Yang Yiqing rode a horse and led tens of thousands of troops to arrive slowly. Not far away, he saw Zhang Yanling standing at the gate of Ningxia City outside the south gate to greet him.
The midday sun shone on Zhang Yanling's body. Zhang Yanling was not fully armed or wearing armor. She was just standing in the sun wearing an ordinary blue robe, like an ordinary young man on the street.
However, in Yang Yiqing's eyes, he was no ordinary young man. It was he who led his three thousand cavalry across the Yellow River, through the desert, through the Helan Mountains, and arrived in Ningxia City. He completed the rebellion.
The army's fatal blow.
Perhaps in the past, Yang Yiqing would have thought that Zhang Yanling did this to achieve great success and was unnecessary. But after experiencing the failure of the battle across the river, Yang Yiqing truly realized why Zhang Yanling did this. That is the most effective and powerful method to use strengths and avoid weaknesses.
A strategy to attack the enemy's core.
Even though Yang Yiqing had a kind of contempt and disdain for Zhang Yanling that was unique to scholars, even now, Yang Yiqing still had this idea in his heart. However, he had to admit that Zhang Yanling was more suitable than himself in counterinsurgency.
More strategic and courageous, more ambitious and courageous.
At this moment, Zhang Yanling was standing there, with the majestic city gate behind him. It gave Yang Yiqing the feeling that he was the master of this city.
"Master Zhang, hehehe. How dare you come out to greet me in person? Yang is so polite." Yang Yiqing got off his horse, walked forward quickly, and said to Zhang Yanling with a smile.
Zhang Yanling smiled and returned the courtesy: "Mr. Yang, you're polite. I haven't seen you for many days, but Mr. Yang is still charming and energetic. He seems to be in a good mood."
Yang Yiqing stroked his beard and laughed and said: "That's natural. How can I not be happy when the counter-insurgency is successful? Thanks to Mr. Hou's ingenious plan, otherwise I don't know how long it will be possible to counter-insurgency. Now that the situation has been decided, we can't be considered happy.
You have failed the great trust of the imperial court."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Yes. I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. After driving for a few days, Master Yang must be very tired. Come on, come on, I will lead the way for Master Yang, let's go into the city to talk."
Yang Yiqing smiled and nodded, and walked side by side to the city with Zhang Yanling.
Gu Dayong was riding on the horse, looking extremely embarrassed. From the beginning to the end, Zhang Yanling didn't seem to notice his presence. He didn't even say hello to himself. He didn't even glance at himself from the corner of his eye. He knew that Zhang Yanling deliberately didn't pay attention to him.
He was so angry that he lost his own face.
The army stayed and camped outside the city, and a small number of soldiers and horses followed everyone into the city. The people in the city lined the streets to welcome them, and the scene was warm. This surprised Yang Yiqing.
"How could this happen? Are these people spontaneous?" Yang Yiqing asked.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Of course, I came spontaneously to greet the imperial army and greet you, Mr. Yang. Do you feel at home?"
Yang Yiqing smacked his lips and said, "I thought these people would be like mourning their heirs. It seems that Zhu Chixiu's rebellion is unpopular."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Master Yang has caught up with the good time. If he had entered the city a few days earlier, I'm afraid the scene would not be like this. Zhu Zhixiu is not as unpopular as you think. When he raised his army, he won many people in Ningxia City
I heard that when the rebels went to fight at the crossing of the Yellow River, the people would eat pots of rice and see each other off, and the scene was much more lively than now."
Yang Yiqing said in surprise: "Oh? Is this true? Then why are they acting like this now? Have they figured it out?"
Zhang Yanling waved to the people and said with a smile: "Mr. Yang is a scholar, so he should know more principles than me. Laozi said: The world is unkind and treats all things as straw dogs, and the saints are unkind and treat the people as straw dogs. This world is the most pitiful and pathetic It’s the common people who belong to us. This is true in a peaceful world, and it’s the same in chaos. The common people seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, want to live a more stable life, and even make some choices for this. Should we blame them?”
Yang Yiqing frowned and pondered, and said slowly: "What the Marquis said is quite thought-provoking. When Zhu Zhixiu raised his army, the people supported him. When we entered the city, the people also welcomed us. It seems that this support and welcome are both extraordinary. They do it out of sincerity, but they have to do it. They just want to exchange for a peaceful life. Hey, but, when did the people of Ming Dynasty degenerate to such a point? Only for personal gain, regardless of important matters? Where is the public opinion? Where is the loyalty?”
Zhang Yanling laughed and said: "Master Yang, you can't blame them. They want the court to be loyal, but they exploit the people, break their bones and suck out their marrow, and let them live in water and fire, suffering from hunger and cold. But they also want them to be loyal and filial. Renyi, this is asking too much of them. They are just ordinary people. When Mr. Yang blames them, shouldn't he think about how the court treats them? Shouldn't he think about what kind of life they live? What?"
Yang Yiqing frowned and said: "Master Hou, what you mean is that the people here are hungry and cold? It is difficult to make a living? The court does not care about them?"
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "I didn't say it. I only know that there must be a reason why the rebellion was so serious. The court should reflect on what it did wrong, instead of just blaming the people and those who participated in the rebellion. Soldiers. In fact, the common people are the most patient and the easiest to be satisfied. As long as you give them a little benefit, they will say good about you. As long as you give them a way to live, they will follow you. Unfortunately, there are Sometimes they won't even get this little benefit. In order to survive, any action they take is reasonable."
