Jinyi Town Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 35
Inside the He residence, Bai Xiaoyan packed several large suitcases for her husband.

"These are the sauced chicken and bacon from the Tianfu. These are the old wines made by Yuquan Villa. You will eat and drink with Uncle Hu on the way."

"I asked Ruifuxiang cloth shop to make these few casual robes for you. You can change them on the way."

"When you go out on business, you will inevitably have a place to use silver. Here are 500 taels of cash and 2 taels of bank notes from Detai Bank."

"You've lived in the capital for a long time, and I'm afraid you'll be unaccustomed to the water and soil in Shanxi, with diarrhea and colds. There are more than a dozen kinds of pills from Tongrentang in this medicine box."

"Oh, by the way, since you are dealing with a case, you must have a good weapon for self-defense. You don't know martial arts. I heard from Uncle Hu that the handguns you received from Jinyiwei's arsenal are all old idiots from decades ago. Sometimes it doesn’t even ring! I asked my godmother Mrs. Zhao, and she asked my godfather Zhao Dudu to get you two new pistols just arrived from Franjiguo from the armory of the former military governor’s mansion. Each pistol The gun also brought ten guns and a pot of gunpowder..."

Bai Xiaoyan chattered to her husband endlessly.

He Liu became a little impatient: "My wife, I'm here on business, not moving. Why are you bringing so many things?"

While folding her clothes, Bai Xiaoyan replied without raising her head: "You are here as an imperial envoy. There is an accompanying convoy and guards. What's the point of pulling more wooden boxes? Besides, you are away from home. It’s not like staying at your own home in the capital, you always have to prepare something.”

He Liu sat down at the table, took a sip of tea and said, "I still have something to tell you!"

Bai Xiaoyan turned her head: "What do you want my husband to tell you?"

He Liudao: "You have been in Beijing for a month. Xiangxiang has gained a whole five or six catties! After I leave, don't cook so much meat for her! The girl's family, if she becomes fat like a pig, how can she find her husband's when she grows up?" ?”

Bai Xiaoyan smiled: "Don't worry about that. If she becomes fat like a piglet, I'll take out 100 million taels of silver as her dowry! Don't they say that there must be brave men under great rewards? , must have a good husband and son-in-law!"

He Liu looked at Bai Xiaoyan.He really has nothing to find fault with this flowery and jade-like Mrs. Xuxian.Not to mention the well-organized house, she went to the hall outside; she took care of herself and her daughter Xiangxiang in every possible way, and was considerate; at night, she was full of tricks; I actually saw red. . . .

He Liu said to Bai Xiaoyan: "After I leave, you have to take good care of yourself."

Saying that, He Liu got up and hugged Bai Xiaoyan into his arms.

The chubby Xiangxiang hopped into the door, ruining He Liu's good deed.

"Mom! When is it time to eat? I'm hungry! I want to eat meat! Big pieces of meat!" Xiangxiang shouted at the top of her voice.

This shout actually startled He Liu.He let go of his arms around his wife, and scolded Xiangxiang: "You girl, you know how to eat and drink all day long! Let's see who dares to marry you when you grow up!"

Xiangxiang pursed her mouth: "Mother, dad is fierce!"

Bai Xiaoyan hugged Xiangxiang: "Let's ignore your father, let's go, mother will go to the kitchen for you to prepare delicious food."

On June 40 of the 27th year of Jiajing, the imperial envoy He Liu left Beijing and went straight to Datong.

After traveling for half a month, the group arrived at Niangziguan.

After entering Niangziguan, it is the ground of Shanxi.

He Liu said to Lao Hu: "Shanxi is a good place. The wine from Xinghua Village, the clear vinegar, and the coal all over the mountains..."

Old Hu said: "It's a pity that the Tatars made such a fuss, and the good place has become a bad place that no one dares to come to."

The closer he got to Datong, the more He Liu could feel the tragic defeat of Datong.

On both sides of the road, there are ragged soldiers in ragged clothes.Countless hundreds and thousands of households held high the order flags, gathered rout soldiers along the way, and returned to Datong to defend themselves.

On July 40th of the [-]th year of Jiajing, He Liu finally reached Datongwei.

He Liu didn't enter Datong City, he went to Zuoge's third battalion first.In his trip this time, he not only wanted to find out the hidden truth behind the defeat of Datong, but also issued a decree to reward the meritorious soldiers of Zuoge's third battalion.

After entering Zuoge's third camp, Yang Shoubei led his brothers and knelt down in front of the camp gate: "I respectfully invite Sheng An!"

He Liudao: "Sheng Gong'an. There is a decree! Zuoge's third battalion guards Yang Ling'an, he is promoted to the third-rank Datong Guard guerrilla general, and concurrently serves as the general guard of Zuoge's first, second, and third battalions! General Huaiyuan is also awarded the dismissal order!"

"Thank you, minister!" Yang Shoubei said loudly.

He Liu raised his head and glanced at Yang Shoubei.Beside Yang Shoubei, he found a familiar figure—isn't that Mr. Fu Hanling who was framed and convicted by Liu Da back then?Isn't he a slave in the army?How can you be dressed in neat armor?
He Liu continued to read the list of promotions.There is actually Fu Hanling's name in it: "Fu Hanling, the general banner of the third battalion of Zuoge, beheaded more than [-] enemy heads, and dedicated his plan to defending Yang Ling'an, defeating the Tatar cavalry. He was promoted from the governor of the sixth-rank battalion, and awarded the rank of Zhongwu Xiaowei Sanjie .”

