In fact, as early as August and September of the twelfth year of Chongzhen, Zhang Cheng's Counselor Office, Military Affairs Office, and Military Intelligence Office had formulated various military strategies to eliminate bandits on the East Road. , but it has never been implemented.
Zhang Cheng didn't expect the troops on the east road to contribute, not to mention that he had to guard against these local snakes telling the news!
With the current combat power of the North Road battalions, even if only one army is dispatched, it will be very difficult to wipe out the Dongshan bandits. It's just that Zhang Cheng entered the East Road this time with ulterior motives.
An army of nearly 6,000 marched into the East Road. Wu Zhizhong led Cui Shijie's troops alone and stationed in the prefecture city of Yanqing. Zhang Cheng led the pro-military troops and Chen Dakuan's troops, plus Wei Zhice's chariot camp and stationed in Yongning. Zhang Guangda's cavalry troops and The Qingqi Division was nowhere to be found.
On August 3, the city of Yongning was very lively. All the officials and generals of Yongning were waiting by the Qingshui River outside the west gate for the arrival of Zhang Cheng, the general of Xuanzhen and the admiral of North Road military affairs.
From a distance, we can see the neat military formation slowly marching forward. Although they have marched for a long time, the soldiers are still in high spirits and show no sign of fatigue. After the army slowly crosses the river along the bridge, it forms a formation along the river bank. .
They were amazed as they looked at the carriages that were displayed one after another over there. Liu Minshen, the magistrate of Yongning, was also dumbfounded. He said to the county magistrate, chief registrar, and dianshi who were accompanying them: "It's amazing, it's amazing, Admiral Zhang." The officers and troops under his command are indeed not comparable to the generals of Yongning!"
At this moment, Zhang Guowei, the deputy commander-in-chief of the alliance garrison who was originally stationed in Yongning, had been killed, and the sub-garrison general Liu Zhongshi had just been transferred back to the town. Among the officers, only Yongning garrison Tong Shouxin was the most respected.
At this time, he was standing next to Liu Minshen, the magistrate of Yongning County. Hearing the words, he hurriedly answered: "To be praised by the current Holy Emperor as the best among the three armies is not a person who only seeks fame and reputation. Admiral Zhang is actually the pillar of the country!"
At this time, both the Bu Camp and the Car Camp had crossed the Qingshui River. A large flag fluttered in the wind in the distance, with a handsome flag with a big "Zhang" written on it, slowly moving towards them.
Looking from a distance, under the handsome flag, there is an extremely heroic young general. He is wearing gilt armor and riding on a black war horse. He is slowly moving forward. Behind him is a strong man named Yi Shui. knight.
Tong Shouxin ignored Liu Minshen, the magistrate of Yongning, and went straight to greet him, bowing and saying: "Yongning guard Tong Shouxin sees Admiral Zhang."
In fact, Yongning City is actually a county town and is under the jurisdiction of Yanqing Prefecture. Therefore, there is the Yongning County Government in the city, and there are also various officials such as the county magistrate, county magistrate, chief bookkeeper, and dianshi.
However, there are both military households and civilian households in the city. The county magistrate only manages civilian households, while military households are under the management of the Yongning Town Command and Envoy Department. What is even more bizarre is that the garrison, sub-garrison general, and deputy general are also stationed in Yongning. The official rank of generals is much higher than that of county magistrates.
Although in the late Ming Dynasty, the civil and military elites were already humble, the magistrate of Yongning County was only a seventh-rank officer. Not to mention the second-rank officer of the deputy general, even the generals were mostly a third-rank or above, and even the garrison officers were all a fifth-rank or above. military attache.
What can he do as a seventh-grade county magistrate? What's more, most of the people in Yongning City are military households and are not under the jurisdiction of the county magistrate. Therefore, they are almost ignored by the generals stationed here.
Now, because Zhang Guowei, the deputy commander-in-chief, was killed, and Liu Zhongshi, who participated in it, was transferred back to the town, the highest remaining military position is guard Tong Shouxin, and he only has the rank of Qianhu, the fifth rank, so the county magistrate. Liu Minshen has had his day.
