In the early morning of the next day, after breakfast, Zhang Cheng, Chen Zhong and others set off to leave Muzhajian.
Zhao Shihu and Cheng Daning led the team officers to escort Zhang Cheng and others forty miles before returning to the village. They all looked a little excited.
During the banquet yesterday, Zhang Cheng told Zhao Shihu that all the cavalry under his command will be armored. Although there are only less than thirty cavalry now, there is no need to rush. You can choose the young ones and practice them slowly.
At the same time, according to Zhang Cheng's wishes, at least 100 of Zhao Shihu's 400 infantry must be fully armored. If the cavalry team is not full, 200 armored infantry can be formed first.
Zhao Shihu also asked Zhang Cheng to send sergeants to help him train his cavalry and infantry. Zhang Cheng asked him to train on his own for the time being. He would arrange armor and horses for Liu Quan to satisfy him, and would also arrange for him to do so from the north in the future. Allocate a group of military supplies and sergeants to him over there.
Currently, Zhao Shihu has 29 cavalry and more than 320 infantry, and most of them are new sergeants who have not been trained enough.
Zhang Cheng awarded Cheng Daning the military position of Deputy Baihu on the spot, asking him to assist Zhao Shihu with all his heart. Among the fifteen team officers under his command, the old team officers were awarded the title of general flag, and the new team officers were awarded the title of small flag.
With the official status of a serious official, their hearts were full of joy. Everyone said that they would be loyal to Zhang Cheng, but they would not hesitate to go through fire and water if they were ordered to do so.
…………
Zhang Cheng and his party of more than fifty riders left Muzhajian and rode northward.
He originally wanted to go to Yanqing Prefecture because the North Road reclamation matter might require help from Yanqing Prefecture, but considering that going there at this time was just for a face-to-face visit, it was really a matter of going or not.
Zhang Cheng gave up the idea for the time being. If necessary in the future, he would just go to visit and discuss. Anyway, the governor had already greeted Yanqing Prefecture.
But there is one place he must go to, and that is the Chicheng Castle on the Shangbei Road. The Chicheng Military Preparation Road is stationed here, and it also handles the Koubei Branch Road Patrol.
The Chicheng Military Preparation Road was held by He Chongwu, the Shanxi Provincial Commissioner and Inspector-General. Therefore, he was not only responsible for organizing military training on the North Route, arresting thieves, and managing the farmland and horse administration of the guard station.
He is also responsible for the affairs of the sub-inspection road, and is responsible for supervising the officers and generals in the jurisdiction, inquiring about criminal names, prohibiting adultery and other responsibilities. It can be said that he has great responsibilities and powers. It can be said that he is Zhang Cheng's immediate boss.
Even Zhang Guowei, the deputy commander-in-chief who sits in Yongning City and is the commander of the second-grade Wandu headquarters, is also under the supervision and command of this fifth-grade soldier, and he must treat this person politely. Lord Military Officer.
In addition, there is also Qin Shizheng, the general magistrate of grain management of Xuanfu Zhenbei Road, who is stationed in Chicheng Castle and serves as the general magistrate of Baoding Prefecture. Although he is only a junior official of the sixth rank, his responsibilities and powers are not as good as those of the general magistrate of grain management of East Road. As big as he is, he also has the responsibility of supervising the distribution of money and food on the entire North Road, which should not be underestimated.
At this time, in addition to the governors and governors in various border towns, the Ming Dynasty also had Zhengwupingrain-managers dispatched by the Ministry of Household Affairs. Household control and management.
He is responsible for collecting and disbursing money and grain to various border towns. Because he controls the most important money bags and grain bags, although his official rank is not high, he is highly respected by all parties. Even the governor is polite to him. Angry.
In addition to the grain management doctors located in the towns, there are also grain management magistrates or general magistrates in various roads in Xuanfu. However, such as East Road and South Road, there are Yanqing Prefecture, Baoan Prefecture, Yuzhou and other places. Civil affairs taxation, its revenue and expenditure are all determined by the Grain Control Bureau.
This North Road is all occupied by military households, and all the money and grain collected goes directly into the warehouses of various forts. Each guard station also has the right to withdraw and use it on its own, but the general magistrate in charge of grain has supervisory powers and its responsibilities Especially heavy.
What's more, the military camps in border towns throughout the Ming Dynasty are almost in name only, and they are completely unable to afford local food and salary expenses, especially now that the recruitment system is prevalent.
Therefore, nearly half of the food and salary must be paid by the central government or other prefectures and warehouses. How to distribute this part of the official food and salary is completely decided by these general officials in charge of food.
Imagine holding such great power, how could they not be taken seriously by military generals everywhere? Some generals who are good at managing food are as powerful as the military commanders in the local area.
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Zhang Cheng and more than 50 people rode to the northeast on the official road, passed Chang'anling Fort and headed north, passing Diaoyou Fort, Yangtian Fort and other castles. They did not delay, but simply had a meal.
Finally, at dusk on April 25, we arrived in front of the Red Castle.
About a mile south of the fort is the Fengyun Leiyu Shanchuan Altar. From here, you can see the south campus of Chi Castle not far to the east. There is also a Fire Temple on the east side of the campus.
Zhang Cheng and others had no intention of browsing and continued walking past the Xiannong Altar, Dragon Temple and Guandi Temple, until they stopped outside the Dading Gate to the south of the Red Castle and looked at the Red Castle in front of them.
The Chicheng Castle was headed by the Commander-in-Chief of Wanquan City. Because the rocks on the Chicheng Mountain more than two miles east of the city were mostly red in color, the early morning sunlight reflected on the rocks and filled the city with red light, so it was named Chicheng.
"History of the Ming Dynasty" records: "Chi Castle was built in June of the fifth year of Xuande. There is Chicheng Mountain to the east of the castle and the East River, which is the upper reaches of the Baihe River in Tongzhou. It is about 200 miles southwest from Wanquan, the headquarters of the capital commander and envoy Si Yamen.
Chicheng City, one hundred and eighty-four steps on Wednesday, is three feet and five feet high, has four towers, four turrets, fourteen pavilions, and two gates. It is called Chongning in the east and Dading in the south.
In the third year of Jingtai, the governor Yang Hong rebuilt the cladding with bricks. In the first year of Tianqi, he added the Dongguan, or "Dongkuo", which was used as a place for the army to gather for training, fortification, and expedition. The southeast corner of the inner wall was also built.
Zhang Cheng looked at the four characters "Zi Sai Qing Qing" inscribed on the archway outside the south gate, and felt deeply in his heart. He finally had a place where he could show his ambitions.
He said in a deep voice to Chen Zhong and others: "Enter the city!"
Chen Zhong rode his horse forward and showed his badge to the guard sergeant at the city gate. A commander came trotting over, knelt down in front of Zhang Cheng's horse and said:
"Du Rucheng, a small flagman from the Chicheng garrison camp, came to see the general. Please wait a moment, general. I will inform my garrison master to come and welcome the general into the city."
Zhang Chengce looked at Du Rucheng, the flag officer kneeling on the ground, and saw that he was slightly stronger than the sergeants at the city gate, but compared with his own guards, he looked very thin.
He couldn't help but sigh. I'm afraid the soldiers guarding Chicheng were so useless. It was not difficult for Du Rucheng at the moment. He said to him in a deep voice: "Let me ask you first, what is the general's office in this fort?" Still neat and tidy?”
"Go back to the general. There are people sweeping the general office in the city, waiting for the general to arrive."
"Okay, very good. You lead the way for me. I'll go to the general's office first and send someone else to inform Wu Guardsman to come see me."
