A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 250
Zhending Mansion, located in the south of Zhengding County, Hebei today, is also known as Changshan, and is said to be the hometown of Zhao Zilong.Before the rise of Shijiazhuang, it has always been a prosperous city in central Hebei. Since ancient times, there has been a saying that "Huahua Zhending Mansion, Splendid Taiyuan City".

The Hutuo River flows less than two miles south of the city, with fertile land and convenient transportation, it can be called a famous city through the ages.When Wang Dou, Lu Xiangsheng and others arrived at Zhendingfu City, the outside of the city was already densely covered with flag camps. Gao Qiqian brought nearly [-] Guanning troops to Zhendingfu earlier, and they occupied all the places suitable for camping. up.Especially along the banks of the Hutuo River, there are camps that can't be seen at a glance.

Wang Dou, Lu Xiangsheng and others had no choice but to follow the Guanning army camp and camp further downstream of the Hutuo River.After working for a while, Director Jun Gao Qianqi, Governor Zhending and others jointly sent a letter, inviting Lu Xiangsheng and Xuanda generals to the city to talk.

Lu Xiangsheng led Hu Dawei, the commander-in-chief of Shanxi Town, Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of Xuanfu Town, Zhang Yan, the general of Xuanfu Town, Wang Dou, the guerrilla general of Xuanfu Town, and their personal guards, etc., arrived in Zhending in a mighty way. The mansion faces outside the city gate in the east.

Along the hundreds of steps in front of the official road of the city gate, this place was already crowded with onlookers, generals and civilians, and Gao Qiqian led the generals of Guan Ning to meet outside the city gate together with Governor Zhending .

When Lu Xiangsheng, Wang Dou and others arrived, they immediately caused a commotion. Countless people crowded over and cheered for Wang Dou and others.

"Look, that's Duchen Lu from Dingzhou Great Victory."

"Look, that's Wang Dou, a hero who has won several victories in a row and won the three armies...so young..."

"Those are the generals of Shanxi Town and Xuanfu Town, all of them are mighty..."

"With these heroes here, there is no need to be afraid of Tartars."

There were cheers, and countless Zhending people cheered for the generals Xuanda.Their thoughts are very simple, whoever can kill the Tartars, not harass the people, and protect their safety, they will sincerely cheer for them.

Lu Xiangsheng was full of smiles, and he bowed his hands to the people on the horse, in high spirits.

The rest of the generals also held their heads high and their chests high. Wang Dou looked at Zhang Yan, the general of the Xuanfu, and Guo Yingxian, the general of Yang Guozhu's army beside him, and saw that they all looked mighty.Even Guo Yingxian, who is usually carefree, is extremely serious at this time.

Under the stone plaque of "Sanguanxiong Town", seeing Lu Xiangsheng and others not far away, Gao Qiqian and Governor Zhending greeted them with smiles on their faces.Gao Qiqian is still wearing a gold inlaid three-mountain cap, a tufted brocade robe, and an exquisite jade belt on his waist. He has the strength to come over, if it is not for his white face and beardless, outsiders will definitely think he is a fierce general.

He laughed at Lu Xiangsheng from afar, and his shrill voice sounded: "Duke Lu is mighty, Dingzhou is a great victory, the government and the people are invigorated, and the morale of our Ming army has been boosted. Our family congratulates Duchen Lu."

Lu Xiangsheng smiled slightly: "Director Gao has a heart."

Seeing Gao Qiqian grinning from ear to ear, he is also heartbroken. After Gao Qiqian divided up with him that day, can he imagine such a day?He has won many victories in successive battles, but Gao Qiqian has repeatedly failed.Meeting today, Lu Xiangsheng felt a big sigh of relief.

Gao Qiqian exchanged greetings with Lu Xiangsheng, warmly greeted him, and then introduced Governor Zhending and various gentry officials in the city to him, and everyone catered to him for a while.Then Gao Qiqian's eyes lit up, he strode towards Wang Dou, and said with a sharp laugh: "This is General Wang, who has won the three armies, right? Our family is in the army, and we have heard of General Wang's name. "

He took Wang Dou's hand affectionately, looked Wang Dou up and down, and praised: "What a man, no wonder he can beat captives repeatedly, and is praised by the emperor."

