Scholar meets soldiers

After dinner, the army set off. The mules and horses and carriages on the official road trampled the muddy road with snow, and the team slowed down a lot. Soon after, they caught up with a team. The officers and soldiers were escorting the continuous mules and carriages and trekking on the road with difficulty.

The horses were exploring the horses to Yangling, which was a convoy of transporting grain and forage to Datong. The grain and fodder equipment transported from the south and the north often traveled on this road, with chariots and horses constantly passing by. The originally flat and solid rammed earth post road has been severely damaged, and it has been crushed by snow, which is rugged and sunken, and is slippery and difficult to move.

Seeing the army of complete armor and tidy clothes passing by, the baggage team moved consciously to the roadside, Yangling's army gathered its formation and passed slowly from the side.

Emperor Zhengde gently clamped his horse's back, his body gently undulating, and his eyes slowly swept through the crowds of people. The convoy was crowded on one side, and the civilians were dressed in rags, some repairing the road surface, while some carried pedals on their shoulders and pushing the wheels trapped in the snow pit with great force.

The servants who drove the car were recruited, but the people who built bridges and roads and carried their hands to carry out coolies were refugees and tenants who voluntarily transported food and grass. The refugees were poor and had nothing to do in winter. They relied on their strength to find some work to fill their stomachs and reduce the burden on their families, and they could also earn a few pennies.

Looking at the poor people with a romance, Zhengde's relaxed smile disappeared. The army passed the baggage convoy and continued to speed up the journey forward. Zhengde kept looking back at the long dragon that was slowly heading north.

The army stayed in Changping for a night. The Changping County Magistrate did not know that the current emperor was in the army. However, the two famous signs of the Admiral of the Inner Factory and the Admiral of the Beijing Camp were enough to make him busy and unable to relax.

Yang Ling's army relied on the Yichengguan to station in the small county town. All the servants and chefs in the Yichengguan were driven out and replaced by the people brought by Zhang Yong. The Changping County Magistrate only said that the Admiral, who was so moxibustion-heat-handed in front of these two emperors, was too sceptical. He rushed to send more than a dozen big fat pigs. Seeing that the two adults were not enthusiastic about chatting with him, he said goodbye and left tactfully.

Yang Ling arranged the night guards and tomorrow's itinerary in the temporary Central Army tent. Two personal soldiers walked in with a young man dressed in an ordinary citizen. The man was dressed in inconspicuously, but his behavior and demeanor were majestic. When Yang Ling saw him, he smiled happily and said, "Lu Biao. Come on, sit down quickly, is there any news?"

Yang Ling sent Yang Yiqing to follow Cheng Qiyun to go south, collecting the handles of officials supported by the coastal gentry who were sent to investigate in the early stage, and transferred Peng Jizu, the third-tier leader of the inner factory, to lead the 5,000 elite soldiers. Liu Biao was responsible for the command and coordination of various light and dark spies along the way. Wu Hanchao rushed to Xuanfu and Datong in advance, and contacted Han Lin, who had already taken root there, and secretly took care of him.

Liu Biao gave military salute and sat on the chair beside him. Yang Ling smiled and poured him a cup of tea. Liu Biao bowed to thank him and glanced alertly. Several guards around him retreated knowledgeably. Liu Biao then whispered: "Sir, the visitor from Beijing has come to the scene. Sir, please pay attention to the two girls in the place. There was no abnormal movement. The two have been sent to the leopard room, and they seem to be very responsible. The humble position is being continued to monitor.

In addition, the news of the search for horses sent back from the front was very peaceful. The retreating wounded soldiers were sent to Datong's baggage, and the convoys were endless. In this case, in order to prevent Tatar spies, there were checkpoints along the way. Without the pass orders and road guides issued by the army, no more than five people were allowed to pass. Therefore, there would never be a large group of people along the way. If there were indeed hundreds of green forests, they would want to commit crimes in the 5,000 troops and discipline him for no return."

