Back to the end of Ming Dynasty to be a warlord

Chapter 312 Ordered to Suppress Bandits
Chongzhen 17th year, February.

Yang Chao led hundreds of soldiers and stood on the wharf at Xinjiangkou.

The Shuying Wharf has entered the final manual stage. There are not many construction ships on the river. The stone passages go deep into the wide river at the confluence of the Qinhuai River and the Yangtze River, like arms embracing the river. , is a wide rectangular stone platform, this is the pier.

There are a total of more than ten arms stretching out to the river, and there are ten large piers standing upright in the river. However, it is generally impossible for any piers to be directly on the shore, because the water level on the shore is too shallow, so the piers need to be built in a place with sufficient water depth. deep water.

However, for wooden sailboats, the water level requirement is not too high, so Yang Chao can use more berths. On both sides of the stone passages, small and medium-sized sailboats can berthed, and the large docks in deep water It is used to guarantee the large ships of more than [-] tons, that is, the large sea-going ships of this era.

Including Yang Chao's chasing boat, almost all ships traveling on the Yangtze River can actually berth at the berths on both sides of the passage in Jiangxin Wharf.

It sounds a bit wasteful to say it, but Yang Chao doesn't need a wharf of this scale at all now, but who let Yang Chao hire nearly [-] refugees, the plan that was originally planned five or even ten years later was implemented at one time.

In addition to the wharf, Yang Chao also repaired the river bank, raised and tamped the soft sand, and then laid flat bricks and stones on it, so that within a few hundred feet along the Yangtze River, it can be used as construction land, and because The construction of the pier does not need to worry about the wind and waves disturbing here.

The vast majority of refugees are constructing on the stone platform of the wharf, installing thick wooden piles for tying the ship cables, and nailing thick wooden boards to the side walls of the berths on both sides of the channel to prevent The effect of the ship directly colliding with the stone pier.

Yang Chao was standing on the bank. The cold wind on the river made people's faces icy cold, and the damp cold air sucked into the nose and mouth was even more tormenting. The cold iron armor on his body could not store heat, making people want Trembling, but at this moment every soldier stood upright.

Yang Chao is waiting for someone, the special envoy sent by the emperor, the eunuch Wang Chengen, the supervisor of rites, and the eunuch Wang Chengen.

Two days ago, news came that the emperor had sent a special envoy to convey the decree to Yang Chao, and it was just today, and he also said that he would come directly by boat, so Yang Chao came to the pier early to wait, and the incense table for connecting the decree was set up. .

But when the morning sun rose and the water vapor dissipated, Wang Cheng'en was still gone.

Suddenly a man came running towards the pier on a horse. This man was wearing a flying fish suit and carrying an embroidered spring knife. He turned out to be a Jin Yiwei.

"Who is Yang Chao, General Yang?"

The visitor saw the neat array on the shore, beat the horse and detoured in front, shouting loudly.

Yang Chao was standing at the front, and he saw it very quickly. The horse slowed down and ran slowly in front of Yang Chao, and jumped off the horse.

"Your official, Dong He, has met Lord Yang. Please go back quickly, my lord. The angel has arrived in front of the camp, but he can't enter the barracks. He is losing his temper!"

Yang Chao clasped his fists together: "Didn't the angels come by boat?"

For some unknown reason, Chongzhen sent Wang Chengen here, instead of going to the Sixth Division of Nanjing, he came directly to the barracks, but now he somehow arrived in front of the barracks.

Jin Yiwei Qianhu Dong He, who was in charge of escorting Wang Chengen to Nanjing, suddenly looked embarrassed.

"The angel was impatient, and mistook Yanziji for Xinjiangkou, so where did he get off the boat, enter through Jinchuan gate, exit through Zhenhuai gate, and take a carriage straight to the camp!"

Yang Chao was a little confused. It seemed that he was going the wrong way, but he didn't say anything, and immediately ordered the soldiers to return to the camp.

In fact, what he didn't know was that Wang Cheng'en couldn't stand the cold. He didn't expect it to be so cold on the Yangtze River, so when he saw the pier, he couldn't wait to order to land, and then drove over in a carriage.

The soldiers were dressed in iron armor, shouting slogans, stepping forward, running forward, the iron armor on their bodies rattled.

