weaving

Chapter 135 What is Gao Qiqian?
At the west gate of Zhendingfu City, after everyone exchanged greetings, Gao Qiqian took Lu Xiangsheng's hand and both entered the city. The generals and Zhending officials behind him were divided into two rows, and they all followed into the city.

Zhending Prefecture has always been known as "Huahua Zhiding Prefecture". Although it was in the troubled times of the late Ming Dynasty, it was still the first gateway of Taiyuan Prefecture in Shanxi Province after it entered the Jizhong Plain. Wood and woodware shops are the most popular. You can see all kinds of high-end brands and pretense on the street.

On the street leading to Zhending Governor's Yamen, it was packed full of cheering and welcoming people from the city.

These people gathered spontaneously, just to have a glimpse of the general Xuan Da who fought against the Tartars, and the little hero Zhang Cheng who dared to shoot the slave chief Dorgon with arrows.

Seeing that Lu Xiangsheng and others were so popular, Gao Qiqian's eyes flashed an imperceptible coldness, and then he smiled and pointed out various places in the city for Lu Xiangsheng.

…………

Today, Gao Qiqian is actually just using the excuse of discussing military affairs together. In fact, he is inviting Lu Xiangsheng and other generals to the banquet. He just wants to take the opportunity to show his appearance of taking care of the overall situation and just doing superficial work. He doesn't want to discuss anything with Lu Xiangsheng military affairs.

The banquet was held in the lobby of the governor's yamen. The lights were just on, and under the candlelight, the lobby was very bright. .

Zhang Cheng was already a rising star in the military circles of the Ming Dynasty at this time, he was promoted to guerrilla at the age of 22, and he was highly regarded by cabinet ministers Yang Sichang, Supervisor Gao Qiqian and other celebrities in front of the emperor, and everyone looked up to him.

During the banquet, only Lu Xiangsheng thought about the displaced victims outside the city. Many people wanted to eat but could not eat. Here, the banquet was so extravagant that he felt a little displeased.

According to Gao Qiqian's intention, the banquet would last until late at night, but Lu Xiangsheng didn't want to eat. After seeing that the Xuanda generals were also full, he led the generals and left the banquet in a hurry. back to camp.

…………

After Zhang Cheng returned to the camp, when he was patrolling the camp, some soldiers came to report. Mr. Gao, the commander-in-chief, came to ask for an interview, saying that there was a letter written by Mrs. Gao, and he wanted Zhang Cheng to sign it.

Zhang Cheng returned to the military tent to wait for him. After a while, Chen Zhong led someone into the military tent. After the person and Zhang Cheng met each other, he signaled Zhang Cheng to dismiss the others and talk alone.

After Chen Zhong and others withdrew from the military tent, the man finally expressed his intention to come.

It turned out that Gao Qiqian, the director general, saw that Zhang Chengying fought bravely and was greatly appreciated by the emperor, so he wanted to take him under his command. He even promised that as long as Zhang Cheng followed him at this time, within three to five years, Zhang Cheng would be able to rise all the way. The generals, deputy commanders, and even the commanders of a town are no problem.

Zhang Cheng called Chen Zhong in and asked him to send Gao Qiqian's confidant out of the camp.

Outside the military tent, Zhang Cheng looked at the back of Gao Qiqian's confidant, and couldn't help sneering.

What kind of thing is Gao Qiqian, and he is also worthy to win him over?
He actually hinted that he abandoned Lu Xiangsheng and devoted himself to his command. Not only would he have plenty of money and food, but he would also protect himself as a general, deputy commander, and even the commander in chief?

How can I care less about his money and food?
He dives high, how does he know his own appetite, he can afford it?
Hmph, what else are you talking about, general, deputy commander, and commander in chief?
He recommended it, how could he be so secure in his own fight!
In the cold night, Zhang Cheng stood in the cold wind, thinking of Gao Qiqian's deeds in history.