Yang Ling nodded and felt a little relieved. He walked slowly in the tent and pondered: "Wu Hanchao traveled a day earlier than me. There will be no news yet. It would be better if there is no danger along the way. Once you enter Xuanfu and Datong, there will be heavy troops gathering there, it will be safer. Liu Biao, go down to have a meal first. You must cheer me up on the way. Today is not as good as before. If the emperor lacks a hair, you will be in danger of losing your head."

Liu Biao stood up solemnly and said, "I know, sir, please rest assured, sir, I have left!"

Yang Ling nodded, Liu Biao turned around and went out, and a personal soldier came in to report: "Sir, the emperor's meal has been prepared." Yang Ling said: "Well, go and see the emperor first."

The emperor had an imperial kitchen in the palace to serve food and drinks. Although Zhang Yong had a small eunuch, it was impossible to take the imperial kitchen out of the capital with him. Yang Ling took great pains to find a chef who had left the imperial kitchen errand in the palace because of his old age. He did not tell him clearly. He only said that he was making food for himself, and he got several loyal and reliable guards to accompany him, responsible for the emperor's meals.

At noon, even a good wife was hard to cook without rice. Emperor Zhengde hurriedly ate some simple meals, which was the first time a serious meal. Yang Ling came to the residence in Zhengde in the backyard. All the guards who stayed behind recognized this Lord Yang. A guard and military officer hurriedly came up and said, "Mr. Yang."

Yang Ling nodded slightly and asked, "The first time the emperor left Beijing, Is it a bumpy road, Is it a waste? Have you ever had a rest?"

The military officer was also dressed as an ordinary army captain. He smiled and replied, "You are wrong. The emperor is very excited. He just washed up and took Admiral Zhang out."

Yang Ling was startled, his face changed slightly and said, "It's dark now, the night is cold and the wind is cold. Where has the emperor gone?"

The military officer hurriedly explained: "Sir, don't worry, the emperor just went to visit the soldiers in the camp and did not travel far."

Yang Ling was relieved and hurriedly turned around and walked out, saying, "I'll go and take a look, you can rest."

Yang Ling hurried out of the inn. The inn in this small town is located at the east end of the city. The outer courtyard turned out to be the place where the convoys of goods traveled back and forth were stationed. There were walls around it. Nearly a thousand officers and soldiers were stationed inside the walls, and the rest were stationed outside the door. At this time, the bonfire was lit everywhere, and the air was filled with the fragrance of meat.

Yang Ling looked around and saw a lot of people walking back and forth at the bonfires on the right. He hurried over. The soldiers sat around the fire, with a big rice pot on the fire. More than a dozen big fat pigs had been slaughtered into the pot. The large pieces of meat were rolling in the soup pot. The soldiers laughed and talked, chewing steamed buns and gnawing on the bones, and eating delicious food.

Yang Ling was still dressed in general's uniform. When the soldiers saw the voice, they immediately stood up and saluted. Yang Ling had just walked around the two bonfires, and a figure suddenly flashed out of the thorn. He grabbed him and said softly: "Sir Yang, where are you going?"

Yang Ling looked closely and saw that the flames flashed with silver light on the man's body. A new silver python official robe and a jade-buckle belt were somewhat majestic. It was Zhang Yong, the admiral of the Beijing camp.

Yang Ling was happy and hurriedly grabbed him with his back hand and asked, "Where is the person?"

He was outside. Although there were no outsiders nearby, the wind was whispering, fearing that someone would listen, so he didn't dare to say the word "Emperor". Zhang Yong winked and pulled him to the side for a few steps. He avoided the darkness and whispered, "Yes, here we are not allowed to follow us. When we see him having fun, we just wandered around and didn't dare to get close."

Yang Ling looked at that place and saw a blazing fire, reflecting a young and heroic face. Emperor Zhengde was sitting on the ground in a lieutenant dress, shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers, and baking cold steamed buns with wooden sticks. He held a big bone stick in his hand and took a bite from time to time, and was having a happy chat.

