On the fourth day of October, the imperial court's counter-rebellion vanguard force, which traveled north from Xuzhou, finally arrived at Yanzhou City.??
Lan Zhen rode on the side of the marching team, looking at the soldiers who were entering the city or setting up camp, and whispered to Zhu Jiye beside her: "I really didn't expect that Yanzhou City was really defended."
Zhu Jiye said: "No, I didn't expect it. I have never heard of the commander of King Lu's three guards named Sheng Yong. Why did such a general who is good at defending the city suddenly appear?"
"But this also shows that our Ming Dynasty has outstanding people and a large amount of outstanding talents. This is a good thing."
Lan Zhen said: "Compared with Sheng Yong, I care more about the Shandong political strategist who is patrolling Yanzhou. I just heard from the people who greeted him that the political Participant Tie Xuan also made great contributions in the battle to defend the city. Without him, Yanzhou City would not be the same. Can’t hold on.”
Zhu Jiye said indifferently: "Listen to that county magistrate's nonsense! Aren't all their literati just praising literati? If they do one point, they can praise it for five points; if they do three points, they dare to praise it for ten points. , the words of scholars cannot be trusted.”
Lan Zhen said: "Even so, it shows that this Tie Xuan has done something. You will know after you meet Sheng Yong and ask him later. As the vanguard of the army, and His Majesty personally marched, for Yanzhou's The matter must be understood in detail and then reported to His Majesty."
Zhu Jiye had no objection to this, but he immediately said happily: "But since Yanzhou has been defended, we can go north from Yanzhou and completely eliminate Chengni! Rescue the seventh uncle's family!"
Lan Zhen said: "Don't be too happy too early. Have you forgotten that His Majesty sent someone to report the news quickly?"
Hearing Lan Zhen's words, Zhu Jiye's face, which was originally happy, turned gloomy again. After a while, he whispered: "Even if I face my fourth uncle, I will never show mercy!"
At this time, Sheng Yong and Tie Xuan also came out of the city to greet them. After the two sides saluted, Tie Xuan asked: "General Lan, why don't you let all the troops enter the city? With only 30,000 troops, Yanzhou City can still be conquered." When the army enters the city, it can be better repaired."
Lan Zhen said: "No need. Although it seems that Cheng Ni has withdrawn, but to be prepared, it is better to leave some troops stationed outside the city to be at the horns of Yanzhou City."
Tie Xuan just said that since Lan Zhen refused, that was all, and then invited the two of them to the city.
Naturally, Lan Zhen would not refuse, and the same was true for Zhu Jiye. Frankly speaking, although Zhu Jiye practiced martial arts and studied hard, he had never fought in a war before. These days of marching made him very tired and wanted to take a good rest.
But of course they couldn't rest immediately after entering the city, they still had to show up to discuss matters. Several people came to the yamen of King Lu Sanwei, and Sheng Yong asked someone to take out the map and start discussing matters.
Lan Zhen said: "We have discussed with Marquis Jingchuan before leaving, and then we will send troops to attack Tai'an and go straight to Jinan."
Sheng Yong said doubtfully: "Attacking Jinan directly? What if Cheng Ni sends troops from Dongping Prefecture to take the back route?"
Lan Zhen said: "The other tens of thousands of troops from the front army can arrive in Yanzhou immediately, so there is no need to worry about being hacked in the rear."
"However," Sheng Yong said, "the Tai'an area is mountainous and the terrain is complex. You may be ambushed by Cheng Ni's people at any given place. It is no safer than coming north from Dongping Prefecture."
Lan Zhen said: "No, just go straight from Tai'an to Jinan. Yanzhou government only needs to prepare enough food."
Tie Xuan and Sheng Yong looked at each other. They were just local officials in Shandong and had no control over the command of the counter-rebels. It was just their responsibility as officials of the Ming Dynasty to ask them to make suggestions, but they didn't care if the other party didn't accept them. There was no other way, so I had no choice but to agree to quit.
In fact, Lan Zhen was smiling bitterly in his heart. He had been to Shandong before and knew the terrain of Tai'an. He was also afraid of losing and didn't want to take risks, but now he had no choice but to attack Jinan directly.
King Yan must not be allowed to get Jinan. Even if Jinan cannot be conquered, King Yan's army cannot be allowed to enter the city. This was what they had negotiated after getting Yunxi's six hundred-mile expedited offer.
Then Lan Zhen said to Zhu Jiye: "Your Highness, go and rest quickly. We will rest in Yanzhou City for one night today, and we will continue our journey tomorrow."
Zhu Jiye said: "Lan Zhen, then I'm going to rest." After a pause, Zhu Jiye continued: "Lan Zhen, you don't have to be under too much pressure. In the battle of conquering Mobei four years ago, everyone was aware of your ability. I already know that even if the battle doesn't go well this time, it doesn't matter. After all, Xie Cheng is also a hero and a veteran general, and he is also responsible for defense. Victory or defeat is a common matter for military strategists, so don't worry about it."
Zhu Jiye had long seen that Lan Zhen was under a lot of pressure, so he tried to persuade her.
After listening to Zhu Jiye's words, Lan Zhen also understood that she had put too much pressure on herself. She always felt that her younger brother was dead. She alone had to bear the reputation of her father's generation of famous generals. She could not disgrace the Lan family, so she could not fight. defeat.
But in fact, everyone has lost a battle, especially when he first started commanding a battle. It is normal to lose a battle, but it is abnormal not to have lost a battle, so in fact, he does not need to bear such a lot of pressure.
When it comes to humiliating their father, the two brothers Chang Sheng and Chang Sen of the Chang family are recognized as not knowing how to fight. This counterinsurgency was so important that Yunxi didn't even send them out to lead an army, but they didn't look sad all day either. of.
Lan Zhen, who had figured out the matter, said to Zhu Jiye: "Your Highness, thank you! I understand."
Zhu Jiye smiled and said: "That's right. As the commander-in-chief of the army, you must not bear too many burdens." Then he said: "Then I will go to bed. I was exhausted along the way."
On the same day, in western Liaoning, the king of Liao sealed the land.
King Zhu Zhi of Liao frowned at the person in front of him and said, "Tell me again, what happened to Shanhaiguan?"
The man might have been a little frightened by Zhu Zhi's gaze, so he stammered: "Your Majesty, your Majesty, Shanhaiguan is here to report. His Majesty King Yan sent troops to take over Shanhaiguan. He said it was to prevent Cheng Ni went north, he wants to go south and put down the rebellion."
The King of Liao asked some more questions, and then said: "Go down." The man immediately rolled down without any thought of staying.
Zhu Zhi sat in his seat and said secretly: "Fourth brother, what are you doing, what are you doing, have you forgotten the teachings of your father?"
After that, Zhu Zhi sat in his seat and muttered something secretly. After a while, he said to a servant: "Go and call the governor Yang Wen over!"
After a while, a middle-aged man wearing a second-grade official uniform came in. After saluting Zhu Zhi, he said, "What does your highness want from me?"