Daming talker

Chapter 585: Journey to the West (Part )

The incident happened suddenly and military affairs were urgent. The emperor said that they would set out within three days, but it could not really take three days.

So after only two days of preparation, Zheng Luo, the Right Censor-in-Chief, Minister of War, and Governor-General of the Three Borders of Shaanxi, brought with him the Hanlin Academy editor, the Ministry of Personnel's Examination Department doctor, the Ministry of Rites' Directorate of Guests and Guests, the Ministry of War's Communications Department doctor, and Lin Tailai, the counselor of Shaanxi-Gansu military affairs, and rushed to the northwest!

In the blink of an eye, summer passed and autumn came, and it was September of the eighteenth year of the Wanli reign.

In this clear and refreshing autumn season, the capital's literary conference, which had not been held for many years, opened in Lingji Palace. Wang Shizhen, leader of the New Literary League and Minister of Personnel, delivered an important speech.

Wang Tianguan emphasized that the reason why these people could indulge in poetry and wine and enjoy peace was all thanks to the countless officials like Lin Tailai, the first deputy leader of the New Literary League, who fought bloody battles on the frontier to protect the country and the people!
Wang Tianguan pointed out that holding a literary conference this fall was originally the idea of ​​Lin Tailai, the first vice-chairman of the New Literary League. Unfortunately, Lin Tailai was ordered by the king to go on an expedition to the west, and he was very regretful that he could not attend the literary conference in person. Everyone should keep in mind the series of teachings of the first vice-chairman in the past.

Wang Tianguan proposed that the theme of this literary conference be frontier poetry. Please work hard to create, and cheer for the border officials who are heading off to the battlefield thousands of miles away!

Wang Tianguan announced that the authors of works that are selected by the first deputy leader of the New Literary Alliance will be promoted to directors of the New Literary Alliance as an exception!

At the same time, under the same sky, the Xining Acropolis on the western plateau.

Lin Tailai, the editor and Langzhong of three ministries, and the counselor of Shaanxi-Gansu military affairs, stood on the top of the city wall, facing the howling autumn wind, and couldn't help feeling poetic.

He copied a poem at random: "A journey through mountains and rivers, I walk towards Yumen Pass, thousands of tents are lit in the night.

The wind blows, the snow falls, disturbing my homesickness and making me unable to sleep. There is no such sound in my hometown.

Shi Qi, the provincial governor of Shaanxi and governor of Xining, came to see Lin Tailai and happened to hear this poem when he climbed up the city wall.

He casually commented: "Is there a new decree to send you into exile again?"

Lin Tailai: "."

Shi Qi added: "This word is so sad and miserable, it sounds like being exiled."

Lin Tailai, who was insulted, also mocked back, "What kind of crappy official position do you hold? What does it mean to be the Shaanxi Provincial Surveillance Commissioner and Governor of Xining?

Neither an censor nor a governor, he is neither fish nor fowl. It is difficult to even name him. A peak censor? A half-step governor? "

Governor Shi Ban retorted, "Aren't you also the one who laughs at others when you are only fifty steps away? Is your position normal?"
Lin Xiuzhuan? Lin Bulang? Lin Canzan? Or Lin Sanlang, the Third Department Doctor?"

Lin Tailai looked at the fields outside the city again and sighed, "I didn't expect my expedition to the west would be so boring! I'm so bored that all I can do is bicker!"

Lord Shi said: "The walls of Xining are high and strong, so those pirates would not be stupid enough to come and attack Xining.

Besides, Governor Zheng didn’t send you to Xining to fight the enemy.”

Lin Tailai said a little irritably: "Life is so boring, can't you arrange one or two maids for me?"

Lord Shi explained: “It’s not that I won’t arrange it for you, but the Governor has strictly forbidden you to get close to women.

It is said that this is to allow you to conserve your energy and be ready to serve the country at any time.

Now your body no longer belongs to you, but to the country!"

