On the fifth day of the first lunar month in the fifteenth year of Chongzhen's reign in the Ming Dynasty, in the Ruiyun Temple a few miles southwest of Chi Castle, Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng was drinking tea and discussing matters with his core subordinates.
After the New Year's Day, Zhang Cheng will set off to Xuanfu Town to take over the post of commander-in-chief. In addition to making some arrangements for the North Road and the East Road, he also made arrangements for the flood garrison of the Sixth Battalion.
.
The imperial court ordered Yong Ning Bo to lead a large army into Henan to help suppress Cao's rebel army after the spring. It is impossible for all the soldiers of the six battalions to go out to fight. There must be large troops staying on both sides of the east road and the town. After all, Xuanzang belongs to Zhang Cheng.
The foundation is there and cannot be lost.
At present, although Zhang Cheng does not fully control the land and military resources of the entire Xuan Town, he has no rivals in the Xuan Mansion. All that is left is to spend some time integrating them.
The North Road and East Road that he now firmly controls are nearly half of Xuanfu's land, and the rest include Middle Road, Nanshan Road, Shangxi Road, Xiaxi Road, etc.
There were seven original garrison generals in Xuanfu, including General Dushi Maying of the North Road, General Beilai Yongning of the East Road, General Wanquan Youwei of the Upper West Road, General Shunsheng Weiguang of the South Road, and General Ge of the Middle Road.
General Yubao, General Counselor Chaigoubao on Xiaxi Road, and General General Nanshan.
Today, both the North Road and the East Road are under the control of Admiral Zhang Cheng. Although he has been promoted to the post of Commander-in-Chief, the person who will replace him in these two places has not yet been determined, and he is still under his control for the time being.
He was not prepared to replace all the remaining generals. After all, that would not only create too many enemies, but would also greatly increase their resistance, which might even cause a series of unnecessary chain reactions.
Anyway, there is still a lot of money in hand now, Zhang Cheng decided to rely on his existing strength, first get rid of a small group of die-hards, then buy a group of speculators, and finally replace the centrists who are ignorant of current affairs.
Batch.
In this way, there will no longer be any powerful local faction in Xuanfu Town that can stop him, and he can also use Xuanfu's strength to further control Datong and Shanxi Town.
"The North Road and the East Road are the foundations of our brave army. We should leave a general to guard them."
Zhang Cheng, the Bo of Yongning, went on to say: "Kang that this year we have to re-measure the fields and soil of Yanqing and Baoan Prefectures according to the fish scale book, so the resistance will definitely be considerable.
Therefore, the east route is more important. The people left behind must be firm-minded and decisive in killing, otherwise it will be difficult to deter the gentry, officials and rogues in these two states."
He did not say which one should be left to take charge of the East Road, but he cast his eyes on Jin Xinpeng, Yan Qingrong, Wang Yuanjing, Wei Zhice, Zhang Guangda, Chen Zheng and others, gesturing for their active suggestions and suggestions.
At this moment, those who can enter the Zen room of Ruiyun Temple are all those close to Zhang Cheng, such as Jin Xinpeng, Yan Qingrong, He Biao, Wang Yuanjing, Liu Zhi, Cao Jinwang, Liu Minshen and other civil servants on the left.
Among them, only Liu Minshen had recently joined Yongning Bo's command, while the others were all veterans who had been recruited by Zhang Cheng before and after he left Zhenbei Road.
Seated on the right are the chief generals of the six battalions, including Wu Zhizhong, Wei Zhice, Zhang Guangda, Zhang Guodong, Chen Zheng, and Li Jiyu, as well as individual lieutenants such as Lin Fangping, Jin Yong, Kuang Yongzhong, and Tang Xiancheng.
He Zhenxiong, a guerrilla from Biao Zuoying, was also present.
Zhang Cheng's command is obviously strong in military and weak in military affairs. But it's no wonder. Which emerging armed force is not like this?
Powerful force is the guarantee for their future. Money, food, population, and land can all be captured and protected by force. As for management and production, they are not that important in the early stages of entrepreneurship.
After all, most of these things happened at the end of the dynasty, when human life was too low. As long as those who stutter can survive, they will become the hardest-working production machines in the world!
But even so, Zhang Cheng still tried his best to recruit scholars in advance, and at the same time, he also trained a large number of his own scholars in the areas controlled by Yongyi Army.
Places such as military halls, workshops and literacy halls throughout the forts were all cultivating practical scholars for him, but it was only a short time ago and the role they played was not so obvious.
Now, there are many scholars available to Yongning Bo and Zhang Cheng, but the only ones who have truly entered his inner circle are all of you here.
At this time, Yan Qingrong, the commander of the Yongning Guards, said: "Weiyuan and Tengshe 2nd Battalion will definitely follow the general to the town. The left-behind general will be chosen from the remaining four battalions."
Everyone nodded in agreement and looked at Zhang Guangda, Zhang Guodong, Chen Zheng and Li Jiyu, as if they were selecting those who would stay behind.
