After Liu Yongzha arrived at Chicheng, he first scolded Zhang Cheng severely, then comforted him with gentle words, and promised that Zhang Cheng could directly transfer what he needed from the official treasury on North Road and East Road.
After the army sets out, all it takes is a list of orders to be sent to the governor's yamen, and he will recruit them from the official treasury elsewhere to help replenish them to the official treasury on the North Road and East Road.
Seeing that Liu Yongzhao had reached this point, Zhang Cheng readily promised to march into Liaodong in early May to rescue Jinzhou.
It was only at this moment that Liu Yongzhao put down his tense expression. He beamed with joy and congratulated Zhang Cheng on Lin'er!
Seeing that his expression softened, Zhang Cheng also knew that although his delay in sending troops this time was necessary, he had asked Liu Yongzhao to be criticized by the court on his behalf. This had even aroused the resentment of the big shots in the court, and he felt a little regretful in his heart.
He said with an apologetic smile on his face: "I really feel sorry for having Master Futai work so hard for this matter. I will definitely toast you in person to apologize later."
Liu Yongzhao said angrily: "Zhongchen, when this matter comes to an end, we should send troops as soon as possible. Not to mention me, even Zhang Duchen is worried about this matter day and night. If we don't send troops to Liaodong, I'm afraid Angel It won’t come, but Tiqi has arrived first.”
He Chongwu persuaded him from the side and said: "Master Futai, there is no need to worry. Deputy General Zhang led the army to assist Henan. The army has been tired for a long time and needs to take a rest. I think the matter here is over and I will send troops to Liaodong immediately. We will definitely not miss the battle to rescue Jinzhou."
Before Liu Yongzhao spoke, Qin Shizheng also said from the side: "Master Futai, don't worry. Your subordinates and He Bingxian will urge Deputy General Zhang to send troops in time."
Zhang Cheng was about to say something else when Zhang Chengfang's voice came from outside the door: "Father, the guests have almost arrived, and it's almost noon. Are you ready to start the banquet?"
Zhang Cheng turned to the door and said, "Get ready for the banquet."
He turned around and said to the governor Liu Yongzhao: "Please calm down Liu Futai. It's not that the general doesn't want to send troops. It's just that this battle doesn't have to be ordinary. If you don't make full preparations, you don't dare to send troops hastily."
He went on to say: "Master Futai, please sit down for a moment. Zhang Cheng went out to meet the guests and then came back to drink with you."
Liu Yongzhao waved his hand, and Zhang Cheng clasped his fists in salute and exited the official hall to greet other guests.
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In fact, none of them understood what Zhang Cheng was thinking. Zhang Cheng didn't know the specific details of this battle, but he still knew one thing.
That was the Battle of Songjin. The strength of the Ming army and the Tartars could be said to be about the same. There were two reasons for their defeat. One was that the court was pressing hard, and Hong Chengchou had no choice but to win a quick victory.
The second was that the military rations stored on Bijia Mountain on the seaside between Tashan and Xingshan were attacked and burned by the Tartars. As a result, more than 100,000 troops collapsed due to lack of food and fled all the way until they were chased to death by the Tartars.
Therefore, after he learned that Zhang Ruoqi, a doctor in the Ministry of War's official position, would serve as Hong Chengchou's military supervisor on his way back to Xuanzhen, he wrote him a letter overnight.
In addition to asking for help, Zhang Cheng also asked him to try his best to secure more food and grass guarantees for himself in the letter. Finally, he asked him not to rush into Jinzhou.
He told Zhang Ruoqi that this battle was no small matter. If he won, his achievements would shine in the annals of history. However, if he lost, he would also become a sinner in history. Therefore, he specifically asked Zhang Ruoqi to wait until his army arrived before deciding where to go.
Although Gu Zha was still quite polite to Zhang Ruoqi in his reply, he could clearly feel the arrogance in his words. Therefore, Zhang Cheng was not sure whether he could influence Zhang Ruoqi's desire to fight.
