Wang Zhizheng was lying on the bed, the autumn mood was strong, the cool breeze was blowing, he was lying on the couch thinking about his thoughts, thinking left and right, for a while he saw Wei Zhongxian, sitting on the main hall of the nine-thousand-year-old mansion, old and gloomy and bright-eyed expression, thinking about Liu Qingqing for a while, as if he was looking at himself with a bright smile, and for a while there was a trembling and graceful look of Chongguo Gong in his mind, and for a while he saw Zhu Youzhen, the prince of Xin, cold and gloomy, and uneasy......

Suddenly, I saw Tai Bai Xing blowing dust, and walked over with a smile at him, and was about to step forward to talk, when suddenly Zhou Cheng's voice came from his ears: My lord! It's time to get up, we have to go to Ningyuan Starry Night!

Wang Zhizheng rubbed his sleepy eyes, and the strength of the wine had not yet passed. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info He saw Zhou Cheng's chubby face in his sight, full of joy.

Wang Zhizheng sat up all of a sudden: What time is it?

Zhou Cheng said with a smile: "At the beginning of the hour (about three o'clock in the morning), your lord! You asked me to gather troops and set off at three o'clock in the morning!"

Wang Zhizheng sat up: "Serve the master to wash." Zhou Cheng hurriedly brought the basin.

After washing, Wang Zhizheng walked out of the Liaodong Jingluo Mansion, and the soldiers guarding the door saw Wang Zhizheng and bowed their heads neatly. Wang Zhizheng nodded to them, strode out of the mansion, stepped on the black horse, and led Zhou Chengcheng to the camp of the garrison troops.

Zhou Gong had already assembled the troops, and when he saw Wang Zhizheng, Zhou Gong smiled and said: "My lord, the hundred iron horsemen have been assembled, please give the order to set off." ”

Wang Zhizheng nodded at him with a cold face: "Has Wang Jingluo's tribute been delivered?"

Zhou Gong said: "Yesterday evening, the tribute prepared by Wang Jingluo was delivered to the military camp, and I have already arranged it, and our iron cavalry carries the tribute." For the convenience of the march, it is better to pack it again in Jinzhou. ”

Wang Zhizheng nodded, and pointed at the endless dark night with a horsewhip: "Good job." Let's go!"

Wang Zhizheng took a hundred and ten iron horsemen out of the city, because he had informed the ministers of the king of Jinglu in advance that he would set off at three o'clock this morning, so at this time the city gate had been opened, and a hundred iron horsemen were thundering in the direction of Ningyuan. From behind, you can only see the dotted torches like stars.

In the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was already freezing outside, Wang Zhizheng looked at the starry sky and the hook of the first quarter moon, and the pressing cold air made him shiver. The desolation of this lock and the splendid prosperity of the capital do not seem to be in the same world, the dignitaries and nobles of the Central Plains, where will they know the wolf smoke in the north!

Ningyuan is 200 miles away from Shanhaiguan and is the intermediate link of the "Guanningjin Defense Line". In addition to the large and small military camps on the road, there are villages in threes and twos, except for the troops and the open field, which are basically inaccessible.

At noon the next day, Wang Zhizheng ordered the troops to stop for dinner.

Everyone's marching rations were hidden in their arms, Wang Zhizheng didn't do anything special, everyone sat on horseback and gnawed dry food, took out a water bag and drank half a bag of water, and then rested in place for half an hour, and then looked at Ning Yuancheng and left!

Before nightfall, Wang Zhizheng and his entourage arrived at Ningyuan City on time.

Ningyuan City still looks filled with the smell of gunsmoke, half a year ago, that is, in February this year, the Houjin Khan King Nurhachi attacked Ningyuan City with the Eight Banners, Liaodong Governor Yuan Chonghuan put the red-clothed cannons imported from the Netherlands at the head of the city, and used artillery to deal with the cavalry of Houjin, the Houjin Eight Banners were killed and wounded, and the stray bullets flew to Nurhachi's line, and the broken stones that were blown up by the artillery fire hit Nurhachi's back, and the sixty-eight-year-old Khan King was opened a long wound on his back, and the blood did not stop.

The Eight Banners Army saw that the Khan was wounded and hurriedly withdrew. Nurhachi, who was almost 70 years old, was seriously injured and collapsed, and his health deteriorated, and finally died of illness on August 11.

Wang Zhizheng looked at the ten red-clothed cannons still staring at the outside of the city, looking majestic and chilling. The big banner at the head of the city is waving in the wind, and the word "Yuan" is written with a huge and friendless word. The Ming army defending the city was clearly armored, standing majestically at the head of the city, looking like iron casting.

Wang Zhizheng thought to himself: No wonder the old Khan of the Later Jin Dynasty, Nurhachi, who galloped all his life on the battlefield and rarely had defeats, would return here in defeat and return to heaven, this Yuan Chonghuan is indeed strict in governing the army, and he really looks like a great country!

The head of the city saw more than 100 Ming and Ming iron horsemen under the city, and the guards shouted and asked: Who is coming?

Wang Zhizheng said in a deep voice: "I am Wang Zhizheng, the left attendant of the military department who was ordered to send an envoy to Jianzhou, please open the city gate!"

The general clenched his fists: "Lord Wang, please wait a moment!" and then sent a sentry to inform Yuan Chonghuan.

About a quarter of an hour, I saw a Confucian official in white clothes fluttering, standing elegantly in the city tower: "But Wang Zhizheng Wang Shilang?"

Wang Zhizheng said: "It's exactly below!"

