Hu Feng, who was greedy for money, was "invited" by the Jiangning County Yamen, and under the eyes of everyone, he politely invited the county Yamen to the Yamen.
Hu Feng obviously didn't understand the situation.
Upstairs, we were just competing with foreign scholars for first-come, first-served, over a room. They were pushing and shoving each other. I don’t know how the unlucky guy fell down the stairs. Although it was not life-threatening, he was inevitably charged with wounding. , at least he has fame, which can be regarded as avoiding the embarrassment of being put in the yoke.
"Master Zhang, is this... your arrangement?"
Yang Peng, who was standing at the opposite door watching all this, asked Zhang Zhou cautiously.
Zhang Zhou smiled and shook his head: "Eunuch Yang, this is probably because as the saying goes, plans cannot keep up with changes. The prince's security work is also the most prone to these unexpected situations."
"Yes." Yang Peng always felt that something was wrong.
"I want to go back to pay homage to the ancestral hall. Eunuch Yang has other errands to attend to, so I won't bother you much." Zhang Zhou means, you can leave.
Yang Peng volunteered and said: "I feel honored to accompany you, Master Zhang, to visit the ancestral hall. I hope Master Zhang can give me a chance. There are also matters involving the northwest military affairs, and I would like to seek your opinion on behalf of His Majesty."
"For Your Majesty? Then we have to go with you. I'll tell you on the way."
Zhang Zhou smiled and made an invitation gesture. The two of them could not go through the front door, but could only come out from the back door of Mipu. They did not take a carriage and walked directly to the Zhang family mansion, which was Zhang Ye's mansion.
…
…
"Master Zhang, based on the information we have learned so far, the newly appointed Ningxia Governor Yang Yiqing and the Marquis of Anbian have both arrived in Ningxia in the past two days."
"According to His Majesty's instructions, after the two of them arrive, they will start to deal with the troops of the little Tatar prince. The number of troops that can be mobilized from each road in Ningxia is no more than 5,000, but the Tatars have at least 40,000 to 50,000 troops. , how do you think this battle will be fought?"
Yang Peng looked at Zhang Zhou eagerly.
It is said that he is asking for Zhu Youtang, but more because he wants to take credit for himself. If he can get the tactics to defeat the enemy from Zhang Zhou, then Yang Peng's position as admiral of Dongchang will be secure, and he may even be able to fulfill his wish directly. Entering the ceremonial department.
Zhang Zhou flatly said, "If it were me, I wouldn't be able to fight."
"Huh?" Yang Peng was surprised by Zhang Zhou's answer.
"It's not that I'm pushing back or that I don't want to work hard for this. It's really because the strength gap between the enemy and us is too big, or that all the people in Ningxia Town must be mobilized. This will make the city of Ningxia unsafe, and we need to repair these fortresses later... The losses will be greater. So in my opinion, it is better to wait for the Tatars to withdraw."
Zhang Zhou seemed to be analyzing carefully.
But Yang Peng felt that Zhang Zhou did not tell the truth frankly. After all, what the emperor wanted was to take the initiative, and it was difficult to disobey the emperor's order. If it were you, Zhang Zhou, who went to the northwest, he would not have followed the emperor's order?
But then he thought about it, Zhang Zhou was probably the only one qualified to resist the emperor's order.
After the resistance was over, the emperor would not only not punish him, but would also say that he had resisted well, had courage, and was a model of benevolence...
Yang Peng said: "But when Governor Yang arrives in Ningxia, this battle must be fought."
"Oh, then push the artillery carts out and deal with them casually. At least the Tatars will not dare to touch the artillery carts head-on, right? Just go out and sneak around. If the Tatars understand and retreat, then your majesty's intention should be Almost there."
Zhang Zhou looked very relaxed, as if this was a natural thing.
Yang Peng said helplessly: "Unless the Tatars rob Ningxia, they will withdraw. Otherwise..."
Zhang Zhou said: "It's still the same old problem."
"I would like to hear the details." Yang Peng turned his ears, fearing that he would miss the key to the matter.
Zhang Zhou sighed with emotion: "The nine-sided land of the Ming Dynasty is equivalent to nine pots, and the lids are not enough. Can I just replace it?"
Yang Peng said: "You have heavenly will, you can even summon thunder from the sky, and call the wind and rain. The Tatars will definitely flee if they know you are here in person."
"Really?" Zhang Zhou said, "I have this ability, how come I don't know it? Eunuch Yang, do you have any misunderstandings about me? If you think it's me, Pinglu, who is famous, then Anbianhou probably also has this ability. Right? Maybe the Tatars will retreat without a fight if they know that Anbian Hou is visiting Ningxia in person?"
"Disaster."
Yang Peng's evaluation was very direct.
