On March 20th, at Chen hour, there was a continuous drizzle, and the sun shone on the earth through the rain curtain, warming the hardworking people.
"Spring rain is as precious as oil!"
People were bathing in the drizzle, and their mood was particularly refreshing. For the common people digging in the soil, this continuous spring rain was better than anything else. It seemed to indicate a good harvest for this year's crops.
However, for the dignitaries, military generals, and wealthy businessmen in Xuanfu Town, dark clouds covered the sun and haze enveloped the earth, making them almost breathless.
Everyone is taking precautions. They gather their servants and soldiers, guard their doors tightly, and hide their property. It seems that they may be implicated in slavery and profiteers at any time.
For a time, people's hearts were in a state of panic, and anyone with a little wealth was in constant panic, fearing that they would suffer disaster in this military disaster, losing all their savings over the years, and even endangering their lives.
Xuan Mansion, General Zhenshuo's Mansion, Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng was having breakfast, and General Zhen Fu He Biao and Teng She Camp Chief Wei Zhice were also at the same table.
"Wen Hui has a daughter who is married to Li Zhiqian, the third son of Li Jianming. She has not yet been arrested and brought to justice." Wei Zhice was talking as he ate.
Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng just picked up a bowl of soy milk. He drank the hot soy milk as if he hadn't heard anything. He Kuan, the Chief Superintendent, frowned when he heard this and opened his mouth. However, he saw that Zhang Cheng did not answer. He didn't say anything.
After a while, Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng put down the empty bowl and asked, "Wang Yuanjing, haven't you arrived yet?"
Lieutenant Commander Zhang Chengfang immediately responded: "Commander Father, Staff Wang was busy last night until midnight before he could rest. I'm afraid he's tired. I've asked Mingyuan to urge him again."
Zhang Cheng nodded, then looked at Wei Zhice and said, "Li Jianming, what do you think?"
"I found a connection with General Liu, and asked him to come forward and make an argument to save his third daughter-in-law."
"That's right."
Zhang Cheng agreed readily, and he continued: "Let Liu Guangwu tell Li Jianming to hand over his military power, and I guarantee that in the future he will at least be the deputy commander-in-chief with the rank of commander.
This is a great opportunity for his wife to benefit future generations. I advise him not to miss it. "
Wei Zhice was about to answer when he heard Zhang Cheng suddenly say: "Oh, by the way. Doesn't Wen Hui have a younger son who has not yet reached the age where his hair is cut off?"
"Yes, Wen Hui's fourth son, Wen Gao, is only six years old and not yet old enough to have his hair cut off. He is now being held in a military prison with the traitors."
After listening to Wei Zhice's words, Zhang Cheng nodded and pondered for a moment before saying, "Leave a seedling for Wen Hui so that the Wen family can continue its legacy."
At this moment, Staff Officer Wang Yuanjing and Counselor Liu Minshen, accompanied by Zhang Mingyuan, a Chinese soldier, and Liu Chengzu, a clerk, pushed in the door.
Wang Yuanjing seemed to have heard Zhang Cheng's words just now, and said eagerly: "Uncle, why bother leaving this scourge behind if we have to eradicate the roots!"
Zhang Cheng was stunned for a moment when he heard this. After seeing the person clearly, he smiled and said, "It's nothing to worry about. I can't tolerate a mere child, so how can I lead thousands of horses and thousands of troops?"
Liu Minshen sat down on the table next to him. He first tested the temperature of the teapot, then lifted it up for Wang Yuanjing to fill the teacup. Then he took another teacup and placed it in front of him.
While pouring the tea, he said: "My uncle is a hero of an unprecedented generation. Naturally, he is not afraid of a child in the Wen family who is not old enough to tie his hair, and there is no need to kill all the Wen family."
Liu Minshen glanced at Uncle Yongning and saw that he had already put down his bowls and chopsticks. Lieutenant Commander Zhang Chengfang was removing the dishes and rice on the table and replacing them with freshly brewed tea.
It happened that Zhang Cheng was also looking at Liu Minshen, their eyes met. Zhang Cheng smiled slightly and said: "After all, Counselor Liu has a broad mind and is a person who has achieved great things..."
"Ouch, you broke Liu."
Liu Minshen looked embarrassed and said with a wry smile: "Uncle, you are really broad-minded. As the saying goes, 'A general can run a horse on his forehead, and a prime minister can sail a boat in his belly'. For my uncle to do this, it shows that he has high ambitions." , ambitious.”
He first praised Zhang Chenghao before getting to the point: "Nowadays, all the town officials and merchants are in danger, and they are in panic all day long, not knowing whether they will become the second Wen Hui.
The uncle's exemption of Wen Hui's youngest son and his married daughter at this time can send a signal to the people in the city. On the one hand, it can ease their minds and ease the situation. On the other hand, it can also show the uncle's benevolence. People like Hui, who are slaves and traitors to the country, cannot bear to kill them, let alone innocent people! "
Zhang Cheng listened to Liu Minshen's words with a smile. He raised his hand to touch his chin out of habit, but it was very bald and slippery. Only then did he realize that he was not even 30 years old in this life, so why did he have a beard?
