On the eighth day of June in the twelfth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, outside the Desheng Gate in the north of the capital city.
Yu Shangyou, the censor, Yuan Pengnian, the head of the Rites Department, Tiao Ding and Ma Jiazhi, the official officials, and Liang Yuming, the traveler's secretary, were seeing Zhang Cheng off.
They saw that even Zhang Ruoqi, a doctor in the Ministry of War, had condescended to come to see Zhang Cheng off. Everyone looked at Zhang Cheng with eyes full of expectation, especially Wang Tiaoding, who looked even more enthusiastic.
The world said that civil servants were noble, but when Zhang Cheng looked at all this, he knew clearly that official positions were still very attractive to the people in front of him.
He does not rule out that there are noble literati, but there are so many scholars in the Ming Dynasty. They have studied hard for more than ten or even decades, what is the purpose?
Why don't you sit in the high hall when you are naming your names for the gold medal list? Once you hold the seal, you will get the order!
Let’s talk about this Ruoqi. After Zhang Cheng came to the palace to meet Emperor Chongzhen the day before yesterday, Yang Sichang summoned him to the cabinet to speak, and asked him to send a letter from the Ministry of War to Xuanfu North Road and East Road to prepare troops for Zhang Cheng.
We must give our full support to bravely marching into the army.
He naturally knew Yang Sichang's position in Chongzhen's heart. Looking at the situation in the court, Yang Sichang would definitely succeed Xue Guoguan as the chief assistant if nothing unexpected happened.
Zhang Cheng can be summoned by the emperor repeatedly, and he can also be supported by senior officials like Yang Ge and Chen Xinjia. His future achievements will be limitless. If he is not close to him now, he may not have a chance in the future.
I saw him saying: "General Zhang came and went in such a hurry that my brother couldn't even arrange a drink."
Zhang Cheng took his hand and said: "How can my brother talk like this? When Zhang Cheng comes to Beijing again, he will definitely pay him a visit and get drunk with his brother."
It turned out that Zhang Ruoqi had been chatting enthusiastically with Zhang Cheng just now, and he had great intentions of reconnecting with him. Zhang Cheng did not comment, and the two of them laughed and treated each other like brothers.
"By the way, my good brother, Wang Diaoding also knows a little bit about military matters. If he will serve in your military department from now on, my brother should give you some advice."
Zhang Cheng still did not forget to say a few nice words in front of Wang Tiaoding, trying his best to win people's hearts.
That day while drinking at Tongchun Tower, he said that he wanted to mention Wang Diaoding, Ma Jiazhi, Liang Yuming and others. In the past few days, Wei Zhice wandered around between Xue Guoguan and the officials, passing some silver and favors.
This matter has taken hold.
Zhang Ruoqi listened to Zhang Cheng's words and said with a smile: "The person recommended by my brother must be somewhat talented and knowledgeable, and easy to talk to. Don't worry, brother."
Zhang Cheng also smiled, then turned to Wang Diaoding, Ma Jiazhi, Liang Yuming and others: "I have already recommended a few to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Education. We will have some clues in the next few days. Please be patient and wait patiently."
Good news."
Everyone was smiling with joy, their brows full of excitement, and they all thanked Zhang Cheng.
At this time, Chen Zhong had brought the war horse. Zhang Cheng took the reins and climbed on the horse. He clasped his fists in front of everyone and said: "Zhang Cheng has received the instructions from the cabinet minister. He must return to the north road quickly to serve the country and must not fight with him."
It is a great pity that you all will be reunited again. When Zhang Cheng comes to the capital again, I will surely reunite with you all and have fun together!"
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he raised his whip and whipped the horse. The white dragon colt under his crotch neighed, raised its front hooves, jumped hard with its hind hooves, and then galloped away. Chen Zhong, Wei Zhice and others followed behind on their horses, heading towards Changping Juyongguan.
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Chang'an Ridge was formerly known as Qiangan Ridge because there were rocks standing on the ridge that looked like spear poles. Its location is between Huailai and Longmen, and it is the northern barrier of Yan State. It is 140 miles away from Xuanfu Town.
