On December 23, the thirteenth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, after repeated confirmations, Li Xianfeng, the governor of Henan, agreed to Chen Yongfu's suggestion to lead the army across the river and go south to regain Luoyang.
It was not until the afternoon that he led thousands of officers and soldiers across the Yellow River, and before entering Mengjin City, he received a victory document from Zhang Cheng's military counselor Wang Yuanjing.
It is said that Luoyang City has been recaptured by Zhang Cheng, the commander-in-chief of the Henan Suppression Relief Force. The relevant victory report has been reported directly to Beijing. Now it is found that most of the main force of the bandits has attacked Kaifeng. The governor is requested to return aid quickly to protect Kaifeng City and the King of Zhou. Your Highness is safe.
Li Xianfeng, the governor of Henan Province, was so angry that he couldn't escape the crime of losing the feudal vassal after his actions. Zhang Cheng also robbed him of the opportunity to regain Luoyang, and Kaifeng didn't know whether he could defend it. He was so confused that he didn't know where to go.
Although Chen Yongfu, the deputy commander-in-chief of Henan Province, urged him to return to Kaifeng to rescue Kaifeng, Li Xianfeng still insisted on going to Luoyang City to clean up the mess as if under a spell.
Finally, at Chen Yongfu's insistence, Li Xianfeng agreed to let him take more than 2,000 officers and soldiers back to rescue Kaifeng Fucheng, while he led more than 1,000 officers and soldiers to Luoyang City.
But when Li Xianfeng arrived at Luoyang City with his troops, the only people who greeted him were those gentry and officials who had not been beheaded by the intruder Li Zicheng.
After some inquiries, Li Xianfeng learned that Zhang Cheng's Qianzong generals Chen Zhong, Cui Shijie and others had left Luoyang at noon today and led their troops back to Kaifeng Fucheng to aid.
Moreover, before leaving, Wang Yuanjing, Zhang Cheng's military counselor, invited the surviving country gentry and officials to sign the victory documents sent to Kaifeng Mansion and Beijing.
In the prefect's yamen in Luoyang City, Li Xianfeng stared blankly at the vast eastern sky. Now he just hopes that Kaifeng is safe, that King Zhou is fine, and that he may still be alive!
…………
On December 23, Chen Jiugao came to Zhang Cheng's camp again, and the two had more detailed discussions on how to cooperate with each other to cross the river to fight against the bandits in the future, so as to protect Kaifeng and the important place of the feudal vassal.
In the end, it was agreed that Chen Jiugao's soldiers from the Beijing camp would be the main ones, with Zhang Cheng's troops supporting them. If there was a war, Zhang Cheng's Xuanzhen army would be in the front to resist the enemy, and Chen Jiugao's soldiers from the Beijing camp would be the main ones behind with artillery bombardment.
In this way, although Zhang Cheng's soldiers bore the danger of a bloody battle with the thieves, Zhang Cheng's wish was fulfilled, which was to take this opportunity to make friends with the distinguished military attachés in the capital.
What's more, even if they don't join forces with Chen Jiugao's Beijing camp, Zhang Cheng's troops will still have to fight against the bandits. It's not that he can't retreat, but that he can't retreat.
Now he has been camped on the North Road for more than a year, and now he has trained a strong army of nearly 10,000 people that he is proud of. If he still cannot fight against the bandits, then he will no longer have to fight for his own happy life.
Now that we have decided to compete with many heroes of the world in this troubled world, some things cannot be avoided. For example, today's battle against the bandits is not only a training exercise, but also a necessary effort to prevent the bandits from becoming big quickly. , this is buying time and creating conditions for yourself.
According to the current situation, only in this way can Chen Jiugao be tightly tied to himself, not only to achieve the purpose of making friends with him, but also to use his strength to achieve his own military training and restrict the dominance of the intruder family.
Chen Jiugao is extremely satisfied with this arrangement. On the surface, his Beijing camp is the main one, and Zhang Cheng's subordinates are supplementary. For a dude like him, face is the most important thing.
As for Riko, as long as he doesn't feel embarrassed, there won't be any problem!