A veteran with a stubble face slammed his shoulder, which made Zhengde's shoulder sink. The man laughed and said, "Boy, the factory supervisor sent troops this time. Our brothers were selected from the 100,000 troops of the 12th Regiment Battalion. They all pulled their bows and got on horses. They fists, feet, swords and guns. Three or five strong men couldn't get close to you. Look at your little guy's skin and tender flesh. What can you do? Who is the opponent of the Tartars?"

Zhengde was not annoyed and said with a smile: "Brother, don't underestimate me. I have never been on the battlefield. In the past, I fought with a bastard who doesn't know martial arts and punched me in the brothel. I almost hit my nose in the face. But I didn't see it before and was confused. If I really talk about martial arts, I have several first-class fist and stick masters who taught me step by step. I'm afraid you may not be my opponent."

"Oh, yo, boy is very good at bragging," a soldier who looked lazy and had a lazy look smiled and said, "It turns out that you are the personal soldier of the Grand Commander. You thought you were a rich man and ran out to make a fortune, but you didn't look like a young master. What's the use of knowing some fancy fists and embroidery like that? There are real fights on the battlefield. Just you, a handsome guy, don't kidnap the Tartars and be the rabbit husband."

Zhengde retracted the roasted steamed buns, tore off a piece to suck it and stuffed it into his mouth. He chewed it with relish, and asked curiously, "Rabbit Husband? What rabbit Husband?"

The soldiers laughed loudly by the fire. The bearded man next to him patted his shoulder and laughed: "Look at how you are not familiar with the worldly affairs. I really don't know what he was surviving by Yang Dashang. The people on the Tartars are all stubborn and bear-backed. Even women are not much more beautiful than men. If a handsome guy like you is caught by them, you don't have to worry about being a slave. Maybe they are taken to be a concubine by their chief, hahaha..."

Zhang Yong was furious when he heard this, his eyebrows flicked, and he was about to rush over with murderous aura. Yang Ling grabbed him and shouted in a low voice: "Don't be impatient, don't blame anyone who doesn't know. The emperor is not angry yet, why are you angry?"

Zhang Yong looked at him carefully and saw that Zhengde seemed a little embarrassed. The soldier said this and naturally knew that the so-called rabbit husband was a child. However, Zhengde was not angry. It was the first time in his life that someone talked to him so vulgarly. He felt that it was very interesting.

Zhengde said disapprovingly: "The Tartars captured my women and children, I... I often hear merchants from the north mentioned it in the town, but they seem to have robbed more food and grass. Have they robbed many people?"

Several soldiers' smiles gradually faded. After a while, a sergeant in his thirties with a red face sighed and said, "That's natural. Over the years, the Tartars have attacked Xuanfu, Datong, and Jichang, and I don't know how many people have been stolen."

A gentleman slapped his thigh and said angrily: "Those who are raised by the bastards are afraid of the plunder of the Tartars. Those who can escape have fled into the Central Plains. Those who have lived by the ancestors through several acres of land have nowhere to escape and can only let them bully them. As long as they are old and middle-aged men are killed by them. The young and women are captured as slaves and wives and concubines, helping them graze, milk, sew clothes and make wine, and tie up camel tents. Don't you think many of them have been taken away?

Hehe, there are few Tartars, and the family is grazing. There is only one family within a radius of dozens of miles. The Jinang tribe in Hetao area captured the most Han people. The family has only four or five people, but there are six or seven Han slaves."

The red-faced sneered and comforted, "Old Duan, have you remembered the sad things again? Didn't Yang Zheng win a big victory? The barbarian Ding Zhuang Shao, the deputy general named Wang Shouren, poisoned three thousand Tartars in one battle. These Tartar families were only some old, weak, women and children, and they would become slaves from other tribes when they turned around. This was called retribution!"

Zhengde glanced at the gentle veteran and said, "Duan...Brother Duan. Has your home been harmed by the Tartars?"

