didn't expect that the situation would take such a sudden turn for the worse. The emperor said that we should not fight, and we should be cautious. The courtiers also restrained me in everything. Lu wanted to fight but couldn't. How willing is he to do so;
Now, the new Governor Chen has led away more than ten thousand guerrilla troops from the three towns, and now my army and horses, although called elite, are less than [-]. It is even more difficult to make a difference. how?"

After Lu Xiangsheng finished speaking in one breath, he couldn't help laughing miserably. His laughter seemed to be full of resentment, and his body was still trembling slightly in the cold wind.

Zhang Cheng hurriedly took another step forward, and whispered next to Lu Xiangsheng: "The governor..."

He wanted to say something, but for a moment he didn't know how to speak.

At this time, Lu Xiangsheng turned around slowly, his eyes were piercing, and he seemed to have regained his previous expression. He looked at Zhang Cheng, and he seemed to be looking at the superintendent camp behind Zhang Cheng.

Lu Xiangsheng suddenly smiled, and said passionately: "Forget it, as a minister of Ming Dynasty, at most, he would die in battle, sacrifice his life to serve the country, and die to show his ambition."

Although his laughter was hearty, the sadness and indignation in his tone could not be concealed no matter what.

Lu Xiangsheng was able to say these things to Zhang Cheng, and he did not treat him as an outsider in his heart, so he confides his heart to him without any concealment. It can be seen that Zhang Cheng's status in Lu Xiangsheng's heart is not comparable to others.

Zhang Cheng felt sore, but there was nothing he could do, so he could only say softly: "Minister, don't think about dying. There are still nearly [-] elite soldiers in my three towns, fighting against the captive cavalry. It can't be without you."

After he finished speaking, he was a little bit unsatisfied. He suddenly knelt down on one knee and said in a deep voice: "The final general is determined to follow the governor to the death. On the saddle, he will follow the governor to kill slaves and serve the country. Even if he dies, he will not refuse!"

Lu Xiangsheng was startled for a moment, then his eyes sharpened sharply, he stared at Zhang Cheng, and said in a deep voice: "Loyalty, you have to stay useful, and don't give up your life lightly. The country's affairs are getting harder every day, and it's time for you to work hard!" , You must not have decadent thoughts in your heart, which will delay your life."

Then, he earnestly asked Zhang Cheng again: "Loyalty, remember, the most important thing is to always have a heart of loyalty, always think of the deep kindness of the king, and serve the country loyally."

After bidding farewell to governor Lu Xiangsheng, Zhang Cheng was on his way to the south gate of the governor's camp when he was stopped by the soldiers of the new Xuanda Governor Chen Xinjia, who called him to speak in the tent of Governor Chen.

Zhang Cheng knew that he asked himself to speak in Chen Xinjia's tent, which was just a polite way of saying it. He was Zhang Cheng's new boss, so he had no reason to refuse, so he had no choice but to follow the soldiers to Chen Xinjia's Chinese army tent. .

Chen Xinjia's governor's tent was set up on the north bank of the Xiaolong River.

In fact, yesterday afternoon, Chen Xinjia, the new governor of Xuanda, came to Lu Xiangsheng's camp and started a game with him on the division of troops. Under his command, Chen Xinjia led guerrilla troops from all walks of life in the three towns.

But this time, Chen Xinjia proposed that Jiang Mingwu, the general of Shanxi Town, should also be under his command. If it was before, Lu Xiangsheng would not bother to argue with villains.

However, today is different from the past. Some time ago, Zhang Cheng specially approached Duchen Lu, and he had repeatedly stated to Lu Xiangsheng about the division of troops again. Although Lu Xiangsheng did not agree with what Zhang Chengzhi said at the time, he thought about it later. , but also silently accepted Zhang Cheng's idea.

Therefore, Lu Xiangsheng was particularly tough this time, and even in front of Chen Xinjia, he wanted to write a memorial to Emperor Chongzhen. Chen Xinjia originally followed the intention of the cabinet minister Yang Sichang, only to share Lu Xiangsheng's military power and limit his future performance.

In the end, it was agreed to divide the troops according to the original plan. For this reason, Yang Sichang was still in trouble, and allocated [-] shi of military rations to Lu Xiangsheng in exchange for a smooth division of troops.

In order not to involve too many people, Xiaolong River is used as the boundary. The south of Xiaolong River is the camp of Lu Xiangsheng, and the north of Xiaolong River is the camp of the new Xuanda Governor Chen Xinjia. up.

…………

Before Zhang Cheng came to the Chinese army tent, the rather elegant Chen Xinjia was full of ambition in his own military tent. He was promoted from the position of governor of the Xuanfu to the position of governor of Xuanda. Although it was a step away, it was extremely difficult inside. It is a step up.

And the reason why he was able to get this seat was the strong recommendation of Yang Sichang, a scholar of the Ministry of Rites at the time, who said in front of Emperor Chongzhen that he had been the governor of the Xuanfu for many years and knew very well the side affairs, so he was the right candidate for the governor.

Now that Chen Xinjia has been promoted to the right minister of the Ministry of War and the censor of the right capital, the governor of Xuanda, and the three towns of Shanxi, he is naturally grateful to the cabinet minister Yang Sichang, and he is the only one to follow.

(End of this chapter)