Hundreds of households in Liaodong, covering the light with one hand

Chapter 151
  Wang Qi had no expectations for the Ming Dynasty's Beijing troops.

One of the original disputes between Wang Huazhen and Xiong Tingbi in Liaodong was to use the Beijing camp to supplement the troops in Liaodong. However, Xiong Tingbi believed that the Beijing camp was unable to bear the heavy responsibility and was a waste of money, and he strongly opposed it. Later, the imperial court intervened and the matter was settled.

After all, during the Zhengde Dynasty, the four foreign families recruited by Emperor Wu Zong from the Beijing camp also made many meritorious deeds on the Mongolian battlefield. Compared with the selected front camp in his hometown, which had long ceased to conduct military affairs, the combat power of the four foreign families at that time was greatly enhanced. Later, he experienced In Jiajing, the four outer families were eliminated, and the old system of Yongle was restored, with the three camps as the main ones. At that time, the Beijing camp was mainly under the control of the internal supervision. The lack of good pay and generals did not prevent it from decaying. By the Wanli period, Although Zhang Juzheng cheered up a little, in the long run the Beijing camp continued to decline. The superior officials were corrupt and the subordinate officials in the camp were cruel and unkind. In addition to joining the superior officials, low-level officials either deserted the army and became bandits or deserters. Being an untouchable can only harm the people at the lower level.

Today, most of the Tianqi Dynasty's capital camps are even more disabled among the disabled, and incompetent among the incompetent.

Three months ago, when the war in Liaodong was raging, in order to strengthen the defense in the capital area, Emperor Tianqi had ordered that the Ministry of War Yamen select more than 10,000 capable soldiers from the Beijing camp, and they would be drilled by the Ministry of War Yamen and the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion. The eunuch is the governor.

It was promising at first, but then Wang Qi came out of the blue and shattered Hou Jin's attempt to occupy Liaohe, and the regiment training in the Gyeonggi Province gradually stopped.

Today, Wang Qi stands in the Xishan Campus, looking at the more than 5,000 soldiers not far away, silently.

"Mr. Lang Guo, this is already the most elite unit in the entire three battalions," Sun Chengzong accompanied Wang Qi to the school grounds and said helplessly: "This was prepared jointly by the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Households and the Fifth Army Governor's Office. Otherwise, the Five Not even a thousand people.”

"Free pay?" Wang Qi turned to look at Sun Chengzong, who had a gray beard.

"Partly, not entirely," Sun Cheng shook his head, and finally added: "Even in the Hongwu period, military personnel were too low, and Yongle was even worse. With more than 250 years of history, the number of soldiers that can be recruited can barely make up for the lack of soldiers in the guard system. The lack of vacancies caused the court to falter and move forward."

"Of course, the elite troops in Liaodong under Duke Lang are not among those mentioned by me," Sun Chengzong, an experienced man, looked at Wang Qi and said silently: "However, the imperial court has heard about the proliferation of private soldiers in Liaodong. If it hadn't been for later generations, The gold is not destroyed yet, cough cough cough cough.”

Wang Qi smiled when he heard this: "Thank you, Mr. Sun, for reminding me."

"Let's go order the general table," Sun Chengzong made a gesture of invitation. Wang Qi nodded and walked away side by side.

Not long after, under the general stage, three commanders who looked like military attaches bowed to Wang Qi:
  "I will finally pay my respects to you, sir!"

"Three adults, please rise," Wang Qi nodded. Here are the three commanders who will follow him to Jizhou Mansion. They are also the highest-ranking military attachés below the commander-in-chief selected from the three major battalions.

Behind the three military attachés, there was also a eunuch holding a fly whisk: "Our Li Ruoyu, pay homage to Duke Lang, and pay homage to Master Sun!"

