Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 43
Not long after Gong Yonggu left, Sun Yingyuan was summoned.

After saluting and giving the seat, Zhu Youjian said: "I've been busy with business recently, so I didn't bother to ask. I called you here today to understand the situation, and to entrust you with confidential matters. You first talk about Yong Wei." Check out the situation in the camp!"

Sun Yingyuan got up and cupped his hands, Zhu Youjian waved his hand to let him sit down, Sun Yingyuan sat down firmly and said: "Report to the Holy Majesty, after receiving the oracle, two imperial envoys, Lu Jiude and Liu Yuanbin, the eunuchs who supervise the army, went to the Beijing camp together with the humble ministers to select the ones who dare to fight. In the past few months, a total of 2000 cavalry and more than [-] infantry were selected.

Generals Huang Degong and Zhou Yuji took [-] cavalry to Shandong, and Governor Sun of Shaanxi took [-] cavalry. Now the Yongwei Battalion has [-] cavalry, [-] musketeers, [-] archers, [-] pikemen, and sword and shield fighters. Two thousand, a total of more than [-] people! "

"There are still fewer firecrackers, can the supply of firecrackers keep up with the military supervision?" Zhu Youjian asked.

"Reporting to the Holy Majesty, the monthly offering of firecrackers by the Military Weapons Supervisor is about five hundred, and there are more than three hundred firecrackers in the camp." Sun Yingyuan replied.

"Is the firecracker good? Has it exploded?" Zhu Youjian continued to ask.

"Report to the Holy Majesty, the current leader of the Firearms Battalion is Wang Yuncheng, the former general of the Beijing Firearms Battalion. General Wang is accustomed to firearms, and he is full of praise for the newly-made firearms of the Military Weapons Supervisor. And the shooting range is about ten steps farther than the firecrackers in the Beijing camp!"

"Well, the Military Weapons Supervision has done a lot. I will order the Military Weapons Supervision to speed up production. Looking at it now, there is still time. We will strive to expand the firecracker battalion to 3000 people by March next year, and we must practice every day. You and Wang Yuncheng Wait for a lot of discussions to improve the cooperative combat method of firecrackers and other arms, especially fighting against cavalry. My Ming Dynasty has fought against Tartar cavalry for many years. There is no shortage of good battle examples in this regard. You have to study it carefully!"

Sun Yingyuan was taken aback, and said happily, "My lord, could it be that the Yongwei Battalion is going to fight the Tartars? That's great. The soldiers of the Yongwei Battalion have been training hard for a long time, but they have never had the chance to fight the enemy. The boys often discuss it, and everyone wants to fight. Kill the thief and make meritorious service, in order to repay the Holy One!"

Zhu Youjian smiled and said: "It seems that the morale is available, don't worry, you must practice strictly, and you can win the battle when you meet a strong enemy. The second thing I want to say is related to this. You come and look at the map. "

Sun Yingyuan got up and came to the imperial case. Zhu Youjian stood up, pointed to the Juyongguan area on the map, and asked, "If Jiannu breaks in from here and threatens the capital, how will you fight?"

Sun Yingyuan was taken aback, and said to himself: "Could it be that the Holy Majesty got the news that Jiannu wants to come in?"

But he didn't make a sound, he just looked at the map carefully and deduced the progress of the matter in his mind. Zhu Youjian didn't urge him, but just quietly waited for the answer he gave.

After a long while, Sun Yingyuan said: "If Jiannu breaks through Juyongguan, I believe that Jiannu will first divide his troops to attack Huairou to the east, so as not to be cut off, and then he will join forces to attack Changping. If he breaks the Changping capital, he will be in a hurry.

The minister believed that Jiannu did not have the strength to break through the city defenses of the capital. Jiannu would bluff and make a gesture of persecuting the capital, sending troops south to attack Liangxiang, Fangshan and other places.Judging from the experience of Jiannu's previous invasions, looting was the main activity.

If the Yongwei Battalion goes to battle, the Weichen will use the infantry to defeat the enemies in Changping head-on, relieve the danger of the capital, and then use the cavalry to wait for work in the Lugou Bridge area, and wait for the Jiannu to return with a head-on blow to defeat the Jiannu.Then follow and chase, Jiannu must pass through Changping when returning, wait for our infantry to block it with a large formation, and the cavalry flanks to cover and kill, we will surely win a big victory! "

Zhu Youjian nodded approvingly, and said: "From the point of view of the confrontation between the two armies, your strategy is good, and a great victory is expected; but from my point of view, this method is not feasible!

