The next morning, all the monarchs and ministers were a little uneasy. Even Zhu Houzhao was looking forward to Zhang Yanling's return. During Zhang Yanling's absence for a year and a half, Zhu Houzhao often thought of his uncle. He missed Zhang Yanling very much in his heart. .
Not only because of the blood relationship between mother and uncle, but because deep down I feel that Zhang Yanling will feel a strange sense of security in the court. I always feel that even if something big happens, my uncle can handle it. Besides, Zhang Yanling It is really about giving up a comfortable life and running to fight with all your might. In the final analysis, it is not for your own country and country.
When Zhang Yin came back, Zhu Houzhao asked many details about the battle in Nanyang. He was nervous and worried, but also relaxed and fascinated. Perhaps even Zhu Houzhao himself was unwilling to admit that deep in his heart, his uncle had become a to some extent. His idol and reliance.
Zhu Houzhao's expectations were actually visible to everyone. Although the emperor pretended to be calm, his frequent inquiries about the time and news about the navy ships sent out on the river showed that he was very excited.
It didn't matter to the others. After all, it was the friendship between the emperor and the protector. It was the relationship between the emperor and his ministers, and the relationship between uncle and nephew. It was a normal behavior. But when Jiang Bin saw it, he felt very unhappy in his heart. He felt very unhappy about it. The emperor was loyal and tried every means to make him happy. But now it seems that in the emperor's mind, I am probably not as good as the Protector of the Country. This is somewhat frustrating and irritating.
At noon, Zhu Houzhao refused to eat and only drank two sips of soup. Jiang Bin thought that Zhu Houzhao did not like the food and asked if he wanted to eat again. However, Zhu Houzhao said: "The Lord Protector will be here soon. They must not have eaten. I will wait for him." Let’s eat together and help him catch the wind and wash away the dust.”
Jiang Bin pinched his nose and retreated speechlessly, cursing in his stomach.
The emperor didn't want to eat, and naturally the ministers couldn't eat either. Everyone was hungry and waiting in the lobby of the Jiujiang magistrate's office. Fortunately, they didn't wait long when they saw Zhang Zhong, who was looking at the pier outside Jiujiang City, rushing over and standing at the door of the lobby. shouted loudly.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Lord Protector and others are here. Their boat will soon arrive at the riverside dock."
Zhu Houzhao was overjoyed when he heard this. He jumped up and shouted loudly: "Get your horses ready, I will go to meet the Protector in person."
The carriages and horses were actually ready, and everyone mounted their horses and galloped out of the north city gate, arriving at the pier by the river. Everyone gathered around Zhu Houzhao and came to the stone steps by the pier. Everyone raised their eyes and looked towards the river, only to see the wide, sparkling river. , a large ship in the distance is sailing in the east wind with its sails raised high.
The big ship has a high animal head and the Ming Dynasty dragon flag is flying on the ship. It is very majestic and heroic.
Under the eager eyes of everyone, the Xingchen sailed upstream and approached the dock. At the bow railing, Zhang Yanling stood on the deck dressed in black armor and a hunting cloak, with a posture as tall as a pine tree.
The ship docked at the pier, and Zhang Yanling and several generals strode down from the springboard and walked toward Zhu Houzhao and others. Zhu Houzhao greeted him excitedly and said with a big smile: "Uncle, I'm here to welcome you on your triumphant return. Ha." Ha ha."
Zhang Yanling stepped forward and knelt down to salute, shouting: "I, Zhang Yanling, have come to kowtow to the Emperor. The Emperor welcomes you, but I feel ashamed and do not dare to do so."
Behind him, Chen Shiyi, Huo Shijian and other generals also knelt down and kowtowed, shouting long live.
Zhu Houzhao stepped forward to help him, and said with a smile: "Uncle, it's right for me to come to pick you up. After hearing the news of your triumphant return, I haven't slept well in the past two days, and I can't eat. You are back."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. How is Your Majesty's dragon body? How is Her Majesty's health?"
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said: "I am in good health, but I have been unhappy recently. I was made trouble by Zhu Chenhao. My mother is also in good health. When I left the capital, she even said that maybe my uncle would come back.
