Daming Yuanfu

Chapter 2393: Unusual Movement (XII) Troops Enter the Capital

The north wind was blowing, and the snow was raging. On the official road southwest of Ningyuan Qiantun in Liaodong, an army of about five or six people was marching forward.

This army was quite unusual, with four generals riding horses side by side at the front. The troops behind them were also quite strange, divided into two columns, one wearing the bright red mandarin duck uniforms common to the Ming army, while the other wore a mottled uniform that did not look like the Han army.

At this moment, their sight passed through the flying snow and they could vaguely see the majestic pass in the distance.

"Everyone, ahead is Shanhaiguan, the 'unparalleled key to the two capitals and the first pass of the Great Wall.'" Among the first four generals, a tall and thin man who was dressed in military uniform but whose figure showed that he must be a civil servant spoke up and introduced him to the three generals beside him with a smile.

However, although he said he was introducing the three generals, he actually just turned his head to talk to the two people on his right and did not look to the left at all. It was not known whether he had some grudge against the general on his left or he knew that this general did not need such an introduction.

The two generals on the right were also wearing Ming army armor, but they had no hair on their foreheads or temples, and they seemed not to be Han Chinese. After hearing the introduction, they nodded politely, and one of them answered, "Thank you for your guidance, Qian Guanchao. This magnificent pass really broadened our horizons."

The Qian Guancha smiled and said, "Although Shanhaiguan is magnificent, it is only a pass. As for the experience, you will surely have more feelings when you arrive in the capital. It is a coincidence that I have been an official in the capital for a few years. Why don't I host you and Li Silang when you arrive in the capital, and have a good feast and play together? Would you three be willing to give me a favor?"

The two generals on the right were quite surprised to hear his invitation. The man hurriedly asked, "Oh, Qian Guancha is also going back to Beijing?"

"Haha, that's right, that's right. I have received a letter from the cabinet and returned to Beijing to report on my work." Qian Guancha said with a smile.

The two generals looked at each other subconsciously, their hearts trembled, but the man calmed down immediately and said with a smile: "The New Year is not far away, it is reasonable to return to the capital to report on your work..." After a pause, he asked casually: "Is it the order from the Prime Minister?"

The smile on Qian Guancha's face froze unnoticeably, but he easily covered it up and continued to smile, "That's not the case. To be honest with you two, my benefactor is Lord Shen, and it was his idea to return to the capital this time."

It turned out that Qian Guancha was none other than Qian Menggao, Shen Yikuan's trusted student. Shen Yikuan was so frightened that he left Beijing and went south to organize the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai and pay homage to the Xiaoling Mausoleum. As expected, his favorite student was also affected. Although Qian Menggao was not demoted because Gao Youshi did not immediately break up with him, he was sent to a remote place as he had guessed.

The place where he was sent out was not somewhere else, but Ningqian, which is the Ningyuanqian garrison. To put it bluntly, his new position was to rectify the Ningqian garrison horse administration and military preparation deputy envoy, referred to as Ningqian military preparation governor. He was just called "Qian Guancha" for this reason, just like Gao Youshi was called "Gao Guancha" when he was the military preparation governor of Jinfu Haigai.

After he said this, the man suddenly became alert, hesitated for a moment, pointed behind him, and asked with some embarrassment: "You also know that the two of us are originally rural barbarians and do not know the court etiquette. However, this time we were ordered to submit to the court, and we have made up for it for a while.

It is said that when officials and generals of the Imperial Court return to the capital, whether to report on their duties or for other purposes, they are only allowed to bring no more than 500 soldiers and men... Qian Guancha, you brought 3,000 soldiers and horses with you, is that appropriate?"

Qian Menggao laughed and said, "You two have indeed put in a lot of effort, but you don't have to worry about me. Without the order from the court, how could I dare to lead the army back to the capital? Besides, these soldiers will not be taken to the capital. They will stay in Jizhen. I will go to the capital alone, and then go to Jizhen to pick up these 3,000 soldiers on my way back to Ningqian."

Perhaps it was to comfort or to shock him, Qian Menggao smiled mysteriously at this point and said, "Although the part of the Longjiang Second Army led by you two is already an official army of the imperial court, it has only been in the army for a short time. Going west to Shanhaiguan is considered an important place in the capital... Therefore, you two should avoid some trouble when you return to Beijing to participate in the flag-giving ceremony. I hope you can forgive me."

What he said was true. As the saying goes, foreign troops are not allowed to enter the capital without the emperor's order. The Longjiang Second Army was just established not long ago, and the personnel organization has not yet been completed. Currently, only about 3,000 people have been confirmed, so they just brought all of them this time.

Among them, more than 2,500 were Jurchens, including the famous "Sauron elite soldiers" in later generations, while the number of Han soldiers was only more than 400. Therefore, even if they returned to Beijing to accept the military flag awarded by the court, they had to send another army to watch over them, and there was no reason to let them move freely - of course, before entering Shanhaiguan, it was not so strict, so it was not until Ningqian, only one step away from Shanhaiguan, that Qian Menggao led the army to follow.

At this point, the identities of the two generals were made clear. They were the chief and deputy chief commanders of the Longjiang Second Army: Hong Guoer and Bomu Boguoer. As for the one who was just called "Li Silang", it was naturally Li Chengliang's fourth son Li Ruzhang.

After Qian Menggao finished speaking, before Hong Guoer and Bomu Boguoer could reply, Li Ruzhang said, "This is the meaning of the question. Even if you don't say it, I will explain it to the two generals."

