Early in the morning, before dawn, Jiang Zhe got up. The maids and eunuchs who were waiting for him were confused and thought they had remembered the day of the court by mistake, because they all knew that it was not the day of the morning court. Jiang Zhe likes to sleep until midnight and only get up to wash himself.
When Zhao Neng, who was still feeling sleepy, heard Jiang Zhe asking him to prepare his horse and go to the Xuanwu Lake Cavalry Guard Station, Zhao Neng woke up immediately. He really accepted Jiang Zhe as his master. As soon as I thought about it, it was still raining outside. Why go to the military camp in a hurry? Could it be that something happened? But the emperor’s face didn’t look like it. He boldly said: "The emperor wants to review the knights." Wei, please let me go and say hello to them first, so that they can be ready to pick you up."
"What do you say hello? I'm going now." Jiang Zhe said decisively.
"Then slave girl, go prepare for the ride."
"You, this slave, are getting worse and worse at serving me. I asked you to prepare horses, but what kind of chariot did you prepare?" Jiang Zhe scolded with a smile.
"Yes. My slave, go and prepare your horse now."
Braving the autumn rain, Jiang Zhe rode a white horse straight to Xuanwu Lake with Zhang Xiao and more than 20 guards.
Xuanwu Lake is located outside the northeast wall of Jinling City. The lakeshore is diamond-shaped and has a circumference of about ten kilometers. There are five islands in the lake, which divide the lake into four large areas. There are bridges or embankments connecting the islands. It was originally a good lake. It is a tourist attraction, but the Tang Dynasty chose this place as the residence of the most elite troops in the capital, the Cavalry Guard.
As the saying goes, one autumn rain brings another cold. In the late autumn of October, the lake is already red and thin, green and thin, and the remaining lotus flowers are withered. The rain also sprinkles the autumn pond, causing ripples of sadness, creating a chilling scene.
When Jiang Zhe brought Zhang Xiao and others here, they saw that the entire lake area was surrounded by fences, and a large flag soaked by rain trembled in the cold wind, with a ferocious leopard with wings embroidered on it. , as if they were really about to fly in the wind. You could vaguely see groups of neatly arranged sergeants in the camp undergoing drills, and slogans were heard from time to time.
When Jiang Zhe saw that the huge camp was orderly, heavily guarded and ordered to be tidy, he couldn't help but nod to Zhang Xiao and praise: "It seems that Admiral Ding is really a general."
Zhang Xiao saw that the Cavalry Guards looked so solemn, and he said energetically: "Yes. The Emperor came suddenly, and they can't know the news. I think this Cavalry Guards are always like this."
The two were about to comment a few more words, but suddenly they heard a shout from in front: "Who dares to ride a horse here? Don't you know that riding a horse in front of the camp is a capital crime? Come down!"
Among the guards behind Jiang Zhe, which one is not accustomed to being arrogant? Immediately, someone hit the horse and shouted: "I've blinded your dog's eyes. This is the long live Lord of today. Is he going to dismount for you?"
Unexpectedly, the sergeant was not afraid, but said coldly: "This army has not been notified."
When the guard saw that the sergeant dared to refuse even the emperor's entrance, he felt his anger rise. He raised his whip and was about to whip him. However, Zhang Xiao held his arm and said to the sergeant: "It is indeed the emperor who drives him." When we arrived, we quickly moved away the horses, opened the camp gate, and Xuan Ding Bingzhen came out to greet the imperial driver."
The soldier remained unmoved, raised his face and said, "I'm sorry, I only listen to General Ding's orders in our army!"
Hearing this, Zhang Xiao also became angry and shouted: "Bold, do you dare not to welcome the emperor?"
Upon seeing this, Jiang Zhe hurriedly stopped Zhang Xiao and said, "I don't blame them. It's true that we came too suddenly."
"Then what should we do? Your Majesty, we can't just go back?" Zhang Xiao was still a little angry.
Jiang Zhe chuckled and said, "I never do anything without success. Show this to them." As he spoke, he took out a bright yellow baggage from his arms.
Zhang Xiao took it and took a look, and his expression changed. He didn't expect that the emperor actually brought the jade seal with him. He hurriedly opened the package respectfully, raised the jade seal high with both hands, and said loudly: "Emperor of the Tang Dynasty
The jade seal of the state is here, please send it to Ding Bingzhen immediately to receive the imperial edict. The emperor is going to the camp to observe the troops, so he is ordered to come to pick him up as soon as possible!"
Although the sergeant guarding the gate had never seen the jade seal, seeing this situation he knew that the emperor was most likely really here, so he hurriedly said: "My lord, please wait a moment. I will go and report to General Ding immediately."
After about half a cup of tea, a flag officer ran over quickly, stood at the gate of the camp, and said loudly: "General Ding, the commander-in-chief of the military affairs of the Cavalry Guard, respectfully invites the emperor to enter the camp!"
When Zhang Xiao saw that Ding Bingzhen had only sent a flag officer to pick him up, he was waiting in the camp for the emperor to come in to see him. He couldn't help but get angry and was about to explode on the spot. However, he saw that Jiang Zhe had already got off his horse and headed towards the camp.
When the guards saw this situation, who dared to say anything, they had no choice but to dismount their horses, protect Jiang Zhe and walk through the mud step by step toward the camp.
Jiang Zhe and his party walked until they were less than a hundred meters away from the Chinese army's tent when they saw a tall, middle-aged general with broad shoulders and wearing a faded military uniform striding out. His bronze face was
There are a pair of bright big eyes embedded in his face, and he looks like he is in his thirties, but if you look carefully, you can see that there are already several wrinkles on his forehead.
