golden scales

Ruzhou is located in the central and western part of Henan Province, with the majestic Songshan Mountain in the north, the vast Funiu in the south, the ancient capital Luoyang in the west, and the Huanghuai Plain in the east. It is the intersection of Kaifeng, Luoyang, Nanyang and other important towns.Because Ruzhou is also a high-quality kiln mouth, Ru porcelain was fired here in the late Northern Song Dynasty, exclusively for the imperial court of the Song Dynasty.In addition, Ruzhou is known as a hundred-mile sea of ​​coal, with many merchants coming and going, and convenient transportation. It is really an important town no less than Luoyang and Nanyang.

It was because of Zhu Cihong's high status, if he was an ordinary time traveler, he would not be qualified to pick and choose, and getting Ruzhou as a base would be a blessing in disguise.

Even in the years when Henan suffered severe disasters, Ruzhou relied on the rainwater from Mount Funiu to harvest a little grain. It is one of the few grain producing areas in Henan that can be self-sufficient and even export a little.It was indeed a natural choice for Sun Chuanting to use this place as a place for the army to store food.

On September 16th of the [-]th year of Chongzhen, from the morning, the officers and soldiers wearing big red fat jackets appeared in the eyes of the people of Ruzhou.These officers and soldiers have strict military discipline. No one speaks when marching, and no one makes noise when stationed. They even don't forget to help with some chores when they ask for water from the people's homes.

In particular, Sun Chuanting's Qin soldiers had just passed by. Compared with the two, this official army was particularly astonishing.

On the afternoon of the [-]th, Xiao Mo had deployed the Division Bureau of the Right Army Department to defend Ruzhou, and sent another bureau to Ruyang to ensure the smooth connection between the guard battalion and Luoyang. The intruders blocked.

Xiao Mo himself didn't think it was necessary, but His Royal Highness specially issued a defense order for Ruyang, so it can't be done.He took a bureau from She'an's Fifth Division, a subordinate he was familiar with, Zhen Feiyu, and led his troops to Ruyang to repair the city defenses and build field fortifications.

Xiao Mo himself must seize the time to patrol Ruzhou City, identify the Ruzhou officials, squires, and old people who are welcoming him, and protect the safety of His Highness the Crown Prince.This is also the fundamental duty of the Eastern Palace Guards Battalion. Considering that many officers are from Jinyiwei, it is even more handy in terms of protection.

Zhu Cihong had been listening to Wu Tong's introduction to Ruzhou before he connected Ruzhou with the future Pingdingshan City.Of course there is no such administrative division now, but the title of Zhongyuan Coal Bunker has been revealed.In terms of calorific value, coal is much higher than charcoal, and it is an indispensable means of production for the steel industry.Even in the age of electricity, the strategic significance of coal cannot be ignored.

"There is food and coal. If it weren't for troubled times, it would be a good place to pay attention to." Zhu Cihong looked back at Songshan Mountain, which was left behind. There are still huge tourism resources waiting to be developed there.However, when passing down Shaoshi Mountain before, Wu Zhen mentioned a Fengxue Temple, which was first built in the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is said that at the peak of Wanli, there were more than a thousand monks and more than [-] houses. It is the same as Baima Temple, Xiangguo Temple is a thousand-year-old temple with the same reputation.

Wu Tong knew that Zhu Cihong was close to Taoist priests, so he just said that, and didn't mean to recommend it.Zhu Cihong was a workaholic in previous and present lives, and never cared about travel and leisure. Now that the decisive battle is imminent, he will not be distracted by exploring ancient times and secluded places.

"What Your Highness said is true," Wu Tong echoed, "It's a pity that there is no barrier, and it is a thoroughfare between the north and the south."

"If we can go south to obtain Huguang and control the waterway of the Yangtze River, we can recuperate here." Zhu Cihong sighed.

Wu Xuan also had no choice but to smile.

Everyone knows that Jingxiang is good, if he can get the land of two lakes, the world will be settled, so is there any need to say anything else?Can't beat Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong, everything is empty talk, can only drool at Baodi.

In the current situation, Zhang Xianzhong has already marched towards the middle of Sichuan. Li Zicheng has dozens of generals and more than [-] soldiers.

Zhu Cihong had a clear understanding of the strength of the enemy and himself, and knew that Li Zicheng's army could no longer be stopped at this moment, so this time he only wanted to delay Li Zicheng's footsteps and at the same time temper his own team.Not only did the army need to be baptized by war, but even the staff in the attendant room had to become officials in charge of civil affairs, otherwise the Eastern Palace New Deal would not be able to be promoted, and it would be meaningless to the entire country.

"Your Highness, the city of Zhou is ahead." Tian Cunshan saw the waving banner from a distance, and hurried back to report.

"Indeed." Zhu Cilang looked into the distance, and saw the familiar military flag stretched out, as well as the faintly visible "Xiao" flag surface.

The military flags of the Ming Dynasty are complicated and cumbersome. There are 54 kinds of flags ranging from the general flag representing the name of the general to the battalion flags of each battalion, and even the five-color flag representing the position.It was precisely because of this that Zhu Cihong felt that there was no need to change, and he did not put much effort into the banner.But at this time, when I reunited with Xiao Mo and changed my perspective, I felt that the general flag was too personal, which was not conducive to the inheritance of the military spirit.

"Your Highness, do you want to change into armor?" Tian Cunshan asked.

