In Huai'an Prefecture, the imperial envoy was on his way.
It's March and the weather is slowly getting warmer.
From the 20th of last month, when Shen Yi led his troops across the Huaihe River, until now, the entire Huai'an defense line can be described as calm.
This was beyond Shen Yi's expectation.
Because the Qi people suffered a big loss at the Yangjitu River Camp, it stands to reason that even if they no longer attack Huai'an, they should still send troops to retaliate.
Even if it's just a symbolic beating, you'll look better.
Like now, after suffering a loss, it is really strange to swallow it and pretend that nothing happened.
Mr. Shen even wondered in his heart whether these Qi people were secretly hiding something bad and preparing to do something big to Huai'an.
Therefore, he did not relax his vigilance at all. The three generals under his command were patrolling along the Huaihe River at all times to prevent Qi people from sneak attacks.
In addition to defense matters, there is also good news.
Xu Fu brought gunsmiths from the West to Huai'an from Lin'an Prefecture, and was put into Huai'an's firearms workshop by Shen Yi.
Shen Yi even went to meet these foreigners in person.
At this time, Western guns and artillery have been widely used in the military, but to be honest, for now, their artillery is not much more advanced than Chen's.
The only thing that interested Shen Yi was that they already had the prototype of a flintlock gun. As long as they were given some time, they might be able to make a flintlock gun.
However, even if this thing is created, it will hardly become a decisive force on the battlefield.
After all, in another world, this thing has been out for a long time, but it still has not been able to completely eliminate cold weapons. The only thing that can really completely eliminate cold weapons is rifled guns.
That kind of thing is rare for Mr. Shen to see in his life.
If you want to create something out of nothing, it would be too difficult to create a lathe. Without a lathe, rifling would never be popular.
Therefore, muskets can only be the icing on the cake for Shen Yi. If you want the Northern Expedition to succeed, you cannot completely rely on muskets. What is more important is to integrate resources to overthrow the old empire in the north that has become increasingly decadent.
Therefore, although Shen Yi attached great importance to these gunsmiths, he only arranged them into firearms workshops and let them exchange knowledge with existing firearms craftsmen in Dachen and strive to achieve some breakthroughs in weapons and equipment.
On the sixth day of March, Zhang Jian's wife and children finally arrived in Huai'an.
Shen Yi took Zhao Er and followed Zhang Jian to the city gate early in the morning to greet him. It was almost noon when he saw a carriage slowly arriving at the gate of Huai'an City. The three brothers greeted him and got out of the carriage.
A young woman and a seven or eight-year-old child.
In this era, people got married relatively early. Zhang Jian got married when he was fourteen or fifteen years old. His eldest son, Zhang Lian, is almost eight years old.
Shen Yi had a good personal relationship with Zhang Jian when he was in Jiankang in his early years. He had also been to the prime minister's house several times. Mrs. Zhang naturally recognized Shen Yi. After getting off the car, she saluted Shen Yi and called him "uncle".
She looked at Zhao Er again.
Zhang Jian and Zhao Er are brothers, and the two families are more familiar with each other. Mrs. Zhang was a little surprised, bowed her head and saluted, "Second uncle is also here, but I didn't know."
Zhao Er cupped his hands in salute and said with a smile: "Hello, Madam-in-law, I have been here since the Chinese New Year. I guess Madam-in-law has not been to my house during this period, otherwise I have to know."
Mrs. Zhang glanced at her husband, and then smiled: "My husband is not in Jiankang. How can I, a womanly woman, dare to disturb my master and my wife?"
Shen Yi also bowed his hands and saluted, and said with a smile: "My wife has worked hard all the way, and I have booked a banquet to welcome my wife."
Zhang Lian was already a big boy now. After seeing his father, he knelt down and kowtowed in salute. Then at Zhang Jian's request, he kowtowed to Shen Yi and Zhao Er one by one and called him uncle.
Zhang Fuzun stroked the beard that was not very long on his chin, smiled at Shen Yi and said, "This child has been studying for several years. It's a pity that Ziheng is busy with work, otherwise he would be your teacher."
Mr. Shen quickly shook his head and said with a wry smile: "Senior brother, please stop making fun of me. I might be able to teach some smart people, but teaching him to take the exam will harm him."
Mrs. Zhang on the side rolled her eyes and said with a smile: "Zi Heng is the coach of Huai'an now, so naturally he has no time to teach Lian'er. However, the ninth uncle of the Shen family is currently working in the Hanlin Academy and will return to Jian'an in two years.
Kang, can Ziheng introduce me to this kid so that he can be a student of Uncle Jiu?"
When it comes to studying and taking exams, Shen Heng is indeed better, and he is a first-class Jinshi, which is easy to say.
Hearing this, Zhang Jian frowned and said, "How could anyone talk like this when we first met? How could a woman have such shallow eyelids?"
Mrs. Zhang felt a little aggrieved and turned away: "I didn't tell you that you just brought Lian'er to Huai'an for the sake of your own family's future. You don't allow me to find a famous teacher for him?"