Zhang Chengce stood on his horse and said in a deep voice: "Thank you for your hard work on the defense, Tong. Have the arrangements for our army's camp been properly arranged?"
Tong Shouxin had taken refuge with Zhang Cheng since the night when deputy commander Zhang Guowei was beheaded. Not only did he let Zhang Cheng's uncle-in-law Ning Guangyuan and Jin Xiaoguo go, but he also sent his thirteen-year-old son to Yunnan. Study in the state craftsman school to show your loyalty!
Zhang Cheng did not reject this, but welcomed it very much. He even hoped that this would be the rule in the future. The descendants of those who devoted themselves to his command must be sent to Yunzhou Craftsman School or Chicheng Military Academy to serve as military officers. students.
In this way, I can worry less about it, which is better for both worlds!
Yongning garrison Tong Shouxin still bowed and clasped his fists and saluted: "Reporting to the Admiral, there are barracks in the east, south and north of Yongning, especially the school grounds and martial arts halls on the east and south sides. The two barracks in the southeast have been vacated. , each can accommodate nearly two thousand troops.
The deputy general's office in the city was burned down by Dongshan bandits and has not been repaired. Now the general's office has been cleared out, allowing the admiral to handle military affairs and stay. There is also a martial arts field next to the general's office, which can accommodate more than 500 cavalry. "
Zhang Cheng was deeply satisfied with this. He nodded on his horse and said: "Tong Shou has taken the trouble. I will report the truth to the capital and will never bury Tong Shou's achievements."
"Being able to serve the Admiral is truly a blessing for Tong. How come there is no merit?"
Tong Shouxin said very humbly, turned around and stepped aside, and introduced Zhang Cheng: "Reporting to the Admiral, this is Mr. Liu Minshen Liu, the magistrate of Yongning County."
Zhang Chengce took a closer look on the horse and saw that this man was not very old. He seemed to be less than thirty years old. He only had a tuft of beard on his lower jaw. He was also quite thin, but he was wearing a seventh-grade official robe. But it's a bit shabby.
He was now wearing regular clothes with a tattoo of "鸸鸒" on his chest, and behind him were also standing several eighth- and ninth-grade officials. Zhang Cheng guessed that they must be the county magistrate and chief registrar of the county government.
In fact, there is no need to pay too much attention to such a seventh-grade sesame official, but Zhang Cheng seems to be somewhat interested in Liu Minshen, the magistrate of Yongning County. People of different kinds naturally pay attention to different things. Zhang Cheng saw that Liu Minshen's body was quite shabby. official robe, I had some ideas.
Although most of the Yongning City is military households and is under the jurisdiction of the Yongning Guards, there are still a few civilian households, and the county government has some income every year.
What's more, the business in this city is quite prosperous. After all, it is a place where deputy generals, staff generals, and garrison generals gather. Not only are there many officials and generals, but also their family members and the personal attendants of each general.
The Yongning City County Government Yamen has some income from taxes, and in any case, the clothes of the county magistrate will not be worn out. Even among the people present, the county magistrate, the chief registrar, and even the historian are all better dressed than the county magistrate Liu Minshen. many.
Because of his frugal image, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but look at him differently. He got off his horse and came to the officials in Yongning. Liu Minshen also hurriedly bowed and said: "Yongning Magistrate Liu Minshen pays homage to Admiral Zhang!"
Although Zhang Cheng is young, he is no longer the same person he was when he came to Beijing in the eleventh year of Chongzhen. The experience of the past two years has made him truly grow up, and he has a clearer and more direct understanding of the current situation of the Ming Dynasty at this time. know.
As his military career continues to rise, as the saying goes, the butt determines the head, Zhang Cheng's thoughts and ideas at this time are completely different from what they were in the past, and his own temperament has also changed, and he has a power no matter where he is. , irresistible.
