The sky was a little dark, silvery white snowflakes were falling in the wind, and the earth was silvery white.
In Mafang Village, southwest, a hundred meters away, there is an abandoned stable with an open space outside. Dozens of bonfires are lit here. More than 870 refugees dispersed, using these burning bonfires to resist the wind and snow. .
Zhang Cheng was chatting with the old man Shi Tiegen. Sitting around the fire was the strong man Shi Zhuzhu. He was next to the old man Shi Tiegen. On his right was a thin young man who secretly touched his eyes from time to time. Aiming at Zhang Cheng.
"Old man, have you been nailing horseshoes in this horse stable?" Zhang Cheng said in a calm tone.
"Back to the general, the old man was originally a craftsman from Jinmen. The year before last, he fled to the horse farm to avoid the Tatars, and he did this horse shoeing job here."
"I don't want to see anyone outside. From now on, I am one of my own. Just treat me like them and call me Mr. Master."
Zhang Cheng heard that the old man was a craftsman from Jinmen, so he couldn't help but pay special attention to him, and his words were much more polite.
"How dare you disobey me, old man?"
Just as Shi Tiegen was about to stand up and salute, Zhang Cheng grabbed him. He had to sit down again and spoke carefully.
"Tell the boss that this baby is the old man's only son. Zhuzi, please kowtow to the boss."
The old man Shi Tiegen got excited as he spoke, insisting that Shi Zhuzhu stand up and kowtow. Zhang Cheng did not stop him and sat there looking at Shi Zhuzhu with a smile on his face.
Shizhu stood up, and his tall and strong body suddenly knelt at Zhang Cheng's feet. He said in a loud voice: "Master, my life belongs to you. I will be in front of you, in front of you, in front of you, in the sea of swords and in the sea of fire. It all depends on your words."
After saying "dong dong dong", there were three loud noises, and Zhang Cheng felt that the ground he was sitting on seemed to be shaking slightly.
After he stood up, Zhang Cheng said to him with satisfaction: "Good man, follow me from now on and work hard."
Shi Zhuzhu happily agreed loudly. After Zhang Cheng sat down, he asked the old man again: "Since I am a craftsman, I wonder what kind of utensils I was good at?"
Old Man Shi sighed and said with a hint of sadness: "Old man has been a craftsman for generations and is familiar with weapons and armor. Unfortunately, in this world, it is difficult to even make ends meet, not to mention raising a family."
The old man wiped the tears from his eyes before continuing: "The wife I just married was killed by the Tatars... alas..."
He choked up a bit when he said this, and the stone pillar next to him punched the ground with a loud bang. The thin man next to the stone pillar seemed to be stimulated, and burst into tears. After standing up, the stone pillar next to him stretched out his big hand and grabbed him, then pulled him to sit down again.
Before Zhang Cheng could ask, Old Man Shi turned his lips to the right and said: "He is also a poor boy. The scholar brother of Wanggezhuang, who only got married in the first month, does not deserve to suffer like this..."
Zhang Cheng was a little surprised. He didn't expect that there was a scholar among this group of captive refugees. He couldn't help but turn his head and glance at the thin scholar a few more times, which made him feel uncomfortable. As soon as his eyes met Zhang Cheng's, Just dodge in a hurry.
"Old man, do you know anything about fire guns?" Zhang Cheng withdrew his gaze and asked Old Man Shi with some concern.
The old man Shi Tiegen hesitated for a while, and then said hesitantly: "I made a matchlock gun in the early years. It was very delicate, not only labor-intensive and time-consuming, but also iron material, and it was made of fine iron."
Hearing this, Zhang Cheng nodded with satisfaction. Just as he was about to say something, Chen Zheng, the outpost, ran over quickly and interrupted: "Let me tell you, sir, everything has been done properly. Please give me your instructions."
Zhang Cheng stretched out his left hand and put it on Chen Zhong's shoulder. He pressed it hard and stood up. He smiled and said to Chen Zheng, "It's getting late. Go ahead and get ready to go."
Chen Zheng took the order and waved his hand towards the west entrance of the village. He saw a group of sergeants rushing towards this direction, each holding a pile of old clothes.
Zhang Cheng called Chen Zhong and whispered: "Call He Kuan over."
…
"Master, please call me." He Kuan trotted over, still breathing.
Zhang Cheng said to him directly: "That stone pillar, arrange a few smart sergeants to follow him."
He Kuan was a little dazed and asked hesitantly: "Follow...follow him?"
Zhang Cheng ignored him, called Chen Zhong and said: "Go, call Mr. Shi, Shi Zhuzhu, oh, and that scholar to come over."
As soon as Chen Zhong walked away, Zhang Cheng called him back and said, "Remember, I'm not calling, I'm saying please come over."
"Yes, sir." Chen Zhong turned around and left with some suspicion, but he also made a mistake in his heart. What happened to the sir today?
"I will arrange for Shi Zhuzhu, the scholar, and the old man Shi to screen these people and record the ones with skills. You will cooperate well according to their needs." Zhang Cheng ordered He Kuan.
At this time, Chen Zhong brought Old Man Shi and three others to the front. Zhang Cheng clasped his fists and said, "I would like to ask my father-in-law and three others to come here now. I have something to ask of you."
The old man Shi Tiegen bowed deeply, then clasped his fists and said, "Please, sir, please don't say that, it will offend the old man. Whenever something happens, just do as you are told, little people don't dare to disobey."
Zhang Cheng smiled and asked, "I would like to ask my husband to help me identify the people in front of me along the way and record the ones with skills."
