In the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, on October 22nd, it was the end of Sishi.
Beijing, the Forbidden City, the Meridian Gate, the sun is high in the sky, and the sunlight is extremely dazzling.
From Najia Lazhangjing Harba down, fifty-five Qing prisoners knelt on the ground in front of the Meridian Gate. They were held by four sergeants on their shoulders and legs, and they were unable to struggle at all.
The hundreds of officials and nobles standing on both sides of the inner passage were all staring at the prisoners. Suddenly, a large flag came into their sight, and several of them exclaimed in surprise.
"Jia La Zhang Jing's official banner is really the official banner of Jia La Zhang Jing..."
"Then it's still fake. If you look at so many heads, they're not fake..."
"...Which one is Jia La Zhang Jing? Which one is it in the front and middle..."
Zhang Cheng is dressed in military uniform, with bright armor, and his muscular figure is particularly eye-catching.
Amid the discussion of hundreds of officials and distinguished officials, he walked up to Liu Zhifeng, the Minister of Criminal Affairs of the Great Sikou, handed over the list of prisoners of the Qing army with both hands, and shouted loudly:
"Zhang Cheng, a thousand households in Xuanfu Town, presented 377 heads of Donglu, fifty-five prisoners under Jia Lazhangjing Harba from Donglu, official banners and flags of Jia Lazhangjing from Donglu, etc. The flags, gold drums, armor, etc. are useless, please ask the ministry to check them."
Liu Zhifeng, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment of the Great Sikou, took the roster, stood up and walked to the front of Shou Jie's case. Holding the roster in both hands, he knelt down and played:
"...slave thieves are rampant, repeatedly violating the border and massacring the people...Now we are fortunate to have the title of right minister of the Ministry of War, governor of the world, King Qin Bing Ma Lu Xiang, promoted to King Zhongqin... Yang Guozhu, the chief military officer of Xuanfu Town, made a sudden decision... Zhenbiao Right Wing Battalion General Zhang Yan bravely fights the slave thieves...
...Qianhu Zhang Cheng was unparalleled in his bravery. He repeatedly attacked the slave formation and killed hundreds of captives and cavalry. He even captured fifty-five slave thieves under Jia La Zhangjing Harba alive and presented them to the palace...
...The slaves and thieves wreaked havoc in the capital, kidnapped my people, and killed them according to the law to frighten them... Now we are going to the city to carry out the execution of Cao Cao, and we have requested a special order. "
After Liu Zhifeng, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment of the Great Sikou, finished playing, he handed the memorial to the waiting small eunuch and sent it to the Meridian Gate Tower. After Emperor Chongzhen read it carefully, he just sat on the throne, waved his hand and said softly: "Take it." go!"
Wang Dehua and Wang Chengen, who were standing on his left and right, repeated in a sharp voice: "Take it!"
Then four more people around him drank in unison, and the orders continued like this, until finally the 360 guards, known as the Han generals, responded in unison, and the sound was like thunder, resounding through the Meridian Gate.
A group of prisoners of the Qing army, fifty-five from Jia La Zhang Jing Harba in Zhengbai Banner, were taken to the West City by officials from the Ministry of Punishments and soldiers from the Beijing Camp, and beheaded in public display.
Their heads will be built together with the 377 salt-coated heads, as well as the gains from the mafang before Zhang Cheng, to build a temple in the west market of the capital for public reward.
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After the prisoner presentation ceremony, before Emperor Chongzhen drove back to Qianqing Palace, he left a message to summon his cabinet minister Yang Sichang and the newly appointed Governor of Xuanda, Chen Xinjia, to the palace to see his Majesty.
The emperor also specially ordered Wang Dehua to come to the Meridian Gate to convey his decree to Lu Xiangsheng and others.
Due to the continuous artillery fire outside the city and the intense fighting, in order to prevent the majority of Jiannu captives from coming to attack, Lu Xiangsheng and the commander-in-chief Yang Guozhu immediately led their troops and horses to the south defense area of the city without entering the palace to thank them.
But only Zhang Cheng, who was from a thousand households in Xuan Town, was left to see His Majesty in the palace. After the interview with His Majesty, an edict officer would follow Zhang Cheng back to Lu Xiangsheng's Supervisory Camp to read out the imperial edict of the reward.
Lu Xiangsheng didn't say much. He just knelt down again towards the Meridian Tower, kowtowed three times and bowed nine times, then stood up and left. Zhang Cheng vaguely saw a line of tears flowing from the corners of his eyes.
Commander-in-Chief Yang Guozhu also followed Lu Xiangsheng in bowing three times and bowing nine times. When he turned to leave, he gave Zhang Cheng a meaningful look.