He Liu hadn't read the reward list carefully before.He was greatly surprised by Fu Hanling's promotion to Yingzhen Fu.

Originally, He Liu thought that the Northwest Army was very miserable.Although Fu Hanling didn't die in the capital, he went to Datong Guard to serve hard labor, and sooner or later he would die of illness and exhaustion.Who would have thought that not only did he not die, but instead made great contributions, he transformed from a sinful body into a dignified sixth-rank military officer in the army.

After announcing the decree, He Liu said: "Brothers, please get up!"

Yang Shoubei walked in front of He Liu: "I'm on business, I've prepared a banquet in the big tent to welcome you. Please show me your respect."

He Liudao: "Then respect is worse than obedience!"

Everyone sat down in Yang Shoubei's big tent.The food in the army has always been simple. A fire was lit in the big tent and two whole sheep were roasted.

Yang Shoubei said apologetically, "Business! Our place is no better than the capital. There are no delicate side dishes, but we pay attention to drinking in a big bowl and eating meat in large pieces!"

He Liudao: "This way of eating is exactly what I want."

Yang Shoubei introduced his favorite general, Fu Hanling, to He Liu: "On a mission. This [-]-year-old young man is Fu Hanling, the new governor of the camp. Don't look at him, he is thin-skinned and tender, and he is unambiguous in fighting. ! Not only will he be able to make plans, but he is also a good hand in fighting!"

He Liu smiled: "Fu Zhenfu and I are old acquaintances!"

After hearing this, Fu Hanling walked out of the banquet and knelt down in front of He Liu: "Fu Hanling pays respects to benefactor He Liuye!"

All the generals in the tent were shocked.

He Liu helped Fu Hanling up.Fu Hanling explained to the generals: "I was framed by a traitor that day. If it hadn't been for the help of the sixth master, my head would have moved long ago! The sixth master is my savior!"

He Liu smiled: "It's just a little effort. Mr. Fu is indeed a hero among men. Even if he goes to this northwest frontier, he can still make great achievements!"

Yang Shoubei said from the side: "There are rules in our army. When drinking with a brother in the same robe who saved your life, you have to drink three bowls first! Fu Zhenfu, why don't you hurry up and offer three bowls of wine?"

Fu Hanling was unambiguous, and raised his wine bowl: "Grandfather, Han Ling should do it first as a respect."

After finishing speaking, he "gudong gudong" proudly drank three bowls in a row.

He Liu couldn't help but said: "Mr. Fu was a pampered son in the capital eight months ago. Now, he has become an indomitable man in the frontier army!"

Yang Shoubei said: "On the job. In the Serbian army here, it's like a ball of fire that can produce real gold! It's a hero or a bear. Once you walk on the battlefield, you will know everything!"

Three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.He Liu brought the topic to the defeat of Datong.

He asked Yang Shoubei, "General Yang, before I left Beijing, I have seen your military preparations. You have been a soldier in a border town since you were 20 years old, and you have fought in the battlefield for most of your life. Tell me about it. How was the battle fought? How could it be defeated so thoroughly? In one day, 7 people in the city lost Datong, isn’t that incredible?”

Yang Shoubei took a sip of his wine: "Hey! It's not unbelievable, but shocking! I said it the day the Datong Acropolis was broken: let alone the [-] well-armed Guards Army, even [-] pigs, let the Tatars It is said that victory or defeat is a common matter in military affairs. If the defenders in the city hold on for ten days and a half months, and the city is broken by the Tatars. Damn it! You are always Jin Yiwei, I shouldn’t have said some things to you! But our old Yang is a rough man, and he doesn’t have so many twists and turns in his stomach.”

He Liudao: "General Yang, just treat me as your brother in the same robe. If you have something to say, it's okay to say it."

Yang Shoubei said: "I suspect that there are Tatars in the Datong Guards!"

He Liu asked: "Is there any basis for General Yang to say that?"

Yang Shoubei eloquently said: "Datong City was broken, and after the Tatars retreated. I met a few broken soldiers who escaped from Datong City. According to them, it was the Beibian Gate that fell first, and the Tatars came from the Beibian Gate. Influx into the head of Datong city. I have been to the north side gate before, and I know that there are 2000 Fron machine guns deployed there. The few rout soldiers said that when the Tatars attacked the city, the Fron machine guns did not exist at all. Loud! Furthermore, the Shangguans only sent [-] people to guard the Beipian Gate. Among the eight gates in Datong City, the Beipian Gate is the place with the weakest defense. The place where the Tatars attacked most fiercely happened to be Beipian Gate. Door! How do the Tatars know that the defense in Datong City is the weakest?"

Fu Hanling answered: "Grandfather, what our Yang Shoubei said is true. The defeat of Datong definitely has hidden secrets!"

He Liu fell into deep thought.There was silence in the tent.

Old Hu said: "What's the matter with everyone? Today is a good day for everyone to be rewarded for their meritorious service. We should celebrate it. Why are you silent? Come, come, drink and drink!"

(End of this chapter)