Seeing that the couple might quarrel as soon as they met, Mr. Shen smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I will definitely ask Zichang about becoming a disciple after I return to Jiankang. Let's go have dinner first."
"It's not easy to be a naked official here in Huai'an. My wife must be considerate of my senior brother."
Mrs. Zhang sighed, nodded and said, "It's all up to uncle's arrangement."
In this way, the five people entered Huai'an City. Shen Yi had already booked a banquet and entertained the mother and son in a restaurant in Huai'an.
After the meal was almost finished, Zhang Jian looked up at Shen Yi and asked with a smile: "By the way, Zi Heng, you made such a big contribution last month. Logically speaking, there should have been news about the reward from the court."
That’s right, why hasn’t there been any movement yet?”
Shen Yi took a sip of wine and shook his head slightly: "Brother, I will be in Huai'an for at least two years. This is no different from a general leading troops to fight. Senior brother, have you ever heard that before a battle is finished, merit will be judged?
Rewarded?"
"That's not a lot."
Zhang Jian was in a good mood because he had met his wife and children. He was already dizzy from drinking. He raised his glass and touched it with Shen Yi. He said, "With Ziheng's great contribution, even if the entire section of the Huaihe River is not
I'll leave it to you. I'll give you the title of Minister of War. This way you will have the confidence to talk to the generals below."
Starting from the southeast, Shen Yi has never been as high-ranking as his subordinates.
For example, he is now a fourth-grade officer, but both Xue Wei and Ling Su are already third-grade generals.
"Not much use."
Master Shen took a sip of wine and said with a smile: "Adding a Minister of War will not give Huai'an an extra soldier. It is better to give me an extra one hundred taels of salary every month."
With Shen Yi's current qualifications, even if he were given the title of Minister of War, it would only be an additional title and it would be impossible for him to actually hold the position of Minister of War.
It's just that after adding it, the status will be higher than before.
When I return to the imperial court in the future and get promoted, I will have support so that I won't build a tall building on the ground.
After listening to Shen Yi's words, Zhao Er, who had already drunk a lot of meat and vegetables, opened his eyes and looked at Shen Yi in a daze, and said with a big tongue: "Qilang, you...now your breath...hiccups...your breath is getting louder and louder...
"
"The Ministry of War...the Minister of the Ministry of War, you all..."
"I can't even look down upon it..."
Mr. Shen couldn't help but laugh: "If you really give me the Minister of War, you will wake up laughing in a dream, but now, it's just a mirror and a mirror."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Sheng's voice suddenly sounded at the door: "Young Master, Young Master!"
Shen Yi frowned, turned around and asked, "What's the matter?"
Jiang Sheng took a deep breath, lowered his head and said, "Urgent report from the Di Bureau, urgent military situation on the front line."
"General Ling also sent a letter."
Shen Yi nodded slowly, stood up, breathed out the smell of alcohol, looked at the two senior brothers, and said: "Two senior brothers, I am on official business, I am going to take a look, you drink first."
"Today's meal was not enough for me. I will finish my official duties another day, and the three of us brothers will have another drink."
Zhang Jian also stood up, returned the salute to Shen Yi, then looked at Zhao Er and said with a smile: "Looking at Jizhou's appearance, I have had a lot of fun today."
Shen Yi laughed.
"Then please trouble me, Senior Brother, and take care of Second Senior Brother."
"I go first."
Zhang Jian nodded.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Master Shen turned around and left the restaurant with Jiang Sheng. Then he got into the carriage and went straight to Lianshui County without returning to the imperial envoy's post.
After Shen Yi left, Zhang Jian patted Zhao Er on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Junior brother, can you still move?"
Zhao Er lay on the table, blew a bubble with his nostrils, and answered Zhang Fuzun's question.
Zhang Jian shook his head helplessly, and was about to order his men to carry Zhao Jizhou away when he suddenly heard someone speaking outside: "Is Mr. Shen from the Ministry of War here?"
Zhang Jian frowned slightly, opened the door and walked out.
As soon as he walked to the door of the restaurant, he saw several eunuchs in blue, surrounded by a eunuch in purple, waiting at the door.
The eunuch in blue was also holding a wooden box in his hand, which was obviously an imperial edict or something like that.
Seeing this, Zhang Jian had sobered up for seven or eight minutes. He stepped forward and cupped his hands and said, "Zhang Jian, the magistrate of Huai'an, may I ask who the angels are?"
The purple-clothed eunuch looked Zhang Jian up and down and said with a smile: "It turns out he is from Prime Minister Zhang's family. I heard that we are having a drink here. Mr. Zhang, where is Mr. Shen?"
Zhang Jian shook his head slightly and said, "Ziheng has urgent military affairs and just left."
The eunuch in purple asked, "Excuse me, Mr. Zhang, where has Mr. Shen gone?"
"I do not know either."
Zhang Jian shook his head and asked, "What are the angels looking for Ziheng for?"
The purple-clothed eunuch turned around, looked at each other with the blue-clothed eunuchs, and then smiled.