Xiong Wencan pointed to the table and said gloomily: "Kunshan, you see that this is a letter from the military governors of the five provinces, and this is the draft I am going to send here." If you are willing to go in and chase after you, you can put up the fortifications of the governor at will. If not, hum! Don't blame me for being ruthless and impeaching you for deliberately staying in the crime of arson. Since the emperor entrusts the thief with great things, you and I are grasshoppers tied to a rope, no one wants to hide far away, there is nothing to do with it! ”

Zuo Liangyu was furious, a face that was originally as colored as a heavy jujube turned purple, and shouted: "It's clear that the governor is returning to the mountain, but he detains the basin on my head!" As a governor, you are the first evil, and you must bear any guilt first. I'm just a general, how much can I get wet no matter how strong the wind and rain are? You use the 600-mile fast horse to send it out urgently! Look at the head, which one is unlucky! ”

Xiong Wencan sighed, picked up the manuscript and put it on the candle flame to light it, looked at the burnt to ashes, touched his beard and said: "Kunshan, I shouldn't have forced you, no wonder you were angry." Alas! I was old, and I wanted to enjoy my old age in Lingnan, but I made this mistake by mistake! You are different, I remember that you were born in the twenty-sixth year of Wanli, at the age of forty, it is a good time for the Spring and Autumn Period, and it is the time for great achievements, and there is no room for the slightest difference. Once there is something missing, it is difficult to turn over the salted fish! If you think about it, in the first year of Chongzhen, you served as the commander of the right battalion in Liaodong, and Ningyuan was removed from his post in the mutiny, and then he accumulated military exploits before he was awarded a guerrilla. If it weren't for the recommendation of Hou Sui, the right attendant of the Changping Supervision and Military Department, you would have to wait for a person with a criminal record to be promoted to a deputy general, and I don't know how many years you would have to wait! You had a good chance and met a nobleman. It's hard to say that you're lucky forever, and there aren't so many Hou Ruogu in the world! You have a great future, and your life is precious. Go ahead! Go ahead! He collapsed on the chair, closed his eyes tightly, and raised his hand twice, "I personally don't regret to die, I'm afraid that it will affect my family." ”

Zuo Liangyu is an arrogant and fearless person, but Xiong Wencan's words moved him. He came from a humble background, his parents died when he was a child, he never went to school for a day, with a good martial arts, skilled in bows and horses, he was promoted to the position of the chief soldier, which was unforgettable, and naturally he was unwilling to give up easily, seeing Xiong Wencan sitting with his eyes closed, the old tears were horizontal, and he pushed the governor to guard and said loudly: "This seal is issued by the imperial court, how dare others move lightly?" The adults are still good at keeping it, I'm going to chase Zhang Xianzhong! With that, he hugged his fists and strode away.

In the season of May and June, the army braved the heat and hurried, and the suffering was unspeakable. Adjutant general Luo Dai led 2,000 men and horses as the vanguard, and Zuo Liangyu led an army of 10,000 to pursue westward. After eighty miles of Fang County, there is a rolling mountain in front of you, with dense trees and shaded forests, which is the famous Luo Monkey Mountain in Fang County. It was almost noon, Luo Dai ordered to rest and make food, and the soldiers hid under the trees to enjoy the shade, threw their weapons aside, and some even untied their clothes and armor, bare their chests and breasts, and lay on their backs. Luo Dai couldn't stop scolding, he was anxious, but he heard a cannon sound, ambushes were everywhere, and a yellow-faced man on the mountain shouted: "Luo Dai, Grandpa Zhang is not going down the net, get off the horse and die!" ”