It is said that after Governor Zheng Luozheng arrived in the northwest, he divided the country into three strategic directions, and he personally took charge of Taozhou and Hezhou, where the incidents had occurred previously.

The main tasks were to redeploy troops, repair city walls, recruit scattered tribes, and gather strength to prepare for a counterattack.

The second strategic direction was to let the newly appointed Gansu Governor Yu Zhizhen defend the Hexi Corridor and Songshan. His main task was to cut off the northern and sea Lu tribes and block other Lu from going south to cause trouble.

The third strategic direction was to let Shi Qi and Lin Tailai guard Xining Wei, with the mission of controlling the West Sea and urging the Taolu stranded in the West Sea to return north or east.

Of course, this task mainly fell on Lin Tailai, and Lord Shi was just a supporting role. Bored, Lin Tailai muttered: "Why aren't there any bandits attacking the city? If it's true that one head gets one level higher, I can be promoted directly to the Prime Minister."

Master Shi was exhausted and advised Lin Tailai: "Young man, don't always think about fighting and killing. You should think of ways to get 100,000 sets of captives to leave the West Sea. This is your main task!"

Lin Tailai said impatiently: "I have sent people to spread the message to the Taolu tribe. If Madam Zhongshun doesn't come to negotiate, there is nothing I can do!"

Lord Shi couldn't help but say, "Can't you take the initiative?"

As they were talking, smoke rose from a distant mound. The two men stopped talking and stared outside the city.

Suddenly, another flying cavalryman came galloping from the horizon, reporting: "Two thousand elite enemy cavalrymen are stationed twenty miles away, and the enemy chief, Miss Sanniang, claims to be calling for Grand Tutor Lin!"

“Hehehe!” Lord Shi laughed obscenely a few times and said to Lin Tai: “Master Lin! Go!”

Lin Tailai cursed, took all his servants with him, selected a thousand soldiers and horses, and left through the south gate.

After a dozen miles, you can see patches of frost and snow in the distance under the sunlight of the plateau. They must be the iron-clad long swords of the elite cavalry accompanying Sanniang.

As we walked closer, we saw the makeshift camp.

Suddenly, groups of cavalrymen came out, surrounding Sanniang, who was wearing a straw hat and a long gown, and stood opposite Lin Tailai.

Lin Tailai rode his horse forward and took a few steps alone. The third lady on the opposite side also approached alone.

The two of them kept getting closer to each other until they were within earshot of each other, then they both stopped.

The third lady sighed quietly, "We haven't seen each other for only half a year, and our feelings have faded."

Lin Tailai felt puzzled and asked, "What's wrong?"

He knew very well in his heart that although Sanniang's tone was very much like that of a little woman, if one really treated Sanniang as a little woman, then he was a fool!

This woman is the descendant of old Altan and the most prominent political figure on the grassland!

The third lady pointed her whip at the more than 1,000 cavalrymen behind Lin Tailai and asked:

"When you came to see me before, you brought at most a few servants with you, and definitely not a large army.

And now, if there is no army to protect you, would you feel uneasy?

This shows that suspicion has already arisen in your heart and the friendship is no longer pure."

Lin Tailai was speechless. Is this still unreasonable?

Given the current situation, and being on the front line in Xining, would you dare to wander out of the city without your troops?

If you have something to say, just say it openly. Don’t learn from those literary youths who use random metaphors!

Thinking of this, Lin Tailai pointed at the big tent in the temporary camp and said with the same meaningful comment:
"When I met you before, you welcomed me into your tent. But today you refused to let me in. How embarrassing!"

The third lady glanced at Lin Tailai with her phoenix eyes and said provocatively, "Would you please enter the camp alone?"

Lin Tailai loosened his golden belt while riding his horse and snorted coldly, "Flying eagles fly across the desert, neighing horses shake the long forests! Why wouldn't you dare?"

(End of this chapter)