Chapter 194
Cheng Shijie didn't take Emperor Chongzhen's promise seriously.
Because now he and Emperor Chongzhen are in the honeymoon period. Emperor Chongzhen can tolerate everything Cheng Shijie does. The relationship between monarch and minister is actually similar to the relationship between husband and wife. Sometimes, it is as sweet as honey and as close as paint.
When the relationship is good, all shortcomings are advantages. As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When the honeymoon period is over, even the advantages will turn into disadvantages and be magnified countless times.
This is the nature of the emperor.
Just like Liu Wenjing during the Tang Dynasty, he joined Li Yuan's command as early as when Li Yuan was raising troops in Taiyuan. He made many contributions to the cause of the Tang army and once sat in the high position of prime minister. In recognition of Liu Wenjing's contribution, Li Yuan granted Liu Wenjing two exemptions from death. However, because Liu Wenjing was reported by her concubine for treason, Li Yuan executed the unjust hero unceremoniously.
Li Yuan must have known that Liu Wenjing was wrongly accused, but because Liu Wenjing was Li Shimin's number one best friend, above Fang Du, Wen Ke could secure the country and Wu could rule the country. He led his troops to defeat Sang Xianhe at Tongguan and captured the famous general of the late Sui Dynasty. Qu Tutong, he still has strong military capabilities.
However, when it came time to kill Liu Wenjing, Li Yuan showed no mercy at all.
Cheng Shijie became wary of Emperor Chongzhen's promise.
As the saying goes, eggs are not put in one basket. As for the Haizhou Victory, Baliwan Victory and Liaoyang Victory, in this series of battles, the Ning Navy's strongest assets were its powerful artillery and sophisticated armor.
But now it is not only Hou Xun, the Minister of War, who wants to buy a large number of artillery for the Changping Army. Lu Xiangsheng also wants to buy it, Hong Chengchou also wants to buy it, and the Governor of Water Transport Zhu Dadian also wants to buy it. Cheng Shijie absolutely does not believe that there is no tacit approval or hint from Emperor Chongzhen. .
Otherwise, Sun Chengzong would not have specifically reminded him not to hide it.
This in itself does not mean anything. When employing people, you must be careful. Cheng Shijie himself is the same. Just like Chen Dayong, the commander of Dusidu Dudu, even if he is under Chen Guodong, he is also a general from the military supervision system, but Cheng Shijie An arsenal was not established in the Shuangcheng Guards. The original troops of the Shuangcheng Dusi were swapped with the Guards Dusi.
The Zuo Dusi was swapped with the Right Dusi, and the Jeju Dusi and the Pi Dao Dusi were swapped. It was not that Cheng Shijie did not trust the generals of Ning Haijun, but to avoid a situation where the tail was too big to lose.
As soon as Princess Le'an's sedan chair reached the street, she noticed that there were dense crowds of sergeants on the street. These soldiers were not wearing Ning Haijun's standard black military uniforms, nor were they wearing black armor, but brand-new mandarin duck battle coats. fiery red.
Naturally, some of Ning Haijun's elite troops arrived in the capital. These tens of thousands of Ning Haijun followed Cheng Shijie to the capital to participate in the victory ceremony. Of course, at this time, they also had to attend Cheng Shijie's wedding.
In fact, Cheng Shijie used these soldiers to enhance the scene to prevent anyone from coming over to have a wedding with him. In fact, Cheng Shijie thought too much. Looking at the entire Ming Dynasty, there were not no people with higher status than Cheng Shijie, but more than 90% of them were older than The boss is not young anymore. Even if he wants to make trouble, he must have the energy to do so.
The sedan chair arrived at Cheng's Mansion smoothly. The alley outside Cheng's Mansion had been cleared. Tables were arranged with melon seeds, candies and tea on them. Because the weather was too cold, these open-air tables were also covered with cloth. The curtains formed a U shape, and there were cushions on them, and a briquette stove was placed under the table, so it wasn't too uncomfortable.
The efficiency of the army is very efficient. The soldiers who are responsible for taking care of the guests are all soldiers of Ning Haijun. These soldiers also changed into red wedding clothes and served drinks and snacks from time to time.
Every table was full of people, everyone was chatting and laughing, it was so lively. Amid the laughter, gongs and drums, firecrackers and thunder, the grand wedding team returned.
The sedan chair stopped in front of the Cheng Mansion, and the officials from the Ministry of Rites sang: "Get off the sedan chair!"
In the Cheng Mansion, someone immediately brought out a copper basin. According to etiquette, the bride and groom had to step over the fire. This means that marriage can be prosperous, and it is also said that it is to drive away evil spirits. In the perception of traditional culture, fire is a thing with magical power. People even think that fire can drive away evil spirits.
The lobby of Cheng Mansion has already been decorated.