These days Zhu Cihong is very used to wearing a fat jacket that has been cut down, but as for the iron armor, it is unnecessary to wear it from time to time.If it really came to the time when he had to keep his armor close to his body, he might be a few days away from complete extinction.However, in order to boost the morale of the army and the people, it is also necessary to put on a show at this moment.

Zhu Cihong signaled Tian Cunshan and others to put armor on himself, and said to Wu Tong: "Sun Chuanting would rather risk being beheaded than come back. Is it really the time before you can't go away?"

"Although Sun Chuanting didn't come back, he didn't continue to march. He should still have some scruples about His Highness's order." Wu Zhen said while watching the prince wear his armor.

Zhu Cihong quickly put on the iron armor, put on a double-breasted cotton armor, and put on a helmet like a lightning rod, with a small triangular flag hanging on it.He thought about it, and felt that the pennant on the helmet was really ugly, so he took it off again and threw it to Tian Cunshan: "Leave only the red tassels, and I will remove the small flag."

Naturally, Tian Cunshan would not contradict the prince, as long as the prince does not allow people to replace the golden dragon with loach, he thinks everything is acceptable.

Zhu Cihong quickly got the finished helmet and walked out of the car. The iron armor in the cotton armor made a rustling sound, adding a bit of might.

The black horse decorated with long horns was quietly parked in the middle of the road, just waiting for Zhu Cihong to ride on it.This is the best war horse, obedient and tame, with well-defined muscles, smooth and beautiful when walking, and silent when standing still.It's a pity that there are only a few war horses of this level, and they can only be used as mounts, and cannot be used to train cavalry.

Huangming Dragon Banner, Flying Leopard Banner, White Crane Banner, Sifang Divine Beast Banner... passed Zhu Cihong neatly, only Shuai Banner and Dazhuo followed behind.The emperor's guard of honor is full of shock to the people in these places, they just feel that the flags cover the sky, and they can't finish walking.

This is the guard of honor that Zhu Cihong has deleted several times. If the rules adhered to by the ministers of ceremonies are followed, I am afraid that he has only gone halfway.

Zhu Cihong rode the selected horse and stopped after a few steps. It was a full three to five miles from the gate of the city to where he stopped.Now it was time for local officials to lead the country gentry and elders to pay respects. Zhu Cihong accepted their kneeling, and then called "Xing" to get them up.

This set of procedures has been practiced many times in the state capitals along the way, and Zhu Cihong is familiar with it, so he doesn't find it troublesome.What's more, Ruzhou is full of small officials now, and the real local military and political officials are all in the Sun Chuanting shogunate at the moment, and they haven't had time to come back.

No one knew that the crown prince's advance into the army was so fast!It took only [-] days to arrive here from Yanjing.

The Zhu family did not have a vassal in Ruzhou, which is why many local officials thought that Zhu Cilang would go to Luoyang first.At least in Luoyang, there is still the ruins of Prince Fu's Mansion to live in, but Ruzhou doesn't even have a residence that matches the status of the prince.

The emperor of the Qing Dynasty could live in the home of the local gentry without any pressure, and everyone in the world thought he was close to the people, but in the Ming Dynasty, he would be said by the censor to occupy and disturb the people.This is because all the people in the Qing Dynasty are slaves of the emperor's family, and the whole of China is the private property of the Aixinjueluo family, but in the Ming Dynasty, the emperor and the scholars share the world.

As for the official office, it is a symbol of power, and even if the emperor comes in person, he cannot take it away at will.

If the close relatives of the Tian family want to leave Beijing, they can only stop at feudal princes, county princes' mansions, or temporary palaces along the way. Although we don't know which emperor made the rules, the civil servants are so sure and refuse to turn back.For Zhu Cihong's visit to the army this time, there will always be people who want to see jokes, and the first joke is: Look where your baby lives!

"Is there no clan in Ruzhou?" Zhu Cihong asked curiously.

From the Taizu to the present, there were nearly 20 clan vassals in the Ming Dynasty.In the Jiajing period alone, there were five feudal kings in Henan Province, eighty county kings, and 890 generals, lieutenants, county owners, county owners, and county monarchs, ranking first in the world.Ruzhou is such a good place, how could it be blank?

The Ruzhou government tremblingly stepped forward and said: "Your Highness, there were also generals and lieutenants in Ruzhou originally, but, just before the city fell, the clan was slaughtered by thieves!" As he spoke, the magistrate unexpectedly Weeping loudly, the people behind him wept together, as if mourning a concubine.

Zhu Cihong was quite surprised. The suzerain vassal was not allowed to intervene in local military and political affairs in name, which was also a tradition formed after Fengtian Jingnan.Why is the clan in Ruzhou Prefecture so loved by the people?

"It's a folk custom, Your Highness doesn't need to take it seriously." Wu Sheng changed into the court clothes, and still had Feihe patched on his chest, and his whole body became imposing.Seeing that the prince seemed to be hesitating, he walked behind Zhu Cihong and reminded him in a low voice.

Only then did Zhu Cihong let go of his breath, and said in displeasure: "Ruzhou Prefecture, since there is a clan in the city, let's choose its former residence to stay here."

"The ministers have already swept out the residence of General Zhen Guo for Your Highness..."

"Yes." Zhu Cihong couldn't bear the magistrate's crying face, interrupted him with a wave of his hand, and went into the city as soon as he shook the reins.

Tian Cunshan followed the prince as the seal official, and when he saw this, he quickly shouted: "His Royal Highness, get up! Everyone stay away!" (To be continued.)