On 29 September, Yang Sichang entered Xiangyang overnight, despite the fatigue of the journey, and went straight to Premier Xiong Wencan's office, where he was arrested for entering Beijing.

Wait until the sky is slightly bright, only listen to three cannon sounds, the prime minister line Yuan Yuan Gate is wide open, but see a pair of five or six zhang high flagpoles outside the Yuan Gate hanging two apricot yellow flags, the left side is embroidered with "General Yanmei", the right side is embroidered with "Supervisor and Auxiliary Minister", from the Yuan Gate to the lobby on both sides of the road, two columns of guards hold halberds, side by side look at each other.

"The Inspector is promoted!" With a shout, the sound of drums sounded, and the civil and military officials above the seventh rank in Xiangyang City entered the gate one after another, divided into two columns according to the direction of Wendong and Wuxi, and stood outside the hall to wait.

After a while, I saw the new superintendent Yang Sichang slowly walking out from behind the screen in the lobby, and sat down behind the Nanmu Gong case in the middle, and two burly deacons held Shang Fang's sword and the big seal of the "Supervisor and Auxiliary Minister" stood on the left and right of the public case.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please come to the court!" With another shout, the civil and military officials waiting outside the hall immediately rushed in, reported their names to Yang Sichang in order according to their rank, and then stood solemnly on both sides with bated breath.

After everyone signed up for the salute, Yang Sichang glanced around, then bowed in the direction of the Jingshi, and said respectfully: "Xiong Wencan deceived the monarch and derelicted his duties, the emperor was furious, and the superintendent has been ordered to ask him!" ”

The civil and military officials present only learned of the earth-shaking changes last night early this morning, and they were all nervous when they stood in the hall for fear of causing harm to themselves.

Seeing that the hall was silent, Yang Sichang suddenly slapped the shocked wood and shouted: "Where is Fang Kongzhao, the governor of Huguang? ”

Suddenly hearing the Inspector call his name, Fang Kongzhao knew that something was wrong, his legs were weak, he fell to his knees with a thud, and agreed with a trembling voice: "Humble duty." ”

Yang Sichang pointed at Fang Kongzhao and said sharply: "Fang Kongzhao is ineffective in suppressing thieves, losing his teacher and humiliating the country, he will be dismissed and investigated, and he will be escorted to Beijing with Xiong Wencan to listen to the investigation!" ”

As soon as the words fell, two Ti rode behind Fang Kongzhao, one took off his black gauze hat, and the other stripped off his four-rank civil official Yun Yan Buzi Red Luo Python robe, and then one left and one right took his arms and dragged him out of the hall.

Seeing this situation, everyone present was shocked, and secretly thought in their hearts: "It seems that this Yang Inspector is not as good as Xiong Wencan, and he must not be lazy in the future." ”

Seeing Fang Kongzhao gone, Yang Sichang stroked his goatee, and then said: "This superintendent is entrusted by the emperor to destroy the thieves!" Xiong Wencan is not effective in suppressing thieves, although you are hard to escape the blame, but the emperor has shown extrajudicial grace, and the old mistakes will not be investigated! Wang'er and others can be brave after shame, and make up for their mistakes to repay the king's kindness! From now on, the superintendent will be rewarded for his merits and will be held accountable, but anyone who neglects his duties will be punished with the previous crime, and he will not be pardoned! ”

Hearing that the emperor would no longer pursue it, the hanging hearts of the officials in the hall finally let go, and they immediately shouted in unison from the bottom of their hearts: "My emperor is Shengming!" ”

Yang Sichang nodded with satisfaction, and then gave another encouragement and exhortation to the officials, and then ordered everyone to go back and rest.

Zuo Liangyu was at the top of the generals, and was about to turn around and leave, when he suddenly heard Yang Sichang shouting: "General Kunshan stays, and come with me." ”

Zuo Liangyu turned his head in shock, only to see Yang Sichang stand up from behind the official case, look at him meaningfully, and then retreat to the inner courtyard with his hands behind his back.

I just arrested Fang Kongzhao, could it be that Master Inspector is now planning to trick me into the back hall and treat me for the crime of defeat in Luo Monkey Mountain? Thinking of this, Zuo Liangyu couldn't help but panic in his heart.

Zuo Liangyu followed behind Yang Sichang with fear, passed through the courtyard, bypassed a bamboo forest, and stopped in front of a hall with a vermilion lacquer plaque with the word "Festival Hall".

This place was originally Xiong Wencan's council room, and Zuo Liangyu had been here a few times before, but he had never been so nervous as he was today.

"General Kunshan, please inside!" Yang Sichang personally opened the splint curtain and beckoned Zuo Liangyu to enter the door.