At the beginning, he was an eunuch in charge of ceremonies. Because he was excluded by the great eunuch Wei Zhongxian, he was transferred to the Zhidian supervisor to sweep. Later, Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne and eradicated Wei Zhongxian and other eunuchs. Gao Qiqian, Cao Huachun, Wang Dehua and other talents began to emerge.

Later, he gradually won the favor of Emperor Chongzhen and served as the eunuch of the palm seal. In the fifth year of Chongzhen, he was sent to the palace to monitor the generals of Dengzhou, and later changed to monitor the towns of Ningyuan and Jinzhou.

Gao Qiqian claims to know soldiers well and is skilled in military affairs, but in fact he is cowardly and ugly and does not dare to fight.

In the 17th year of Chongzhen, Li Zicheng broke into the army and approached the capital, and Gao Qi went to Ningqian Road and abandoned the pass. Nanming Fu Wang Shizhao was the admiral of the Beijing camp, and then surrendered to the Qing Dynasty.

Zhang Cheng couldn't help but sneer, with such a thing, how could he be worthy of his trust?
Thinking of Bai Liri's cold, sweaty and slippery palms, Zhang felt a chill in his heart.

Zhang Cheng actually had no prejudice against eunuchs. Among the eunuchs, he admired the great eunuchs Cao Huachun, Wang Chengen and others.

On the other hand, eunuchs like Gao Qiqian and Du Xun, I can only despise them.

Although Zhang Cheng is not talented, he doesn't bother to be with this generation.

At this time, the problem at the end of the Ming Dynasty was the overall problem. The royal family, literati, warriors, eunuchs, businessmen, these major social classes all had inescapable responsibilities for the downfall of the Ming Dynasty.

Regardless of their class, as long as they are loyal and serve the country, Zhang Cheng admires them very much, otherwise, he will despise them.

I would rather lead a horse and kick a hero than be a father to a coward.

Of course, for Gao Qiqian's solicitation tonight, Zhang Cheng refused quite tactfully. He only said that he was under the command of Duchen Lu, and that he had not formed an independent battalion at present, and was still under the control of Zhang Yan, the general of the Xuanfu. General, without his own part, how can he take refuge.

But even if he said that, after Gao Laoxie learned that he rejected him, he would definitely hate himself to the bone.

Soldiers come to block, water comes to cover up, Zhang Cheng doesn't care about it.

…………

Sure enough, when Lu Xiangsheng led Xuanda's generals into the city to discuss matters the next day, Zhang Cheng keenly noticed that although Gao Qiqian was still smiling at him.

However, there was an extremely gloomy and cold look in his eyes.

With a smile on his face and a calm expression, Zhang Cheng looked at him without timidity, which surprised Gao Qiqian.

The day's discussion again did not yield any results.

During the discussion, Lu Xiangsheng proposed that the two armies join forces to attack at one place to strengthen their momentum.

Gao Qiqian said, Duchen Lu has achieved great victories one after another, and his subordinates are like a cloud of elite soldiers, the captives are already frightened, and it is time to split up and attack in order to expand the results of the battle.

He still insisted on leading his own army and fighting against the captive cavalry in separate ways.

This time the discussion broke up again, when Lu Xiangsheng mentioned the issue of Xuan Dajun's rations, Zhang Qiping, the governor of Zhending, only dealt with it on the grounds that the government was short of money and rations and was trying to raise funds.

As soon as he returned to the Xuanda Army camp, Lu Xiangsheng received an urgent letter from Gao Qiqian, saying that the Ministry of War has sent a call for troops from Beijing, and Lu Xiangsheng is required to go to discuss the matter of marching troops.

It turned out that the cabinet minister Yang Sichang, in view of Yuetuo's right-wing Qing army, had passed Hejian Mansion, crossed Jingzhou all the way, attacked the old city directly, and continued to advance south, approaching Linqing, an important water transport town.

Therefore, he proposed, "Our soldiers happened to steal from the middle road by accident, and first occupy Linqing to sit and store millet, wait for work for leisure, and wait for hunger when we are full, then the odds of winning are mine."

(End of this chapter)