He smiled slightly awkwardly and said to everyone: "Since all the properties of the profiteers in the city have been confiscated and put into the treasury, and the traitors and traitors such as Wen Hui and Fan Sanba have all been captured, we can announce to the whole city that the martial law will be relaxed. , so that the people can feel at ease and not miss the farming season."
Liu Minshen immediately added with a smile: "My uncle is kind and virtuous, and he has pursued Yao and Shun directly. We are so lucky to be able to follow him..."
Zhang Cheng's face darkened upon hearing this, he stared at Liu Minshen coldly and said, "Are you praising me or hurting me?"
Liu Minshen and Zhang Cheng have been getting along for a long time, and they have become very familiar with each other. He has also regained his former humorous nature. He often makes some jokes with Zhang Cheng, which is not harmful at all, and everyone is used to it.
However, in the words just now, Zhang Cheng was compared to Yao and Shun, which was very inappropriate. If such words were heard by someone with a heart, it would be hard to escape the suspicion of treason!
At this moment, seeing Zhang Cheng's cold face and stern tone, he also realized that he had made a mistake. He hurriedly got up from his seat, knelt down and said, "Please forgive me. Min Shen made a mistake for a moment, and he already knows his sin..."
"Get up."
Zhang Cheng's expression softened slightly, and he said calmly: "There is no one else in the room today, so it is easy to talk. If you are outside, you must not be so unobtrusive and talk nonsense."
Seeing that Liu Minshen had already stood up, he comforted him and said, "I am not afraid of rumors from the outside world, but now, the arrest of the traitorous slave trader has caused a storm in the city, and the imperial officials in the capital have been quite vocal about it.
Moreover, many officials and generals are involved, which can be said to be "walking on thin ice". If we don't have to march into Henan Province to suppress the bandits soon, I'm afraid this will be difficult.
At this critical moment, it is better not to make extraneous matters! "
"Yes, I will keep your uncle's teachings in mind."
Seeing him like this, Zhang Cheng naturally couldn't say anything else, so he turned to look at Wang Yuanjing and said, "What's the reaction from Governor Jiang?"
Wang Yuanjing was sweating for Liu Minshen at the side. At this moment, seeing Zhang Cheng take the initiative to change the topic and no longer dwell on Liu Minshen's gaffe, he felt a big stone fall in his heart.
I just heard him put down the tea cup, sit in the chair and reply: "Just last night, Liu Jucheng, a close aide of Governor Jiang, also arrived in the town. I followed your uncle's instructions and said that he occasionally felt cold and was recuperating, so it was not suitable to see guests.
He told me that Governor Jiang had set out from Yanghe and would arrive in town in person soon to question his uncle. He was just standing in front of him to inform his uncle about Governor Jiang's arrival. "
"snort."
Zhang Cheng snorted coldly and said calmly: "Jiang Yuxu, he finally couldn't sit still."
Although Zhang Cheng directly called Jiang Yuxu, the governor of Xuanda, no one in the room felt there was anything wrong with it. However, He Biao, the commander-in-chief of the Yongyi Army, tightened his expression and shook his head slightly, but did not speak.
Although Zhang Chenggui was an earl, although he could meet officials without worshiping him, Jiang Yuxu was, after all, a minister of the imperial court and the dignified Governor-General of Xuanda. It was indeed quite disrespectful to call him by his first name like this.
Everyone in the meeting hall today has long regarded the Yongyi Army as a whole, and they themselves are one of them. In their view, the Yongyi Army is equivalent to their home and future.
And Yongningbo Zhang Cheng is the indispensable core of the Yongyi Army military group, and he is the only existence, and he is irreplaceable!
It was on this basis that the generals and officials under their command only had Uncle Yong Ning in their hearts, and completely ignored His Majesty the Ming Emperor in the Forbidden City in the capital.
Just imagine, how could Wei Zhice, Wang Yuanjing and others, who were not even interested in Emperor Chongzhen, care about Zhang Cheng calling Jiang Yuxu, the governor of Xuanda, by his first name?
However, although He Biao also fully recognized the integrity of the emerging military group Yongyi Army, it was difficult to change the thinking engraved in his bones immediately. He had practiced etiquette, law and criminal law since he was a child, and his thoughts were generally rigid. He knows how to adapt like others.
However, it was precisely because He Biaoming was law-abiding and unkind that Zhang Cheng trusted him more and more. He not only entrusted the discipline construction work of the entire Yongyi Army to him alone, but also gave him the task of inspecting and correcting various crimes in Xuan Town. The responsibility of officers and generals.
"Uncle, not only did Governor Jiang come to ask questions, but Zhu Fuchen from the town also sent people to send messages for days. He wanted to meet with the uncle for a detailed discussion, but his subordinates blocked him. They only said that the uncle had caught the cold and it was not suitable to see guests. ." Liu Chengzu then interrupted to report.