Zuo Liangyu was shocked in his heart, and said continuously: "Lord Cabinet, the last general is panicking." ”

"It's not like a public court, and the general doesn't have to be too formal." As he spoke, Yang Sichang stretched out his hand to hold Zuo Liangyu's arm, pulled him into the room, pressed him on a Taishi chair, and then said earnestly, "Kunshan, you and I are both literate and martial, both are ministers relied on by the emperor, this governor has just arrived, and there are many places where you need to rely on the general in the future, I hope the general can work together with me to exterminate the liukou and live up to the emperor's trust." ”

Zuo Liangyu hurriedly bowed his hand and said: "Thanks to the attention of the Pavilion Lord, how can the last general be what he can do, and in the future, only the Pavilion Lord will be the first to look forward!" ”

"General Kunshan, this is a bad statement, although the superintendent has a heart for it, everything is the emperor's will! Today's saints are wise and wise, and their deeds and deeds are all insightful. The defeat of Luo Monkey Mountain, according to the law, should be punished for the crime of the general, but the emperor remembered that the general's talent is rare, not only did he not punish him, but he also rewarded the general! Halfway through his words, he saw Yang Sichang suddenly take out a holy decree from his sleeve, strode to the center of the hall, slowly opened the holy decree, and said loudly, "Huguang General Zuo Liangyu takes the order!" ”

Zuo Liangyu was stunned, hurriedly got up from his seat, and knelt in front of Yang Sichang.

Yang Sichang glanced at Zuo Liangyu, and then recited aloud: "Feng, the emperor of the heavenly carrier said: Today, Liao Zuo Feng smoke is frequent, the Central Plains Kou atmosphere is undecided, the country is in danger, it is the time to employ people, check that there is Huguang General Zuo Liangyu Gong loyal to the country, repeatedly frustrated the Liukou, worthy of the great responsibility, specially added the seal of the thief general, hang the seal of the thief general, Wangqing lives up to my hopes, and kills the thief with all his heart. ”

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the general of the thief has only given the enemy once in the Zhengde Dynasty, and now Emperor Chongzhen has crowned himself as the general of the thief, which is a rare honor in a century, Zuo Liangyu received the holy decree, ecstatic, and kowtowed again and again to thank him: "Holy God's grace, the minister Zuo Liangyu is grateful!" The minister swears here, the rogue is not equal for a day, and the minister is not resting for a day! Do your best, and then die! ”

After Zuo Liangyu finished thanking him, Yang Sichang turned around and picked up the big seal of the general of the Ping Thief covered with yellow silk from the public case, and carefully handed it to Zuo Liangyu, Zuo Liangyu hurriedly reached out to take the seal, raised his hands high above his head, and bowed three times to the north.

"General Kunshan, please get up!" Yang Sichang helped Zuo Liangyu up from the ground, and said in a congratulatory voice, "Congratulations to the general for being entitled, I hope that the general will be able to live up to the painstaking efforts of the saints, and exterminate the liukou in the morning, so as to repay the emperor's grace, and live up to the ardent expectations of this superintendent!" ”

With tears in his eyes, Zuo Liangyu hugged the holy decree and the seal in his arms, sat back on the Taishi chair, and was about to say some words of gratitude, but Yang Sichang's face suddenly changed, and he knocked on the side and said: "Kunshan, although it is a little abrupt, there is one thing, but this superintendent must confirm it with you." ”

Zuo Liangyu was in a good mood, and he didn't notice the change in Yang Sichang's face, and immediately said with a smile on his face: "Lord Cabinet, please speak, the last general will know everything, and he will say everything." ”

Yang Sichang sat down next to Zuo Liangyu, moved his sore neck for a long time, and then said slowly: "Before leaving Beijing, the emperor gave a banquet on the platform, and accidentally mentioned during the banquet that Wuqiao Zhixian had participated in the impeachment of the general and Liu Guoneng during the period of suppressing thieves in Henan, and plundered the army, I don't know if General Kunshan knew about it?" ”

Zuo Liangyu was immersed in the joy of being sealed, and suddenly heard Yang Sichang mention this, and he was instantly frightened into a cold sweat, and he was speechless for a long time.

Seeing that Zuo Liangyu was silent, Yang Sichang admonished: "The laziness of the generals is a malpractice in the army, and it is not the fault of the general alone, but this superintendent hopes that the general can rectify military discipline in the future and set an example for the army." If this can be the case, why will the plague not be extinguished, and the world will not be determined? ”

Zuo Liangyu said respectfully and repeatedly: "What the cabinet lord reminds is that the last general will restrain the soldiers and reorganize the military discipline when he returns!" ”

Seeing that it was noon, Yang Sichang kept Zuo Liangyu to eat in the house, and there were words of encouragement during the banquet.

After waiting until he was full of wine and food, Zuo Liangyu got up and retreated, and then left Xiangyang with his own soldiers and returned to the station.

