cavalry?
Gu Zhengchen stared. There were very few cavalry in the Ming Dynasty. In the mainland, it was rare for hundreds of cavalry to be dispatched. At night, at this juncture, if a hundred cavalry suddenly appeared, there was only one possibility:
Jinghaihou Wu Zhen sent someone here.
Zhang Xiwan looked at Gu Zhengchen worriedly and asked softly: "Is it possible that the sergeant came so late because of the incident with the censor?"
Gu Zhengchen saw Zhang Xiwan frowning, raised his hand and tapped Zhang Xiwan's eyebrows, and said with a smile: "The reason for beating the censor is because they want to trespass into the forbidden area of Jurong Guards. This kind of thing is also justified when it comes to the husband of Fengtian Palace. Besides, if the imperial court Because the censor was beaten and imprisoned, I only needed to send one or two government officials and personal guards, so how could we send cavalry?"
Zhang Xiwan felt itchy on her forehead and took a step back: "But..."
"I think it's nothing serious. Husband, I'll go take a look while you rest."
Gu Zhengchen smiled, comforted Zhang Xiwan, picked up his umbrella and walked to the door. He looked back at Zhang Xiwan who was following him and nodded slightly: "Don't worry."
Yao Zhen and Zhang Pei were wearing coir raincoats.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Yao Zhen: "You stay at home."
Yao Zhen had no choice but to retreat aside.
Gu Zhengchen took Zhang Pei out of the county government office and headed straight to the east gate.
The whole world seemed to be wrapped in a black curtain, with no light coming through. Lightning struggled to tear apart the curtain, flashing light between the sky and the earth, and soon the sky darkened again.
In February, there was a summer-like thunderstorm, which was an unusual and disturbing scene.
The city gate is open.
Gu Zhengchen walked out, and by the light of lightning, he saw the armored cavalry sitting on the horse, with rain dripping down the horse's belly.
"Are you Gu Zhengchen, the guardian of Jurong Weiwei Town?"
The horse took small steps forward, its hooves falling on the ground and splashing water.
The garrison soldier lit up the lantern.
Gu Zhengchen saw clearly that the person coming was a middle-aged man with a beard, thick eyebrows and big eyes. There was a scar as big as a thumb on the left cheek, which seemed to have been penetrated by some kind of hole.
"Exactly, you are?"
Gu Zhengchen said quietly and took out his waist card.
The visitor turned over and dismounted, checked his waist badge and saluted solemnly: "My subordinate is Jiangyin Guards Deputy Qianhu Feng Fu. Following the military order of Jinghai Marquis Wu Zhen, I came here to deliver documents."
Gu Zhengchen stared, watching Feng Fu take out the documents from the rainproof bag, hand the umbrella to Zhang Pei, take the documents and unfold them, his brows suddenly furrowed.
Feng Fu's voice was rough: "Gu Zhenfu, the military situation is urgent, please come with us."
"Let's go, where?"
Zhang Pei was startled and looked at Gu Zhengchen.
Gu Zhengchen put away the documents and looked at Feng Fu: "Why did the Marquis of Jinghai suddenly send me to Jiangyin Guard to control the Jiangyin Guard sergeants? I am the governor of Jurong Guard, not the governor of Jiangyin Guard."
Feng Fu sighed and said seriously: "Gu Zhenfu, the highest commander of Jiangyin Guards, Wang Zhen, was transferred to Guangxi in November last year and served as the commander of the Guangxi capital. Due to the delay on New Year's Day, the capital governor's office and the imperial court did not discuss the issue. The candidate for the chief officer of Jiangyin Guard. However, Jiangyin Guard Town Fu Zhou Huan, Qianhu Wu Jun and others had gone to sea with Marquis Jinghai, leaving Jiangyin Guard without a command. Knowing this situation, Jinghai Marquis specially transferred Zhenfu to Jiangyin Guard. Temporarily in charge of military affairs."
Gu Zhengchen held the document and was a little worried: "Jinghai Marquis should know that I am the magistrate of Jurong County and I cannot leave the administrative office easily."
Feng Fu naturally knew Gu Zhengchen's identity. However, during the war, military affairs were superior to civil affairs. Who made you the governor of Jurong Guard? Now the identity of the governor must be subject to the dispatch and arrangement of the chief military officer. As for the county magistrate, Identity can only take a back seat.