What made him happiest was Zhang Cheng's rise to power. He had also come into contact with some powerful generals before, all of them were arrogant and had almost no regard for Beijing camp officials like him.
This was the first time he met someone as considerate as Zhang Cheng. Not only did he give him all the respect, but he also volunteered to help him stand in front of him as a shield.
At this moment, Chen Jiugao fell more and more in love with Zhang Cheng, and the more he looked at him, the more he liked him. He suddenly said to Zhang Cheng: "Brother Zhang, to be honest, I have seen quite a few generals. Just look at you. A character.”
Zhang Cheng also followed his words and said: "I have never made friends with the generals in the capital camp before, so I thought it would be nothing. But listening to my brother's teachings in the past two days has made me feel enlightened and benefited a lot. I just sigh that I can't get along. I stay with my brother every day and always listen to his teachings!"
Gu Chen Jiugao was in great excitement at this time. He actually took Zhang Cheng's hand and said excitedly: "The more I say it, the more correct it becomes. Brother, I will make a big promise today and recognize you as my brother. Whenever I meet you in the future, Regarding the matter, you can send a message to Beijing, and my brother will definitely sort it out for you."
Seeing him talking like this, Zhang Cheng couldn't let this opportunity go in vain, so he immediately answered: "Brother Chen, I don't have an elder brother in my family. I feel close to him since I met him. Since he will never give up, I am willing to worship him." As an elder brother, I form a golden friendship with my eldest brother!
I wonder what Brother Chen thinks? "
Chen Jiugao had no objection to this, so the two of them immediately found a high ground in the camp, burned incense, prayed, and sworn sworn brothers with different surnames!
After the ceremony, Zhang Cheng held a banquet with wine in the Chinese army tent, and invited his generals such as Wei Zhice, Zhang Guangda, and Zhang Guodong to have a banquet with them, and told the generals about his sworn sworn relationship with Chen Jiugao.
Moreover, he and Chen Jiugao were now as close as one family, and he even invited his newly married wife, Yang Liying, to pour wine for Chen Jiugao as a gesture of acknowledgment.
After feasting from afternoon until dusk, Zhang Chengcai ordered his soldiers to escort Chen Jiugao back to his Chinese army in Yangwu County.
During the banquet, in addition to enhancing their feelings, everyone also made some discussions about the future war. Basically, they were implemented in accordance with Zhang Cheng's original plan.
That is, from midnight tomorrow, Zhang Guodong will lead the first part of the infantry battalion and the first part of the chariot to cross the Yellow River and set up defenses at Taojiadian Ferry, twenty miles north of Kaifeng, in preparation for the army to continue crossing the river.
After the banquet, the generals also retired one after another and returned to their camps to prepare for crossing the river tomorrow.
…………
There is no wind today, and the afterglow of the setting sun in the evening feels warm on my body. Zhang Cheng is not wearing armor at this moment. He is standing on a high hill to the east of the tent in a military uniform, looking to the south. It is very far away. The place is Kaifeng Fucheng.
"The intruder wouldn't go anywhere else!"
He secretly asked himself in his heart, although he remembered that the intruders raided Kaifeng soon after they captured Luoyang, but now because of his appearance, would Li Zicheng still implement the original plan? Zhang Cheng knew that he was a little uncertain.
Yang Liying, also dressed in military uniform and wearing a woolen cloak, walked toward him, but he seemed unaware.
"After sunset, the cold wind is strong, husband, don't catch a cold!"
She came to Zhang Cheng's side and whispered, and at the same time put another woolen cloak in her hand on his body.
Only then did Zhang Cheng realize that he had returned his hand and held Yang Liying's tender white catkin, feeling a hint of coldness in his hand: "Your hands are so cold."
"Just in time, you can help me warm up!"
Yang Liying finished speaking a little shyly, and then asked: "I think Chen Jiugao may not have any real abilities, but why is your husband so close to him?"
"Haha. His greatest skill is his way of making friends."
Zhang Cheng continued: "I only know some civilian officials in Beijing now, but after all, I am in the military, and sometimes I still need the help of these honorable men in Beijing, and Chen Jiugao is a good candidate."
