Zhang Cheng and Chen Jiugao took the letter of trust from Gao Mingheng, the governor of Henan, and after replenishing their army rations in Yanjin, they went all the way north. When they passed by Ji County, the city of Weihui Prefecture, the army stopped overnight.
He and Chen Jiugao went into the city to visit Zhu Changzi, King of Lu, and Zhu Yousong, the Crown Prince of Fu. Perhaps it was the difficulty of escaping from his family that made him grow a little, or perhaps there were some problems in the process of historical recording.
Zhang Cheng only felt that the Zhu Yousong he met this time had changed significantly compared to when he first met him in Yanshi City. Not only did he express his gratitude to Zhang Cheng, but he also responded appropriately and seemed quite elegant. Yanshi was so eager and arrogant.
In the early morning of the next day, after the army set up camp in Ji County, Hui Prefecture, they only made some supplies in Anyang, the city of Zhangde Prefecture, and then went straight to Wu'an County to camp and rest.
When Zhang Cheng led his army into Henan Province for the first time, he passed through Wu'an and distributed grain to the hungry people outside the city. Later, he went to the powerful villages in the surrounding areas to ask for grain and set up porridge shacks to provide relief to the hungry people.
Everyone was very grateful to his army and recognized their military flags from afar. Although they did not dare to enter the military camp rashly, people fell to their knees outside the camp by the Ming River.
In the end, Zhang Cheng went out to the camp to meet them in person. After some detailed inquiries, he found out that they were not here to beg for food, but just to thank Zhang Cheng for his righteous deeds.
It was precisely because of Zhang Cheng's relief work in Wu'an last winter and his righteous deeds of forcing wealthy families to provide food that they, the poor people, could survive until this spring.
It is even more because Ji Youci, the magistrate of Wu'an, with the support of Zhang Cheng and Li Changsheng's elite cavalry, used work for relief, reclaimed wasteland, built canals and diverted water, and now they can survive on their own strength.
The two people they were most grateful to were Zhang Cheng and Ji Youci, and they even enshrined the longevity tablets of Zhang Cheng and Ji Youci at home, kneeling down in the morning and evening.
Zhang Cheng accepted the kneeling of everyone and chatted with them for a while before he persuaded the hungry people gathered outside the camp to leave.
…………
At this time, Ji Youci had received an official document from the court and was about to go to Huaiqing Mansion to rectify military affairs. He had already prepared everything. The reason why he did not set off immediately was to wait for Zhang Cheng's army to pass by.
He is a very smart person and has been studying Confucian classics, but he has never dabbled in military books and strategies before. But as the saying goes, military and political affairs are integrated into one. If he can handle political affairs well, such simple military affairs will naturally not be too complicated. Difference.
But he also knew that Zhang Cheng's recommendation of him to take up the newly established position of Guards and Arms must have deep meaning, so he had to meet with Zhang Cheng before taking office, so that he could have a grasp of some important tasks after taking office. .
Chen Jiugao learned that the new Wei Huaibing was Zhang Cheng's uncle. How could he let go of such an opportunity and insisted on accompanying Zhang Cheng to the city to meet Ji Youci.
In this way, Zhang Cheng and his wife entered Wu'an City accompanied by Chen Jiugao. Since Chen Jiugao rode into the city, Zhang Cheng accompanied him on horseback, while Yang Liying rode into the city because she wanted to see Ji Youci.
Their group was also warmly welcomed by the people in the city, and many people knelt down and knelt down to welcome them. Chen Jiugao was surprised by all this. He wondered in his heart what Zhang Cheng had done in Wu'an to make the people do this. to him.
Ji Youci has been waiting in front of the county government office for a long time. In addition to him, there are also the county Prime Minister Dewei and Li Guangqi from Lijiazhai, as well as the county's chief bookkeeper and various officials from Zandian. They are all standing in front of Ji Youci. Behind them, they all went out to meet Zhang Cheng and others.
When Zhang Cheng was still more than ten steps away from the county government office, he got off his horse and walked quickly forward to show his respect for Ji Youci. Of course, Ji Youci understood what Zhang Cheng meant.
He also hurriedly walked down the steps to meet Zhang Cheng, cupped his fists and said, "Congratulations to General Zhang for entering Henan to suppress the bandits and returning with a complete victory!"
Gu Zhou and Zhang Cheng stepped forward to hold Ji Youci's hand and said, "It's Zhang Cheng who should congratulate my uncle on his promotion."
Ji Youci looked at Chen Jiugao, who was also dismounting, and asked Zhang Cheng: "Brother-in-law, this general is..."
Zhang Cheng slapped his forehead and said, "Look, I only remembered to congratulate my uncle on his promotion, but I forgot to introduce Mr. Chen to you."
He pulled Chen Jiugao over and introduced to Ji Youci: "Brother, this is my newly recognized eldest brother, General Chen Jiugao, the chief military officer of the Beijing camp."
Chen Jiugao clasped his fists with a smile on his face and said, "Chen Jiugao pays homage to Mr. Bing Xianji."
Ji Youci quickly said: "Don't dare."
Although he is a well-read man, he is not pedantic. It's just that he doesn't know how to do many things, maybe he doesn't want to do them, or maybe he doesn't dare to do them.
But the last time Zhang Cheng went to Henan to aid the suppression campaign, he passed through Wu'an, and it was at his most difficult time. Although he knew that the squires had food in their homes, he was unable to get them to sell the food, let alone donate it.
But with Zhang Cheng's three strikes, five strikes and two strikes, all this was easily achieved. Especially after Zhang Cheng's army left, even though there were only more than a hundred knights from Li Changsheng, they were able to crush the nobles to death. I don't dare to show up to cause trouble.
All this made him wake up completely. It was only then that he truly realized how far the Ming Dynasty had reached, and finally realized that only by possessing force and using force could he hope to change everything.
In the past, he would not have been interested in taking up the post of Guard Guard, but now he is indeed full of expectations for this post. He is only waiting to meet Zhang Cheng before taking up the post.
At this moment, after Ji Youci and Chen Jiugao had seen each other, they stared at the carriage that was slowly approaching. Zhang Cheng said with a smile: "I forgot to report to my uncle that when my brother-in-law was in Luoyang, I also married a man. Concubine."
Ji Youci raised his finger, pointed at Zhang Cheng, and said, "You are so ridiculous."
He waved his hand vigorously as he spoke, and then said: "Forget it. You are already married, so what can you do? After I got the letter, I wrote to my sister-in-law to explain the matter to her.
Although my sister-in-law has been spoiled since childhood, she is also a well-informed and reasonable person. She will not make trouble with you over this matter, and she will definitely not bully your newly married concubine. "
He then added: "Your sister-in-law has been waiting in the inner room, so don't attend the ceremony here and go directly into the mansion!"
Zhang Cheng promised, turned around, waved his hand and ordered someone to drive the carriage to the back gate of the county government office.
They are all old friends. Ji Youqing first sold Zhang Cheng a good deal, and then reminded him not to attend the ceremony outside, and even said that his sister-in-law was still waiting in the backyard. His intention was to let Yang Liying, the concubine, enter the house through the back door, instead of Take the front door.
Zhang Cheng naturally sees all this clearly. As long as they can accept Yang Liying, he believes that with Yang Liying's straightforward and kind nature, she will be able to get along happily with Ji Xuanzhu.
