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Chapter 994: Master of Great Achievements?

Standing behind Niu Sheng, Lu Dachun looked at Yongningbo's cavalry team gradually going away, and his heart was full of emotions. He was originally an unpopular little postman on Xuanfu North Road.

If he hadn't met Zhang Cheng and gained Zhang Cheng's appreciation, I'm afraid he would never be able to get out of Yunzhou Fort, let alone out of North Road, or even out of Xuanfu Town.

Now, not only has he walked out of the Xuanfu, but he has also become one of the court officials of the Great Ming Dynasty. Although he is only a sixth-rank official minister, his status and status cannot be compared with those of the past.

By the way, is there anyone on Xuanfu North Road who doesn't envy Lu Dachun?
…………

In fact, not only are they envious of people like Lu Dachun who can enter the capital, but now the military households and common people on Xuanfu North Road and East Road are particularly envious of all the soldiers of the Xuanfu Army.

Nowadays, the prosperity of the North Road has become the crown of the Xuanfu, and behind this prosperity is the consumption of the generals of the Xuanfu army. It is enough to support the prosperity of Xuanbei.

The second is the East Road. Various constructions are in full swing. A large number of workshops have been built outside Yongning City. Many flagship products of Yunzhou Jiangying can be produced here.

Of course, the production of guns and guns, which is the core technology of the Xuanfu Army, is still all concentrated in the Yunzhou Craftsman Camp, but commercial items such as cigarettes, glass, mirrors, and refined salt, as well as knives, armor, chariots, harnesses, etc. They all started manufacturing here in Yongning.

Since Yongning City is the fiefdom of Zhang Cheng's "Bo Yongning", although the Ming court has cut off the real land title system, Yongning has already been brought under Zhang Cheng's control before.

Moreover, Yongning City is located in the Guishui River Basin with a large arable area, and it is the key to Beijing Enterprises Zhougoubao, Heihanlingbao and other important places. It can also use this to actually control Yanqing Prefecture. After the city, Zhang Cheng began to cultivate the land.

But the East Road area is not comparable to the North Road. There is also the prefect of Yanqing appointed by the Ministry of Officials, and most of the localities belong to the registered civilians of the Ministry of Households, instead of being full of military households like the North Road.

However, Zhang Cheng couldn't help it. He didn't want to safely occupy this place to be the emperor of the land. He just wanted to make full use of the land and manpower on the East Road to support his increasingly stretched finances.

This idea coincides with Yanqing Zhizhou. Before that, Yanqing was poor and backward, and the annual collection of money and food was very difficult, and there were often arrears, which affected the promotion of Yanqing Zhizhou.

Now, Zhang Cheng actually wants to vigorously develop the cultivation and workshops in Yanqing Prefecture, and he naturally has a lot of strengths, although everyone's official prestige may decline due to Zhang Cheng's growing reputation.

However, with outstanding political achievements, wouldn't it be better to be an official in a more affluent place, or to go to Beijing because of this? Besides, no matter how hard Zhang Cheng struggles, and regardless of whether he succeeds or not, the original promise to Zhizhou Those annual records will be taken care of correctly.

As for Zhang Cheng's surveying the fields and checking the affairs of Dingkou in Yanqing Prefecture, there is no harm to the local people, but the potential risk is that he will offend a large number of local powerful families.

However, these are no longer the problems of Yanqing Zhizhou. No matter what kind of local tyrants offended, it is Zhang Cheng's own problem. Throw it all to Zhang Cheng, why would he not do it?

…………

The figure of Yongning Bo and Zhang Cheng's cavalry gradually disappeared from everyone's sight, and Lu Dachun's eyes fell back on Niu Sheng.

Don't look at him now that he has become the chief steward of Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng in the Earl's Mansion in the capital, but in fact, the one who can safely represent Yong Ning Bo Zhang Cheng in the capital is still the unofficial Niu Shengniu .

Although Niu Sheng is now the big shopkeeper of Jingxi Yuanlongchang, no one calls him the big shopkeeper, but they all call him "Niu Ye" or "Niu Uncle".

Because almost everyone in the capital knows that the owner behind Yuan Longchang is Zhang Cheng, the deputy general who has only risen in Xuanzhen in recent years. Appreciate it very much.

Seeing that Zhang Cheng had gone far away, Niu Sheng turned around and clasped his fists with everyone, saying, "Master Yu, Master Yuan, Master Wang, Master Ma, and Master Liang, please go back to the courtyard and rest for a while. After I order you to get off the carriage, I will send some masters back home." government."

Yu Shangyou and the others had frequent contacts with Niu Sheng and Wang Zhaozheng. Because Niu Sheng and Wang Zhaozheng had no official positions, they usually referred to them as masters. Over time, they called each other by this in informal occasions.

A few people chatted and laughed as they walked back, they were all very excited, everyone felt that they had found the right backer this time, and they all felt very lucky that Zhang Cheng was granted the title of Uncle Yongning at such a young age.

