In the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, on the fourth day of October, at the end of Shenshi, the snowflakes in the sky were sparse and flying in the wind.
The snow here in Changping is obviously much lighter, and the wind is not that strong. Chen Zhong is still patrolling outside the military tent of General Zhang Yan in Xuan Town. From time to time, groups of knights can be seen rushing back and forth.
In the military tent, there were only Zhang Cheng's uncle and nephew. They sat around the table in General Zhang Yan's tent and talked softly.
"Well, Shiku will be given a flag pole and a pair of his black tasseled hat and armor. However, there are only about fifty Tartar horse armor and infantry and forty auxiliary soldiers. Most of the rest are the heads of coated Aha." Zhang Cheng could see his uncle's shock in his eyes.
Zhang Yan grabbed Zhang Cheng's hand and said with great concern: "Cheng'er, today's matter is over. My uncle will definitely deal with it for you, but you must not be so reckless in the future."
"But uncle, please be at ease. Cheng'er will act prudently from now on and don't dare to worry uncle." Zhang Cheng's tone was very sincere.
"Well, you have made great achievements in today's battle. I'm afraid I need to ask Yang Junmen to share some of your work." When Zhang Yan said this, his eyes were fixed on Zhang Cheng, and his face was quite solemn.
Zhang Cheng looked at his uncle and said in a calm tone: "Cheng'er was really rash today. It's up to my uncle to make the decision in everything."
"Don't worry, my uncle will fight for you, but I don't know if you are promoted too quickly, it may not be a blessing." Zhang Yan seemed a little worried, looked at Zhang Cheng, and said in a deep voice: "Looking at your recent performance, It is indeed more stable, but the limelight seems to be more powerful, hey, the trees are so beautiful in the forest..."
"Report to the general."
Zhang Yan's words were interrupted, and a calm and capable voice came from outside the military tent.
"Come in." Zhang Yan loudly replied outside the military tent.
The curtain was raised, and a middle-aged general who was not tall but very strong walked into the military tent. He cupped his fists and said: "General, my subordinates encountered Yu Jin, the officer of the left sentry team under the young general master. At this time, I am afraid that he has already died." Go outside the camp."
Zhang Cheng had retreated and stood on the left side of the military tent, standing erect and solemn with an expressionless face.
Zhang Yan turned his head and said angrily: "Let's go, boy, to greet our soldiers who have returned to camp in triumph."
Zhang Cheng followed behind and heard the middle-aged general's voice ringing in his ears: "The young master is not a bad guy. He killed with ease today."
"Lin Qianhu, if I'm calling you Mr. Lin, I'll call you Uncle Lin!"
Zhang Cheng was joking with the middle-aged general, looking back at his square dark red face, and said softly: "This time I went out to kill the Tartars, how could I not have the credit of the Chinese military sentry? The righteous uncle should be the legitimate Zheng Qianhu."
This middle-aged general is none other than Lin Zhiyi, the general deputy of Zhang Yan's Central Army Sentries. He is a veteran of the army who is nearly forty years old. He has followed Zhang Yan for nearly 20 years and is the most loyal to Zhang Yan. Zhang Yan usually treats He treats him like a brother, so when no one is around, Zhang Cheng will also call him "Uncle" very affectionately.
Although Lin Zhiyi is not tall, he is extremely strong and his square face is full of traces of time. He has been fighting with Zhang Yan for many years, and he has fought against Mongolian bandits and Tartars. He has accumulated merits from a small soldier. Promoted to Deputy Qianhu.
Logically speaking, Lin Zhiyi should have been promoted to Zheng Qianhu a long time ago. When Zhang Cheng first joined the army, he stayed by his side and was taken care of by him. More general achievements were accumulated in Zhang Cheng's name. It was Zhang Cheng who was so young. Promoted to the post of Zheng Qianhu.
Although his uncle Zhang Yan, who was a general, was secretly strategizing, it would be difficult to operate without real military merit. Because of this, Zhang Cheng always treated Lin Zhiyi like an uncle.