The neat and strict military appearance was completely untouched, and they came to the front of the camp.

At this time, more than ten carriages and dozens of horses were parked here, and in the middle was a large carriage with ornate decoration.

When Yang Chao's army formation appeared, it immediately became the center of these people's eyes, and moved as the army formation moved forward until it stopped.

"May I ask where the prince is?"

Yang Chao walked over and asked Dong He.

Dong He pointed to the carriage and nodded.

Yang Chao immediately walked over, and slowly bowed towards the carriage: "Your humble Yang Chao, I respectfully ask the prince to move."

Wang Cheng'en was angry at this time, but he didn't expect that a few soldiers guarding the camp dared to block them, saying that no one was allowed to enter the city without a military order.

Until he heard the voice from outside claiming to be Yang Chao, if he were any official in Beijing, Wang Chengen would definitely not give them face today, he would never get off the car, and he would not give up until he tossed the other party enough.

"Humble job Yang Chao, I respectfully ask the prince to move."

Wang Chengen heard a sound, the voice was very calm, neither happy nor angry, neither humble nor overbearing.

The reason why Wang Chengen chose to come to Yang Chao at the first time this time was because he had his own ideas. He was ordered to appease Yang Chao, so he had to give him enough face, but these big soldiers didn't give him Wang Chengen's face, it's really annoying .

"Humble job Yang Chao, I respectfully ask the prince to move."

When Wang Chengen heard the third sound, he snorted coldly in his heart, and said in his heart: If Lord Long Live hadn't asked our family to appease this soldier, our family would definitely not give you half of face today.

Thinking about it, Wang Chengen opened the curtain of the carriage by himself: "Master Yang, get flat."

Yang Chao saw that Wang Chengen opened the curtain, revealing a round face with no beard on his face, and his skin was more delicate than that of ordinary men. If he didn't say that he was a eunuch, he could be said to be the kind of creamy boy of later generations. Of course he was older. A little bit, but the cream is too old.

Seeing Wang Chengen walking down slowly by himself, Yang Chao immediately turned sideways and stretched out his arms: "My lord, please!"

Wang Chengen nodded slightly, got off the carriage, and walked straight past Yang Chao.

Followed by Yang Chao, the guard did not stop him this time, but saluted Yang Chao.

This is Yang Chao's Thousand Headquarters Battalion, which is the current main camp, and all the soldiers are here.

Yang Chao immediately asked the Huangfeng Mansion to entertain the Baijin Yiwei brought by Wang Chengen to the cafeteria for dinner and drinks, while he invited Wang Chengen, Dong He and other senior officers to set up a table in Yang Chao's own barracks.

The food and drink are still very plentiful. Yang Chao's life has never been simple. He earns money by himself, so why should he be simple.

But Wang Chengen didn't move his chopsticks very much. Yang Chao toasted him with a glass, but Yang Chao drank it in one gulp, but he just took a casual sip and immediately put down the glass. There seemed to be three words written on his face: unhappy.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, Yang Chao played a trick on Huang Feng's mansion who was with him.

Huang Fengfu immediately nodded, and then smiled softly.

"Eunuch Wang, it's been hard work from afar, my lord has granted me a small favor, please accept it with a smile!"

After speaking, he quietly slipped a bank note to Wang Chengen, and Wang Chengen opened it casually, and when he saw that it was 3000 taels in denomination, and it was a note from a big bank in Beijing, he nodded his head and narrowed the corners of his eyes. , At this time, it was written on the face: I am happy.

Huangfeng mansion then sent them over one by one by the guards in Jinyi. No one had 100 tael to 300 tael notes, and everyone was satisfied at this time.

These guys accept bribes openly, and there is no need to shy away from them.

Wang Chengen finally spoke: "Master Yang, accept the order!"

Originally, Yang Chao had prepared incense cases and planned to publicly accept the imperial decree. When it was heard that the emperor sent his confidant Wang Chengen to deliver the decree, Yang Chao already knew that the emperor did not intend to suppress him, but to appease him. Chongzhen still had political wisdom. Just a little impatient.

So Yang Chao planned to accept the order publicly, because it was obviously beneficial to him, and it was to express a meaning to the outside world. The emperor always stood by Yang Chao's side, and he robbed Liu Kongzhao for nothing. The outside world's concerns about Yang Chao were obvious. It will be canceled immediately, and all kinds of business will be straightened out. Not only can the shipping be restored to before, but the cooperation with Zheng's will also officially begin.