Luo Dai was furious and rushed towards the mountain. Unexpectedly, the vines on the mountain road were all over the place, tripping the horse's legs, Rao is Luo Dai was very good at riding, and he almost fell off the horse. Hurriedly lifted the reins, the horse turned around twice in place, and suddenly rose up, but the horse's legs were tightly wrapped around the vine, and even the man and the horse fell to the ground heavily. Zhang Xianzhong laughed and said: "You don't have to pay a big salute when you see each other, just make a gesture!" Luo Dai was ashamed and angry, waved his knife to cut off the vine, got on the horse and entered, and there was a lush vine in front of him, which densely covered the mountain road, so he had to abandon the horse and climb the mountain. Less than half a mile, people are surrounded by groups. Luo Dai shouted, fought with knives, and clashed left and right. Zuo Liangyu heard that the vanguard was fighting with the thieves, and he was afraid that Luo Dai's soldiers would be defeated, so he urgently ordered the army to rescue. As soon as he arrived at the foot of the mountain, he learned that Luo Dai was besieged by thieves and was captured by exhaustion, so he knew that something was wrong, and urgently ordered him to retreat, but he cut off the retreat for Zhang Xianzhong. Zuo Liangyu rushed out desperately, the officers and troops were defeated, Zuo Liangyu's military talisman seal was lost, more than 10,000 soldiers were killed and wounded, and more than 10 million ordnance and materials were discarded.

Chongzhen got the news of the fiasco of Zuoliang Yuluo Monkey Mountain, and hurriedly summoned Yang Sichang to the palace to discuss the plan. Yang Sichang was panicked, and without waiting for Chongzhen's question, he knelt down and kowtowed: "Xiong Wencan's suppression of the obedient party has caused a change in Gucheng, delayed the closure of the territory, and is deeply responsible for His Majesty's responsibility." The ministers are ignorant of people's wisdom, and the people who recommend them are not people, which makes the city ruined and humiliated, and they cannot be blamed. ”

Xiong Wencan made mistakes and perfunctory time, causing Zhang Xianzhong to entrench himself in Gucheng and be like a tiger. But because of the importance of the feudal territory, I refuse to change people easily. In the change of Gucheng, I still refuse to cure his crimes, and still hope that he will make meritorious service and redeem himself. I didn't expect him to force Zuo Liangyu to advance lightly, lose his troops and lose his generals, and he was deeply disappointed, which is really hateful! It is necessary to ask questions and put them on the line. Chongzhen looked at Yang Sichang who was prostrate on the ground, and said with relief: "Xiong Wencan is the only one to blame for this matter, and Qing doesn't have to blame himself too deeply." Although Zuo Liangyu was defeated, he did not hurt his vitality, and he was not worried, and what I was worried about was who would replace Xiong Wencan and go to Xiangyang to preside over the overall situation. ”

Yang Sichang said cautiously: "Sun Chuanting is available." ”

"Hmph, he knows the soldiers, but he doesn't know the power change, he is too willful, how can he have a monarch in his heart?"

"Sun Chuanting was severely reprimanded by the emperor, and he was so frightened that he was deaf, and it seems that he did not intend to shirk the military affairs of the governors of Hebei and Shandong, and I heard that he deeply repented in prison......"

"Don't talk about him, it's not time yet, I have to sharpen his edges and corners."

"The minister is willing to invite himself to supervise Xiangyang, do his best to suppress the traitors, and atone for his sins."

"Sir has worked tirelessly, and I am very relieved. Looking at the clouds in the west, I am very worried! And the court is full of everything, and it can't be without a gentleman for a day, I think left and right, and hesitate. A smile flashed on Chongzhen's face, and then he sighed and said: "I have been running the world for more than ten years, the ministers have been derelict in their duties, the ministers are greedy for ink, and the state affairs have been corrupted to this point, which can be sighed!" I don't mean that with the size of the four seas, I don't have first-class generals like Guan Yunchang and Yue Wumu! ”

Yang Sichang said gratefully: "The emperor knows about the encounter, and he remembers the five." Since he was appointed as his own soldier, the Qing army has entered the fortress, broken the famous city, captured the vassal king, damaged the commander, and the sacred heart was anxious. Every time I think about it, I am terrified. The emperor does not punish for this crime, and the ministers have small merits, and they are immediately praised and ordered to praise the center. The grace of the saints, dare not repay? ”