"Hey, the young boss is kind-hearted and has started to take care of me, an old man."
Lin Zhiyi was joking as he hurried forward and asked in a low voice: "Isn't that little boy of mine behaving badly?"
Lin Zhiyi has two sons in his family. The eldest brother Lin Fangping, who is twenty years old, is the flag of Zhang Cheng's personal guard. The younger brother Lin Fangqing, who is sixteen years old, is still working hard at home.
At this moment, the purpose of mentioning his eldest brother Lin Fangping in this way is obvious, which is to hope that Zhang Cheng can support Lin Fangping more.
It doesn't matter whether Lin Zhiyi takes the military merit of killing the Tartars or not. At such an age, promotion is over, and even if he survives the years, if he can get a safe killing place, sooner or later he will be a member of the Thousand Households.
But this Lin Fangping was different. He was only twenty years old. Of course, the more military achievements the better, and he would be promoted in the future. Moreover, Lin Zhiyi found that Zhang Cheng was so different from before that he couldn't understand it.
, there is always such an unfathomable feeling.
If his estimate is correct, the young boss Zhang Cheng's future is limitless, then his eldest brother Lin Fangping will also be able to follow Zhang Cheng through the ranks and bring glory to the Lin family.
Therefore, he did not intend to share the profits of today's military achievements, but he must win a good future for his eldest brother Lin Fangping.
Zhang Cheng stretched out his arm, put it on Lin Zhiyi's shoulder, squeezed it a little harder, and whispered in his ear: "Uncle Lin, please be patient. Brother Ping is not bad. He fought bravely on the sentry line and was promoted to the general banner. It is safe for him."
"
Lin Zhiyi's mouth had a big crack at the corner, exposing his yellow teeth. He breathed out a stinky breath and said close to Zhang Cheng's ear: "Young Master, you are so powerful. You killed more than a hundred Tatars in one go. Just think about it.
Mother is so happy."
As Lin Zhiyi spoke, he raised his fist and lightly hit Zhang Cheng on the chest.
Zhang Cheng knew that this was Lin Zhiyi's expression of gratitude and confirmation that he was satisfied with the care he provided to Lin Fangping.
While they were talking, they had already left the military tent. The snowflakes seemed to have lost their strength and became thinner. Large tracts of goose-feather-like snowflakes disappeared, leaving only a few small snowflakes still fluttering scatteredly. The wind was also light.
A lot.
The guards had already prepared their war horses. Zhang Cheng got on his horse and followed his uncle Zhang Yan straight to the camp gate. Lin Zhiyi and Chen Zhong followed closely behind them.
At the gate of the camp, a two-horse cart came slowly. On the cart were the bodies of two bodyguards, as well as three more seriously injured soldiers. There were also four wounded soldiers who could still continue to ride horses. It was just right.
The cart couldn't catch up quickly, so they persisted and rode back.
Yu Jin, the officer of the left sentinel team, and Niu Sheng, the officer of the outpost team A and B, were standing at the gate of the camp waiting for Zhang Cheng and others. From a distance, they saw Zhang Cheng and others galloping on their horses, and they hurriedly trotted forward to greet them.
.
Zhang Yan didn't say anything, he got off his horse and rushed directly to the cart. When several wounded soldiers saw the general, they all struggled to get up. Zhang Yan waved his hand to signal them not to move, and said softly: "Take a good rest.
"
"If you take care of yourself, I will still kill the Tatars."
A wounded soldier spoke loudly. He couldn't help but touch his wound when he was excited. He grinned and sucked in air, but did not scream out.
Zhang Yan felt very distressed when he saw it, and asked softly: "Bing Wazi, what is your name?"
The sergeant was lying on the carriage, looking quite excited, and said tremblingly: "Report to the general, my name is Li Changsheng."
