In the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, on the fourth day of October, at the beginning of the Youshi period, the wind stopped and the snow stopped.
At the beginning of late autumn in the northern part of the Ming Dynasty, the sky has darkened, and the sun hangs slantingly in the sky. The faint light is faint. Although it can no longer shine on the earth, the weak light of the setting sun still shines on the face and body, which still makes people fascinated. Feel warm!
In an empty space at the camp of General Zhang Yan in Xuan Town, rows of sergeants were standing neatly. Although they stood there neatly and looked energetic, they could still be seen from their faces. of fatigue.
Moreover, most of the sergeants' armors were stained with dark red blood clots or blood spots. Some of the sergeants' armors still had arrow marks or knife marks. Some of them even had cracks in their armor, and the gaps seemed to be It proves the brutality of today’s war.
Three large carts were parked in front of the military formation, with one hundred and forty-four human heads placed on them. They all had ferocious faces, bared teeth and protruding eyes. Their heads were generally bald, except for a patch of hair on the upper part of the back of their heads. A lock of hair as big as a copper coin was braided into an ugly braid.
In front of the cart, thirty large wooden stakes were temporarily erected. On each wooden stake, a strong man wearing armor was tied. The helmets were all taken off, and each of them was bald, only on the back of the head. There is a small braid like a money rat tail.
A general wearing thick iron armor and a bright red cloak was standing in front of the military formation. Although his face was full of weathered weather, he was not angry and had a demeanor of a general who had been tempered by the military. .
This person is none other than Yang Guozhu, the governor of the post-war military governor's office who is nearly fifty years old, General Zhenshuo, and the chief military officer of Xuanfu.
After hearing about Zhang Yanzhong's military post commander Lin Zhiyi's victory, he was excited at first, and then had some doubts. Because of the seriousness of the matter, he personally led his Chinese army general, guerrilla general Guo Yingxian, and several scribes to inspect the Tartars. The head and the real body of the prisoner.
Of course, this is not what is said externally.
Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen, came to visit his warriors who fought bravely against the Tartars.
In fact, he did so. After arriving at the camp of General Zhang Yan, and after the two sides met and greeted each other, Yang Guozhu went straight to Zhang Chengqian's headquarters. He did not even glance at the Tartar heads and prisoners. Instead, he looked at the Tartar heads and prisoners. The soldiers in formation looked left and right, asking for help.
But on the other side, his general of the Chinese Army, Guo Yingxian, was leading two scribes to inspect the heads of the Tartars one by one. Just as Zhang Yan had just done, he inspected the faces, braids, teeth, etc. of the Tartar heads one by one. feature.
There were two other generals wearing tin armor with round collars and large fronts, who walked with military authority. They were also beside Guo Yingxian, inspecting the heads of the Tartars one by one. The two of them were whispering to each other while inspecting.
These two people were Xuanzhen guerrillas Li Jianming and Wen Hui. He heard that when the cavalry sentry under Zhang Yan's command encountered the Tartars by chance, after a fierce battle, he actually "captured 144 Tartar heads and captured them." "The Tartars gave birth to thirty people", so they hurried to the general's tent and followed them to check the authenticity.
The tall and tall one, who looks to be nearly forty years old, is Guerrilla Li Jianming, while the slightly fatter one, with a simple and honest face, who looks to be over forty years old, is Guerrilla Wen Hui.
Guo Yingxian personally inspected the heads of the two carts, and then handed the last cart to the two scribes for inspection. He then turned and walked towards Yang Guozhu.
This Guo Yingxian was also in his forties. He was extremely stout and wore thick long vermilion oil-iron armor and a bright red cloak. Many stab wounds and scars could be seen on his face. He came to Yang Guozhu's side with a voice like thunder. There was a sound: "In the military gate, every one of them has the head of a real slave. Young man Cheng is amazing."
"Haha, it goes without saying that this kid is a demon king, the reincarnation of the Killing Star."
Yang Guozhu smiled heartily. Zhang Cheng was a subordinate of Zhang Yan. Zhang Yan was a general in Xuanzang. It could be said that he was a subordinate of the general in Xuanzhen. Now Zhang Cheng killed 143 Tartars and captured them. Thirty people, to the outside world, that was Xuan Zhen's gain.
As the commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen, he has both military merit and reputation.
He walked towards Zhang Yan and said loudly: "Brother Zhang, I want to congratulate you."
"The military sect usually teaches well, but today the command is firm and the soldiers under his command are working hard in front of the formation, so they can achieve such a great victory. How can Zhang dare to claim this credit alone?"
Zhang Yan clasped his hands into fists and replied loudly.
They are both human beings. If they say this, today's military exploits will be nothing like those of Li Jianming and Wen Hui.
Only when the commander-in-chief teaches well and the command is determined, and when Zhang Cheng's soldiers are in front of the formation and take orders, can this achievement be achieved.
Over there, Li Jianming and Wen Hui were really envious, but there was also a trace of jealousy in their hearts.
Yang Guozhu waved his hand to greet Zhang Cheng to come forward, and said warmly: "Zhang Cheng did a good job today. He has gained my reputation in Xuanzang and showed off the power of our Ming army. Even the Tartars did not dare to look down on me."
Zhang Cheng added wisely: "It's all down to Yang Junmen's strategizing and General Zhang's command. It's not Zhang Cheng's fault, it's the soldiers who fought to the death with all their strength."
When Yang Guozhu and other generals heard this, they nodded frequently. They dared to charge and kill, and they were not arrogant about taking credit, showing the demeanor of a general.
Yang Guozhu was even thinking in his heart: "This kid Zhang Cheng was like a troublemaker when he was in Xuanzhen. How could he think that this time King Qin would perform like this? Could he be a malleable talent?"