I saw this tall and thin middle-aged general walking about ten steps in front of Jiang Zhe. He stopped abruptly and did not kneel down. He just cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I am in military uniform. Please show me military salutes."
See you!"
Zhang Xiao could no longer hold back his anger and yelled: "Ding Bingzhen, don't be too presumptuous!"
Jiang Zhe stopped Zhang Xiao, smiled slightly at Ding Bingzhen, and said, "That's right. No courtesy. Come with me to walk around."
Ding Bingzhen raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, please review."
As Jiang Zhe walked, he chatted with Ding Bingzhen, "How many people are there in the camp now, and how are the weapons and equipment?"
Ding Bingzhen replied: "The whole camp has 5,628 registered officers and soldiers, 5,000 war horses, and 500 mules."
Jiang Zhe heard that there were so many horses, and almost every soldier had a horse. He couldn't help being very happy and said with a smile: "In that case, how about General Ding giving me a show?"
Ding Bingzhen secretly laughed at the emperor's lack of common sense, but he still said politely: "It is unlucky for the emperor to come here today. It is raining and the horses are prone to slipping. It is inconvenient to perform too fast, but I can arrange the cavalry formation."
Legal drill.”
When Jiang Zhe heard that it was raining and it was not convenient to perform, he felt a little disappointed. He thought to himself, could it be that this Cavalry Guard also has a useless silver-like wax gun head? But judging from the military appearance and discipline, this army should be the same.
He was the best among the troops of the Tang Dynasty. Since he had already come, he didn't care about the actual things, so watching the cavalry's performance was better than nothing. He nodded and said: "It's accurate."
Following Ding Bingzhen's order, a thousand cavalrymen in black clothes and black armor gathered on the school grounds and began formation drills. In fact, there is no room for cavalry in Xuanwu Lake, not to mention it is still raining today.
Therefore, what Ding Bingzhen could show Jiang Zhe was nothing more than asking the cavalry to walk in square formations and change formations, which are common in military parades.
Although Jiang Zhe didn't feel as good as he expected, he saw that the coordination between the riders and the horses was very good, and he couldn't help but nodded slightly. After all, the cavalry of the Han nation has always been bad.
Jiang Zhe stayed in Ding Bingzhen's army for a whole morning and did not leave until it was time for lunch. On the way back to the palace, Jiang Zhe asked Zhang Xiao: "Izumo (Zhang Xiao's word), what do you think?"
Is this person Ding Bingzhen?"
"This man is unruly and has no father-in-law. I think the emperor should punish him for the crime of disrespect." Zhang Xiao was still worried about Ding Bingzhen's arrogance.
Jiang Zhe laughed and said: "I don't blame him for this. What I like is that he can lead troops. You also saw it today. The soldiers of the Cavalry Guard can be called a tiger and wolf army."
Zhang Xiao said anxiously: "Although Ding Bingzhen has the talent to run the army, he is so arrogant, which is not the behavior of a minister." Zhang Xiao actually has no prejudice against Ding Bingzhen, but is too loyal to Jiang Zhe, so he is not interested in what Ding Bingzhen is doing today.
The behavior can never be forgiven.
Jiang Zhe turned back and looked in the direction of Xuanwu Lake and said, "Izumo, if you think Ding Bingzhen is really so arrogant, then you still think highly of him."
Zhang Xiao asked in confusion: "I don't understand what the emperor means, but I hope the emperor will make it clear!"
Jiang Zhe sneered and said: "According to my observation, Ding Bingzhen's unruly behavior today was intentional."
"You did it on purpose? I don't understand even more."
"You are a man of true temperament. Of course you don't understand the dirty tricks in officialdom." Jiang Zhe gave his horse a whip on his crotch and continued, "What we saw today, except for those outside the camp,
Those and other things were deliberately shown to us by Ding Bingzhen. After he knew that I was coming, he actually still sat firmly in the tent of the Chinese army, waiting for me to go over and see him. As you said, this was not the work of a minister, and
When he saw me, he clearly wasn't wearing a battle armor, but he deliberately greeted me with military salutes, and so on. He was all pretending."
Zhang Xiao frowned and said, "Why did Ding Bingzhen do this? Does he want to rebel?"
"Rebellion? He wouldn't dare even if I gave him three more courages." Jiang Zhe sneered, and then said, "He is a smart man and knows that he can't overturn the sky with the few troops he has, but he is very aware of his own power.
It also plays a vital role in this situation. He is taking this opportunity to show off his strength to me and put pressure on me, hoping that I can give him more benefits."
Zhang Xiao was speechless. He really didn't expect that Ding Bingzhen actually had such thoughts. He also didn't expect that the young master in front of him could see things so clearly. How could such an emperor's mind come from such a young age?
?Is it really the reincarnation of a real dragon?
While I was thinking wildly, I heard Jiang Zhe laugh and say: "That's fine. Ding Bingzhen's pretentious attitude today made me feel relieved about him, which means that he still bets on me, but he has a bigger appetite."
Zhang Xiao then asked: "How does the emperor plan to reward him?"
"Reward?" Jiang Zhe tightened his lips and gritted his teeth and said, "He wants to give him a reward, but I won't give him anything, so I still ask him to be loyal to me. Those who are truly loyal to me will naturally be rewarded by me.
Treat him sincerely, but if he tries to play political tricks with me, I will have my own extraordinary means to deal with it."
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