On April 24, the 13th year of Chongzhen reign in the Ming Dynasty, the sun was shining brightly at noon, but the north wind was howling, making people feel cold when blowing on them.
Zhang Cheng spent some time with Ji Xuanzhu in the Red Castle General Office last night, but was driven to the courtyard of the Liu sisters. He was about to leave home to fight, so he had to go through some troubles until his tendons. Only when he was exhausted did he stop fighting.
At the end of the hour, he had just climbed up with difficulty from the gentle countryside that most sapped the spirit of a hero. He said goodbye to the two old ladies and wanted to rush to the Eagle Castle. However, the whole night of fighting, although hearty, made him lose his temper. The strength of the horse was not enough, so in the end, Lei Zhancheng, the 100-year-old general of the Ding Bureau of the escort army, had to personally drive Zhang Cheng to escort Zhang Cheng to Diaohao Fort.
In the Qianhu Official Hall of Diaohao Fort, Liu Zhongshi, the Qianhu Guard, enthusiastically made tea and water for Zhang Cheng in person. He was originally a subordinate of the Longmen Guard, and had previously been under the jurisdiction of the Xuanzhen Middle Road Branch Guard General.
But in mid-October, after the imperial court appointed Zhang Cheng as the deputy commander-in-chief of the Xuanzang branch, it assigned the Longmen Guards to him as the admiral. Therefore, Zhang Cheng was now Liu Zhongshi's superior officer, and he was very fawning over him.
Zhang Cheng, however, did not want to spend too much time here. He just sat in the official hall for a while, took a breath, and got to know the situation of Diaohao Fort. Naturally, some encouragement to Liu Zhongshi was indispensable.
There are Longmen Guards, security guards, Huailai Guards, Yanqing Right Guards and other places here. He doesn't want to make any big moves yet. He can only wait until the thieves return from this time and then slowly add sand to them.
However, Zhang Cheng believes in one thing, that is, interests always come first. Driven by interests, people who were originally mediocre may become shrewd and capable talents.
Besides interests, the most important thing is strength. In terms of personal strength alone, Zhang Cheng is the only person in Xuanfu Town who can compare with the commander-in-chief Yang Guozhu, and may even be stronger than Yang Guozhu.
These are all placed in front of everyone in the Xuanfu. Wise people have their own judgments. What's more, Zhang Cheng's biggest advantage is his age. He has already achieved so much at such an age, so what will happen in the future?
Before long, Zhang Cheng led the boy battalion and the escort troops to leave the Diaohao Fort. Lin Fangping and the two guards did not follow Zhang Cheng back to Chicheng. They were all stationed in the Diaohao Fort and waiting.
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On the first day of the eleventh month of the thirteenth year of Chongzhen, in the territory of Zhending Mansion.
"Today, today, today, today, the yellow sand is filled with the sound of fighting, one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four..."
Amidst the impassioned trumpets and the beating of marching drums, an armored army was marching forward in a mighty manner. Nearly ten thousand people sang in unison, and the sound shook for miles.
They are the soldiers under Zhang Cheng's command. After setting off from Yongning, they passed through Huailai, crossed Mashuikou, and left Zijing Pass. Today they have entered Zhending Mansion. They were full of energy and high-spirited along the way.
The army marched in units of thousands of headquarters, winding back and forth for more than ten miles, and on both sides of the marching official road, three or five elite cavalry galloped back and forth, conducting reconnaissance and guarding the safety of the army.
Although they were marching on the inside, Zhang Cheng still had very strict requirements for them, and everything was carried out according to wartime standards. Zhang Guangda's cavalry battalion was in the vanguard, with Wang Tieren's light cavalry leading the way. He led his heavy cavalry troops behind, because their armor was too heavy. Therefore, they were not put on during the march, and even the war harness and equipment were carried on packhorses.
The cavalry camp alone had nearly 1,500 soldiers, more than 2,000 horses, more than 200 camels, and more than 30 carts accompanying it. It stretched for more than three miles in front and back, which was extremely spectacular.
The more than 500 elite cavalrymen of the Ranger Department were scattered in front, behind, and left of the army to check the surrounding situation and to check the location of the camp in advance.