The veteran said silence, and the bearded man next to him whispered in Zhengde's ear: "Old Duan is from Datong Zhuma Fort land, and his brothers and sisters have 65 people in the clan, and only five of them were killed by the Tartars. He took them to the grassland as slaves and grazed and cultivated.

After two years, the tribe and another tribe were in trouble. During the war, several relatives were trampled to death by Ranma. He pretended to be dead. Then he fled thousands of miles back to the gate. Because he had a very good horsemanship, he entered the Shenji Camp, which was specially used for horsemanship teaching."

Zhengde was angry when he heard this, and was surprised when he heard about farming. He couldn't help but ask: "The Tartars also farm? What do they farm?"

The bearded man said, "When the Yuan people ruled the Central Plains for more than a hundred years, they didn't learn how to farm the fields. They didn't want to farm the fields, but when they were driven back to the desert, no one was supplying white bread and bread, but instead they wanted to learn how to farm.

Nowadays, the Mongolians mainly grazed and also cultivated grain in some places. However, the Mongolians do not know how to farm. These tasks are done by captive Han people, and there is not enough manpower. Sometimes the Tartars come to the frontier to recruit refugees."

The Mongols were also starting to learn how to cultivate the Han people? Zhengde didn't know this news. In the past, the secret spies from the Jinyiwei went outside the pass and only paid attention to military and political information. Even when they saw the Mongols opening up small pieces of farmland, no one cared about it. Zhengde seemed to have a flash of inspiration when he heard it. When he wanted to think about it, he felt a dream and could never remember any trace.

The beard pulled out a knife from the belt and tucked a piece of meat dripping from the boiling pot. He took a bite of it fragrantly. Zhan Yan said, "Don't be discouraged. Come on, eat large pieces of meat, accumulate enough strength. When we arrive in Datong, if the Tartars have not been driven away by General Yang, maybe our brothers can still show their faces!"

Zhengde also followed suit, pulled out a knife from his waist and stabbed a piece of meat, laughed loudly, "What I mean is that if you accumulate enough strength, one day we will take back all the things that the Tartars snatched away. They will think that they are thick in their hands and feet, so they will give us some rough work."

Yang Ling smiled slightly and whispered to Zhang Yong: "Eunuch Zhang, this person has been out for less than a day. Do you see if there is any change?"

Zhang Yong looked at Zhengde carefully after hearing this, nodded and said, "Well, that's not the case. Wearing that coarse cloth clothes, it's so awkward, and there are... Looking at the sitting and eating, alas, our family is most annoying to those old men at the emperor... He pointed at him and asked him to make him like this, but now even our family doesn't like him."

Yang Ling looked around and saw the guards dressed as ordinary soldiers wandering around as if they were leisurely. Zhengde was afraid that forty masters would not be protected by the inside, and the surroundings were all reliable soldiers selected by themselves. He felt relieved. He patted Zhang Yong on the shoulder and chuckled, "I think he is more masculine now and is more sensible."

Zhang Yong watched Yang Ling leave, turned around and looked at Zhengde carefully, and said in confusion: "It's still the same. He is not masculine and isn't sensible?"

The next morning, the army set off and passed Changping to Juyongguan.

Today is cloudy, with the north wind gusts, blew up the snow on the ground, making the face cold. Yang Ling was wrapped in a big velvet cloak and felt a little unbearable to the cold. A corner of the chain mail under the battle robe was exposed, and she took off her sheepskin gloves. Once the hot palm was touched, she would be stopped.

Seeing that Zhengde was still with the same group of guards, wearing ordinary lieutenant clothes, squinted his eyes and walked forward in the cold wind, he stepped forward and advised: "Master, no matter what, you have to go into the car... rest. Although the emperor is strong, he has never been in such coldness. If he is freezing, he will be a mistake... a big deal."

