It was already noon when I came out of Feng Sihai's home. People were coming and going in the sun-dappled market, and Zhang Yanling and his entourage rode horses slowly in the middle of the bustling street.
Everyone was silent, and their hearts were filled with an unspeakable emotion. Everyone, including Zhang Yanling, was shocked by the old lady of the Feng family. For an ordinary old woman, after her son died on the battlefield, her heart must be
She was extremely sad. But instead of beating her chest and crying, she asked her son if he was brave on the battlefield. What a profound sense of justice that was.
The reason why the Ming Dynasty, after experiencing so many storms and so many changes, although it seems to be corrupt and decaying, still has strong vitality. According to the course of real history, the Ming Dynasty still has more than a hundred years.
What is the most fundamental reason for the continuous expansion of the country?
At this time, Zhang Yanling somewhat understood that the people of the Ming Dynasty were still there, and the fundamentals were still there.
The Ming Dynasty, which broke free from the cruel rule of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, was the only hope for all Chinese people from the beginning. Even after more than a hundred years, even though it broke the hearts of the people again and again and experienced various difficulties,
But the love for Ming Dynasty in the hearts of the people was not completely destroyed.
Loyalty to the Ming Dynasty, fighting bloody battles for the Ming Dynasty, hoping that the Ming Dynasty will become better, and that the court will become better, are still the wishes of most people. There are many people like the old lady of the Feng family who put righteousness first.
This may be the reason why the Ming Dynasty can continue. Perhaps it is also the hope that the Ming Dynasty can rise again.
For an ordinary Ming Dynasty mother to be like this, millions of people in the world still have loyalty to their family and country. This is the most precious wealth of the Ming Dynasty.
For Zhang Yanling, he actually has a feeling of guilt in his heart. This feeling of guilt is not caused by the brothers who died in the battle around him. In fact, Zhang Yanling himself does things with his head in mind. Every time he fights, he
They never backed down and took the lead. They racked their brains in planning and chose the best strategy they could think of to reduce casualties.
On this point, Zhang Yanling has a clear conscience.
Zhang Yanling's guilt actually came from the imperial court, the emperor and the people in power in the Ming Dynasty. How many of them could understand justice like the ordinary Feng mother? Know how to serve the country with loyalty and bravery? What they think about every day is
How many people are really thinking about the interests of the Ming Dynasty and the conspiracy to fight for power and gain? In exchange for the sacrifices of the people, they unscrupulously harmed the Ming Dynasty and hollowed out the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. How infuriating this is.
Its rise is booming, and its demise is sudden.
The prosperity of that dynasty was not caused by the unity of the people and the common struggle of all people?
The reason for their demise is often very simple, that is, they have consumed the people's support and lost their support, leading to rebellion and separation, and ultimately destruction.
As a member of the ruling class of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Yanling saw too much darkness, too much selfishness and darkness. Even the emperor of the Ming Dynasty was so unreliable. They were all poaching themselves.
This makes those soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country and the huge sacrifice of their mothers who dedicated their own flesh and blood for the Ming Dynasty seem so worthless.
This was not the only thing that made Zhang Yanling sigh. In fact, Feng Sihai was not very familiar with Zhang Yanling, and he was not an excellent general. When Zhang Yanling took over Zhenwei Camp, Feng Sihai was still the thorn in the side who challenged his majesty.
But although Feng Sihai was reckless, he was never ambiguous in fighting. Although he had no plans, he fought extremely bravely. He was never timid or afraid of the enemy. He was not a good general, but he was a qualified warrior of the Ming Dynasty.
I didn't really have much time to deal with him, and I didn't know much about his family situation. Zhang Yanling never thought that he lived in such poverty, living in a poor place like Chongnanfang. Of course, this was because he was not born in the capital.
, it was entirely related to being transferred to the Beijing camp based on military merit.
The capital has no roots, no bottom, no industry. Although he was the commander-in-chief of the capital camp before, in fact, the reward for a small commander was not much. He was also generous and loved to drink with his soldiers, and half of his military salary was spent on
On top of the wine, the rest is just enough to support the family.
A family of five lived in such a place and lived a poor life, but they never heard him talk about it or saw him complain. When the Zhenwei Camp was purged, there was no finding out that he had embezzled soldiers' pay.
.It shows that Feng Sihai is still very upright.
It's no wonder that he has such a mother, who will naturally give him many correct influences since he was a child. It is reasonable that he can uphold his integrity.
Just now, when Zhang Yanling asked Feng's mother and the Feng family's wife what they wanted, Feng's mother said that she wanted nothing. In addition to the pension money given by the court, she refused Zhang Yanling's personal pension of 300 taels of silver.
Feng's mother said that the pension money given by the court was obtained by her son's life, and it was in line with the rules. She could accept it. But she could not take the money from the father-in-law. She said that Feng Sihai could not make an exception because it would cost others to die in battle.
What the man would think would cause dissatisfaction. She couldn't do that.
Feng's mother made her only request, which was to let Zhang Yanling see if her grandson Feng Gang was qualified to serve as a soldier. She said that this child was just like Feng Sihai when he was a child. He didn't like to study, but liked to dance with guns and sticks.