After Zuo Liangyu left, Wan Yuanji, who joined the army, leaned over and said to Yang Sichang: "Students look at Zuo Liangyu and his person, although he is only submissive in front of the cabinet lords, but in fact he is unruly. ”

Wan Wan Ji is a native of Nanchang County, Jiangxi, quite talented, was hired by Yang Sichang as a staff member, with a white body counselor Rong Ji, this time Yang Sichang left Beijing to supervise the division, before leaving to the Chongzhen Emperor to ask for an order, awarded him the post of joining the army. In order to thank Yang Sichang for his kindness, Wan Yuan Ji is dedicated to planning big and small matters.

After listening to Wan Yuanji's worries, Yang Sichang also said helplessly: "What Brother Jiren said, how can this superintendent not know, but only he Zuo Liangyu is the most powerful in this Huguang territory, if it is not encircled, the matter of the thief is an empty word." ”

Wan Yuan Ji wanted to say more, but was interrupted by Yang Sichang raising his hand: "Let's not mention this matter for the time being, now Zhang and Luo are wandering between the mountains of Huguang and Sichuan and Shaanxi, the mountain roads are rugged, the grain transportation is not smooth, and it is difficult to move an inch of the army, I don't know what Brother Ji has to say about this?" ”

Seeing Yang Sichang asking, Wan Yuan Ji immediately offered advice: "Lord Cabinet, in the past, Xiong Wencan suppressed thieves, but because of the lack of salary, his success fell short!" Therefore, the students thought that it was necessary to build more high city deep moats outside Xiangyang City as warehouses, order all grain roads and grain to be transported here, and build drawbridges in the outer moats to open and close on time, and guard them with heavy troops to check the entry and exit to prevent spies! In this way, the water transportation of the Han River leads directly to the south of the Yangtze River, reaches Kuiwu in the west, and reaches Hanzhong in the north. ”

After hearing this, Yang Sichang said yes again and again, and immediately dispatched the people to build a large number of buildings outside Xiangyang City, build warehouses, and hoard reserve grain and salaries.

On the first day of October, according to the established schedule, Yang Sichang went to the suburban school field to inspect the army.

After the reading, Yang Sichang's face turned from sunny to cloudy, and he immediately summoned all the civil and military personnel who participated in the review to the martial arts hall.

After everyone stood still, Yang Sichang said with a solemn face: "Since the arrival of this superintendent in Xiangyang, there have been repeated orders, but those who despise the law and discipline in the army and disobey the orders are the same as in the past!" Let me ask you, do you think that the sword given by the emperor is just an ornament and insignificant? ”

The civil and military personnel present seemed to have something to mean when they heard the words of the Inspector, and they all looked at each other, and they didn't dare to come out.

But seeing Yang Sichang suddenly slam the public case, he shouted angrily: "Yin Taibai, are you guilty?" ”

Yin Taibai, the supervisor of Xingshan Dao, heard the superintendent shouting his name, his face turned pale, and he hurriedly knelt on the ground, and kowtowed again and again: "Humble duty!" ”

Yang Sichang sneered and said, "What have you wronged? He is the supervisor of the army, and he bears the emperor's grace, but he is not effective in supervising the army, he will accumulate arrogance and play, and the soldiers will have no fighting spirit, and will regard the review ceremony as child's play, if he does not kill you, God will not tolerate it! ”

"Lord Cabinet, please listen to the humble explanation......" Hearing that he was going to kill him, Yin Taibai was so frightened that his soul flew away and trembled.

Yang Sichang didn't allow him to defend, and said sharply: "Don't quibble! Tie it up, and you won't be forgiven! ”

Everyone watched in horror as Yin Taibai was dragged out like a dead dog, and then, Yang Sichang got up and left the case, walked quickly to the center of the hall, bowed three times to the north, and then took the Shang Fang sword from the deacon's hand, took off the yellow silk sleeve, and awarded it to the Chinese army.

Zhongjun hurriedly knelt on the ground, raised his hands above his head, carefully took Shang Fang's sword, and then got up and held it out in the martial arts hall.

After a while, he saw the Chinese army returning to the martial arts hall with Shang Fang's sword in his hand, and knelt down and said: "Supervisor, Yin Taibai has been sentenced to the canon!" ”

Yang Sichang took Shang Fang's sword with both hands, returned it to the deacon, and then sat back on the public case, and sighed and said: "If it is not this superintendent's thirst for killing, it is really intolerable by the law of the country!" I hope that all the monarchs will take Yin Taibai as a warning, fulfill their duties from now on, work hard to kill thieves, comfort the emperor's worries, and relieve the suffering of the people. ”

The civil and military personnel present all had their own concerns, and they hurriedly agreed: "Obey Jun's instructions!" ”