After taking a shower, changing into clean clothes, eating some random meals, summoning the energy to convene a meeting with the generals, and personally conducting some combat mobilization, Zhu Cihong still fell into a drowsy sleep. Just when Cao Youyi, commander of the military order and guard of the Generalissimo of the Fu Army, was assigning tasks to the following division commanders and co-commanders, as well as Zhu Chunjie, commander of the Jinyi Guards, and Shen Tingyang, commander of the Navy Guards, he accidentally fell asleep. And he also snored.
But everyone also knew how hard Zhu Cixi was these days, so they couldn't bear to wake him up. Everyone held their voices and held a combat meeting.
Now others can take turns to sleep for a while, but he, the Prince of Fujun, has to be at the front to supervise the battle day and night.
Even between battles, he had to comfort the wounded, check food, distribute various rewards to meritorious soldiers, talk to officers at all levels who overcame the difficulties of the new army, and even had to take care of the making of muskets despite his busy schedule—— The reason why it is a bludgeon instead of a bayonet is because there is no blade, only a cone. It is actually a three-foot-long armor-piercing awl. It is not difficult to make, but it is a bit troublesome to install the blunderbuss mouth. Because the fire guns of this era were not standardized products, the matching gun spikes had to be customized, which was very troublesome.
Fortunately, Tianjin Wei is an important military industrial town, and there are many craftsmen to hire. Therefore, Zhu Cixiang assigned Li Zubai's son Li Shi, who could understand geometric figures, together with Soy Sauce Huang and Su Laomi, to be responsible for creating 2,000 customized sleeve bayonets, and at the same time recruiting a group of army craftsmen. Whether this matter was big or small, Zhu Cihong had to ask questions.
In short, Zhu Cixiang tried his best to personally deal with all kinds of matters. His approach is like doing everything by himself, which is not a very clever leadership method. However, it is a last resort when there are not many capable people available.
At least under the personal intervention of Prince Zhu, the soldiers of the new army can eat meat and get the military pay and rewards they deserve. Those who deserve to have their heads chopped off and those who deserve to die in the barracks cannot escape punishment. Officers and soldiers who perform well in combat can be promoted, and unqualified officers will be replaced in a timely manner. There were also two to three hundred shots of the sleeved musket that could be inserted into the barrel of the turtle dove's foot fire musket.
Therefore, the New Army of Overcoming Difficulties, which had only been established recently, had not very good sources of soldiers, and had an extremely complex composition of officers, was able to perform exceptionally during these three days of bloody battles, causing heavy casualties to Tang Tong's men. If it weren't for the many strong men from around the Tianjin Guard who had been drafted into the army, Tang Da's army would have been in ruins long ago.
And Zhu Cixiang was able to bring the New Army to overcome difficulties to where it is now in such a short period of time. To be honest, there is no one in the Generalissimo's Mansion who is unconvinced. Even the two veteran generals, Wu Xiang and Cao Youyi, felt that if they were replaced, they would definitely be inferior to Zhu Cixang.
Unknowingly, Prince Zhu had established his prestige and became the backbone of the wandering Ming court.
"Cao Banban, is there any news from Yongping?"
Just when everyone began to regard Zhu Cixi as their backbone, Emperor Chongzhen, who lived in the governor's office in Nancheng, Tianjin, was anxiously waiting for news about Wu Sangui.
His three sons and a noble concubine were heading towards Yongping! There is no news now. As a father, how can he not be anxious?
In addition, the new army pulled up by Zhu Cihong to overcome the difficulties was a mob after all, and the 40,000 Guan Ning army under Wu Sangui was the elite. As long as these Guan Ning troops arrived in Tianjin, Chongzhen and his son would be truly out of danger.
But now there is no news at all from the direction of Yongping! What the hell is Wu Sangui doing? Did his three sons escape? If he had not escaped, Cixi would have been the only son in the family...
"Your Majesty, what do you ask?"
Cao Huachun was a little sleepy and didn't hear Chongzhen's words clearly. He has been out of the palace for many years and is no longer used to the life of waking up early and working late at night.
