Yang Fan and Zhang Shize were marching in the middle of the Chinese army. Zhang Shize gave up riding and got into Yang Fan's light four-wheeled carriage. He had always been a thief and knew where it would be most comfortable.
At this time, he and Yang Fan were in the carriage, using a kerosene stove and a small pot to cook mutton while marching.
The 80,000-strong Beijing camp marched in four columns according to the square formation of 500 men per battalion.
In addition, there are Yang Fan's personal soldiers, the Jia Ding Regiment, with 3,600 people, led by Zhang Gelao. Zhang Shize's Jia Ding Battalion, with 1,000 people, is commanded by Zhang Shuang, a general from the British government.
Cheying, as the central army, walks in the middle of the team.
There are also 1,300 noble disciples selected by Chongzhen, and a new battalion composed of the disciples of fifth-grade military attachés and above from various places. They first went to Beijing to study martial arts, and this time they also went to the battlefield to experience.
Behind the army, there were 100,000 civilians following. They were responsible for transporting food and wages for the army. These people were apportioned from various counties and cities.
Led by the local county magistrate, they drove ox-carts, horse-drawn carriages, and various baggage. These were all arranged by the Ministry of War.
In addition, a large number of civil servants accompanied them. Among them, there were more than 20 censors. This was to prevent the generals from causing chaos outside. These censors played a supervisory role. After they returned to Beijing, they would report the situation to the court.
The general is outside, and the emperor's order is not accepted. It is not that the general can cover the sky with one hand. This time, the six departments sent more than 300 civilian officials to accompany him. Yang Fan cannot block the situation in the army. If you mess up, you will be impeached when you return to the capital.
The main purpose of these civilian officials accompanying them is to transit the army, and they need to coordinate with the local areas. The six ministries all send personnel to the army, just to coordinate with various places.
In addition, people from Dongchang, Jinyiwei, the Governor's Office of the Fifth Army, and the Supervisor of Ceremonies all accompanied the army.
And this time, Chongzhen sent Cao Huachun as the eunuch to supervise the army. He would follow the army throughout the whole process. After the squadron, he would report the situation to Chongzhen in detail.
However, before leaving, Chongzhen told Cao Huachun, just go with your eyes and ears, don't talk nonsense, and don't interfere with Yang Fan's command. If you ruin my important affairs, you will never be lenient.
This time Yang Fan was different from the last time. This time he actually led the imperial army on an expedition. Only this time did he understand that it was actually very difficult for the so-called general to deceive the superiors and deceive the subordinates, covering the sky with one hand.
Neither Zhang Shize nor Yang Fan was wearing armor at this time, they were both wearing casual clothes. It was not a good thing to ride a horse wearing armor in this cold weather.
Yang Fan's car became very warm because of the hot pot, and there were water droplets on the windows. Zhang Shize took a sip of Fenjiu and lay half on the sofa seat, which was so comfortable that he didn't want it.
"I have walked this road before, and it was in bad condition. Unexpectedly, it was completely repaired this time. Riding in a carriage is not bumpy at all. If it were before, I would rather ride a horse in the cold wind than ride in a carriage. That bumpy road can handle
You were so shaken that you vomited out your breakfast." Zhang Shize said lazily.
Yang Fan rolled his eyes at him. This was a young master, as it were. He was born with a golden key in his mouth. He had been extremely wealthy since he was a child.
The starting point of his life is an end point that is unattainable to many people.
Or to put it another way, reincarnation is a big question.
"I hired a construction team from Zunhua and renovated it in advance. Otherwise, you would think it would be so comfortable all the way." Yang Fan said angrily while eating mutton.
"Hey, I won't stand up to you, so I will obey you." Zhang Shize joked with Yang Fan using the witticism he learned from Yang Fan.
"In order to be comfortable while marching, I spent my own money to repair the official road."
Yang Fan smiled bitterly, curled his lips, and did not explain.
"However, I can understand if you do this. The imperial court will not pay for you to build the road. This road is the lifeline of our brothers, and all our luggage depends on this road." Zhang Shize said.
"If I rely on the imperial court to build a road, I can lead to the cucumber field. If I don't pay for it myself, who will recruit civilians to help you build the road? Then we won't be the unlucky ones." Yang Fan said helplessly.
"This road is too stable. The mountain road is more stable than the flat ground." Zhang Shize said with emotion.
He also opened the window and looked outside. The road in the valley was wide, smooth and looked very solid.
"Who are you looking for to cultivate it? It's winter, the ground is frozen solid, but you can still cultivate it to this level."
"Everything I do is not reliable. Isn't it strange? Their road construction team has a bulldozer and a road roller. You will see it when you get to the Tumu Fort. In fact, you can sit comfortably, not only
It's because the road has been repaired and the carriage's shock absorption is good. My carriage is unique to Ming Dynasty, and its shock absorption is the best." Yang Fan said calmly.
The shock absorption of this carriage is all transmitted through the air suspension system. Of course it is comfortable.
"Oh, I really enjoyed going out with you this time. But the walking speed of the army is too slow. Even if we have a carriage, we have to follow the army."
"Then there's nothing we can do. The army can walk thirty miles in one day. Just take your time. Twenty days are here. Let's get to Tumu Fort and take a good rest. By the way, what happened to Tumu Fort back then?
You tell me." Yang Fan put down Kuaizi and said.
When Zhang Shize heard the name Tumu Fort, he was stunned for a moment. Then he shook his head and said with a wry smile: "I knew you would definitely ask me when you passed by Tumu Fort."
"Why, Mr. Zhang, is it inconvenient for you to say something?" Yang Fan teased.
Zhang Shize smiled bitterly and shook his head. He could still tell Yang Fan something.
"It's been a long time since this happened. Everyone has forgotten about it. The first generation of my British father-in-law was Zhang Fu, and I am now the ninth generation. What happened back then, after all, happened too long ago." Zhang Shize was a little sad.
.
Zhang Fu was an amazing man. He fought on the battlefield countless times in his life, but unexpectedly died in Tumubao in the end. He was a man who really understood military affairs.
"Things about Tumu Fort are not so sensitive now. You are now a member of the noble family, and I can tell you some things. However, there are some things that I don't know. Some things I can't tell you. Yes.
I dare not say it. Please forgive me." Zhang Shize said calmly.
"Besides, you should also ask your two sisters-in-law. They are both from Dongchang and Jinyiwei, and they know many things that the outside world doesn't know."
Yang Fan nodded. Zhang Shize's attitude was very sincere. He recognized it.
No matter how good the relationship between the two is, not everything can be known to the other party. Just like the last time Yang Fan seduced Tao Zi and brought Japanese people to attack Dong Lin's Zhangjiawan stronghold.
Yang Fan said: "I once heard a saying that it was the Tumubao Incident, but it was actually a coup. It was not an attack by the Mongols at all. Ye Xian was here to pay tribute, and he happened to meet him. He wanted to
The emperor sent it back, but Datong closed the city gates and refused to let the emperor go back."
Zhang Shize's mouth opened in surprise. If Yang Fan hadn't always been very reliable in speaking and doing things, he would have almost wanted to get out of the car and leave right away.
"Who told you these things? Please tell me the specific content in detail."
