marquis of jingan

Chapter 869

Huai'an Mansion, imperial envoys go to the palace.

It's March, and the weather is getting warmer.

From the [-]th of last month, when Shen Yi led his troops across the Huaihe River, until now, the entire Huai'an defense line can be described as calm and calm.

This was beyond Shen Yi's expectation.

Because the Qi people suffered a great loss in the Yangji Tuhe camp, it stands to reason that even if they no longer attack Huai'an by force, they should send troops to retaliate.

Even if it is a symbolic beating, it will look better in face.

Like now, after suffering a loss, it is very strange to swallow it abruptly as if nothing happened.

Master Shen even wondered in his heart whether these people from Qi were holding back something secretly, planning to give Huai'an a big blow.

Therefore, he did not relax his vigilance at all, and the three generals under him were patrolling along the Huai River at all times to prevent the Qi people from sneaking attacks.

In addition to defense matters, there is also good news.

Xu Fu brought the gunsmiths from the West to Huai'an from Lin'an Mansion, and Shen Yi put them into Huai'an's firearms workshop.

Shen Yi also went to meet these foreigners in person.

At this moment, Western guns have been widely used in the military, but to be honest, as far as they are concerned, their artillery is not much more advanced than Da Chen.

The only thing that interests Shen Yi is that they already have the prototype of a flintlock gun. As long as they are given some time, they might be able to make a flintlock gun.

However, even if this thing is produced, it is difficult to become a decisive force on the battlefield.

After all, in another world, this thing has been out for a long time, and it still hasn't been able to completely eliminate cold weapons. The thing that can completely eliminate cold weapons is a rifled gun.

It's rare for Master Shen to see that kind of thing in his life.

It is too difficult to create something out of nothing and make a lathe. Without a lathe, rifling would never be popularized.

Therefore, for Shen Yi, muskets can only be icing on the cake. If you want the Northern Expedition to succeed, you can't completely rely on muskets. More importantly, you must integrate resources to overthrow the decaying old empire in the north.

Therefore, although Shen Yi attached great importance to these gunsmiths, he only arranged them in the firearms workshop so that they could communicate with Da Chen's original gunsmiths, and strive to make some breakthroughs in weapons and equipment.

On the sixth day of March, Zhang Jian's wife and children finally arrived in Huai'an.

Shen Yi took Zhao Er, and followed Zhang Jian to the gate of the city to greet him early in the morning. It was almost noon when he saw a carriage slowly arriving at the gate of Huai'an City. The three brothers greeted him, and got out of the carriage. A young woman and a child of seven or eight years old.

Marriage was relatively early in this era. Zhang Jian got married at the age of fourteen or fifteen, and his eldest son, Zhang Lian, was almost eight years old.

When Shen Yi was in Jiankang in his early years, he had a good personal relationship with Zhang Jian, and he had been to the prime minister's residence several times. Mrs. Zhang naturally recognized Shen Yi. After getting off the car, she saluted Shen Yi and called "Uncle",
She looked at Zhao Er again.

Zhang Jian and Zhao Er are brothers, and the two families are more familiar. Mrs. Zhang was a little surprised, bowed her head and said: "Second Uncle is also here, but I don't know."

Zhao Er bowed his hands and saluted, and said with a smile: "Hi Madam, I have been here since the Chinese New Year. It is estimated that Madam Sister-in-law has not been to my house during this time, otherwise she must know."

Mrs. Zhang glanced at her husband, and then smiled: "My husband is not in Jiankang, I am a woman, how dare I disturb Master and Mistress?"

Shen Yi also bowed his hands and saluted, and said with a smile: "Madam sister-in-law has worked hard all the way, and my younger brother has booked a banquet to welcome Madam sister-in-law."

Zhang Lian was already an older child at this moment. After seeing his father, he knelt down and kowtowed to salute. Then, at Zhang Jian's request, he kowtowed to Shen Yi and Zhao Eryi, calling him uncle.

Zhang Fuzun stroked the not very long beard on his chin, and said with a smile to Shen Yi: "This kid has been in school for several years, it's a pity that you are busy, Ziheng, otherwise let him ask you to be a teacher."

Master Shen shook his head hastily, and said with a wry smile: "Senior brother, don't make fun of me. I may be able to teach some cleverness, but teaching him to take the exam will hurt him."

Mrs. Zhang on the side rolled her eyes and said with a smile: "Ziheng is now the coach of Huai'an, so naturally he has no spare time to teach Lian'er, but Uncle Nine of the Shen family is currently working in the Imperial Academy, and he will return to Jian'er in two years. Kang, can Ziheng introduce this kid to Uncle Jiu as a student?"

When it comes to studying and taking exams, Shen Heng is indeed stronger, and he is a first-class Jinshi, so it sounds good to say it.

Hearing this, Zhang Jian frowned and said, "How can there be such a woman who just talks like this when they first meet, and the eyelids of women are so shallow?"

Mrs. Zhang felt a little aggrieved, she turned her head away: "I didn't tell you that you brought Lian'er to Huai'an for your own future, and that's all. Why don't you let me find a famous teacher for him?"