Emperor Chongzhen frowned. He didn't even have a capable messenger now. He was really frustrated.
"Is anyone coming from Yongping?"
"No." Cao Huachun replied, "Tianjin Wei is currently surrounded by bandits... No entry or exit is allowed!"
Chongzhen snorted: "Won't you send warriors to break the siege?"
"This..." Cao Huachun squinted his sleepy eyes, not knowing how to respond.
Now that the Fujun Generalissimo's Mansion has seized the military power, he, the big brother, can't interfere at all, so it is not known whether Zhu Cixiang sent warriors to break the siege and contact Wu Sangui.
Chongzhen still wanted to say a few words, but a nephew of Cao Huachun whispered outside the house.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Juren from Tianjin Guard led seventeen or eight young women to beg for an audience outside the governor's office. He said that he had chosen beauties under the order of Master Qiantui..."
"Beauty?" Emperor Chongzhen was stunned and looked at Cao Huachun.
Cao Huachun shook his head, "No, I haven't heard of it... maybe the young master saw that the emperor had no one to help him, so he asked the Tianjin gentry to draft a girl?"
"Nonsense!" Chongzhen glared at Cao Huachun, "How could I have such thoughts?"
"Is that what I need for myself?" Cao Huachun said after considering, "Maybe I want to give the emperor a grandson as soon as possible?"
Chongzhen was right. Zhu Cixiang must have been lecherous and thought Wu Sanmei, Ning Xiangyu and Fei Zhen'e were not beautiful enough, so he called for the draft.
"Cao Banban, go and take a look." Chongzhen said, "If there is anyone who can stand it, take it. If not, send them away... But don't choose too many, just pick one or two. Cixi also said He's young, don't let him indulge in women."
"Old slave obeys the order."
After receiving Chongzhen's order, Cao Huachun staggered out of the Yamen with his nephew. How did he know that he had fallen into someone else's trap... There was no little beauty to give to Chongzhen and Zhu Cixiang! This was just Zhang Juren, who was determined to welcome King Chuang, testing Emperor Chongzhen's position.
There are many yamen suitable for business in Tianjin Nancheng, including the governor's yamen, general army yamen, Dusi yamen, Caoyun yamen, and command yamen. These yamen are now under martial law, and the guards standing guard at the door are all in uniform. It is difficult to ask them anything.
Moreover, the big flagpole outside the yamen was bare, with no flags at all. Therefore, it is not easy for outsiders to know where Zhu Cihong and Chongzhen live.
However, this matter was not difficult for the resourceful Zhang Juren. He had seventeen or eight girls bought. They were not beautiful women, but they were Chaihe girls who had fled the famine. They washed them, put on colorful clothes, and brought them to Testing at several government offices. It was said that he was offering a beautiful girl according to the order... He guessed that Chongzhen and his son came from poverty and there must be no one around to help them. It is always a good thing if someone takes the initiative to donate. So if you use this excuse to test, you won't be afraid of being exposed. It was a coincidence that he was the first to find the governor's Yamen where Emperor Chongzhen lived.
"Are these the beauties you donated?" Cao Huachun used the dim light from the lantern and squinted at the dozen Chaihe girls in front of him, but none of them caught his eye.
"Governor, if you are not satisfied, the late student will go back and choose carefully. As long as the late student is given a few more days, he will always be able to select a stunning one..." Zhang Juren recognized Cao Huachun. Less travel around Tianjin. Seeing the old man, Zhang Juren already knew that the emperor probably lived in the governor's Yamen.
When Cao Huachun heard what Zhang Juren said, he quickly waved his hand, "No need... We are short of people in the industry, so just ask them all to stay. You are considered to be interested. By the way, do you have fame?"
"Late birth is a mistake."
"Oh, he is a filial and honest man." Cao Huachun nodded, "Well, it's late tonight. If you come here tomorrow morning, our family will take you to see him. There will always be an official title to give you."
Haha, the Dog Emperor is indeed in the governor’s office!
Zhang Juren was overjoyed when he heard this. He quickly bowed to the ground and thanked Eunuch Cao for his promotion. Of course, he also presented a box full of silver...
