The three surnames have a journey of more than 200 miles to Ninggu Pagoda. Fortunately, each generation has attached great importance to the three surnames, so they have built official roads and maintained them well. Most of the areas are paved with green strips of stone. A few areas were a bit muddy, so even though it was winter, except for the snow and ice, the journey was flat and not too difficult. [] Twelve people and twenty-four fast horses walked for three days before they could see the towering tower in the distance. In the distance is the city wall of Ninggu Pagoda. This is the first time for Zhao Qiang to see Ninggu Pagoda, a famous important town in the Qing Dynasty. He couldn't help but stare at it for a long time, feeling a lot of emotion in his heart. After feeling this, he rushed to the city gate first. .
Ningguta was an important Manchu town after Shengjing outside the customs. It was extremely well-defended. General Ningguta's office was stationed there, so the inspection of vehicles and horses entering and leaving the city was naturally much tighter than in other places. Zhao Qiang and the others arrived at the city gate. At that moment, several Qing soldiers came over vigilantly, shouting at them to dismount and undergo interrogation. Zhao Qiang and the others hurriedly dismounted and led the horses aside so that the carriages and horses leaving the city could pass.
The person who dealt with him all the way was Deqiu. He was from Sauron. He was not easily suspicious in terms of words or behavior. He also looked very smooth. He looked very much like a shopkeeper who was out on business, so all big and small matters were handled by him. Come forward to deal with it. In fact, Deqiu actually surrendered his troops. Before joining the Guanning Army, he served as a soldier in the Zhenghongqi Sauron Camp that was annihilated in Tu'erling. However, Zhao Qiang, like the other eleven trustworthy people, also treated Deqiu. I have a lot of trust and never worry that he will betray me, otherwise I wouldn't choose him to accompany me.
In fact, because the process of building the Guan Ning Army was from small to large, from weak to strong, and in constant battles, they used prisoners and forcibly recruited strong men to enrich themselves. Therefore, many of the Qing troops who were captured in Tuerling are now also He served as a low-level officer in the Guan Ning Army. These prisoners of the Qing Army were originally cannon fodder in the Qing Army. After joining the Guan Ning Army, they enjoyed the dividends of the war, especially the first group of people to surrender and be captured. Their interests They have been firmly tied to Guan Ning's army. What's more, these people are not bannermen. Faced with the wealth they have obtained or going back to continue to be cannon fodder, the choice is obvious.
After the reorganization of the division, Zhao Qiang's guard was reduced from the original two hundred to one hundred, but its combat effectiveness and loyalty have reached a higher level. Being able to join the general's guard is more exciting to the soldiers than being able to join the cavalry division. Everyone. We know that He Manchuan, the current commander of the Guards Division, was born as a general guard, and the other three guards, Chen Wei, Yan Qian, and Xu Ping, are now in important positions and have unlimited futures. Therefore, those who join Zhao Qiang's Guards These one hundred soldiers are even more eager for their own future. There is a saying in the Guards: "I would rather be a disciple of the commander-in-chief than a flag bearer in the division below." This flag bearer is not good at all. It is another name for Xiaoqi officer, which can also show the attraction of Zhao Qiang Guards to the soldiers.
Under the dual influence of wealth and future, and being a traitor to the Qing army, whether it was Deqiu or the others accompanying him, there was absolutely no reason to betray Zhao Qiang unless it was a life-or-death situation. Of course, there is no reason to harm others. You must not be cautious and guard against others. This trip south must be of great importance. His own safety affects the revival of the entire Guan Ning Army and the Han people. Therefore, Zhao Qiang cannot be unprepared. This is actually the case with the twelve accompanying guards. You can choose. Basically, these twelve people come from different tribes, and they also come from different time periods and join the army. They have no blood or family relationship with each other. They all belong to separate individuals. No matter which one wants to act alone, there must be another person. Accompaniment cuts off the possibility of informing. But this arrangement is only known to Zhao Qiang himself, and it is impossible for the guards to know. Suspects are not used, and employees are not suspicious. Since they have been selected, there is no reason to treat others as thieves. The worst arrangement It will only manifest itself at the worst time, but Zhao Qiang hopes that this worst-case arrangement will never come into play.
Facing the cross-examination of several Qing soldiers, Deqiu dealt with it skillfully. From time to time, he even got close to two Sauron soldiers. In the end, he obediently gave a few taels of silver to the leading Qing soldier, and then followed the Qing soldiers.