Kaiping Guard Commander Jin Xinpeng looked at Yan Qingrong and asked him: "I think it is more appropriate for General Yu Yu's Xuanwu Battalion to stay on the east road. What do Commander Yan think?"
After hearing what he said, Zhang Guangda, the commander of Zhuque Camp, seemed a little unconvinced. He was about to get up and asked to stay on the east road, but when he turned around, he suddenly saw Wu Zhizhong staring at him with a pair of big eyes.
Looking at himself, he couldn't help but shrink back.
Among them, Wu Zhizhong was the oldest and the most calm and capable. Therefore, even though he lost an arm during the Battle of Julu, Zhang Cheng still did not give up on him. Instead, he entrusted him with the important task of recruiting and training troops.
And he lived up to expectations. Not only did he do a good job in recruiting and training troops, but he also continued the style of Big Brother. He was very important and respected in the hearts of Zhang Guangda, Chen Zheng and others.
Here, Yan Qingrong didn't know what he meant. The general who stayed on the East Road would inevitably have to take charge of the verification of the fields. Most of the fields on the East Road were in the hands of those local powerful people, and the forces behind them were also intricate and complex.
very.
Therefore, during the process of checking the fields, some inevitable bloody conflicts will inevitably occur. If the power behind these tycoons is too strong, then those who stay on the east road may have to take the blame for Zhang Chenglai.
From this point of view, Zhang Guangda, Zhang Guodong, Chen Zheng, etc. are all Zhang Cheng's confidants and his most beloved generals, but Li Jiyu was a bandit who was recruited during the suppression of Henan Province, so there is a gap in the relationship between them.
.
Secondly, because of his background as a bandit, no matter how extraordinary things he did while staying on the East Road, it was easy to rely on him as a last resort.
After all, as a thief, what else can't he do?
As expected, Yan Qingrong knew everything. He nodded and stroked his cheek with his hand, and said softly: "Li Youyi is the best candidate."
Zhang Cheng also nodded when he heard this, but he did not express his position. He seemed to be waiting for something?
Lin Fangping, who was sitting next to Li Jiyu, reached out and slapped him. Seeing Li Jiyu turning his head to look blankly, he pursed his lips and winked to give him a hint.
It has been some time since Li Jiyu joined Zhang Cheng's command, and now he has become one of the six generals of the Yongyi Army's founding army. He is also a figure of great status and importance in the Yongyi Army.
But after he returned from the Liaodong War, he was no longer as active as before. He was often in a meditative state, as if he had become calmer after this battle.
Now reminded by Lin Fangping, he first smiled and expressed his gratitude, then stood up and raised his fists and said loudly: "To the general, I am willing to guard the east road for the general, overcome obstacles, clean up the villages, and overwhelm the local dignitaries."
Zhang Cheng was very satisfied when he saw that he could take the initiative to ask for a job. He nodded and asked him: "Li Jiyu, I am very pleased that you can shoulder this important task bravely."
He stared at Li Jiyu and continued with a heavy tone: "However, Yanqing and Baoan Prefecture on the East Road are no more solid military bases than other places. There are mainly civilian households and other officials and gentry, and there are very few
Military household.
Therefore, if we want to re-measure the land based on fish scales in this two-state area, the resistance will definitely be greater than that of the North Road. The wealthy gentry and officials inside are relatively easy to deal with, but the outside is also extremely involved.
If this matter gets out of hand, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you, so you should think carefully about this matter and don't make a decision at the moment!"
Yong Ningbo's words were slightly exaggerated. They were intended to remind Li Jiyu of his responsibility to stay on the east road and the possible serious consequences. At the same time, he also wanted to use this to test whether his will was firm.
After Li Jiyu heard this, there was no sign of timidity on his face. He stood up and left the table and walked quickly to the center of the nunnery. He leaned over and knelt down. He looked at Zhang Cheng who was above him with firm eyes and spoke firmly.
He replied in a loud voice: "General, I met a first-rate thief in Dengfeng County. At that time, there was chaos in the countryside, and I completely forgot the word loyalty.
I was fortunate enough to meet a general who went to suppress bandits in Henan Province. When I was defeated, I never gave up. I was supported in front of the general and was given a guerrilla position, which was enough to comfort my parents who both lost their lives.
This kindness will be unforgettable, I dare not repay the general's kindness with death!"
When he said this, he turned around and glanced at Wei Zhice, and then continued: "Moreover, every time I listen to Mr. Wei's lectures, it is often said that 'a scholar will die for his close friends'. Although I am not as good as Jing Ke, Hou Ying, Yu Rang, etc.
The ancient righteous man.
But I am also touched by their loyalty. In this life, I, Li Jiyu, only recognize the General. I am willing to entrust my life to the General and fight for the General, even if I die."
"good!"
It was his attitude that Uncle Yongning and Zhang Cheng were waiting for, and he continued: "Li Jiyu, I already knew that you are a good man who values love and righteousness, and it turns out that you are."