At that moment, he even comforted me with gentle words: "Zhang Qianhu, don't be polite. With such great achievements, I am afraid that you will become the youngest guerrilla in our Xuan Town."
At this point, Yang Guozhu paused, reached out and patted Zhang Cheng on the shoulder, and then continued to comfort him: "Unfortunately, the governor has not returned since he went to Beijing to meet the saint last night. My nephew will wait a little longer and wait for the governor." When I return, I will go to the governor in person to announce the victory of our warriors."
Zhang Cheng cupped his fists and saluted: "It all depends on the power of the military gate. Everything is decided by the military gate."
Amidst the cheers, after checking that the heads of the prisoners were correct, Zhang Cheng's sergeants began to kill the heads of the Tartars.
Yang Guozhu even invited generals from each battalion to have a drink in his military tent when the lights were on in the evening to celebrate.
…………
Zhang Cheng returned to his camp first. The wounded in his unit were all placed in several larger tents, under the supervision of special personnel. The medical officers accompanying the army were busy fetching arrowheads, debriding them, applying medicine, and bandaging them. .
Two cauldrons of boiling water were burning outside the tent. The utensils used by the medical officers had to be boiled in boiling water for more than half a quarter of an hour before they could be used again. The wounds would also be cleaned with strong liquor, and even the bandaging strips would be used. It has been cooked in boiling water in advance, wrapped in oil paper, taken out when used, and steamed in boiling water again after use.
These are the changes that took place after his rebirth, and they were also the beginning of his change in this decayed world.
Zhang Cheng visited all the wounded one by one and inquired about their injuries, especially those seriously injured sergeants. He comforted them with gentle words and told them that when the army returned to the army, they would be resettled and would never be abandoned. Regardless.
"Chen Zhong, how is the condition of Aha, the one who fought back against the Tartars?"
Zhang Cheng suddenly remembered the Tatar Yi Aha who dared to kill his lord near the official road at the west entrance of Mafang Village.
Chen Zhong replied softly: "That Tatar coater Aha is very strong-minded. His right eyeball was gouged out. He held it straight without making a sound. A large piece of his brain was torn off along with his hair."
"Um."
Zhang Cheng couldn't help but take a breath of cold air, which made him more interested in this wrapped Aha. This person is not simple!
Zhang Cheng said firmly: "Take good care of him, I want him to live!"
…
After leaving the camp, Zhang Cheng felt very shaken. He asked himself, is it worth it?
He didn't know, really didn't know.
Now it's not a question of whether it's worth it or not. Now it's a question of survival first. He has to let himself live first before he can try his best to let more people live and live well.
In a blink of an eye, they arrived at the empty camp reserved by Zhang Yan for the incoming Infantry Thousand Headquarters. The group of refugees he rescued were temporarily resettled here.
He Kuan, the officer of Team C of the Outpost A Corps, has been staying here. The Qing army tents captured from Mafang have been set up. The old, weak, women and children among the refugees have been placed in the tents, and the others are sitting in piles. Around the campfire.
On each bonfire, there was a large pot with fresh horse meat cooked in it. Many of them sniffed and kept looking towards the pot to smell the aroma.
"Sir, you never take a break."
He Kuan ran over, stood next to Zhang Cheng, and continued to report: "The eighteen tents captured from the Tatars have been set up. The old people, children and women have entered the tents, and the men have been placed outside. There are twelve large pots. Half horsemeat, half porridge.”
"Very well, thank you and the soldiers for your hard work tonight. We are responsible for patrolling here to prevent treacherous people from causing trouble."
Zhang Cheng ordered He Kuan, turned around and looked towards the refugees, and asked, "Where are Shi Tiegen and the others?"
He Kuan said "Master, please" and took Zhang Cheng to a bonfire. Old man Shi Tiegen saw Zhang Cheng coming first and quickly stood up and said to everyone: "Everyone, get up quickly, General Zhang is here."
Zhang Cheng smiled kindly and said, "Everyone, sit down and don't get up."
As he spoke, he had already walked in front of Old Man Shi. There was a slight commotion in the crowd. People stood up nervously and sat down nervously. However, it seemed a little more crowded than before, and there were two empty seats next to Old Man Shi.
Zhang Cheng said as he sat down: "Guys, don't be so nervous. I'm not a man-eating devil."
After Zhang Cheng sat down, the people around him twisted their buttocks away from him. Everyone had expressions of wanting to laugh but not daring to laugh. Even the aroma of the meat in the cauldron had lost its appeal. force.
Zhang Cheng smiled and said directly to Mr. Shi: "Old man, can this skilled person be checked?"
Shi Tiegen replied: "Check it and record it all." After saying that, he turned to the scholar Wang Yuanjing and said, "Brother scholar, come and talk to General Zhang."
The scholar Wang Yuanjing stood up without caring about the scholar's dignity, trotted over, squatted next to Zhang Cheng, and whispered back: "Reporting to the general, after inquiry, there are two carpenters, one bricklayer, two blacksmiths, one blacksmith apprentice, and a stonemason. One person, two others can keep some rough account books, know a little bit about writing, 17 people who have raised horses, and most of the women can sew and mend..."
Zhang Cheng stopped him, pulled him to sit down, and then said: "Yuan Jing, you can't check the population of nearly a thousand people carefully at the moment. You can check slowly. Anyone with skills should write it down. Maybe there will be someone in the future." Wherever it is available, whenever you need it, just look for Huang Daguang."
After saying that, he pointed at Huang Daguang, stood up, called Huang Daguang, and gave him some more instructions.
As he was talking, one of Zhang Yan's soldiers hurried over and said, "Tonight, Yang Junmen is hosting a banquet for all the generals. He especially emphasized that Zhang Cheng should bring several sentry commanders who have gone to war with him."