Old Man Shi had some doubts and said with a smile: "The boss ordered me to do my best. It's just a matter of recording."
After he said this, he stood there and rubbed his hands anxiously.
Zhang Cheng said with a smile: "I have considered this matter, so I specially invited Brother Xiucai to come over."
After Zhang Cheng said this, he looked at the thin man with a smile. The scholar understood what he heard and hurriedly stepped forward to salute and said: "Student Wang Yuanjing, please pay homage to the president. Yuan Jing would like to be driven by the president and record his travels." Something to write about.”
The scholar Wang Yuanjing was originally from Wanggezhuang in the northwest of Mafang. Due to the invasion and capture by the Tartars, his newlywed wife could not bear the humiliation, so she rose up in resistance and was massacred. However, she still did not escape the humiliation. Her parents resolutely resisted. They were all killed by the Tartars.
Only the scholar Wang Yuanjing, although he wanted to resist crazily in his heart, could not restrain the chicken with his hands. He rushed to the Tartars several times, but was caught like a chicken. Because he was a scholar, he was spared death. , I can only cry and cry every day.
To this day, seeing the majesty of Zhang Cheng, the army he leads not only dares to fight against the Tartars, but is also able to defeat the Tartars, and also loves and protects the people. Despite his heartfelt desire to defect, he really wants to use Zhang Cheng's military power to retaliate against the Tartars. hatred.
At this time, hearing Zhang Cheng clearly mentioning himself, he took the initiative to step forward and salute to express his feelings.
"Okay, very good. In this case, three people will be relieved!"
Zhang Cheng was very satisfied with this scholar. He was knowledgeable, courteous, and not pedantic. He was really good.
When he was happy, he couldn't help but raise his fist and hit Shizhu's chest hard. However, he just took a small step back with his right foot and neutralized the force of Zhang Cheng's punch. His upper body was still upright, even more so. No pain or heavy breathing was seen.
"That's not bad. I'll be waiting for you at the Changping camp."
After Zhang Cheng said this, he greeted Chen Zhong and others, turned and left.
…
In the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, on the fourth day of October, the cold wind of late autumn carried silvery white snowflakes flying all over the sky.
A group of knights galloped in the wind and snow, surrounded by silvery white. Only the red cloaks of this group of knights fluttering in the wind stood out as if they were wrapped in red.
It was Zhang Cheng who was leading his troops on the road to the Changping military camp. Although the horses were galloping along the way, Zhang Cheng's thoughts did not stop for a moment.
At this time, we were not far from the camp. It was really hard to brave the wind and snow along the way, but Zhang Cheng and the others did not dare to stay. Today he took the risk of leading the team out. To be honest, he didn't have much confidence in his heart.
After all, he had just come to this world. Although he was very confident in the Xuanzhen Jingqi under his command, what would be the outcome if he faced the devil-like Tartars who were said to be "invincible"? It’s the same as “fifteen buckets to fetch water—seven up and eight down”!
But the final result not only satisfied him, but also surprised him.
This battle allowed him to truly see the strength of the elite frontier troops of the Ming Dynasty, which was definitely not inferior to the elite Tatar cavalry. The only difference was their fighting spirit, which in the final analysis was morale.
There are many things that affect morale, such as training, equipment, salary guarantees, etc. These are things for later and can only be solved after Julu.
You must have your own territory and be able to guarantee your most basic logistical supplies. You cannot count on the cowards in the officialdom of the late Ming Dynasty.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but think of the more than 800 refugees, the old man Shi Tiegen, Shi Zhuli, and the scholar Wang Yuanjing. I really didn't expect that there could be another scholar, and he was not pedantic. He might be a good young talent.
When I think of this matter, how to place these people becomes a problem.
…
In the eastern suburbs of Changping, at the Qinwang Army Camp in Xuan Town, there were a few more sergeants outside General Zhang Yan's camp, and even Zhang Cheng's captain was patrolling outside the tent.
"Cheng'er, is what you just said true?"
Zhang Yan looked at the nephew in front of him with a surprised expression, feeling deeply shocked. He was cynical and often causing trouble.
How come he seems to be sane now after being hit with a military stick? Especially after entering the capital of Wei this time, how can he be so bold that he dares to lead troops on patrol without receiving military orders?
However, this kid is so lucky to have achieved such great success.
He had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't explain why.
"Uncle, Cheng'er lost his father early in life. He has always respected and loved you as his father. How could he lie to his uncle?"
Zhang Cheng spoke sincerely, and his words revealed a lot of family affection, which moved Zhang Yan quite a lot.
He asked gently: "Don't go into too much detail about the specific process. Please describe the gains in detail."
Zhang Cheng responded as told: "In this battle, under the order of the general of Xuan Town, our troops went out to scout the east of Changping. They met a group of fine cavalry that the Tartars went out to plunder. The cavalry commander Zhang Cheng led his troops to attack, and with a drum And win.
A total of one hundred and forty-three Tartar heads were captured, and thirty Tartar survivors were captured. The captured Tartars were given one pole of Pashiku's back flag and five poles of Zhuangda's back flag. The rest of the weapons were useless. .
To rescue the 873 people of the capital captured by the Tartars, they also had less than a thousand taels of silver, some mules and horses, and a little grain..."
"Do you deserve Shiku to carry the flag?"
Although Zhang Yan had heard Zhang Cheng talk about it for the second time, he still had doubts. He himself knew that what his nephew said was the truth and would never dare to deceive him on this matter, but he still couldn't believe it. .
