"What? Zu-sama is coming back! ”

Wu Ji was a little stunned for a while, in the past, they were looking forward to the return of Zu Dashou, hoping that he could bring back the good news that would make them feel at ease, but when Zu Dashou and those generals really returned, he couldn't believe the news for a while. {}

Kuroko, who ran to Bukit, saw Bukit standing stunned on the spot, and slowly his two lines of hot tears also remained from his cheeks, and he choked up and said: "Head, Master Zu is finally back, he has come back with food and military salaries, and the brothers finally don't have to fight hard to go deep into the north for a bite to eat." ”

As soon as Kuroko said this, everyone cried at night, yes, everyone knows the danger in the north, why did they risk being found after the military investigation was over, and attacked the village full of people, wasn't it to seize some more animal skins, people and goods? For the sake of these goods, more than a dozen brothers have fallen on that land this time, and if they were paid, would they still need to work so hard?

After a while, Wu Ji wiped the tears from his cheeks and said to the surrounding Yebu: "Okay, since Lord Zu is here, presumably our future life will be much better, and we will have to run around for the days again, brothers, let's go to the General's Mansion to pay the order first, and then we all go out of the city to welcome the Lord and the reinforcements." ”

"Let's go!"

None of these men who were accustomed to seeing life and death rolled over on the tip of their knives, and after a moment of sadness, they all returned to normal, and they all followed behind Bukit and rode their horses to run to the military yamen in front

Zu Dashou rode on the horse, shook his body a few times with his hands on his waist, and a sour and numb energy surged upward, and he had been riding the horse for more than ten days, and the whole person was stiff.

Seeing that Zu Dashou was a little uncomfortable, Zu Dale on the side said with concern, "Big brother, bear with me, you can rest well when you arrive in Jinzhou in a while." ”

Zu Dashou sighed: "Alas, I think that the old man followed Inspector Yuan to fight with the Tartars in Liaoxi for several months. I'm still in good spirits, but now I've only been riding a horse for a few days, and I feel that my body can't hold it. ”

"Hahaha" A laugh sounded in Zu Dashou's ears, and with the laughter, Li Yan also rode his horse to their side, and said with admiration: "General Zu is too modest, you are called old and strong, and there are still a few people of your age who can get on horses and kill the enemy." Can you eat two legs of lamb a day? Otherwise, Your Majesty will not let this official lead you to fight with the Tartars! ”

was praised by Li Yan, the secretary of the military department of the dynasty and the governor of Liaodong, no matter how modest Rao is ancestor was, he couldn't help but show a hint of triumph on his face, but he still waved his hand by inertia, "The superintendent has won the award, and the last general is just doing his duty as a warrior." However, the emperor can train such an elite army, this is what really makes the last general admire! ”

After speaking, Zu Dashou glanced back at the team behind him, and his eyes showed envy. Behind him. The 20,000-strong army was divided into three platoons to follow behind him, and although he had been on the road for more than ten days, no one was left behind in the marching ranks. The formation of the team was still neat, and the black armor looked more like a black cloud from the sky.

Zu Dashou likes to lead soldiers, and at the same time, he also brings veterans who have been soldiers for most of his life, but he has never been able to witness such a well-trained army behind him. He had very little time to deal with Pang Gang, and he was even more rare to see the sergeants under Pang Gang, but this time Li Yan led an army of 20,000 people to carry equipment, grain and grass all the way, and he had been shocked more than once.

Zu Dashou is not a rookie, on the contrary, he can be said to be a battle-hardened veteran. For military matters, it is even clearer. In the past, the marching speed of the Ming Dynasty's infantry was generally only thirty miles a day, and it was already considered a strong army if it could reach forty or forty-five miles, and this was still in the case that the infantry soldiers put the armor on their bodies on the carts that accompanied the army. …,

But this army is good, the speed of marching every day is 60 miles, and every day before dawn begins to bury the pot and cook. {} After eating, they set out until they were encamped punctually, and all of them wore helmets and armor when they marched, from the commander of the regiment to the sergeants, and there was no exception.

