weaving

Chapter 433 Why the Angel Came
Just across the street from the Governor's Yamen, there is a restaurant with a huge scale. In front of the restaurant, strings of colored lights are hung high, illuminating the street like dusk, and it is even more crowded with pedestrians and horses.

Downstairs, near the door and the stairs, there are several strong sergeant guards, and the stairs on the second floor and the window of the hall are also guarded. After all, all the officials of Kaifeng City, including the governor, are gathered here. How dare you relax in the slightest.

In a private box facing the street on the second floor, Li Xianfeng, governor of Henan Province, sat upright at the head seat, Zhang Cheng took the head seat at the guest seat. The chief envoy, Liang Bing, Guanshou Daoshi, Huang Shu, the Tuiguan of Kaifeng Prefecture, Wang Shaoyu, the general soldier, and others accompanied him.

During the dinner, Governor Li Xianfeng was very enthusiastic about Zhang Cheng, but Gao Mingheng, the governor, seemed to be indifferent to Zhang Cheng. Zhang Cheng faintly felt that the two of them must be in a relationship that seemed to be close to each other.

However, he didn't know much about the people in today's banquet, and the only one who had some impressions was Chen Yongfu, the deputy general of Henan, who was not at this table, which made him feel dull in his heart.

Zhang Cheng vaguely remembered that Li Zicheng besieged Kaifeng three times, and Chen Yongfu was an important general who participated in the city defense, and what impressed him even more was Li Zicheng's reputation as a "blind man".

He remembered that when Li Zicheng besieged Kaifeng for the first time, he went among the soldiers to check the situation under the city of Kaifeng in person, and was shot by Chen De, the son of Chen Yongfu, who was guarding Kaifeng.

Shi Zai: "Under the middle left eye, go two inches deep, hug your head and walk away in surprise."

Only then did the defenders in Kaifeng know that it was the thief Li Zicheng who was shot. Since then, Li Zicheng has a new nickname, "The name of the blind thief is from now on!"

Governor Li Xianfeng hadn't had a few sips of wine, and he had been persuading Zhang Cheng to lead the army to the west to protect the safety of Luoyang, an important feudal land. Ben Fu went to Luoyang to discuss matters with Lord Wang and Zongbing Wang, and now we are always paying attention to the situation of the bandits in western Henan and leading the army to rescue Luoyang at any time."

He paused for a while, and then said: "Nowadays, in the imperial court, the Ministry of War is very urgent, but they dare not delay any longer. If Luoyang makes mistakes, I'm afraid General Zhang will also be blamed."

In the face of his hard work, Zhang Cheng knew that he was the governor of Henan, and he couldn't bear the responsibility of failing to defend the border and losing the feudal vassal. That's why he humiliated himself so much, just to let him go to Luoyang as soon as possible.

But Zhang Cheng didn't like Fu Wang at all.

In his heart, he even hoped that Li Zicheng would attack Luoyang as he did in history, shake the government and the public, and make Emperor Chongzhen angry, so that he would pay more attention to military officials like himself.

What's more, it was King Fu's greed and miserliness, and he still refused to give up money and food even to death, which aroused the resentment of the soldiers defending the city in Luoyang. The king of Zhou can only distribute money and food, motivate soldiers, and stick to Kaifeng.

It can be said that it was the collapse of Luoyang and the death of King Fu that sounded the alarm for those who can still think.

What's more, with Zhang Cheng's current strength and the local situation in Henan, he is simply unable to wipe out the army of intruders in one fell swoop, so he can only advance steadily step by step.

He led the army to Henan to suppress the thieves, first because the imperial decree was irresistible, and second, he wanted to use this to practice the actual combat of the new army under his command, not to fight desperately with the thieves and bandits.

"What Governor Li said, Zhang Cheng is also aware of it, but our army has come from a long distance, and now it is extremely exhausted, and the army's food and grain are also insufficient. Right now, we can only stay outside Kaifeng City for a few days to relieve the fatigue of the soldiers. , and all kinds of military supplies must be replenished before the army can march west." When Zhang Cheng said these words, his face was a bit embarrassed.