Marquis Anbian is very capable and his reputation is spread far and wide, but as the admiral of Dongchang, if you don't even know his true level, then Yang Peng doesn't have to mess around.
In his opinion, no matter how capable Zhu Feng is, without Zhang Zhou's support, he is nothing.
Zhang Zhou said: "We are in Nanjing, and we are thinking about the progress of the war in Ningxia. Is it too late to think about it? Today I have to pay homage to the ancestral hall and go back to meet the Zhang family. I am in a very bad mood. Eunuch Yang should let me be quiet for a while."
"No need to disturb me, please come first."
Yang Peng first asked Zhang Zhou to walk in front, and he followed from a distance.
Dongchang Fanzi, who was brought next to him and was also Yang Peng's confidant, hurriedly stepped forward and asked: "Grandfather of the factory, does Lai Guogong have any plans?"
Yang Peng thought about the conversation just now.
Zhang Zhou seemed to have said everything, but there were no constructive suggestions that were basically bullshit. It was equivalent to saying that Zhang Zhou just said a few words to him and asked him to follow behind him as a follower.
"No, don't mention it!" Yang Peng was also very depressed.
"Did Duke Lai have any errands for you? Your Majesty seems to have important errands for Duke Lai..."
"No! Shut your mouth and follow suit!"
…
…
Zhang Mansion.
When Zhang Zhou came here again, he suddenly felt emotional... Looking at the lintel of the Zhang family, he felt like he was in another world. He wondered if he should find a tung oil can to hold and rush in again?
"Second Master, are you back?"
When a servant of the Zhang Mansion meets Zhang Zhou, it is no different than meeting his biological father.
The door opened, and a group of people came out to greet them. They kowtowed to greet them.
This also made Zhang Zhou very uncomfortable. The last time he came here, he was still tense and refused to give in.
"Tell your eldest lady, I came here to pay homage to the ancestral hall, and I will leave after paying my respects...Does the person who builds the ancestral hall have a grudge against me? Is it not built here in the mansion? Who is this ancestral hall built for?"
Zhang Zhou was a little dissatisfied.
In order to show his "filial piety", he had to go to the Zhang family mansion for a walk, which made him feel very unhappy.
Then the Zhang family became lively.
Not only the Zhang family, but also the neighbors and the seven aunts and eight aunts of the Zhang family, who were related to each other, all gathered here.
When Zhang Zhou stepped into the Zhang family's gate, his sister-in-law on the opposite side... Zhang Xu, who was tall and round-waisted, came towards her. Her aura was just like Zhang Zhou's impression of the unreasonable sister-in-law... no different.
"Second brother, who asked you to come in?"
Mrs. Zhang Xu was not polite when she saw Zhang Zhou. It seemed that she was the only one in the Zhang family who could still maintain her true intentions.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Sister-in-law, I'm not here to greet you. I'm here to pay homage to the ancestral hall. I'll leave after paying my respects."
Zhang Xu said coldly: "The incense of the ancestral hall is inherited by the eldest son and grandson, why do you need to come? Even if you want to come, you should ask your brother and nephew for instructions. Only if you get them... your brother and nephew Woolen cloth?"
I was about to "argue" with Zhang Zhou.
Only then did Zhang Xu realize that her husband and son did not come back with this second uncle.
Zhang Zhou wrote lightly: "Oh, my eldest brother and nephew are still fighting sandbags in Liaoyang."
"What did you say?"
Zhang Xu's eyes were wide-eyed, like a dominatrix, and then she took out a stick from behind, as if she wanted to come over and fight Zhang Zhou.
The retinue behind Zhang Zhou originally followed him back to "glorify" him. After all, they returned home in rich clothes and went to his brother's house to pay homage to the ancestral hall. Even if the relationship was not good before, it is time to ease the conflict now, right?
Who would have thought...this woman doesn't play by the rules and actually wants to hit someone with a stick?
"Madam, please don't be impulsive." When Yang Peng saw this posture, he rushed as fast as he could.
Mr. Dongchang personally stepped forward to block them.
The Jin Yiwei and others behind him also hurriedly rushed forward, even pulling out their knives out of curiosity.
Mrs. Zhang Xu said sternly: "My eldest sister-in-law is a mother. Even if he is now prosperous, do he not care about the most basic filial piety? You guys, you still want to do something to me, a woman and a child?"
"this……"
Yang Peng thought about it, and it was right.
Zhang Zhou came back just to show his filial piety. If he attacks his sister-in-law, doesn't that mean he will give Zhang Zhou a bad name?
The head of the Zhang family's house was away, and the Zhang family's second house brought people back to bully the orphans and widows... This reputation spread...
hiss.
Yang Peng suddenly felt that something was wrong again. How could he be kidnapped by others' morals?
Zhang Zhou looked on and smiled.
He almost gave this sister-in-law a thumbs up.