"I want you to go to Xiangyang, and it is appropriate to use the official title of 'Supervisor and Auxiliary Minister'. I really can't bear to let Mr. leave left and right, but Kou is in a hurry, and I have to annoy Mr. to travel far away. Chongzhen's voice was a little hoarse, he took a bite of rock sugar bird's nest, and said: "Qing went to Huguang, mainly to suppress the thieves, but also to take care of Shangluo." If the thief escapes from the Shangluo Mountain, do not let him join the thief. ”

Yang Sichang replied: "The emperor will be tomorrow, and the candle will shine on the thief's feelings." When ministers go to Xiangyang, they should strictly follow the strategy given by the emperor. ”

"Sir, what else do you need to prepare?"

"The army is gathered at the junction of Sichuan and Chu and the southern part of Shaanxi, which is far away from Chizhou, where the governor is stationed, and it is most convenient to ask Zhang Bojing to move to Huguang to use troops. Although Zuo Liangyu is newly defeated, this person has the talent of a general, and most of his subordinates are elite soldiers, and the emperor is particularly gracious, and he is named 'General of the Ping Thief' to strengthen morale. ”

Chongzhen said: "Qing can go to Xiangyang with confidence, everything needed, I will immediately order each company to do it on the same day." ”

The next day, Chongzhen ordered Yang Sichang to supervise Huguang with his cabinet ministers, give 100 taels of fine gold, four horses of red silk table, a bullfighting coat, 40,000 taels of silver, 1,500 silver medals, 500 silk and 500 silk horses, and issue a silver seal to the "Supervisor and Auxiliary Minister", and 500,000 taels of silver. At noon, the emperor gave a banquet on the platform and feasted for him. At one o'clock in the afternoon, Yang Sichang was introduced into the apse of the platform by Wang Dehua, and the drum music followed the praise of the Honglu Temple officials to the emperor and performed a regular salute. Guanglu Temple has placed two seats in the hall, one seat is placed on the imperial case, and one seat is placed below. Yang Sichang bowed and sat down with Chongzhen to the north. Chongzhen raised the jade to toast him, Yang Sichang hurriedly left his seat, knelt with both hands, took a sip, respectfully poured the wine on the ground, and bowed: "Thank you!" He bowed his hands and stood.

Ma Yuancheng, the former eunuch of the imperial palace, held a yellow silk cloud dragon brocade box in both hands, and said sharply: "Yang Sichang is grateful!" Yang Sichang knelt down and kowtowed again, holding the brocade box. Chongzhen said: "I wrote a poem last night to see off my husband on the expedition. May the gentleman point out that the atmosphere will disappear. ”

Yang Sichang kowtowed again, his hands trembled and carefully opened the brocade box, there was a roll of yellow depiction of gold cloud dragon wax paper in the box, unfolded and looked closely, there was a poem of seven unique poems with the title of the imperial pen, each word was two inches square, he glanced up, saw Chongzhen smiling, bowed his head and recited:

"Yanmei is going to be a dry city today,

Admiral majestic Willow Battalion.

Sweep away the atmosphere from now on,

Returning the period of education to improve the people's livelihood. ”

The eyes were full of tears, and the seven words "Giving the Governor and Auxiliary Ministers to the Heir Chang" at the end of the poem, and another line of words was "The auspicious day of September in the twelfth year of Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty", as well as the stamped "Chongzhen Imperial Pen" and "The Treasure of Ten Thousand Directions", the two seals of the Yang Wen Zhu Yin, were a little blurred, choked and speechless.

