Chapter 778: Guarding the Gate

Mengzi County, Lin'an Prefecture, Yunnan.

After several battles, Mu Sheng marched from Mengzi County, so he had long been accustomed to the scene of a large army stationed in a heavily guarded area. Everyone in the world knows that the British prince Zhang Fu has been handed over to the address of the four commanders three times, but Mu Sheng has also been sealed several times, but almost all of them are defeats, and the imperial court wants to protect the reputation of the Mu family, so he hides it and does not mention it, and the Mu family, as the king of Yunnan, can not let the local natives look down on him, so he is even more desperate to cover up. As soon as Mu Sheng was stationed this time, from the civil and military officers of the army to the officials of the prefecture and county, they were all flattering and thoughtful.

"The two generations of Taifu generals are famous, this time the emperor only asked you to lead the troops to respond, and he thought about killing chickens with a knife."

That's exactly what it means! Marquis An Yuan changed to the seal of the general of Zhengyi this time, but the grandfather of the country is the general of Zhengnan, so he can't be demoted. Besides, those thieves are just clowns who jump off the beam, and they will inevitably be swept away in one fell swoop, and there will be no need for Grandpa Guo to go out. ”

"Since the address has settled down, we haven't seen Qianguo Gong in Mengzi County for more than ten years, and I miss it a little up and down."

When Mu Sheng first arrived, although he ordered not to disturb the people, the county officials and the local gentry and wealthy people set up a banquet and invited each other repeatedly, he refused many times, and finally could not completely ignore it, so after arriving for more than ten days, he took several subordinate officials to the banquet for the first time. He was indifferent and unhappy about the efforts of these people, and over time, those local gentry were first-class and self-reliant. However, because Mu Sheng saluted the literati and quoted scriptures when he spoke, several civil officials from the right path talked with him very happily, and in the end, he was impressed, and this Qianguo Gong's face showed a little smile.

After the banquet, Mu Sheng returned to the line of Mu Wangfu's residence in Mengzi County under the escort of a large number of generals. After pacifying the address with Zhang Fu and obtaining the title of the Duke of Qian, Mu Sheng asked Chen Jian to set the defeat, and arrested Chen Jikuo and did not get it, and he never went to Mengzi County since the thirteenth year of Yongle.

When he arrived at the gate of Xingyuan, Mu Sheng got off the horse, and immediately someone came up to pick up the big man he received, and the rest of the people surrounded him and entered the gate. When they arrived at the second gate, most of the entourage stopped here, and only a few henchmen followed in. When he arrived in the house, he washed his face and held the hot tea sent by the little maid, he was no longer the taciturn and serious appearance in front of people, but actually laughed and talked to a few people, and finally asked: "What is the news of the battle situation over there?" ”

"Master, it's still the previous news, it is said that Marquis An Yuan has led the army to leave Jiaozhou Mansion and drive to Qinghua Mansion, and the military food is fed by sea, but because it is necessary to ensure Haidong Mansion and coastal seaports, the strength of the left and right armies is not much...... If the lord has been staying in Mengzi County and standing still, I am afraid that some people in the court will gossip, and when the time comes, the Marquis of Anyuan will win, I am afraid that you will think that you are a meritorious person. ”

"I know Liu Sheng's temper, impatient, if I lead the troops to stir up the situation now, he will think that it is a robbery! I don't seek merit, but I seek no fault! Mu Sheng smiled, thought for a moment, and then ordered, "Send the commander of the front army to lead 5,000 soldiers and horses from the right bank of the Taojiang River to enter the address first, I will take the rear team to see the situation in two days and then move forward slowly, there is no need to rush for a while." Liu Sheng is certainly brave, but the place is not just brave, he may suffer a little! ”

Mu Sheng's temperament generals all knew that they were all silent at this time. Seeing Mu Sheng tired, several people retired one by one, and when they went outside, Bai Yong, the youngest, muttered in a low voice: "After all, the Mu family is noble, and this address is close to Yunnan. ”

The rest of the people know that what matters here is not the joy of the DPRK, but the name of the Mu family. It's just that compared with the old prince Mu Ying and the previous generation of Xiping Marquis Mu Chun, who was both brave and brave, Mu Sheng is really ordinary in his ability to use soldiers, and there is still a bit of luck in obtaining the title of Duke of Qianguo. So, a few people just looked at each other and sighed.