The terrain of Chang'anling Fort is extremely dangerous. The east and west ends of the fort span the mountains and are built on the main pass between the two ridges. The middle part is guarding the access between the north and the south. The city wall on the ridge has been twisted and turned several times.
"Xuanfu Town Chronicle" records that "Chang'anling Fort is five miles and thirteen steps long, three feet high, equipped with four towers and two city gates. The south gate is called 'Ying'en', and the north gate is called 'Gonghuan'."
Chang'an Lingbao City is an irregular olive shape, with the east and west city peaks extending to the tops of the mountains on both sides, like a phoenix spreading its wings, so it is also called Phoenix City. The "Xuanhua Prefecture Chronicle" records that "Phoenix Mountain is a hundred steps south of Chang'an Lingbao.
, Chang'anling City is also the Phoenix City."
At noon that day, Zhang Cheng and a group of more than 70 knights rested in the Chang'anling Fort. They traveled all the way out of the capital and arrived at Chang'anling Fort at the end of Si Shi.
The Qianhu of Chang'anling Qianhu Station is none other than Liu Shizun, the eldest son of Liu Guangwu, the former military commander of Shangbei Road. He was accompanying Zhang Cheng and talking to him, trying his best to persuade Zhang Cheng to stay in the fort for one night.
Go again.
He pulled Zhang Cheng and said, "General Zhang must be tired from running around for days. Let's rest here today. It won't be too late to start our journey again tomorrow."
Zhang Cheng stood on the south gate wall of Chang'anling Fort and looked at the Wengcheng. He said: "Good brother, you and I are just a few years apart. My Liu sisters have adopted Mrs. Liu as their adoptive mother. We are brothers."
Bar."
When he said this, he turned around and looked at Liu Shizun and said: "I also want to stay at Brother Liu's place for a night and have a good drink and talk with him. However, when I first arrived at Beilu, everything was undecided.
Mr. Yang Ge and the emperor in Beijing are eagerly looking forward to my brother becoming a powerful force as soon as possible. I really don't dare to delay. Brother, don't be anxious. When everything on the North Road is settled, I will go to Yongning to meet with Deputy General Zhang.
I will definitely go to Chang'an Mountains at that time, my brothers will always have time to get together."
Liu Shizun showed a disappointed look on his face, but he had no choice but to say: "In this case, Shizun does not dare to force him to stay. He can only wait until next time to have a drink with the general."
"You and I, my brothers, why should we be so polite? Let's rest for a while and we will set off at noon. Today we arrived at Diaohao Castle to stay, and we will be in Chicheng at this time tomorrow." Zhang Cheng said with a smile.
He walked down the horse path of the fort wall and said to Liu Shizun beside him: "General Liu Shen, everything is okay."
"In response to the general's words, I thank you for your concern. My father is doing well. He always came to talk to the general with confidence. I hope that the general will go to town early so that he can have a drink with you." Liu Shizun replied.
Zhang Cheng stopped and said in a deep voice: "World Honored One, from now on, you and I will treat each other as brothers. We must not be so formal anymore. Of course, if we are in a military tent, then that is a different matter."
Liu Shizun smiled and agreed, and Zhang Cheng and he walked around the fort for a while, looked around, ate something briefly, and then rode horses from the "Gonghuan Gate" in the north to Diaohao Fort.
And go.
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Zhang Cheng and more than 70 people rode out of Chang'anling Fort and headed north along the valley road. The steep walls on both sides were very rugged and there was a long and narrow road in the middle.
It is precisely because of the dangerous places like Chang'an Mountain that even if the Mongolian Tatars break through the Monolith Fort and Maying Fort southward, they will most likely be blocked here, but they cannot easily threaten the important areas of the Ming Dynasty's capital.
Although this was the mainland of the Ming Dynasty and they had just left Chang'anling Fort, Zhang Cheng still divided the march into three groups for safety reasons. In the front was Chen Zhong leading 20 cavalry to explore the road, and more than 200 steps away were Zhang Cheng and Wei Zhice.
He led twenty guards in the middle, and then Zhang Guodong led thirty cavalry to the rear.