Seeing that the couple might quarrel as soon as they met, Master Shen smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I will definitely ask Zichang about the apprenticeship after I return to Jiankang, and now let's go eat first."

"It's not easy to be a naked official here in Huai'an. Madam sister-in-law must be considerate of senior brother."

Mrs. Zhang sighed, nodded and said, "I just follow uncle's arrangement."

In this way, five people entered Huai'an City, and Shen Yi had already booked a feast for the mother and son in a restaurant in Huai'an.

After the meal was almost finished, Zhang Jian looked up at Shen Yi, and asked with a smile: "By the way, Ziheng, you made such a great contribution last month. It stands to reason that there should be news about the reward from the imperial court. That's right, why hasn't there been any movement until now?"

Shen Yi took a sip of his wine and shook his head slightly: "Brother, I will be in Huai'an for at least two years, which is no different from a general leading troops to fight a war. Brother, have you ever heard that before a battle is finished, it will be judged by meritorious deeds?" Rewarded?"

"That's a lot."

Because Zhang Jian was in a good mood after seeing his wife and children, she was so dizzy from drinking at the moment, raised her glass to touch Shen Yi, and said, "Ziheng has such a great contribution, even if the entire section of the Huaihe River is not I'll leave it to you, and I'll give you the title of Minister of the Ministry of War anyway, so that you can go up in rank, and you can speak with the generals below, and you will have confidence."

From the southeast, Shen Yi has never been as high-ranking as his subordinates.

For example, he is now a fourth-rank official, but both Xue Wei and Ling Su are already third-rank generals.

"Not very useful."

Master Shen took a sip of his wine and said with a smile: "Adding a servant of the Ministry of War can't give Huai'an an extra soldier. It's better to give me an extra 100 taels of salary every month."

With Shen Yi's current qualifications, even if he is given the title of Minister of the Ministry of War, it is only a title, and it is impossible for him to take the position of Minister of the Ministry of War.

It's just that after adding it, the status will be higher than before.

In the future, if I return to the imperial court, if I get promoted again, I will have support, and I will not build tall buildings on the ground.

After hearing Shen Yi's words, Zhao Er, who had already drunk a lot of meat and vegetables, opened his eyes and looked at Shen Yi in a daze, with his tongue out: "Qilang, you... now your breath... hiccup... your breath is getting louder..."

"Ministry...Minister of the Ministry of War, you..."

"I can't even look down..."

Master Shen couldn't help laughing: "If you really give it to me as the Minister of the Ministry of War, you will wake up laughing from a dream, but now, it's just a mirror image."

As soon as his words fell, Jiang Sheng's voice suddenly sounded at the door: "Young master, young master!"

Shen Yi frowned, turned around and asked, "What's the matter?"

Jiang Sheng took a deep breath, lowered his head, and said, "The mansion reports to the Secretary urgently, and there is an urgent military situation on the front line."

"General Ling, you also sent a letter."

Shen Yi nodded slowly, he stood up, let out a mouthful of alcohol, looked at the two seniors, and said: "Second seniors, I'm on business, I'm going to take a look, you guys drink first."

"I didn't enjoy my meal today. I'll finish my business another day, and the three of us will have another drink."

Zhang Jian also stood up, saluted Shen Yi, then looked at Zhao Er, and said with a smile: "Looking at Jizhou, I've had a lot of fun today."

Shen Yi laughed.

"Then trouble senior brother, take care of second senior brother."

"I go first."

Zhang Jian nodded.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Master Shen turned around, followed Jiang Sheng and left the restaurant, then got into the carriage, and went straight to Lianshui County instead of going back to the imperial envoy.

After Shen Yi left, Zhang Jian patted Zhao Er's shoulder and said with a smile, "Junior Brother, can you still move?"

Zhao Er lay on the table, blew out a bubble with his nostrils, and answered Zhang Fuzun's question.

Zhang Jian shook his head helplessly, and was about to order his subordinates to carry Zhao Jizhou away when he suddenly heard someone outside: "Is Master Shen here?"

Zhang Jian frowned slightly, opened the door and walked out.

As soon as he walked to the door of the restaurant, he saw several eunuchs in blue, surrounded by a eunuch in purple, waiting at the door.

The eunuch in blue was holding a wooden box in his hand, which was obviously something like an imperial decree.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian was sober for seven or eight minutes, stepped forward and cupped his hands and said, "Zhang Jian, the prefect of Huai'an, how many angels are you?"

The purple-clothed eunuch looked Zhang Jian up and down, and said with a smile: "So it's from Zhang Xiang's family. I heard that they eat wine here. Mr. Zhang, where is Mr. Shen?"

Zhang Jian shook his head slightly, and said, "Ziheng has urgent military affairs, so he just left."

The eunuch in purple asked: "Master Zhang, where did Master Shen go?"

"I do not know either."

Zhang Jian shook her head, and then asked, "What are the angels looking for Ziheng?"

The purple-clothed eunuch turned his head, exchanged glances with the blue-clothed eunuchs, and then smiled.

"I'm here to deliver the decree to Shen Shilang."

(End of this chapter)