Li Ruoyu, the eunuch who accompanied the court with a pen, was one of Wei Zhongxian's special pen holders. He was also the author of the widely circulated "Zi Zhong Zhi" in later generations. The most controversial part about this person is whether he was a traitor or a loyal person. There is no final conclusion. In the end, he was raped. Wei Zhongxian was deceived and wronged, or did he write a will to seek refuge in Donglin in order to survive? Most controversial among later generations of scholars
  However, Wang Qi can't think about these things now and has no interest in them.

Looking at Wei Zhongxian's dog-legged eunuch, who was also the supervisory officer of the third battalion, Wang Qi smiled and said, "Eunuch Li, are you here to supervise the army too today?"

"What about Duke Lang? In the entire Ming Dynasty, who is qualified to be the military governor of Duke Lang? Wouldn't that mean he is in trouble with Tian Shang Wu Qu? Our family has been ordered by the Supervisor of Ceremonies, Eunuch Wei, to come here to say a word for you. "Words," Li Ruoyu's face was red and smiling, he was obviously very popular in the Li Jian, and he was very majestic.

After hearing the message from the Chief of Ceremonies to Wang Qi, the three commanders and the Minister of War, Sun Chengzong, all stepped aside knowingly to avoid suspicion of Li Xia in the melon field.

Wang Qi, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes and looked at Li Ruoyu silently. The Chief of Ceremonies came to send a message, which was what the emperor meant. At this time, Zhu Youxiao's thoughts began to come alive again?

The sixteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty were full of calculations. Taizu and Chengzu were all people with uncertain minds!
  "After the capital is secured, the four directions can be controlled. If the capital is secured, the world will be safe. I ask Duke Lang to plow the court and sweep the holes, and do his best to quell the chaos of the people, so as to stabilize the morale of the army." Li Ruoyu's words are not considered oral instructions, but are at most Wei Zhongxian's. He relayed the words of Emperor Tianqi and then sent someone to tell Wang Qi.

But what does this mean?

The capital is stable and the four directions are safe?

"After retreating from the imperial court yesterday, the Holy Emperor has secretly ordered Xiong Tingbi to conduct a military strategy for Liaodong. He will start preparations in the near future to regain Shenyang." Li Ruoyu took two steps forward and approached Wang Qi: "Eunuch Wei means that if Xiong Tingbi fails to catch him, please ask Duke Lang to come early." prepare for!"

Wang Qi's eyes suddenly turned cold: "Go back and tell your admiral that if he has anything to say, let him tell me himself!"

court?

A domestic slave, is he qualified?
  Whether you go to Liaodong or not is your own business. How can a eunuch be worthy of sending someone to send a message to you?
  After Wang Qi finished speaking, he ignored Li Ruoyu who stayed there and didn't react, and turned around directly to go to the general platform.

At this time, Sun Chengzong and others had also organized their soldiers and were ready to set off at any time when Wang Qi ordered the generals.

"Behead three animals, sacrifice to the martial saint, and raise the commander's flag!" The etiquette officer stood on the stage and gave orders to the minor officials on the school grounds.

Throughout the school grounds, more than five thousand soldiers stood silently, waiting for the legendary Duke Lang to give them orders.

"I just received the order yesterday, and asked me to select the elite of the Beijing camp to rush to Jizhou to quell the civil unrest." Wang Qi took two steps, looked at the soldiers in the audience, and said loudly: "I told Mr. Sun, the Minister of the Ministry of War, at that time , I have always led Liaodong soldiers, with neat armor and sharp weapons. After killing the Jinba Banner, it is like chopping melons and vegetables! As for the Beijing camp? Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Wang Qi's face showed a hint of regret: "I've never been able to get on the stage!"

The more than 5,000 people in the audience were all carefully selected by Sun Chengzong and the three major commanders. Some of them had some sentiments and some were grateful for their family and country. When they heard Wang Qi's disparaging words, they all frowned for a moment, and their hearts were filled with anger. Flame is fierce: Even Duke Lang can't look down on others like this, right?

