Zhang Yan's counselors divided the tent into two rooms: an inner one and an inner one. The outer room was used for discussions with his subordinates and for dining, while the inner room was his resting place.
Seeing that Zhang Cheng had returned, Zhang Yan smiled and said, "You kid, are you going to be reincarnated as a starving ghost?"
Zhang Cheng heard the sound, raised his head, chewed a piece of bacon jerky in his mouth, and said with a vague smile: "I'm so hungry after marching for days, this bacon is really good."
Zhang Yan came over and sat down, but he was not in a hurry to eat. He just looked at Zhang Cheng with a very kind look. After a while, he said in a calm tone: "Eat slowly, uncle will take care of you."
Zhang Cheng swallowed hard the steamed bun in his mouth, took another sip of rice soup, and then said to Zhang Yan: "Uncle, do you think our Xuan army's invasion of the defense will go smoothly? I heard that I intend to negotiate with the Tartars today. Mr. Yang Ge from the Ministry of War is already planning this matter..."
The more Zhang Cheng spoke, the softer his voice became, and he kept carefully watching the changes on Zhang Yan's face.
Zhang Yan had just picked up a steamed bun. When he heard Zhang Cheng mentioning the current situation and the cabinet ministers, he immediately shouted: "Shut up, are you allowed to mention the current situation casually?"
After saying that, he ate the steamed buns. In fact, Zhang Yan had already heard about this on the way to Changping. The generals of Xuan Da were privately worried that the current situation in the court would be unfavorable to the governor Lu Xiangsheng.
Everyone knows that Governor Lu Xiangsheng is determined to take the lead in the war. When he came here, he was ready to have a hearty battle with the Tartars. However, there were constant rumors along the way that the imperial court was going to negotiate with the Tartars. Pavilion boss Yang Sichang is already planning this matter. It seems that the current emperor is also very supportive of the payment. Everyone is worried, worried about Governor Lu and the future of Xuan Dajun.
"Cough...cough..." Zhang Yan was thinking about something in his mind. He was a little anxious after eating a few mouthfuls of steamed buns. He quickly drank two mouthfuls of rice soup. He looked up and saw Zhang Cheng standing there in a daze. He said to him in a slow and loving voice: "This Don't talk nonsense like this, and you must not mention it in the army in the future."
Zhang Cheng was moved when he saw the love and care in his uncle's eyes, and said with a sincere face: "Yes. Uncle, don't worry, Cheng'er won't mention it in the future."
Zhang Yan said to him in a deep voice: "This time we enter the guard, we only need to follow the military orders of Lu Duchen and Yang Junmen." At this point, he looked at Zhang Cheng with love in his eyes, and continued He said: "As for the matters above the court, it is up to the civil servants to deal with them. Don't worry about it anymore."
"Yes, uncle." Zhang Cheng was moved after hearing these words: "Cheng'er, take note of it."
Zhang Yan finished eating a steamed bun and looked at Zhang Cheng in front of him with satisfaction. He felt somewhat comforted in his heart. He had no children, only one daughter. He had long regarded Zhang Cheng as his own son, and now he was taking the opportunity to observe and test him. , also wanted to use this time to enter the Wei capital and help Zhang Cheng earn some military merits. How did he know that he would follow Lu Duchen and die for his country in Julu? Then he asked with full of care: "Cheng'er, your body and bones are good. It won’t be long before we have to travel a long distance, is that okay?”
Zhang Cheng was still making steamed buns, eating bacon and rice soup. Hearing that Zhang Yan cared about his health, he was moved. His father died young, and he treated this uncle as half of his father. At this moment, he softly replied: "Don't worry, uncle, Cheng'er is fine." After saying that, he put down half of the steamed buns and the soup bowl, stood up and punched Zhang Yan a few times, and then said with a smile: "Look, it's completely fine. "
"Okay, it's okay." Zhang Yan was really happy when he saw that his nephew was in good health and didn't suffer from any serious illness due to the military stick he hit last time, and he laughed unconsciously.
Zhang Cheng saw it and felt warmth in his heart again.
Zhang Yan's care and love for Zhang Cheng were clearly shown in words, which moved Zhang Cheng's heart. The warmth made him feel a little excited, and he couldn't help but have the idea of saving his uncle's life during the Battle of Julu. .
"By the way, your right sentry has followed me to Changping. You can take him back by yourself!" Zhang Yan proposed that Zhang Cheng take back the right sentry of the Cavalry Qian Headquarters who accompanied him.
"Let the right sentry stay with my uncle. The Tartars are powerful and can be compared with the rogue bandits. If the right sentry stays with my uncle, he can also protect him." Zhang Cheng replied with a smile, seeing that there was no evil look on Zhang Yan's face. , and then he continued: "Uncle, there are only more than 200 cavalry on the Chinese military sentry, so the strength is too weak!" Zhang Cheng expressed his worries sincerely.