If Jiannu went south to attack, there would be no heavy soldiers around the capital to strangle him. How many people would be displaced and their families destroyed when they attacked the city and plundered the village?Even if it is defeated on its way back, can the dead people still come back to life?
I will never allow such a tragedy to happen!The purpose of raising soldiers in the country is to save the people from the fire and water, not to make meritorious deeds for ourselves!If Jiannu really invaded from Juyongguan, then I will send the Yongwei Battalion to attack in Changping, and it will be up to you then! "

Sun Yingyuan was so ashamed that he knelt down and pleaded guilty with his face flushed: "I will die! Your Majesty is really a wise king. He always thinks of the people, please punish him! If Jiannu comes to commit crimes, I will fight to the death and never back down half a step !"

Zhu Youjian said warmly: "Get up, as a general, you not only have to fight to the death, but also have the confidence to win. As for where to meet the enemy, you plan from the perspective of commanding troops, there is nothing wrong with it."

Sun Yingyuan stood up dumbfounded, lowered his head and didn't dare to make a sound. Zhu Youjian looked at the brave general and said with a smile: "I won't blame you, I just discussed with you, don't be afraid, I am not a narrow-minded person!"

Only then did Sun Yingyuan feel relieved.

Zhu Youjian continued: "After returning to the camp, you and your generals will take turns to lead the team to Changping and Juyongguan to familiarize yourself with the terrain, and consider how to respond to the enemy with a mixture of foot and cavalry in the future. It must be done in a drill manner, and the purpose must not be revealed to anyone. , did you hear that?"

Sun Yingyuan nodded yes, and after Zhu Youjian gave a few more instructions, Sun Yingyuan bid farewell and returned to the camp.

After lunch, Zhu Youjian was about to take a nap when he suddenly found a small figure outside the hall looking into the hall.

Zhu Youjian stood up and smiled, "Brother Lang, come in, I saw you."

As soon as the words were finished, a handsome little boy ran in, wearing a red collar and narrow-sleeved casual gown, and soap-colored leather boots, followed by a small yellow door.

Zhu Youjian waved to the little boy, and the little boy ran a few steps to the front, knelt down and kowtowed: "My child, pay respects to the emperor."

Zhu Youjian lifted him up with a smile, hugged him into his arms, and said, "Didn't I say that you don't need to salute if there are no outsiders? Come, let me see if Brother Lang is tall."

The little boy is Chongzhen's eldest son Zhu Cihong, who looks exactly like his mother, Queen Zhou.Although the current Chongzhen is no longer the original Chongzhen, the kinship of flesh and blood is naturally irreversible.

Zhu Cihong leaned obediently in his father's arms, and said: "The empress mother taught Hong'er that etiquette cannot be broken. It has been three months since Hong'er has seen father, and I miss him very much. This time I secretly came to visit father. Kun Xing I was going to follow, but I didn't take her because I thought she was running slowly.

When will the father return to Qianqing Palace?I don't know how many times the mother has said it, and the children secretly cried several times when they saw the mother! "

Zhu Youjian sighed secretly, what should be faced still has to be faced.

When I travel by myself, what I am most afraid of is getting along with Queen Zhou and Queen Zhang, the emperor's sister-in-law. Although the body is still Chongzhen, but the mind is indeed a person of later generations. Thinking of getting along with a gentle and virtuous woman who is familiar but unfamiliar, don't mention how awkward it is up.

This time, I have been avoiding the Hall of Martial Arts for too long, and it is simply unreasonable not to go back.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youjian ordered: "Go and tell the queen that I will return to live in the harem from tonight."

A little yellow door rushed to the harem in response, which is a good thing. In the past, there were rewards for reporting letters, and it was possible to get acquainted in front of the nobles.

Seeing that his father was finally going back to the palace, Zhu Cihong was very happy, he broke away from Chongzhen's arms and was about to run back with Xiaohuangmen.

Zhu Youjian smiled and said: "Brother Hong, don't run away, I will take you to a place, and then go back with me."

After Zhu Cihong stopped, he asked excitedly, "Father, where are we going? Is it fun?"

Zhu Youjian smiled and said: "I will take you out of the palace to an old friend's house. I haven't seen her for a long time. I don't know how her house is doing. Come here, prepare some pastries and gifts, and prepare a carriage."

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the alley where craftsmen in Beicheng lived together, Cheng Qianli opened the door, followed by the small yellow door and put down the brocade stool, Zhu Youjian got out of the carriage, turned around and carried Zhu Cihong out of the carriage.

Zhu Cihong looked around curiously, everything was very novel to him, he was seven years old and had never been out of the palace, and he knew nothing about the world outside the palace.

Suddenly, a small figure among the children playing at the entrance of the alley ran towards us, shouting as he ran, "Uncle, uncle, Erya is here!"

