Zhang Zi'an looked at Zhen Youcai who turned out from behind the screen with some surprise, and asked Wang Pudao: "Master Ma, this is ......?"

Wang Pu smiled silently.

Zhen Youcai hugged his fist at Zhang Zi'an and said: "Under Zhen Youcai, he is the chief staff of the master of the horse." ”

Zhang Zi'an had no choice but to arch his hand pretendly, and said in a weird manner: "It turned out to be Mr. Zhen." ”

Zhen Youcai wrenched his fingers and calculated carefully: "There are more than 12,000 garrisons in Datong Town, and the imperial court has been in arrears for half a year's military salary, which is more than 400,000 taels, and the pension for the fallen soldiers on the Songshan front line is also as high as more than 200,000 taels, adding up to a total of more than 600,000 taels of silver. ”

Zhang Zi'an couldn't help but take out a silk handkerchief and wipe the cold sweat on his forehead, and said: "Actually, it doesn't need so much, if you can have 300,000 taels of silver, you can almost deal with it." ”

Wang Pu said: "Father-in-law, 300,000 taels is not a small amount, even if our Wang family's silver treasury is turned upside down, we can make up 50,000 or 60,000 taels of silver." ”

Zhang Zi'an turned his gaze to Zhen Youcai and asked, "Just now Mr. Zhen said that there is no way, and there is silver, but I don't know what the way is?" ”

"Of course there is a way, and there is also silver." Zhen Youcai smiled, "But I don't know if my father-in-law dares to take it?" ”

Zhang Zi'an said: "Please Mr. show me a clear way." ”

Zhen Youcai stretched out his finger and pointed to the north, and said in a low voice: "The silver is in the tooth tent of Naturalization, Tumut Khan!" ”

Zhang Zi'an Huo Ran changed his color and said: "Mr. said it was funny." ”

Zhen Youcai said: "It's not a joke in the next place, father-in-law, you think, the soldiers of Datong Town have mutinied, this is the so-called 'arrow on the string, can't help but send it', anyway, things have happened, even if the situation calms down in the end, several of the leaders are afraid that they will inevitably have to cut off their heads, right?" ”

"That's it." Zhang Zi'an said in a gloomy voice, "Those who take the lead in making trouble should be beheaded according to the law." ”

"That's right." Zhen Youcai said, "The left and right who take the lead in making trouble are going to be beheaded, does my father-in-law think that before making up for the arrears of the soldiers of the border army, it is possible for the mutinous soldiers to give up?" If this mutiny continues, it will inevitably turn into a huge rebellion within two days, and Zhao Santai, the deputy commander-in-chief, will certainly be unable to leave it, but you ...... father-in-law."

Zhang Zi'an shuddered, and couldn't help but have a trace of fear on his face, things are really going to get to that point, he, the eunuch guarding the town, is afraid that he will live to the end, after all, if the imperial court investigates it, he and Zhao Santai can't hide the matter of greedy money in Mo anyway.

Zhen Youcai said: "Father-in-law Zhang, there is a sentence that you may not like to hear, but I still have to say that the news of the mutiny in Datong Town has spread, and the current situation is that even if you can raise 600,000 taels of silver in time to make up for the arrears of the soldiers of the border army and the pensions of the fallen soldiers, father-in-law, you and Deputy General Zhao are afraid that they will not be able to escape the involvement." ”

Zhang Zi'an's face turned pale in an instant, but Zhen Youcai did not scare him.

This matter is really a big trouble, even if the situation can be calmed down, Zhao Santai and Zhang Zi'an will not be able to excuse themselves.

Zhen Youcai's eyes flashed with an imperceptible sinister smile, and then said: "Father-in-law Zhang, if you want to escape this catastrophe safely, there are two things that must be done quickly. ”

Zhang Zi'an hurriedly said: "Please Mr. Zhen for guidance." ”

Zhen Youcai said: "First, as soon as possible, gather 100,000 taels of silver, and distribute half of the pension of the fallen soldiers on the Songshan front, this silver can only be used to issue the pension of the fallen soldiers, and the living soldiers have no reason to grab the silver from the dead, and if the living border soldiers are not allowed to get the silver, they are forced to rob it!" ”

Zhang Zi'an said in a trembling voice: "Forcing them to rob? ”