What is slightly different from ordinary weddings is that everyone present, including people with statuses such as Sun Chengzong and Xu Guangqi, must first pay homage to Princess Zhu Weiti of Le'an.
"Meet the princess!"
"Meet the Consort!"
From today on, no matter how big or small Cheng Shijie's official position is, there are not many people who can worship him.
Since Cheng Shijie had no father or mother, Sun Chengzong sat on the main seat with a smile on his face when he was worshiping heaven and earth.
"The auspicious time has come!"
The salute officer of the Ministry of Etiquette sang loudly: "Bow down to heaven and earth!"
Cheng Shijie and Zhu Weiti earnestly knelt on the ground to worship heaven and earth.
"Two thanks to Gaotang!"
Although Sun Chengzong is Cheng Shijie's teacher, he does not sit directly on the main seat, but sits a little sideways. The two empty chairs in the middle represent Cheng Shijie's parents.
"Bow down as husband and wife!"
Cheng Shijie quickly turned around, Zhu Weiti bowed to him, and he also gave a big gift.
"Sent to the bridal chamber..."
Of course, this is not to start the bridal chamber directly now, but to send the bride to the bridal chamber, and Cheng Shijie needs to entertain the guests who come to his wedding.
As the wedding officially ended, firecrackers sounded and the ceremony officially began.
Ning Haijun, who served as a waiter, carried the dishes and began to serve them. What was slightly different from ordinary people's weddings was that the dishes were served in basins.
That's right, this is exactly the dish basin used for dining in the army. Each dish is in one basin, and the dishes are very hard, just like fish. There are two in each basin, weighing at least ten kilograms. If you have a small appetite, one dish on the table will be enough for you. Of course, people's lives are difficult now, and even small landowners can't eat meat several times a year. Faced with this kind of dish featuring big fish and meat, everyone can't wait for it.
Eat meat and drink wine. This wine is a specialty of southern Liaoning, which is potato wine. The wine is clean in color and very strong, with a slightly off-tasting taste. However, the guests attending this banquet were not polite. They each poured a full glass, drank it, or tasted it, and they were all full of admiration.
Cheng Shijie was getting married, and most of the Ning Haijun soldiers who came to the capital to attend the victory ceremony were also seated. They watched Cheng Shijie go out of the courtyard and stood up neatly as if they were conditioned reflexes.
Zhongning navy officers held wine glasses: "Here's to the commander!"
Cheng Shijie held the wine glass and said: "In the past two years, everyone has lived in rough clothes, endured hunger, stood side by side, and worked together to open up the situation. I thank you all for your trust in me these past two years. Thank you for your hard work! I can I don’t have much for you, today is my big day, everyone can drink to your heart’s content, come on, I’ll give you a toast!”
Thousands of Ning Haijun's elite soldiers raised their glasses and shouted in unison: "Congratulations to the general!"
The wild voice, the strong figure, and the uniform movements shocked many guests, and they said to themselves: "This Qiu Ba gang is not simple!"
There was a table near the door. Although there were few people at this table, there were four governors sitting at the table. There were Fu Zonglong, the governor of Jizhou, and Lu Xiangsheng, the governor of Northern Zhili. Except for Shuntian Mansion, Northern Zhili was not under his control. , the entire Northern Zhili was under his control. In addition to Lu Xiangsheng, there are Hong Chengchou, the governor of the three sides, and Zhu Dadian, the governor of water transportation.
Although Cheng Shijie was worried that he would not be able to host the equipment exhibition in person because of the wedding, the problem was, who would go to any exhibition knowing that Cheng Shijie was getting married?
Zhu Dadian looked at these uniform Ninghai navy soldiers and said in surprise: "What a fierce and vigorous tiger and wolf division, Ninghai elite soldiers, they really deserve their reputation!"
Hong Chengchou looked at Lu Xiangsheng and smiled: "Jiandou, how does the Tianxiong Army compare with Ning Haijun?"
"Lord Hong, why should you ask even though you know everything?"
Lu Xiangsheng also smiled bitterly. Whether it was equipment or training, the two were not in the same dimension at all. Although the Tianxiong Army had performed well in history, it was still a strong army. They are similar in nature to the white pole soldiers. They are just a local army connected by clan and township party.
One characteristic of such an army is that it becomes stronger when it encounters a strong force. Especially after it has suffered losses, it will fight to the death without retreating. And he will not abandon his comrades and escape privately like Guan Ningjun. They are all from a clan, and father and son go into battle.
Because they are more familiar, and in terms of discipline, they can never be compared to Ning Haijun.
Hong Chengchou smiled faintly and said: "Hong heard that Ning Haijun's infantry is unparalleled in the world. Facing the charge of the elite cavalry of the Jiannu, they are as solid as a stone. I really don't know how Duke Hai trained this elite soldier!"
