The time has reached the fourteenth day of the first month of the eighth year of Chongzhen, and there is still one day before the peasant army enters Fengyang.

There is one more day, the New Year will be over, and tomorrow will be the Lantern Festival.

Although it is said that Yingzhou in Fengyang Mansion has fallen into the hands of the peasant army, the governor of Chengzhou and other officials have died in the war, and even Zhang Heming and Zhang Shangshu were beheaded by thieves.

But no one thought that the peasant army would really come to attack Fengyang, and because of this, the yamen of the governor of Fengyang was full of lights, and officials with happy faces came in and out everywhere.

When I saw someone, they all bowed their hands: "It turned out to be Lord Yan, worship your old age, worship your old age." ”

"Hello Mr. Lu, what a coincidence, I haven't seen you during the Chinese New Year, wait for the little brother to be the east, let's find a good place to eat and drink."

"No, no, I still have to attend the banquet held by the governor at night, and I am busy with affairs, I am afraid that I will not be able to get out."

"But the competition between Gu Hengbo and Shao Huakui in the evening can't be missed." The listeners were full of surprise.

……

Such greetings and entertainment can be seen everywhere in the yamen, but no one mentions the fall of Yingzhou.

It was as if the flesh and blood of the people in the city had nothing to do with the people in the city.

Of course, as a dignified governor, he lost the city and land, but he had to bear a certain responsibility.

At this moment, the hall of Governor Yang Yipeng's office was full of people, all of whom were Fengyang military and political leaders, and Fengyang Zhongdu stayed behind to stay in the department, Fengyang garrison eunuchs, Fengyang prefects, and Fengyang Changhuai Wei......

But except for Yang Ze, the eunuch left behind in Fengyang, who was at the top, had a serious face, the other officials were all relaxed.

During the Chinese New Year, everyone has their own one-acre and three-point land, and everyone has their own personal favors, and they haven't seen each other for some days. Now that we are together, it is natural to talk.

Since entering the hall, everyone has whispered politeness and greetings, and for Governor Yang Yipeng's reprimands, they are also in the left ear and out of the right ear.

Governor Yang is a highly respected gentleman, and his personality is also extremely kind, and he never puts on a stand in front of his subordinates. Everyone exchanged heads below, and he was not angry, and still said as rigidly as studying: "That's the thing, Yingzhou has fallen, and in the opinion of this official, the thief army is just trying to grab some money." The thieves committed such a heinous crime, and the crusade army of the Henan court would inevitably follow. The thieves are nothing more than a rabble, and they will inevitably flee again. So, you don't have to worry. Moreover, Fengyang is the land of Longxing, and it is impossible for thieves to do such a rebellious act if they have a sense of reverence. ”

Governor Yang is about in his early fifties this year, and unlike Yang Ze, who has gray hair, this person has a dark beard and a ruddy face, and there is no trace of old age.

Moreover, he was born with good facial features, when he was a dignified appearance, the first one on the top, with big sleeves fluttering, no need to think about it, he must be an elegant person.

Everyone nodded at the same time: "The governor is right. ”

"What you mean?" At this time, Yang Ze, the garrison eunuch at the top, sneered: "Don't forget, there is no city wall in Zhongdu, and there is a flat river all around, if the thief arrives, then there is really no danger to defend." ”

The eunuch guarding Fengyang is actually a family member in Zhongdu, and as soon as he spoke, everyone quieted down.

"No, no, no, the thieves will definitely not come to Fengyang." Yang Yipeng and Yang Ze had always been at odds, and when they heard Eunuch Yang speak, they immediately interrupted.

"Whether the thief comes or not, it's not the governor who has the final say, and it's not me Yang Ze who has the final say." Yang Ze snorted, and there was a fine light in his eyes flashing towards Yang Yipeng, and then he ignored it, turned his head and shouted to everyone: "Zhongdu is my royal Longxing treasure land, and the mausoleum of Emperor Taizu Zukao is located, but there is no room for error." It's not a bad thing to plan ahead. This Fengyang's defense needs to be strengthened. However, as our family just said, because I am afraid of damaging my royal dragon vein feng shui, there is no city wall in Zhongdu. Therefore, Fengyang's defense cannot be stubbornly defended in the city, it has to turn passive into active, and the army should attack. ”

Speaking of this, his voice became louder, and he stood up agilely, looking capable and neat: "If the thief army comes to attack, it will definitely pass through Shouzhou, Yan Governor's Mansion." ”

Under the seat, a middle-aged official nodded: "Yang Shoubei, please speak." "This person is the face of the prefect of Fengyang.

Yang Ze: "Governor Yan, you will go to Shouzhou immediately, close the four gates of Shouzhou, and organize the township soldiers to defend the city, I hope you can enter the city this evening." ”

Yan Rong didn't speak, but instead looked at Yang Yipeng.

Yang Ze said again: "Zhongdu stayed behind Si Zhu to stay." ”

A military attaché-looking man bowed his hand slightly: "The last general." ”

This person is Zhu Guoxiang, the left-behind director of the Central Capital, a member of the royal family, and he also has a knighthood.