However, he still stated in his reply to Zhang Ruoqi that he would lead nearly 20,000 troops to Liaodong, hoping to defeat the enemy's cavalry in the first battle and achieve this unparalleled feat. He only hoped to seek stability through slowness and not underestimate the enemy. They advanced rashly and attacked in a hurry, leading to a disastrous defeat.
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Zhang Cheng came to the middle hall to greet all the guests, and then invited the deputy commander-in-chief Lin Dengyou and the staff generals Liu Guangwu and Liu Zhongshi into the back hall so that they could have a banquet with the governor later.
He then ordered Jin Xinpeng to invite all the officials from the North and East Road Guards, as well as all the military generals with more than a thousand households from the forts in Xuan Town, to the middle hall to participate in the banquet, while the front hall was set aside to entertain the congratulatory merchants. Rich households.
He found Liu Minshen in the side hall. This guy was studying the war to suppress Henan with Wei Zhice and Zhang Guangda. He seemed to have unfinished business. Zhang Cheng dragged him to the back hall to attend the banquet. He was a little reluctant and shouted at Wei Zhice and the others: "Wait... come back... and then study... study..."
Before long, the banquet had officially begun. Zhang Cheng first walked through the front hall and the middle hall to express his gratitude, and then went straight to the back hall.
There is only one table here, with four civil servants: Governor Liu Yongzhao, Military Commander He Chongwu, Grain Inspector Qin Shizheng, and Yongning County Magistrate Liu Minshen. In addition, Xuanzhen Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhang Cheng and Lin Dengyou, and four generals Liu Guangwu and Liu Zhongshi, there are exactly eight people. .
During the dinner, He Chongwu and Qin Shizheng talked the most and were the most excited, while Liu Guangwu was the most heroic. He toasted Zhang Cheng one bowl after another.
Governor Liu Yongzhao ate quietly and quietly, but Liu Minshen seemed a little reluctant to let go. After all, his rank was much lower. Although Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lin Dengyou was also very enthusiastic, he always gave people a feeling of familiarity and strangeness. He only talked a lot with Liu Yongzhao and Zhang Cheng, and paid little attention to the others.
After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, all the conversation that needs to be said must be finished long before the banquet begins. During the banquet, it is either to take care of face or to establish friendship. The only person who enjoys the drink is General Liu Guangwu.
Governor Liu Yongzha first proposed to leave the table to rest because he was tired from the journey. Zhang Cheng hurriedly got up to see him off and accompanied him from the corner gate to the mansion next to the General's Office.
Liu Yongzhao stood in the courtyard looking at an apricot tree and said softly: "Zhongchen, I hope you can be loyal to the emperor and serve the country and live up to the emperor's kindness."
When Zhang Cheng saw what he said, he also said with a serious expression: "Master Futai, please rest assured. Zhang Cheng has already pledged himself to the country. However, the country's affairs are very difficult and there are many mediocre people. Only extraordinary measures can restore the peace and stability of the country." Let the world revive the Ming Dynasty!"
Liu Yongzhao was stunned. He had always thought that Zhang Cheng was just a domineering general, and that all he could do was charge on the battlefield. He had never thought that he had such insight and courage.
He raised his head and looked at the setting sun, and asked calmly: "What is an extraordinary measure?"
"Those who follow the rules are restricted and constrained everywhere. In today's world, the only way to do things is not to follow the rules, but to use strange tricks to win. When necessary, use thunderous means and sharp swords to avoid procrastination and regrets. It's too late!" Zhang Cheng said.
Liu Yongzha withdrew his eyes and looked at the piles of unripe fruits on the apricot tree again. He sighed and said, "If you act like this, you will be infamy and be infamy for eternity."
"If you want to achieve great things, you should not be ashamed of small things; if you want to achieve great achievements, you should not be concerned about small details."