Zhang Cheng shook his head and sighed: "Look, I just caught a few profiteers, but all the governors and governors came to ask questions. I wonder, in a few days, the governor of Datong and the governor of Shanxi will also come to visit." .”
Everyone naturally understood the joke in his words, and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Zhang Cheng frowned slightly and said calmly to Zhang Chengfang: "That Fan Sanba, we need to pry open his mouth as soon as possible and record the confession well, so that we can coax Jiang Yuxu and Zhu Zhifeng to pass."
"Father, don't worry."
Zhang Chengfang agreed readily and added: "Big Monkey has rushed back from Zhangjiakou. With him here, not to mention Fan Sanbo, even an iron man and a stone man will have to speak."
Zhang Cheng nodded, but heard Wang Yuanjing say from the side: "Uncle, General Liu Shen said yesterday that there is an old man from the village named Sun Shixiang, who was born in a family of officials. He has a reputation of being knowledgeable and virtuous. I want to see my uncle. .His words..."
Seeing that Wang Yuanjing was hesitant to speak, Zhang Cheng became more and more curious and couldn't help but ask: "Although I'm not a small-minded person, it doesn't matter!"
Wang Yuanjing then said with a serious face: "The Prime Minister Sun Shi has said that although I have dozens of powerful generals and tens of thousands of elite soldiers under my uncle's command, in the future, if I want to gain access to the palace, be granted the title of Marquis and become the Prime Minister, I will have to use him..."
"What?"
Even Wei Zhice, who has always been known for his stability, couldn't help but look surprised when he heard this. He couldn't help but say: "This person has such a big tone!"
There was an instant silence in the meeting hall, almost audible. Everyone felt that Prime Minister Sun's words were extremely arrogant and unbelievable.
However, everyone in the hall couldn't figure out how Zhang Cheng would react for a while, and couldn't help but focus on Uncle Yong Ning.
"Sun Shixiang?" A look of disdain flashed across Zhang Cheng's eyes.
Staff General Wang Yuanjing saw Yong Ningbo asking questions and hurriedly replied: "Yes, my name is Sun Shixiang."
Within the Yongyi Army system, Yongningbo Zhang Cheng specially set up the positions of staff officer, counselor, and counselor. He originally wanted to make it the existence of staff officer and chief of staff in the army of later generations.
However, after a period of observation, I always felt that it was a little awkward, so I once again clarified his official names as General Staff, Counselor for Military Affairs, and Counselor for Military Affairs.
"A native of Xuanfu?"
"Yes."
Wang Yuanjing replied seriously: "According to Liu Shenjiang, the ancestors of the Sun family once had a Jinshi. His name was Sun Shifang. He was a Jinshi in the 26th year of Jiajing. He successively served as a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, a review branch, and a director of the Imperial College. In his later years, he wrote There is the "Xuanfu Town Chronicle", which records the affairs of the border town, and he and Yin Geng co-authored the "Two Towns and Three Pass Chronicles", which are both praised by the world."
"This is just the glory of his ancestors. What real talent and learning does Sun Shixiang have?"
"Back to my uncle, my subordinates have never seen this Mr. Sun. However, according to Liu Shenjiang, he does have some knowledge, because his ancestors once wrote "Xuanfu Town Chronicles" and "Two Towns and Three Passes" , generations of the Sun family like to study the mountain topography and local customs.
And Sun Shixiang inherited his family's education and was the best here. He was particularly dedicated to the study of military affairs. He was a rare strategic talent. "
"oh!"
After Zhang Cheng heard Wang Yuanjing's words, he had to pay attention.
Because, based on his understanding of Liu Guangwu, he is definitely not a person who talks nonsense. Since he is so convinced of Prime Minister Sun, he must be someone with some abilities.
With this in mind, Zhang Cheng continued: "Since Brother Liu Guangwu recommended him so, he must have some skills. Besides, if we don't meet again, wouldn't we refute Brother Liu's face?
Cheng Fang, please send someone to call this Sun Shixiang over. We will meet him for a while today to see if this person really has a lot of talent, or is he just a wasted person. "
"Yes, handsome father. I will make arrangements now."
Looking at Zhang Chengfang's leaving figure, the head of the town Fu He Biao finally spoke: "Uncle, it was reported that Kuang Yongzhong, the deputy general of Qinglong Camp, shot and killed the official of the Prince of Jin's Palace in Taiyuan in public when he was inspecting Liang Jiabin's property in Qingyuan County. The old eunuch and the long history of the Jin Palace were also killed by him. I’m afraid that the Jin King may not let it go..."
"snort."
Zhang Cheng's face darkened when he heard this. Before he could say anything, he snorted in his nose before continuing: "What else can I do?"
His eyes widened, his energy shone brightly, and he said loudly: "My brave army is a righteous deed to eliminate traitors for the country. The eunuchs and chief officials in the Jin Dynasty palace do not want to help, but also obstruct in every possible way, covering up slaves and profiteers. They should be treated with For the same crime, death is not a pity!"
(End of chapter)
