weaving

Chapter 1151 Send troops?

"Fifty-fifty, it's a compliment to them!"

Gao Mingheng, the governor of Henan, was very suspicious of Zhang Cheng's words and couldn't help but blurt out: "Ding Du and Li Thief are equally powerful, and they are both Zuo Commander and Hu Commander, both of whom are powerful generals in the world. It's not like they only have a 50% chance of winning."

"I have already said that the 50-50 split is all about promoting Ding Qirui and Zuo Liangyu."

Zhou Wang Zhu Gongzhen finally couldn't help but said: "Then...according to Uncle Yongning's wishes, why don't we just sit back and watch Governor Ding confront the thieves in Zhuxian Town without sending troops to help?"

"of course not……"

Uncle Yongning said with a smile: "We must march into Zhuxian Town, but not now."

"When was that...?"

"My lord, don't be anxious. I have sent out all the reconnaissance cavalry under my command. We will not advance until we have a definite report and know the layout of the bandit army."

Zhang Cheng looked at Zhou Wang Zhu Gongqi, and continued: "Kuang Zhang's Baoding troops have not yet crossed the Yellow River, and the troops of Datong Wang Commander and Shanxi Commander Li have not arrived either. If we are in a hurry to march into Zhuxian Town at this moment, , then the outside of Kaifeng City will look empty. Once the thieves come back, they will seize important areas, which will be very disadvantageous for me!"

Seeing the turn of events in Uncle Yongning's words, Gao Mingheng hurriedly asked: "When will the two generals, Wang and Li, arrive."

"In one or two days, or at most three to five days, we can cross the river to the south and enter the city."

As soon as Zhang Cheng finished speaking, Su Zhuang, who was standing next to him, interrupted and said: "The key is to read the detective reports. Only after we know the situation of the bandits and soldiers can we advance troops. Otherwise, we may fall into the bandits' treacherous plot."

"You mean... Thief Li might have planted an ambush halfway?"

Su Zhuang replied: "My lord, thieves are good at cheating, so you must be on guard against them!"

Zhu Gongzhen nodded and said to Gao Mingheng: "Gao Fuchen, it is a matter of millions of lives in Kaifeng. It is true that we should not act too hastily. It is better to be safe... it is better to be safe."

In fact, Gao Mingheng didn't know that the matter was of great importance, but he was the governor of Henan after all. He couldn't just look at the land of Kaifeng. Now that he had the opportunity to defeat the army of thieves, it was very possible for the whole of Henan to be restored. In his heart A little edgy indeed.

Now, after the debate just now, and the fact that King Zhou had decided on a "safer" policy, it was natural that he could no longer insist on anything, so he said no more at the moment.

Everyone then discussed for a while, focusing on the food and grass matters surrounding the Yongyi Army, Baoding Army, and the upcoming Datong Army and Shanxi Army. Although Gao Mingheng had more than 20,000 shi of grain and beans left by King Chuang, but for several For an army of tens of thousands, it is still a drop in the bucket.

Although Gao Mingheng, the governor of Henan Province, has issued an official document requesting all states and counties in Kaifeng Prefecture to send grain and grass to Kaifeng, but there have been droughts and locust disasters in recent years, and there are also military disasters, so there is no surplus to send.

In the end, Zhou Wang Zhu Gongzhen licked his old face and wrote several memorials to the court, especially the letters to Emperor Chongzhen that were like letters from home. They talked about daily life, hoping to impress the emperor with his affection, so that he could transfer some of the grain. Support Henan Province in suppressing bandits.

…………

Gao Mingheng, Ren Jun, Liang Bing and other Xinjiang ministers were discussing matters in the Zhou palace but did not return. Only Kaifeng Prefecture official Huang Shu and Xiangfu magistrate Wang Bian rushed to the governor's Yamen after hearing the news.

Huang Shu and Wang Bian looked at Zhang Jinzhong for a long time, but they did not dare to judge his authenticity for a while, fearing that this man was a spy sent by bandits. After all, this kind of treachery was a common method used by thieves.

Fortunately, Huang Shu still knew a little bit about some of the leading figures in Ding Qirui's camp. In order to prevent fraud, he casually mentioned the past events of some people and asked them how they were doing. Zhang Jinzhong was very interested in this. Can answer questions fluently.

Of course, there was also someone whose situation he was not very familiar with, so he replied: "I am a humble person, and I don't know everything about the people above me. Please don't be offended."

Huang Shu and Wang Bian didn't find any flaws, so they stopped probing and began to ask Zhang Jinzhong about the battle situation in Zhuxian Town. When they heard that the officers and soldiers had great morale, and they had a good geographical advantage, they estimated that one or two When he could defeat the bandits within a few days, his joy was beyond words.

Huang Shu first put away the handwritten letter written by Ding Qirui presented by Zhang Jinzhong, and then ordered someone to take him down to entertain him. Not long after Zhang Jinzhong left, the governor Gao Mingheng returned with the commander-in-chief Chen Yongfu.

