In the wilderness, a dark team was moving slowly forward.
"Sir General, I have said everything I should say. They still want you to go to the city to discuss matters."
At the front of the team, Zhang Yuan was riding on his horse and chattering about the whole process.
Liu Zeqing sat on the horse's back carefree, holding a pipe in his hand, smoking while listening to Zhang Yuan's chatter.
(Tobacco existed in the Ming Dynasty, and Wanli, Tianqi, and Chongzhen all banned it, but with little effect.)
"You didn't fucking lie to me, did you?" Liu Zeqing exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at Zhang Yuan ferociously.
Zhang Yuan was so frightened that he shrank his neck and said with a smile: "General, you must be joking. I am only loyal to you, everyone else, stand aside!"
Liu Zeqing took the last puff of his cigarette, threw the pipe to his men, and then waved his hand: "Infantry and baggage, set up camp on the spot, all cavalry, follow me, and go to Tiemenguan to get the military pay!"
Wow--
There was a burst of warm cheers in the team.
They needed money so badly. The court owed them eight months' military pay, and they had lived a life worse than pigs and dogs in the past eight months.
There is no food or drink, and there is a lack of money and food.
This is because the bandits did not attack. If they really attacked, they would join them without hesitation.
Following Liu Zeqing's order, 10,000 infantrymen and the rear baggage set up camp on the spot.
Soon, the wilderness was filled with tents.
After settling the team, Liu Zeqing found a carriage and got in.
"Let's go to Tiemenguan!"
Led by the carriage, five thousand cavalrymen slowly set off again.
Liu Zeqing felt uncomfortable lying in the carriage, so he simply changed back to his own horse.
He sat on horseback and began to make arrangements.
"It's a sunny day today, and the moon at midnight is hanging right in the middle of the southern sky. We are facing north with our backs to the south, so we can see clearly what is behind the closed iron gate."
"Zhang Yuan, when we get outside the city gate, take a dozen people and keep an eye on the top of the city wall and the two sides of the city wall. If you see sparks, even the slightest spark, shout it out immediately. Do you hear me?"
"I obey your command." Zhang Yuan put away his previous smile and answered seriously.
After answering, he paused and asked, "General, what should we do if we see someone drawing a bow and arrow?"
"Don't worry about it. I have a solution."
"Li Ergou?"
"I'm here!" A tall and strong man with broad shoulders urged his horse to take two quick steps forward.
"Bring twenty or so brothers with you, hold up shields and surround me. Follow me wherever I go. Be smart when you follow me. If you see someone drawing a bow and arrow, or aiming a musket or a musket at me, don't care what I'm doing, just use your shields to protect me. Do you hear me?"
"I obey your orders!" Li Ergou ordered his men to collect their shields. Cavalry shields were relatively small, so each of them prepared two for themselves.
After preparing all these, Liu Zeqing suddenly felt extremely safe.
Falling off a horse and getting injured could fool Chongzhen temporarily, but only temporarily.
Everyone knew that was an excuse. With 15,000 soldiers under his command, could they not fight just because their commander was injured?
Why not send a deputy general to Beijing to support the king?
What the court lacks is soldiers, not generals.
If you anger Chongzhen and the imperial court, you will definitely not end up well.
Now the court has issued an order to him to go to Tiemenguan to escort the prince south and to distribute military pay at the same time. It seems like a good thing in name, but it may be a trap in reality.
He must think carefully and take into account all the things that are not in his favor.
The timing and location were all right, as was the moonlight and the stars. He even had a rare bath and change of clothes before setting off.
After giving instructions for everything, Liu Zeqing returned to the carriage, lay down inside and closed his eyes to rest.
Soon, the team arrived outside the iron gate.
Liu Zeqing's carriage stopped about a hundred steps away from the city gate.
Looking at the cavalrymen all over the mountains, Liu Zeqing smiled coldly and ordered: "Zhang Yuan, go and knock on the door."
Zhang Yuan urged his horse to the city gate and said, "I am Zhang Yuan, and I have been ordered to pass on a message! Shandong General Liu Zeqing and 5,000 cavalry are right behind us, and the rest of the army has set up camp five miles south of the city. General Liu has been ordered to escort the prince to Nanjing, and invites the prince to discuss matters with the army!"
Huang Fei frowned and looked at Liu Wenyao, having a bad feeling.
He lowered his voice and asked, "Commander Liu, what does Liu Zeqing mean by this? Is this an invitation? It's clearly an order! If the prince doesn't go, does he want to rebel?"
Liu Wenyao looked down in the moonlight and saw five thousand cavalrymen scattered all over the mountains. Under the illumination of the torches, it could be seen that all of them were very serious, as if they were facing a great enemy.
"Liu Zeqing is short of money. Since the imperial edict says that the prince has brought military pay, he will not let go of the money. In his eyes, he can do without the prince, but he cannot do without the money."
"If you don't give him money, will he rebel?" Huang Fei asked with some disbelief.
"He won't rebel, but he will attack the city!"
After that, he stepped forward, held onto the battlements of the city wall and said, "I am Liu Wenyao, the Left Commander-in-Chief, and I am here to escort the Crown Prince to Nanjing. Since General Liu is not in a position to enter the city, let him come to the city gate to discuss matters."
Liu Wenyao, the Left General, was a first-rank official, the highest rank for military officers in the Ming Dynasty.
Liu Zeqing was the general, and was a second-rank official.
Zhang Yuan was appointed as a garrison commander, a fifth-rank official. He was not even qualified to carry Liu Wenyao's shoes.
He had no say in the matter, so he rode his horse to Liu Zeqing's carriage and delivered the message exactly as it was.
Liu Zeqing narrowed his eyes and thought about it.
His first purpose of this trip was to get the prince's money, and his second purpose was the prince. It would be best if he could hold the prince hostage, but if he couldn't, he would just take the money and leave.
Since Liu Wenyao has compromised, there is no need for him to insist.
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