When they arrived at the courtyard where they were resting in the inner courtyard, Su Ming, who was a little older, said in a low voice: "Don't think about losing the favor of the court, the old man has sent so many things to the capital over the years, but it is not for nothing." The master's ability to fight is slightly inferior, but he has nothing to say to the top and bottom. Not to mention those powerful people, it is us people, how much land do we have in our names? I'm afraid that my life is more comfortable than that of many officials! ”

The ancestors of the four people have all fought with Mu Ying and Mu Chun, and they are the hereditary generals of Mu Wangfu, and now they all have dozens of hectares of land under their names, and their wives and children are all rich and peaceful children, and in all fairness, they are not bent on going to the battlefield to fight for the future - it seems to be free to get rid of their nationality and be released to be an officer, but in fact, the connection with Mu Wangfu is weaker, and people look down when they go outside, why is this so painful?

Although Mu Sheng controls the soldiers and horses in the entire Yunnan, and there are also generals at all levels under his command, the military strategy is important, but these more intimate generals discuss the gist with each other and submit it to Mu Sheng for consideration, and then call the generals to discuss the matter. And the four of them have been studying and practicing martial arts since childhood, even the sons of the family will not be so demanding, although they returned to the house at this time, they still discussed with the map and the lamp, and when all the matters were agreed, Su Ming couldn't help but stretch.

"It's night, tomorrow I have to accompany the old man to review the army, everyone go back to sleep!"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a sharp knock on the door. The four of them were stunned, and Bai Yong, who was closest to the door, stepped forward and opened the door. The man standing in front of the door didn't have time to explain anything, and said bluntly: "Uncle Bai, the military report has just been sent from the address, Marquis An Yuan won a great victory in Qinghua Mansion, defeated more than 30,000 thieves in one fell swoop, and beheaded thousands of people, please report to the master as soon as possible!" ”

As he spoke, he handed over the eight-hundred-mile urgent battle report in his hand, and then hurriedly said, "Also, just now, someone knocked on the door outside the county town to report that Yang Wubo and his party have arrived at Heyang Pass!" ”

Hearing the news, the four of them all understood that they might not be able to sleep tonight. After discussing for a few words, Bai Yong immediately led people to Heyang Pass to greet him first, while Su Ming and the three of them took the military newspaper and went straight to the back to see Mu Sheng. This night, the lights in Mu Sheng's house were on all night, and the street that had been curfew was also unpeaceful, and the loud sound of horses' hooves did not know how many people's dreams were disturbed. It wasn't until early the next morning that the other three generals of Mu Sheng roared out of the city with more than 100 people, and the people who couldn't sleep well all night didn't talk about the matter, and even the people in the official office only whispered.

At noon, a large group of people entered the city gate in a carriage, and turned straight into the street opposite the line. At this moment, the whole street was cleaned up by soldiers and horses, and there was not a single idler. Mu Sheng, the Duke of Qianguo, personally greeted him from the door, and saw that several family members carried down a person from the special cart with a rattan couch, he hurriedly stepped forward, and saw that the person above was terribly pale, and he looked much thinner and older than before, he couldn't help but be moved.

"Brother Shi has been guarding the address for many years, but he suddenly suffered from this catastrophe, and he really suffered."

Seeing that Mu Sheng said sincerely, Zhang You couldn't help but smile bitterly: "I'm doing it myself...... If I hadn't been careless and neglected, I wouldn't have been hit by such a poisonous arrow, and my years of stability would have been ruined. I have already asked the third brother to play a plea on my behalf, I just hope that this time the Marquis of An Yuan can be victorious, and Brother Jingmao's side can also go all the way. Originally, the third brother asked me to go to Guangzhou to recuperate for a period of time, but Taiyi He said that the weather in Yunnan Mansion was more suitable for my current body, so I could only disturb Brother Jingmao. ”

"What kind of friendship do you and I have, do you need to talk about this?"

Mu Sheng shook his head, and then he saw the middle-aged man beside Zhang You. He and Zhang Zuo have never met, but every time Mu Xin writes, his ears are almost calloused, which is nothing more than how capable this person is, so he has some correspondence with Zhang Zuo. If he is just a child of a family who is good at management, he will also pay three points of respect for money, but if he adds Zhang Zuo's good son, his attitude is naturally much more respectful. At this time, after looking up and down, he smiled and said, "This is the third brother?" ”

Although he has no title, Zhang Zhuo is now in the second rank of official residence, and at this time, he is very calm about Mu Sheng's politeness, and immediately returns the salute with a smile. Before he could say a few words, a staff member next to Mu Sheng praised him and Zhang You's brothers, and he couldn't help muttering in his heart when he listened to it, and hurriedly dragged Zhang Chao, who was silent on the side, forward, which saved him from goosebumps.

Due to Zhang You's weak body, this banquet was naturally exempted. After settling in a sunny courtyard, Mu Sheng met Zhang You and Zhang Chao, and discussed with them the matter of setting off from Lin'an Mansion to Kunming, and said that he had already ordered him to go down, and when he got there, he would live in Cuihu Muwangfu, where the picturesque scenery was suitable for recuperation. Zhang Chao has always been impatient to meet guests in the capital in the past, and when he saw Zhang Zhuo dealing with Yuru talking and laughing, after saying goodbye and leaving, he couldn't help but ask on the way.