When Zu Dashou asked the commander of the regiment who led the team, Li Yuan, why he let the soldiers march in armor and increase the weight of the soldiers. Li Yuan asked rhetorically, "If you suddenly encounter a Tartar on the march, can they give the soldiers time to put on their armor?" ”

This sentence alone made Zu Dashou speechless, yes, I think when the Ming Dynasty opened the country, the army marched with a helmet and armor and was fully armed, but I don't know when this rule of the Ming Dynasty has been reduced again and again, and in the end even the armor is not worn, what is the reason for this?

Immediately afterwards, Li Yuan said: "In my Dahua, from the generals to the men, all of them must wear helmets and armor when marching, and no one is allowed to make exceptions, even if Your Majesty is in the army, he must follow this regulation!" ”

As soon as Li Yuan said this, even Zu Dashou was surprised, "Is it true that Pang Gang's army is so strict in governing the army?" ”

Thinking of this, Zu Dashou's gaze swept over the dozens of sergeant-like knights in the team, the armor on their bodies was no different from that of ordinary sergeants, except for a red armband on their left arm, this armband represents military law and adjudication in the Dahua Army, and they are the military judges in the Dahua Army!

Seeing these military judges, Zu Dashou's heart was tight, he knew that these people were the eyes and ears of His Majesty sent to his army, spies, and also upright spies, thinking of this, Zu Dashou couldn't help but have a trace of melancholy on his face, he was too clear about the situation in his army, after the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the generals in the Ming army ate empty salaries has become an open practice, Zu Dashou is naturally no exception, although there are still more than 15,000 soldiers on the roster in his army, but it would be good to actually have 12,000, After arriving in Jinzhou, if the whole army really assembles and rolls names, I am afraid that it will be exposed.

Just when Zu Dashou was pondering, the long procession had already arrived outside Jinzhou City, and as the team approached, the soldiers on the city wall all had irrepressible smiles on their faces, and it seemed that the money owed to them by the imperial court had been settled.

Hao Dayong, who was walking in front of the team, looked at the city in front of him with satisfaction, this expedition to Liaodong is very important, and it also means that there are many opportunities for meritorious service, although Hao Dayong, who has become a guerrilla, is already forty and eight this year, but his motivation has not decreased with age.

Originally, before sending troops to Liaodong this time, his son-in-law Da Zhuang had already persuaded him to resign from his position as a guerrilla and find another errand for him in his hometown in Qingzhou. It was regarded as a pension, but he didn't listen, and insisted on going out with the army, and he must earn a title that could be passed on to his children and grandchildren.

Looking at the mighty sergeant in front of him and behind him, Hao Da shouted loudly to everyone with the pride in his chest. "Sons, all sing!"

"Ten thousand people are all set on Mount Tai can be moved, but loyalty and righteousness are angry bullfighting.

The Lord will kiss me like a parent, and he will not be free to violate military law.

The order is clear about the reward and punishment letter, and he dares to stay late when he goes to the water and fire.

Report to the Son of Heaven to save the head of Qian, kill all the slaves and find a seal. ”

When the song "Triumphant Song" sounded, at first it was just a few people singing it, and then more and more people joined the chorus, and Li Yan, Li Yuan, Zu Dashou, Zu Dayue and others also sang along. The singing also became louder and louder, and finally spread almost all over the army, and the earth-shattering song reached the city walls. When it reached Jinzhou City, the sound of tens of thousands of people singing in unison was so shocking that the entire Jinzhou City was almost shocked. …,

"The order is clear and the letter of reward and punishment is clear, and the water and fire dare to stay late"

Singing and singing, before he knew it, Zu Dashou was immersed in memories again, and he couldn't remember how long it had been since he sang this song. Zu Dashou tried hard to recall, when was the last time he sang this song, oh yes, it was the early years of Chongzhen, that was when he was in the prime of life. He followed Inspector Yuan to fight the Tartars in the area of Ningyuan and Xiaolinghe, and the battle was so painful that even the thief chief Nurhachi was hit by their artillery, and finally died of his wounds.

