Beads of sweat oozed from Zhang Ruoqi's forehead. The midday sun shone into the house through the window lattice, and the afterglow shone on his face, making the beads of sweat on his forehead shine brightly.
He asked with a slightly trembling voice: "Good brother, please give me a trick quickly."
Zhang Cheng drank tea from a cup, as if in deep thought. After a moment, he said: "Brother, I am dedicated to doing meritorious deeds in order to advance to the next level. You know that in troubled times, you should first seek self-preservation, and then wealth!"
He went on to say: "It's not my brother's fault to stop the troops and stay far away. All we need is the truth to protect our own soldiers and the emperor. The situation of the slaves is not yet clear and the armies are not united. It is indeed not the time to advance. At this time, if there is an emergency, if there is any difference
If he fails, won't he bring disaster upon himself? When the time comes, Governor Hong and all the officers and generals will be blameless, and won't the responsibility for the crime fall on my brother alone?"
Beads of sweat rolled down Zhang Ruoqi's forehead, and he asked in a trembling voice: "In Zhongchen's opinion, what should we do?"
A smile appeared at the corner of Zhang Cheng's lips and he said: "In my brother's opinion, first of all, I will write a letter to my soldiers, saying that the situation in Liaodong is unknown and needs to be investigated. Moreover, all the armies are newly gathered and they need to train together to tell the real situation in Liaodong."
Secondly, I have already ordered Ma Shaoyu, the chief of the Fang Department, to come to Liaodong to assist the governor Hong Chengchou in planning the military affairs in Liaodong. Brother, I can write a letter to urge him to come quickly. In this way, with him in front, the affairs in Liaodong will not be solved.
If there is something wrong, you can still have some excuse."
Zhang Ruoqi took a silk handkerchief in his hand and gently wiped the sweat on his forehead. He stared straight at the door of the side hall and murmured: "Ma Shaoyu...Ma Shao..."
"Exactly, Ma Shaoyu."
Zhang Cheng said categorically: "Summoning him here will allow him to press Hong Chengchou from the front. If he wins, he will be responsible for supervising the army. If the Liao affair is unfavorable, it will be because he was too hasty to press him. What does he have to do with his brother?"
"Ha ha……"
Zhang Ruoqi suddenly opened his eyes, his face turned into a flower with a smile, and said: "Wonderful, wonderful, really wonderful..."
…………
Zhang Cheng had just walked out of the Yimen of Jiliao Governor's Mansion, where a young officer was waiting for him. He had only taken a few steps when he was stopped by the waiting leader of Zhang Jintai.
Zhang Chengcai took the riding whip and turned around to look. He was a young man in his twenties. He had thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was very handsome. Although he was not tall, he was quite strong. He was wearing a short fighting uniform and no armor.
.
He waved his hand and signaled Zhang Jintai to let the man come over. When he saw him striding towards him, he knelt down on one knee and said: "Li Guoping, under the command of General Ningyuan, pays homage to Marshal Zhang."
"Did General Wu order you to wait for me here?" Zhang Cheng asked.
"Replying to Zhang Shuai's words, it is my general who ordered me to wait here."
Zhang Cheng reached out and took the horse's reins from the soldier and asked, "What are your orders from Commander Wu?"
Li Guoping knelt on the ground and clasped his fists, saluting: "My general has prepared some wine and would like to invite Zhang Shuai to come over and have a chat."
"Let's get up first and meet."
Zhang Cheng then handed the reins of the war horse to the soldiers and asked again: "Li Guoping, does he have any position in Wu Shuai's army?"
"Back to Zhang Shuai, my humble position is just that I serve thousands of households under the command of my general."
Zhang Cheng nodded. The so-called official title of Qianhu means that he has received the official title of Qianhu and serves in front of the account. In fact, he is a high-level personal guard.
He waved his hand and said: "Go back and tell Commander Wu that there are still urgent military affairs in my camp. I will not go to the house to have a drink today. When I have time tomorrow and the next day, I will definitely visit the house in person and visit the house."