As for those who can keep their true feelings, this sister-in-law is the number one... She has never had any good feelings toward her brother-in-law because Zhang Zhou passed the imperial examination or became a Jinshi, or even became the Duke of Lai... To rob or to rob, in the past it was to rob family property, but later Zhang Zhou was given a job and a title, so he went to rob the family.
Just when Zhang Xu thought she had grasped Zhang Zhou's "filial piety" and was about to make a fuss in front of outsiders, a man came out from behind Zhang Zhou.
Although she is also wearing Jin Yiwei's clothes, she has a graceful figure and holds a knife in her hand...
It was Wang Mingshan who Zhang Zhou specially brought here to support the scene.
"you!"
When Zhang Xu saw Wang Mingshan standing in front of Zhang Zhou with a knife, her momentum suddenly weakened.
Didn’t you say that a group of big men bullied you, a prostitute?
Then change it to a woman.
When two women fight, they are not bullying you, right? Even if you are big and round, you can only rely on the strength of one arm. Now if you are asked to fight Lian Jiazi, do you still have a chance of winning?
"Sister-in-law, I am not an ungrateful person. I have told my brother and nephew that as long as they do well, I will find a way to help them find positions. There are thousands or hundreds of households in the army, and they rely on their ability. If you make money, I will definitely help you without any hesitation."
Zhang Zhou meant this to the people from the Zhang family who were coming in one after another.
Mrs. Zhang Xu's expression was uncertain, but in the presence of everyone watching, she did not dare to use a stick to teach Zhang Zhou a lesson in the name of her sister-in-law.
"Where is the newly built ancestral hall? Take me to worship, and then leave." Zhang Zhou smiled and cupped his hands to the people around him, "I made you laugh."
…
…
Zhang Xu was very angry.
But Zhang Zhou had no choice but to watch Zhang Zhou and his people perform their filial piety performance in the Zhang family mansion.
Zhang Xu's daughter, Zhang Zhou's niece, Zhang An, who was already eleven years old, stood beside her mother, staring at what was happening in front of her with wide eyes.
"My niece has grown so tall? She looks like her father-in-law."
Zhang Zhou greeted with a smile.
Zhang An is very similar to her mother. The flesh on her body grows sideways. On the contrary, Zhang Ping has the same height as his father, and usually looks like a skinny monkey.
Zhang Zhou was also thinking about it, saying that his son is like his mother and his daughter is like his father.
How did it appear that it was the opposite in the Zhang family's big room?
"The ancestral hall has been decorated. Master Zhang, you can go and worship first." Yang Peng went over to arrange the arrangements in person, and then came over to salute Zhang Zhou.
"Um."
Zhang Zhou smiled and walked towards the ancestral hall.
"Second brother, bring your brother and nephew back. The two families will have nothing to do with each other from now on!" Zhang Xu suddenly seemed to have become a good wife and mother, remembering Zhang Ye and his son who had been tormented by her several times.
Zhang Zhou shook his head and said, "No."
"You!" Mrs. Zhang Xu gritted her teeth with hatred.
Zhang Zhoudao: "I said that I will succeed my brother and nephew, and I will definitely succeed for them. They also said that they are willing to endure no matter how much hardship they have. I believe they all want to start their own business. Although this house is big, it cannot contain a man. A heart that advocates freedom."
"What... nonsense are you saying?" Zhang Xu shouted sharply at Zhang Zhou.
Yang Peng quickly persuaded him: "Madam, please be more polite to Mr. Lai Guo."
Zhang Xu glared at Yang Peng and said, "What does our Zhang family's affairs have to do with you, an old eunuch?"
"What?"
When Yang Peng heard this, he immediately felt that he had received a 10,000-point critical hit.
I, the dignified owner of Dongchang Factory, don't mind humiliating me in front of Zhang Zhou. You, a market shrew, dare to call me an "old eunuch". You don't know how many eyes Lord Ma has.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Eunuch Yang, please forgive me. My sister-in-law is used to being arrogant and domineering at home. If you want to take revenge on her, you can do whatever you want after I leave."
"No...no way. I think Mrs. Zhang had some misunderstanding about me." Yang Peng showed a humble attitude in front of Zhang Zhou.
Mrs. Zhang Xu had long seen that this eunuch obeyed Zhang Zhouyan, and thought she was some inconspicuous old eunuch. The reason why she dared to be so arrogant was because no one in the Zhang family dared to be her enemy.
But she misjudged the political environment Zhang Zhou was in, and did not know what unpredictable consequences this political environment would bring to her... To put it bluntly, the tricks of the market are not good for ordinary people, especially those who like to reason. It is effective for people who read books, but not for those who are in the vanity fair.
…
…
Zhang Zhou left the Zhang family after visiting the ancestral hall.
