The scorching sun was beating down at noon, and the Ming army marched north despite the heat. Fortunately, there were trees along the way to provide shade and a river for drinking and washing. They walked leisurely.
Li Yan's generals Qin Songwang and Jin Wuwei commanded Dong Haicheng as a vanguard, each with a thousand and five soldiers and horses, leading the main force one step ahead of the Qing army's rear 20 miles behind to monitor.
Huang Degong spent a tormented night without enough sleep and couldn't muster his energy. He was shirtless, wiping sweat and cursing non-stop. Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore and got into the little eunuch's carriage on the pretext of discussing important matters. Then he left without saying a few words.
Woke up soundly and sound asleep.
Chang Yu had no choice but to send the little Taoist boy to Li Yan's car, then got off his horse and chatted with Zhou Yuji about the march.
As for Tianjin Weishi, it was already evening, and Xiang Minxin had been waiting outside the city for a long time: "I respectfully welcome the factory governor, please come into the city."
Chang Yu looked around with a calm expression: "Everyone is gone?"
"I've been gone for three days." Xiang Minxin looked a little nervous.
Chang Yu nodded: "The military affairs are busy, so I will not enter the city. By the way, I heard that two distinguished guests from Tianjin Guard came a few days ago. Where are they now?"
"I'm leaving too," Xiang Minxin said quickly. Chang Yu couldn't help laughing and scolding: "You're just messing around." He turned around and was about to leave, but was stopped by Xiang Minxin again: "Factory Supervisor, I have prepared some food for you.
I’ll give you something to eat on the way.” He turned around and took a lunch box from a soldier.
Chang Yu winked curiously. Chen Ruxin next to him took the lunch box and opened it. It was red and yellow, and there were more than ten gold ingots. He couldn't help but get angry: "How dare you insult me!"
"Don't dare to do it if you are in a humble position, if you are in a humble position, if you are in a humble position..." Xiang Min was horrified, thinking that there were too few young eunuchs.
"Presumptuous" Chang Yu's face turned dark, and he pointed at Xiang Minxin and cursed: "My supervisor wanted you to ignore the issue of free wages and keep you on probation. Unexpectedly, your scars have healed and you have forgotten the pain. I insist on my supervision."
you!"
"Factory Supervisor, calm down!" Xiang Min's heart thumped with fright and he knelt down: "You are a humble official, please obey the teachings and do no more disorderly behavior!"
"Corruption and bribery are against the law and discipline, and giving bribes is also a serious crime. I, the Governor of Tongdongchang, are ordered to investigate and fight corruption. How can I violate the law and break the law? What are you doing to insult me?" Chang Yu scolded, and Xiang Minxin was frightened.
Kneel down and beg for mercy.
"Lord Governor, Sir Xiang has good intentions...please be noble and let him go!" Upon seeing this, Xiang Minxin's followers knelt down and begged him for mercy.
Chang Yu snorted coldly, but he also knew that the current situation should not go too far as it could easily trigger military rebellion, so he said: "I will give you another chance. If you do it again, you will know Dongchang's methods!"
Xiang Minxin was grateful and repeatedly said yes, so Chang Yu asked you to stand up and speak, and ordered him to atone for his sins: take back all the baggage thrown away by the Qing army and keep it, and return it to the refugees if appropriate!
Xiang Minxin was overjoyed and agreed. Having a job means that he has kept his military position. Using you means that you are useful. Moreover, this guy really listened to the little eunuch's warning and will never do anything corrupt in the rest of his life. He will be clean and honest.
Being famous actually became a role model in the military, this is all an afterthought.
Chang Yu asked for some supplies and then led his guards to leave Tianjin Guard to join Li Yan. On the way, Chen Suole seemed a little confused: "Factory Master, does it count as bribery if you give a gift to the emperor?"
"No, that's called tribute!" Chang Yu glanced at him and joked: "What? Are you going to give the emperor a gift and seek a high official position?"
"You can get it, the emperor doesn't like the lowly position of a servant, and it would be better to give it to the emperor than to you, the factory supervisor, because that way the lowly position will be promoted faster."
"Hey, it's okay to say this in front of your own family. Don't talk nonsense to outsiders. It's easy for the factory supervisor to confirm it." It must be said that Qiaoshan people are always steady. Chen Suole nodded quickly: "It's natural for outsiders.
unspeakable”.
