Since the winter of the 19th year of Jiajing, after the Ming army recovered Baima Mountain, they pushed the front line to the Baihe River, and the entire land hundreds of miles east of the Baihe River fell into the Ming Dynasty. As a result, in the Songfan area, Baihe was formed in the south and Ruoergai in the north.
The dividing line of actual control between the two countries in the Daxue Mountains.
On the Baihe line, the Ming army used Songfan Guards as the main force, supplemented by Xiaohe Qianhusuo and Chishui Qianhusuo, with a total of more than 13,000 men stationed at the Baihe moat; more than 10,000 Xiaoshan Guards and Loushan Guards were transferred north to Ruoergai.
Minshan line to strengthen deterrence against the north.
Nearly 20,000 people from Baima Guard, Diexi Thousand Household Station, Longgang Thousand Household Station, and Pingbo Thousand Household Station retreated to their original garrison for rest and recuperation.
Since the 20th year of Jiajing, the entire Songfan area has entered a peaceful period of rest and recuperation. It has been two and a half years now.
The entire Songfan Guard has more than 8,000 soldiers, including a central army and three garrison posts, each with more than 2,000 sergeants. They are all brave soldiers who have experienced hundreds of battles and are among the best in the entire Ming Dynasty.
Strong army.
The Chinese Army and the Baihe garrison were stationed in the Chewa Valley where the Baihe River and the Black River meet. This was also a key point in the Mingxia confrontation on the Baihe natural barrier. The Anqu garrison was stationed in Anqu Village in the southern section, and the middle section was the Red River.
The original garrison.
Zhao Ran came out of the Dajun Mountain Cave and headed north for more than fifty miles. The terrain gradually became gentle from high to low. Looking around, there were large stretches of boundless plateau meadows between the undulating hills.
Baima Yuan is located in Qiongxi Town by the Baihe River. It is also the administrative seat of the entire Hongyuan County. According to the charter agreed between Daomen and the Governor-General of Western Sichuan, Baima Yuan has the dual functions of Taoist Yuan and official government. The abbot is in charge of preaching and supervising the hospital.
It is responsible for the governance of the people, so Qiongxi Town has become the center of the entire Hongyuan.
But Zhao Ran did not enter Qiongxi Town. This county town, which was established less than three years ago, currently only has a chest-high earth wall, which is far from what a county town should have. He went to Qiongxi Town, six miles southwest of Qiongxi Town.
Moon Crossing, the Songfan Guards Hongyuan garrison is stationed here.
The ultimatum was inspected at the gate of the camp, and the sergeant went inside to report. Soon, the camp door opened wide, and a group of generals came out, surrounded by a civilian wearing a black gauze on his head and a green regimental uniform.
Zhao Ran looked at the official. He seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before.
The official bowed first and saluted: "Zhang Juzheng, a member of the Ministry of Etiquette and a member of the Department of Rites, has met Abbot Zhao."
Zhao Ran suddenly remembered, laughed, and helped Zhang Juzheng up: "It turns out to be my uncle. When we left last year, my uncle was still a student in Jiangling. I didn't expect that he is an official now. Wearing this official uniform, I am so poor."
I almost didn’t recognize it, haha, it’s really gratifying!”
Zhang Juzheng said with a smile: "When I was last year, I met Abbot Zhao. I was impressed by the abbot's magnanimity. The abbot also taught me to study well and become a useful talent in the Tao and the country in the future. So I worked hard, and Qiu Wei was lucky enough to win the prize.
In the spring of this year, I went to Beijing to take the exam, and was granted the status of a Jinshi by the Holy Spirit, and entered the Sixth Science to observe politics. I just released Xingren, the Secretary of Pingren, just last month. A few days ago, the Secretary of Xingren went to Xingqing to select deputy envoys. I heard that the official envoy was Gu.
Abbot Zhao of Yang County, my subordinate immediately asked for orders and came to Abbot Zhao to listen to his orders."
Zhao Ran had a good impression of Zhang Juzheng, and did not know whether this Zhang Juzheng was related to the other Zhang Juzheng, but in any case, he planned to "cultivate" him, so he moved forward and entered the Chinese army's tent.
After sitting down, Zhang Juzheng said again: "After Xiaguan came out of the capital, he didn't dare to neglect all the way. He made a special trip to Lushan Mountain. Fortunately, he was received by Zhao Daguan in person. Zhao Daguan told Xiaguan to strictly abide by Abbot Zhao's orders and handle matters.