Huang Shu and Wang Bian immediately reported to him what they had just asked Zhang Jinzhong about, and handed Ding Qirui's handwriting to Gao Mingheng. He opened it and looked carefully, and it turned out to be Ding Qirui's handwriting.

I saw Ding Qirui saying in the letter that they were succeeding step by step in Zhuxian Town. They were already overwhelming the intruders and they would be able to win a complete victory in a few days. He also told Gao Mingheng in the letter that he must defend his position. It's better to open the city and don't send troops out of the city at will, lest you fall into the trap of the intruders and be tricked into sneaking into the city. Then all your efforts will be wasted!

"Good, good, good!"

After Gao Mingheng read Ding Qirui's letter, his face was full of joy, and he couldn't help but feel a little carried away and shouted "good" three times in a row.

At this moment, the half-old Xiang Fei bamboo curtain at the door suddenly opened, and an old gentleman who was slightly drunk but had a dashing manner walked in. Seeing this, everyone in the room hurriedly stood up and gave up their seats.

The old man who walked in slowly had a long gray beard hanging from his chest. He was a well-known representative figure among the scholars in Henan Province, and could be called the model of the scholars in Henan Province - Zhang Minbiao.

His cousin, Lin Zong, was born in Mou County, Zhongmu County, Kaifeng Prefecture, Henan Province. His father, Zhang Mengnan, served as Shangshu of the Transfer Department during the Wanli Dynasty. He was also a learned old man who was especially good at poetry, ancient prose and calligraphy. Celebrities.

Precisely because his family has had high-ranking officials serving in the imperial court for generations, and his knowledge and knowledge are first-rate, his reputation in Kaifeng Mansion and even the entire Henan Province is very high. Even Governor Gao Mingheng, Chief Envoy Liang Bing, and Inspector Ren Jun He was highly respected by the feudal officials and the Henan general Chen Yongfu.

This morning, he also participated in the daily military meeting at the governor's Yamen as a representative of the gentry. After the meeting, he did not leave directly. Instead, he was persuaded by several aides around the governor Gao Mingheng to stay while drinking and admiring flowers in the garden in the backyard of the governor's Yamen. Yun wrote poems. Just now he heard that Governor Ding sent someone to deliver a handwritten letter, so he came over from the back garden with a little bit of wine to see what happened.

After Zhang Minbiao entered the room, he went straight to the case. He took Ding Qirui's book from Governor Gao Mingheng and read it carefully. He burst into laughter and then said, "Okay... okay!" Then he turned his head and looked at the whole person. Chen Yongfu, the commander-in-chief of the military uniform, smiled at him and said: "General Chen, it is your turn to make meritorious service."

Although Chen Yongfu was a little unhappy in his heart, he did not show it on his face. He only said in a calm tone: "The reinforcements coming from the south are led by Governor Ding. The main generals are Zuo Kunshan Pingthief General and Baoding Town General Hu Dawei." General, it is their business to perform meritorious service, my duty is only to stick to the provincial capital."

Although Gao Mingheng was happy in his heart, the words of Uncle Yong Ning in the Zhou Palace just now were still vivid in his ears, which made him hesitate and said: "Yes... If Governor Ding, General Zuo and others can achieve such great achievements, they will be worthy of the imperial court." It’s Gancheng!”

Zhang Minbiao had no idea about the content of the military discussion in the Zhou palace, and was still in the excitement before victory. He couldn't help but continue what he had just said, and said rudely to Chen Yongfu: "General Chen, I think you might as well lead the officers and troops under your command, and immediately Wouldn't it be nice to break out of Kaifeng and rush to Zhuxian Town to kill the bandits by surprise, and maybe even get a big reward? "

Chen Yongfu was a very steady person. Although he spent his life in the military, he was not an adventurous person. After listening to Zhang Minbiao's words, he smiled and said: "Mr. Zhang doesn't know that the use of troops has always been tricky.

Although I am the commander-in-chief, I only have a few thousand soldiers under my command. Even counting the newly recruited civilian warriors and social soldiers, I only have 20,000 to 30,000 troops. I have to defend the city as well as go into battle, and I am unable to do so. It's more important to defend the city. "

Zhang Minbiao smiled and shook his hand, and said to him again: "It's a pity that I am old and studying is useless. If I were a general, how could I miss such a God-given opportunity when I am about to make a meritorious service and become a prince?"

Everyone knows that Zhang Minbiao has a heroic nature and always speaks straightforwardly and straightforwardly. I am afraid that Chen Yongfu will be unable to bear it if he continues talking, so he hurriedly uses other words to change the topic.

Sure enough, Zhang Minbiao was not obsessed with killing the thief and making meritorious deeds. He turned around and said to Gao Mingheng: "Gao Futai, in the past you said that there was a lot of good wine in your house and invited me to drink it. Because of the crisis in Kaifeng, my appetite for wine was greatly reduced. Never tasted the fairy dew.