Wang Dou felt that countless eyes were cast on him, and when Gao Qiqian held his hand like this, his palm was wet and slippery, and Wang Dou felt like goosebumps were standing on end.He removed his hand calmly, and saluted with a smile: "The high supervisor army is too famous, and the last general will be polite."

Gao Qiqian affectionately helped Wang Dou up: "General Wang doesn't need to perform this great gift, please get up."

He grabbed Wang Dou's hand again, smiled at Guan Ning and the other generals behind him who couldn't stop looking at Wang Dou: "General Wang became famous, but he didn't know each other as early as in Changping, today is just a chance for the generals to introduce him."

He introduced one by one, Wang Dou couldn't help but cup his fists and met those generals, those generals didn't look at Wang Dou in Changping back then, but now they paid much attention to Wang Dou.Since Wang Doulian's great victories in the army, he was rewarded by the emperor's decree, and he was also praised as the reason why he bravely won the three armies.Even Gao Qiqian introduced it personally, the treatment can be said to be very different at different times.

However, during the introduction, everyone also had different expressions, the chief soldier of Ji Town, Bai Guangen, said "Yes" to Wang Dou, and said with a subterranean smile: "It really is a young hero, the name of General Wang, these days are really thunderous. "

Miyun Commander Tang Tong said with a smile: "The waves behind the Yangtze River drive the waves ahead. There are heroes like General Wang, but we are getting old."

Wang Tingchen, the former commander of the Tunwei, squinted at Wang Dou, and Cao Bianjiao, the commander of Yutian, laughed at Wang Dou, but his eyes clearly showed dissatisfaction.

Only Ma Ke, the general of Shanhaiguan, was full of praise for Wang Dou.

After a circle, Wang Dou felt oppressed in his heart. These Guan Ning generals were all too arrogant and arrogant.It was Wang Tingchen, the former chief soldier of the Tunwei, and Cao Bianjiao, the chief soldier of Yutian. Although these two deserved my respect in history, their expressions were obviously not convinced and unfriendly to him.

In terms of being easy to get along with, among the generals Wang Dou met, Wang Pu, the commander-in-chief of Datong Town, and Ma Ke, the commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan, were the most, but these two were famous escaped generals.

Lu Xiangsheng looked at Gao Qi in front of everyone, openly showing his favor to his favorite general, with a look of displeasure in his eyes.

After Gao Qiqian, Governor Zhending and his team praised Wang Dou again and again.

After the difficulty was over, Wang Gao Qiqian seemed to want Wang Dou to follow behind him.Lu Xiangsheng took a step forward calmly, Wang Dou took the opportunity to retreat behind Yang Guozhu, and Yang Guozhu looked back at Wang Dou appreciatively.

……

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone went to the city. Zhenxiang was known as "Huahua Zhending Mansion". Although the chaos of the late Ming Dynasty, the city was still bustling, with all kinds of businesses gathering.On the street leading to the governor's office, the people were already crowded with cheering people.

These people gathered spontaneously. Seeing the welcome of Lu Xiangsheng and others, a cold light flashed in Gao Qiqian's eyes, and then pointed out the scenery in the city for Lu Xiangsheng with a smile on his face.

The reception banquet was held in the governor's hall, and when the lights came on, the banquet was very sumptuous, General Xuan let his stomach eat and drink, and there were many people toasting to Wang Dou at the banquet.Only Lu Xiangsheng thought of the disaster victims gathered outside the city, many people were expecting to have enough food, but this banquet was so extravagant, quite displeased.

According to Gao Qiqian's intention, the banquet would last until late at night, but Lu Xiangsheng didn't care to eat, and after seeing that General Xuan was full, he led everyone back to the camp in a hurry.

That night, a group of messengers quietly entered Wang Dou's camp.

……

After Wang Dou asked Xie Yike to send Gao Qiqian's confidant messenger away, he turned around and sneered, what is Gao Qiqian, who also came to win him over, implying that he abandoned Lu Xiangsheng and joined his camp?Would you care about his money and treasures?With no money or food, I wouldn't go to the Qing soldiers to rob him, asking him to raise something?
Standing in the cold night, Wang Dou recalled the information about Gao Qiqian in history. He was a eunuch in charge of ceremonies at first, but was pushed out by chief eunuch Wei Zhongxian and transferred to Zhidian supervisor to sweep.After Wei Zhongxian was removed, Gao Qiqian, Cao Huachun, Wang Dehua and others won the favor of Emperor Chongzhen and served as eunuchs with palm seals. In the fifth year of Chongzhen, he began to supervise the army in the state, and then went to Ning and Jin to supervise the army.

