The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 444 The Incomprehensible Coach
Immediately, Zhu Youtang gave an order to have his two brothers-in-law, Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, called into the palace.

Instructions, roughly meaning, let the two brothers of the Zhang family lead troops to Linqing Prefecture to assist Zhang Zhouping the bandits.

Moreover, they set off immediately, with [-] cavalry from the Beijing camp equipped with [-] light artillery pieces, plus shells and yellow gunpowder, etc. This is because Zhang Zhou is afraid that Zhang Zhou will not have enough firearms in this battle, so he will not be able to directly defeat the enemy, so he asked the Zhang brothers to transport the firearms over. .

"Your Majesty, if Shou Ninghou and Jian Chang Bo go, will the event be delayed?" Li Rong felt that the emperor was overly nervous.

Zhang Zhou sent a message from Dongchang Mansion, and immediately led the troops to suppress the bandits.

If the capital sends troops again, it will basically be too late.

Zhu Youtang said: "I just want to show my attitude, and also to prevent other Xiao Xiaoxiao from daring to take advantage of the fire and rob them. It doesn't matter if they can't help, at least let Bingkuan have no distractions."

When Li Rong thought about it, the emperor was still thinking carefully.

If there are other thieves who are afraid of being taken over by Zhang Zhou in the future and want to take the opportunity to form a partnership with Su Nianba and Zhong Twelve, then Zhang Zhou's less than one thousand soldiers and horses may not be enough.

"Then order the localities to fully cooperate with the suppression of the robbers. From the chief envoy, the local state capital, to the guards and the inspection department, we must fully cooperate. If anyone fails to do things well, I will step down from his post! And directly Leave it to the law!"

Zhu Youtang was also moved ruthlessly.

"The old slave is going to draft the imperial edict." Li Rong also hastily acted.

……

……

The Zhang family brothers rushed to lead troops to Shandong, and the news spread quickly in the capital.

When all the officials returned to the government for casual work that afternoon, they heard the outrageous news. Many people didn't even know what happened in Shandong.

As soon as Zhong Zhong came out, he met Wang Shi, the new minister of the Ministry of punishment. Wang Shi said: "Maybe because there are thieves and bandits on the river doing misdeeds, your majesty will send troops to protect the water."

He Zhong said: "The news from the Ministry of War?"

"No." Wang Shi said, "It is said that the two Zhangs said it themselves, and it came from His Majesty's order. Now the crown prince has not returned to Beijing, and I don't know if it has something to do with the obstruction of the crown prince's return to Beijing."

After all, neither of them worked in the yamen, so they knew too few details.

On the other hand, Xie Qian got into the sedan chair after leaving the palace, but was obstructed by Ma Wensheng, Minister of the Ministry of Officials.

Xie Qian got down from the sedan chair again, frowned and said, "Brother Negative Tu, you have been bothering me a lot lately."

Ma Wensheng said: "I just learned from the Ministry of War that Zhang Bingkuan led the local soldiers to suppress bandits. The reason is that there were river robbers in the canal."

Xie Qian said: "It's already winter, and it's freezing everywhere. Do the river bandits have to pick this time? Don't they know that Zhang Bingkuan is going back to Beijing? Do they have to touch his head? "

Ma Wensheng hesitated, but still explained: "It is said that the prince is also among them."

"How do you know that?" Xie Qian was a little surprised.

Ma Wensheng did not evade, saying: "The crown prince and Zhang Bingkuan went north together, and His Majesty was anxious to lead the troops southward with Shouninghou and Jianchangbo, and even issued an order to the local area, stating that this matter should be taken seriously. Perhaps Zhang Bingkuan intends to exercise this The prince, or it has something to do with the prince's willfulness."

Ma Wensheng knew the prince's character, this kid was very fond of making trouble.

From Ma Wensheng's point of view, Zhang Zhou's intention to pacify the robbers was probably to "coax the children". It was precisely because the crown prince liked this tune that Zhang Zhou would engage in such activities.

Xie Qian frowned and said, "If it is said that the prince went south, it was not at Zhang Bingkuan's instigation, but the prince did it on his own, then what do you say this time? Zhang Bingkuan doesn't know the importance of the safety of the prince of the Ming Dynasty?"

Ma Wensheng said: "Leading the troops personally does not mean that you have to charge forward."

Xie Qian said: "I see, I will find a way to talk to His Majesty later. I always feel that Zhang Bingkuan is licking blood on the edge of a knife, and he is always doing a lot of unscrupulous things. The courtiers should protect the stability of the prince, but he doesn't seem to know that this will happen." The influence brought about, this is what it is to take risks!"

