Not only did Zhang Cheng not have a good impression of Fu Fan emotionally, but his rationality also told him that if the siege of Luoyang was solved, he might be punished for delaying the march, failing to rescue, and disturbing the feudal lord.
Moreover, he was a guest army, and he was here to help suppress the bandits. He hurriedly hurriedly and slowly, nearly ten thousand troops under his command arrived near Luoyang as scheduled, and Chen Jiugao's troops in the Beijing camp were probably still struggling in Shunde Mansion!
Even if Fu Fan was killed, it was the crime of punishing the local officials and generals in Henan. At best, he had done nothing, and the local officers and soldiers in Henan had also seen it. With their fighting power, they still wanted to fight against Li Zicheng?
What's more, even if he saves Luoyang and Fu Fan, what can he do!
Even among the ministers of the imperial court, how important could it be in the mind of Emperor Chongzhen?
They will only think that this is just my duty, Zhang Cheng, and what I should do. Even if I have merit, it may be insignificant.
It would be better to let the intruders capture Luoyang and make Fu Fan suffer, especially Zhu Yousong, the crown prince of Fu Fan. It is best not to let him escape again. This is the truest thought in Zhang Cheng's heart.
Of course, this is just Zhang Cheng's inner thought. Although the military tents are all his most loyal subordinates, some words should not be made too obvious.
Zhang Cheng saw that everyone was discussing for a while, and then he said: "Peace, everyone, the rescue of Luoyang is subject to your Majesty's imperial edict and the Ministry of War's message. We should try our best to do it."
When he saw that the generals had calmed down, he continued: "However, the bandits are fierce in various parts of Henan. Our troops are originally guest troops, and we do not have a complete grasp of the situation in Henan Province. For the sake of the safety of the army, we should not rush forward in a hurry."
He paused for a moment and then said: "Chen Zhong, your troops must step up their sentinel inspections in front of Xingyang, Sishui, Gongxian, Yanshi and other places as far as the east of Luoyang. They must conduct careful inspections. The movements of the bandits must be grasped in time.
Especially around Yanshi, there are Wan'an Mountain to the south and Mang Mountain to the north. There are many hills and steep terrain. Careful inspections must be made. Sergeants can be stationed at important passes to provide warnings.
Also, in the area from Mi County to Dengfeng in the south, Li Ji encountered tens of thousands of thieves. It was rumored that they were besieging Mi County. You have to send sentries to check them. If possible, you should defeat the thieves head-on first, so that you can go with peace of mind. Luoyang, fight fiercely with the rebel Li Chuang!"
Chen Zhong accepted the order and promised with a solemn expression.
Zhang Cheng then said to Zhang Guodong: "Tomorrow at midnight, the foot camp and the car camp will set off, pass Xingyang to the west, and camp on the banks of the Sishui River."
Zhang Guodong and Wei Zhice also received the order in a deep voice.
Zhang Cheng turned his head again and said to Zhang Guangda solemnly: "Guangda, your cavalry camp is ready. In addition to Chen Zhong's rangers who are dedicated to sentinels, the light cavalry and heavy cavalry will have breakfast at midnight tomorrow and follow the commander to escort them." Let’s set off together.”
After he finished speaking, without waiting for Zhang Guangda to receive the order, he loudly said to the two people sitting under Chen Zhong: "Subalu, Mo Rigen, you two should also prepare to lead the army to fight with me tomorrow.
This is your first battle under my command, so you can’t let me down!"
The two of them stood up suddenly, and Mo Rigen said in slightly stiff Chinese: "Commander, please don't worry."
But Subaru said in a rough voice with a reluctant look on his face: "I am Sukhbalu, not Subaru!"
"Hahaha……"
There was a burst of laughter in the military tent, and Sukhbalu glared at everyone with an angry face, clenching his big fists tightly, as if he was about to go up and fight for someone.
Zhang Cheng also stood up and said with a smile: "Sukhbalu, my name is a bit convoluted. Your name originally means 'mighty tiger'. How about you call me Su Laohu from now on?"
how?"
