Beijing, Forbidden City, Huayuan Pavilion in Cuihua Garden.
Zhang Cheng looked at the four vegetarian dishes, a bowl of brown rice, and a bottle of wine on the table in front of him, and couldn't help but be stunned.
Although in later generations, he had heard that when he was emperor, Chongzhen was famously frugal and had a very rough meal. But after all, he was the king of a country. How could he be so rough?
Seeing Zhang Cheng's appearance, Emperor Chongzhen was quite surprised and couldn't help but ask: "Zhang Cheng, what's wrong with you?"
Seeing this scene, Yang Sichang was afraid that Zhang Cheng would ruin Emperor Chongzhen's mood, so he coughed lightly and deliberately reminded Zhang Cheng not to talk nonsense.
Zhang Cheng was also surprised, and hurriedly continued: "The emperor has only done a small job, but the emperor is so kind to him. Zhang Cheng is deeply frightened, and he can only do everything to repay the saint's grace."
Chongzhen said with great satisfaction: "You are dedicated to the king's affairs and your loyalty and bravery are commendable. Let's eat."
Zhang Cheng picked up the bowl and chopsticks and wolfed down the food. Within a moment, the bowl was empty and the plate was clean.
He had gotten up and left the camp since early in the morning, and had been busy with the matter of presenting prisoners. He was really hungry, not to mention that the army was short of food and meat, and usually only had rough food. Today's vegetables and rice were placed in the royal family, or among the officials and nobles.
Home may be coarse food, but in today's Xuan army, it is indeed delicacy.
Maybe he ate in a hurry, but Zhang Cheng felt a little choked. He hurriedly picked up the pot of wine, poured it into a bowl, and drank heavily.
Everyone in Huayuan Pavilion looked at Zhang Cheng with horror on their faces, and they all looked at a loss.
Yang Sichang was eating slowly, but now he was holding the bowl in his hand. He didn't know whether to eat or not. He had even been thinking about how to persuade the emperor for a while. Chen Xinjia was stunned and his whole body was trembling slightly.
Emperor Chongzhen was also a little surprised. He had been emperor for eleven years, and no one had ever eaten like this in front of him. He was stunned for a moment.
Yang Sichang hurriedly put down his bowls and chopsticks and said: "Your Majesty, Zhang Cheng..."
As soon as he said this, Emperor Chongzhen raised his hand, and Yang Sichang quickly shut up.
He originally thought that Chongzhen would be angry because Zhang Cheng had behaved badly in front of the emperor, but he saw that the emperor was not angry. Instead, he asked gently: "Zhang Cheng, the food in this palace is delicious. Are you satisfied?"
Is it done?”
Zhang Cheng replied sincerely: "Your Majesty, the dishes and rice are very delicious. I was full at the end, but the Emperor's wine was even more delicious, so Zhang Cheng drank a few more glasses."
Zhang Cheng's answer was a bit reckless. Yang Sichang on the side was shocked when he heard this. His eyes glanced at Zhang Cheng and Emperor Chongzhen. Chen Xinjia looked even more at a loss.
Emperor Chongzhen didn't take it seriously. He laughed "haha" after hearing this, and actually ordered the little eunuch waiting on the side to get Zhang Cheng another pot of wine.
He has been facing a group of old-fashioned and rule-abiding people, and even a group of swindlers. Chongzhen was already exhausted, but he had to deal with them. It was rare to see Zhang Cheng's sincerity today, which made him feel relieved.
, and felt novel.
Seeing that the emperor was not angry, Yang Sichang and Chen Xinjia were relieved.
…………
After the banquet, Chongzhen said some more words of comfort and encouragement. Since there were still state affairs to discuss with the cabinet minister Yang Sichang and the Governor of Xuanda Chen Xinjia, Zhang Cheng resigned and left.
Under the guidance of the young eunuch, Chen Zhong led several guards and waited here all the way out of Chengtian Gate. Other soldiers who participated in the prisoner sacrifice had already left the city and were waiting for them outside Yongding Gate.
Zhang Cheng mounted his horse and galloped all the way to the gate of Yongding.
…………
When he came out of the Nuan Pavilion of Qianqing Palace, Chen Xinjia still felt that his whole body was light and airy. He felt that Emperor Chongzhen was paying more and more attention to him, and he couldn't help but think that he might be able to enter the palace in the future.
