Late at night on May 30th, the 13th year of Chongzhen reign in the Ming Dynasty, we were in the central hall of the Yongning Garrison Office on Xuanzhen East Road.
Zhang Cheng and Tong Shouxin had a very pleasant conversation. Zhang Cheng also kept silent about his wife's uncle and Jin Xiaoguo. He only talked with Tong Shouxin about the conduct of the recruitment camp and the tactics of military formations. He even encouraged Tong Shouxin to choose the opportunity. Only when you go to war and achieve military merit can you be promoted.
Tong Shouxin also felt happy. Zhang Cheng's words made him excited. He even thought about how he had been promoted to a guard general all the way, and his face was full of smiles.
Suddenly, there was a burst of chaotic footsteps outside, and Tong Shouxin was dissatisfied. He frowned and looked out of the hall. He saw the hall door being pushed open violently, and a soldier rushed in in a panic. He knelt down and reported: " Report to the Lord Guards, something bad has happened, there is a large fire burning into the sky in the Deputy General War Office."
"Bang!"
The teacup in Tong Shouxin's hand fell to the ground and shattered into pieces. He opened his mouth wide and asked tremblingly: "You...you...say it again...where...where did you go...the water went wrong... "
"Report to the Lord Guards, there is a leak in the Deputy General War Office, and the fire is shooting into the sky!"
"ah……"
Tong Shouxin stood up suddenly and was about to walk away when he suddenly remembered that Zhang Cheng was still sitting next to him. He sat back on the chair and tilted his head to look at Zhang Cheng.
But I saw Zhang Cheng calm and composed, holding the tea cup steadily in his hand and gently sipping the fragrant tea. He seemed to understand something, but he seemed not to understand anything at all.
At this moment, he vaguely heard bursts of roaring in the distance outside, like the explosion of firecrackers and the explosion of firecrackers. Tong Shouxin could no longer sit still. He stood up suddenly and was about to rush out.
At this time, another soldier staggered in and almost bumped into Tong Shouxin who was about to leave the hall. He had no time to kneel down and shouted loudly: "Sir... Your Excellency... Dong... Dongshan Bandit... …Entering…entering the city…”
Tong Shouxin grabbed the soldier's clothes, pulled him close and shouted, "What? Say it again!"
"The Tian...Tianbawang of Dongshan...has broken the city...the west gate...the west gate was captured by thieves...the deputy...deputy commander's house...was...attacked..."
Tong Shouxin threw him away and shouted loudly: "Quickly, gather the troops and follow me to kill the thieves!"
At this time, a guard came quickly outside the door. He stopped the door and said: "My lord, please don't go out lightly. It's dark and windy at night, and you don't know the details of the thief. If you can easily kill him, you may fall into the thief's plot, sir!"
Tong Shouxin was stunned at the door of the hall. Only then did he remember that Zhang Cheng was still in the hall. He couldn't help but turn around and look at Zhang Cheng. His eyes were full of doubts, but he saw Zhang Cheng drinking tea by himself, thinking about what had just happened. Everything seemed indifferent.
After being stunned for a while, he said to the general: "Quick investigation, a few Dongshan thieves have entered the city, and found out what the situation is in the city. Immediately gather the troops in the garrison to prepare for any eventuality."
"Yes, my subordinates take orders." The boss loudly received the order and turned around to arrange everything.
Tong Shouxin also slowly walked back to the tea table, sat on a chair, stared at Zhang Cheng, put his hand on the saber on his waist, and asked in a deep voice: "Admiral Zhang, Dongshan thieves attacked Yongning at night, Deputy The commander's office seems to be under siege, and guns and cannons are firing outside the garrison office. What do you think we should do?"
Zhang Cheng lowered his eyebrows and lowered his eyes, with a calm and calm attitude, and said calmly: "This is the military affairs of the East Route. It is not appropriate for me to interfere. Tong Shou has his own responsibility to defend the city and suppress thieves, so there is no need to ask me!"