The soldiers entered the city calmly with laughter. During the whole process, Zhao Qiang and the two Han guards did not say a word, only lowered their heads and acted respectfully. Zhao Qiang and Deqiu had explained it beforehand. If anyone questioned them,
He, just say he is mute. The two Han guards need to worry, because they grew up outside the pass and have many contacts with the surrounding tribes, so they know some languages of various ethnic groups, and they can even speak a few words in Manchurian.
, so there is no need to worry about being questioned, so many people only care about Zhao Qiang. In view of this, Zhao Qiang is also very self-aware and always behaves very low-key all the way. Even when there are no outsiders, he doesn't speak much.
After successfully entering the city without any delay, Deqiu asked the Qing troops at the city gate and found out that the Dutong Yamen was in the west of the city, so he went straight to the west of the city in order to clear the road as soon as possible so that he could quickly go to Shengjing.
Time was limited, and Zhao Qiang did not want to waste time on the road. Moreover, there were many old Wu army troops in Ninggu Pagoda. He was also afraid of getting into trouble if he was recognized by someone he knew well.
When we arrived at the Dutong Yamen, the gate was still open, and people were coming in and out from time to time. The government offices outside the Guan were all Eight Banners Yamen, which were not like the Yamen inside the Guan, nor did they have as many rules as the inner Yamen. So Deqiu took the two of them to the concierge.
After announcing that they were here to provide guidance, the servant who was the porter glanced sideways, then pointed to a room behind the porter and next to the Yamen gate, and said: "You guys are here just in time, Mr. Gui Wu is just in time."
Here, he will approve the road guidance, so you can go ahead." Gui Wuye at the gate is Gui Xiang, a pen-posting person from the Dutong Yamen who specializes in road guidance.
“Thank you so much!”
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and Deqiu stuffed two taels of silver into the porter's hand with a smile on his face. The porter was not polite and put it away with a smile, then he said haha and asked Deqiu to pass. Deqiu looked at Zhao Qiang to signal.
Next, Zhao Qiang glanced around, nodded slightly and told him to do it now, while he and the other guards stayed there honestly, not daring to go anywhere.
After Deqiu went in for about half an hour, he still didn't come out. Zhao Qiang was a little worried. He didn't know what the procedures were for applying for a road introduction, so he was a little uneasy. He was afraid that the official who handled the road introduction would not give Deqiu a way to lead the way, which would make it difficult to enter the customs.
Trouble. Just as he was panicking, he saw three people walking down the street on the right, all dressed as officials. Zhao Qiang was heartbroken and quickly signaled to the guards to be careful. He quietly took two steps back, half-hiding.
Mongolian guard Situ behind.
The three officials were chatting and laughing all the way to the Dutong Yamen. The three of them were one thin and two fat, which made people laugh from a distance. The three seemed to have just returned from drinking in a restaurant, and they had not arrived nearby.
Then they smelled the strong smell of alcohol emanating from the three bodies, and a fat man kept burping, looking very satisfied.
The three of them all talked in Manchu when they were joking, so Zhao Qiang couldn't understand what the three of them were saying, but the three of them looked like they were telling some nonsensical jokes, otherwise the three of them wouldn't look like men.
The guards had an expression that they understood immediately. The guards held their horses and stood there obediently, not daring to look directly at the three officials. When the three officials approached, they noticed that there were so many people and horses parked outside the door of the Yamen.
, slightly stunned, the three of them paused for a moment, thinking that some official was coming. When they saw that they were just struggling to get dressed, they smiled at each other and ignored them, and just went into the Yamen. The concierge saw these three.
He was an official, but he didn't care much. He just sat there warming himself in the hot pot and didn't come out to say hello or anything.
Zhao Qiang was half-hidden behind the guards and deliberately avoided seeing the three people, so he didn't know what the three of them looked like. When he saw that the three of them had reached the door of the yamen, he boldly took a glance, but this glance was heart-warming.
He jumped, fearing that he was wrong, and opened his eyes carefully again, and then confirmed that the thin man of the three officials was Guo Mul, who was let go by him in Sandaotun.
At this time, Guo Mule was still wearing the uniform of an assistant, but he didn't notice Zhao Qiang hiding behind the people. He was minding his own business with his two companions to step up the steps at the door of the Yamen. Unexpectedly, he slipped and a
He somersaulted and fell forward. The two fat men saw him and rushed to pull him. Fortunately, they pulled him in time. Guo Muler did not fall. He smiled and cursed the steps, while signaling that he was out of the way and his companions had to help him again.
He shook his body casually, twisted his head, and then half-turned, trying to hug the fat official on the left. However, as soon as he stretched out his hand, he froze there, with a pair of eyes staring straight at the rear left, his face filled with tears.