Li Ruzhang was the chief of staff of the Second Longjiang Army, but in the eyes of Hong Guoer and the others, it was probably the intention of the military supervisor. Now that Li Ruzhang had said so, the two of them naturally had nothing more to say and could only nod and accept.

However, the matter seemed not so simple. Their 6,000-strong army arrived at the gate of Shanhaiguan, Guanzhong confirmed the identity of the visitors, and the commander of Shanhaiguan, Yongning Lieutenant General (Note: the historical Shanhaiguan General was established in the 46th year of Wanli, and this position did not exist at that time) personally went out to inspect the pass. Unexpectedly, when Yongning Lieutenant General was about to inspect the pass in public, Qian Menggao smiled and said, "The pass is on the baggage cart of the rear team, please move and go with me."

The lieutenant general took a look and realized that the baggage cart was not far away, no more than a hundred steps, so it would be fine to go there. Besides, Qian Menggao was a civil servant, and although he was not under his jurisdiction, he did not dare to offend him.

At this time, Li Ruzhang also said with a smile that he would go along, and he was very affectionate with the lieutenant general, which made the lieutenant general flattered - the other party was the fourth son of the Li family!

Hong Guoer and Bomu Boguoer felt that they were indeed "outsiders" and could not get a word in, so they just waited quietly by the roadside. Unexpectedly, not long after, there seemed to be a dispute on the baggage cart. The two turned around in surprise, but saw Li Ruzhang just putting his hand on the shoulder of the lieutenant general and leaning his head close to him as if he was talking to him.

The two men looked at it with puzzled interest for a while before they saw Li Ruzhang loosen his enthusiastic hand and stare at the lieutenant general with a smile on his face, while Qian Menggao on the side seemed to be talking as well.

The lieutenant general lowered his head, as if he had thought about it, and then he raised the seal in his hand and said a few words as if he was swearing to heaven and earth, while Qian Menggao and Li Ruzhang nodded repeatedly. At this time, it seemed that they had finally finished talking. The lieutenant general handed the seal back to Qian Menggao, who put it back into the baggage cart, and then the three of them turned around and walked back.

Hong Guoer had a feeling that something was not right. Seeing the three people coming back, he subconsciously asked, "It seems like you three were arguing just now?"

The lieutenant general's face was uncertain, hesitant for a moment, and did not answer immediately, while Qian Menggao smiled and said: "How could there be any dispute? It's just that the words used in the customs are difficult, and Luo Canrong misunderstood for a while, so I explained it to him, and Li Silang also came to guarantee it...

Haha, Luo Canrong is loyal to the king, which is a blessing for the court. When I arrive in Beijing, I will inevitably speak well of him in front of the elders. Luo Canrong, is that right? "

Lieutenant General Luo forced a smile and asked Hong Guoer, "General Hong, your troops are going to Jizhen first, right?"

Of course, Hong Guoer's last name was not Hong, but the Han people did not like to call him by that long last name, and he had gotten used to it, so he did not mind it. He just nodded and said, "Oh, I saw that this is indeed written on the order sent by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister told my troops to go to Jizhen first to collect their military uniforms... otherwise, how can we enter the capital in this state?" As he spoke, he pointed to the "Longjiang Second Army" behind him that was dressed in a haphazard manner.

Lieutenant General Luo's expression eased a little, and he nodded and said, "Since the Prime Minister has given the order, then there is nothing to worry about." Then he bowed to the four people and said, "I will go back and open the gate to let them pass. Please wait for a moment."

Qian Menggao still had that smiling look on his face, and nodded slightly, saying, "Thank you for joining us."

Lieutenant General Luo turned around and left with a few of his personal soldiers. Not long after, he returned to Guanzhong and ordered: "The defense... is correct, open it and let them pass."

Following his order, the soldiers inside the pass began to push the huge capstan "whoosh!" and the jack at the main gate of Shanhaiguan rose up little by little with a creaking sound, revealing a corridor that was not too wide but just wide enough for four horses to pass in parallel.

Qian Menggao raised his eyebrows and chuckled, "Everyone, the gate is open, let's go in now." He said this, but obviously did not give others a chance to say anything more. He gently squeezed the horse's belly and stepped forward. Li Ruzhang was a good rider, and he could not see any movement, but the horse under his crotch followed.

Hong Gor, who was born as the leader of the left wing of Khorchin, had a typical Mongol horseman level of equestrianism, and he also followed without seeing any movement. Only Bomu Bogor was a little embarrassed. This Donghai Jurchen leader was good at walking but not riding, and he was in a hurry to catch up, but at least he didn't make a fool of himself.

The 6,000 men in their group marched through Shanhaiguan without stopping for a moment, and passed through the pass without even stopping. A confidant of Luo Canrong in Guanzhong was quite puzzled and asked, "Master, the flag-raising ceremony of the Second Longjiang Army is still some time away, why are these people so anxious?"

Luo Canrong did not answer, but just frowned and stared at the back of the army. Another of his trusted servants asked again: "When Qian Guancha passed the test and took office last year, I heard that he was a disciple of Lord Shen. It seems that he was transferred to another post because he did something that offended the prime minister... This is strange. Why would the prime minister let him lead the troops to go with the Longjiang Second Army?"

"Stop guessing!" Luo Canrong's eyebrows were furrowed into a "川" shape, and he interrupted impatiently, "Listen to my order: send a team of night guards to bypass them and report to Jizhen first, saying... saying that although Qian Guancha's pass was not forged, the wording was vague. I dare not stop them, so I have to let them pass first, but I dare not not report, so I ask the governor to make a clear decision on the follow-up matters."
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PS: I am glad to have found a foreshadowing. But this chapter can only contain so much content, it would be bad to fill 4K...

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