Tong Shouxin's hand had firmly grasped the handle of the sword at his waist, and he continued to ask in a deep voice: "May I ask Admiral Zhang if he has anything to do with the Dongshan bandits in this city?"
"Hahaha!"
Gu Zhangcheng laughed, looked at Tong Shouxin with a mocking expression, and asked sternly: "How? Tong Shoubei still wants to kill Zhang on the spot!"
He stood up abruptly and then shouted: "You are a military general of the Ming Dynasty. You don't want to eliminate the traitors and stabilize the country, but you act as a helper and kill your colleagues in the army with the sword in your hand. What do you want?
Nowadays, bandits are wreaking havoc in Huguang, bandits have reappeared in Shangzhou, and the East Road is watching, but you don't want to serve the country, can you punish me?
Now, Dongshan thieves have entered the city and caused trouble. You don't want to protect the city and the people, but you are questioning this general here. Could it be that you want to kill me here as a Dongshan thieves?
Would you like to be buried with your deputy commander Zhang? "
Zhang Cheng asked questions one after another. Tong Shouxin had already stood up, but fell down on the chair again, sweating profusely, and the hand on the handle of the knife at his waist was shaking.
"Plop!"
Tong Shouxin suddenly fell to his knees on the ground, buckled his head and shouted: "Tong Shouxin knows his mistake, please save me, Admiral Zhang!"
Zhang Cheng walked up and down the hall calmly. After a while, he stood in front of Tong Shouxin and comforted him softly: "I think you are a rare and fierce general. You are usually loyal to your duties and you are honest." I have the heart to be loyal to you and serve my country, and I cannot bear to see you humiliated and humiliated, so I will do my best to protect you."
After he finished speaking, he leaned over to help Tong Shouxin up, and comforted him again: "Get up, you are a fierce general, don't kneel indiscriminately, or you will ruin your reputation."
Tong Shouxin struggled to take a step back, knelt down and kowtowed again: "Tong Shouxin is willing to hold the reins for Admiral Zhang, ride in front and behind the horse, and die for the Admiral. I also ask Admiral Zhang to give me some guidance today!"
Zhang Cheng looked at Tong Shouxin, who was tall and thick, and what he said was quite sincere. He knew that the heat was almost over, and Tong Shouxin had already turned around in his heart, so he said slowly:
"The defense of the city is not good, and it is indeed inappropriate to lose the deputy commander. However, the thieves are rampant, and the deputy commander is not strict with his subordinates. He indulges his relatives and persecutes the soldiers and civilians. It is even more inappropriate. His death is actually his own fault. The general will do it himself. If you try to excuse yourself, it will keep you safe."
At this time, footsteps came from outside the door. He stopped at the hall door and loudly reported: "Master of the guard, the Dongshan bandits have retreated."
Tong Shouxin quickly stood up and shouted: "Come in and answer."
When the commander entered the hall, he asked eagerly: "Do you know how many people the thieves have entered the city? What is the situation in Deputy Commander Zhang's house? Are there any casualties at Ximen?"
"Reporting to the garrison, hundreds of bandits from Dongshan entered the city. After they broke into the deputy general's office, they set fire to the office. They paraded their horses through the streets and took advantage of the chaos to rush out from the west gate. The deputy general's office was putting out fires. The deputy commander's body was not found."
He said this with a slight hesitation, and then reported: "My subordinates even saw flames rising to the sky in the distance to the west of the city. According to the direction, it seemed that Zhangjiazhuang a few miles away was flooded, but the moon was dark and the wind was high, and thieves were lurking nearby, so I didn't dare to Go out of the city to investigate.”
"Zhangjiazhuang?"
Tong Shouxin looked confused and murmured: "Isn't it the village where Deputy Commander Zhang's uncle Zeng Jinlai is?"
The boss responded: "It's that village. Judging from the huge fire, I'm afraid Deputy Commander Zhang's uncle was also unavoidable..."
