In the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, on October 22nd, it was the end of Sishi.
Beijing, the Forbidden City, the Meridian Gate, the sun is high in the sky, and the sunlight is extremely dazzling.
From Najia Lazhangjing Harba down, fifty-five Qing prisoners knelt on the ground in front of the Meridian Gate. They were held by four sergeants on their shoulders and legs, and they were unable to struggle at all.
The hundreds of officials and nobles standing on both sides of the inner passage were all staring at the prisoners. Suddenly, a large flag came into their sight, and several of them cried out in surprise.
"Jia La Zhang Jing's official banner is really the official banner of Jia La Zhang Jing..."
"Then it's still fake. If you look at so many heads, it's not fake..."
"...Which one is Jia La Zhang Jing? Which one is in the front and middle..."
Zhang Cheng is dressed in a military uniform, with bright armor and a strong figure that is particularly eye-catching.
Amidst the discussion among hundreds of officials and distinguished officials, he walked up to Liu Zhifeng, the Minister of Criminal Affairs of the Great Sikou, handed over the list of prisoners of the Qing army with both hands, and shouted loudly:
"Zhang Cheng, a thousand households in Xuanfu Town, presented 377 heads of Donglu, fifty-five prisoners under Jia Lazhangjing Harba from Donglu, official banners and banners of Jia Lazhangjing from Donglu, etc.
The flags, golden drums, and armor are useless, please ask the ministry to check them."
Liu Zhifeng, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment of the Great Sikou, took the roster, stood up and walked to the front of Shou Jie's case. Holding the roster in both hands, he knelt down and said:
"...slaves and thieves are rampant, repeatedly violating the border and massacring the people...I am now fortunate to have the title of right minister of the Ministry of War, and the governor of the world is Qinwang Bingma Lu Xiang, who is promoted to Zhongqin King... Yang Guozhu, the chief military officer of Xuanfu Town, makes a sudden decision... Zhenbiao Right Wing Camp
General Zhang Yan bravely fights the slave thieves...
... Zhang Cheng, a Qianhu, was unparalleled in his bravery. He repeatedly attacked the slave formation, killed hundreds of captives and cavalry, and even captured fifty-five of the slave thieves Jia Lazhangjing Harpa alive, and presented them to his Majesty...
…Slave thieves are wreaking havoc in the capital, kidnapping my people, and beheading them according to the law in order to frighten them…. Now we are going to Shicao for execution, and I specially request an order.”
After Liu Zhifeng, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment of the Great Sikou, finished playing, he handed the memorial to the small eunuch waiting aside and sent it to the Meridian Gate Tower. After Emperor Chongzhen read it carefully, he just sat on the throne, waved his hand and said softly: "Take it."
go!"
Wang Dehua and Wang Chengen, who were standing on his left and right, repeated in a sharp voice: "Take it!"
Then four more people around him drank in unison, and the orders continued like this, until finally the 360 guards, known as the Han generals, responded in unison, and the sound was like thunder, resounding through the Meridian Gate.
A group of prisoners of the Qing army, fifty-five from Jia La Zhang Jing Harpa of Zheng Bai Banner, were taken to the West City by officials from the Ministry of Punishments and soldiers from the Beijing camp, and beheaded in public display.
Their heads will be built together with the 377 salt-coated heads, as well as the harvest from the mafang before Zhang Cheng, to build a temple in the west market of the capital as a reward for the public.
…………
After the prisoner presentation ceremony, before Emperor Chongzhen drove back to Qianqing Palace, he left a message to summon his cabinet minister Yang Sichang and the newly appointed Governor of Xuanda, Chen Xinjia, to the palace to see his Majesty.
The emperor also specially ordered Wang Dehua to come to the Meridian Gate to convey his decree to Lu Xiangsheng and others.
Due to the continuous artillery fire outside the city and the intense fighting, in order to prevent the majority of the Jiannu captives from coming to attack, Lu Xiangsheng was specially ordered. Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief, led his troops and horses back to the southern defense area of the city without entering the palace to express gratitude.
However, Zhang Cheng, who was from a thousand households in Xuan Town, was left alone to go to the palace to meet His Majesty. After the audience was over, an edict officer would follow Zhang Cheng back to Lu Xiangsheng's Supervisory Camp to read out the imperial edict of the reward.
Lu Xiangsheng didn't say much. He just knelt down again towards the Meridian Gate Tower, kowtowed three times and bowed nine times, then stood up and left. Zhang Cheng vaguely saw a line of tears falling from the corners of his eyes.
Commander-in-Chief Yang Guozhu also followed Lu Xiangsheng in bowing three times and bowing nine times. When he turned to leave, he gave Zhang Cheng a meaningful look.
