Emperor Jianwen and hundreds of officials held a banquet in the Huang'en Palace, which was lively for almost a whole day. Yao Ji specially sent someone to take charge of Zhang Ning's food. The dishes he ate at the banquet and the wine he drank were all served before they were served on the table.
A special inspection was carried out and the whole process was monitored. The palace dining room originally had eunuchs responsible for food safety, but Yao Ji still used her own people to add an extra step to the process. The distrust between the two parties is evident.
The etiquette practiced in the palace was complicated, but it became simpler once Zhang Ning set out on the road. He took nothing with him, only a group of cavalry such as Li Zhen accompanied him, and he also rode a horse. So he arrived in Jiangxi before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Outside Jiujiang City, Zhang Ning discovered that among the officials and generals who came out of the city to greet him, there was Luo Yaoniang. Seeing her standing behind Yu Qian, Zhang Ning immediately understood that she had come to Jiangxi to see Yu Qian. Looking back, over the past few years,
When Zhang Ning was still in Nanjing, among the people who went to the capital to support him, Yu Qian and Luo Yaoniang were in the same group. At least they had known each other since then and had a good friendship.
There was a slight flash of unhappiness in his heart. If Luo Yaoniang was his wife and concubine, she would definitely not be allowed to have any "confidant". He knew best that this kind of thing would become green if it was blue; but the problem was
Luo Yaoniang is nothing. She once had an affair but couldn't bring it to light, so she has no legitimate reason to control her freedom. What's more, Luo Yaoniang's background is Yang Shiqi's adopted daughter, and Yu Qian is also an important member of the Xiangwang Group.
, otherwise Zhang Ning really can’t do anything to her.
"Bang bang..." Guns and cannons fired and drums played on the city top. Zhang Ning immediately returned the greeting to the officials who greeted him, and then led the crowd into the city.
After entering the city, he found that the main road in the middle was under martial law, and many soldiers lined up beside the road. Most of them were officers and soldiers from the Yongding Battalion. At first, they raised their arms in a solemn salute, and soon someone shouted, and then the army
The atmosphere in the crowd gradually became heated. "King of Xiang...King of Xiang..." Countless long and short weapons swayed in the crowd, like woods in the wind, and Zhang Ning suddenly became the focus of everyone's attention.
Zhang Ning obviously has a very high prestige among the veterans of the Yongding Camp. From Shimen County to Wuchang, this army has fought dozens of battles, large and small, and won many fierce battles under his leadership. People's trust and support for him were born in blood and fire.
His arrival changed the stagnant morale. Most of the soldiers in the army were looking forward to another victory in the Battle of Jiangxi.
Many citizens were crowded in the streets and alleys. For a while, the city seemed to be celebrating a new year. However, the local people were obviously not interested in who would win the war or who would dominate the place. They just came to watch the fun, and the people liked it.
Go to a crowded place and stand to watch.
Zhang Ning at this moment is undoubtedly a splendid moment in his life. He has a noble and glorious impression and is supported by thousands of people. He is riding a tall horse that has grown up. He is wearing a gray military uniform, and the buttons and belt buckles made of gold are shining with metallic luster.
The dagger worn on his waist was bright, and the lining collar was as white as snow; he wore a wide-brimmed steel helmet on his head, which made the military uniform even more heroic.
He looked back at the excited soldiers on both sides, raised his hands and shouted: "Brothers of Yongding Camp, unite!" Everyone shouted almost in unison: "Glory..." Someone in the lively crowd shouted: "Long live my king, long live my king!"
..." The officers and soldiers of Yongding Camp had no taboo against such overstepping of control. Everyone knew how the territory of Jiangshan came from, and they did not reject Emperor Jianwen at all.
Afterwards, Yu Qian and others watched the scene in front of them silently. This was perhaps the first time they had seen such unbridled and fanatical admiration.
This time, there was a woman who came out with Zhang Ning, Xin Wei, who was responsible for protecting his safety and taking care of his daily life. Xu Wenjun was granted the title of concubine and could not go to the army; Xin Wei had previously served as a white-clothed guard in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and had practiced martial arts.
Having been trained to guard against assassins, Yao Ji thought it would be more appropriate to send him out. She would send a woman by her side to save Zhang Ning from unnecessary danger when he went out to do things.
Xin Wei has never appeared in front of so many people. Obviously, standing in the bustling street and standing in the center of many eyes are two different things. She is just a guard beside her, but she can't help but feel very nervous and excited.
I didn't dare to move on the horse, for fear that I would make a small move wrong and make people laugh; I also thought about running all the way these days and not tidying up properly, and I was worried that my face would look ugly and not pretty enough. Many of these little thoughts came to me when I was nervous.
pop up.
Walking on this long and noisy road, Xin Wei thought of the country road exuding the fragrance of plum blossoms in a trance. In his dreams and memories, plum blossoms were always blooming on that road. Many years ago, she came from
Coming out of there, with sadness and confusion, but also with expectations, I started another period of life. I am afraid that the mood at that time will be unforgettable for the rest of my life. What to expect, what to expect, a dream...
The landlord's courtyard in Gujia Village planted a seed in her heart since she was a child, allowing her to see that there is a better world that is different from the lonely and lowly life of hunger, poverty, and loneliness. But this dream in her young heart
It was vague, and she didn't know how to get to that world or what it would take. When she arrived in Yangzhou, the prosperous and prosperous land of flowers and willows really opened her eyes, but she soon discovered that this was not what she wanted.