The wind roared in the wilderness very fast. A mountain pass was about to enter a mountain pass, and the wind blew out of the mountain pass, making the snow swell up the sky and the earth. When you opened your mouth, you could pour it into your mouth, so that Yang Ling had to stop after a few words.

Zhengde said stubbornly: "If you don't go, five thousand men can bear the bitter cold. The people in the north suffer from this bitter cold year by year, so I can't even stand it for several days?" He raised his hand to cover his face, turned to Yang Ling and laughed: "Besides, the wind and snow are numb and itchy. This feeling has never happened before. I have finally come out and I must wait for a while."

Yang Ling was amused and crying when he heard this. Just as he was about to persuade him, a fast horse rushed from behind, rushed to the front and stood up, panting and shouting, "Sir, behind... dozens of fast horses were chasing him. Following General Yang's order, no one was allowed to enter the army without receiving the order. Those people were blocked outside, so he ordered his subordinates to report to the general immediately. Please go to the rear army to see you immediately!"

Yang Ling said in surprise: "Who is chasing me?"

The soldier showed a very strange aura on his face and said embarrassedly: "This... the master who asked me to send a message said. Behind him are Li Dongyang, Jiao Fang, Yang Ting and the three great scholars, and the rest of the world... It should be their followers."

When Yang Ling heard this, he looked at Zhengde, and his eyes showed a look of surprise. Zhengde was like a child who was rushing to school and was caught by a teacher on the spot. His face was timid. He looked at Yang Ling and said in a panic: "What should I do? What should I do? Where am I going to hide?"

"Didn't it meant that the army would arrive at Xuanfu and announce the emperor's secret order to the cabinet and the six ministers and nine ministers? Why did they find out so quickly and chase after him?" Yang Ling frowned and pondered for a moment, and whispered to Zhengde: "Is the emperor timid?"

Zhengde thrust his waist and glanced at the soldier. He lowered his voice and said to Yang Ling: "What are you afraid of? I'm timid but I know that I can't defend these people no matter how they open their mouths. They are chasing behind their butts. What can I do? But... I must go to Datong. No matter how they stop them, I must go!

......, come and find a way for me."

Yang Ling smiled and said, "Since that's the case, let me leave it to me."

He rushed back with a horse, and his twenty bodyguards and the central officer followed closely behind. Yang Ling looked around and suddenly found a soldier in the team riding on a yellow horse, with dark skin, green bean eyes, garlic nose, and a beard extending from under the jaw to the end of his cheeks. He was as fluffy as a thorn. If he replaced the eight-foot-long black iron stick in his hand with a snake spear, it would be Zhang Fei's rebirth.

Seeing that this man looked familiar, after thinking for a while, he remembered that he was the bearded man who sat side by side by the fire last night with Zhengde and gnawed his bones. Yang Ling's eyes lit up: It's him! Yang Ling rolled his horse's heads, and the war horse Xi Yuyu neighed a long time, stopped in front of the man, shouting: "What's your name?"

'Zhang Fei' was shocked. Yang Ling didn't recognize him. He was the ground soldier who picked out by Yang Ling. He knew Yang Ling. Although he was rough, he dared not be arrogant in front of Yang Ling. 'Zhang Fei' hurriedly held the reins of the horse and said in a regular manner: "Report to the general, Iron Stick Camp Captain Liu Dabangchui!"

Yang Ling was stunned and said strangely: "What's the name? Are you not even a serious name?"

"Zhang Fei" turned black and said shyly: "Sir, my parents gave this name, saying that I was dark and strong when I was born, like an iron rod, so I called Liu Bangcui."

Seeing that he looked rude and silly, Yang Ling was very satisfied. He smiled and said, "I am hereby the emperor's order to go to Datong to inspect the war. Several civil officials from the capital were chasing me. I must do everything possible to persuade me to go back. I ordered you to hold my Shangfang Sword and take me twenty personal soldiers to the rear to intercept them. When the army passes Juyong Pass, you will come back. If you finish this job, you will be my personal soldiers. How about it?"

