"General Pang is stationed in Shuiying at Mianyang Port. Is he worried about Lao Zhang?"
On the dock of Mianyang Port, when Pang Yu saw the yellow face again, the strangeness had been eliminated a lot. The handover ceremony went very quickly. It seemed that neither Zhang Xianzhong nor Xiong Wencan wanted to stay in Mianyang Port for too long.
After an hour, Zhang Xianzhong had left the main tent and got his lieutenant to report himself. He also sent a civilian officer to supervise the army, but today
The Rina civil servant did not immediately go to the West Camp to supervise the army. The performance of this eighth master was beyond Pang Yu's surprise. He was very respectful and docile in front of Xiong Wencan. He never uttered bad words and was very polite in his treatment of other civil and military officials.
They are also respectful in every aspect, from the perspective of Pang Yu watching from the sidelines.
Come on, he is more like a military attache than Zuo Liangyu.
Pang Yu accompanied him back again. At this time, Zhang Xianzhong seemed to be more relaxed and no longer held Pang Yu's arm as a hostage, but he still kept looking around. "It's nothing like this. I'm just used to doing business and like to help."
Others think about it, Deputy Zhang, think about it. There are many people in Gucheng, and they need hundreds of kinds of goods. They still have to rely on merchants to transport them. Xiying has a good reputation. After all, merchants don’t know the general.
He is sincerely recruiting people. If there are no officers and soldiers here, they would not dare to come. There is a water camp at the port, so he can rest assured that he comes by water. Only when the local business is prosperous will there be a good supply of money and food, right?"
Zhang Xianzhong's eyes turned around and said, "The bandits are like combs, and the soldiers are like grates. If your water camp is here, he will not dare to come."
Pang Yu couldn't help but laugh and said, "Vice-President Zhang knows a lot. If the merchants don't come, I'll have to do the business myself. The amount of money involved is not a small amount. If there are no soldiers here, I'm really worried."
Zhang Xianzhong chuckled and said, "Lao Zhang actually believed me when I said this."
At this time, the two men had arrived at the intersection in the north. The soldiers on both sides who were under guard at the intersection breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. There was only one road separating them from the confrontation. After Zhang Xianzhong entered the town, the atmosphere here has been very tense.
Pang Yu waved behind him, and Guo Fengyou immediately brought a set of armor. The helmet was placed on top. The top of the helmet was polished very well, reflecting a dazzling luster in the sun.
"This is a meeting gift for General Zhang. Congratulations on General Zhang's promotion to the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief. From now on, the general will guard Gucheng and he will definitely ensure the peace of the whole country." Zhang Xianzhong took the armor carelessly. He has strong arms and a full set of forty pounds.
It didn't take much trouble to hold the armor in his hand, so he handed it over to the person next to him and said, "General Pang is a man of faith. If you think of anything, just do it."
Think of something, unlike some officials who talked about giving money and food for a long time but never saw a single cent." Pang Yu naturally knew the meaning of Zhang Xianzhong's words. There were also the prefect of Xiangyang and Ruan Zhidian present, and the civil servant asked Zhang Xianzhong to listen.
When going to fight, Deputy Town Zhang first asked for money and food. If he wanted money and food, he had to appraise troops and horses first. Zhang Xianzhong said,
Xiong Wencan was asked to give Xiong Wencan six months to settle down for 20,000 troops. Of course, Xiong Wencan would not give it, and Zhang Xianzhong would not check it, so both sides delayed each other.
So now the only one who is actually being cared for is Zhang Xianzhong. The people in the Western Camp have no real establishment, and the leaders have no official status. The local government refuses to give them money and food because they don’t have a military register. The prefect of Xiangyang understood the meaning and turned his head to
While not intending to take up the topic, he looked up and saw Ruan Zhidian still in the Xiying team. He said politely to Zhang Xianzhong, "General Zhang is already an official of the imperial court, so Ruan Zhixian does not have to be the same as the magistrate."
Let’s go.”
Zhang Xianzhong waved his hand and said, "We are also going back to Gucheng. I will take Ruan Zhixian with me for a ride. I will definitely protect him." Ruan Zhidian over there was silent. Zhang Xianzhong went over and said carelessly, "Lao Zhang saw Xiong today.
The Prime Minister has gone, and now he is also an officer and soldier. With Premier Xiong's permission, he is stationed in Gucheng. Ruan Zhi County should not always think that Lao Zhang is going to rebel again.
Just be careful about how we interact with you in the future, you see, General Pang is more sensible than you."