Just as Cheng Qianli was about to step forward to stop him, Zhu Youjian waved him back and smiled at Erya who ran over.

I haven't seen her for a few months, Erya seems to have grown taller, and her clothes are no longer in tatters. She is dressed in a clean and tidy flower jacket, with a pair of cotton shoes on her feet, and her complexion has become rosy. Small bun.

Zhu Youjian picked up Erya who ran over, and said with a smile, "Does Erya think about uncle?"

Erya flashed a pair of big eyes, nodded affirmatively and said: "Erya misses uncle, but it's time to think about it. Why hasn't uncle come to see Erya for a long time?"

Zhu Youjian smiled and said: "Uncle has a lot of things to do, and I happened to come here today, so I stopped by to see Erya, who is at home?"

Erya saw Zhu Cihong beside Zhu Youjian, and asked curiously, "Uncle, who is this little brother?"

Zhu Cihong looked at this little girl who was about the same age as his sister, and felt a natural intimacy in his heart. Except for his sister, he had never seen other girls.

He smiled and said: "You tell me your name first, and then I will tell you!"

Zhu Youjian put Erya down, smiled and watched how the two children got along.

Erya said generously: "My name is Erya, my house is right in front, I'll take you to see it, my brother is too young, I don't want to play with him!"

Zhu Cilang looked at his father, and Zhu Youjian said with a smile: "Go, bring a gift, and don't reveal your identity."

With a cry of joy, Zhu Cilang grabbed Erya's hand and ran into the alley, followed closely by several guards.

After Zhu Youjian saw him running into the alley, he turned around and walked towards another alley. Cheng Qianli gestured, and several guards opened the way, and Chongzhen wandered leisurely.

Taking my son out of the palace this time was purely on a whim, and I was also thinking about the lovely Erya, so I came here again to see if the family conditions of the craftsmen have improved.

The residential alleys in the north are more spacious than those in the south, but the environment is not as good as that in the south.After all, the north has long-term drought and less rain, and the people are not richer than the south.

Walking along, the alleys are full of low concierge houses, most of which are loess walls and thatched roofs, only a few houses are brick and tile houses, and the road surface is also a dirt road with bumps and holes.
It was winter, the wind was not too strong, and there were no dusty scenes.

Zhu Youjian walked a long distance with his hands behind his back, because the craftsmen were all on duty, and besides some children playing, they met a few old people and housewives who were watching the children.

Whether it is a child or an adult, the usual disheveled and haggard face is gone, the eyes are brightened, the numb and desperate expression has completely disappeared, and the clothes are relatively clean and tidy.

Zhu Youjian felt very satisfied in his heart. After all, his arrival changed the fate of some people and brought them hope.

This feeling of benefiting everyone made him feel good, and the adage he believed in in his previous life was finally realized: if you are poor, you will benefit yourself, and if you are rich, you will benefit the world.

After wandering around for a long time and returning to the entrance of the alley, the guards had already brought Zhu Cihong back, and Erya reluctantly followed behind.

Zhu Youjian smiled and bent down and lowered his head to Erya and said, "Erya, can you eat enough every day now?"

"Uncle, Erya eats enough to eat every day! Erya may have eaten, but Erya used to fall asleep when she was hungry! Now that Daddy has earned a lot of money, Mother has cried happily several times!
The younger brother can also eat enough, and Erya also put on new clothes!Dad said that it was all given to my family by Grandpa Long Live, and he wanted me to remember Grandpa Long Live, and I will never forget it for the rest of my life!Uncle, is Grandpa Long Live an old fairy?If Erya sees him in the future, she will kowtow to him a lot! "

Zhu Cihong, who was behind Erya, was about to speak, but Zhu Youjian stopped him with winks, and said to Erya with a smile: "Grandpa Long Live is not a god, Grandpa Long Live specializes in helping the poor, your father will have more money in the future, Er Ya Ah, there will be more delicious food! Uncle is leaving, when uncle is free, someone will bring you to play with little brother, okay?"

Erya nodded earnestly and said: "Erya will miss Uncle, after going to your house, Erya will eat a lot of food, will you make Uncle's family poor?"

Zhu Youjian laughed loudly and said: "Erya can eat at ease, uncle's family is full, and sooner or later, uncle will feed all the children in the world!"

Zhu Cihong looked at Er Ya, and said solemnly: "I'll keep something delicious for you to come. You go home and take care of your younger brother. He eats his own snot. I saw it. I'm leaving!"

After saying goodbye, Zhu Youjian smiled and took Zhu Cihong back to the palace in a carriage.

The carriage went far away, and Erya still stood there looking at the direction they were leaving.

(End of this chapter)