"Military situation is the most important thing!"
Feng Fu implored.
Although Gu Zhengchen was in a dilemma, he also knew that military orders could not be violated.
Wu Zhen, the chief military officer, has great authority and has a large number of guard posts. Now it seems that he has been directly assigned to Wu Zhen's tent. If he disobeys, he will be chopped down with a knife and Lao Zhu will not be able to intercede.
"I need some time to arrange, and I need to bring some people with me."
Gu Zhengchen said seriously.
Feng Fu said worriedly: "After receiving intelligence, there may be pirates attacking Suzhou Prefecture and even entering the Yangtze River area. Jiangyin Guards have the mission of guarding the Yangtze River and guarding the safety of Jinling. They must not delay it for too long."
"Half an hour."
After Gu Zhengchen finished speaking, he took Zhang Pei back to the county government office, called Luo Shao, Zhou Mao, Yang Liang and others out of bed, and ordered someone to report to the Jurong Guards, and ordered Zhao Hailou to bring 300 elite sergeants. , bring a backpack and prepare rations.
Zhang Xiwan called Xiao He to help pack her luggage. Seeing that Gu Zhengchen was still writing a letter, she couldn't help but sigh: "You are a civil servant, your body and bones are not as good as those of Zhao Hailou and others, and you have no combat experience, so you don't dare to rush to the front. Still. Yes, I heard from Qingqing that you are not good at water. If you go to sea, you must stay in the cabin..."
Gu Zhengchen nodded and wrote a brief letter to Zhu Biao. After sealing it, he put it on the desk: "Tomorrow morning, ask Chengfa to send this letter."
Zhang Xiwan agreed and asked Xiao He to stuff in a few more clothes.
Gu Zhengchen looked at the big package and was stunned for a moment: "What was just stuffed inside seems to be a winter coat."
"Yes, if there is a cold spring..."
"But why do you have to tie up the quilt too?"
"It's very humid in Jiangyin..."
"What about this teapot?"
"Good tea, husband."
Gu Zhengchen became depressed and took out a bunch of unnecessary things: "I am only in charge of Jiangyin Guard temporarily. I will come back when Marquis Jinghai defeats the pirates. It won't take long."
"Take Yao Zhen and Zhang Pei with you."
Zhang Xiwan said quickly when she saw Gu Zhengchen was about to go out.
Gu Zhengchen shook his head slightly: "Zhang Pei follows me, Yao Zhen stays at home."
outside the door.
Zhang Pei patted Yao Zhen on the shoulder and said seriously: "Protect your wife well and don't let her get hurt."
Although Yao Zhen regretted not being able to go to Jiangyin Guard, he also knew that staying in Jurong and serving as Zhang Xiwan's guard was Gu Zhengchen's greatest trust in him.
There are no words to entrust, but it is far better than a thousand words.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Zhang Xiwan who was reluctant to give up, stepped forward to hug her gently, and said gently: "Don't worry, my life is yours. No one can take it away without your permission."
Zhang Xiwan was a little shy, but she still didn't struggle. She took off the Buddhist beads on her wrist and put them on Gu Zhengchen's left wrist: "Wear it, think of me, don't take risks."
Gu Zhengchen made a promise, waved goodbye to Zhang Xiwan, went to the second hall, and arranged for Luo Shao, Zhou Mao and others: "Luo Shao is in charge of the county government and must not slack off in supervising the farming. The three courtyards must take good care of it. If there is a case, we will Make sure the evidence is conclusive and don’t ignore human life..."
After the explanation was clear, Gu Zhengchen left the county office.
When they arrived outside the city, Zhao Hailou was waiting with three hundred soldiers including Qin Song and Dou Qiao from a hundred households.
Feng Fu has informed Zhao Hailou and others of the military order.
Gu Zhengchen changed into his raincoat and Zhao Hailou brought a horse. With the help of Zhao Hailou and others, Gu Zhengchen got on the horse and looked at Feng Fu: "Then let's go to Jiangyin Guard."
"Let's go back to Jiangyin Guard!"
Feng Fu's rough voice echoed in the rainy night.
Sergeant Jiangyin rode his horse, while Sergeant Jurong could only move forward at a trot. Gu Zhengchen, who was not good at riding, bumped on the horse's back, holding the reins a little tight, and the horse stopped several times.