However, Wang Shaoyu, the General Soldier of Henan Province, then said: "Luoyang Tang reported an urgent report, saying that the rebellion has become a siege. I will send troops to the west in a few days to help Luoyang. If there is a delay, I am afraid that there is no rush and the seal will be lost." Don't dare to take the crime of the feudal clan!"

But Zhang Cheng said unhurriedly: "Back then when we fought against Jiannu Julu, we suffered from insufficient food and grass. If our army had enough food and grass at that time, even if we fought against the Tartars for ten days, we would not be defeated. How could it happen that Duchen Lu died for his country?"

When he said this, his eyes were bright, and he said: "Now that we have entered Henan to help suppress the intruders, our army is still fighting in different places, let alone lack of food. Otherwise, the army will panic and it will be difficult for the general to command. Dispatch, even if the whole army marches into Luoyang, it will be difficult to fight!"

After hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Xun Press Gao Mingheng dropped the wine glass heavily on the table, and said bluntly with a little anger: "Sure enough, you are loyal and courageous, and you are the best among the three armies!"

Hearing what he said, Zhang Cheng felt suffocated in his heart, but he just shook his head slightly. He only cared about his own business, so why should he care about what other people think.

Previously, everyone was flattering or even flattering him in front of him, so today's inspector Gao Mingheng's ridicule made him a little hard to accept.

But he has already figured it out clearly. In such a troubled world, strength is the only theory, while others' opinions of him are worthless. some strength.

At the end of the banquet, Governor Li Xianfeng promised Zhang Cheng that he would supply the food and grass he needed, and made an appointment five days later, Wang Shaoyu, the commander-in-chief, Liu Jianyi, Luo Tai, and other generals, led by Wang Yinchang, who was in charge of the army, and the deputy commander-in-chief Liu Jianyi, Luo Tai and other generals to assist Luoyang, And Zhang Cheng will go with the generals.

…………

On November 13th, the 28th year of Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Cheng convened a meeting of the generals in the large tent of the Chinese Army of the Xuanzhen Army in the north of Kaifeng City.

"Everyone, my army has been replenished with food and grass. It is said that today I should go to Luoyang with Wang Bingbei, but there is a fast horse to report that the angel from the capital is on the way. I want the commander to postpone the camp for two days before sending troops to Luoyang."

Zhang Cheng looked around at the generals, everyone didn't know why the angel rushed from the capital at this time, the generals sitting at the bottom were even guessing among themselves.

"Although the army is staying here temporarily to wait for the arrival of the angel, the dispatch of troops to Luoyang has already been planned, and we should have a plan. Our army is only slowing down the march of the infantry battalion. In my commander's opinion, Zhang Guodong will lead the infantry battalion to set off early tomorrow. , Wei Zhice's car camp will also leave early the day after tomorrow."

He went on to say: "Zhang Guangda's cavalry battalion is here to stay. Together with my commander's Chinese army, we will wait for the arrival of the angel. After receiving the imperial edict, we will go west to Luoyang to set down the chasing infantry and chariot battalion."

All the generals promised loudly.

But Zhang Guodong said: "Commander, why don't you wait for the angel to convey the imperial decree, and then the army will set off for the second time. If the emperor's decree changes, wouldn't it be inconvenient to dispatch and assemble!"

The generals also became contemplative when they heard the words, but Zhang Cheng said: "Our army has already entered Henan, and I will definitely not transfer me to go elsewhere for the time being. Now that we are going against the trend, we can encircle Luoyang at any time, but we will not wait." It is better to delay under the city of Kaifeng.

However, it is precisely because of the ferocity of the bandits that when you enter the army, you must search in many ways, and the camping ground must also be carefully surveyed, so you must not be negligent! "

(End of this chapter)