Ming Empire

Chapter 33 To Datong
On the second day after Cao Yuede was interviewed by Emperor Chongzhen, Daishan was tortured at Caishikou, almost to death by hacking.

During the Battle of Songshan, Wang Pu, the commander-in-chief of Datong, who was the first to abandon the army and escape, and Zhang Ruolin, the supervisor, were also executed.

After killing Daishan and Wang Pu and Zhang Ruolin, the two scapegoats who were defeated in the Songshan Battle, Emperor Chongzhen declared amnesty and rewarded Hong Chengchou and Cao Bianjiao.Hong Chengchou joined the Prince Taibao, and continued to preside over the military and political affairs of Liaodong as the governor of Jiliao. Cao Bianjiao was appointed as the commander of the Liaodong capital and the commander of the Liaodong military affairs.Other generals who made great achievements in battle also received rewards, and the more than a thousand soldiers who followed Cao Yue to attack Shengjing received relatively generous rewards.

But now that the national treasury is empty, the imperial court really can't spend much money to reward the sergeants who have made military exploits. The money and things rewarded to Cao Yue and his soldiers are also pitifully small.Cao Yue had to promise that when the soldiers came to Datong with him, he would give them enough rewards to satisfy them.

Cao Yue distributed all the rewards he got to his right-hand assistants, including Cao Jie, Zhao Liang and others.

Although the soldiers were seldom angry about the rewards they received, Cao Yue's actions still warmed their hearts.

More than a thousand people led by Cao Yue's plaintiff, as well as two thousand soldiers provided by Hong Chengchou, will follow him to Datong.

Cao Yue also wanted to leave Beijing early and go to Datong, his hometown, where he would be more at ease, and there was no one there who could restrain him, so he could train his troops according to his own ideas and develop a team with strong combat effectiveness. Elite soldiers come.

Cao Yue also asked Cao Jie to take some people to leave Beijing and go to Datong to make some necessary preparations.

In the next few days, Chang Yanling and others came to invite Cao Yue from time to time, and took him to brothels or restaurants to drink and have fun.

Cao Yue didn't refuse either, since there was nothing to do anyway, so they followed when they came to make an appointment.

When people get along with each other, what they pay attention to is fate. Many people meet and get along every day, but they can't get along with each other deeply; That's what it feels like.

Although these few people seem to be that dandy gangster, this is just a manifestation. In Cao Yue's view, these few people are quite bold and righteous, straightforward, and quite bloody, and they are people worthy of friendship.

In fact, if it wasn't for this type of person, they wouldn't have come to meet Cao Yue carelessly and asked him out for a drink.They admired Cao Yue's courage and heroism, so they came here to meet him.Cao Yue was very fortunate to be able to meet these people after arriving in Beijing.

On this day, the four of them drank and listened to music together in Tianxianglou. After several contacts, Chang Yanling and others also knew that Cao Yue had high eyesight. Ordinary brothel girls looked down on them, and even the courtesans of Tianxianglou had no interest in joining them. , I don't recommend any woman to him.

Chang Yanling has already decided to go to Nanjing to take up his post in a few days.

"Brother Yue, brother, I will go to Nanjing in a few days. I think you will go to Datong soon. You have to keep your word, and you must come to Nanjing. My brother will take you to play, and take you to see Qinhuai Bayan. If you like any of them, brother will definitely get it for you!" Chang Yanling hiccupped and said to Cao Yue: "Qinhuai Bayan are all people with eyes above the top, but they can definitely look like Brother Yue For such a heroic and talented person, maybe there will be a lot of romantic affairs in the news."

Zhang Shize and Guo Peimin immediately laughed, saying that they really hope to see a romantic story of a hero accompanied by a beauty.

After joking around, Cao Yue also brought the topic to some serious matters. He told Chang Yanling in a low voice that after he arrived in Datong, he might send some family members to Nanjing to buy some property. He hoped to get Chang Yanling help.

Cao Wenzhao is from Datong. Cao Yue's family, including his mother, second brother Cao Chao and other family members are all in Datong. Datong can be said to be the birthplace and base camp of their Cao family.This time when he was working in Datong, Cao Yue planned to plan ahead and arrange some things. He would send some trusted people to Nanjing to buy some industries and prepare for the future development.

During the Ming Dynasty, the most affluent place was Jiangnan. Today's Ming court wants money but has no money, and things but nothing. If it wants to achieve great things, it must go to the south to develop.The south has money and things, and Cao Yue plans to let his family members who are capable and trustworthy go to Nanjing to buy some properties and work hard to make money to complete his grand plan.

Datong is a good place. His father, Cao Wenzhao, still has influence. The Cao family is also one of the most powerful families in Datong. Wang Pu's Wang family can't compare with the Cao family. But Datong is barren, and it is difficult to complete the plan.

Moreover, the situation in the north is unstable, and Li Zicheng's peasant uprising army and Jiannu can threaten them, while neither Jiannu nor Li Zicheng in the south will take care of it for the time being. Their goal is Beijing, the capital of Ming Dynasty.

Datong is not far from Beijing. If there is a war, it will definitely be affected. Cao Yue has to consider other considerations.

Hearing what Cao Yue said, Chang Yanling agreed without hesitation, and said with a pat on the chest that Cao Yue's affairs are his affairs, as long as he can do it, just say it.