"Haha, you have good intentions. But do you think I have been protected all these years? Besides, Liu Zhankui's infantry battalion will reach Changping in three days, so your uncle's safety should not be worried about." Zhang Yan He said cheerfully.
"My nephew is still worried. The right sentry should still stay with my uncle." After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he grabbed another piece of bacon and put it in his mouth and started chewing it.
Zhang Yan looked at Zhang Cheng, his eyes full of majesty and said in a deep voice: "Huh, uncle, I have been fighting in the battlefield for many years, but I am not old enough to need someone to protect me."
"Haha..." After saying this, he actually aroused the pride in his heart and couldn't help laughing. Zhang Cheng sat next to him and laughed with him.
Seeing that Zhang Cheng was a little dazed, he said warmly: "You sentry, you can take it back by yourself. You and my uncle and nephew are in the same camp. If something happens, we will be there in a moment. What else are you worried about?"
Seeing what his uncle said, Zhang Cheng stopped insisting because he knew very well that Zhang Yan's danger was only in Julu. Before the battle of Julu, his life was not in any danger, so he responded: "Cheng'er, take the order." !”
Zhang Yan has no children, only a daughter, so he already treats his nephew Zhang Cheng as his own son. Seeing that Zhang Cheng is calm and capable, but also worried about his own safety, he can't help but feel relieved and extremely happy. Comfortable.
The uncle and nephew had just finished lunch when soldiers came in to report.
It is said that Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu, sent his own soldiers to report: "At the time of Shen, the officers above the thousand generals of various ministries in Xuanzhen who came to aid the capital gathered at Yang Junmen's tent and followed Yang Junmen to the governor's palace in Changping."
After the soldiers withdrew, Zhang Cheng said to his uncle Zhang Yan: "Uncle, what is the purpose of the governor summoning the generals?"
"It's hard to say." Zhang Yan thought for a moment and continued: "At this moment, there are no traces of the Tartars near Changping, so there is no military emergency."
Zhang Yan paused for a moment, looked at his nephew Zhang Cheng, and suddenly asked: "Cheng'er, what do you think of the Tartar raids this time?"
When Zhang Cheng heard this, he really didn't know how to answer for a while. He thought for a moment and then said: "Since the second year of Chongzhen, these Tartars have repeatedly invaded the border, and more often than once. If they don't fight with the prisoners, , making them fearful and afraid that there is no other way."
Zhang Yan nodded approvingly and said, "Duchen Lu really wants to fight the prisoners. I'll just wait and obey the military orders."
Zhang Cheng looked at his uncle and continued: "The Tartars have subdued all the Mongolian tribes, and I heard that they are now intimidating North Korea. They have no worries anymore and can focus on our Ming Dynasty. However, there are rogue bandits in our country, and there are Tartars invading the country outside." , but the finances are exhausted and the court is constantly fighting."
Zhang Yan looked at his nephew Zhang Cheng in surprise, with a hint of amazement in his eyes, and couldn't help but ask: "In Cheng'er's opinion, what should I do?"
Zhang Cheng closed his eyes and meditated, then opened his eyes for a long time and said: "According to the imperial spirit of the capital, we gathered the king's soldiers from all over the world to fight with the captives to make them fearful, and then make peace with them, negotiate with the captives, and make the eastern front worry-free. . We must first stabilize the foreign enemies, and then we can focus on suppressing the bandits and pacifying the people. It will not take three to five years. When the country stabilizes and the people's strength recovers, why should they be afraid of mere Tartars? By then I will have defeated the bandits. The army has been refined hundreds of times and is strong enough to defeat the bandits and destroy the captives!"
After listening to what Zhang Cheng said, Zhang Yan fell into deep thought and walked slowly to the handsome chair to sit down.
He felt that what Zhang Cheng said was reasonable. The reality of the Ming Dynasty was here. The financial resources were exhausted, but they had to fight on two fronts. As a result, neither front was happy. Basically, where there was a crisis, there was a rescue. When the gourd was pressed, the gourd floated up. It is constantly consumed by multiple forces, and eventually the country's affairs are corrupted. It lacks an overall strategic policy and is of no benefit to the country's affairs.
If, according to Zhang Cheng's words, the troops of King Qin of the present period were mobilized to fight fiercely with the Tatars based on the fortified city, and then negotiate with them for payment after the Tartars were driven away, then the saved Liao salary could be used to suppress the bandits and appease the people. Are you worried that the bandits will not be at peace and the civil strife will continue?
Liao rates?
Yes, it’s Liao’s salary!
Zhang Yan had always had a vague feeling that there was something wrong with what Zhang Cheng was thinking, and then he suddenly woke up.
The problem lies in Liao's salary. Three to four million taels of Liao's salary every year is the financial resource of many officials and generals in the capital. Who can touch it? Whoever touches it is the enemy of the Liaodong warlord family, and the mortal enemy of the officials and gentlemen in the DPRK who profit from it.
Thinking of this, Zhang Yan couldn't help but tremble...
