Zhang Cheng had just stepped out, and three people came out from behind the curtain. They were all dressed as scribes. One of them, a young man, said: "Master, Zhang Cheng is really not simple!"
Li Song continued: "Xie Canjun's eyes are very poisonous and he never misses anyone."
The oldest one was undoubtedly Liu Zizheng. He walked slowly to the chair where Zhang Cheng had just sat, and sat on it as if there was no one else around. He leaned his head on the back of the chair, closed his eyes and rested.
The man named Xie Canjun looked to be in his thirties. He was Xie Sixin from Xin'an. Because he was a close friend of Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, he was the most trustworthy of his staff.
He walked over to Hong Chengchou, bowed deeply, and then sat down on the chair next to him. He then said, "Zhang Cheng, this man has great ideas and is a great talent. However, he also knows how to hide himself and evade everything. He does not seek to gain fame.
It’s even more rare.”
Li Song came over and bowed to Hong Chengchou, then sat down next to Xie Sixin and asked, "Oh. It's really rare to be praised like this by Mr. Xie."
At this time, the servant next to him also came forward, replaced the new tea sets, and filled them with tea one by one, but Liu Zizheng still leaned back on the chair, like an old monk in meditation, without any movement.
However, Xie Sixin looked at Hong Chengchou and saw that he was looking at him, so he smiled and said, "Zhang Cheng had nearly 10,000 troops when he first entered Henan to help suppress the rebellion. Later, he recruited Li Jiyu and others.
There are more than 100,000 thieves, but most of them are hungry people. It is extremely difficult to pick out 5,000 young men.
What's more, he has nearly 500 large chariots and nearly a thousand large and small artillery pieces under his command. I saw that his army is well-organized and marches without any noise.
Since it is the new army under Chang Bo’s command, it is only like this, maybe not as good as it is!”
At this time, Liu Zizheng opened his eyes and said slowly: "The army led by this man has become the leader of all the soldiers in the towns. The holy family is in full swing, and he has his own soldiers and the governor's care. Zhang Cheng can be said to be a young man who has achieved great success."
, the future is limitless, but he knows how to advance and retreat, and knows how to hide his edge.
Especially when he recommended Liu Zhaoji and Wu Sangui to take charge of the joint training of the armies, he showed his sophistication. With generals like this, I don’t know whether it is a blessing or a disaster for the country!"
Li Song interjected: "If Zhang Cheng's soldiers and horses are really strong, they are now a disaster for slaves and thieves. As for what will happen in the future, we can't worry about it for the time being."
Xie Sixin said: "During the military meeting, Zhang Cheng mentioned that it is indeed necessary for all armies to train together. Listening to his conversation with the supervisor just now, he also advocated caution, and the attitude of the supervisor Zhang Ruoqi was ambiguous.
What's more, when he left Beijing, he went to the palace to see the emperor and received instructions from the emperor.
The governor might as well focus on Zhang Cheng to see if we can delay it for a little longer. When the army has completed its joint training and the slaves and bandit arrangements have been clearly surveyed, we can then march into Songjin!"
While they were talking to each other, Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, just listened silently without saying a word. He was already used to arguing or discussing with his close aides in order to capture the information he needed.
After listening to Xie Sixin's words, he spoke: "Zhang Cheng first followed Lu Xiangsheng to kill slaves, and then switched to Chen Xinjia. He was highly used. This time he told me that he should be prudent. His words were indeed for the sake of the country, but it's unknown.
His heart..."
Hong Chengchou stood up, walked to the window, and asked himself softly: "Zhang Cheng, who do you belong to?"
…………
"I, Zhang Cheng, naturally belong to the emperor!"
In a side hall on the east side of the second hall of Jiliao Governor's Mansion in Ningyuan City, Zhang Cheng was sitting on a chair and talking to Zhang Ruoqi.
It turned out that just after he came out of Hong Chengchou's place, he was stopped by two boys at Dongbianmen. They said that Zhang Ruoqi, the supervisor, had invited him, so they followed him here.
Zhang Ruoqi was not polite and asked Zhang Cheng who he belonged to and why he did not agree with him on advancing quickly during the military meeting. Instead, he said that it was necessary to investigate the slave situation and train the armies together. This
It was obviously to help Hong Chengchou delay the march.
He even asked angrily: "Are you, Zhang Cheng, a member of Chen Benbing or Hong Chengchou?"
At this moment, facing Zhang Cheng's answer, he was stunned for a moment. Even though he realized that he had made a mistake, he hurriedly ordered tea to be served and then said: "Come, Brother Zhang, sit down and have tea."
After Zhang Cheng sat down, he continued: "The Holy Emperor and my soldiers were worried about the military in Liaodong, so they ordered me to come here to monitor the armies, in order to urge Hong Chengchou to make a quick decision and march troops to relieve the siege of Jinzhou.
I am also worried about the king's affairs, so I said these words in a moment of urgency. Please don't take it personally, brother."
In the twelfth year of Chongzhen, Zhang Cheng was promoted to the post of general and went to the capital to express his gratitude. Zhang Ruoqi, who was then serving as a doctor in charge, took care of it. At that time, he saw that Zhang Cheng was respected by the emperor, and there were also ministers Yang Sichang and governor Chen Xingjia.
Zhaofu proposed to join Zhang Cheng's clan and become brothers.
Although he did not get a clear answer from Zhang Cheng, he did do so after that, and he became closer to Zhang Cheng. In his heart, it didn't matter how important Zhang Cheng was, as long as he regarded him as a brother, he would naturally be able to help him when needed.
Cling to his relationship for your own use.
He was also anxious just now, complaining that Zhang Cheng was not on the same front as him, but his words were indeed too explicit.
Zhang Cheng held the tea cup and said slowly: "Does Zhang Jianjun want to make great achievements through the Liao Dynasty, or does he want to ruin his official career?"
Zhang Ruoqi didn't understand what he meant and asked, "Brother, what do you mean by this?"
Zhang Cheng smiled, took a sip of water first, and then said: "Brother Zhang is the supervisor of the Liao Dynasty. If he can resolve the siege of Jinzhou and dampen the fierce flames of the Eastern captives, it will naturally be due to my brother's great contribution.
Since it was unfavorable to break the siege of Jinzhou, even if Liaodong's military collapsed, the fault would lie with Governor Hong Chengchou and his brother would not be implicated.
but……"
When Zhang Cheng said this, he paused for a moment. He picked up the tea cup and drank the tea. However, Zhang Ruoqi asked nervously: "But what?"
When Zhang Cheng saw him asking, he put down the tea cup and continued: "The commander-in-chief of Zu who was besieged in Jinzhou said, 'It is the best to be cautious to avoid being caught in the treacherous plots of slaves and thieves'; the governor Hong Chengchou also said, 'The best is to be cautious', and the generals also said
'Be cautious'.
You, my brother, are the only one who insists on marching into Songjin on time. If you win, you will get the most credit. But if you are defeated because of this and the Liaodong military collapses, then the blame will be entirely on your brother!"
"But...but this is the intention of the emperor and my soldiers. I just..."
When Zhang Ruoqi said this, Zhang Cheng stopped him and said: "Brother is confused."
He took a sip of tea and continued: "If the battle is won, it is natural that the emperor has foresight and my soldier Chen Gelao has planned the strategy. But if it is defeated and the Liaodong military collapses, someone will have to suffer for it.
Brother, do you think whose head this board will hit at that time?"