Cao Yue expressed his gratitude, and he suggested that Zhang Shize and Guo Peimin also strive for the opportunity to go to Nanjing.However, these two people don't seem to have any thoughts in this regard, and only said that they will decide in the future depending on the opportunity.

Three days after the meeting, Chang Yanling left Beijing to take up his post in Nanjing.

Cao Yue, who was still on vacation, went to see him off with Zhang Shize and Guo Peimin.

In the next few days, Cao Yue also began to prepare for returning to Datong.

To take over as the commander-in-chief of Datong, you need to go to the Ministry of War for handover.Chen Xinjia, Minister of the Ministry of War, was the one who promoted Wang Pu single-handedly. He didn't seem to be very enthusiastic about Cao Yue, a general who made great achievements in the war. give face.

After returning to Beijing, the officials he encountered seemed to be unfriendly to him. Cao Yue was very puzzled and couldn't figure out why.

Fortunately, the handover will be done soon. After the handover, Cao Yue can leave Beijing and take up his post in Datong.

When the Ministry of War was handed over, Cao Yue also knew one thing, that is, there are very few soldiers and horses in Datong Town. When Wang Pu threw down his men and horses to flee for their lives, most of the soldiers in Datong Town were wiped out by Jiannu, and a few were wiped out by Jiannu. When the other generals were incorporated, Cao Yue went to Datong, and only the more than [-] old and weak who stayed in Datong could be commanded.Although the imperial court has given a recruitment plan, it is not an easy task to recruit a full-staffed army.Moreover, the imperial court has no way to pay the salary, so Cao Yue needs to find a way to raise it himself.

Cao Yue didn't know if this was a deliberate attempt by the Ministry of War to make things difficult, or if this was indeed the case.But Cao Yue, who had seen many similar situations and knew that everything had to be solved by himself, didn't complain too much.

During this period of time, he also tried to find some connections, including Wang Chengen's in the palace, and some close friends of his father, and got some of what he wanted.

When Cao Yue was about to leave Beijing, Emperor Chongzhen summoned him again.

This time Chongzhen sent Wang Chengen to invite him over. This special treatment made Cao Yue a little flattered.

After being courteous to each other, Wang Chengen also revealed that Emperor Chongzhen wanted Cao Yue to be his son-in-law. Of course, he said it very cryptically, and he didn't say that it was Emperor Chongzhen's intention. Age, now Emperor Chongzhen is looking for a good son-in-law for his daughter, he thinks Cao Yue is quite suitable, and asked Cao Yue if he would like to be a son-in-law.

Cao Yue didn't expect Wang Chengen to ask such a question. He was not stupid, and he immediately thought that Emperor Chongzhen sent Wang Chengen to test him. He subconsciously wanted to agree, but he immediately felt that the matter was not so simple. He is also aware of the many restrictions on Zhu Yuxi. After praising Zhu Yu's beauty and generosity, he said euphemistically: "My lord, if you can marry Princess Kunxing, it will be a blessing for the last general. But now that the country is in crisis, foreign invasions continue. , There is civil strife in Ming Dynasty, the world is not safe, the big man should be responsible for protecting the family and the country, the Xiongnu is not destroyed, why should the family be? What the general wants most now is to eliminate the Jiannu and put down the rebellion, nothing else Thought about it!"

Hearing what Cao Yue said, Wang Chengen was not angry at all. Instead, he admired Cao Yue's arrogance. He said that what Daming lacks most now is a brave and ambitious person like Cao Yue. He will definitely relay Cao Yue's words to the emperor. .

When Emperor Chongzhen met Cao Yue, he only encouraged Cao Yue, asking him to lead the army after arriving in Datong. Datong is the throat to guard the capital, and Jiannu and Chuangni may come from there. I hope Cao Yue Don't live up to his expectations. The enemies who will commit crimes in the future will be wiped out under the city, and the slaves or rebels will not be allowed to invade Beijing through Datong.

Emperor Chongzhen also gave Cao Yue some promises, but they were all vague things. In Cao Yue's opinion, they were fake and empty.However, Emperor Chongzhen's special treatment of him made him quite satisfied, and he didn't dare to ask for anything in front of Chongzhen.

When Cao Yue was about to resign, Emperor Chongzhen changed the subject, talked about Cao Yue's marriage, and asked Cao Yue what he thought about his lifelong events.Cao Yue also roughly repeated to Chongzhen what he had just said to Wang Chengen.

Before meeting Cao Yue just now, Chongzhen, who had already heard Wang Chengen relay what Cao Yue said, didn't say much, but praised Cao Yue greatly, and said that if Cao Yue made further military exploits, he would personally reward Cao Yue. marriage.

Hearing what Chongzhen said, Cao Yue became more and more convinced that the old emperor in front of him wanted him to be his son-in-law.However, Emperor Chongzhen didn't say it clearly, and Cao Yue didn't dare to think too much, let alone express his willingness or unwillingness on this matter, he could only thank him.

Guessing what Emperor Chongzhen meant, Cao Yue really wanted to see Aimee Zhu, to see if Aimee Zhu knew about this and how she would react.But when he left Qianqing Palace, he didn't meet Aimee Zhu or Aimee Zhu, so he couldn't meet Aimee Zhu.

In the end, Cao Yue left Beijing with some regrets, and went to Datong to take up his post!
(End of Volume [-])
(End of this chapter)