In the Ming Dynasty Beijing, in the Forbidden City, the Imperial Palace, and the Nuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, under the light of candles, the monarch and his ministers were questioning each other.
After Emperor Chongzhen finished asking questions, Yang Sichang's thoughts changed.
In fact, he had already read the good news about Lu Xiangsheng when he was in the cabinet. At that time, he went to the Ministry of War and personally met with Lu Xiangsheng's personal soldiers who came to report the news.
Therefore, he got far more information than Emperor Chongzhen. He believed the content of the Czech text reported by Lu Xiangsheng, because based on his understanding of Lu Xiangsheng, he knew that Lu Xiangsheng was not a liar.
At this time, Yang Sichang stood up with a respectful expression on his face and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, the news reported by Minister Lu must be true. This time, many heads were captured, and Jia La Zhangjing and his officials were captured alive. The big flag will not be fake even if you think about it."
Having said this, Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand to him, and Yang Sichang carefully sat down on the soft couch with half his buttocks, and continued to say sternly to Emperor Chongzhen:
"Your Majesty, Zhang Cheng had already accomplished the feat of beheading the slave thieves in his mafang. Today he fought fiercely with the slave thieves on the battlefield and captured a lot of soldiers. He also accomplished the great feat of capturing the slave thieves Jia La Zhangjing. It is appropriate for him to issue a reward. I commend him to encourage him to better serve the country in killing thieves, to make new achievements for the emperor, and to boost the morale of our Ming army!"
He added: "Zhang Cheng is originally the Qian Commander under the command of General Zhang Yan of Xuanzang Town. The general officer Yang Guozhu of Xuan Town, General Zhang Yan, etc. also need to be encouraged!"
Emperor Chongzhen nodded as he listened to Yang Sichang's words. There were rumors that Yang Sichang and Lu Xiangsheng were not getting along, but looking at Yang Aiqing's sincere attitude in front of him, and the words he said, they came entirely from his public heart.
He himself even personally asked for merit for Lu Xiangsheng and his officers and men. It is indeed rare for such a capable minister to be a direct and responsible minister.
Emperor Chongzhen's mood calmed down a little, and he said slowly: "Lu Xiangsheng is indeed a minister of the country, so I naturally want to commend him."
With a smile on his face, he continued: "This piece of sincerity is indeed brave. After successive great victories, he actually captured the slave thief Jia La Zhangjing. It is really rare."
He couldn't help but stand up, walked around the pavilion a few times with his hands behind his hands, and raised his voice and said: "As for Zhang Cheng, in addition to raising the reward, I also want to spread the word among the three armies and promote General Zhang's loyalty and bravery to serve the country. , they all regard General Zhang as a model and an example of how to kill the enemy."
Yang Sichang stood up again, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty is wise and mighty."
Emperor Chongzhen said to Yang Sichang in a happy mood: "The important matter of the country is to sacrifice and serve the army! I want to pass on the decree and order Lu Xiangsheng to present the prisoners to the Meridian Gate with Zhang Cheng. I want to win the Ancestral Temple. You are the Minister of Rites, so you will take charge of this matter."
Yang Sichang respectfully replied: "This is the duty of the minister. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the minister will do it properly, so that the generals of the Ming Dynasty and all the people in the capital will know about this great victory, and that the barbarians outside the Great Wall will not be able to escape." Don’t you dare to underestimate my great power tomorrow?”
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In the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, October 21st, the beginning of the Xu period.
The camp of General Zhang Yan of Xuan Mansion was brightly lit, and candlelight flickered in the Chinese army tent.
Zhang Cheng has just received a notice from Lu Xiangsheng's personal soldiers, asking him to lead two sentry troops and horses at midnight tomorrow to gather at Lu Xiangsheng's governor's camp, and then enter the city with governor Lu Xiangsheng to offer prisoners at the Meridian Gate.
After seeing off Lu Xiangsheng's soldiers, Zhang Cheng returned to his uncle's military tent, Zhang Yan. Before he could say anything, he heard Zhang Yan say: "Cheng'er, what an honor it is to offer prisoners to Meridian Gate. I don't think of how many generals our country has. How many people have such an honor?"