Sukhbalu was stunned when he heard this, but Chen Zhong reminded him: "The commander-in-chief has given you your name, what an honor it is, why don't you thank me quickly!"
Sukhbalu still didn't understand what was going on, but after he joined Zhang Cheng, he had been assigned to train under Chen Zhong. After getting along with him for a long time, he also knew that Chen Zhong would not harm him.
Since Mr. Chen Qian said that this was the commander-in-chief's grace and a supreme honor, it was absolutely true. He, who had been so angry just now, strode to the middle of the military tent, bent down and knelt down and said: "Sukhbalu
...Bah, Su Laohu thanked the commander for his kindness!"
"Hahaha……"
Everyone laughed again, and the atmosphere returned to harmony and enthusiasm. The generals in the military tent also came forward to congratulate Sukhbalu on being awarded the title by the commander-in-chief.
…………
Sukhbalu and Mo Rigen were originally Mongolian warriors, but their tribe was not large in size. They were originally dependent on Omubu, a descendant of the Queen of Shunyi, and lived as herders in the south of Guihua City near Mingbian.
However, Lin Dan Khan was defeated by Huang Taiji, the slave chief of Jianzhou, and was forced to move westward, conquered the right-wing Mongolian tribes, and occupied Guihua City. Their tribes were attached to Lin Dan Khan's protection.
It wasn't until Huang Taiji completely defeated Lin Dan Khan and occupied Guihua City that their tribe came under the rule of Omubu, a descendant of Queen Shunyi. How could he have thought that the good times would not last long. Huang Taiji coveted Guihua City's trade with the Ming Dynasty.
aisle.
Looking for an opportunity, they abandoned Ermubu and even kidnapped them to Shengjing City in Liaodong. However, their tribes were ostracized because they were loyal to the Shunyi royal family. They have been living outside Guihua City, living a precarious life.
Later, in October last year, he met Su Yiyang who was going to Guihua City for trade, so he recruited the two of them as caravan guards, and then further recruited them to Zhang Cheng's command.
From then on, the two of them followed Chen Zhong's roving troops and practiced with the roving sentries. On the one hand, they became familiar with Zhang Cheng's army's orders, and on the other hand, they also learned Chinese and learned to communicate with the Han army.
Now the two of them have each led a regiment of a hundred Mongolian cavalry. They form their own unit, called the Mongolian Cavalry Division. They are also Zhang Cheng's personal troops, but they are still under the control and training of Chen Zhong on weekdays.
…………
That night, at the second watch, Zhang Cheng had no intention of sleeping. He put on his woolen cloak and went to a high ground outside the military tent. He looked at the dark night sky and recalled the history in his memory.
Contrary to what the world imagines, the intruder Li Zicheng encountered extremely fierce resistance when he attacked Luoyang. In that historical time and space, this battle lasted from the seventh day of the first lunar month to the twenty-sixth day of the first lunar month in the fourteenth year of Chongzhen.
On the same day, the battle raged for twenty days.
At that time, the whole city of Luoyang was mobilized. All men and women in the city over the age of fifteen and under fifty were required to participate in the defense of the city. The li chiefs and the armor chiefs were responsible for the work. White ash was used to delineate the boundaries of their respective guarding duties. Women built tents.
Stoves, cooking and water delivery, really all the people are soldiers.
This is all because in the eighth year of Chongzhen's reign, the old raider Wang Gao Yingxiang and the raider Li Zicheng attacked Luoyang City together, but they suffered heavy losses and returned without success.
Therefore, there is a popular saying in Luoyang City that the intruder Li Zicheng is here to take revenge. If he breaks through Luoyang City, he will massacre the common people and gentry in the city to avenge his brothers who died in the battle and fell below the city.
It is precisely because of this statement that the gentry and common people in the city worked together to defend Luoyang City to the death.
It was precisely because the gentry and people in the city had defended Luoyang City to the death that King Fu Zhu Changxun was no longer willing to use his own money to reward the soldiers and civilians. This eventually caused resentment among the people in the city, and civil strife among the guards led to disaster, and Luoyang City fell into the hands of thieves.