Yang Ze: "You immediately lead all the soldiers and horses of Fengyang to Yingzhou and engage the thief army." I'll do it right away, I hope you can gather all your troops to Fengyang within today's day, and set off early tomorrow morning." ”

"What, to engage the enemy?" Zhu Guoxiang was so frightened that his face turned white: "Gonggong Yang, all the guards in my Fengyang together are only 20,000, and the number of soldiers who can go to the battlefield is no more than 1,000." And there are 200,000 thieves, and if I go to Yingzhou, isn't that death? ”

Seeing that Zhu Guo was right, Yang Zesen said: "Yes, it is to let you go to death, why, do you refuse?" ”

In an instant, the former steward of the fourteenth yamen of the Inner Palace came back, with an awe-inspiring aura on his body: "Indeed, your 20,000 soldiers and horses are not enough to stuff your teeth." But in order to prevent the thieves from attacking the capital, even if you are all killed, you can delay the thieves for a while. When the time comes, as soon as the imperial army arrives, the thieves will be unable to fly. Therefore, your sacrifice is worthwhile. ”

"Why!" Zhu Guoxiang stood up with a sigh of relief, changed his previous appearance, and shouted: "Why do you ask my army to send them to death, Hong Chengchou and Zuo Liangyu come over to pick up cheap and get credit?" ”

"Just because I am the eunuch left behind in the central capital, and the military and political affairs of Fengyang are all under the jurisdiction of our family, it seems that Zhu Liushou is going to disobey your orders, aren't you afraid of our family's military law?" Yang Ze laughed cruelly.

An icy murderous aura permeated the hall.

Zhu Guoxiang's complexion changed greatly, and like the prefect of Yan, he also set his eyes on Yang Yipeng.

As the governor of Fengyang, Yang Yipeng is the number two person in Zhongdu, and he is very good. Now, the big and small officials in Fengyang are all looking forward to Governor Yang, plus he and Yang Ze are not in harmony, and now only he can compete with Yang Ze.

Seeing Yan Rong and Zhu Guoxiang's gaze, Yang Yipeng didn't understand. I sneered in my heart: war, war, it costs money and kills. If you really do what Yang Ze said with the eunuch, I Fengyang will inevitably take a large sum of silver, but it is difficult to say how much army is left on Zhu Guoxiang's side in the end.

At that time, almost all the major yamen in Fengyang will be broken, and this thing can't be done!

Hmph, the eunuch is a powerful man on weekdays, and today he will say that he is dead, just touching his moldy head.

Thinking of this, Yang Yipeng nodded slightly at the two.

"I'm afraid of you birds!" Zhu Guoxiang jumped out first and shouted: "Yang Ze, I just don't send troops, why don't you help me?" I don't believe that you dare to use military law to punish me, don't forget, my surname is Zhu, and I have the blood of my grandfather on my body. You are a eunuch, but you are a slave and maid of our heavenly family, and you have turned against you! ”

"Bastard thing!" Yang Ze didn't expect Zhu Guoxiang to turn his face when he said it, and his face turned pale with anger.

However, he is a clan, and military law really cannot be used on him.

At this time, Fengyang Governor Yan Rong also said: "Gonggong Yang, as Zhu Liushou said, sending troops to Yingzhou now is an unnecessary consumption. It is reported that the army of our imperial court has arrived in Xiangcheng, and we will be able to engage the thieves in a few days, and we don't need to do much. Besides, Yingzhou is four hundred miles away from Fengyang, and if the thief army wants to come, it will take ten days, right? If they come to attack Fengyang, they are afraid that they will be caught up by the imperial army before they reach the ground. ”

"Yes, yes, yes, Governor Yan is right, how did we forget this." The officials nodded at the same time and said, "There is no need to send troops this time. ”

In this way, it really has a bit of a taste of unity.

Yang Ze wanted to speak, but he didn't know how to refute Yan Rong, and his pale face turned red.

Seeing that Eunuch Yang was suffocated, Yang Yipeng's heart blossomed, and he immediately exclaimed exaggeratedly: "Ouch, this governor has also ignored it, yes, the thief army is more than 400 miles away from my Fengyang, but it is only more than 200 miles away from my imperial army." How could they ignore the danger in front of them and attack me Fengyang, isn't that thankless? ”

Speaking of this, he glanced at Yang Ze with a smile again: "Also, Gonggong Yang, this soldier and horse have not moved, and the grain and grass go first." Organizing village soldiers and dispatching large armies to conquer large armies cost a lot of money and food. The matter was in a hurry, and there was no preparation in advance, so if you want to prepare all the money and food, it will take five or six days. ”

He continued: "Of course, Gonggong Yang is right, Fengyang is the central capital of my Ming Dynasty, and there is no city defense, so it is necessary to prevent thieves and dogs from jumping over the wall in a hurry, and it is still necessary to take the initiative to attack." In this case, let's prepare first, and we will attack in ten days. ”

"Yes, yes, the governor is a stubborn word, I admire it!" Everyone agreed.

That Zhu Guoxiang and Yan Zhifu shouted the loudest. Just kidding, it's so fun to lead the troops out of battle, the soldiers are fierce and dangerous, and if you are not careful, you will die in vain. The thieves come and go like the wind, and after ten days, the ghost knows where they will flee, and when the time comes, as long as they leave Fengyang, it will have nothing to do with us.

All the officials are from serious backgrounds, and the civil officials and the eunuchs are natural enemies, so they are naturally happy to see Eunuch Yang disgraced and lose an adult.

Yang Ze was going to say it again, but when he saw Yang Yipeng's attitude, his heart was also cold, knowing that even if he used strength and forced the troops to attack, the people below would not be able to work hard to carry it out, and a little bit of money and food would make the troops unable to get out of the city.

Moreover, all the officials didn't want to fight, and they were angry this time.

Although Yang Ze felt a burst of anger in his heart, he also knew that this thing would not be possible.

He was depressed for a while: These civil officials are really difficult to deal with, but they are used as treasures today. Our family really had a conflict with all the officials in Fengyang, and this Yang Yipeng went up to impeach our family. With the jealousy and disgust of the Son of Heaven for the internal officials, our family's left-behind eunuch should come to an end.

Anyway, the thief army is still more than 400 miles away from my Fengyang, and it can't be defeated in ten days and a half months. It is not cost-effective to turn the other cheeks with civil officials for this matter and risk being impeached.