On May 20, the twelfth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, the North Road in Xuanfu Town was divided into Dushikou Castle, where the general was stationed.
In the Kaiping Guard Commander's Office, all the officials gathered together, all dressed in bright red official robes and in high spirits. They congratulated Zhang Cheng and Jin Xinpeng one after another.
It turned out that on the tenth day of the lunar month, the suppression of bandits on Shangbei Road was basically completed, plus the cleaning up of military camps and the hiding of military households.
A total of 17 groups of large and small bandits were wiped out, 137 leading bandits were captured and killed, and more than 1,800 military households were rescued. Through the cleanup, the military settlement on Shangbei Road was increased by nearly 100,000 acres. More than 1,300 military households were recruited back into exile.
On the same day, Zhang Cheng wrote an official document about the above deeds. After signing it with his fellow commander Jin Xinpeng, he immediately sent out the document on fast horses. One copy was reported to the He Chongwu Office of the Chicheng Army Preparation Department, and the other was reported directly to the Wanquan Commandery Department.
Although He Chongwu was not a member of Yang Sichang and Chen Xinjia, he also knew that Zhang Cheng was a person who was in the emperor's heart. How could he dare to keep this kind of news in his hands? He also arranged for a quick horse to be reported to Liu Yongzhao, the governor of Xuanfu, overnight.
But when He Chongwu's official document was delivered to Liu Yongzhao, the governor of Xuanfu, the official document signed by him and the commander-in-chief Yang Guozhu had already been sent to the governor's residence of Yanghe and Xuanfu, as well as the Yamen of the Ministry of War in the capital.
At this time, there were two systems in the border towns of the Ming Dynasty. One was the guard system. For example, the Kaiping Guard Report was first sent to the Wandu Division, and then the Wandu Division reported it to the Houjun Dudufu in the Five Army Dudufu. The governor's office evaluates rewards and punishments.
The other system is the governor system. Just like this time, Zhang Cheng had to first report to the Chicheng Military Preparation Department, then the military preparations reported to the Governor of Xuanfu, then to the Governor of Xuanda, and finally the Governor of Xuanda reported to the court.
However, after the Jingtai period, the power of the Yamen of the Ministry of War increased. The Minister of the Ministry of War began to oversee military affairs, and gradually took away the authority of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies. The officials in the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies evolved into empty titles.
After Chen Xinjia, the governor of Xuanda, received the official document signed by Liu Yongzha, the governor of Xuanfu, and Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of the army, he did not delay. He wrote a handwritten request for merit and memorial, and sent a quick horse to rush to Beijing.
At the same time, he also wrote a special letter to Zhang Cheng, praising him for his achievements just after taking office, and appeasing Zhang Cheng to continue to serve with sincerity. He would personally mediate so that the reward could be finalized as soon as possible, and encouraged Zhang Cheng We have to keep up our efforts, because he is disappointed and the emperor is disappointed.
It was with Chen Xinjia's strong support that Yang Sichang did not delay after Zhang Cheng's merit report was sent to the Ministry of War. He thought that it was he who suggested to Emperor Chongzhen that the reward for Zhang Cheng should not be too high.
Now, Zhang Cheng has achieved some success after taking office, and he has repaid his merits to Chongzhen. This also shows that Emperor Chongzhen has a good eye for people and did not misjudge Zhang Cheng.
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Emperor Chongzhen is reviewing memorials in the East Pavilion of Qianqing Palace. His mood has been extremely bad recently, and it can even be said that it has been extremely bad.
Originally, the Qing army entered the fortress. Although it caused heavy damage to the heart of the Ming Dynasty's capital, Zhang Cheng's success in killing Ma Zhan and Yue Tuo, as well as successive great victories, especially the heavy killing of Donglu, made him deeply moved. comfort.
But after the Donglu retreated, reports from rogue bandits appeared frequently.
I had always thought that Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting had really killed Chuang Ni, but they just didn't find the body. Emperor Chongzhen always comforted himself like this.
However, the report recently received from Shaanxi shows that Li Chuang has not been executed, and it is very likely that none of the giant thieves under his command have been executed.
