There is a restaurant just across the street from the governor's office. It is very large. Strings of colorful lights are hung in front of the restaurant. The street is illuminated as if it were dusk. It is full of traffic and pedestrians and horses are constantly coming and going.
There are several capable sergeants guarding the door and stairs downstairs. The stairs on the second floor and the window of the hall are also guarded. After all, all the officials of Kaifeng City, including the governor, have gathered here to guard. How dare we relax even a little bit about anything.
In a box facing the street on the second floor, Henan Governor Li Xianfeng was sitting at the head of the table, while Zhang Cheng was sitting at the guest seat. The others were Henan Governor Gao Mingheng, military commander Wang Yinchang, and Henan Zuo The chief envoy, Liang Bing, the official in charge of Taoism, Huang Shu, the official of Kaifeng Prefecture, Wang Shaoyu, the commander-in-chief, and others accompanied him.
During the dinner, Governor Li Xianfeng was very enthusiastic about Zhang Cheng, but Governor Gao Mingheng ignored Zhang Cheng. Zhang Cheng had a vague feeling that the two of them must have a seemingly inseparable relationship.
However, he didn't know much about the people at today's banquet. The only person who had some impression of him, the deputy commander-in-chief of Henan Province, Chen Yongfu, was not at the table, which made him feel dull.
Zhang Cheng vaguely remembered that Li Zicheng besieged Kaifeng three times, and Chen Yongfu was an important general who participated in the city defense. What impressed him even more was Li Zicheng's reputation as "the blind man".
He remembered that when Li Zicheng besieged Kaifeng for the first time, he mingled among the soldiers and went to Kaifeng City to observe the situation in person. He was shot by Chen Yongfu's son, guard Chen De, with an arrow.
Historical records: "Under the middle left eye, it penetrated about two inches, and he hugged his head and rushed away in shock."
Only then did the defenders in Kaifeng City realize that the one they shot was actually the intruder Li Zicheng. From then on, Li Zicheng had a new nickname, "This is how the name of the blind intruder began!"
Governor Li Xianfeng had not had a few sips of wine and had been persuading Zhang Cheng to lead the army to the west to protect the safety of Luoyang, the important place of the feudal vassal. He said again: "The intruders are so powerful that His Royal Highness Prince Fu is very worried. At the beginning of the month, he has summoned I, Lord Wang of Bingbei, and General Wang went to Luoyang to discuss matters. Now we are always paying attention to the situation of the bandits in western Henan and leading the army to rescue Luoyang at any time."
He paused and then said: "Now, in the imperial court, the Ministry of War is pressing hard, but they dare not delay any longer. If Luoyang makes a mistake, I am afraid General Zhang will not escape the blame."
Faced with his earnest words, Zhang Cheng knew that as the governor of Henan, he simply could not bear the responsibility of failing to defend the territory and falling into the feudal vassal, so he was so groveling to him just to make him go to Luoyang as soon as possible.
But Zhang Cheng didn't like King Fu at all.
In his heart, he even hoped that Li Zicheng would attack Luoyang as he did in history, shock the government and the public, and make Emperor Chongzhen angry, so that he would be more respected as a military minister like himself.
What's more, it was King Fu's greed and stinginess that he refused to give up money and food even to death, which aroused the resentment of Luoyang's defenders, which caused Luoyang to be invaded by the intruders due to the rebellion of the internal rebels, and his eventual death alerted the people of Kaifeng. Only the King of Zhou can distribute money and food to motivate the soldiers and stick to Kaifeng.
It can be said that it was the collapse of Luoyang and the death of King Fu that sounded the alarm to people who could still think.
Furthermore, with Zhang Cheng's current strength and the local situation in Henan, he is simply unable to wipe out the army of thieves in one fell swoop. Therefore, he can only advance steadily step by step.
He led the army to Henan to suppress bandits. Firstly, it was difficult to resist the imperial edict, and secondly, he wanted to use this opportunity to practice the actual combat of his new army. He did not come to fight against the intruders and bandits.