Zhang Cheng then turned to look at Yan Qingrong, the commander of the Yongning Guards, and said to him: "Commander Yan, let the Xuanwu Battalion stay on the east road for me to help you check the land in the two states and rebuild the 'Fish Scale Book'."
When Yan Qingrong heard this, he stood up and replied: "General, please rest assured, Qingrong will never disgrace his orders."
At this time, Zhang Cheng turned to look at Li Jiyu and said to him with a smile: "Li Jiyu, you must obey the strict command on the east road and fully cooperate with him to clear his father-in-law's land. Feel free to do things freely. When it's time to see blood,
, never be lenient.
You must let those scoundrels who stand in the way of my Yongyi Army know how powerful our Yongyi Army is, and don’t be afraid of causing trouble for me. Even if the sky falls, I will be there to support you.”
"Please rest assured, General. If you obey strict orders in all situations, you will definitely be able to handle this matter."
"good."
Zhang Cheng nodded to express his satisfaction, and then said: "You lead the Xuanwu Camp's central army to be stationed in Huailai, and use the period after the year to recruit a group of soldiers on the east road to make up for the Xuanwu Camp's troops.
As for the post of Qian Zongzong, it can be temporarily held concurrently by Zhou Ruli, an officer in the Central Military Commission."
"Here."
"Liu Shizun, the deputy general of your battalion, leads the front and left troops and is stationed in Baoan Prefecture; deputy general Gou Changsheng leads the rear and right troops and horses and is stationed in Yanqing Prefecture; the governor Liu Zhi is responsible for the pacification of the troops stationed everywhere.
, asking him to patrol various places and try the criminals who obstructed the clearing of land from his father-in-law."
Li Jiyu shouted loudly: "Here!"
Then some other matters were discussed, such as the recruitment of strong men to fill the vacancies in each battalion, and the situation of where each battalion of the Yongyi Army was stationed during the flood season.
It was finally decided that the Zhenbiao Battalion and the Weiyuan, Tengshe, and Baihu battalions would accompany Zhang Cheng to station in Zhencheng, while the Zhuque Battalion and Qinglong Battalion would temporarily stay at the North Road until Zhang Cheng arrived in Zhencheng to take over the post of commander-in-chief.
, and then arrange the flood areas.
Zhang Cheng's Zhenbiao Battalion is still commanded by the veteran general Guo Yingxian. However, the soldiers and horses of He Zhenxiong, the original Zhenbiao Left Battalion, have now been merged into the Biao Camp, and he has also served as the deputy general of the Biao Camp.
The old foundation left to Zhang Cheng by Yang Guozhu, the former commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu, was that there were originally more than 8,000 soldiers and horses. However, by the end of the Liaodong War, there were nearly 1,000 casualties, leaving only about 7,000 soldiers and horses.
Zhang Cheng took advantage of the expansion of the Sixth Battalion and merged half of them directly into his own Sixth Battalion, while the remaining Zhenbiao Zuoying was merged into the Biaoying.
As a result, Zhang Cheng actually had seven battalions of men and horses under his command. This famous battalion alone had 47,800 men and horses, not counting the defenders of the castles on the north and east roads.
Soldiers and garrison troops.
In addition, there are scattered forces in the fortresses outside in the name of bandits. Of course, Chen Zhong's troops stationed in Mianhe Town, north of the Yellow River, are Zhang Cheng's biggest force outside Xuan Town.
However, feeding such a large army requires huge amounts of money and food. Even though Zhang Cheng used military coupons and silver coins to offset most of his money and food expenses, he still felt that he was stretched thin.
However, this time the expansion of the army still lacked a large number of armor weapons, artillery and muskets and other equipment, and it was unknown how much money it would cost, but it happened that "the house leaked and it rained all night."
Jin Xinpeng, who has been responsible for the revenue and expenditure of money and food, said: "General, there is one more important matter. It is related to the stability of our North Road and East Road. It is indeed a top priority!"
Although Zhang Cheng also knew that his money and food supplies had always been tight, although he did not cut off the military's food and salary expenses because of this, he still managed to support himself, which was indeed a hardship for Jin Xinpeng, Yan Qingrong and others.
At this time, when he heard Jin Xinpeng speak so seriously, he naturally did not dare to be vague, and immediately asked: "Why is it so urgent? Just tell me."
Jin Xinpeng's face suddenly became serious, and he heard him report: "General, do you remember that when he led the army to aid the Liao Dynasty last time, Xinpeng had already reported that there were people in Zhencheng and Datong who were pretending to declare the North's military votes?
thing."
Zhang Cheng nodded slightly doubtfully and said: "This is indeed the case."
I only heard Jin Xinpeng continue: "At that time, fake military stamps were only found in Zhencheng and Datong. Recently, they were also found on South Road and West Road. Even on North Road and East Road, there were fake military stamps on the market.
circulation.
Although it was discovered recently that the amount of circulation in North Road and East Road should not be large, there is a tendency of laziness in Zhencheng and Datong. This has a great impact on the credibility of our Xuanfu Military Invoices.
If they withdraw money, food, cloth and silk by check at the same time, I might not be able to cope with my inventory!"