The Chinese army was led by Wei Zhice, with a chariot at the front and rear. He personally led the chariot department in the middle, and the sergeants accompanying the chariot were either sitting on the chariot or accompanying the chariot as escort.
Zhang Guodong led the infantry battalion at the end. Two of the three thousand headquarters marched with sergeants wearing armor, while the middle one did not wear armor. They were rotated every day to be on guard against possible military situations and to allow the sergeants to rest.
They marched singing military songs loudly, with high morale and neat military appearance. From time to time, the traders and people passing by were amazed in the distance.
"Send the order, the army speeds up its march, and rushes to camp outside Huolu City before dark." Zhang Chengce shouted an order from his horse.
"Gentlemen, please work harder. We will catch the deer before sunset, and then we can camp and rest."
The messengers galloped forward and back on their horses, shouting loudly while urging their horses.
"Protect protect protect!"
The loud shouts first sounded from the Chinese military vehicle camp, and then followed by the long armored dragons rising and falling one after another, full of energy.
"The boys are in good condition!"
Chen Zhong rode his horse beside Zhang Cheng. Although he had been marching for days and his face was full of dust, he was very excited when he saw that the soldiers were in excellent condition.
On the other side, Wei Zhice was sitting astride his horse. Hearing this, he looked back at the team behind him, with the same expression of satisfaction on his face. He was ordered to lead the army from Yongning City and continued to march forty or fifty miles every day.
Occasionally, they had to forcibly march six or seventy miles. In just ten days, the army had traveled thousands of miles, and its appearance was still in good order, and no one was left behind.
"After marching for days, the army can still maintain such a neat appearance. Among the armies of the Ming Dynasty, there is probably no one who can compare with it!"
Wei Zhice even sighed with emotion.
Zhang Chengce looked around on his horse and was extremely satisfied with the performance of his sergeants. After hearing Wei Zhice's words, he couldn't help but said: "Perhaps, only the Tartars can compare with him!"
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It turned out that after Zhang Cheng set off from Diaohao Fort, he was delayed for another day in Ma Shui Kou. He had a pleasant chat with Chu Qinmeng, the garrison commander of Ma Shui Kou. Previously, Niu Sheng followed Zhang Cheng's instructions and arrived at Ma Shui Kou.
Carriage and horse racing shops were opened in Zijingguan and Zijingguan.
In order to open a shop and collect grain, he not only took out Zhang Cheng's letters, but also spent a lot of money. Since ancient times, money can make the world go round. Chu Qinmeng and Niu Sheng soon became acquainted.
Now Zhang Cheng was the deputy commander-in-chief of the first town. When he was passing through Ma Shui Kou, he was stayed by Chu Qinmeng. He entertained him with a banquet and stayed for one night before leaving Ma Shui Kou.
Zhang Cheng also deliberately made friends with Ma Shuikou and Zijing Pass because the passes where they were located were extremely dangerous and located on major transportation routes. In Zhang Cheng's mind, he might use them soon.
Similarly, he was delayed for a day in Zijingguan City. Zijingguan is a transportation hub for entering and exiting the Taihang Mountains and a battleground for military strategists. The Ming Dynasty set up a deputy general to lead the army to guard it.
Zijing Pass is located on Zijing Ridge a hundred miles northwest of Yizhou City. Together with Juyong Pass and Daoma Pass, it is known as the three inner passes. It is the seventh of the "Taihang Eight Paths" and the "Puyin Path" is the main entrance and exit route.
The fourth fortress of the fortress is a battleground for military strategists.
He Lisheng, the deputy commander stationed at Zijingguan, was also a general in the army for generations, and he was also a generous man. He had previously been quite unconvinced with Zhang Cheng in his heart.
But this time I saw the power of Zhang Cheng's army with my own eyes. I was not only convinced but also frightened. Therefore, I just let Zhang Cheng stay at Zijingguan for one more day. They had a banquet and a lot of hope of making friends.
After Zhang Cheng left Zijin Pass, he caught up with the army in Wan County, Baoding Prefecture!