In the eyes of traditional civil servants, being a minister should be prudent first.

Don't make mistakes, let's talk about merit, or it is called "a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall".

But Zhang Zhou is different. He always likes to do things that others dare not do, and always likes to play something big.

……

……

For Xie Qian and Ma Wensheng, it seemed unreasonable, but for Zhang Zhou, it was nothing more than normal.

Who is Zhu Houzhao? For ordinary courtiers, he is just a child who has not grown up. His character has not yet been finalized. Others don't know what he will experience in the future... But Zhang Zhou is familiar with history and is teaching children about it The above is an "open book exam".

And Zhang Zhou didn't think it was too dangerous to take Zhu Houzhao to quell the two gangs of bandits.

The army passed Boping very quickly, and when they walked closer to Qingping, they arrived at the base camp of the first bandit Zhong Twelve. Because they wanted to march without disturbing the snake, the team actually moved very fast and did not alert the local government.

The team first stationed, and before nightfall, sent Jin Yiwei to investigate the specific situation on the mountain, find out where the mountain gate is, and then complete the strategy.

Zhu Houzhao excitedly said, "Is it tonight?"

Zhang Zhou said: "Prince, you don't want to fight in person, do you?"

"Otherwise?" Zhu Houzhao patted his chest and said, "Give me a firecracker, and I'll aim right there. I will never approach them a hundred paces."

Zhang Zhou pointed to the corner of the ground and said: "The prince should be prepared to stay here and wait to intercept and kill the bandits who fled down the mountain. I will let the soldiers of the Pingshan Guard rush up overnight and blast their camp gate with mighty sky gunpowder. Then use the cavalry to rush in, and a Shenwei cannon is responsible for covering it, and you, the prince, guard here, and you also have a Shenwei cannon, and you will bombard anyone who comes, and still use Pingshanwei's troops to arrest people."

"Where's Jin Yiwei?" Zhu Houzhao asked.

Zhang Zhou put down the baton in his hand and said, "Jin Yiwei is responsible for protecting you."

"..."

It was only then that Zhu Houzhao realized that it was a big burden if his own people were on the battlefield.

Liu Jin on the side persuaded: "His Royal Highness, this is your first time in battle, there is no need to rush to the front, the job that can get credit is a good job, and the credit for the captured prisoners is yours. This is Master Zhang. Create an opportunity for you."

"Really?" Zhu Houzhao heard it, and it turned out that this was a good opportunity for me to receive the results of the battle.

This belongs to good intentions.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Put on the armor, Mr. Liu, you have to hold up the shields. If the prince has any troubles, we have no good fruit to eat."

"Yes, yes." Liu Jin smiled.

He once went to Pianguan as a guarding eunuch, but he still didn't get a good opportunity to make contributions.

Originally, it was a serious crime to accompany the crown prince to the south this time, but he never thought that there would be a chance to make military exploits before returning to Beijing. He naturally knew that this would need to be grasped carefully.

……

……

It is naturally easy to attack a mountain with 1000 troops.

Moreover, Zhang Zhou found out early on that Zhong Twelve's main force was actually not in the cottage. To put it bluntly, their main force was out preparing to ambush the caravan and plunder everywhere.

There are only women and children left in the mountains, as well as some old, weak, sick and disabled.

In Daming, banditry is also a profession, and it is very common for bandits to take care of their families. In order to develop, bandits are also very taboo about killing and killing people. However, if they really want to work hard, they also have certain strengths.

Cao Bao personally led two hundred cavalry to prepare, and then the vanguard went to the gate of the camp overnight, buried the yellow gunpowder, and ignited it with a fuse.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the camp gate was blasted open.

Before the bandits inside could figure out the situation, the cavalry of Daming launched a charge from the bottom of the mountain. The bandit's sentry on the mountainside found out the clues, and it was too late to inform the mountain. Along the way, the [-] cavalry of Daming rushed to the camp smoothly. go.

The bandits are also very experienced in escaping for their lives. In order to avoid being encircled and suppressed by the government, they also have back-ups, the so-called three caves of the cunning rabbit.

When they found out that the officers and soldiers came to suppress them, they quickly loaded their things into the car and fled from the back mountain to the downhill. The path in the woodland was even opened up by themselves, but it was already under Zhang Zhou's control. .

Soon the camp on the mountain was basically occupied by the cavalry, and the deserters of the bandits also entered the ambush circle set up by Zhu Houzhao himself...

……

……

"kill!"

Don't mention how excited Zhu Houzhao was.

From a distance, only a bunch of dark figures were seen moving in the woods, Zhu Houzhao seemed to have been beaten with chicken blood.