Ruan Zhidian suddenly raised his head and said, "It is reasonable for a low-ranking official to be ignorant, but just now General Pang gave me a greeting gift, but General Zhang didn't return the gift. Isn't it also unreasonable?"
The surrounding officers, soldiers and people from Xiying all took a look. They didn't expect that the magistrate, who was like a doormat, would dare to rebuke the eight kings in person. Especially the people in Xiying never dared to disobey the head of the family.
Zhang Xianzhong's proud smile froze a bit, his face twitched, and then he smiled again and turned to Pang Yu.
"Old Zhang has not yet accomplished what he has learned, but he has learned a lot. However, he has not made enough preparations today. He will definitely invite General Pang to come to the camp in person someday."
Before he finished speaking, Pang Yu waved his hand, "General Zhang, you're welcome." Then Pang Yu bypassed Zhang Xianzhong, and under the strange gazes of everyone, he walked directly to the horse behind him, "General Zhang, what do you mean?
How come horses are born so well? I have been fighting for a long time, but I have been missing a horse as good as this.
horse."
... On the official road back to Gucheng, the Xiying team riding was relatively silent, and no one dared to provoke the Eight Kings who had changed their horses. Ruan Zhidian was still following at a distance, watched by several hosts.
, as if a dead pig is not afraid of boiling water
son.
Zhang Xianzhong sat on horseback and suddenly said, "Ms. Lu."
Lu Ding, who was nearby, quickly caught up and said, "My master's orders."
"What do you mean by that person named Pang?"
Lu Ding rolled his eyes and lowered his head and said, "He gave me the heavy armor, which means to congratulate me on guarding one place, and asked for my horse, so that I don't have to run around in the future."
Zhang Xianzhong said coldly, "Is this what you mean?"
Lu Ding hesitated for a moment and then said, "Otherwise, it means that he didn't get anything for free, and he always wanted something in exchange for it."
A voice from the other side said, "I think that Vice Admiral Pang doesn't have any deep meaning. He is just a greedy and delusional person like Zuo Liangyu who wants good things when he sees them." Lu Ding glanced at Zhang Xianzhong secretly and saw that he
His face was as usual, and he quickly said, "What Mr. Pan said makes sense. Pang Yu was originally a yamen official with no real talent and knowledge. He just got lucky and became a deputy general. After all, he was still a lieutenant general."
"Xu Li, you really look like this." "Xu Li is a deputy general, and I am also a deputy general. What does this mean?" Zhang Xianzhong turned to look at Mr. Pan over there, "But Mr. Pan, don't underestimate this Xu Li."
Li, Zuo Liangyu is very honest and shameless, but he knows the inside story. This Xu Li still sees
I don’t understand.” Mr. Pan responded. He was Zhang Xianzhong’s military advisor. His real name was Pan Duao. He was originally a scholar in Ying County, Suizhou, a scholar with no money and power. Although the scholar had imperial examination status, he was still a grassroots scholar.
, by this time in the late Ming Dynasty, all officials could donate tribute, leaving few promotion channels for other scholars. Scholars without backgrounds could only join the yamen as officials, calligraphers, or as litigators and dental practitioners.
class, even as a slave
Quite a few. Pan Duao didn't make it in the future and lost a lawsuit locally. Later he organized a small rural soldier team called Anti-Thieves. When Zhang Xianzhong came over, he neither resisted nor harassed him and surrendered directly.
There were many talented people captured in the camp.
But not many took the initiative to join him, so they were favored by Zhang Xianzhong. "What the eldest master said is that Tan Ma said that the Anqing soldiers have set up a blockade on the official road in Hedong in the past two days, and I don't know how long they will stay there. What the villain is most worried about is his
Shuiying has no good intentions in Mianyang Port and must send capable old camp troops to guard it. If only
It's okay to transport the armored soldiers. His armored soldiers walk sixty miles to Gucheng. We have already received the news that it will be difficult to transport his horse soldiers across the river. As long as the guards are careful and don't let him transport the horses...
"
Zhang Xianzhong listened while riding, keeping his eyes fixed on the west. It was already afternoon, and the mountains to the west were vaguely visible.
Pan Duao continued to speak, and Zhang Xianzhong suddenly shouted loudly, "There are green pines in the mountains..."
The surrounding thieves were stunned and turned to look to the west. There were high mountains over there, but there were absolutely no green pine trees. Pan Duao also stopped talking. When he was confused, Zhang Xianzhong said again, "In the valley of yellow peanuts.