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he took the reins of the war horse, jumped up on the horse's back, raised his whip to urge the horse, and led Zhang Jintai and other guards to rush towards the Bell and Drum Tower in the west.
Li Guoping stood by the side of Chunhe East Street with his hands lowered, watching Zhang Cheng and others riding into the lower door of the Bell and Drum Tower, watching them turn north to Weiyuan North Street, and then set off for the Ningyuan Military Headquarters.
…………
Although Hong Chengchou arranged accommodation for Zhang Cheng and Chen Jiugao in Ningyuan City, he was still used to sleeping in his own military tent. Perhaps when he was marching, only his own army was the safest.
When Zhang Cheng returned to his camp, the fiery red sun had been blocked by the mountains and forests to the west, and only wisps of afterglow shone on the curling smoke. The smoke everywhere in the camp was blown by the evening wind before it could reach the sky.
Scattered, as if this was its fate.
His Chinese army camp was located on the bank of the West River. There were military tents for the chariot camp on both sides of the east and north, blocking out the sky and the sun. The infantry camp was stationed by the river bank further north for the convenience of getting water, while the cavalry camp was stationed on the bank of the West River.
It is to the south of Zhang Cheng's Central Army, next to Chen Jiugao's front camp.
The Chinese army camp was stationed with two infantry units of He Kuan and Du Youwei and Lin Fangping's Tiger Guard. They were responsible for Zhang Cheng's bodyguard.
Because Zhang Cheng drank until late last night, he rushed to Ningyuan City early today to attend the military meeting. Later, he was summoned for questioning by the governor Hong Chengchou and the supervisor Zhang Ruoqi, and he also felt a little tired.
He told Zhang Jintai: "Let's make some arrangements. Tonight, we will put it into practice for shopkeeper Cheng and Dong Xu's family. Ask the army cook to prepare more good food and wine. We will also call He Zhenfu and all the camp leaders.
In addition, I feel a little tired and tired today, so I want to rest for a while. You can stay outside the account. If there is nothing urgent, don't let anyone come to disturb me."
After Zhang Jintai waited on Zhang Cheng to lie down, he withdrew from the Chinese army's tent, arranged for the kitchen to prepare more food and wine, and sent people to invite Cheng Ruzhi, Xu Qingyi, He Biao, Zhang Guodong and other generals to come during dinner time
Attend a banquet.
Cheng Ruzhi, the shopkeeper of Qing'an He Liangzhuang in Zhencheng, and Xu Qingyi, the owner of Sihai Car Dealer in Dushikou, followed the merchant gang to Ningyuan. The military supplies and grain they were responsible for escorting were also delivered to He Biao in Ningyuan. Wei Zhice completed the delivery
.
He was supposed to return to the pass today, but Zhang Chengsheng kept him here.
After all, this was his first time cooperating with the North Road Merchant Gang, and he couldn't let everyone's hearts go cold, so he left them behind, held a banquet to see them off in the evening, and even arranged a group of knights to escort them to Juyong Pass.
Zhang Cheng only rested for half an hour before he got up and left the Chinese army's tent. The afterglow of the setting sun had been completely obscured by the mountains to the west. Although some residual light filtered through the mountains and dense forests, the interior of the tent also seemed darker.
The officers and soldiers of the army also had dinner at their respective camps. Because they had just arrived in Ningyuan, the governor's camp sent a lot of rice, flour, wine, meat, and labor for the troops. The food in these two days was better than usual.
Zhang Chengfang and Zhang Jintai saw Zhang Cheng leaving the camp and hurriedly came forward to greet him. Zhang Cheng then ordered him to arrange the banquet and summon the generals to come and have a drink.
Zhang Cheng walked towards a small dirt bag in the distance. He stood on it and had a panoramic view of the surroundings. There were tents all over the mountains and plains along the bank of the Xihe River, and he could not see the end of it.
Only sparse bonfires and high-hanging signal lanterns were lit in the camp. A large banner stood in the small square in front of the Chinese army's tent. From time to time, bursts of military songs and the neighing of war horses could be heard in the ears.
Occasionally, there are frogs croaking from the river to the west, forming a mixed symphony with singing and the neighing of war horses!