…………
Outside the Meridian Gate, Wang Dehua, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, looked at the young man in front of him. He couldn't help but look up and down. After a long time, he said, "Zhang Cheng, come with our family to the palace."
Zhang Cheng followed Wang Dehua, walking lightly, for fear of losing his way. At this moment, Wang Dehua's thin voice came to his ears: "Zhang Cheng, there are many rules in this palace, let's pick the important ones for you first."
Tell me..."
Wang Dehua simply taught Zhang Cheng some simple etiquette for meeting the saints. Time was limited, so he couldn't talk much in this half-hour meeting. He could only pick out some important ones and talk about them first.
Zhang Cheng listened carefully and memorized it in his heart. When Wang Dehua finished speaking, Zhang Cheng took a step forward and whispered softly behind Wang Dehua: "Thank you for your service, Your Majesty. Zhang Chengcheng has nothing to repay. In the future, if your Majesty has any mission,
, I will definitely go through fire and water."
Wang Dehua remained expressionless and said without looking back: "Our family only knows how to serve the emperor loyally. If your son has such filial piety, he only needs to be loyal and diligent in the king's affairs."
Zhang Cheng immediately followed up and said: "What the prince said is absolutely true. Zhang Cheng must remember the prince's mantra. If there is an opportunity in the future, he will listen to the prince's teachings again, follow the emperor's instructions, and devote himself to the king's affairs!"
Wang Dehua did not express his position, but simply said "Oh" and continued to guide Zhang Cheng all the way to the palace.
…………
Ming Dynasty Beijing, the Forbidden City, inside the Dongnuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Chongzhen had just finished attending the prisoner presentation ceremony and sat back on the throne. His face was rosy, something he had not seen in many years.
The cabinet minister Yang Sichang was sitting on a soft couch on the side of the lower head. Although it was a supreme favor from the emperor to sit down, Yang Sichang only rested a quarter of his buttocks lightly on the soft couch and did not dare to sit down.
He was not as comfortable as Chen Xinjia, the new governor of Xuanda, who was standing beside him.
Ever since he learned yesterday that Emperor Chongzhen had summoned Lu Xiangsheng to the city to present prisoners, Yang Sichang had been thinking in his mind about how to prevent Lu Xiangsheng from being promoted to the Holy Family, lest his entry would threaten his status in Chongzhen's heart.
He sent his confidants overnight to contact Gao Qiqian and several generals in the Beijing camp outside the city. Military reports were sent to the city early in the morning, and he arranged for officials from the Ministry of War to rush them into the palace early in the morning.
Emperor Chongzhen read the military newspaper and reported that the slaves and bandits were moving. Large groups of captives were roaming the countryside south of the city, and they were likely to attack Yongding Gate.
He hurriedly summoned Yang Sichang to the palace and wanted to ask his beloved Qing to help him with his advice.
Yang Sichang first praised Lu Xiangsheng, and even suggested that the emperor give Lu Xiangsheng a reward to appease his heart and encourage him to fight against the enemy again and protect the capital.
Then the conversation changed and he suggested that Chongzhen should focus on the war outside the city for the time being. After Jiannu retreated, he would summon Lu Xiang to ascend to the throne and hold a banquet in the palace to celebrate the achievements of the soldiers who expelled the captives and protected the country.
Emperor Chongzhen felt that what Yang Sichang said was true for the country, but he asked Zhang Cheng to be left alone. He must see what kind of person this young general who repeatedly fought against the cavalry and captured Jia La Zhangjing alive was.
…………
Wang Dehua approached Nuan Pavilion gently and said softly in a high-pitched voice: "Your Majesty, Zhang Cheng is waiting for summons outside the pavilion."
Chongzhen raised his head, his face flushed, and said with a smile: "Pass it on."
"Preaching to the town of Zhang Cheng to see him."
Wang Dehua shouted loudly with a thin voice.
Zhang Cheng was standing outside the Nuan Pavilion. Wang Dehua arranged for two young eunuchs to accompany him. At this time, Wang Dehua's voice came from the Nuan Pavilion, but he seemed not to hear it. He stood there motionless.
The eunuch stabbed him urgently and then pulled Zhang Cheng back, who was in a daze.
After coming back to his senses, Zhang Cheng hurriedly approached Nuange with his head lowered. After about ten steps, his knees softened and he knelt on the ground with his hands on the ground. He banged his head on the bluestone ground with a "dong dong dong" and said loudly:
"Zhang Cheng, a thousand households in Xuanfu Town, kowtow to His Majesty the Emperor and wish the Emperor long live, long live!"