I have done this errand well and brought along Abbot Zhao’s documents, um, and the banner, please ask the Abbot to read it.”
Zhao Ran took the document and looked at it. It was an official document issued in the name of Jian Jiguan. It stated that Zhao Zhiran, the abbot of Guyang County, was the special envoy of the Taoist sect. He was going to the Buddhist sect of Xia State to handle official business and return the rainbow body of the eminent Buddhist monk. The soldiers and civilians along the way obeyed orders.
Things like doing things cheaply.
Looking at the banner again, it is an eight-foot-long copper pole. It does not show any weight in the hand and must be hollow. The pole is decorated with yak tails and bird feathers and other objects, which makes it look very simple.
The document came from Jian Ji Guan, indicating that it was a Taoist affair; the banner came from the imperial court, indicating that Zhao Ran was an envoy representing the Ming Dynasty. When the two were combined, Zhao Ran's identity was completed.
Looking at the banners and documents, Zhao Ran once again fell into daydream for no apparent reason, secretly thinking that I now also have the reputation of being an "envoy with integrity". If so, I'm afraid he can be included in the annals of history, right?
After the handover was completed, both the envoy and the deputy envoy were present. Zhao Ran expressed that he wanted to rest for a while, and Zhang Juzheng resigned.
Zhao Ran saw that the general who had been accompanying him was standing conscientiously and did not leave because he wanted to "rest", so he knew it and said kindly: "General, please take a seat."
The general said hurriedly: "In front of the angel, there is no place for the general. The young general can just stand. If Abbot Zhao has any instructions, just inform the general. The general is now acting as the guard of the Hongyuan garrison."
Zhao Ran nodded and asked: "Shouyu's surname is Ning, not De Shou?"
The general grinned: "Thanks to Abbot Zhao for remembering me, the general will be very frightened in the end."
Zhao Ran said: "Zhang Zhongdao and I are old friends. When Zhao Daguan named him 'Zhongdao', I was nearby, haha. When I talked with him over wine, he mentioned to me that Ning Shouyu
, saying that Ning Shouyu is his brother in life and death."
Zhao Ran had not received any news from Zhang Lue since he separated from him last year. It was not until this year, after everything was finalized, that he saw the two letters sent to him by Zhang Lue when he returned to Wuji Academy to handle official business.
The first letter was written by Zhang Lue in July last year, saying that he had been appointed and transferred to Longtan Guard as a commanding officer. Longtan Guard is located fifty miles east of Yingtian. It is an important guard post protecting the capital and is closely related to the Great Victory.
One to the east and one to the west, they guard the gates of Yingtian. The Longtan Guard actually has 5,600 soldiers, with one commander, two commanders, and six commanders.
Zhang Lue was transferred from the commander of the Songfan Guards to the commander of the Longtan Guards. His rank was raised one level and he was closer to home. It was considered that he got what he wanted.
The second letter was written in March this year. Zhang Lue said that he was promoted from a commander to a commander, and was awarded the title of deputy general. This was a big step, and he had reached the top level of the middle-level military generals of the Ming Dynasty. Going up,
They are high-ranking military positions such as deputy commander-in-chief and commander-in-chief, which are the real powerhouses in the military.
These two letters from Zhang Lue were full of words of gratitude, indicating that he did not forget the well diggers, and asked Zhao Ran for help if he needed anything. He just asked, but he would not shirk anything he could.
At the same time, Zhang Lue also mentioned Ning Deshou in his letter, saying that this was his life and death brother brought from Yingtian, the capital, and his right-hand man. Some things last year were handled by Ning Deshou. On the one hand, he invited Zhao
However, continue to take care of this person. On the other hand, if something happens, just let Ning Deshou handle it.
Zhao Ran was very happy for Zhang Lue's successive promotions, but there was really nothing that required Zhang Lue's service, so he just replied to the letter to express his congratulations and that was all.
I only heard Ning Deshou say: "Brother Zhang specifically told the general before he left office that Abbot Zhao is a great benefactor to our brothers, but if you have an assignment, just follow the instructions."
Zhao Ran then stood up, pulled Ning Deshou to the seat, and said: "Then please sit down together, don't be restrained. Outside I am an envoy, but inside we are good friends. If Ning Shouyu doesn't sit down,
Then I will just stand and talk with Ning Shouyu!"
Ning Deshou quickly thanked him and sat next to Zhao Ran.