Many years have passed, and at this moment, walking on the street where everyone is watching, she suddenly seems to truly understand. If one day she can be admired and respected by people with her noble status, and she will be perfect and glorious, then she will bloom like a summer flower.
Ordinary splendor... And this love and scene are so close, and the man beside me can give it all.
...The troops walked along the North-South Avenue to the intersection, turned west, and a short distance later they found the Jiujiang Prefectural Government Office, the Jiangxi Governor's Office and other government offices.
A large number of soldiers and horses followed Zhang Ning's guards and came here. A tall flagpole was erected outside the gate of the governor's office. Musicians on the side also set up their instruments, and there was a group of soldiers in neat clothes protecting them.
A yellow flag is forming across the team. A "flag-raising ceremony" is going to be held here.
Zhang Ning then reined in his horse and got off the horse. The people accompanying him also dismounted and stood in place. After the melodious sound of the flute and the ups and downs of music, the soldiers guarded a Zhuque flag and solemnly raised the flag. For several years
Zhang Ning's design of the Suzaku Flag was obviously a wise move. Today it has become a symbol of unity in the military, and the soldiers have given it a mysterious meaning like a totem.
At the end of the ceremony, Wei Bin bowed loudly and said: "Please give your Majesty a lecture to the soldiers!"
Zhang Ning then walked up the stone steps at the gate, looked back at the crowds blocking the streets on both sides, and said: "For three years, Zhu Yong led his army to wipe out the Suzaku Army, which at that time only had more than a thousand people, in Huguang Gaodu, but we were defeated all at once.
The battle was defeated; Xue Lu gathered hundreds of thousands of people to attack in several directions, but was wiped out by our soldiers of the Suzaku Army at Yuanshui River; the Puppet Dynasty also mobilized the most elite Shenji Battalion to cross the water in Jiujiang, but was also driven into the Yangtze River by the Suzaku Army. Now this time
The army of the puppet dynasty destroyed the King of Han in Nanjing and is coming again fiercely. My brave soldiers and brothers, are you afraid of them?"
There was a sudden uproar in the crowd, and everyone shouted in response: "Don't be afraid..." "Afraid of his eggs..."
Zhang Ning looked up at the Suzaku flag with a yellow background and black pattern flying on the flagpole with extremely natural movements. There was no trace of showmanship, and his sincerity was naturally revealed: "Since the Suzaku Army was formed, the soldiers have never committed any crime in loving the people, for the sake of the righteousness in their hearts.
We have worked hard, and many brothers have died on the battlefield with this flag in mind. But now, King Yan’s puppet court vows to destroy our great cause regardless of the cost. We will have another hard battle with the enemy being outnumbered; if we fail
The newly established home will be destroyed, the dignity will be trampled and turned into sinners, and the soldiers who have been killed and injured in the past few years will lose their follow-up pension and care..."
Many people were already agitated and started rioting before Zhang Ning could finish his words. All the troops were in an uproar, clamoring to fight to the death with the enemy soldiers and defend everything they had gained.
Zhang Ning stirred up morale at the gate of the governor's camp, and then went in with Zhu Wenwu. The soldiers seemed to be still interested and gathered outside the governor's camp for a long time.
Yu Qian looked at Zhang Ning with a different look. This was the first time he had experienced this kind of agitation. Scholar-officials were good at writing motivating essays, but more formal things were written in classical Chinese.
Motivating the lower-level soldiers is undoubtedly an irritation. Zhang Ning's "speech" style is really new. But for Zhang Ning himself, it is obviously a piece of cake. Modern consulting has developed, and he has seen all kinds of mobilization and speech methods.
.
A group of important members sat down in the lobby first. Zhang Ning had just arrived, and Yu Qian wanted to give a brief report on his duties. He handed over some things first, and Zhang Ning opened them and saw several maps and a report.
Yu Qian said: "The news of Jingdezhen was reported yesterday. The county magistrate was killed, and the officials and guards led the local gentry to surrender the city. This was expected. Next, Dexing and Leping cities will not be able to stop the army.
It is only a matter of time that Raozhou Prefecture is completely lost. The Yongding Battalion and the Jiujiang Army, which are under the control of the Jiangxi Governor's Yamen, cannot resist the enemy's advance... I did not mobilize troops to Hudong in time. Please look at the map."
He went on to say, "The shortest route from Nanjing to Jiujiang is not from Huizhou or Raozhou to Poyang Lake, but along the Yangtze River. I specially sent people to investigate this road on the spot. Not only is the road on land easy to mobilize the army,
Being able to advance both by water and land, and using ships to carry grain and grass, is the preferred way to march into Jiujiang. Our army has to guard against it.
The enemy's troops have left Huizhou in large numbers. Logically we should defend the Yangtze River while dividing our troops east of Hudong to protect the lands. However, our troops are too small, so I think we cannot divide our troops. Instead, we should concentrate our troops and wait for an opportunity to defeat the main force of the official army, so as to force the attack back.
"
Yu Qian had written these situations in his memorial before, and Zhang Ning respected his conclusions on the spot. Moreover, the matter could not be changed at this point. It was too late to reinforce the counties on the east bank of Poyang Lake, so Zhang Ning could only
He said: "What Ting Yi said makes sense, and I think it is very appropriate."