Gao Qiqian claimed to know soldiers and was skilled in military affairs, but in fact he was cowardly and ugly and did not dare to fight, but only cut the head of the dead and pretended to be meritorious.Looking at the results of his work, the typical achievements are not enough, and the failures are more than the idiots.In the 17th year of Chongzhen, Li Zicheng approached the capital, and Gao Qiqian went to Ningqian Road to abandon the pass and left. Nanming Fu Wang Shizhao was the admiral of the Beijing camp, and he was also surrendered to the Qing Dynasty.

Wang Dou couldn't help but sneer, such a thing is worth relying on?Thinking of his cold and sweaty palms during the day, Wang Dou felt chills.

In fact, Wang Dou had no prejudice against the eunuchs. Among the eunuchs, Wang Chengen, the great eunuch, and others, Wang Dou admired quite a lot.On the other hand, Gao Qiqian, Du Xun and his ilk, I can only despise.Although Wang Dou is not talented, he doesn't bother to join him.

The problem at the end of Ming Dynasty is the overall problem.The royal family, literati, warriors, eunuchs, merchants, these major classes all bear unshirkable responsibility for the fall of the Ming Dynasty.No matter what class, Wang Dou admired those who served the country loyally, otherwise, Wang Dou despised them.

I would rather lead a horse for a hero than be a father for a coward.

Of course, for tonight's refusal, Wang Dou was quite tactful, he only reasoned that he was under Duchen Lu's command, and that he could not leave his post without an order from the Ministry of War.But even if he said that, after Gao Qiqian heard the news of his rejection, he would hate himself to the bone.

It doesn't matter to Wang Dou, soldiers come to block him, and water comes to cover him.

……

Sure enough, the next day when Lu Xiangsheng recruited Xuanda's generals into the city to discuss matters, Wang Dou keenly noticed that Gao Qiqian was still smiling at him, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes.Wang Dou smiled calmly and looked at him without timidity, which surprised Gao Qiqian.

The meeting that day had no results, so Lu Xiangsheng proposed to join forces to attack to strengthen the momentum.However, Gao Qiqian said that Duchen Lu had successive victories, and the captives were frightened, and it was time to split up and attack and expand the results of the battle.Insist on each leading their own army and fight in separate ways.

The meeting broke up unhappily, and Lu Xiangsheng mentioned the food and pay issue of Xuanda's army. The governor Zhending only dealt with it on the grounds that the government was short of money and food and was trying to raise money.

Back in the Xuanda camp, Lu Xiangsheng was quite worried. Although the army had food and grass, it was only half a month's worth of food.People without thought, he must worry about.After the food and grass are used up, how to solve the problem of feeding the [-] troops?Never let the soldiers fight hungry again.

Lu Xiangsheng pondered in the tent, and the generals of Xuanda also frowned. Could it be that the problem of food and grass will go back to the situation in Changping that day?

Wang Dou looked at the frowning people in the tent, sighed secretly, got up and said to Lu Xiangsheng: "Minister, the problem of food and grass will be solved in the end."

He said: "At the end of the day, there is a batch of grain and grass accumulated in Xingtang County, Zhending Prefecture, which is estimated to be four thousand shi. Even the existing grain and grass in the army can feed the entire army for more than a month!"

Hu Dawei, Yang Guozhu and the others were surprised and delighted, all looking at Wang Dou.As early as when he was in Baoding Mansion, Wang Dou said that he had stored food and grass in Baoding Mansion, but he did not expect that he also had stored food in Zhending Mansion.

Lu Xiangsheng looked at Wang Dou in a daze for a while, and while he was pleasantly surprised, he also had a feeling that Wang Dou was inscrutable, and every time he had strange tricks to resolve the difficulties in the army.

Another thought came to Lu Xiangsheng's mind: "Could it be that Wang Dou is so far-sighted and has long estimated that there will be this war, so he prepared early?"

"He doesn't have the ability to predict the future, does he?"

※※※

Old White Bull:
Hehe, my mother-in-law invited me to dinner, I don't know if I can change it tonight.

(End of this chapter)