Emperor Zhengde of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Houzhao, and his party were still hunting in the mountains of the Yanshan Mountains while heading north very slowly.
There was no trace of the Tatar team. After a half-day search with no results, Zhu Houzhao himself gave up on this unrealistic idea. After all, searching for dozens of Tatar soldiers in the high mountains was simply a waste of effort.
Although Zhang Yanling couldn't let go of the Tatars that appeared nearby in this small group and felt that this was a hidden worry, he had no way to find them and could only send more peripheral personnel to search and explore to ensure that this group of Tatars did not
Will follow and watch nearby.
Of course, it is not that Zhang Yanling did not try again to persuade Zhu Houzhao not to go north again, or at least not to go north as planned. Maybe he could turn around and go west to inspect the several prefectural city guards in Xuanfu Town where the most troops are concentrated.
.
However, Zhu Houzhao was noncommittal and turned a deaf ear to Zhang Yanling's persuasion. Zhu Houzhao would become bored and dissatisfied if he talked too much. Zhang Yanling asked Liu Jin to give the emperor a blowjob, but Liu Jin did not cooperate.
Since leaving Beijing, Zhang Yanling has clearly felt Liu Jin's rejection of her. It's fine that her own personnel cannot get close to Zhu Houzhao, which is in line with the rules. However, this behavior somewhat reveals Liu Jin's rejection. Zhang Yanling can feel it,
Liu Jin was probably worried that she would get too close to the emperor during this trip.
That would lower his status in the emperor's mind. He wanted to use this border patrol to completely become the emperor's indispensable and absolute support. Naturally, he would not let others mess with his affairs. That day at Longmen
Therefore, Liu Jin deliberately concealed the news of the Tatar night attack from Zhu Houzhao, probably because of this psychological manifestation.
Zhang Yanling did not want to cause internal disharmony at this time. There were not many troops accompanying him during this border patrol, and he was heading to a dangerous place on the border. Zhang Yanling just wanted to complete the trip safely. Since there was no
The only way to dissuade him is to do everything he can and hope that the things he worries about won't happen.
The troops went all the way north and arrived at Yunzhou Fort on the border three days later. Yunzhou Fort is one of the three northernmost military forts and is stationed on the side of a river called Dushishui. It is said to be a military fort, but in fact there are only more than 300 people.
Stationed, their task is to protect a stone bridge over the river. This stone bridge is the only way to ensure military supplies and troops to reinforce the northernmost military fort.
The troops stayed at Yunzhou Fort for one night and continued northward the next day. After passing Yunzhou Fort, they officially entered the forefront border area northeast of Xuanfu Town of the Ming Dynasty.
After another day's journey, we arrived at Banbidian Fort. Then, under the escort of Pan Anping, a Qianhu of Banbidian Fort, we arrived at the last Zhongxing Walled Fort in the northernmost part of the Ming Dynasty at noon the next day, named Dushi Fort.
Dushi Fort is a military fort located only fifteen miles on the northernmost border of the Ming Dynasty. It is also the largest military fort on the North Road of Xuanfu Town. The scale of Dushi Fort is much larger than the previous Longmen Fort, with a radius of nine miles, almost
It is twice the size of Chicheng in Longmen. This can no longer be said to be a military fortress, but a city in the true sense.
The number of soldiers and horses stationed here is also much larger than that of other military forts. The total number of troops stationed in the entire Dushi Fort is about 3,000. But like all border town military forts, the border they have to defend is also long. More than a dozen
They defended the fortress at the pass and the 40-mile-long northern Great Wall.
Stationed at Dushi Fort is a staff general named Zhang Xiong. The staff general is already a relatively senior military position in the army, and his rank is only below that of the deputy general and deputy general. It can be seen from this that the location of Dushi Fort
of importance.
To the north of the Monolith Fort is the steep Great Wall Pass, to the south the terrain is flatter, and to the west is the Monolith River. Once the Monolith Fort is lost, the passage to the northeast of Xuanfu Town will be opened. The enemy can enter the relatively flat area from the Monolith Fort.
Valley on the west side of Yanshan Mountain
, follow the mountain road or go directly west around the mountain road to go south. Therefore, when King Zhu Di of Yan was stationed in Yanjing, he spent a lot of material and manpower to build this monolithic fortress here. After several expansions, the scale became larger and the defense facilities also
More and more solid.
The arrival of the emperor naturally shocked General Zhang Xiong, but soon he fell into excitement. It was very difficult for an official of his level, especially a military official, to see the emperor. Besides, it was still difficult for him to see the emperor.
Some of the border army generals who have been stationed at the border all year round will never see the emperor in their lifetime. But now the emperor has actually come to Dushi Castle, which makes Zhang Xiong excited and incoherent.
This gentleman soon showed his talent in certain things. He did not raise any safety concerns or hidden dangers at all. Instead, after learning that the emperor came to patrol the border for the purpose of encouraging the soldiers on the border, he spoke in a flood of flattery.
Countless words of praise.
The dinner that night was extremely sumptuous. I don’t know where Zhang Xiong got so many delicacies of game, as well as more than a dozen jars of wine for the emperor and the accompanying soldiers to drink.
Zhang Yanling recalled the situation when he was guarding Zhao Yongsheng at Longmen Station and refused to drink. This Zhang Xiong was completely different from Zhao Yongsheng. He was also a border garrison general, but Zhang Xiong was full of vulgarity, while Zhao Yongsheng was cold and cold.