After a while, several exquisite sedan cars were ready, and some New Year's goods were prepared for the masters along with the car, Yu Shangyou and others were naturally elated.

The important thing is not the value of the New Year's goods, but because these are the special products that Yongning Bo ordered to be transported to them from Xuanfu, which is not the value of them.

Yongningbo's heart, having them in Yongningbo's heart, is the greatest reward for them!

After seeing off Yu Shangyou and the others, everyone returned to the courtyard west of the racecourse, where Wu Jinkang, a doctor from the Ministry of Industry, had been waiting for a long time.

Wu Jinkang is different from Yu Shangyou and the others. He is not only Zhang Cheng's real relative, but also his wife is Zhang Cheng's wife's big matchmaker. Naturally, this relationship is far from being comparable to outsiders.

Now, the reason why he stayed here and never left is because there is still one important matter to discuss.

Sure enough, after everyone was seated, Niu Sheng was the first to say: "Master Wu, the marshal ordered me to escort Mrs. Wu and Miss, and Mrs. Tang from Yongningbo's mansion to Chicheng for the New Year.

I don't know if Master Wu has any other orders. When can we set off here? "

Wu Jinkang twisted his beard and said: "It's okay for my wife and young lady, I can only prepare in a few days. I don't know when it will be cheaper for that little Mrs. Tang in Yongningbo's house to start."

Upon hearing this, Niu Sheng looked at Lu Dachun, and said, "Official Lu's family, you should go back to Yongningbo's mansion right away, first greet Mrs. Tang Xiaomaid, and then make an itinerary."

He looked at Lu Dachun and said to him: "Lu Dachun, except for a few guards left by the uncle in the Earl's mansion, the rest of the servants, servants, and maidservants are all placed in the palace, in order to prevent them from hiding the East Factory. Fanzi doesn't trust anyone.

This point is the most important, you have to remember it for us. "

Lu Dachun couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat when he heard the words, but he still replied firmly: "Master Niu, don't worry, Dachun has memorized everything."

Niu Sheng said again: "Although the people in Uncle's mansion are not trustworthy, at most they are spies from the East Factory, and they will not endanger Uncle's safety for the time being. You just need to keep an eye on everything, and you can't teach them to watch." There are clues."

"Yes, Dachun wrote it down."

"There are also our two hidden piles not far from the Earl's Mansion, just in case, now you don't need to know where they hide, just remember that if there is any danger, someone will rescue you out of the city " Niu Sheng ordered.

"Dachun has memorized everything."

Niu Sheng said again: "There is an antique store, a silk shop, and a pawn shop on Qipan Street. These are all properties that are publicly listed in the name of our marshal. From tomorrow onwards, you will come forward on behalf of the lord." take care of.

From now on, if you have anything to do with your place, you can go to Tongchun Tower to find shopkeeper Wang Da to discuss it. If it is not urgent, you don't need to go to the west of the city to find me. Only when it is urgent can you come directly to the west of the city. "

"Dachun is all in mind, please rest assured, Master Niu."

Several people here talked about some miscellaneous matters, Wu Jinkang, Lu Dachun, Wang Zhaozheng and others got up and left.

…………

It turned out that Zhang Cheng had already guessed that the reason why Emperor Chongzhen would so readily reward him with the beautiful ladies around him must have deep meaning.

It's nothing more than wanting to use Tang Chunru as a spy by his side, not only to spy on whether he is really loyal, but also to win over himself. If Tang Chunru is favored, he can use this to control Zhang Cheng.

In addition, it is also possible to test whether Zhang Cheng is really as lustful as the rumors say?
How could Zhang Cheng fail to see these little tricks, but "seeing through but not puncturing" is the true meaning of life, especially when you are facing the king of a country, this is even more important!
Now, even though Zhang Cheng knows that the Emperor Chongzhen bestowed on him a glamorous maid, he actually has other meanings, and he can't refuse. happy.

On the one hand, Zhang Cheng played, sang, swallowed and danced day and night, and had endless feasts with Tang Chunru. On the other hand, he faced all the visiting people and decided how to meet them according to the amount of congratulatory gifts he delivered.

Why doesn't Zhang Cheng know the truth of "high meritorious service shakes the master"?

However, he knew that the current Daming was in a precarious state, and there was not much time for him to act slowly, so he did not hesitate to destroy his reputation in order to win the trust of Emperor Chongzhen.

Therefore, this time, Emperor Chongzhen Jinkou Yuyan asked him to leave Beijing and return to the Xuanfu as soon as possible. His purpose was naturally to hope that he could rectify the army and send troops to Henan to help suppress the Caoliu bandits early.

However, in the emperor's oral order, there was another sentence that seemed insignificant. Emperor Chongzhen asked Zhang Cheng to bring Tang Chunru back to the Xuanfu, so that Tang Chunru could fulfill his filial piety in front of the old lady.

This seems to be the great grace of the current emperor, but it actually wants Zhang Cheng to bring this little secret agent bestowed by the emperor with him to monitor his every move and see what Zhang Cheng is thinking in his heart!

