Chapter 77: Treating Serious Illness with Strong Medicine!
In the early morning of May 26, the twelfth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, a waning moon hung slantingly in the sky, and it had not yet receded.
After breakfast, sisters Liu Ying and Liu Yan personally served Zhang Cheng and dressed neatly. They reluctantly sent Zhang Cheng to the backyard door. Liu Ying's eyes were filled with tears, and Zhang Cheng couldn't bear to see him.
He stretched out his hand to brush away Liu Ying's tears and comforted her softly: "Ying'er, don't worry, I will be back in Beijing in less than a month. You and Yan'er can stay well in the house. If necessary,
, then he told the mother-in-law and her servants to go and buy it, don’t save money for me, you know?”
"The slave family knows that, but the thought of being separated from the general for a long time makes her feel uncomfortable." Liu Ying said with tears in her eyes.
Seeing her reluctant to leave, Zhang Cheng felt grateful in his heart and hugged Liu Ying tightly. His lips whispered in her ear: "Ying'er, be good, don't cry anymore.
When I come back to the capital, I will love you very much."
Seeing the pair of delicate little beauties in front of him being so affectionate towards him, Zhang Cheng couldn't bear to leave. However, a man was born in troubled times and his ambitions are all over the place. How could he linger on this moment of tenderness.
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Zhang Cheng said goodbye to the Liu sisters and came to the front hall. Chen Zheng, Zhang Guangda and other generals had been waiting here for a long time. Everyone followed Zhang Cheng out of the General's Office and met Jin Xinpeng, Yan Qingrong and others who had just arrived.
Dozens of them rode their horses and headed towards the south gate. In front of the martial arts performance hall outside the south gate, Lei Zhancheng and Li Changsheng each led a team of guards and were ready to go.
Liu Jinhai's team will stay on the North Road. He will be responsible for training Chang Zhengxiong, Chang Zhengbiao and the more than 20 hunters collected by Changjiazhai. According to Zhang Cheng's intention, he wants to train these people.
Train to ride without guarding your sentry at night.
Here Zhang Cheng bid farewell to everyone who came to see him off. Chen Zheng, Chen Dakuan and others were about to set off back to Yunzhou with him. Zhang Chengce stood on his horse, clasped his fists at everyone and said: "Everything on the North Road will be entrusted to your place!"
Everyone clasped their fists and said in unison: "General, please don't worry."
I saw Zhang Chengyang whipping his horse and rushing south, followed closely by Wei Zhice, Chen Zhong, Chen Zheng, Chen Dakuan and others, followed by two groups of guards.
In a puff of smoke and dust, Zhang Cheng and more than 20 riders gradually moved away and disappeared from everyone's sight.
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Outside the south gate of Dushikou Fort, Sha Zhongwang, who came from Beizhaguan to see Zhang Cheng off, did not rush back. He followed Yan Qingrong, the commander, and watched from a distance as the people gradually rushed back to the fort.
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Seeing that there was no one around, Sha Zhongwang followed Yan Qingrong in two steps and said softly: "Sir, do we really want to follow the general's wishes and disperse all the servants? It has taken more than ten years.
All my hard work has been wasted like this, and even my subordinates feel it’s not worth it!”
Yan Qingrong did not stop at all and was still walking forward slowly. He glanced back at Sha Zhongwang and said: "Zhongwang, you have followed General Zhang now, but you can no longer be so short-sighted.
If you follow me, you may be able to guard Beizha Pass at most, but if you follow General Zhang now and work hard and loyally, it won't be a dream to become a guard in the future!"
A divine light flashed in Sha Zhongwang's eyes. Who doesn't want to be a high official?
It was inconvenient for him to salute, so he replied respectfully: "No matter what happens to me, I will never forget the kindness of Master Yan."
"Well, as long as you work hard and be loyal to General Zhang, you will at least be in a defensive position in the future, so do your best."
"Sir, this villain is stupid. If you encounter something you don't understand in the future, I hope you will continue to give me guidance."