"yes, force them to grab it." Zhen Youcai said fiercely, "It's just to rob the Mongols, this is the second thing you have to do, father-in-law, to launch a war against the Mongol Tumut Department as soon as possible, so that the mutinous soldiers can turn their attention to the war with the Mongols, instead of thinking about launching a mutiny to force the imperial court to pay them back their salaries." ”

Zhang Zi'an already had a cold sweat on his forehead, and said in a trembling voice: "However, the garrison of Datong Town is only more than 18,000 people, and it is not enough to hold on, how can there be enough troops to take the initiative to attack?" And I haven't dared to cross the north of the Great Wall for decades, and I haven't even thought about it. ”

"This is exactly the reason why I suggest that my father-in-law take the initiative to attack the Mongolian Tumut Department!" Zhen Youcai said, "Father-in-law, please think about it, my Datong garrison is still stubborn and the strength is insufficient, who would have thought that father-in-law would dare to take the initiative to attack?" My Ming Dynasty has not crossed the north of the Great Wall for decades, so the Mongols even less imagined that our Ming army would take the initiative to attack! And the most important point is that although the weather is cold this year, it has not snowed for a long time, which is really a good opportunity for God to give me the Ming army! ”

Although Zhang Zi'an didn't know anything about military affairs, he could also hear that Zhen Youcai's analysis seemed to be very reasonable.

Zhen Youcai continued: "Our army occupies all the time, people, although there is no geographical advantage, but it is in line with the soldier's surprise and the gist of attacking it, as long as a capable general is sent to command the elite soldiers, it is difficult to win this battle!" As long as this battle is won, a large number of cattle, sheep, livestock, and furs and goods captured from Tumut will be enough to make up for the arrears of the border army officers and soldiers, but I am afraid that there will be a large surplus, hehe. ”

Zhen Youcai's last sentence made Zhang Zi'an very excited, if things can really be like what Zhen Youcai depicted, it would be really beautiful, Zhang Zi'an can easily make up for the arrears of the soldiers, and Zhang Zi'an attacked Mongolia again, and made a great contribution to the court.

But Zhang Zi'an also understands that such a good thing will never fall from the sky by itself.

There are three problems in front of us, one of which is where to borrow the 100,000 taels of silver? The second is how to persuade the mutinous soldiers to accept the plan proposed by Zhen Youcai? The third is who to send to attack the Mongols? Zhao Santai was greedy for life and afraid of death, and if he wanted to lead troops to fight the Mongols, it would be better to kill him directly.

Seeing that Zhang Zi'an had nothing to do, Wang Pu and Zhen Youcai both sat down and drank tea patiently, everything that should be said was said, and the foreshadowing that should be done had been laid, whether Zhang Zi'an could figure it out was not something that Wang Pu and Zhen Youcai could decide.

For a long time, when Zhang Zi'an's eyes finally fell on Wang Pu, his eyes suddenly lit up, it seems that these three problems have to fall on this horse master!

First of all, the Wang family is the richest man in Shanxi, and the 100,000 taels of silver can only be borrowed from the Wang family; Secondly, Wang Pu has been the chief soldier in Datong for three years, and if he wants to persuade the soldiers to accept this plan, this candidate must be Wang Pu; Third, the general who commanded the army to attack the Mongols was none other than Wang Pu, looking at the entire Ming Dynasty, who else dared to boast that he could lead the troops better than Wang Pu?

Seeing Zhang Zi'an's expression, Zhen Youcai couldn't help but glance sideways at Wang Pu, and a knowing smile flashed across their faces at the same time, and the fish finally bit and fished.

"Master Pony!" Zhang Zi'an suddenly knelt down towards Wang Pu and begged, "Save the slaves!" ”

Wang Pu hurriedly stepped forward to help Zhang Zi'an, and said in a panic: "Oh, Father-in-law Zhang, this can't be helped, hurry up, hurry up, please get up quickly." ”

Zhang Zi'an actually squeezed out two tears and cried: "If you don't agree, the slave won't get up." ”

Wang Pu said anxiously, "Father-in-law Zhang, if you have something to say, I will promise you below." ”

"Master Pony, did you agree?" Zhang Zi'an got up and said, "Your Wang family is the richest man in Shanxi, and the 100,000 taels of silver slave can only be cheekily borrowed from your Wang family. ”

"Ugh." Wang Pu sighed and said helplessly, "Father-in-law Zhang, you are really embarrassed." ”