Qi and temperament are very different.
After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the atmosphere at the banquet was obviously much more relaxed, and the conversation became much more casual.
After learning that the emperor and his party came from Longmen and encountered the Tatar attack, Zhang Xiong greatly disparaged Zhao Yongsheng.
"Your Majesty, I am not bragging. In the three years since I have been stationed at Dushibao, the Tatars have not crossed our border with the Ming Dynasty once. Since the imperial court has placed me here to defend the border, if I let the Tatars come over, how shameless would I be? Sir,
As long as they are here, the Tatars don't even dare to disturb them too much, because they know
I won't give them good things to eat. As for Zhao Yongsheng, I don't judge others unreasonably, but he can't even guard a dragon gate. I can only say that this person is a mediocre person. Tartars eat persimmons and pick weak ones.
The guards are incompetent, so they will harass wherever they go. I am worried that something will happen to Longmen sooner or later."
Zhu Houzhao was noncommittal, but Zhang Yanling frowned, feeling that this person was a bit too much. It was enough for him to brag, why should he try to pull others down? Besides, based on what he knew from the few days he spent with Zhao Yongsheng, Zhao Yongsheng was a responsible person.
He was a rare and prudent and insightful general. Perhaps he was more straightforward and did not know how to flatter others and beat around the bush. Even the emperor almost offended him.
Perhaps it is precisely because of this personality that he is disliked by others. The ecology of the border military field in Xuanfu Town may be no different from other places. Perhaps it is unknown whether Zhang Xiong and Zhao Yongsheng have any disputes.
Liu Jin was very happy and asked: "General Zhang, so you don't have to worry about the emperor's safety here, right?"
"My father-in-law, please be assured that the border under the jurisdiction of Dushibao is impregnable. Your Majesty has absolutely no need to worry here. Besides, our soldiers at Dushibao can fight to the death for the Emperor at any time. We are here, what bad intentions do the Tatars have?
, a hundred and eighty thousand troops are given for nothing." Zhang Xiong said loudly.
Liu Jin nodded and said: "With your words, we can rest assured. Lord Marquis, did you hear that? The issue you are most worried about, General Zhang has already taken care of it."
Zhang Yanling nodded with a smile and said: "Since General Zhang has given a guarantee, what do I have to worry about? As long as the emperor's safety is guaranteed, it is the best thing."
Liu Jin said meaningfully: "Master Hou, you are not the only one who cares about the safety of the emperor. All of us are the same. I just don't want Master Hou to worry too much. The emperor is here to patrol the border and hunt.
If you are distracted, it is not easy to be frightened and cautious in everything. That will also undermine the majesty of my Ming Dynasty. Isn't it?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said nothing. He didn't want to get entangled with Liu Jin. This guy was very petty and would not let go. There was no need to argue with him at this time.
Zhu Houzhao was already drunk. Hearing Zhang Xiong's swearing and bragging, he felt happy in his heart. So he asked: "Zhang Xiong, I will gather the soldiers here tomorrow to encourage them. In addition, is there anything fun here?"
I want to stay here for a few days before leaving."
Zhang Xiong smiled hurriedly and said: "Your Majesty, although we are on the border here, there are many places to visit. I heard that the Emperor likes hunting? It just so happens that there are many wild animals in the mountains to the north. Some people are still in the mountains and forests.
I’ve seen white-skinned tigers, golden leopards, and golden eagles on the top of the cliff.”
Zhu Houzhao said happily: "That's great, then I will stay here for a few days."
Liu Jin said: "General Zhang, it would be best if you could mobilize some troops and horses to assist the emperor in hunting. We don't have enough manpower. The emperor's wish is to capture a beast alive. If you can capture a white tiger alive, then you can do it."
Great work."
Zhang Xiong said with a smile: "That's very simple. I can mobilize two thousand brothers from the pass to assist in hunting. We can surround the two mountains in the north to drive them away and build fences to trap the wild animals. By then, the emperor wants to capture ten or eight of them alive.
It’s all possible.”
Zhu Houzhao was happy in his heart, but he was also a little worried: "If we send so many people here, wouldn't it mean that there are fewer defensive troops on the passes and the Great Wall? This is not good."
Zhang Xiong said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, don't worry. The Tatars don't dare to attack, so don't worry. I said that the defense here is impregnable. Even if you give the Tatars ten thousand courages, they won't dare to harass you. Your Majesty, you can feel free to enjoy hunting here."
After that, there are many places to visit nearby, so just visit them one by one.”
Zhu Houzhao nodded and laughed, very happy.
Zhang Yanling listened to these words and could only sigh.
That night, Zhu Houzhao's residence was attended by several ladies from good families. They were the wives and daughters of military households in Dushi City that Liu Jin asked Zhang Xiong to get. The emperor left the capital in a hurry, and there were no maids or concubines accompanying him. Liu Jin naturally had to consider the emperor.
Be aware of his physical needs and considerately consider him.
Zhang Xiong is even more eager to have such an opportunity. If his own wife is not old and has no daughter at home, he is afraid that he can even give his wife to the emperor to sleep with him. But there are many military families in the city.
Zhang Xiong then forcibly dragged several pretty women away in the name of serving the emperor.
That night, Zhu Houzhao was extremely happy and carefree. For a moment, he regarded the border military fort as the inner courtyard of his palace and felt at ease.