"It's easy to say, after all, I brought you up single-handedly, so I won't just abandon you!"
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The weather at the end of May was already very hot and sultry even though they were located in the north. Fortunately, Zhang Cheng and others were traveling in a river valley, which was cooler than in the plains.
As the horses galloped, the sound of wind blew by their ears, making people feel slightly cool. Chen Zheng, Chen Dakuan and others stopped at Yunzhou Fort, while Zhang Cheng continued on his way.
That night, when he stayed at the General's Office in Chicheng, Zhang Cheng suspected that someone in the office was having an affair with Wu Youlu, the guard in Chicheng, so he did not see Diao Dacheng in the office.
He just sent two of his soldiers, Wang Keda and Liu Shanzi, to the newly opened Zuixianju and took the opportunity of drinking to send a message to Diao Dacheng, telling him to closely monitor Wu Youlu's every move.
Wu Youlu was really a good person. After he learned that Zhang Cheng had arrived in Chicheng, he immediately rushed to the General's Office to meet with Zhang Cheng. His enthusiasm even made Zhang Cheng forget that he had planned to frame him.
Zhang Cheng received Wu Youlu enthusiastically, and especially thanked him for gifting the Liu sisters to him. It really relieved his loneliness. Only after trying this can you know what the blessing of the whole family is and the joy of being together!
The two chatted happily in the General's Office. Because Zhang Cheng had to go to see Master Bingbei, Wu Youlu took his leave and left. Zhang Cheng still held Wu Youlu's hand in front of the door and made an appointment with him.
When you go to Beijing to express your gratitude and return, you must get drunk.
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In the official hall of the Chicheng Military Preparation and Road Department, Bingxian He Chongwu said to Zhang Cheng sincerely: "Zhongchen, you have made such achievements when you first arrived on the North Road. You wiped out the bandits in ten days, which is extraordinary.
However, this guard treats a stubborn disease and it is hard to recover from it. If you, Zhongchen, use too much force, I'm afraid it will be counterproductive!"
Zhang Cheng could feel the concern in He Bingxian's words, but he couldn't agree with the meaning of his words. What time is it now?
It is good to boil frogs in warm water, but it is too time-consuming. Zhang Cheng cannot afford to wait, and he will not give that time in these troubled times.
In today's world of great changes, serious illnesses must be treated with strong medicine!
I heard Zhang Cheng reply: "Zhang Cheng has thanked Mr. Bingxian for his concern, but now the country is suffering from internal and external troubles, and the Tartars are ravaging the capital. They retreated just at the beginning of the year, but now the rogue bandits have reappeared.
The Xian thieves surrendered and rebelled again in Gucheng, the Cao thieves wreaked havoc in Fang County, the Gezuo Fifth Battalion rebelled again in Junzhou, and even the Chuangtei who had hidden themselves in the Shangluo Mountains have appeared in Shangzhou and are likely to rise again."
Zhang Cheng said this, paused, and then said: "My lord, the bandits are on the rise again, and the country is in need of troops everywhere. How can we waste the country's money and not do our best to do our job?"
However, he only cares about his own interests and wastes his time, which makes the country's affairs increasingly difficult. How can he bear it? Zhang Cheng would rather be hated by thousands of people, but also turn his body into a sharp sword to defeat all the stubborn diseases and make the land under his rule more difficult.
His illness resurfaced, and he trained a strong force for the country and court, mopping up rogue bandits internally and fending off Tartars externally.
We only want to benefit the country and the dynasty, so why should we avoid it because of misfortunes and blessings?"
He Chongwu was moved by Zhang Cheng's impassioned words. He stood up suddenly and said loudly:
"A man who lives and dies for the benefit of his country, how can he avoid it because of misfortunes and fortunes?
Zhongchen, you have the heart to be loyal to the king and serve the country, how can I be a person who avoids profit and loss? Under the rule of Beilu, as long as it does not violate the national law and does what you want,
However, remember that everything must be planned and acted upon, and you must not act hastily. If there is any trouble, I am willing to shoulder the responsibility with you!"