In the 14th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, on the third day of the fifth lunar month, at midnight, in the Yongning City branch of Xuanzhen East Road, there were already a gathering of officers and generals in the deputy general military officer's office. The generals under Zhang Cheng such as Wu Zhizhong, Wei Zhice, Zhang Guodong, Zhang Guangda, Chen Zheng , Li Jiyu and other battalion commanders, as well as Du Youwei and He Kuan, the two sentry commanders of Zhang Cheng's Chinese Army.
In addition, He Biao, the governor of the army, Yan Qingrong, the commander of the Yongning Guards, Tong Shouxin, the guard of Yongning, Liang Cixin, the commander of the Yongning Guards, Xing Ming, the governor, and Gong Wannian, the commander-in-chief, also gathered in the hall.
Zhang Cheng looked at the generals gathered together and sighed in his heart. When he first came, he actually forced him to kidnap and extort Diao Dacheng for a mere two thousand taels of silver. Thinking about it now, it feels like it was a lifetime ago!
I think back then I only had four thousand cavalrymen under my command. Just over two years later, after stumbling along the way, I have already gathered an army of nearly 30,000 people, and there are more than ten people who can be called generals. I miss you. At this point, there is a great sense of complacency.
At this moment, the hall door opened, and Tiger Guard General Lin Fangping strode into the official hall. He knelt down on one knee in the middle, clasped his fists and saluted: "Commander, the last general who escorted Futai Master Liu has arrived safely. Yongning, I am currently inspecting political affairs at the county government office."
Zhang Cheng waved his hand and said: "I know. Take a seat!"
Lin Fangping stood up after singing, came to the left and sat on the empty chair where Li Jiyu sat.
Zhang Cheng once again glanced at the officers and generals in the official hall before speaking: "I have been ordered by the emperor to go to Liaodong to help relieve the siege of Jinzhou. Whether you are accompanying me to fight or staying on the east road, you should all do your best. Serve your life well and don't do it half-heartedly."
When he said this, he suddenly changed his tone and said in a deep voice: "Not long ago, there were rogues in the city who colluded with local officials and insulted the families of the soldiers who died in the war under my command. This is tolerable, but who can't be tolerated!
Finally, there were hundreds of warriors who were former comrades of this brother. They were grateful for the friendship between their comrades and could not bear to see their comrades' relatives being brutally persecuted. come out.
Now these warriors have returned to the camp and have asked for punishment. I am grateful for their loyalty and because I am very urgent about the campaign in Liaodong, so I temporarily pardon their crimes and follow the army to aid Liao. "
In the official hall, all the generals left their seats and fell to the ground. Wu Zhizhong was the first to shout: "The commander-in-chief is benevolent and righteous, and he loves his soldiers as sons. Now that I have seen him in person, my heart to follow the commander-in-chief is even stronger. I am willing to be driven by the commander-in-chief and swear allegiance to him to the death." handsome!"
Wei Zhice, Zhang Guodong, Zhang Guangda, Chen Zheng, Lin Fangping, Li Jiyu, Du Youwei, He Kuan and other generals all shouted in unison: "I am willing to be driven by the commander-in-chief and swear allegiance to the commander-in-chief to the death!"
At this time, He Biao, Yan Qingrong, Tong Shouxin, Liang Cixin, Xing Ming, Gong Wannian and other officers and generals had also stood up. They knelt down behind Wu Zhizhong and other generals in order, and they also shouted loudly: "I am willing to be driven by the commander-in-chief and swear allegiance to the death." Marshal!"
Zhang Cheng sat high in the big chair and had a panoramic view of everything in the hall. Wu Zhizhong, Zhang Guodong, Chen Zheng and other generals were very excited, especially Lin Fangping and Zhang Guangda. One of them felt the same and the other was immersed in the scene.
He Biao was still the same as before. He had known about this for a long time. Although he was a little awkward when he knelt down, he was absolutely loyal. Yan Qingrong was still expressionless, although he could not fully tell what his heart was.
But he was considered an old man who followed him on the North Road, and he should have known his methods for a long time, so he was not too surprised. What's more, he was qualified. Having him in charge of the Yongning Wei Division would be a great help to Wu Zhizhong.