However, he still did not dare to express this level of intention actively, so he still peeked at the expression on the face of the cabinet minister Yang Sichang next to him from time to time. He still looked respectful to Yang Sichang.
In front of Chen Xinjia, Yang Sichang certainly would not have the same low-brow image as he did in front of Emperor Chongzhen. At this time, he had a proud look.
Along the way, he seemed to have been deep in thought, and the expression on his face kept changing. After a long time, he smiled at Chen Xinjia and said softly: "Brother Fang Yuan, the emperor has a very good opinion of you. I will try my best to gain more experience in the future when I am appointed as the great general." In a few years, it will not be difficult to come to the imperial court and join the cabinet one day."
Chen Xinjia was overjoyed when he heard this and hurriedly bowed to Yang Sichang and said: "This is all thanks to the cultivation and promotion of Mr. Yang Ge. I will definitely follow Mr. Ge's lead as a subordinate."
Yang Sichang nodded slowly with great satisfaction, and suddenly said: "You'd better get some more military honors. That Zhang Cheng seems to be a good young man. You must take him into your hands."
Chen Xinjia nodded, but said with some embarrassment: "Mr. Ge, Zhang Cheng is indeed brave in fighting, but this time the troops are divided, students can only use three guerrilla troops. Even if Zhang Cheng is the new guerrilla, he is still a lone general. Student But how do you get it?"
Yang Sichang said calmly: "Zhang Cheng, a martial artist, is nothing to worry about. You can win over him in the future. The key is Lu Xiangsheng. Don't let him take your credit again. Tomorrow you will lead the guerrillas in the three towns." ....."
…………
In the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, it was October 23rd, Sishi.
The sky is clear, cloudless, and the sun is high in the sky, warming everyone in the cold wind.
In the southern suburbs of Beijing, Governor Tian Xia Qin Wang Bing Ma Lu Xiangsheng was in the military tent of the Biao camp. Xuanda, the generals of the three Shanxi towns, generals, guerrillas and other generals gathered together.
In the military tent, a huge incense table was placed in front of the iron table in the middle of the upper room, with an incense burner burning on it and offerings and other items placed there.
Wang Dehua, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, wears a gold-embedded three-mountain cap, a brocade robe, and an exquisite jade belt tied around his waist. He is very eye-catching. He is holding a yellow silk dark dragon envelope in his left hand. He is standing behind the incense table. .
He is quite tall and looks very handsome. Like other eunuchs, he has a fair face and no beard.
Four young eunuchs with very delicate faces stood sideways behind him, and on both sides were eight elite cavalry soldiers from the Beijing camp. They had bright armor and bright red cloaks, and they looked energetic and majestic.
When Wang Dehua saw that everyone in front of the incense table was ready, he shouted in a high-pitched voice: "The imperial edict has arrived. Lu Xiangsheng, the right minister of the Ministry of War, Yang Guozhu, the chief soldier of Xuanfu Town, Zhang Yan, Qianhu Zhang Cheng and others will receive the edict." .”
Lu Xiangsheng, the right minister of the Ministry of War, knelt down in front of the incense table. General Chen An followed Lu Xiangsheng and knelt down one step behind him on the right side.
Xuanda, the commander-in-chief of the three Shanxi towns, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, Hu Dawei and others knelt down about half a step behind Lu Xiangsheng.
Xuanfu Town Counselor Zhang Yan, Qian Commander Zhang Cheng, his uncle and nephew, also knelt in the row of the three commander-in-chiefs, because they were the main generals awarded by the imperial decree today.
They have Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen, in the middle, Wang Pu and Hu Dawei, the two commander-in-chiefs, on the left side of Yang Guozhu, and Zhang Cheng, his uncle and nephew, on the right side of Yang Guozhu, kneeling in a row.
Behind Zhang Cheng was Xuanda, the generals and guerrilla generals from the three towns in Shanxi. They also knelt down in a flash, seven or eight of them knelt in a row.
After the generals knelt down, led by Lu Xiangsheng, who held the title of right minister of the Ministry of War, Xuanda, and all the generals in the three towns of Shanxi respectfully sang in unison: "Long live my emperor!"