Sun Chengzong and the three commanders all looked at each other, with some worry in their eyes what Duke Lang was doing? It's not a good sign to irritate these soldiers!

In the audience, Li Ruoyu, who had not yet left, also sneered again and again. This Wang Qi was arrogant and arrogant. He had not yet left the Xishan Camp, but he had already alienated the generals and made them suspicious of each other.

After all, excluding those who live on free wages, there are nearly 80,000 people in the entire Beijing camp. The 5,000 troops carefully selected from the 80,000 people can be considered elite.

"But just now, Mr. Sun, the Minister of War, told me that these five thousand people, I guarantee you, the best among the best, are no worse than your Liaodong cavalry!" Wang Qi smiled and ignored the buzz in the audience. The discussion continued: "I say, believe his words, it is better to observe his actions. If he is an elite, go to Jizhou Mansion and you will know for a try!"

"It is a great shame for our soldiers to waste time by the forest of Laoquan! On the battlefield of life and death, drink the blood of the enemy," Wang Qi pressed down the long knife in his hand and shouted sternly: "Are you willing?"

"Yan Xiwu is willing!"

"Pang Yongzhuang is willing to follow you!"

"Tian Jinan is willing to serve you!"

The answers in twos and threes, although few, were firm and confident. On the high platform, Wang Shouxin had already taken people with him and was recording the names of these people - there were heroes in the army all the time, but they were all in vain.

Among these people, there may be generals who can lead a party in the future.

"Anyone who goes on an expedition with a certain person and returns victorious will be promoted to one level and each will be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver." Wang Qi continued to ask for the price: "Is anyone else willing?"

"We are willing!" Nearly half of the soldiers began to speak, and a large number of soldiers began to wave their weapons: "Serve your Excellency!"

"The insurgents are just side dishes. If you are really elite, you can go there in the near future when Hou Jin destroys the country! Kill Jiannu, cut down the Eight Banners, and crush Hetuala! Leave your name in the history of the country, and get officials and nobles!" Wang Qi waved his hand, pulled out the long sword from his waist, and pointed to the sky: "The bones of the loyal are buried in the green mountains, and the corpses are returned wrapped in horse leather!"

"Death for your lord!"

"We are willing to follow you, sir!"

Sun Chengzong on the side was dumbfounded. He was not sorry that Wang Qi threw away hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, but was shocked by the way he managed to integrate people's hearts in a short period of time.

Li Ruoyu, who was not far away, opened his mouth, silently expressing surprise: This Wang Qi really knows how to play with people's hearts.

Military men have always been the most upright and the most susceptible to incitement.

In just a few words, Wang Qi understood the generals of the three major battalions, and made people's hearts turn towards them, like an arm pointing at them.

"In a quarter of an hour, the army will set off!" Wang Qi turned around on the general stage and said to the three commanders: "Try to reach Sanhe County by tonight, which is not far from Jizhou Prefecture. Whether it is rescue or siege, It depends!”

"There is only one thing. No soldiers are allowed to leave Jizhou Mansion without my order!" Wang Qi stared at the three of them, his tone was solemn, with power and murderous intent.

"General, please obey your order!" All three commanders bowed to accept the order.

----

When the troops from the Beijing camp were getting ready to go, hundreds of miles away in Jizhou Prefecture, there were already loud killings and cries and howls everywhere.

The tall city wall of Jizhou Prefecture has been breached from the inside by tens of thousands of refugees. The more than a thousand troops from the Beijing camp brought by Han Xu are simply unable to resist the internal and external attacks of tens of thousands of refugees, including the leader of the White Lotus. His command and the sacrifice of his followers to kill.

White Lotus Teaching: Burn your body with fire, and Maitreya will come to the world.

If you die, you will die. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be reborn as the future Buddha Lord?
  Therefore, when the defenders stabbed their swords into the abdomens of the White Lotus cult members, what greeted them was not wailing and pain, but the trembling and joy of their imminent ascension to heaven.