For Emperor Chongzhen's kindness, Zhang Cheng had no reason to refuse at all. Although he led the guards to leave the capital first on the grounds that the emperor's order was very urgent, he did not dare to leave Tang Chunru alone in the Earl's Mansion.

That's why he came to Jingxi Racecourse after leaving the city. Apart from meeting with everyone and making some arrangements, he mainly made arrangements for Tang Chunru's trip to Xuanfu.

Coincidentally, a few days ago, the aunt of the Wu family received letters from Zhang Cheng's mother and aunt, inviting the aunt of the Wu family to meet again in Chicheng. It happened that Mrs. Yongning Ji Xuanzhu also missed Miss Wu's family very much, so she invited her to come with her get together.

Now, Tang Chunru, the young lady of Yongningbo's mansion, happened to be traveling with Wu's aunt, mother and daughter, and went to Chi Castle together, so it was convenient to arrange accompanying guards.

And Lu Dachun will stay in Yongning Bo's mansion from now on, in addition to taking care of the internal and external affairs of the Bo mansion, he also has to observe the people in the mansion nearby, if he finds someone who behaves strangely, he must secretly write it down and observe carefully.

In fact, it is very difficult to find the real Dongchang spies. They are just like ordinary people, engaged in their own work in their respective positions, and rarely contact their superiors. They just report their observations secretly on a regular basis. .

Unless something important is discovered, or when a major change occurs, he will not hesitate to expose his identity and send an urgent summons to his superiors.

…………

Just as Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng, Datong General Soldier Wang Pu, and Shanxi General Soldier Li Fuming embarked on the return journey together, a bloody fight was going on in the hinterland of Daming Zhongzhou.

The time came to the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month in the 14th year of Chongzhen, and the siege of Nanyang by the Chuang Cao bandit army had already progressed to the tenth day.

Before noon this day, Yao Yunxi, the magistrate of Nanyang County, was leading the defense of Beicheng, but he was hit by bricks and stones stirred up by stray bullets.

Fortunately, Liu Guangzuo, the deputy general, arrived in time to stabilize the defense of Beicheng, and the bandit army failed to break through the city.

However, Mengruhu and Liu Guangzuo have been guarding Nanyang for nearly ten months, because the bandit army had besieged Nanyang City in May of this year. Fortunately, the governor of Baoding Yang Wenyue led the army to help, and the bandit army retreated.

Now Chuang Cao's army has come back with more momentum, but the food and grain in the city are not prepared enough, and it is now exhausted. With the aid and food cut off, the army's morale is unstable and morale is low, and the task of guarding the city is difficult.

Finally, on the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, Nanyang East City was captured by Cao Cao's bandit army. With the continuous influx of most of the bandit army, Nanyang City was already in dire straits, and it was impossible to continue to hold on.

However, at this time, the commander-in-chief was as fierce as a tiger and the deputy commander-in-chief Liu Guangzuo was already hungry and exhausted, but they were still under the leadership of the two of them, fighting to the death and not surrendering.

When Meng Ruhu came down from the west city he was in charge of, there were only more than 200 soldiers and servants left around him. He led these people to fight in the streets and block the bandits, while retreating towards the Tang Palace.

His idea is to retreat into the palace city of the palace, protect the Tang king Zhu Yumao, and take advantage of the chaos to escape the city, and there is no other place to go.

But at this time, all three gates of Nanyang City had been broken, and the bandit cavalry had already rushed in and stopped him halfway. There was still a distance from the Tang Palace, but there were only dozens of soldiers left around him.

At this moment, the horse under his crotch was hit by an arrow and galloped away, and he also fell to the ground. Even though he was as fierce as a tiger, he was wounded in many places and covered in blood, but he did not surrender.

He still shouted and raised his saber to fight, and charged towards the Tang Palace, the remaining ten or so soldiers behind him were like him, holding spears and shields, fighting desperately, none of them was timid.

When there was still a stone's throw away from the palace city of the Tang Dynasty, hundreds of bandits led by Li Zicheng suddenly rushed out and surrounded them tightly.

At this time, the fierce tiger knew that there was no way to escape, he roared, fell down and knelt down towards the north, knocked his head vigorously, and roared in a hoarse voice: "Your Majesty, I have tried my best..."

After prostrating, he was as fierce as a tiger, as if he was crazy, he swung a big knife, and roared into the bandit army without hesitation.

After a long time, the sound of shouting for killing gradually subsided, the tall body like a tiger leaned against the wall and stood still, a spear pierced his heart, the barrel of the gun trembled uncontrollably, and blood dripped continuously from the red tassel on the tip of the gun fall.

A generation of powerful generals of the Ming Dynasty left with hatred, and passed away with loyalty and hatred!
On the other side, Liu Guangzuo, the deputy commander-in-chief, was also in the melee and disappeared. No one knew whether he died in battle or escaped from the city. Qi Kai and other officials all died fighting hard after the city was broken.

As the Nanyang city guards were killed one after another, the sporadic battles in the city gradually stopped, but another bloody killing continued...

(End of this chapter)