Zhao Hailou was riding a horse, protecting Gu Zhengchen on the left side.
Feng Fu also knew that Gu Zhengchen had no riding skills, so he guarded the horse on the right side and did not rush the horse.
Riding a horse is a technical job, and Gu Zhengchen is obviously not familiar with this skill. Thinking about some generals who fell off their horses and broke their necks, or were trampled to death by horses' hooves, Gu Zhengchen felt a little uneasy, so he had to ask: "Why are Jiangyin guards So many war horses?”
Feng Fu said with a smile: "Gu Zhenfu, Jiangyin Guards were the first batch of guards set up. When your Majesty was campaigning in all directions, he attached great importance to Jiangyin and left elite guards. Because Jiangyin is located in a fortress of the Yangtze River, sergeants frequently protected and inspected the embankments. , the imperial court did not mobilize Jiangyin Guards’ war horses.”
"There are naval forces in Jiangyin, right?"
Gu Zhengchen asked again.
Feng Fu nodded: "Jiangyin Guards are all naval officers and have three hundred large and small ships. However, Marquis Jinghai has transferred 230 ships away, leaving only a few small boats."
"Then how many sergeants of the Jiangyin Guards are left?"
Gu Zhengchen frowned.
Feng Fu said bluntly: "Less than a thousand and two."
Gu Zhengchen looked at Feng Fu, narrowed his eyes and asked, "Then why did you bring a hundred cavalry to Jurong? Can't you just send a few people?"
Feng Fu was stunned for a moment and quickly explained: "Gu Zhenfu is a man from Quanzhou County and a knighted person. How can there be so many people worthy of your status..."
Gu Zhengchen was depressed, it was a face-saving project!
Marching at night, it was still raining, and the sergeant was not marching very fast. After traveling for thirty miles, he rested in an open space. By daybreak, the rain had stopped.
Cook porridge for dinner.
Feng Fu watched the Jurong Guard's sergeants take out rations and dried meat from their backpacks. Some of them even brought their own salted fish, and he couldn't help but be stunned.
It’s not that Jurongwei is very poor, but why is this ration richer than Jiangyinwei’s?
"What object is this?"
Feng Fu asked, pointing to the backpack beside Gu Zhengchen.
Gu Zhengchen smiled and invited Feng Fu to have dinner with him: "This is a military backpack. The Jurong Guard has only been equipped with five hundred. Most of the military backpacks have been sent to Jinling now."
"Military backpack?"
Feng Fu was very curious. He looked through it and found that there were indeed a lot of things inside, including even a small bag of salt. He couldn't help but look at Gu Zhengchen: "Isn't this backpack the bag of things that storytellers talk about?"
Gu Zhengchen smiled heartily: "I don't dare use the Qiankun bag as it can only hold more than thirty kilograms of stuff."
Feng Fu was full of praise: "With this thing, the army can move forward easily. If it is used to conquer the desert, wouldn't it be a sharp weapon?"
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly: "Yes, Wei Guogong is already asking for a large number of military backpacks, but the current situation does not allow for a northern expedition."
Feng Fu looked at Gu Zhengchen and asked cautiously: "Gu Zhenfu knows Wei Guogong?"
Gu Zhengchen looked solemn and solemn: "I'd rather not know him."
"What's the explanation?"
Feng Fu was a little surprised. Who wouldn't want to know Wei Guogong? He was the number one general of the Ming Dynasty, Xu Da, who had great military exploits!
Gu Zhengchen pointed to the dirty shoes: "If we didn't know Wei Guogong, we wouldn't be the governor. If we weren't the governor, how could we be transferred to Jiangyin by the order of Marquis Jinghai... If we didn't see him Duke Guo of Wei gave us some gifts when we got married, so he must have declined this position."
Feng Fu was shocked.
The Gu Zhenfu in front of him has such a close relationship with Wei Guogong!
Can't offend.
Feng Fu looked a little ugly. He looked around and said to Gu Zhengchen in a low voice: "Gu Zhenfu, there is something I need to remind you about. What is it? Qianhu Zhuang Xing, another deputy of Jiangyin Guard, is with the former Jiangxi's political participation in Ban Yongji has something to do with it. I heard that the reason why Ban Yongji was punished was thanks to Gu Zhenfu..."