Immediately, all of Daming's ambushes were dispatched.

Rushed into the dense forest and captured the bandits who dragged their families one by one. Zhu Houzhao's task was obviously to guard the back mountain, but he couldn't care about anything else, so he insisted on riding a horse to "kill the enemy" himself.

In the end, it was Yang Peng who "squeezed" him off the horse.

"What are you doing?" Zhu Houzhao yelled at Yang Peng.

The light of the torch came.

Zhang Zhou walked over from not far away, gave him a white look, and Zhu Houzhao became honest in an instant.

Zhang Zhoudao: "The prince forgot how to formulate a strategy? If a commander doesn't even follow the strategy, when he is in a dangerous situation, your rash actions alone will bring about the destruction of the entire battle situation! You think fighting on the battlefield is brave Can you win by being ruthless?"

"Got it! Long-winded." Zhu Houzhao was in high spirits, and he was naturally upset when Zhang Zhou taught him a lesson.

Liu Jin ran back from a short distance away, excitedly said: "I've caught it, I've caught more than 30 people..."

"Just over 30?" Zhu Houzhao was very dissatisfied with the number.

Seeing Zhang Zhouzai, Liu Jin suddenly felt something was wrong, especially when he saw Zhang Zhou's stern gaze.

Yang Peng reprimanded: "Eunuch Liu, Master Zhang asked you to hold up a shield for the prince here, to protect the prince's safety, what about you?"

"Your servant... was ordered to suppress the bandits." Liu Jin had no choice but to carry Zhu Houzhao out.

Zhu Houzhao said: "I asked him to go, I can't do it myself, why not let the people around me do it?"

Just as he was talking, all the people who collected the net also came back.

Zhang Zhou said: "As long as nothing happened, clean up the mess and go back to camp!"

……

……

Zhang Zhou personally "escorted" Zhu Houzhao back to the camp this time.

Summarizing the results of the battle, Yang Peng said happily: "The cottage was breached in one fell swoop, killing four bandits, arresting 45 men, and 72 women and children. The aunts, concubines, daughters and old mothers of Zhong Shier's family were captured. However, it is said that they still have a stockade, which is in the north of Linqing Prefecture, and we can only send troops to go there."

Zhu Houzhao said with a smile on his face, "It doesn't matter if it's more than 30 people. It takes so much effort, if only [-] people are arrested, it's too shameful."

Zhang Zhoudao: "Winning is the most important thing. How many prisoners are killed is not the key point. After tonight, we will definitely startle the enemy. If we want to beat Su Nianba again, it will not be easy. We can go north and return to the capital!"

"What?" Zhu Houzhao said in surprise, "Stop fighting? Sir, you didn't stop because I wanted to fight the enemy today, did you?"

Zhang Zhou asked, "Prince, do you know what strategic intention is?"

Zhu Houzhao blinked and asked, "What is strategic intention?"

Zhang Zhoudao: "The strategic intention of this battle is to conquer Zhong Twelve's stronghold, catch them by surprise, and let Zhong Twelve know that the officers and soldiers are now suppressing them and let them restrain themselves. This is for us to pass through Linqing Prefecture and let the canal Caravans and travelers can pass smoothly.”

Zhu Houzhao said: "No, I think our strategic intention should be to keep Daming stable."

Yang Peng hurriedly said: "His Royal Highness, that's not your task, it's the magistrate's. You and Mr. Zhang have more important things to do, how can you come here with a few small thieves here? Are they playing around? Besides, your safety is much more important than clearing out a few thieves."

"But I haven't fought enough yet!" Zhu Houzhao looked aggrieved, "Sir, let's fight again and at least catch Zhong Twelve! Otherwise, I'm going back to the capital, and I'll figure it out later. For five years, forget about it.”

Zhang Zhoudao: "Now we should turn from the dark to the bright. If there is still a fight along the way, then fight, otherwise you should play it safe."

"gentlemen……"

"No discussion!" Zhang Zhou said sharply.

It seems that apart from Zhu Youtang, only Mr. Zhang Zhou can talk to the prince so unceremoniously.

……

……

Zhang Zhouping's robbery battle was a direct attack on the opponent's lair, and it was based on the fact that the intelligence work was in place and that he was able to march secretly without showing any traces.

After the battle ended, the bandits on both sides of the canal immediately withdrew.

The government even sent officials to protect the river along the way. With the support of the government, the caravans and passengers detained in Linqing Prefecture and Dongchang Prefecture finally had the confidence to continue their journey by boat.

"All right!"

After Li Zhaoxian heard the good news, he hurried back to inform his wife and sister.

But only his wife was there, and his sister was not.

