In the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, on October 22nd, in the afternoon.
Beijing, the Forbidden City, inside the Dongnuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Chongzhen took a sip of tea and said calmly: "Are you Zhang Cheng of Xuanzang?"
Zhang Cheng did not dare to get up and remained lying on the ground, and replied loudly: "Back to the emperor, the last general is Zhang Cheng."
The voice just now came again: "Zhang Cheng, please get up and answer."
Zhang Cheng lay on the ground and replied in a very respectful tone: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
After thanking him, he wanted to stand up immediately, but the new suit of armor pressed down on him, making it very difficult for him. He could not stand up for a while. Seeing this, Emperor Chongzhen gently waved to Wang Dehua who was standing beside him. With a wave of his hand, Wang Dehua hurriedly called to the two young eunuchs, who came over to help Zhang Cheng stand up.
He stood up, glanced secretly at the situation in Nuan Pavilion, and saw a young man wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, sitting on a dragon throne behind the imperial desk, with eunuchs standing on both sides of the throne.
It turned out that Emperor Chongzhen had taken off his silk gauze robe and put on a dragon robe. He was sitting on the dragon chair behind the imperial desk, observing Zhang Cheng.
When he glanced secretly just now, he also saw Chongzhen's appearance, and he couldn't help but be secretly surprised.
He saw that Emperor Chongzhen, who was still young, had already turned gray on his temples.
Zhang Cheng vaguely remembered that Chongzhen ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor at the age of seventeen. He should still be less than thirty years old now. Unexpectedly, he was so old.
In particular, although his face was full of red light, his expression also contained a tiredness emanating from his heart, and he was just trying to support himself.
I can't help but wonder, is it really like historical records? Although Chongzhen was not a qualified Mingjun, who did not bring the Ming Empire out of the road of decline, and was not a master of the ZTE, he did eat well at night and be alert at night. Chaoqian.
Even if he is not a wise king, he is certainly a diligent king, a troubled king, and a king who is eager for success!
Chongzhen was also looking at Zhang Cheng carefully, and he said: "Zhang Cheng, you are commendable for your loyalty and bravery. You fought fiercely with the captives and even captured Jia La Zhang Jing. You are so powerful that the Ming Dynasty's army is so powerful that the slaves do not dare to underestimate me." , I feel very relieved.”
Zhang Cheng bowed and replied: "This is all due to the sage, Hong Fu Qi Tian, and the dutiful teachings of the governors and governors. At the end of the day, the general only knows how to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country, fight fiercely against the Tartars, and protect the capital. This is really his duty. How dare Zhang Cheng claim his merits?" ."
Hearing what Zhang Cheng said, Emperor Chongzhen was very satisfied.
He really didn't expect that Zhang Cheng, who was born in a military family and was now a member of a thousand households, would be so knowledgeable about etiquette and business affairs.
Chongzhen looked at Zhang Cheng carefully and then said to him: "Here is Mr. Yang from the cabinet, the new governor of Xuanda, Chen Xinjia. You haven't met him yet, right?"
Zhang Cheng hurriedly turned around and bowed and said: "General Zhang Cheng, I would like to pay my respects to Mr. Yang Ge and Chen Duchen."
Only then did he look at the two of them carefully. The cabinet minister Yang Sichang was dressed in a bright red python robe, a beam crown on his head, a jade belt around his waist, a black beard, his eyes were full of energy, and he looked shrewd and capable.
Chen Xinjia, the governor of Xuanda, was a bit more refined, but his facial features were regular and his official appearance and behavior were outstanding.
The cabinet minister Yang Sichang sat on the soft collapse, waved his hand gently, and said: "Zhang Cheng, you are loyal to the king and have the courage to fight and capture the cavalry. You are indeed a leader in the army. I hope you can continue to be brave and make new achievements. Live up to the divine grace.”
Before Zhang Cheng could answer, Emperor Chongzhen said again: "For there to be such a loyal and courageous person in Xuan Town, Chen Aiqing has done a great job for you."