Even though he encountered some unpleasantness in the Zhang family, when he came out, he was warmly received by everyone in the Zhang family except Zhang Xu.
Everyone seems to want to come up and be familiar with each other.
"Erlang, you are now capable. My Dahan also wants to get a military job. Please help him."
"There are four acres of land outside the city. It was occupied by a gangster two years ago, and they haven't paid for the rent yet... Please find a way..."
It's all trivial stuff.
It can be said that it is incompatible with the "pattern" of people like Zhang Zhou who are doing great things.
"Get out of my way!"
Yang Peng went up personally to escort him.
After putting Zhang Zhou on the carriage, the group left.
Yang Peng was not in a hurry to leave.
He glanced back in the direction of the Zhang family mansion, feeling very ashamed and annoyed. As a "treacherous" villain, who was once Li Guang's top horse and now Zhang Zhou's right-hand man, had he ever been pointed at and scolded like this?
"Grandpa, what do you think we can do? How about burning down the house?" The supporters began to come up with ideas.
This group of people are also familiar with Yang Peng's character.
Yang Peng gritted his teeth and said: "Burning down the big house will definitely displease Lai Guogong, so he would choose an inconspicuous shop or her family's house and burn it for our family! Dare you scold me? This kind of woman just doesn't see the coffin. No tears!”
…
…
royal palace.
In the afternoon of that day, Xiao Jing sent Zhu Youtang a memorial, which was the "March Plan" written by Yang Yiqing on the way when he was about to arrive in Ningxia.
Xiao Jing said: "This memorial has been disclosed to the Ministry of Cabinet, or it will be mentioned in the court tomorrow. If there is anything inappropriate, I can go to the Ministry of War for advice at any time."
In Zhu Youtang's hand.
It was a strategy that Yang Yiqing decided upon after a few days of calm thinking before arriving at the front line.
Generally speaking, based on the various gates in Ningxia, they used light cavalry to harass the main Tatar force, and then gathered superior forces to engage in a "decisive battle" with artillery carts, gradually driving the Tatars out of western Ningxia. Grain-producing areas and residential areas along the road.
"It's superficial."
After reading this memorial, Zhu Youtang shook his head, as if he had no interest in those false and empty plans.
In other words, Zhu Youtang didn't think Yang Yiqing had a chance to win on the frontal battlefield if he marched like this.
Xiao Jing said: "Sixty thousand soldiers and horses have been mobilized on the other three sides to coordinate the use of troops."
Zhu Youtang smiled softly and said: "Most of the so-called 60,000 people are old, weak, sick and disabled. I guess even the main force of Huoshan's headquarters is included? It reminds me that North Korea will cooperate with the Ming Dynasty to send 20,000 troops." ... Bingkuan has already analyzed the situation on the three sides for me, so there is no need to deal with it."
"Yes." Xiao Jing lowered his head.
Xiao Jing didn't believe it at first that there were 60,000 troops from three sides.
But in order to show off the military might of the Ming Dynasty, this kind of awesomeness had to be boasted. Maybe the Tatars would believe it after hearing this kind of awesomeness?
It's not that there is no manpower available at all, it's just that "everything is available", including the food transporters, the civilian men who are usually recruited, and all the forces that can be mobilized, even the surrendered Huo Si cavalry... This kind of Calculations are meaningless in the face of tough battles.
"Is there any news from Liaodong?" Zhu Youtang asked.
Xiao Jing said: "There has been no movement in Liaodong recently. On the contrary, in Jizhou, the governor Wang Xian led five thousand troops out of the fortress and ordered Duoyan and other tribes of Di Yi to withdraw north. Now the enemy invaders in Daning and other places have retreated, and the Ming Dynasty east The road is clear.”
"oh."
Zhu Youtang nodded.
Xiao Jing was also wondering in his heart. The emperor asked about Jizhou when he asked about it. Why did he suddenly ask about Liaodong?
"Later, I will summon Zhou Shangshu of the Ministry of Revenue to come over. I have something to tell him." Zhu Youtang said.
"Your Majesty, I wonder what's going on?" Xiao Jing said, "I wish I could say hello to him in advance."
Zhu Youtang said: "The grains are adjusted and sent to Liaodong, as well as Nuer Gandusi, to prepare for the winter."
Xiao Jing said: "But there was no shortage of food and grass in Liaodong and other places before."
"There will always be a shortage. In addition, let Taipu Temple cooperate and mobilize 4,000 horses to Liaodong and 10,000 troops from the Beijing camp to guard Jizhou." Zhu Youtang said.
"Your Majesty?" Xiao Jing was shocked.
"Just do as you are told. I let the little Tatar prince wreak havoc in Ningxia without saying anything. Even if we want to encircle Wei and rescue Zhao, we can't fight out from the side pass, but from Liaodong! I believe in Uncle Xin Xin even more!"
(End of chapter)