Liu Dabangcui was overjoyed when he heard this and immediately bowed happily and said, "Subordinate to obey the order!"

Yang Ling took off the imperial sword and handed it to him, saying, "Those high-ranking officials are scholars, talking in a mess and speaking in a river. No matter what they say, you just need to tell them: 'After the sage, after the border patrol, the dragon will naturally return to the sea and the wind will be calm. You all feel at ease in Beijing to manage government affairs, don't worry!"

Liu Dabangchui inserted his sword into the thigh ribbon, and the thick and black eight-foot iron rod was horizontally placed on the saddle, holding his fist and said, "See the order! No matter what they put........... You will never let them take a step further!"

Liu Dabangcui grabbed the black iron stick, and without saying a word, he led twenty personal troops to the back.

Yang Ling smiled and said, "Let this scholar reason with this soldier."

He turned his head and shouted with anger: "The Central Officer, ordered the entire army to accelerate its advance. The former army's probe first went to Juyongguan to knock on the door, and went out of the pass and headed straight for Xuanhua, without delay!"

"Get orders!" The central officer shouted loudly, and raised the small flag in his hand a few times. The flags in his hand were constantly scattered and changed. Five thousand iron cavalry suddenly felt like a flood on the embankment, with rushing cars and horses slalom, and the rolling iron streams rushed towards Juyong Pass.

Jiao Fang was loyal and wanted to hide this matter for Emperor Zhengde and Yang Ling. He made excuses for the whole day yesterday, but he really hid it. Unexpectedly, when the three great masters were about to leave the palace, the eunuch of Renshou Palace came to Wenhua Palace to ask why the emperor had not yet arrived in the harem. The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager wanted to invite the emperor to admire the palace lanterns.

The two empress dowagers rarely took the initiative to find Emperor Zhengde because it was the New Year, and the royal relatives came to visit the palace. The empress dowager and the empress dowager were happy to chat with him. He remembered that Zhengde liked the fun, so he came to look for him.

Li Dongyang, who was so shocked that he found Yang Tinghe, and the two of them came to Wenyuan Palace. First, they had a quarrel, and then he twisted and pulled up. When the eunuchs who came to hear the news, the guards saw that the three great scholars were playing the New Year's friendship boxing competition, and they didn't know which one to persuade them, they all stood there.

Li Dongyang and Yang Tinghe didn't know what happened to the emperor, but this time they were really crazy. The three great scholars were swept the floor, and Jiao Fang was punched by Yang Tinghe. Li Dongyang pulled out a few beards. His kick also made Li Dongyang almost lose his anger.

The Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, Empress, Empress, Princess, and Princess all rushed over when they heard the news. Jiao Fang could not hide it. Then he told him bluntly, claiming that the emperor issued a secret order and that he had to act according to the order. The Three Palaces were shocked, and they knew that they could not control Zhengde at all, so they simply bombarded all the three Grand Secretarys out of Beijing and chased them day and night.

Liu Dabangcui led twenty iron guards and rushed to the back formation with great might. The iron cavalry lined up in a row, with twenty silver spears pointing to the sky obliquely. Liu Dabangcui inserted his sword into his ribs, holding an iron rod in his hand, and his face was covered with ferociousness.

He had heard of Shangfang Baojian in his plays and heard that someone was so arrogant when he was a senior official. Anyway, his Shangguan was destined to be a general, so he looked down on these nerds.

When Li Dongyang saw a group of guards coming, Zhengde and Yang Ling did not show up, and he couldn't help feeling angry.

The emperor secretly left the capital. He had not persuaded him to go back yet, so he did not dare to show off his own voluntarily. He had to shout patiently: "Where is Yangling Yang Army? I asked him to come to see me, and I have three sentences..."

Before he finished speaking, Liu Dabangqiu hung the iron rod on Desheng hook, pulled out the sword from his belt, and raised it into the air, shouting like a thunderous sound, which made the three great scholars tremble and almost fell off their horses.
Chapter completed!