What Chongzhen said is correct. Chen Xinjia was the former governor of Xuanzang, and Zhang Chengde could also be regarded as a general under his rule.
Seeing that the emperor praised Zhang Cheng so much and that he himself was rewarded for it, Chen Xinjia was also happy in his heart. He couldn't help but feel a little more cherishment in his eyes when he looked at Zhang Cheng.
He hurriedly replied: "It is really the duty of a minister to perform his duties for the country. How dare he be so praised by the emperor? I can only repay the divine favor by being loyal and diligent in the king's affairs."
Emperor Chongzhen was in great spirits today, nodded with satisfaction, and continued: "Zhang Cheng, tell me how you captured that Jia La Zhang Jing."
Zhang Cheng then detailed the story of the Battle of Stone Bridge that day to the emperor. Emperor Chongzhen was indeed very interested. He listened very carefully and interrupted Zhang Cheng from time to time to ask where he was asking.
Especially when Zhang Cheng talked about how to capture Jia La Zhangjing, Emperor Chongzhen was so excited that he hit the imperial case with his palm, which shocked Yang Sichang and Chen Xinjia.
Zhang Cheng had finished speaking, but Chongzhen was still unfinished. The excitement of presenting the prisoner ceremony at the Meridian Gate had not faded, and hearing Zhang Cheng narrate such a thrilling battle process had already pushed Chongzhen to the peak of excitement.
He said happily: "Mr. Yang, you and the Ministry of War should discuss the reward as soon as possible. You should be generous and sincere, and use it as an example to encourage all generals to follow suit."
After saying that, as if he still had more to say, Chongzhen stood up and walked around the Nuan Pavilion for a few times. After he stood still, he said: "I wish Zhang Cheng could be a guerrilla and be awarded an honorary medal. You can discuss the details with the Ministry of War."
Yang Sichang hurriedly stood up to receive the order. He felt that now that the Tartars were invading the border, it was not appropriate to grant Zhang Cheng a guerrilla military position. However, the emperor was excited at this time and could not explain it, so he could only follow the order.
Zhang Cheng was really excited. He knelt down and kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty is so kind to you. Even if Zhang Cheng is so heartbroken, he can't even repay His Majesty's kindness."
Emperor Chongzhen was in a very comfortable mood today, and he added: "Mr. Yang, I intend to hold a banquet in the Imperial Garden to celebrate Zhang Cheng's victory. You and Chen Xinjia should also join us."
This was a rare honor, a special favor from the emperor. Zhang Cheng knelt on the ground, and before he got up, he kowtowed again and again, and said in a more choked tone: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
It was the first time for Zhang Cheng to meet the king. This king, who could be the lord of hundreds of millions of people, had such majesty that he was at a loss for a moment. He didn't even expect that there would be a banquet, so he was very excited.
The same was true for Chen Xinjia. He hurriedly knelt down to thank him. Only Yang Sichang was calmer. Although he also thanked him, he often accompanied the emperor and gave banquets more than once, so he was much calmer.
…………
At that moment, Emperor Chongzhen was driving in Xiyuan Cuihua Garden. As he walked, he talked softly with his cabinet minister Yang Sichang, while Zhang Cheng followed Chen Xinjia respectfully.
Like Zhang Cheng, Chen Xinjia just followed silently. Except for the occasional question or two from Emperor Chongzhen, he had no way to interrupt.
Emperor Chongzhen was not walking very fast. Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew by, and Chongzhen's dragon robe fluttered in the wind. Zhang Cheng vaguely seemed to see a patch on the lining of Emperor Chongzhen's dragon robe.
Zhang Cheng has read some historical data before. According to records, Emperor Chongzhen asked Queen Zhou to sew and mend his worn-out clothes on weekdays. Most of his food was simple meals, using...
Especially in the last few years of the Ming Dynasty, in order to raise military pay, he even asked the eunuchs to pawn and sell the silver chamber pots he used.