Although the platform banquet is grand, it is just a formality, and it doesn't take much effort. After the poem was given, the ceremony was completed and the food and drink were removed. The officials of Guanglu Temple and Honglu Temple retreated first, and several eunuchs such as Wang Dehua and Ma Yuancheng also retreated, and only Chongzhen and Yang Sichang were left in the hall. Chongzhen beckoned Yang Sichang to move the stool closer, and asked slowly: "Mr. is far away from the capital and goes to Xiangyang, it is really a last resort, I can't bear Mr." The heavy responsibility of suppressing thieves is tied to Mr. himself, and I have great expectations. ”

Yang Sichang got up to worship, but Chongzhen stretched out his hand to stop him: "There are only you and me in the hall, you don't have to be formal, just sit and talk!" ”

"Don't lose your honor in front of your father, the emperor is extraordinarily gracious, and the ministers are terrified." Yang Sichang still bowed before he said: "The ministers are aware of the encounter and are deeply gracious, but they can only do their best to repay the emperor." As soon as Ranchen left the country, he became thousands of miles, not like in the Beijing Normal University, he could see the holy face and ask for orders in person. Sun Ziyun: 'Those who have been soldiers for a long time and the country has benefited have not been there. However, in today's situation, it may not be easy to win quickly, and the thieves need to be annihilated one after another, and they cannot be achieved overnight. In this way, there will be a lot of food and salary, and the courtiers are bound to habits, and things are rampant, but with the emperor in charge, the ministers can rest assured. It's just that if the courtiers disobey the yang and the yin, they secretly control the elbows of the courtiers, soldiers and horses, money and food, ordnance, rewards and punishments...... It cannot be determined by necessity, and triumph is bound to be far away. The ministers have been able to suppress the thieves with swords and guns, but they can't help the well-dressed thieves. ”

"Don't worry, sir, I won't teach them to be fooled."

"At present, the army will be lazy, and the ministers will go to Xiangyang, first rectify military discipline, and then enter to suppress the thieves."

Chongzhen nodded and said: "I have given you Shang Fangjian, the generals below the general army are guilty, and the punishment of killing is cheap, and there is no need to play Chen." There is a gentleman sitting in Xiangyang, commanding the suppression of thieves, I feel very relieved, worried that the Dongyu will not wait for the success of the thieves, and will attack in a big way. ”

"The minister's opinion is slightly the same as the emperor's foresight. Fangjin country is troubled, and it is difficult to take care of both inside and outside. If you concentrate on suppressing the thieves, you must use the Fu Fu on the Dongyu, and detain them for a while, and wait for the civil strife to be cleared, and then it is not too late to attack Houjin Dazhang. ”

"Fu Zonglong lacks the talent to change, so he may not be able to take on this heavy responsibility."

"For military matters, the emperor can ask Fu Zonglong. Chen Xinjia, the governor of Xuanda, is shrewd and capable, and he is really a rare talent, and he can handle the affairs of the discussion. ”

Chongzhen said: "The thieves are worried about the heart of the country, and the burden of thousands of catties is on the shoulders of Mr. Mr. Wang is dedicated to suppressing thieves, and there is no need to be distracted. The ministers have been ordered to march outside the country tomorrow, and on the day of the triumph of the gentleman, I will personally work in the suburbs to welcome them. ”

Early the next morning, after Yang Sichang entered the palace and resigned, he came to the vacuum temple outside the Guangning Gate. Cloth tents were erected in the temple and tables and chairs were arranged. Outside the temple gate, cars, horses, sedan chairs, and all kinds of deacons are bustling. The green eight-carried sedan chair was surrounded by staff, family members and guards, about half a mile away from the temple gate, and those officials below the third rank bowed down and stood solemnly, greeting them from afar. In the sound of three salutes and drums, Yang Sichang got off the sedan chair, returned the salute, and then got on the sedan chair again, and carried it straight to the mountain gate. After Yang Sichang kowtowed to the north in the temple to thank him, Xue Guoguan led all his civil and military colleagues to toast three glasses. King Yang Sichang was in his body, and then he said goodbye, boarded the sedan chair, and went to Lugou Bridge. All the way did not dare to delay, the sedan chair drivers took turns to replace, passing through Cizhou, Zhangde, Weihui, Fengqiu, Kaifeng, Zhuxian Town, Xuchang, Nanyang and Xinye, on the 29th, arrived at Zhangjiawan in the eastern suburbs of Fancheng, 15 miles, entered Xiangyang City overnight, and the next day was promoted to director in the line of Premier Xiong Wencan.

