Chapter 692: Just Didn’t Touch Jiang Jialang
The autumn sky was exceptionally blue. Several lines of large birds were flying slowly beneath the sky. Suddenly, they flapped their wings desperately and deviated to the right.
Just below on the official road, a long line of troops was marching.
Yan Song was in the central army. He looked a little tired at the moment, and his originally white and plump face had a more weathered look.
"Father!"
Zhao Wenhua arrived, "There is still no news from Jiang Qingzhi."
"He is the commander-in-chief. No news is good news!"
Although Yan Song was not familiar with military tactics, he understood these principles.
Zhao Wenhua took out the water bag and took a sip, then turned his horse around and rode parallel to Yan Song.
"What can he do with two thousand cavalry? He can only go to Datong to set up a vanguard." Zhao Wenhua sneered, "Otherwise, once my foster father arrives in Datong, those people will definitely compete to show their goodwill."
The civil servants around Yan Song laughed and said, "That's right. Zhang Da, the general of Datong, is a direct descendant of Jiang Qingzhi. He also regards Datong as his own power. He must be going there to warn the civil and military officials of Datong."
Zhao Wenhua put away the water bag. "But he forgot one thing. Huang Mao, the governor of Datong, doesn't like him and the Mohist school."
Yan Song narrowed his eyes and said, "Before I left Beijing, someone told me that Huang Mao admired me very much."
This is a gesture of goodwill!
Zhao Wenhua was excited. "In this way, we have a foothold in Datong. Godfather, how about I go to Datong to contact them first?"
Yan Song wiped his dry face and said, "The overall situation is more important, don't cause conflict."
"Yes."
Zhao Wenhua called dozens of cavalrymen, and Yan Song's aide Shen Jun also accompanied them.
After speeding all the way, Zhao Wenhua felt hungry at noon. There happened to be an inn and tavern on the side of the road, so he went in to eat.
"Greetings, sir." This was an official road, with many officials passing by. The shopkeeper, with his dim eyesight, could not tell the rank of Zhao Wenhua's official uniform. He took a dirty cloth and wiped the shiny table casually. "What would you like to eat, sir?"
Zhao Wenhua smelled the smell on the towel and couldn't help but dry heaving. He had been eating with Yan Song all the way. Although the food was not as luxurious as that in the capital, the chef also kept it clean.
"Is there any mutton?" Shen Jun smiled.
"Have."
There is nothing else here, but there is a lot of mutton.
"It doesn't matter how it's cooked, just serve the mutton first, and some vegetables as well. Also, do you have any good wine?" Shen Jun loved wine, but he had been unable to satisfy his craving for wine since he was in the army with Yan Song. When he smelled the wine, his throat kept rising and falling.
Zhao Wenhua smiled and said, "You are so lucky."
The shopkeeper went to the back kitchen. There were five people in the tavern at that moment. When they saw the officials and soldiers coming in, they immediately took their bowls and plates and went to the corner.
Shen Jun looked at the five people and said softly, "Logically, the war is imminent, and these people should be uneasy at the moment."
Zhao Wenhua also noticed, "He looked quite calm."
Shen Jun said: "It seems that Huang Mao has done a good job in Datong."
Zhao Wenhua knew that Yan Song wanted to win over Huang Mao, and he was moved. He asked, "I heard that a war is imminent. Why are you so calm?"
Of the five guests, three were businessmen and two were locals.
Upon hearing this, a merchant stood up and saluted, "Although I heard that Altan's army is heading south, the current Holy Emperor is wise..."
Mr. Zhao heard such words of praise to the emperor countless times every year. He couldn't help but frown when he heard it, thinking it was worthless.
Shen Jun whispered, "Businessmen are the best at reading people's expressions. No one in the world can match their ability to avoid danger and seek good fortune. I can't get any information from these three people. Those two are probably locals. We can give them a try."
Zhao Wenhua glanced at him, and the shopkeeper brought wine and food. "The mutton has to wait, the guests should drink first."
"Okay." Shen Jun didn't give in, and poured himself three cups of wine before saying happily, "Great!"
After a few drinks, Shen Jun suddenly became more energetic and pointed at the two locals and said, "Give them some wine too."
The two locals ate multi-grain cakes and drank paste. They looked like ordinary people.
"Don't dare!"
"It's on my account."
After hearing this, the two locals became more humble and then bowed in thanks.
"Why aren't you panicking?" Shen Jun asked casually, "Even if it's me, I have to hurry and finish my work before returning to Beijing. I dare not stay in Datong..."
A man watched the shopkeeper bring drinks over and couldn't help licking his lips, "Actually! I was afraid at first, too."
"Why aren't you afraid now?" Shen Jun asked.
The Yan Party's influence in the Nine Borders is somewhat lacking. If Huang Mao can be used, it would be a pleasant surprise.
Moreover, Yan Song has recently been interested in expanding his power in the court. Once a local official comes to Beijing, he will be promoted to the position of Vice Minister of one of the six ministries. This is a help that cannot be underestimated.
The man took the jar of wine, sniffed it, and then said, "I heard that you are from the capital, but I don't think you know that there are folk proverbs in Datong."
"Oh!" Shen Jun raised the bowl with a smile, drank it all in one gulp, and said, "I'd like to hear more about it."
The man's companion filled his glass with wine. He carefully picked up the earthen bowl and took a sip. His eyes lit up and he praised, "Good wine."
The man took a big sip of the wine, sighed comfortably, and said, "We have a folk saying here, 'An Da is crazy, An Da is strong, but he has never touched Jiang Jialang.'"
The man's companion said: "The Jingguan in Datong is still there!"
The man smiled and said, "I originally wanted to take my wife and children to hide at my father-in-law's house, but when I heard that Chang Wei Bo was leading his army, I stayed. Didn't they say that Altan's vanguard had arrived a few days ago? Some people are afraid, and I feel a little guilty."