"Third uncle, this person is sophisticated...... Can you teach me? ”

Zhang Zhuo, who was walking forward with his head down, was stunned suddenly, looked Zhang Chao up and down with a look on his face, and immediately showed a strange expression on his face. Zhang Chao's temperament is no longer known to him, and it is not surprising that he raises other questions at this moment, but he actually asks himself to teach others about the world...... Seeing that he didn't have a reluctant look at all, he couldn't help but feel a little relieved.

It is not easy for people to be alone in the world, let alone to protect a family? Zhang Chao can understand this, although Zhang You is still seriously injured, he will definitely be happy when he learns about it!

"You don't need to teach such things, if you want to go out with me to meet people and guests more in the future, it will be natural. Okay, it's not too early now, you hurry back to accompany your father, and if something happens, you can immediately ask Dr. He. ”

Seeing that Zhang Chao agreed, bowed respectfully and left, Zhang Zhuo only felt that the fatigue of rushing for more than a month was all at once, and even his steps were brisk. He walked briskly back to his lower place, and the little guy in front of the car who led the way to send their uncle and nephew back hurriedly went back to report the news, and reported the conversation between them just now to Mu Sheng.

The four generals of Mu Wangfu were only Su Ming left at the moment, seeing that Mu Sheng waved his hand to send people back after listening, and sat there thoughtfully, his brows were sometimes frowning and sometimes stretching, and one hand involuntarily twisted his jaw and beard, his eyes rolled, and he said with a smile: "Master, this Yang Wubo's eldest son is famous for his recklessness and carelessness, and now seeing his father's situation, he naturally has a heart of responsibility, and these words have no other meaning, that is, Lord Zhang's loving heart." ”

"You still don't understand?" Glancing at Su Ming, Mu Sheng said unhurriedly, "Just yesterday, Mrs. asked someone to forward a letter from Jingli, what did it say, don't you know?" The emperor wanted to add grace to his relatives, which was originally the best opportunity, but the British duke actually sued his second brother in front of the emperor, saying that he was ridiculous and unusable, and Zhang Hui's promotion was forced to hold it down. And Zhang Xuan also became a turtle with a shrunken head, and his self-description was useless. The two younger brothers of the British Duke can't see it, from the younger brother Zhang Xin from the civil to the military, this is even if it is abolished, Yang Wubo is about the same, Zhang Zuo is better to the two brothers and nephews, and he has a reputation and real profits, he has the ability to operate, his son has the talent to be an official, why not worry in the future! ”

Seeing that Mu Sheng himself said this, Su Ming smiled and said, "The master is far-sighted, how can the small one be able to do it?" But also, Emperor Taizong also cultivated that Zhang Yue again and again in the past, which was reserved for the emperor, and he made meritorious contributions again and again, and it is needless to say that he will soar in the future. What does the master mean, do you want to help again? ”

"I have already sold Gu Xingzu's affairs at the beginning, and now I can't do anything else, this war is blindless, and it depends on his own luck...... If he is lucky enough to build a great project and return to the dynasty, he will have at least a few decades of long-term wealth, and it will be worth my big capital at that time. Over the years, it is true that the DPRK and China have been the generals of the Mu family, but so many people who have said good things for me have not been in vain. By the way, I heard that your niece used to keep filial piety, and now she has just finished her service? ”

As soon as the words fell, Su Ming, who was standing in the shadows, was stunned for a moment, his shoulders shook lightly without a trace, and then he lowered his head: "It's a shame that the old man is worried about this child." But he was not blessed, she was full of clothes before we entered the army, and she was married under the auspices of her mother, and she was an officer under the late old man. ”

"Married? Anyway, she's not blessed. I thought your niece would be more reliable after all, and it would be a shame to be worthy of such talent. He is less than thirty years old and is already a feudal official, and after returning to the dynasty, he will be a court official, if he is not knighted, it will be difficult to predict political affairs, he would have been knighted a long time ago......"

Su Ming discussed with him in the room for a while, and when he heard Mu Sheng say that he would let his wife choose a beauty to give to Zhang Zhuo, he felt more and more uncomfortable. When it was easy to get to Mu Sheng to rest, he personally sent someone back to the room, and couldn't help but sigh deeply on the way back. This is understandable to have a good relationship with the powerful in the DPRK and China, but what is the trouble of blindly pinning things on the woman, is it not troublesome to be in the palace of King Mu in Cuihu now? Moreover, although there are people in Beijing who speak for Mu Wangfu, there is still bad news that cannot be determined these days.