Every day, sitting in the Qianqing Palace, I had no intention of reviewing the memorials. I was afraid that the memorials that I opened would contain content about rebellion and rebellion. I was even a little worried about Zhang Xianzhong, who had already been supported. Will he rebel again?
Although Xiong Wencan, Minister of the Ministry of War, concurrently the right deputy governor of the capital, and prime minister of the military affairs of Zhidi, Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, Huguang, Sichuan and other provinces, swore that Zhang Xianzhong was really in charge and would not rebel again.
But Emperor Chongzhen was even more worried. However, the more he feared that Xiong Wencan was perfunctory with him, he was flustered all day long and felt more and more bored looking at the numerous memorials in front of him.
Suddenly, he heard that the cabinet minister Yang Sichang requested to see your Majesty. He hurriedly told the young eunuch beside him: "Quickly, please come in to see Mr. Yang!"
Yang Sichang entered the East Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace under the guidance of the eunuch. Entering the palace to see the emperor was a common occurrence for him, but Yang Sichang was cautious every time.
Looking at Yang Sichang who was kneeling below, Emperor Chongzhen was very satisfied. He said softly: "Yang Aiqing, get up. What do you have to report?"
Yang Sichang stood up and stood in the same place. He bowed with a very respectful look on his face and said, "Back to the emperor, Chen Xinjia has a memorial to ask for credit for Xuanzang and Zhang Cheng."
When Emperor Chongzhen heard Zhang Cheng's name, his frown relaxed a little. With a hint of joy, he asked: "Please take credit for Zhang Cheng?"
Yang Sichang bowed again and saluted, and then said: "Back to the emperor, Zhang Cheng first arrived at Shangbei Road for less than a month. He wiped out 17 groups of stubborn bandits entrenched in the local area, captured and killed 137 leading bandits, and rescued 3,000 military households. There are more than 100 households, and they have vigorously rectified the settlement administration, increasing the farmland on Shangbei Road by nearly 100,000 acres."
A glimmer of light flashed in Emperor Chongzhen's eyes, and he immediately returned to his original expression. He said softly: "Give Yang Aiqing a seat."
Yang Sichang quickly knelt down to thank him. When the eunuch brought a chair, he only sat on a corner of the chair as usual, respectfully waiting for the emperor to ask questions.
Sure enough, after Yang Sichang sat down, Emperor Chongzhen asked: "How is the training of Zhang Cheng's new army?"
Yang Sichang was secretly shocked. As expected, the emperor was still more concerned about recruiting soldiers and training. Fortunately, the letter Chen Xinjia sent to him described the matter in more detail.
He stood there and bowed again and said: "Back to the emperor, Chen Xinjia has reported that Zhang Cheng has recruited more than 3,500 troops and is stepping up training. The remaining troops are also being recruited. Chen Xinjia, the commander-in-chief, has reported this We are also extremely concerned, and the money, food and weapons needed will be given priority."
Emperor Chongzhen asked with confusion on his face: "Have you not recruited enough five thousand people?
When will it be possible to train a strong force for me? Tell Chen Xinjia that the soldiers and weapons Zhang Cheng needs must be guaranteed. If necessary, they can be mobilized from elsewhere.
How did the cabinet discuss Zhang Cheng's achievements in suppressing bandits and purging the government? "
Yang Sichang sat on the chair, leaning forward slightly, and said softly: "The Ministry of War proposes that Zhang Cheng be promoted to the rank of Commander of Wanquan District, Envoy, Division, and Commander, and he will actually be appointed as the Guarding General of North Road in Xuanfu Town. He will be promoted to Ding. The general is far away to encourage him;
The rest of the people are also informed by the commander of the Kaiping Guards Envoy..."
"Okay, the others will wait until your cabinet is decided."
Emperor Chongzhen was not interested in other people's rewards. He continued: "Tell Chen Xinjia and ask him to urge Zhang Cheng to step up training of sergeants. Although the Donglu have retreated, the rogue bandits have not yet calmed down. Things will change day by day. Training of troops cannot be delayed!"