But Wang Chengen didn't come to the pier as Yang Chao thought. Instead, he went directly to the barracks in a carriage, and when he was eating in the small room, he suddenly said that he wanted to deliver an order.

Yang Chao immediately asked: "Eunuch Wang, the general will gather the soldiers and set up an incense table to listen to the order together."

Wang Chengen shook his head: "Don't bother. Just accept the order here."

Yang Chao couldn't help feeling a little sorry for what a great opportunity he had lost, but he had to leave the seat and kneel down.

Wang Cheng'en had already stood up, straightened his posture, and read with as serious a voice as possible: "Emperor Fengtian Chengyun, the imperial edict said: The white-headed bandits in Dongyang, Zhejiang Province gathered a crowd to rebel, and ordered Yang Chao, the deputy general of the Xinjiangkou Water Battalion, to raise troops to suppress them at a certain time. There must be no mistakes! This is it."

Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty established the Fengtian Hall, and the emperor of the Ming Dynasty called himself the Emperor of Fengtian Chengyun, so the promotion often started with "Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, Zhaoyue, Zhiyue, or Chiyue".It is not the sentence sentence method of "Fengtian Chengyun, the emperor's edict" in the TV series. The edict is to issue major government orders to the subjects of the whole world.

After hearing this, Yang Chao was a little dazed. These days he has been planning how to go north to prevent Li Zicheng from attacking Beijing. As long as the city of Beijing is not defeated by Li Zicheng, the Ming Dynasty will not perish. If the Ming Dynasty does not perish, Wu Sangui will not surrender. Wu Sangui If they don't surrender, the Manchus will not enter the customs, and it is Yang Chao's plan that the Manchus will not enter the customs.

Moreover, Yang Chao knew very well that Li Zicheng might have to act soon. Yang Chao remembered that the historical record that Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself on April 25th, he remembered this date clearly, because he was a top student. Two months away, at this time, let me go to Zhejiang to suppress the White-headed Army. Is it still too late?

Yang Chao was in a complicated state of mind, lying on the ground without moving.

Wang Chengen frowned involuntarily, thought secretly in his heart, and said coldly: "Master Yang, do you want to resist the edict?"

He was really afraid that Yang Chao would resist the decree, because this was the emperor's first step in testing Yang Chao. He ordered Yang Chao to go to Dongyang to suppress the bandits. Yang Chao had two choices at this time. The first was to resist the decree, and he would not be held accountable, because This is the central decree, which was issued directly by the emperor, without deliberation by the court, and without the cabinet's endorsement. This kind of decree has been resisted by many civil officials, and they are faintly proud of resisting this decree, showing their uprightness.

But why the emperor issued the central decree was to test Yang Chao, to test whether he would listen to the emperor's words.

"Anti-order?"

These two words made Yang Chao come to his senses, what a fart to resist the decree, at this time he has to establish a good relationship with the emperor, otherwise he will go to Beijing by himself, and it will be over if he can't enter the city.

So he immediately shouted long live: "The minister leads the decree to thank you!"

Only then did Wang Chengen let out a sigh of relief, and then he said kindly to Yang Chao: "Your Majesty said that you should make great contributions to the country. When you come back triumphantly, His Majesty will give you the rank of general and the imperial court will set up a memorial archway for you!"

Yang Chao was stunned after hearing this, what was going on, but he could only sigh: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

Yang Chao's expression caught Wang Cheng'en's eyes. He thought Yang Chao was overly excited, and he couldn't help but feel proud of the emperor's opinion.

The other Jinyiwei officers were also very excited by Wang Chengen's statement, and they felt a sense of envy that the emperor valued Yang Chao.

Then Yang Chao asked Wang Chengen to stay and watch the army drills. Wang Chengen politely declined and said that he would go to Liu Kongzhao's place. Minister, he said he was going to appease Liu Kongzhao so that he would not resent Yang Chao.

Yang Chao thanked again, and even said that the emperor's kindness is hard to repay, and he must kill the thief and make meritorious service.

But is it really going to suppress civil unrest? This is a difficult choice.

(End of this chapter)