She really taught her how to talk."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said with a smile: "That's good. I'd like to ask the Queen Mother and the Emperor to miss you."
Zhu Houzhao nodded repeatedly, his joy uncontrollable. Zhang Yanling turned around and saw the smiling Wang Shouren, raised his hands and saluted, "Master Wang, you are here too."
Wang Shouren smiled and said: "When I heard that the Lord Protector had returned in triumph, how could I not welcome him here? After so many years, the Lord Protector's demeanor remains the same."
Zhang Yanling laughed and said: "Mr. Wang is very old-fashioned. He is not very old. How can he wear a black robe? Do you want to be a master?"
Wang Shouren chuckled and said: "Xiaguan has passed his thirties and is already old. How can he compare with the Protector of the Country? He is still a handsome young man."
Zhang Yanling laughed and said: "Pretty boy? Don't belittle me. Mr. Wang was not so glib before. Why is he so glib now?"
Wang Shouren chuckled and said, "We haven't eaten yet, where's the greasiness coming from?"
Zhang Yanling laughed endlessly, and Wang Shouren also laughed. Jiang Bin stood aside and thought to himself: What's so funny? These two people are so unscrupulous, and this is in front of the emperor.
Zhang Yin stepped forward and saluted and said: "Zhang Yin, a humble official, has seen the Lord Protector."
Zhang Yanling returned the salute and nodded: "I have heard about the situation. Mr. Zhang, you did a good job. You resisted the advance of the rebels, very good. It helped Mr. Wang's plan."
Zhang Yin said solemnly: "Thank you for the compliment, sir. I feel ashamed of my humble position and made many mistakes. I almost frightened the emperor. Please punish me, sir."
Zhang Yanling knew that he was referring to the incident where an armored ship was burned by a sneak attack. Just as he was about to speak, Wang Shouren laughed and said: "It's already very good. Commander Zhang only used a few main warships to block Zhu Chenhao's naval attack.
, I didn’t let them get close to me for more than 20 days.
At the Battle of Poyang Lake under Nanjing City, I was stunned. The power of the armored warships and artillery was staggering, and the tactics were extremely overbearing and brutal. It was really hearty. If Commander Zhang hadn't helped me
, the situation is not optimistic."
Zhang Yanling was about to answer when he saw Zhu Houzhao standing aside looking a little embarrassed. He realized that he was chatting too much with Wang Shouren and others, and that the emperor was the protagonist.
"Your Majesty is wise and mighty, and brings great blessings to the heavens. God also protects our Ming Dynasty. Although there are traitors who rebel, they will not escape destruction after all. It is gratifying and congratulatory. Congratulations to the Emperor, congratulations to the Emperor." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
Zhu Houzhao nodded with a smile, and someone on the side laughed and said: "Duke Protector, the rebels are not dead yet. The emperor's personal expedition this time is to completely wipe out the rebels to prevent any mistakes. The Lord Protector is back, it's just the right time.
He also made plans to help the emperor capture Nanchang Mansion and capture the traitor Zhu Chenhao alive. Let the world know that I, the Ming Emperor, have great martial virtues and no one can match him."
Zhang Yanling turned around and saw Jiang Bin's smiling face.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Master Jiang is right. Master Jiang has become whiter and fatter, and I almost didn't recognize you. I remember you don't have a black face? Why? Have you applied powder? Why are you so white?"
Jiang Bin was stunned, realizing that Zhang Yanling was ridiculing him, smacking his lips and saying: "How can this happen?"
Zhu Houzhao said loudly: "Uncle, come into the city. The banquet has been laid out and I'm waiting for you to arrive. I haven't even eaten yet."
Wang Shouren laughed and said: "Yes, in order to wait for the Lord Protector's triumphant return and to take care of the Lord Protector, the Emperor hasn't had lunch yet, and we are all hungry. Lord Protector, please don't let us suffer.
Hungry."
Zhang Yanling bowed to Zhu Houzhao and said, "I would like to thank you for your kindness. I am so grateful that I shed tears of gratitude."
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "Why are you so polite? My stomach is growling now."
Zhang Yanling nodded with a smile and ordered Chen Shi: "Send the order and let the soldiers disembark into the city to have a rest and have a good meal."