It's a pity, since Inspector Yuan was escorted to Jingshi. In the end, it was delayed. Zu Dashou has never understood what kind of crime Inspector Yuan has committed, and he has been sentenced to the most cruel punishment of a thousand cuts.

Since the beating of Yuan Inspector was Ling Chi, the hearts of the Liaodong soldiers have been cold, and from then on. The Ming defense line could only retreat again and again, and no one sang this favorite song when Inspector Yuan was there. Zu Dashou was reminiscing and pondering, but he didn't realize that his cheeks were already full of tears

Just when Zu Dashou was crying, the city gate rumbled open, and the group of Buji, Kuroko and Huzi, who had just returned from completing their mission in the north, rushed out of the city gate with countless Jinzhou soldiers, looking at the team not far away with neat steps and singing familiar military songs, they also shed tears.

Many old people can't remember how many years, the Ming court seems to have forgotten here, except for the food and salary that is transported every few months, there is no reinforcement from a single soldier, as if the whole Ming Dynasty has abandoned here.

And today a reinforcement army finally arrived, and they came here with neat steps singing this familiar "Triumphal Song", and they were no longer alone!

Soon, the army from afar drove into the city under the leadership of Zu Dashou and other generals, and the setting sun reflected the swarthy light on their armor, which dazzled the eyes of the people around.

Kuroko looked at the Dahua army that was pouring into the city, and what caught his eye was their neat military appearance, thick armor, and the full spirit of the whole army.

Heizi looked at this army with envy, and then looked at the leather armor that had been passed down for I don't know how many years, and had become tattered, and said: "Damn, this new court is really rich, you see those iron armors, all of them are made of fine stainless steel, and they need at least fifty taels of silver to get this outfit, in our Jinzhou, except for those adults above the guerrilla level, who can afford it, they are good, one person, how much silver do so many people have to spend?" ”

Looking at the sunspot who was salivating and saying that the grapes were sour, Wu Ji grinned, and he said proudly: "Look at your little bit of talent, do you think, now that Daming is gone, Lord Zu led us to join Dahua, will we still have our share in the future?" Look, it won't be long before we will have what they have! ”

"That's right!"

Heizi slapped his thigh violently, and suddenly realized: "Da Ming is gone, we are now Dahua people, and the adults above must not forget us, presumably our share is about to be available." ”

Unbeknownst to Bukit and Kuroko, their words soon came true.

After Li Yan led the army into the city, Zu Dashou held a banquet that night, inviting Li Yan, Li Yuan, and officers above the thousand-household and guerrilla levels, and even dozens of military judges sent by Pang Gang to Jinzhou also received invitations, and these military judges also came with great face. But at the banquet, when many generals told them, consciously or unconsciously, that they were asked to show mercy to their subordinates in the matter of counting the list of soldiers, these military judges just said a word and blocked their mouths completely.

"Don't be embarrassed for villains, my Dahua military regulations stipulate that if a military judge and a general in the army collude to embezzle military salaries, regardless of the circumstances or amount, they will be beheaded!" …,

After listening to the answers of the military judges, all the generals in Liaodong were dumbfounded, and they looked at each other one by one. The good days are all gone.

Li Yan, as the secretary of the military department and the governor of Liaodong, has the most obedient status, so he naturally sits in the first seat, and his lower left hand sits on Zu Dashou.

Although Zu Dashou kept persuading Li Yan to drink, the actions of the generals in the audience never deviated from his eyes, and seeing that all the generals touched their noses, Zu Dashou couldn't help but be unhappy.

He looked at Li Yan and found that this master was sitting in his seat eating the dishes in front of him at the moment, as if he was indifferent to what was happening in front of him.