"Mr. Factory, what are the differences between giving gifts and giving bribes? For example, if I give you a gift during the holidays, is that also a bribe?" Chen Ruxin frowned at the side.
Chang Yu's answer was very direct and candid: "There are two ways to distinguish it. First, the gift is too valuable, utilitarian and has interests. This is bribery. Second, if Dongchang says it is a bribe, it is a bribe and it is a gift.
Give gifts".
The guards all said "Oh" and everyone understood. Qiao Sanxiu smiled and wanted to say something but didn't say anything.
Li Yan's main force rested on the banks of the Grand Canal ten miles north of Tianjin, while the grain and grass supplies were still crossing the river at the rear. Qin Songwang sent people to report in front, and the Tatars camped a few miles northwest of Wuqing County.
Wuqing County was razed to the ground by the Qing army when they marched south. Perhaps Dorgon did not camp here because of a guilty conscience.
There was an unknown small village by the river that was deserted. Outside the village, Li Yan rested and had nothing to do, watching the generals gambling for money. It was already dusk when Chang Yu arrived. After asking about the situation of the Qing troops ahead, he ordered a fire to be made for cooking.
"Will the Tatars travel all night tonight?" Huang Degong, who was full of energy after waking up and was having fun with Tu Yuan and a group of generals, asked casually.
Chang Yu took out a few taels of broken silver from his arms and threw it into the middle: "If they don't leave, are you going to toss again at night?" He picked up the dice in the bowl and started to throw them.
"I don't understand what the governor said," Huang Degong chuckled, grabbing Chang Yu's hand and said, "We'll start with a big game, and the governor will add more."
Damn, what a rich man! Chang Yu cursed and picked up his money: "I won't play anymore."
"No, the governor is so stingy now," Huang Degong and others shouted.
Hey, Chang Yu sighed: "A big family has to spend money everywhere. Nowadays, the landlords don't have much food left. It's not like you who have military exploits and riches." He picked up the little Taoist boy and walked towards the river: "Little
If children don’t learn well, they will just join in the fun.”
"Brother, high official, isn't it good to gamble money? My master said that you can learn everything when you travel around the world, and you don't have to worry about being too many."
Chang Yu was startled, then smiled bitterly and said: "Chunfeng, you will be the successor of the orthodox Taoist mantle in the future, and you cannot be like your master."
"What's wrong with my master?" The little Taoist boy stared with big eyes and was very curious. Chang Yu looked back and saw Li Muxian yelling over there, "He is just... selling dog meat in sheep's clothing."
"The master said that dog meat is very fragrant...and the most delicious is the yellow dog. The master also said that the black wolf nourishes two wolves, so the wolf meat is also very fragrant..." The little Taoist boy said, licking his mouth, and his mouth watered.
After reading a lot, Chang Yu sighed and shook his head, feeling very worried about the future of the little Taoist boy. He also wondered whether the yellow dog Li Muxian mentioned had something to do with Huang Degong.
As dusk falls, the Ming army camp is brightly lit. Soldiers are eating, drinking or having fun. Chang Yu and Xiao Daotong are opening a small stove by the river. Fresh river fish are caught and roasted. The aroma is full of them. Li Yan and Wu Weiying are also attracted, and then more and more are attracted.
.
The camp of the Qing army in the northwest of Wuqing County had a bonfire going on all day long, and they were really busy making fires and cooking. In Dorgon's commander's tent by the river, the generals gathered here, and they were discussing a major matter.
That's right, Dorgon's mind is alive again, and he's not the only one.
The Ming court's troops in the capital area were already empty, so when the Qing army entered the pass, the Ming court hurriedly mobilized troops to serve the king. The few eunuchs had to give up on Li Zicheng and hurried north to Beijing, and then mobilized the army to go south to pursue the Qing army. It can be said that
All the soldiers and horses in the capital were mobilized.
At present, the little eunuch's 70,000 to 80,000 infantry and cavalry are at the boundary of Tianjin Guards. Does that mean that the gates of the capital are now ajar and unguarded?
Taking advantage of the opportunity to attack the Ming Dynasty capital again?
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