"Zhang Cheng also knows what Governor Li said, but our army has come from a long distance and is now extremely exhausted. Moreover, the army has insufficient food and grain. Now we can only stay outside Kaifeng City for a few days to relieve the fatigue of the soldiers. , and it is necessary to replenish all kinds of military supplies before the army can march westward." When Zhang Cheng said these words, there was a look of embarrassment on his face.
However, Wang Shaoyu, the commander-in-chief of Henan Province, continued: "The news from Luoyang Tang has been urgently reported, saying that the rebellion has become an encirclement. We will soon launch troops to march west to rescue Luoyang. If we delay, I am afraid that we will not be in a hurry and lose the seal." You can’t bear the tribunal’s crime!”
Zhang Cheng said unhurriedly: "In the battle with Jiannu Julu, we suffered a loss due to lack of food and grass. If my army had sufficient food and grass at that time, even if we fought against the Tartars for ten days, we would not be defeated. And How could it happen that Governor Lu died for his country?"
His eyes brightened when he said this, and he added: "Now that we are entering Henan to help suppress the intruders, our army is still a guest soldier fighting in a different place, and there must not be another shortage of food. Otherwise, the troops will be panicked and it will be difficult for the general to command. Even if the whole army marches into Luoyang, it will be difficult to fight!"
After hearing what Zhang Cheng said, the patrol officer Gao Mingheng dropped the wine glass in his hand heavily on the table, and said angrily: "He is indeed loyal and courageous. He is the best among the three armies!"
Zhang Cheng was suffocated when he heard what he said, but he just shook his head slightly. He just did his own thing, why should he care about what others thought.
Before, everyone had complimented and even flattered him in front of him, so today's ridicule from Inspector Gao Mingheng was a bit hard for him to accept.
But he has already figured it out. In such troubled times, strength is the only criterion, but what others think of him is worthless. He can't waste all the money he has painstakingly accumulated for the sake of what the world thinks of him. Some strength.
At the end of the banquet, Governor Li Xianfeng promised Zhang Cheng to replenish the food and grass he needed, and made an appointment five days later. The army commander Wang Yinchang would lead the army commander Wang Shaoyu, as well as the deputy commanders Liu Jianyi, Luo Tai and other generals to send troops to Luoyang. And Zhang Cheng will go with the generals.
…………
On November 28, the thirteenth year of Chongzhen's reign in the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Cheng summoned the generals for a meeting in the Chinese army's tent in Xuan Town, north of Kaifeng City.
"Everyone, our army has been replenished with food and fodder. It is supposed to go to Luoyang together with Wang Bingbei today, but there is a fast horse to report at this time. Angels from the capital are on the way. I want the commander to postpone for two days before regrouping and sending troops to Luoyang."
Zhang Cheng looked around at the generals. No one knew what the angel was rushing from the capital at this time. The generals sitting below were even guessing among themselves.
"Although the army is here to wait for the arrival of the angels, the march to Luoyang has already been decided and we should have some plans. Our army will only slow down the advance of the infantry camp. According to my command, Zhang Guodong will lead the infantry camp to march out tomorrow. , Wei Zhice’s car camp will also leave early the day after tomorrow.”
He continued: "Zhang Guangda's cavalry camp stayed behind, waiting for the arrival of the angels together with my commander's central army. After receiving the imperial edict, we will then set down the chasing cavalry camp and chariot camp in Luoyang to the west."
All the generals agreed loudly.
However, Zhang Guodong said: "Commander, why don't you wait until the angel has conveyed the imperial decree and the army sets out again. If the emperor's decree changes, wouldn't it be inconvenient to arrange and assemble!"
When the generals heard the words, they all began to think deeply, but Zhang Cheng said: "My army has already entered Henan, and we will not be transferred to other places for the time being. Now that the tide is against the trend, we can encircle Luoyang at any time, but we will not It's better to delay it at Kaifeng City.
However, it is precisely because of the fierceness of the thieves that when you advance, you must conduct multiple investigations and the place where you camp must be carefully surveyed. Don't be careless! "