This extremely weird scene made the generals headed by Tong Shiqing, the commander of the Beijing camp, terrified.

Who dares to fight with these lunatics?

Run away quickly!
  As the outer city of Jizhou Prefecture fell, a large number of defenders began to flee. In just one day, Jizhou Prefecture fell.

The people in the city never expected that the city would be destroyed. Almost no one was prepared to escape, so nearly ten thousand innocent people were trapped in the city.
  Han Xu, who originally came to the rescue, was caught by the mob before he could run away. Together with Xu Guangqi, they were detained by the mob and imprisoned in a dark dungeon.

"Master," Han Xu, who had already taken off his official robe and was wearing a white lining, was sitting against the dark and damp wall of the dungeon, with some dry straw mats under his buttocks and a look of despair on his face: "This battle is about to begin. , It is not my fault, but the lack of soldiers in my hands, otherwise Xiao Xiaoxiao will be the leader and the thieves will be killed."

The rioters destroyed the city, and Han Xu's reputation was ruined. After this battle, even if he was alive, he would not have the dignity to stay in the capital.

"The imperial court should have received the news, and the Beijing camp troops should have set off," Xu Guangqi sat opposite Han Xu, eyes closed, as if thinking about something.

Han Xu, who was originally hopeless, seemed to have thought of something when he heard this. His eyes suddenly opened and he looked at Xu Guangqi: "Zixian, who do you think the court will send to rescue Jizhou Mansion?"

"There are only a few people who know the soldiers in the court, and you can count them with one slap." Xu Guangqi half-opened his eyes and looked at Han Xu: "If you want to choose the most trustworthy person, it must be Duke Lang. .”

"Han would rather die than be rescued by Wang Qi!" Han Xu sat up straight, his face darkening: "It's a matter of honor for a scholar, how can he be compared to a martial artist!"

"Wang Qi is a 20-year-old prince and the leading general in the dynasty. You and Dong Lin do not cooperate with him to jointly control the eunuchs and support the country. Instead, they are in trouble with him everywhere. Why bother?" Xu Guangqi shook his head. , I really can’t understand.

"Martial men have power!" Han Xu's eyes fixed upon hearing this: "From Horqin's drafting of the imperial edict, we can conclude that Wang Qi is too ambitious and is known as an unparalleled general. If there is no check and balance, no one in the world can rule him. The situation is even more terrifying than that of the eunuchs!"

As if he was afraid that Xu Guangqi wouldn't understand, Han Xu added: "After all, the eunuchs are dependent on the imperial power. In essence, they are just suffering from scabies. Wang Qi is a serious problem!"

"Liaodong has not yet been decided, and the emperor wants to use him. From this point of view, it is impossible to overthrow Wang Qi within three years!" Xu Guangqi shook his head: "But after three years, he will be a relative of the emperor, and I am afraid the emperor will also start You are considering reducing its authority, why should you, Donglin, be in such a hurry?"

"According to your words, what's the use of being an official? What's the use of us literati?" Han Xu said in a low voice to Xu Guangqi: "The emperor is no more than a middle-aged man. If he is not of the Tian family's blood, how can he be the master of others? It is inevitable? You need my help, and Wang Qi is the stumbling block in the way!"

Xu Guangqi didn't answer for a long time. Han Xuzhi's shocking remarks made it impossible for him to answer. It would be bad if he was splashed with blood.

After all, there was a famous saying back then: How can a ten-year-old prince rule the world? He was forced to leave the field after just seven days.

Now Han Xu said: The emperor is just like a man. If he is not of the blood of the Tian family, how can he be the master of men?
  If these words spread, there will inevitably be a bloody storm in the court.

At the end, Xu Guangqi looked at Han Xu by the wall. He seemed to have fallen asleep and could only say silently: I hope the people of Jizhou Prefecture can avoid the disaster this time.

In the darkness, Han Xu could only sigh in response.

(End of this chapter)