Zhu Dadian lowered his voice and said: "I heard that Ning Haijun also suffered heavy losses in this battle, with 20,000 to 30,000 casualties!"
"Not that many. Adding in the Guan Ning Army's casualties of five to six thousand and the Dongjiang Army's casualties of more than 20,000, Ning Haijun's casualties are roughly around eight or nine thousand!"
Hong Chengchou looked at Ning Haijun's soldiers. Many of these soldiers had injuries on their faces. However, they had an aura of giving up to others.
Cheng Shijie didn't know that he was making a toast, which aroused the thoughts of Hong Chengchou and Lu Xiangsheng.
Most of these Ning Navy officers were from Liaodong, and many of them had encountered cold treatment in Shandong. During this period of time in the capital, they were not even in the capital. If it hadn't been for the last victory, this time Cheng Shijie's wedding, they would still be Stay in the barracks.
They were just like Cheng Shijie asked. The duty of a soldier is to fight. Ning Haijun only did two things, fight and prepare for war.
Hong Chengchou observed very carefully that most of Ning Haijun's soldiers were young, with the majority being around 20 years old. Young people in their twenties were the age when they were full of energy. They had not contracted the bad habits of soldiers. Strict military discipline has become their code of conduct. Every move, every word and every deed must be followed, and they will never dare to violate it.
But seeing that these soldiers were still a little cautious at this time, Hong Chengchou secretly sighed that Cheng Shijie really had a good way of leading troops. These soldiers were trained by him to become killing machines.
After this battle, Ning Haijun's officers actually received benefits.
Cheng Shijie continued to implement the land exchange system in Ning Haijun's army. Each soldier was given fifty acres of military land. If the land in Jinzhou was only fifty acres per person, Gaizhou, Haizhou, and Fuzhou would increase accordingly. , but now, if we want the land of Guangning Wei, it is one hundred acres per person, one hundred and ten acres for Liao Zhong Wei, and one hundred and twenty acres for Liaoyang Left and Right Guards.
These elite soldiers who participated in the Liaoyang Campaign have been cultivated with strong self-confidence by Cheng Shijie's victory. This time, whether they want land for military merit or military career, most of the soldiers chose to ask for land in Liaoyang, because here The land gives more.
In this battle, it can be said that in addition to the rewards of military merit, the Ning navy officers also experienced the dividends of victory in the war. They could buy cheap horses or cattle sold by Cheng Shijie. These trophies could be bought at only 20% off. You must know that the Ming Dynasty has always been in short supply of farm cattle, and the demand has never been met.
"Commander, a glass of wine is not enough, good things come in pairs!"
“Good things come in pairs!”
Cheng Shijie did not refuse the soldiers' persuasion to drink. He did not want to have a bridal chamber, so getting drunk was the best excuse. Of course, some people would say that drunken men have sex, which is pure nonsense. When a man is really drunk, he will not only have a tough talk. , everything is soft.
Cheng Shijie and Admiral Ning drank three large glasses of wine in a row, at least seven or eight taels of wine. Sun Zhilan kindly reminded: "Commander, don't get drunk and leave the bride alone in the empty room!"
Cheng Shijie shook his head and said, "I am so handsome!"
Cheng Shijie had a really good drinking capacity and started toasting table after table. After finally seizing the opportunity, these guests would not let him go. They held up their wine glasses and launched rounds of attacks on him, forcing him to drink him down.
Cheng Shijie never refuses anyone who comes, and he will do everything he can with his heroic spirit.
Wu Sheng and Sun Zhiwan couldn't persuade him at all. Just like you can never wake up a person who is pretending to be asleep, you can never persuade someone who wants to get drunk.
I don't know how many glasses of wine I drank until Cheng Shijie finished one glass and fell directly to the ground.
Everything goes to the ball.
The candlelight was swaying, and the bride, Zhu Weidi, sat in front of the dressing table in her phoenix crown, looking at the cold moonlight coming through the window panes in trance. Listening to the footsteps in the yard, she felt a little expectant, but also a little shy. I became even more anxious.
As Zhu Weiti's personal maid, Gu Ziyi got up in a hurry, walked to the door, and saw the only female family member Luo in the backyard of the Cheng Mansion.
Climbing up the steps to the corridor, she asked anxiously: "Has there been any news about the consort?"
"Not yet." Mrs. Luo and Gu Ziyi walked into the house together and said, "The commander-in-chief has tens of thousands of soldiers in the capital. They are all here today. There are also many guests. There are more than 6,000 tables prepared in the house. I heard that the people from nearby Daxing and Qinghe came to have a feast. The people are now in poverty. The commander-in-chief cares about the people and wants to use this aspect to let the people see the meat and fish. handsome."
"How could I complain about him?"