Yang Yiqing nodded slowly and remained silent.
The group arrived at the lobby of the military government office. Zhang Yanling asked Yang Yiqing to sit down just now. Gu Da walked in angrily, sat down in the lobby, and stared at Zhang Yanling.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Eunuch Gu, when did you come? Why didn't I see you? I thought you stayed in Lingzhou."
Gu Dayong said in a deep voice: "Of course you, Mr. Zhang, don't care about our family, so you naturally hope that our family will not come here so as not to be an eyesore. But our family's responsibility is that we have to come here. If you don't want our family to come, we will I still have to come home.”
Zhang Yanling frowned and said: "Eunuch Gu, why do these words sound so harsh to me? Whether you love me or not is none of my business? Do I have to have you, Eunuch Gu, in my eyes?"
Gu Dayong said angrily: "Zhang Yanling, don't think that you are complacent just because you took Ningxia City. Merits are merits, faults are faults. As a supervisor, we have our own responsibilities. Don't you think there are some things you should do?" Can you give us an explanation?"
The generals in the hall were a little shocked, why did Gu Dayong actually start a riot at this time? Today is a good day for the army to arrive in Ningxia City, and occupying Ningxia City marks the success of the event. Why did Gu Dayong go crazy?
Yang Yiqing smiled and twirled his beard, watching the farce with interest.
"What do I want to explain to you? You should tell me." Zhang Yanling said solemnly.
"Don't pretend to be confused. You acted privately without saying hello to anyone. You left the counter-rebellion army without authorization and acted secretly. Don't you think you should say hello to our family and Mr. Yang beforehand? The imperial court appointed you as the commander-in-chief of the counter-rebellion army.
Soldier, is it appropriate for you to leave the army alone?" Gu Da said in a cold voice.
Zhang Yanling laughed and said: "So that's what happened. Eunuch Gu, are you trying to find trouble on purpose? Do you want to accuse me of leaving my post without permission and acting privately? Also, I will do it for you
If you think of a crime, you might as well put the blame for the failure of crossing the river in Lingzhou on me. Just say that it was because of my absence from duty that the failure of crossing the river was caused. What do you think?"
Gu Dayong said in a deep voice: "If the court wants to hold people accountable, I'm afraid our family will have no choice but to report it truthfully. As the leader of the army, this is your responsibility. Could it be that our family and Mr. Yang should do this for us?"
Can’t you take responsibility?”
Zhang Yanling sneered and said: "Eunuch Gu, don't put gold on your face. You are responsible for what I do? What responsibility can you bear? Do I need your permission for how I act? It's a big joke.
.I can do whatever I want. Are you unhappy? Just hold it in!"
Gu Dayong said angrily: "Don't think that our family dare not. As supervisors of the army, we shoulder this responsibility. All affairs in the army, including merits and demerits, must be reported truthfully. Zhang Yanling, please don't act arrogant. We
My family is not afraid of you."
Zhang Yanling looked at him and sneered, but Chen Shiyi, who was standing beside him, could no longer bear it. He yelled and cursed: "Gu Da, you are a piece of shit. You did nothing when others were working hard, and now you come out to point fingers.
Did your mother get raped by a dog and give birth to a bastard like you?"
"Hahaha." The generals roared with laughter, unbridled.
"Commander Chen, I'm afraid you are mistaken. He is not a bastard of a dog, he is the son of a donkey. Just now I clearly heard him braying as a donkey." Feng Mazi was most excited at this time and shouted loudly.
"Hahaha." The generals laughed louder and more brazenly.
"You... are so brave! If you dare to insult our family, what crime should you be punished for?" Gu Dayong said angrily.
"When someone else is having a happy event, you come to mourn. Who is to blame for being scolded? You deserve it." Zhang Yin sneered.
Gu Dayong was furious and shouted to Zhang Yanling: "Zhang Yanling, your subordinates are so unruly and insult our family. This is causing rebellion. If you don't deal with them, our family will never end with you."
Zhang Yanling sneered and said: "Did they insult you? Why didn't I hear it? I did hear them say a lot of compliments to you, Eunuch Gu. You didn't appreciate it, but said they insulted you. Eunuch Gu, you should go get some treatment."
ears."
Gu Dayong was furious and pointed at Zhang Yanling and said: "Okay, very good. You, Lord Zhang, are great, and our family cannot afford to offend you. Our family must report the responsibility for the defeat of Lingzhou Crossing River to the court. And you.
Our family will also report the matter of leaving the post without permission and sending troops privately. Mr. Yang, you and I will jointly file a report and report this matter to the imperial court."
Yang Yiqing twisted his beard and said with a smile: "Eunuch Gu, calm down, what are you doing? We have just entered the city and haven't even taken a breath, why did Eunuch Gu say these things? There is indeed something wrong."
Gu Da said in a cold voice: "It seems that Mr. Yang wants to take the responsibility for the failure of crossing the river."
Yang Yiqing's face turned cold and he had not yet spoken. Zhang Yanling said coldly: "Eunuch Gu, have you had enough trouble? This plan was agreed upon by Mr. Yang and I. The failure to cross the river was also part of the plan. Everything was agreed upon by us.
It’s just a plan. It’s your turn to point fingers here? It’s really ridiculous.”
Gu Dayong said in astonishment: "What? It's all your plan? Mr. Yang knew from the beginning that you were going to attack Ningxia City? The failure to cross the river was also your plan? How is it possible?"