Chen Shi bowed in agreement and gave an order. Hundreds of soldiers on board the Xingchen lined up to disembark, pulled out their war horses, mounted them and lined up.
"The soldiers and horses brought out by the Duke are indeed different. They are admirable." Wang Shouren looked at the cavalry in formation and stroked their beards and praised them.
Zhu Houzhao originally mounted his horse and was about to leave, but after hearing this, he turned around and looked. He saw that the hundreds of cavalrymen coming off the boat were indeed different from the soldiers and horses of the Han generals lined up beside them.
In terms of armor, horses and stature, they couldn't compare with the Han general's cavalry.
The armor they wear is ordinary black mail, and the bright yellow armor of the Han General Camp is gorgeous and eye-catching. Their mounts are just ordinary war horses. The mounts of the General Han Camp are all tall horses. The guards of the General Han Camp all sit on
Looking at the horse to show power, looking like a fierce god
They were like evil spirits. However, the cavalrymen who came off the Star were sitting like dead trees, looking peaceful and quiet. If the soldiers in the Han General's camp were like a group of rich kids in the city, then this group of soldiers were like
He is a country boy who has just arrived in the city. He seems reserved and quiet.
But the difference that Zhu Houzhao felt was not based on these appearances. It seemed that the Han general camp was more powerful and majestic, but he always felt that there was an indescribable difference compared to the soldiers brought by Zhang Yanling.
"What's the difference?" Zhu Houzhao asked.
"The aura of killing. The aura of killing after experiencing hundreds of battles." Wang Shouren replied.
Zhu Houzhao nodded slowly, and Wang Shouren revealed the secret. Indeed, although the soldiers were ordinary in equipment, average in stature, and the horses were not strong enough, they even seemed a little restrained. However, their temperament was solemn and solemn, like a stick standing on a handle.
Knife on horse.
"Hahaha, what's the difference? They have been away from Daming for too long, and they are not used to going home." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
…
In the lobby of the government office, a banquet was laid out with a sumptuous feast of wine and delicacies. Zhang Yanling sat next to Zhu Houzhao, Wang Shouren, Zhang Yin, Chen Shi and others sat in sequence.
The waiter poured the wine, and Zhu Houzhao raised his glass to Zhang Yanling and said, "I would like to toast my uncle. He returns in triumph and lives up to his expectations. I am very happy."
Zhang Yanling thanked her, raised her glass, drank it all, and praised: "Qiu Lu Bai, I finally drank Qiu Lu Bai again. The Qiu Lu Bai from our Ming Dynasty is still delicious. The wine from Nanyang is simply incomparable."
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said: "When you return to Beijing, I will reward you with a hundred jars and treat your uncle to drink as much as you can."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "I remember, the emperor's golden words cannot be broken."
Everyone laughed. They were at the same table as Zhu Houzhao, who was very reserved at first, but seeing the Duke Protector and the Emperor chatting and laughing, they relaxed a little. For a while, everyone raised their glasses and toasted. They were a little cautious at first, but after five or six glasses of wine,
The atmosphere immediately became lively.
Zhu Houzhao began to ask Zhang Yanling about his combat process and experiences over the past year and a half. Although Zhu Houzhao had already been reported on many things and was basically aware of them, after all, it was only a general process, so he wanted to know the details.
Naturally, Zhang Yanling told the truth. Everyone drank and ate while listening to Zhang Yanling describe the battle process. Zhang Yanling was already very eloquent, but his experience of going to sea to fight was also very tortuous. Therefore, the description was even more exciting and thrilling.
Especially the battle for the Malacca Strait and the port, as well as the final battle at Guri Port, made everyone dumbfounded and amazed.
Five hundred soldiers flew into Guli City to fight tens of thousands of enemy troops. The central castle was burned down and the Folangji people rescued the siege. Feng Mazi and a ship full of soldiers sank the enemy ship and died heroically. The Battle of the Strait wiped out the Folangji Eastern Fleet in one fell swoop.
Zhu Houzhao and others were dumbfounded after hearing these tragic and bloody battles.
If Zhang Yanling had not told these battles personally, no one would have believed that this was true. Precisely because these are Zhang Yanling's real battle experiences, it makes people feel even more incredible and excited.