Li Zhaoxian asked in surprise, "Ma'am, where did little sister go?"

Xu said: "Someone from Cai Guogong's mansion came to invite me earlier, and I have already gone to the magistrate's yamen."

"what?"

Li Zhaoxian was surprised.

"Did Xianggong greet the magistrate's yamen before?" Mrs. Xu also wondered why the local government could find the inn.

Li Zhaoxian sighed: "I was afraid that my father would be worried, so I wanted to use the local government to send a letter. Who would have thought...but that's okay, my sister has always admired Lin Shangshu's daughter, and called her Mrs. Nu, presumably because of this. See you."

……

……

As Li Zhaoxian expected, it was Lin Yi who invited Li Yu over.

Zhang Zhou led his troops to fight against the bandits. It was impossible for Lin Yi and the others to go together, so Zhang Zhou left people in Dongchang Mansion. The Yamen of the prefect of Dongchang Mansion was responsible for supplying food, Jin Yiwei and the guards around Zhang Zhou. Responsible for security.

When the magistrate of Dongchang Mansion knew that Li Zhaoxian's brother and sister were also in Dongchang Mansion, which was known by Zhang Zhou's family members, Lin Yi also wanted to invite Li Yu over.

In fact, when Li Yu was in Nanjing, Lin Yi knew she was there, but she couldn't find a chance to invite her at that time, and she didn't know where Lin Yi lived.

"Miss."

In the other courtyard, Li Yu was very happy to see Lin Yi sitting in the gazebo, and ran forward with three steps instead of two steps, with a bright smile on his face like a little girl.

Lin Yi stood up and saluted Li Yu.

In terms of status, Lin Yi is not taller than Li Yu, and Lin Yi has always felt inferior because she is a concubine.

After sitting down, Lin Yi took the initiative to explain the purpose of the invitation: "There are some things that must be clearly explained to Ms. Li. The previous words were not written by my concubine on purpose for you to read, but were written by my family."

Lin Yi smiled and said, "The female gentleman is so good at learning, why worry about being known?"

"I... I'm not good at learning. I didn't write that word, it was written by my husband..." Lin Yi felt that it was necessary to make it clear. ,

"is it?"

Li Yu didn't feel too surprised.

After all, Zhang Zhou's reputation in the literary world is so high that even his own elder brother has become Zhang Zhou's fan, and he directly calls him "Mr." Zhang Zhou is now probably equivalent to half of the world's scholars in the literary world.

But she still shook her head, "How could those beautiful words be written by a man?"

"I don't know either." Lin Yi was also confused when he mentioned this point.

She also couldn't figure out how Zhang Zhou was able to be like a fish in water in the officialdom, create a reputation in the literary world, and write poems that moved her heart.

Li Yu grinned, showing a pair of shallow smiles, and said: "I know that the lady is not angry with me, so I am relieved. I have always been worried that the lady will not see me again in the future."

Lin Yi glanced at Li Yu.

I thought to myself, they are all girls of the same age, but her birthday is a few months older than hers, she looks like an innocent little girl, why do I feel like a resentful woman?No wonder the master often says this about me. Is it because I have too many things on my mind?

"I'm not mad at anyone..."

Lin Yi even wanted to say, I was afraid that you would look down on me.

You are the most beloved daughter of a scholar, but I am just a humble concubine of the Lin family. After I get married, I will only be a concubine, and you will definitely be the first wife of some big family in the future.

It's because I dare not face you that I don't want to see you.

Just as they were talking, Wang Mingshan's maid walked in safely and said, "Young madam, someone just sent a message saying that the master has won the battle, and we are leaving tomorrow to go north!"

"Yeah." Lin Yi said, "I'll go back and clean up."

Li Yu asked: "Can I go? Did Mr. Zhang win the battle?"

Lin Yi asked curiously, "Why does Ms. Li call her husband Mr.?"

"It's called that now." Li Yu pursed his lips and said with a smile, "It's also because Brother She often calls it that, and I just followed suit. Brother She also respects Mr. Zhang very much. Ms., we have no one to protect us along the way. Can I go back to the capital with you?"

"This... I'm afraid it's inappropriate." Lin Yi hurriedly wanted to dispel Li Yu's thoughts.

Li Yu said: "You don't need to go with us, as long as the boat is closer, if you encounter bandits, you have officers and soldiers who can protect us. Is this okay?"

"Then...then I'll ask our wife to ask someone in the government... I don't know if it's okay...I...I can't guarantee it."

Lin Yi looked very unconfident.

Compared to Li Yu's liveliness and playfulness, she seemed very reserved and couldn't let go.

(End of this chapter)