The Confucian official waved his hand, the city gate drawbridge was slowly lowered, and Wang Zhizheng waved his hand and entered the city with his people.

After entering the city, he saw the Confucian official walking towards him. Wang Zhizheng bowed and waited.

The Confucian official came over and hurriedly clenched his fists: "Hehehe, Wang Shilang has worked hard! Below is the governor of Liaodong, Yuan Chonghuan, the right attendant of the military department. ”

Wang Zhizheng carefully looked at the personable middle-aged man in front of him: medium height, thin figure, melon seed face, fair skin, thin eyebrows and long eyes, eight-character beard, looking gentle and elegant, and extraordinary bearing. About thirty-seven or eighteen years old. This is the famous Yuan Chonghuan!

Wang Zhizheng hurriedly saluted: "I have admired the prestige of Lord Yuan for a long time, and today I am finally fortunate to see it!

Wang Zhizheng originally thought that the legendary Yuan Chonghuan must be nine feet long, full of strong muscles, a Chinese face, a full of unkempt beards, and a voice like a bell, capable of carrying the Ding! So I was surprised!

Yuan Chonghuan helped Wang Zhizheng and said amiably: "Lord Wang doesn't have to salute, you are the left waiter of the military department, Yuan is the right waiter of the military department, and both of us are the waiters of the military department, and they are three products, so there is no need to salute." ”

Wang Zhizheng said solemnly: "Although it is a level level, Lord Yuan is famous and powerful in Liaodong. Wang is just an unknown Beijing official, so Wang should give Lord Yuan a salute!"

Yuan Chonghuan beckoned, a handsome and straight, seventeen or eighteen-year-old young lieutenant general immediately came over, standing majestically behind Yuan Chonghuan, Yuan Chonghuan said very casually: "Sangui, you go and bring the brothers from the capital to dine together, remember, you must entertain well, these are good sons and daughters who are guarding the emperor's safety in Beijing!" The young lieutenant general named Sangui hurriedly saluted and said loudly: "Yes, my lord!"

Wang Zhizheng looked at the heroic young general and exclaimed: "Lord Yuan is really full of talents, this young general looks majestic and heroic!"

Yuan Chonghuan stroked his beard and smiled: "He is Wu Sangui, the eldest son of Wu Xiang, the commander of Pingliao! He is only sixteen years old this year, but he is already a great battle, and even the veteran of the Jin Kingdom, Amin, has been defeated by him!" Yuan Chonghuan mentioned the young general under his command, and his tone was full of appreciation and pride.

Saying that, Yuan Chonghuan invited Wang Zhizheng to the yamen of the governor of Liaodong.

The governor was originally a civilian official, but Liaodong was the front line of the Ming Dynasty, so the governor became the highest military governor in Liaodong.

Yuan Chonghuan inspected the yamen, which looked more like a marshal's mansion! At the gate was a garrison with bright armor, and there was not a single woman in the yamen, but all generals and soldiers wearing armor.

Yuan Chonghuan called over a school captain: "Quickly instruct the back kitchen, prepare wine and food, and today the official will personally pick up the wind and wash the dust for Lord Wang." ”

The lieutenant took the order and left.

Wang Zhizheng said enviously to Yuan Chonghuan: "Lord Yuan, Wang has had a dream since he was a child, and he can become a general who defends the country. Unfortunately, due to environmental limitations, this dream has not been realized. Seeing Lord Yuan's military camp and armament today, I can't help but be envious!"

Yuan Chonghuan invited him to sit down, and then instructed the servant to pour tea. He held the tea and looked at Yuan Chonghuan with admiration while tasting it.

Yuan Chonghuan said with a smile: "Yuan was originally born in Jinshi, and he knew the county of any party, but then saw that the country was in trouble, so he went to Guan to inspect the situation single-handedly, and then Mao recommended himself and asked to guard Liaodong for the emperor." As of today, it's been four years. ”

Wang Zhizheng heard about Yuan Chonghuan's experience, and what he did was somewhat similar to Yuan Chonghuan. I couldn't help but be moved: "Zhizheng can't help but be quite shocked when he hears about the adult's career as a horse! I have a talent like Lord Yuan in the Ming Dynasty, so why worry that Jianzhou can't be bulldozed!"

Yuan Chonghuan laughed when he heard this: "I heard that in the court, when it was said that the envoy was established in the state, no one dared to respond, but Lord Wang recommended himself! Hearing this, Yuan also felt that Lord Wang was very good-tempered!"

Wang Zhizheng saw that there were no outsiders, and smiled: "In Shanhaiguan, all the civil and military bureaucrats dare not say too much to me, for fear of spreading the word that they are close to my eunuch party." Isn't Lord Yuan afraid of influencing the statement?"

Yuan Chonghuan Hall Wang Zhizheng said the truth, shook his hand and said: "Let's tell the truth, I also built a shrine for Wei Zhongxian, half of it is the general trend, and half of it is out of sincerity! Think about it, although Wei Zhongxian has merits and deeds, he has a unique eye, he can see the situation in Liaodong, and he can put a lot of manpower, material resources, and financial resources into Liaodong, so Liao affairs have made progress, and Wei Zhongxian has made great contributions! In comparison, I am not optimistic about the Donglin Party! The Donglin Party employs all personnel. The generals have prejudices about the portal, if they are their own people, they will use them, and if they are not their own people, they will be excluded, and often the situation is ruined by the Donglin Party people!"

Yuan Chonghuan's remarks made Wang Zhizheng suddenly feel like a bosom friend, he took a sip of tea, and said with emotion: "Lord Yuan is dedicated to the public and has no prejudices, which is really admirable!"