In the residence of Governor Xuanda, after all the generals had eaten and drank, the banquet was over and everyone left the residence and returned to their respective posts.
Before leaving, many people came up to greet Zhang Cheng affectionately, expressing their approval or admiration.
The general of Datong, Wang Pu, looked even more affectionate. He patted Zhang Cheng on the shoulder and softly comforted and encouraged him. He chatted for a few words with Yang Guozhu, Zhang Yan and others before leaving the camp and riding away in a hurry.
Zhang Cheng followed his uncle and Yang Guozhu out of the governor's palace of Governor Lu Xiangsheng. On the way, the commander-in-chief Yang Guozhu said to Zhang Cheng: "Good news, Governor Lu has been sent to the capital on flying horse. I believe that the Holy Lord Jiamian will come down soon. Brother Cheng is afraid You will become our youngest guerrilla in Xuanzang Town."
After saying this, he said goodbye to Zhang Yan, whipped his horse and left first.
His general, Guo Yingxian, said to Zhang Cheng with great regret: "It's a pity that the governor won't give him a drink today. Brother Cheng, let's fight for three hundred cups another day."
While he was talking, he punched Zhang Cheng hard in the chest, laughed loudly, and rode off to follow Yang Guozhu.
Guerrillas Li Jianming and Wen Hui just said to Zhang Yan lightly: "General Zhang, congratulations."
The two of them bowed their hands to Zhang Yan and said goodbye to Zhang Cheng. They led their respective guards and rode away.
Zhang Yan rode his horse slowly and said to Zhang Cheng beside him: "This great victory has indeed made you famous in the three towns, but it has also aroused the jealousy of the two guerrillas. I'm afraid you have to be careful in the future."
Zhang Cheng looked at Li Jianming and Wen Hui who were fading away in front of him, and said to Zhang Yan: "How can life be as fulfilling as one wishes? If we are timid, how can we survive in this troubled world?"
His words seemed to be asking Zhang Yan, and more like asking himself.
…………
When Zhang Cheng returned to his camp, several sentry commanders were waiting for him. Everyone gathered around him with interest and asked about the governor's celebration banquet.
When everyone heard that Lu Duchen personally presented Zhang Cheng with a cousin, they were all envious. They were very happy for Zhang Cheng. They also felt that their faces were equally shining, and they became more determined to follow Zhang Cheng.
Especially the fact that the commander-in-chief of Shanxi and Datong towns personally toasted to their commander-in-chief. His commander-in-chief was so highly regarded by the military sects, and everyone looked at each other with joy. Now that his commander-in-chief had become famous in the three towns, everyone would feel the same when they went out. There is light on the face.
Zhang Cheng called Zhang Guangda and said to him: "Guangda, Zuo Shao fought well this time. He was brave and tenacious and made a lot of gains. However, the damage in the post was not small. I plan to let Liu Quan's Team A return to Xuanzang temporarily. "
Zhang Guangda looked at Zhang Cheng and said, "I heard from the boss that He Shihui is the only one who wants to stay."
Zhang Cheng said firmly: "Anyone who is injured in this battle will be transferred back to Xuanzang Town. If he does not obey the order, he will be dealt with according to the military law."
Next to him, Wu Zhizhong stared and shouted, "I won't leave. It won't hurt if I leave."
Hu Dake looked at him like that and said with a smile: "Haha, Lao Wu, go back to Xuan Town and prepare me some drinks and food to celebrate my victory."
Zhang Cheng looked at Wu Zhizhong, who was full of anger, and saw a new scar on his right face, which was still bloodshot. He smiled and said to him: "You are not injured, you are calling it disfigurement."
"Hey, I'm not afraid of losing my appearance. My son is running all over the place." Wu Zhizhong said with a big grin.
"These days, let the brothers rest and recuperate. Don't stay out at night, and don't go too far." Zhang Cheng ordered in a deep voice, then turned to Zhang Guangda and said: "Come on, let's go see the wounded soldiers. "
…………
In the tent, He Shihui was lying there, struggling to get up. Zhang Cheng hurriedly grabbed him and said, "Shihui, I want you to go back to Xuan Town. I'm not asking you to go home to recuperate. I have important things for you to do."