"Master Pony." Zhang Zi'an begged, "You must save the slaves." ”

"Okay." Wang Pu said helplessly, "Ming'er will discuss with the eldest brother and urgently sell more than a dozen businesses of our Wang family in Datong City, and it should not be a problem to raise 100,000 taels of silver, but Father-in-law Zhang, we have to make it clear, this 100,000 taels of silver is borrowed, not donated, and it will have to be repaid when the time comes." ”

"It must be returned, and it will definitely be returned when the time comes." Zhang Zi'an took a breath, and then said, "There is also Mr. Zhen's analysis is very reasonable, and it can also be said to be the only way to calm the situation, but the slave maid thinks about it, and only you can come forward to appease the mutinous soldiers and persuade them to accept the plan proposed by Mr. Zhen. ”

"Father-in-law Zhang, you can make this matter a dilemma." Wang Pu shook his hand again and again, "Come forward to persuade the mutinous soldiers, it is incumbent on you to let the troops go out to fight under the order, and you can't let the troops go out under the rules, and now you are filial piety, and you are absolutely not allowed to lead the troops according to the regulations, not to mention that you are no longer the general army of Datong Town, and you will lead the Datong border army as the commander of the Beijing camp. ”

Zhang Zi'an said: "This ......"

Wang Pu's concern is not unreasonable, he can still show affection when he is filial piety, but it is a big taboo to lead the Datong border army to go out as the governor of Jingying, if this matter is known to the imperial historian in the court, Wang Pu will have to be charged with unauthorized power, and he Zhang Zian will not be able to escape the involvement!

Zhang Zi'an thought for a long time, and said cautiously: "Don't you think this will work, on the surface, it is the slave and the maid leading the army, but in fact, it is the concubine and the master that you are leading the troops to fight. ”

Wang Pu said: "It's not that I'm afraid of being wronged, but I'm afraid that the army will leak this matter out of the army, and you and I won't be able to get out of it when the time comes." ”

Zhang Zi'an said: "Is there no way to get the best of both worlds?" ”

Zhen Youcai, who had not spoken for a long time, suddenly said: "There is no way to get the best of both worlds, but Father-in-law Zhang may not be willing to agree." ”

Zhang Zi'an hurriedly asked, "What way?" ”

Zhen Youcai said: "It is indeed an unauthorized overstep of authority to let my general lead the border army of Datong Town to go on the expedition, but if it is only the family of the Wang family, it is reasonable, even if this matter finally reaches the Beijing Division, those imperial historians in the court have nothing to say, what do you say, Gonggong Zhang?" ”

Zhang Zi'an was embarrassed: "This ......"

Zhen Youcai's idea is indeed good, but in this way, this great achievement will become Wang Pu's alone, and it has nothing to do with Zhang Zi'an, the eunuch guarding the town, of course Zhang Zi'an will not be happy in his heart.

Of course, Zhen Youcai knew what Zhang Zi'an was thinking in his heart, and then said: "There is a sentence that I didn't say just now, if you really want to attack Mongolia, you can't have too many troops, and it's enough to have three thousand veterans who can fight well!" If there are more troops, the news will leak out, and if the Mongols are prepared in advance, there will be no need to fight this battle. ”

Zhang Zi'an said: "Mr. Zhen means ......"

Zhen Youcai said: "What I mean is that three thousand people from the border army will be transferred to the Wang family's family Ding team, and my family will lead these three thousand family members to rush in lightly to attack and naturalize, and your father-in-law will lead the army to meet the area of the city before the army, and wait for the opportunity to plunder the cattle, sheep and livestock on the grassland, if no one asks afterwards, this battle will be all the credit of your father-in-law, if the court sends someone to ask, it will be said that my general is just leading three thousand families to go out together." ”

Zhang Zi'an said: "The three thousand border troops that were incorporated into the Wang family's Ding team ......"

Zhen Youcai said: "Father-in-law Zhang, you can say in the newspaper that these 3,000 border troops have died outside the fortress!" ”

Zhang Zi'an nodded, a little understood, Zhen Youcai's meaning is to put it bluntly, Wang Pu can help but not in vain, he can not receive the credit, he can not take the cattle, sheep, livestock and property taken from Mongolia, but the three thousand elites drawn from the border army will become Wang Pu's family from now on!

(To be continued)