As for Tong Shouxin, Liang Cixin, Xing Ming, and Gong Wannian, the old members of the Yongning Guards, they can only rely on their power to subdue them for the time being. As long as they don't jump out to cause trouble when they go to Liaodong, they will wait until they return to the army. Just screen and appoint them one by one.
Zhang Cheng waved his hand to everyone in the hall to stand up, and then shouted in a deep voice: "All the officers and soldiers under my command will follow me to defend the Tartars externally, to suppress the bandits internally, to defend the capital, and not to save three out of ten, to assist Henan, and to overcome the thorns and thorns. , spilling blood everywhere.
I have long regarded all the officers and men as brothers. How can I allow my brothers' relatives to be wronged and humiliated? In fact, it is even more painful for me to cut out my heart and flesh. "
When he said this, he stood up suddenly and shouted loudly: "From today on, all those who follow me, whether officers, generals or soldiers, as well as military households and civilians, are my brothers.
But if one person is wronged, the whole army will be wronged; if one person is wronged, the whole army will feel the same; if one person goes into danger, the whole army will go with him; if one person suffers, the whole army will save him, and the same should be done for his family members. "
All the officers stood up again and prostrated themselves together, shouting loudly: "If one person is wronged, the whole army will be wronged; if one person is wronged, the whole army will feel the same; if one person goes into danger, the whole army will go with him; if one person suffers, the whole army will save him, and push him away." The military family members should do the same."
He shouted loudly: "What I have said just now should be passed down to all the officers and men in the army. I hope that all the officers and men in the army will know my heart and be able to use their lives in front of the formation and work together to defeat the enemy!"
"Here"
Zhang Cheng waved his hand again and ordered the officers and generals to stand up. After everyone returned to their seats, he began to talk about today's events, saying: "Today at noon, nearly ten thousand officers and soldiers of our North Road Dushi Camp, Chicheng Camp, and Dengfeng Camp arrived. The vanguard of the army will advance from Yongning City and head to Liaodong to help relieve the siege of Jinzhou."
He glanced at the generals on the left and said: "The front army, with Zhang Guodong as the main general and Chen Zheng and Li Jiyu as deputy generals, went straight to Shanhaiguan and stationed near the Qiansuo City in Zhongning, Guangning, to wait for the rear army."
Zhang Guodong, Chen Zheng, and Li Jiyu walked to the middle of the official hall, knelt on one knee, cupped their fists, and shouted, "Here!"
Zhang Cheng looked at the three of them with satisfaction and shouted: "You will step down first and lead the troops in formation outside Xuan'en Gate in the south of the city. At noon, I and Liu Futai, the governor of Xuan Mansion, will toast the soldiers in person." "
After the three of them were ordered to retreat, Zhang Cheng shouted in a deep voice: "Wei Zhice, Du Youwei, and He Kuan are following orders."
Wei Zhice and the other three stood up and left their seats and came to the hall. They clasped their fists and said in unison: "The general is here!"
"Che Ying and the commander-in-chief's central army, with nearly 10,000 officers, form the center of the army. Wei Zhice is the main general of your army. Five days later, he will lead the army and escort the entire army's food, grass, gunpowder, artillery and other equipment to Liaodong, and enter Shanhaiguan to garrison near Balipu. , to wait for the rear army."
"Here!"
"You and others also go down and prepare. Before noon, the army will arrive at the school ground in the south of the city to prepare for the march."
Wei Zhice and others also followed the order and left. Zhang Cheng said in a deep voice to Zhang Guangda and others: "Zhang Guangda will lead the cavalry camp, Lin Fangping will lead the tiger guard, and the commander-in-chief will serve as the rear guard of the army and set out at a selected time."
"Here."
Zhang Cheng waved them aside and continued: "The remaining officers will stay on the east road. The military and political affairs should be under strict command, and the military should be led by General Wu Zhizhong. I hope that you can work together to protect the east." Road, I will be rewarded on the day when my commander wins the victory from Liaodong!"
Yan Qingrong stood up first and went to the hall, clasped his fists and saluted: "Commander, please rest assured that I will work with all my colleagues to manage government affairs, care for the people, open up wasteland, and live up to the expectations of the commander-in-chief."
Then Wu Zhizhong, Tong Shouxin, Liang Cixin and others also came to the middle of the official hall, clasped their fists and saluted, and expressed their stance one by one.