"Master, that's your order. I'm just thinking about this small injury and it will be fine in a blink of an eye. How can you ask me to go back?" He Shihui said with a smile.
Zhang Cheng looked at him and said: "I want to seize the supplies from this battle and transport the wounded and refugees back to Xuan Town. The world is in chaos, the road is not quiet, and Liu Quan is seriously injured. Only you can lead the team to reassure me." .”
He Shihui's lips moved, but before he could speak, Zhang Cheng's voice sounded again: "Get ready, we will set off after lunch tomorrow."
…
The next morning, Emperor Chongzhen sent an eunuch to deliver 30,000 taels of silver to the governor Lu Xiangsheng to reward King Qin's troops in the three towns, and another 10,000 taels was given to him personally.
Governor Lu Xiangsheng sent his general Chen An to directly deliver three thousand taels of silver to Zhang Cheng, which was regarded as a reward for his victory in Mafang. Of course, this was only a reward from Lu Xiangsheng, not a reward from the court.
Zhang Cheng seized more than 3,200 taels of silver in Mafang. With the 3,000 taels of silver rewarded by the governor this time, he only had a fraction of more than 200 taels left.
The remaining six thousand taels of silver, more than two hundred taels of gold, and ten carts full of supplies, including captured Tartar armor and weapons, cloth and satin, rice, flour, grain, etc., as well as some sundries, were all Drive back to Xuanzhen with the refugees.
The corpses of the soldiers who died in the battle have been enshrined, and their ashes are contained in black jars. They are wrapped in cloth and neatly stacked on carts. There are also several carts where some seriously injured people who are unable to move are lying.
Zhang Cheng warned He Shihui: "On the road, you must pay attention to the sentries and don't be careless. In recent years, the Tartars have invaded the country many times, the people have been separated, and there are many thieves. Although you have a lot of people, your combat power is limited. If you are in danger, you can make decisions on the spot and fight quickly. Those coins are particularly important, as the soldiers' livelihood depends on them."
After a pause, he continued: "I asked him to choose one hundred and twenty strong men for the stone pillar. They all look good. You can practice them on the way and use them if necessary."
After saying that, he handed He Shihui a customs clearance document issued by Governor Lu. Now that the Tartars are raging, all the passes have been closed. Only the army of King Qin entering the capital can clear the customs with the troop deployment document. Ordinary people are tens of millions. It was impossible to pass, so Zhang Cheng took the risk to ask Lu Duchen to get this customs clearance document.
There is also a letter written by Zhang Cheng to his aunt. According to Zhang Cheng's wishes, these wounded soldiers and refugees were first settled in a farm in the south of Xuanfu Town, which is close to mountains and rivers and has a large area of wasteland, which is just right. Work-for-relief is used to resettle these refugees first.
Zhang Cheng stood at the gate of the camp and watched them leave, while Zhang Guangda was ordered to lead the left sentry to escort them out of Juyongguan.
More than a thousand people lined up in a long queue, and the refugees walked in groups, walking through the remaining snow and facing the cold wind of late autumn, toward their hope of survival.
When they walked out of the camp gate, they all knelt down and kowtowed to Zhang Cheng and others to show their gratitude. The stone pillars shouted slogans and walked in front. One hundred and twenty strong men, wearing somewhat broken armor, held Swords and spears, marching in an orderly manner.
"One...two...one...one..."
The sound of chants gradually faded away. Zhang Cheng looked at their chaotic footsteps, shook his head and smiled.
It turned out that the stone pillars were grinding Zhang Cheng to teach him how to drill the team. Zhang Cheng also taught him the modern "one-two-one" of marching in a square formation and beating the drums on a whim, but they made a fuss and laughed a lot.
Only the stone pillar never tired of it, shouting "one, two, one" every time he walked.
