A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 834
In September of the 16th year of Chongzhen, in Xi'an, Shaanxi, the governor's yamen.

However, at this time, the Governor’s Yamen had been renamed the Superintendent’s Yamen, because the emperor had promoted Sun Chuanting, the governor of the three sides of Shaanxi, as Minister of the Ministry of War earlier this month, and at the same time supervised the military affairs of Baoding, Shandong, Shaanxi, Henan, Sichuan, Huguang, Jiangnan, and Jiangbei.

Sun Chuanting became a supervisor, reached the peak of the local civil servants in the Ming Dynasty, and sat on the positions that Sun Chengzong, Yuan Chonghuan, Yang Sichang, Hou Xun and others had once sat.

His honorific title will also be changed to the Ministry of Cabinet now.

Emperor Chongzhen gave Sun Chuanting such high honor and power because he had exhausted his patience, and bandits surrounded Kaifeng City to attack. Relying on Sun Chuanting, he tried to put all his eggs in one basket and win by luck.

As time went on, he was more and more inclined to let Sun Chuanting go out, so after entering September, he even made Sun Chuanting Minister of the Ministry of War, supervising military affairs in Shaanxi and Henan.

Every few days, envoys from the capital would come to Xi'an to ask how Sun Chuanting's soldiers and horses were training, when he could leave the customs and rescue them, and even beat the bandits with a drum.

This kind of mentality is like being besieged everywhere in Jinzhou. Knowing that they will escape from the customs to rescue them, they have to keep sending soldiers and horses again and again.

The thieves' tactic of encircling the spot and attacking aid really made the emperor and ministers of the Ming Dynasty helpless.

On this day, Sun Chuanting sent away another wave of urging envoys. Before leaving, the envoy's rather unfriendly tone made Sun Chuanting stand still for a long time. After returning to the flower hall, Wen Shiyan, who was sitting on the huanghuali official hat chair drinking tea, saw that his expression was not right, and joked Said: "What is the cabinet department worried about?"

Sun Chuanting looked at him, sat down slowly, he was silent for a while, and said in a deep voice: "If the imperial court comes to urge you again next time, I might have to send troops."

Wen Shiyan sat there dumbfounded, and said in surprise: "Brother Bai Gu is sure!"

Sun Chuanting nodded affirmatively.

Wen Shiyan looked at him, and Sun Chuanting's face was more wrinkled than when he first saw him, with three bushy beards interspersed with traces of gray, his expression was quite haggard, but his eyes were still full of vigor, and his waist was straight!
For some reason, Wen Shiyan suddenly felt a painful feeling in his heart. He is indifferent and calm, and likes to calculate. Feel.

He sighed, and stood up: "Brother Baigu knows the state of the world. Although the bandits are rampant, as long as the soldiers and horses in Shaanxi don't move, the bandits will be cautious no matter whether they go north or south, and the bandits don't dare to make too much of a move And if troops are sent...the food road is long, the lone army is deep, and now it is raining heavily in autumn, the road is muddy, and the army's food trucks are transporting slowly. Time is off, hurry up to train your troops and save your salary...I can tell you a little bit of news, as long as next year, destroying the bandits and captives will be like turning your palms on your ears!"

Sun Chuanting looked at Wen Shiyan fiercely.

Wen Shiyan continued: "Brother Baigu also knows that suppressing thieves is not just about military affairs. Civil disturbances start from hunger and cold, military chaos, and lack of pay. Civil affairs are not good, food and rice are not enough, can the hungry people be killed? Brother Baigu should act cautiously , dragging it on until next year is a wise move!"

Sun Chuanting looked at Wen Shiyan for a long time, his face was cloudy, and he sighed for a long time: "I don't know what you said? It's just..."

He shook his head and said: "I can't drag it on any longer. The emperor is impatient and his patience is limited. Kaifeng is in its current form. Now I am even more valuable as a supervisor. The governor of Shaanxi, Henan, Shandong and other military affairs, if Kaifeng is trapped..."

Thinking of the consequences, Sun Chuanting's body trembled, and he yelled suddenly: "How can a man treat the jailer again?"

His emotions seemed to erupt like a volcano: "I know, the emperor wasn't in such a hurry. Some officials from Shaanxi are contributing to the flames. They hate me! They hate me for checking the taxes owed by the gentry over the years! They hate me , hate me when the summer tax and autumn grain are paid by all the gentry in Shaanxi! They hate me and force them to contribute money and labor when fighting the plague! These villains want me to die!"

There is the deepest despair and pain in his words: "Don't they know that I do all this for Daming! For Daming!"

His voice, his words, every single word seemed to be squeezed out of his chest, a fishy and hot thing rushed up his throat, and Sun Chuanting swallowed it forcefully.

Wen Shiyan looked at him quietly, looking at this man who was suffering from government affairs.

Sun Chuanting gasped for breath. After a long time, he calmed down, and a confident smile appeared on his face again. Gu Panzixiong said, "I know that the battle may not be successful, but if you are lucky, you can win the battle!"

He said: "The new army has been drilled, and it is really useful in the battle of Tongguan. In the past few months, I have also established a new army supervisor battalion, and a car artillery battalion among the battalions. Although there are many thieves, most of them are mobs." , my Shaanxi soldiers go out of the customs, it is not impossible to fight!"

There was confidence in his eyes and longing: "The emperor is a bit anxious, but he is diligent in governing and loving the people, so he is a hero. If he can defeat the bandits this time, break the crisis, follow the Lord, and get rid of the ills, It's not impossible to rejuvenate Daming!"

Sun Chuanting murmured, he bit the word "Da Ming" very hard, very heavy, and there was an indescribable depth in it, the deepest love.

Wen Shiyan was silent for a long time, and said for a long time: "So, we can only go out."