Zu Dashou gritted his teeth hatefully. He bowed his hand to Li Yan and said, "Inspector Li, the last general has the courage to ask you for a favor!" ”

Li Yan looked at it, put down his chopsticks and said with a smile: "Master Zu is serious. What happened to make you plead with this official? ”

Zu Dashou secretly gritted his teeth and said in his belly: "Pretend that you continue to pretend!" Could it be that the emperor sent those officers and officials to Liaodong to see the scenery? ”

But Li Yan pretended to be stupid, but he couldn't follow the stupidity, so he had to make his words clear, Zu Dashou smiled bitterly: "Lord Li, don't lose the last general, it's not a matter of vacancy." The last general knew that the emperor sent these military judges to Liaodong in order to put an end to the empty quota. But since the beginning of Emperor Shenzong in the previous dynasty, eating empty quotas has almost become a common practice in my Ming Dynasty. The life of our border generals is hard, many brothers can't eat a few meals of meat all year round, let alone feed the old and young in the family, and they are forced to eat a few empty salaries. The last general begged the superintendent to raise his noble hand and let them go, and the last general thanked the superintendent on behalf of the soldiers of Liaodong! ”

Zu Dashou burst into tears, and after finishing speaking, he stood up and wanted to bow to Li Yan, but who knew that Li Yan stood up first. He stood sideways and made it clear that he could not accept such a big gift.

Seeing Li Yan's insistence on refusing to be accommodating, Zu Dashou's face gradually became ugly, and he said coldly: "Lord Li, are you really unwilling to give this face to the Liaodong soldiers?" ”

Seeing that Zu Dashou showed signs of turning his face, Li Yan was not panicked at all, his face also slowly sank, and he sneered: "Master Zu, this official used to respect you as a straightforward man, but I didn't expect you to speak for those scum who eat empty salaries." The official asked you, what did the emperor tell you before leaving Beijing, and the official didn't need to remind you of this, right? Before leaving Beijing, the emperor had already told you that the past was not to blame, and from now on, you must work for the court and the emperor in a down-to-earth manner, and the court will have its own reward.

Before arriving in Jinzhou, the official still thought that Master Zu was also a good man who knew his mistakes and could change them, and thought that Lord Zu would order his subordinates not to look at these past deeds, but this official did not see that you had the slightest intention of repentance, and regarded the emperor's original benevolent heart as a bargaining chip. ”

Li Yan's voice gradually became louder, and the generals in the hall also discovered the abnormality here, and came over one after another, surrounding their respective officials, and the smell of gunpowder on both sides gradually became stronger. Many generals behind Zu Dashou slowly pressed their hands on the hilt of the knife behind them, and at the same time, the hands of the generals led by Li Yuan behind Li Yan also touched the position of the handcuff behind him, and a conflict was about to happen.

Li Yan naturally saw the small movements of the generals behind Zu Dashou clearly, he just smiled faintly, pointed at everyone and smiled contemptuously: "What, if the soft ones don't work, are they ready to come hard?" The official told you the truth, if you really want to make a move, the official can guarantee that in less than two quarters of an hour, the 20,000 troops of the imperial court will kill you on the spot, I don't know if you believe it or not? According to this official's point of view, Wu Xiang's father and son are smarter than you, and they honestly dismissed the old and weak in Shanhaiguan, and the vacancies they took were wiped out. ”

Li Yan's words were like a plate of cold water poured on everyone's heads, and they only then realized that although this was their territory, the 20,000 elite troops brought by Li Yan were stationed in the city at the moment, and they couldn't run away if they really wanted to make a move.

Zu Dashou's face quickly changed a few times, and finally his face darkened, and he slowly knelt down on one knee in front of Li Yan and said miserably: "The two adults don't blame the generals, they are also concerned about chaos, and they have no intention of rebelling against the court. ”

"Master Zu, you can't!"

When the generals of Liaodong saw that Zu Dashou had taken the blame, they all knelt on the ground and cried loudly

PS: Here, Ah Ding weakly asks you for one thing in the wireless book readers, all of you who use wireless mobile phones to read this book, if you have wireless points, you might as well reward A Ding a little, Ah Ding is still short of points! (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation and monthly passes, and your support is my biggest motivation. )