Zhang Cheng stood solemnly to the side and replied in a deep voice: "Zhang Cheng relied entirely on his uncle's teachings and support to be where he is today. How dare he take credit for it alone? He will enter the city tomorrow to offer prisoners. It is his uncle's responsibility to go there."
Zhang Yan also said solemnly: "Thunder and rain are God's blessings. Today, there are rogue bandits scurrying in all directions, and there are Tartars attacking the capital many times. It is the time for our generation to rise up. Cheng'er, you are still young, so you should remain loyal to the emperor and serve the country." In your heart, you should always think about the great grace of Heaven, repay the kindness of the king, and bless the people below, and do not have evil thoughts in your heart, go astray, and ruin your life and reputation."
Zhang Cheng stood upright in front of his uncle, respectful, and of course said in a serious voice: "Uncle, please be at ease. Cheng'er will never forget his teachings, never let down the kindness of the emperor, serve the country with loyalty to the emperor, and protect the people."
Zhang Yan put his hand on his nephew's shoulder and said in a sincere and gentle tone: "Cheng'er, if you really have such thoughts, it comforts my heart. You are still young. Remember not to be greedy for success and make rash progress. You must take every step to make progress. You have the intention to harm others, but you must always be on guard against others.”
Seeing Zhang Cheng nodding frequently, as if he had heard what he said and was quite satisfied with it, Zhang Yan also nodded, expressing satisfaction, and continued: "You should also go back to the camp, and the prisoners will be presented at the Meridian Gate tomorrow. Your Majesty allows you to take two sentries and horses to escort the heads and prisoners. It is truly an honor. Every sentry in your camp will definitely want to go, so be sure to arrange them properly."
Zhang Cheng agreed, resigned from the Chinese army's tent, and ran to his own tent.
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On October 22, the eleventh year of Chongzhen reign in the Ming Dynasty, at Chen time, the sky was clear and the rising sun was hanging diagonally in the eastern sky, shining on the earth.
In the south of Beijing, outside Yongding Gate, dozens of large vehicles were lined up, as far as a hundred feet away.
On the nearly ten carts in front, the salted heads were arranged neatly, with angry eyes. Their heads were bald except for a small braid that looked exactly like a mouse's tail on the back of their head. Some residual blood stains can still be seen on the heads of these heads.
Behind them are eleven more carts. Each cart has five wooden cages. Inside are strong men. The armor they were originally wearing has been taken off. Now each prisoner They were all wearing red clothes, but no red hats.
Their hands were fixed on the cage, and their heads poked out from above. Their heads were also bare, with the same small braid like a rat's tail, swinging back and forth with their heads.
On a large cart at the back, a pure white official banner of the Qing Army Jia La Zhangjing was propped slanted on the cart. The flag was slightly broken, and a trace of the brutality of the fierce battle could be vaguely seen.
On the cart further behind, there is a simple wooden stand, which supports a set of pure white helmets with thick copper nails on them. There is a polished goggles on the chest, and a high helmet on the helmet. The tall white tassel fluttering in the wind is the armor of La Zhangjing, the Qing army's armor.
The carts after this were filled with all kinds of pure white flags and armor, which Zhang Cheng and his troops had captured in the Battle of Stone Bridge the day before yesterday.
There are a row of knights with helmets and armor on each side of the cart. They are all in high spirits and are riding on their horses in high spirits. They all have bright red cloaks flying in the wind.
At the front of the motorcade, a slightly thin man about forty years old, dressed in linen and filial piety, riding on a sacred white war horse, was Lu Xiangsheng, the right minister of the Ministry of War and the former governor of Xuan.
Zhang Cheng and Yang Guozhu, the chief military officer of Xuan Town, both wearing helmets and carrying armor, rode their horses and lined up on the left and right of Lu Xiangsheng. They were waiting for the Yongding Gate to open so that they could escort the Qing army leaders, prisoners, banners, gold drums and armor on the vehicles to present the prisoners. Meridian Gate.