…………
In the afternoon of the same day, Emperor Chongzhen also rewarded Lu Xiangsheng, the governor, with one hundred imperial horses, one thousand imperial servant horses, and five hundred iron whips.
Lu Xiangsheng was very excited and grateful in his heart. Every time he received a reward, he immediately expressed his gratitude.
He thought that only Yang Sichang and Gao Qiqian were the ones advocating for peace in the court. The emperor was just temporarily deceived by them, but now his attitude was firm again. He even secretly blamed himself for misunderstanding the emperor's thoughts.
He distributed all the 30,000 taels of silver rewarded by the emperor, including the 10,000 taels of silver rewarded to himself, to King Qin's soldiers, but he only kept one, two or five, and asked the silversmith to strike one for him. Wine glass to keep as a souvenir.
…………
In fact, after he summoned the right people on the platform, Emperor Chongzhen was full of contradictions. After hearing Lu Xiangsheng's remarks that he was determined to take charge of the battle, he was also determined to wait for all the Qinwang troops to gather and engage in a decisive battle with the Qing troops outside the city.
However, his thoughts were always wavering, he thought about it over and over again, and found it difficult to make a decision.
He summoned the cabinet minister Yang Sichang and the commander-in-chief Gao Qiqian in the Palace of Qianqing and told them not to engage in disputes of temper, but they unanimously opposed a decisive battle with the Qing army.
They all agreed that if they were to put all their efforts into a decisive battle with Jiannu, the consequences would be disastrous if they were defeated.
On the afternoon of the sixth day of October, he had just rewarded Lu Xiangsheng with silver, royal horses, royal servant horses, iron whips and other items for King Qin's army in the three towns.
Feeling physically and mentally exhausted, tired and sleepy, Cao Huachun, the eunuch who was in charge of Dongchang, came to Nuange with gentle steps, and reported softly: "Your Majesty, the good news is that Lu Xiangsheng has arrived in Changping."
Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but feel refreshed. He quickly took the Jiewen and looked at it carefully. The Jiewenwen said: Lu Xiangsheng, the general governor of Xuanzhen, reported that Zhang Cheng, the cavalry commander of the Xuanzhen general, captured one hundred and forty-three heads of Jiannu. The most important thing is that there are thirty captive Jiannu students, and the Jiannu are assigned to Shiku to carry the flag one pole, and Zhuangdao to carry the flag four poles.
After reading the article, he suddenly had a question in his mind: "Zhang Cheng? Or a man with a thousand households? Killed 143 slaves and captured 30 slaves?"
There were so many questions in his mind!
Although soldiers from various departments in the Beijing camp had reported some military exploits in the past, they were nothing more than beheadings. At first, he took it seriously, but later it gradually became boring.
But it was different today. Not only was the number astonishing, but there were more than 30 prisoners. The most important thing was that this battle formation beheaded Bashiku, the slave of Jiannu.
Chongzhen asked Cao Huachun, "Have you ever seen Jie Wen from Changping?"
"Back to your Majesty, I've seen this. The soldiers in Xuanzang are still commendable for their loyalty and bravery, and they are devoted to the king's affairs." Cao Huachun carefully reported back.
Chongzhen held the piece of Jiewen in his hand, read it again, and asked, "Do you know who this piece of paper is?"
Cao Huachun was well prepared, and immediately replied carefully: "Your Majesty, according to what I know, Zhang Cheng is the nephew of General Zhang Yan of Xuanzhen. He should be in his early twenties. He has personally experienced military battles, battle formations, and formations." If you have more than a hundred slaves, your bravery is commendable and your loyalty is comforting."
"Pay more attention to this sincerity." Emperor Chongzhen said something incomprehensible, and then there was no more movement. Cao Huachun retreated knowingly.
The emperor summoned the little eunuch beside him to study the ink, and immediately wrote an edict in handwriting, ordering the Ministry of War to quickly send personnel to verify the military merits of Xuanzang Town. If the verification was true, a reward should be discussed as soon as possible to encourage the loyalty and bravery of King Qin's officers and men.