Since there is such good news today, which is really very satisfying, I can't stop disturbing this dinner. Is there really a lot of good wine in Futai to help stimulate poetry? "

Gao Mingheng said with a smile: "There is wine, there is wine. But after drinking, I have to ask the old gentleman to write poems to celebrate the victory, and also to write books, leaving the leather bare. In the past, I asked the gentleman to write, but he couldn't I always say that I have something to do and refuse to write, so what about today?"

"I will definitely write today. Not only will I write, I will also write my own new poem!"

Gao Mingheng had been asking for Zhang Minbiao's handwriting but could not get it. Seeing that he was in a good mood and agreed so generously, he was very happy and made arrangements to invite everyone to stay for dinner.

In addition to the commander-in-chief Chen Yongfu, the promotion officer Huang Shu, and the county magistrate Wang Bian, there were also several senior staff members of Gao Mingheng and several local gentry representatives present.

Among them was a gentry named Li Guangxu, who was from the Shebing Headquarters that assisted the west gate. At this time, he also smiled at Zhang Min and said: "Mr. Zhang, since I am impromptu here in Futai today, please give Guangxu a painting." ?”

"Of course... of course. You are also a child of an aristocratic family, and we have a close friendship with me. You know that I don't write for those businessmen, and I don't write for corrupt officials. As for other people... as long as I get high after drinking, You can write about it, not to mention that today is different from usual days, Bianliang Gucheng is about to be saved!"

After Zhang Min finished speaking, he was so happy that he laughed loudly.

While his servants were preparing the food and drinks, Governor Gao Mingheng temporarily left the living room and went to the custody room. He wanted to write a reply letter to Supervisor Ding Qirui in his own hand. In the letter, he wrote, "His Royal Highness the King of Zhou and all the officials and gentry in the city are eager to rescue him. , Renhou Jieyin", and also said, "We have prepared food, silver, cattle, wine and other things to reward the army, and will send them as soon as the thieves retreat" and so on...

After the reply letter was written, he ordered someone to call the general manager Zhang Jinzhong over with the letter from Zhuxian Town. After asking him a few questions in person, he handed the written letter to him and ordered his soldiers to do so. He was rewarded with ten taels of silver and told him to rest peacefully in the city first, and then take advantage of the dusk to lead his small group of cavalry to set off and take a detour back to Zhuxian Town.

That night, the governor's office was filled with a cheerful atmosphere, and everyone was drunk. Only Su Zhuang, the guardian, and Chen Yongfu, the commander-in-chief, were more restrained. Perhaps they were still thinking about what Yongningbo Zhang Cheng said in the Zhou Palace.

During the banquet, Li Guangxuan asked Chen Yongfu who was sitting next to him softly: "Master Zhentai, your Majesty did not drink much today, and it was a big loss. According to Zhentai, Governor Ding and General Zuo will definitely be able to defeat Chuang." Thief, will you repel him?"

Chen Yongfu replied to him with a gloomy look on his face: "We'll wait and see while riding a donkey to look at the account books. At present, we can only believe half of the good news coming from Zhuxian Town. As for the other half, we have to rely on Kaifeng The luck of millions of officials, gentry, soldiers and civilians.”

Li Guangxu asked again in confusion: "In Zhuxian Town, Governor Ding has hundreds of thousands of troops, and there are tens of thousands of Yongningbo's armored warriors outside the city. How can we still defeat the intruders?"

"It's hard to say... How can I say it until the last minute?"

…………

In the fifteenth year of Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, it was the evening of May 13th.

Shigang Village, twenty miles northwest of Zhuxian Town, was silent except for some strong men with green cloths on their heads, patrolling constantly. It was obvious that they were all newly recruited soldiers of the invading army.

Precisely because they are newly recruited soldiers, they will observe military discipline better than those old thieves. In addition to not daring to make any noise, they will also appear in various secret locations within the specified time.

There is an abandoned village five miles northwest of Shigang Village. On the mound to the west of the dilapidated village wall, there is a dilapidated temple. Although the incense has long been cut off, judging from its scale, it must have been prosperous in the past. Taoist temple.

Chang Zhengcheng, the general manager of Yulin Cavalry of Weiyuan Camp of the Yongyi Army, is leading more than 20 of his brothers to lurk in this ruined temple...

They set out from Zhongmou County in the west of Kaifeng and arrived here a day ago. Using this ruined temple as a shelter, they separated to explore the surrounding area of ​​Zhuxian Town.

Although we have been here for two days, we haven't found much information about the rebels. After all, in such a big battle, the rebels are also on tight guard. Brigades of rangers are constantly patrolling around the camp. Even the area around the Jialu River has become a military restricted area.

In two days, Chang Zhengcheng's command had lost three capable cavalry, but no valuable information had been obtained. Today, everyone in this ruined temple started talking.

"If you ask me... you should just come over and catch the intruder by surprise. It may have a miraculous effect!"

An old soldier wiped the rain off his trousers and said, "I can't see it. This bandit is no longer the bandit two years ago. Not only is its layout strict, but the rangers scattered outside are also very skilled. Can we I have suffered a lot..."