He pondered and said: "Just be cautious after leaving the customs. Brother Baigu, I hope you will take care of every step, especially solve the problem of food and roads, don't be greedy for merit, and don't rush in... This is also the meaning of the General Staff of the Duhu Mansion."

Sun Chuanting nodded, and he laughed: "Brother Wen is too worried. After all, Mr. Sun is also a man who has experienced military experience. I can still decide the importance of this."

When Wen Shiyan nodded, he looked at him eagerly again: "After the soldiers and horses from Shaanxi leave the customs, the defense of Tongguan still needs to be done by Brother Wen and the lords of the Jingbian Army."

The contract between Sun Chuanting and the mercenaries of the Jingbian Army actually only lasted until September. Especially after Sun Chuanting selected strong men from the new army and formed a standard supervision battalion, the task of Wen Shiyan and others was completed.

However, Sun Chuanting tried to persuade him to stay, he had thought about leaving the pass long ago, but he only looked at the soldiers and horses of the battalions in Shaanxi. It seems that only the mercenaries of the Jingbian Army can help them guard the rear of Tongguan, so that he can leave the pass to fight without any worries.

Regarding the mercenaries of the Jingbian Army, Sun Chuanting was of course very relieved. He knew Wang Dou's current thinking very well, that is to use Shaanxi as a barrier to protect the safety of his Duhu Mansion.

So when it comes to the safety of Shaanxi, the Jingbian Army mercenaries actually care more than anyone else, and they are more dedicated than anyone else. They will use their lives to defend the safety of Tongguan.Because protecting Tongguan and Shaanxi is the will of their generals.

Sun Chuanting was also not worried about the disturbances that would be caused by the Jingbian army staying in the rear. If he was there, a mere battalion of soldiers and horses would not be able to cause any disturbances.

And if he is defeated, it is better for Shaanxi to fall into the hands of Wang Dou than to fall into the hands of bandits.From the bottom of his heart, Sun Chuanting actually admired Wang Dou very much, and he would not treat the people of Shaanxi badly. When it comes to who is the best to the people in the world, who else is there except Marquis Yongning?

Regarding Sun Chuanting's retention, Wen Shiyan, Wu Zhengchun and others also reported to the General Staff of the Duhu Mansion, and Wang Dou agreed that they should stay in Shaanxi temporarily.

Two days later, the envoy came to urge him again, but this time Sun Chuanting did not push back again. With little hope, he went to Shangshu to report the date of his departure.

—September [-].

……

Sun Chuanting's going up and leaving the customs was of course forced by the imperial court's strict order, and he himself did have a lot of luck, but he had no choice.

Emperor Chongzhen was overjoyed to get the exact date of Sun Chuanting's departure, and immediately informed the Ministry of War, strictly ordering all parties to cooperate. In addition to the coordination of rice beans in Shaanxi and Shanxi and the supply of sufficient grain and grass, he also ordered Gao Doushu, the governor of Yunyang, and Ma Shiying, the governor of Fengyang, and others to do everything. Work closely together.

On September 16th, [-]th year of Chongzhen, today is the date of the expedition. Sun Chuanting got up early in the morning. His wife, Mrs. Zhang, served him personally, put on armors, cloaks and cloaks for him, and gave him Good sword.

Looking at the busy wife in front of him, Sun Chuanting's eyes filled with guilt. He was busy with military and political affairs these years, but he neglected her.

Looking at the wrinkles at the corners of his wife's eyes, Sun Chuanting suddenly realized that the flowery girl back then was already old just like himself. He sighed and said, "Ma'am, the war is fierce and the war is in danger. I don't know if it's good or bad." ...If there is an emergency, only you will be left..."

Mrs. Zhang stopped his words, she looked at him tenderly for a while, then dignified and straightened her face, and paid respects: "My husband serves the country, don't worry about me."

Seeing his wife worshiping on the ground, Sun Chuanting's eyes suddenly turned red.

The chief followed Ma Weizhong to lead Sun Chuanting's horse, his eyes were full of reverence: "Minister, please get on the horse."

Sun Chuanting got on the horse, and he looked back at his wife for the last time, the whip whipped in the air, and he went out without hesitation.

For this expedition, Sun Chuanting will swear an oath at the Guandi Temple, and bless the victory with the spirit of a martial sage. When he arrives here, countless people and horses have gathered here, with layers of helmets and red tassels beyond sight.In this expedition, in addition to the new Shaanxi Army for drills, there will be a total of [-] soldiers and horses from Ma Guan, Qin Yiming, Gao Jie, and Niu Chenghu.

Sun Chuanting rode his horse straight to the front of the Guandi Temple. He was greeted by overwhelming cheers all the way. Sun Chuanting swore an oath in front of all the officials and the army, and read out His Majesty's imperial edict. He pulled out his sharp sword suddenly, Pointing hard to the east: "My lords, go out of the customs and kill all the thieves!"

"Wan Sheng!"

"Wan Sheng!"

"Wan Sheng!"

What greeted him was fanatical shouting, the voice was overwhelming, wave after wave, and countless soldiers cheered for him.

The old man came up to toast, Sun Chuanting drank it, threw his glass on the ground, and shouted: "Exit!"

The rolling army headed east, with cheers on both sides like a tidal wave. Countless Shaanxi elders saw off their soldiers, and they even beat the loud gongs and drums.

Wen Shiyan finally came to Sun Chuanting's horse and said solemnly: "Brother Baigu, take every step of the way!"

Sun Chuanting nodded, he rode his horse, cast a last glance at the city of Xi'an, the majestic rivers and mountains of Shaanxi, laughed, and left.

And beside him, there are mighty people, like sea flags, they can't see the front and back, they keep moving forward...

(End of this chapter)