"Okay, okay, okay, long victory is good, your parents have given you a good name, take a good rest, heal your wounds, and then kill the Tatars."
Zhang Yan comforted Li Changsheng and really liked his name.
"Long victory."
I hope I can always win!
Zhang Yan took two steps forward, looked at the two corpses, and asked Zhang Cheng beside him: "Are they all your guards?"
Zhang nodded and said softly: "Yes, they are all the bodyguards of a certain person."
After saying that, he turned to Chen Zhong who was following him and said, "Lift up your cloak and give the general a look."
Chen Zhong followed his words, stepped forward, and lifted up the red cloak covering the two soldiers who died in the battle, revealing their heads and faces.
The snow stopped, the wind subsided, the sun shone through the clouds and shone on the earth again, and the late autumn sunset shone on their faces, as if adding a touch of life to them.
It also made everyone present feel warm!
Zhang Yan took another step forward and leaned forward to look at the two soldiers who died in the battle. They were lying peacefully on the cart, as if they were sleeping. It was obvious that their remains had been simply treated.
Zhang Yan sighed and turned around without saying a word. He just waved his hand to indicate that the red cloaks could be covered again on the two heroes.
His Chinese military sentry commander Li Zhiyi also stepped forward to take a look. His heart was twitching, and he couldn't help but worry about his eldest brother Lin Fangping, but what could he do?
What else can they, who are born as soldiers, do except fight as soldiers and lick blood with their swords?
Zhang Cheng waited for Chen Zhong to cover his cloak again, then waved his hand to Jin, signaling him to enter the camp.
"Cheng'er, the Tatar head must be inspected by me before it can be reported to Yang Junmen." After Zhang Yan finished speaking, he turned around and returned to the military tent.
…
Zhang Yan picked up a Tartar head. He first looked at the braided hair, then the face, and finally checked the teeth. He looked at more than ten Tartar heads in a row before stopping.
He turned around and said to Zhang Cheng: "It is indeed the head of a Tartar. As you said, half of it is wrapped by Tartars. It can be considered a great achievement."
"Zhiyi, you go to Yang Junmen's camp and report to the military gate that our troops went out for inspection and encountered Tatars by chance. After our soldiers fought bravely, they captured one hundred and forty-four heads of Tatars and captured all the Tatars.
Thirty people at the mouth, and the captured Tartars will be allocated one pole to bear the flag for Shiku and five poles for Zhuangda to carry the flag, and the rest of the weapons will be useless. Invite the military to send someone to inspect the heads of the Tartars."
Lin Zhiyi took the order and left. Zhang Yan waved to Zhang Cheng to follow him into the military tent.
"Cheng'er, I will try my best to protect the heads of the Tartars for you, but as Yang Junmen is the official of my town, it is common sense to share some of the military merits."
There was no one else in the military tent, so Zhang Yan began to enlighten Zhang Cheng with gentle words.
"Uncle, please be at ease. My nephew understands what you are saying. Everything is up to my uncle."
Zhang Cheng certainly knew the rules of the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty. Let alone the Ming Dynasty, this was not the case anywhere.
Even in his original world, isn't it the same?
If you have made a contribution, everyone will come to get involved, and there will be a crowd of people when you receive the reward.
When you make a mistake, everyone leaves you. When you receive punishment, you are the only one.
Zhang Yan was very satisfied with his nephew's attitude, so he continued to ask: "Except for the few flags on the back and the black tasseled helmet of Pashkuna, I can keep all the other seizures for you. I want to come here."
The military doesn't care about those little details."
Zhang Cheng nodded. In fact, for him, if he could hold on to one third of the Tartar heads, it would be enough. This way he could have the opportunity to be promoted to a guerrilla general and enter the general level, which would also facilitate future operations.
And after this battle, I am afraid that many people in his department will also have to upgrade to one level, or even two levels.
But those war horses, remnants of armor, and weapons were what he needed. These were not many. In Zhang Cheng's opinion, they were not enough, and they would never be enough.