"
"Good poem, good poem." Pan Duao was the first to react, with an exaggerated expression of admiration on his face, "The neat format of the poem and the lofty purpose of this poem are really rare, and only a few people can match it."
All the thieves hurriedly said, "What a poem, what a poem."
Zhang Xianzhong suddenly raised his hand, "Once the hail falls!"
Everyone was excited and looked at the moody eighth master with all their attention. They didn't know who the hail would kill. Zhang Xianzhong raised his hands in the air, but he didn't say the next sentence for a long time, and even scratched his head with his fingers,
It seems that the next sentence has not been brewed yet. The waiting time is a little longer, and the momentum of the hail just now has already weakened.
few.
Pan Duao knew very well the importance of rhythm in reciting poetry, and he had already written the next sentence in his mind. However, this kind of reminder in front of everyone was unpredictable, and he couldn't help but feel very anxious.
At this critical moment, Zhang Xianzhong suddenly raised his hand that was grabbing his head and repeated, "Once the hail falls."
Pan Duao's eyes lit up, knowing that the following was already there.
Sure enough, Zhang Xianzhong opened his mouth and said, "Yellow flowers are not as good as pine trees!" "What a poem, what a poem!" Pan Duao slapped his thigh and turned to face the group of thieves, "The Eight Masters can't fall, because they are the green pines standing in the mountains.
The yellow flowers look beautiful, but they cannot withstand the wind and frost. They will collapse when the hailstones hit them.
I’m talking about Lieutenant General Pang from Anqing.”
Everyone praised him one after another. If there was a habit of applauding, the applause would have been deafening. Zhang Xianzhong enjoyed the admiration for his literary talents for a moment. After everyone calmed down a little, the Eight Kings pointed at Liu Wenxiu and said, "You are stationed at Mianyang Port.
, keep an eye on that Huang Hua, and if there is any change, take action first so that he cannot leave Gucheng!"
..."Liu Guoneng dismissed his troops, and there were only three to four thousand people left in the Fourteenth Post. Mr. Xiong sent people to check and make a list. Compared with these eight kings, Liu Guoneng was more sincere and carefree. Our focus is still on the eight thieves, but
Liu Guoneng will also send people to investigate.
.”
At the intersection of Mianyang Port, the soldiers were withdrawing their artillery. Pang Yu took Ruan Jin outside the town, and while talking, he leisurely looked at the remaining Western Camp soldiers.
"The villain has noted it down, but the Western Camp is stationed at Baishazhou. From now on, their troops and horses will rarely be mobilized. Where should the villain pay attention?" "The Xiying used to make a living by plundering everywhere, and now it is entrenched here. Gucheng cannot support him.
These people should especially inquire about the money and food situation of Xiying. If the eight thieves do not rebel when the food is exhausted, the people below will rebel against him. Through the money and food, they can judge when he will rebel. Among the thieves, there are spies who have been buried in the past.
, the person I just pointed out to you is one of them, you have to make good use of these spies. Also keep an eye on Lu Ding, he is responsible for walking around with local officials, where he went and who he met.
I want to know."
Ruan Jin thought about it and said, "He just said that a soldier is like a grate, and if he wants to recruit people, he is no different than a thief. If he is short of money and food, he will still loot everywhere, but he will not massacre the city." "You are right.
The Eight Thieves were defeated by Zuo Liangyu not long ago, and their money was severely damaged. Now they can't plunder everywhere. They have to buy rice and beans. Once the first period is over, they will return to their old ways. They will definitely collect grain in surrounding counties and counties. I will be here
East Coast restricts him
They took action to limit their food purchasing channels to Mianyang Port."
"It's just that we live together with Xiying in Mianyang Port. I'm afraid it will be inconvenient." "It's a good thing to mix together. Only by contact can we get information. You have to be energetic when dealing with Xiying. These bandits are not easy to fight, but with
Spies are very proficient, so don't underestimate the enemy." Pang Yu looked at him and said gently, "Why are you here?
Secret Sentence Division, I am going to give you such a difficult task. It may be difficult at first, but only in this way can you gain a foothold."
Ruan Jin quickly knelt down and said, "I thank you for your kindness." Pang Yu waved his hand to let him get up. He stared at the Xiying troops at the intersection and said, "There are many civil and military officials around here who want to deal with the Eight Thieves. They are all
Our help, but we have to do things secretly and not make Master Xiong suspicious, so others have to take the lead. This time you and I must work hard to prevent the eight thieves from getting out of Gucheng."