Being a soldier may be a way out, but not being a soldier may lead to a wrong path in the future.
Feng's mother said that it would be her greatest joy if Feng Gang could become an adult. At the same time, it would be the right path for a son to inherit his father's legacy and protect his family and country.
Zhang Yanling didn't say anything at that time. Such a woman who understands justice is really touching. But Zhang Yanling hesitated about Feng Gang joining the army.
Feng Sihai did not want his son to be a soldier. He wanted him to study and become an official. If he agreed to Feng's mother, wouldn't it be a violation of Feng Sihai's last wish? Feng Sihai only had a son and a daughter. What if his son became a soldier again?
How can you feel at ease if you encounter an accident?
Zhang Yanling expressed her worries, but Feng's mother said that Feng Sihai was not against her son becoming a soldier. In fact, before leaving the Ming Dynasty, Feng Sihai had already discussed with the old lady and his wife about giving Feng Gang a way out.
Feng Sihai knew that his son had no hope of studying, so he consulted his mother and wife at home and wanted to find a way to let Feng Gang join the Beijing camp as a soldier. In this way, he might be able to find a way out.
Feng Sihai also specially leveled the ground at the door and prepared strength training tools such as stone locks and hammers. In fact, he let Feng Gang exercise his strength and body by himself. Of course, he hoped that his son could study and become an official. That was the expectation of parents all over the world.
It's the same thing. But Feng Gang is obviously not a student, and he knows it.
After Zhang Yanling heard this, he dispelled his doubts. He immediately decided to ask Feng Gang to prepare at home for a few days, and then report to his staff in a few days. He came to Zhang Yanling's side as a personal guard. Although Feng Gang was still young, he had to run errands.
Horses can still do things like this.
Letting Feng Gang follow him as a personal guard, he can protect the flesh and blood of the Feng family, which is the only thing Zhang Yanling can do for Feng Sihai.
Before leaving, Feng's mother and Feng Sihai's wife sent him out with a lot of thanks. In fact, what Zhang Yanling was thinking in her heart was: It was they who the court should thank. They were the good men who had been raised through hard work and were sent to the military to protect them.
Defending the family and the country is such a righteous thing.
In the market, the crowds were surging and the prosperity was peaceful. Zhang Yanling looked at all this and thought about the Feng family, and his belief became stronger. Destiny sent him here, and he must do something for this era and contribute to the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.
What can tens of thousands of people like the Feng family do? Let the blood of their sons and husbands not be shed in vain, so that their loyalty and hope for the Ming Dynasty will not be in vain or disappointed.
Even if there are not many officials in the entire court who are truly like-minded and can really think about working hard for the revitalization of the Ming Dynasty, they must go all out. They must be worthy of the people of the world, parents and wives of the world.
"Mr. Meng." Zhang Yanling broke the silence and said in a deep voice.
"I have a humble duty, what are your orders, sir?" Meng Liang, who was riding on the left side, said with his hands raised.
"General Feng's family, I would like to ask you to send more people to take care of it. General Feng died for the country, and his wife, daughter and mother must be taken care of. Don't bother us too much. Send people to take a look every now and then and buy some."
Rice, flour, food, and other daily necessities were brought. The imperial pension was limited, and if the family wanted to survive, the pension of more than a hundred taels was not enough." Zhang Yanling said.
"I understand, I will arrange this matter." Meng Liang cupped his hands and said.
Zhang Yanling said: "Not only General Feng, many of the soldiers who accompanied me on this expedition were killed and injured, and they all need to be taken care of. We can't let the soldiers' hearts go cold. This is also my promise to them. These things must be resolved together."
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Meng Liang nodded, but thought a little.
Zhang Yanling said: "You don't have to worry about money. I decided to use one hundred thousand taels of silver as the cost of taking care of their family. I will continue to add more later. Let's do this, Mr. Meng, you organize and set up a special department to care for the fallen soldiers."
Logistics Division for Families and Wounded Soldiers,
As a special organization of the Zhenwei Battalion, we select some personnel to do this. We must take good care of these people. In addition, we can also check the situation of the families of the military lieutenants, and those who are particularly poor can also be included. In short, we must
Let the soldiers feel at ease and have no worries. Do you understand?"
Meng Liang said happily: "This is great. My father-in-law cherishes his subordinates and sympathizes with the officers and soldiers. This is the blessing of the officers and soldiers. I will definitely handle things properly if I am in a humble position."
Zhang Yanling sighed and said: "What is their blessing? It is our Ming Dynasty that there are so many warriors like General Feng and others, and people like the old lady and madam of the Feng family who understand the righteousness and selfless dedication, this is what we call luck."
What a blessing."
Meng Liang nodded slowly, deeply convinced.
"Look at the men and women on this street, the thousands of people. How can they live in peace? Why can they work happily? Aren't they protected by the soldiers and horses of the Ming Dynasty? The status of the soldiers must be improved, and they must be made to feel that their efforts are worthwhile.
What is valuable cannot chill the hearts of the soldiers." Zhang Yanling said solemnly.
"My father-in-law has taken this as a warning, and I, my subordinates, should take this seriously." Meng Liang, Chen Shi, and the others said in unison, cupping their hands.