The sky is slightly bright, outside the gate, a pair of five or six zhang high flagpoles hang two apricot yellow flags, the left side is embroidered with "General Yanmei", and the right side is embroidered with "the three military superintendents". Two rows of small flagpoles of one foot and three feet are hung with colorful door flags, five in each row, seven feet in the flag, all are flame-shaped apricot yellow flags, and a flying tiger is embroidered in the middle of the flag. Three cannon shots rang out, and the door was wide open. From the gate to the lobby is two courtyards, one in the middle of the two gates, outside the two doors until the bottom of the lobby steps, there are many guards standing on both sides of the road. As soon as a cannon rang out, the civil and military officers entered the gate one after another and waited solemnly outside the second gate. The second cannon was fired, and the drum music was played in the second door. ----With a shout, Yang Sichang, the superintendent wearing the emperor's bullfighting uniform, walked slowly out from behind the screen in the crowd of officials, and sat down after walking to the Nanmu Gong case surrounded by red satin brocade curtains. Yang Sichang looked around and said majestically: "Please enter the account." The civil and military officers waiting outside the second gate were led by Fang Kongzhao, the governor of Huguang, followed by dozens of members such as the superintendent of the military road, the general soldiers, the deputy generals and the generals. Everyone was shocked by the power of Xuan He, the superintendent and auxiliary minister, held their breath and stood solemnly.

Yang Sichang stroked his beard, stood behind the public case, glanced at everyone, and said: "Wen Can is derelict in his duties, the thief is in vain, the emperor is angry, there is a will to ask, the Jinyi Banner School is already on the way." Wen Can is to blame for this matter, and you can't escape the blame. Now that the emperor is particularly gracious, you should work together to make up for your mistakes in order to repay Your Majesty. This governor was entrusted by the imperial court and vowed to destroy the thief. Merit will be rewarded, and guilt will be punished. If there is negligence, we will never forgive the loan! He paused for a moment, looked around at everyone, and then asked, "Fang Kong Zhaoke has arrived?" ”

Fang Kongzhao led Zuo Liangyu from Dangyang yesterday to Jin, and the new four-grade civil official Yun Yan complemented the red Luo python robe, which was extremely grand. He is a native of Tongcheng, Anhui Province, in the early years of the Apocalypse because of offending the eunuch party was cut down, Chongzhen was called back after ascending to the pole, and in the spring of the eleventh year, he was the governor of Huguang with the title of the right imperial history, and he has been dissatisfied with Xiong Wencan's policy of appeasement. Hearing Yang Sichang call him by his name, he was a little embarrassed and replied, "I am here." ”

Yang Sichang's face changed, he stood up and said, "The emperor has a decree!" Fang Kongzhao was taken aback and knelt down tremblingly. I only vaguely heard that "Fang Kongzhao didn't want to repay the service, resulting in the defeat of Xiangyouping, and the death of the teacher was humiliated...... The lieutenant was escorted to Beijing to listen to the survey ...... "The generals Yang Shien and Luo Anbang were ordered to enter the suppression, and the whole army was wiped out in Xiangyouping, so he shouldn't be the scapegoat." But at this point, it is useless to argue. He bowed his hand to his colleagues, turned his head, and walked out of the lobby with the two lieutenants. Yang Sichang sent it to the door of the lobby and said apologetically: "King Sichang is in his life, I will not send it far, take care all the way." ”

Fang Kongzhao looked up to the sky and sighed, turned around and smiled coldly, and left without saying a word. Everyone was shocked, and secretly thought in their hearts: Inspector Yang's weather is really different from Xiong Wencan, and he must not be neglected.