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Outside the Meridian Gate, Wang Dehua, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, looked at the young man in front of him. He couldn't help but look up and down. After a long time, he said, "Zhang Cheng, come with our family to the palace."
Zhang Cheng followed Wang Dehua, walking lightly, for fear of losing his way. At this moment, Wang Dehua's thin voice came to his ears: "Zhang Cheng, there are many rules in this palace, let's pick the important ones for you first." Tell me..."
Wang Dehua simply taught Zhang Cheng some simple etiquette for meeting the saints. Time was limited, so he couldn't say much at this time. He could only pick out some important ones and talk about them first.
Zhang Cheng listened carefully and kept it in his mind. When Wang Dehua finished speaking, Zhang Cheng took a step forward and whispered softly behind Wang Dehua: "Thank you for your service, Your Majesty. Zhang Chengcheng has nothing to repay. If the Majesty has any mission in the future, , I will definitely go through fire and water."
Wang Dehua remained expressionless and said without looking back: "Our family only knows how to serve the emperor loyally. If your son has such filial piety, he only needs to be loyal and diligent in the king's affairs."
Zhang Cheng immediately followed up and said: "What the prince said is absolutely true. Zhang Cheng must remember the prince's mantra. If there is an opportunity in the future, he will listen to the prince's teachings again, follow the emperor's instructions, and devote himself to the king's affairs!"
Wang Dehua did not express his position, but simply said "Oh" and continued to guide Zhang Cheng all the way into the palace.
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Ming Dynasty Beijing, the Forbidden City, inside the Dongnuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Chongzhen had just finished the prisoner presentation ceremony and sat back on the throne. His face was rosy, something he had not seen in many years.
The cabinet minister Yang Sichang was sitting on a soft couch on the side of the lower head. Although it was a supreme favor from the emperor to sit down, Yang Sichang only lightly rested a quarter of his buttocks on the soft couch and did not dare to sit down. He was not as comfortable as Chen Xinjia, the new governor of Xuanda, who was standing beside him.
Ever since he learned yesterday that Emperor Chongzhen had summoned Lu Xiangsheng to the city to present prisoners, Yang Sichang had been thinking in his mind about how to prevent Lu Xiangsheng from being promoted to the Holy Family, lest his entry would threaten his status in Chongzhen's heart.
He sent his confidants overnight to contact Gao Qiqian and several Beijing camp generals outside the city. Military reports were sent to the city early in the morning, and he arranged for officials from the Ministry of War to be rushed into the palace early in the morning.
Emperor Chongzhen read the military newspaper and said: The slaves and bandits have moved, and large groups of captives are roaming in the countryside south of the city, with a strong tendency to attack Yongding Gate.
He hurriedly summoned Yang Sichang to the palace and wanted to ask his beloved Qing to help him with his advice.
Yang Sichang first praised Lu Xiangsheng, and even suggested that the emperor grant Lu Xiangsheng a reward to appease his heart and encourage him to fight with the captives again and protect the capital.
Then the conversation changed and he suggested that Chongzhen should focus on the war outside the city for the time being. After Jiannu retreated, he would summon Lu Xiang to ascend to the throne and hold a banquet in the palace to celebrate the achievements of the soldiers who expelled the captives and protected the country.
Emperor Chongzhen felt that what Yang Sichang said was true for the country, but he asked Zhang Cheng to be left alone. He must see what kind of person this young general who repeatedly fought against the cavalry and captured Jia La Zhangjing alive was.
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Wang Dehua gently approached Nuan Pavilion and said softly in a high-pitched voice: "Your Majesty, Zhang Cheng is waiting for summons outside the pavilion."
Chongzhen raised his head, his face flushed, and said with a smile: "Pass it on."
"Publish the news to the town to see Zhang Cheng."
Wang Dehua shouted loudly with a thin voice.
Zhang Cheng was standing outside the Nuange. Wang Dehua arranged for two young eunuchs to accompany him. At this time, Wang Dehua's voice came from the Nuange, but he seemed not to hear it. He stood there motionless. The eunuch stabbed him urgently and then pulled Zhang Cheng back from his wandering mind.
After coming back to his senses, Zhang Cheng hurriedly approached Nuange with his head lowered. After about ten steps, his knees softened and he knelt on the ground with his hands on the ground. He knocked his head on the bluestone ground with a "dong dong dong" and said loudly:
"Zhang Cheng, a thousand households in Xuanfu Town, kowtow to His Majesty the Emperor and wish the Emperor long live, long live!"