Zhu Weiti's face was filled with anxiety, and she sat beside the bed and said, "It's just that too much alcohol is harmful to your health, so tell the commander to drink less!"
While they were talking, two soldiers came in carrying the unconscious Cheng Shijie.
It looked like he had drunk too much. In fact, Cheng Shijie was not drunk, he was just pretending to be drunk.
Zhu Weiti didn't care to let Cheng Shijie lift his hijab. In fact, in ancient times, a woman could only observe her husband secretly during the wedding ceremony.
Before the wedding, the man cannot see the woman.
Cheng Shijie narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhu Weiti quietly.
At this time, Zhu Weiti was dressed in a dress, but her figure was not visible. Her beautiful eyes were filled with tears under her long eyelashes, her beautiful little face was pitiful, and her eyelids were red and swollen. I don’t know how long she had been crying today. It's actually pity and heartbeat...
However, right here, Cheng Shijie smelled the smell of ginger, and then looked at Zhu Weiti's red and swollen eyes. Most women would cry when they get married.
Cheng Shijie thinks about this custom. He estimates that a woman's marriage is equivalent to being born again. She comes to a new family and adapts to the new surroundings. She needs to adapt and accept it, for fear of being criticized if she doesn't do well in the future. If she has a conflict with her husband, Everyone will be against her, and no one will help her. She will feel helpless, so she will cry.
Maybe it was because she thought of leaving the home where she was born and raised. Although she would not come back forever, things would change after all. She would not be able to know immediately whether her parents were in good health or not, and she would not be able to rush in time if there was any emergency at home. She came back, so she felt sorry for her parents' upbringing over the years.
It can gradually become a habit. It is normal for a woman to cry when she gets married, which shows that she is filial and responsible. On the contrary, if you don't cry, you will be considered irresponsible and unfilial.
When Cheng Shijie thought about it, Zhu Weiti definitely didn't cry. In order to prevent others from saying she was unfilial, she used ginger...
Seeing Cheng Shijie snoring like thunder, Gu Ziyi muttered with some dissatisfaction: "Princess, you have always been a light sleeper, how can you sleep like this?"
"I want you to talk more!"
"How much wine has the prince-in-law drank? He hasn't drunk the Henu wine yet!"
Hexinjiu Hexin is what we often hear about "making cups of wine". The ancients' Hexin vessel was made by dividing a melon into two pieces. The couple each threw half of it, which means that after the marriage, the two became one. , officially merged. The bitter taste of melon is also intended to remind the two of them that they share joys and sorrows.
After the Song Dynasty, ordinary wine cups became popular instead of half melons, and the word "合卺" was replaced by "Jiaobeijiu".
After drinking the Hexin wine, the couple's free time comes next. Everyone knows what to do during this time.
Zhu Weiti took a towel, scalded it in hot water, and wiped Cheng Shijie's face and hands. At this time, Zhu Weiti looked at Gu Ziyi yawning and said, "You are not needed here, you go have a rest!"
"I'll go outside and sleep in the outer room. If you need anything, just call me up. I have to abide by my duties as a maid, lest the new lady says that the people in this house don't understand the rules at all..."
"Go quickly!"
Gu Ziyi made a gesture to undress Zhu Weiti, indicating her to blow out the candle.
Zhu Weiti sat on the edge of the bed and hesitated for a long time, then took off her clothes and pulled off a quilt. She wanted to lie on the outside of the bed, but Cheng Shijie's body was lying on the outside of the bed. She tried hard for a long time and tried her best to Pushed Cheng Shijie.
Cheng Shijie seemed to turn over subconsciously. He really wanted to be drunk now. He smelled the fragrance of the virgin near his nose and saw Zhu Weiti's exposed shoulders, which were as smooth as fat. He couldn't help but feel distraught...
Cheng Shijie was having a fierce battle between heaven and man in his heart.
To be like a beast, or to be worse than a beast?
Unknowingly, Cheng Shijie fell into a deep sleep.
In the end, he was worse than a beast.
Waking up in the morning, he saw the beauty in his arms sleeping soundly, with long eyelashes raised, making her face look innocent and beautiful. Cheng Shijie sat up and slid down the brocade quilt, exposing the beauty's shoulders in the morning light. It's like a sculpture made of ice and snow, dazzlingly white.
Cheng Shijie wanted to get up quietly, but he forgot that it was the first month of the year and the weather was cold. Zhu Weiti woke up with just a move of the quilt and the chill.
She opened her eyes and saw Cheng Shijie staring at her. She was about to pull the quilt to cover her face shyly, so as not to worry about the fact that she was a new wife and no longer a little girl who was no longer ignorant of the world, she said softly: "Sleep a little longer, my lord, wait for the slave." Waiting for you to get up."
(End of chapter)