The man's companion couldn't hold his liquor well, so after a few gulps of wine, he became excited, "Someone saw Long Wilbur the other day. What a guy, with a cavalry that stretched as far as the eye could see, all of them looked ferocious. It was said that Long Wilbur heard that the enemy's vanguard was coming, so he couldn't hold back his temper and came first. Now that he's here, what do we have to fear!"
"What kind of personality?" Shen Jun asked.
"Murderous!" The man filled his glass with wine, lowered his head and took a sip from the edge of the wine bowl, and said contentedly: "The Jingguan is right there! Who has done such a murderous thing in all these years? Only old man Long Wei Bo."
"This murderous aura is indeed frightening." A merchant couldn't help but join in, "We are doing business in the north. Last time, we encountered a caravan from Altan Khan. When they mentioned Long Wei Bo, the merchants all changed color. Only when he came did we dare to continue doing business."
"That's right. Otherwise, once Altan's cavalry rushes over, not only will our goods be looted, but we will all be killed."
"Even if they don't die, they will be taken away and become slaves." "Your Majesty is wise, so you sent Chang Wei Bo."
"And Prime Minister Yan."
"Yan Song? That treacherous villain!"
The two businessmen were a little tipsy and forgot the rules of business to be cautious in what they said and did. Their companion coughed dryly and the two of them quickly fell silent.
The two local men were arguing, one said that Chief Wilbur brought an army of 100,000, and the other said that it was 80,000.
Shen Jun glanced at Zhao Wenhua and said, "It seems that Jiang Qingzhi has a high reputation in Datong."
"Altan is arrogant and powerful, but he has never touched Jiang Jialang." Zhao Wenhua took a sip of wine, "Jiang Qingzhi hurriedly took two thousand cavalry to Datong to build momentum!"
Shen Jun shook his head, "It's hard to say."
"What's so difficult about that?" Zhao Wenhua glanced at him, "What can two thousand cavalry do?"
Shen Jun ate a piece of mutton, which was unexpectedly delicious. He slowly swallowed the mutton and said, "Don't underestimate this person."
"I never underestimate my opponents." Zhao Wenhua said lightly.
Historically, this guy accepted bribes from Hu Zongxian and spoke well of Hu to Yan Song and his son. As a result, Hu Zongxian was able to rise to prominence and take charge of the anti-Japanese campaign in the southeast.
Zhao Wenhua is a man who loves beauty and is corrupt.
Da da da!
The sound of horse hooves came hurriedly.
"Shut up!"
Amid the long neighing of the horses, someone shouted hurriedly, "Zhao Da, Zhao Da, prepare some dry food."
"All." shouted the shopkeeper.
A sergeant came in hurriedly, "Bring it here quickly."
The shopkeeper lifted the cloth covering the bamboo basket, revealing cakes underneath. He took out a few cakes and asked, "Are there any war reports?"
The soldier glanced at the five men, then turned his gaze to Zhao Wenhua and quickly saluted.
"Where are we going?" Zhao Wenhua asked.
"I have been ordered to go find the army to report the news." Zhao Wenhua's official rank made the soldiers dare not neglect him, and they answered respectfully.
"What letter?" Zhao Wenhua asked. Shen Jun coughed dryly. "If it's a secret, you don't need to tell me."
"It's not a secret." The soldier showed a flattering look. "The day before yesterday, Lin Siyuan, a general under Altan Khan, led 5,000 troops to raid Datong City..."
Zhao Wenhua was startled and asked anxiously, "How is Datong?"
The three businessmen also put down their chopsticks and stared at the soldier.
The two local men who said they were not panicking also had their expressions changed drastically.
"The enemy was very powerful. During the battle, Long Wilbur suddenly arrived with his troops."
Zhao Wenhua blurted out, "He only has two thousand cavalrymen, what's the use?"
The soldier raised his head suddenly, his face flushed, "Lin Siyuan stopped, he withdrew his troops!"
The soldiers forgot the difference between respect and inferiority, and also forgot the difference between civil and military. They raised their heads and said, "Chang Wei Bo swore in front of the battle that he had no ambush, and asked Lin Siyuan if he dared to fight."
The soldier looked at Zhao Wenhua, his face flushed red, "Lin Siyuan had more than 4,000 cavalrymen at his disposal, but he didn't dare to go out to fight and fled in disgrace. As a result, Datong was safe."
Bah!
The two local men couldn't help but clapped their hands on the table and cheered.
"Wan Sheng!"
"Long Wilbur is mighty!"
The three businessmen suddenly relaxed, and one of them said happily, "It is indeed Long Wilbur. We made the right bet on this adventure and will definitely make a lot of money."
"Sure enough, he is the best general of the Ming Dynasty. He alone can make Altan's cavalry flee."
"What a long Wilbur!"
The shopkeeper forgot to pass the pancake to the soldier, and subconsciously took a bite, feeling that this was not a dream.
The shopkeeper was old, and he stamped his feet and said, "Today's drinks...consider it as if they were sent off by this old man. Drink, just drink!"
The soldier then realized that he had dared to yell at a third-rank civil servant. He was so frightened that he knelt down and said, "I have drunk too much. Please forgive me, sir."
Zhao Wenhua sat there blankly, holding the earthen bowl in his hand.
"He actually... forced the enemy back with two thousand cavalrymen?"
Shen Jun waved his hand, and the soldiers stood up and prepared to run as if they had been pardoned.
"Pancakes!" the shopkeeper shouted.
The sergeant turned around and took the cake, "I'll pay you later."
"This is for you." The shopkeeper's face was beaming.
"The shopkeeper is so generous today." Someone praised.
The shopkeeper said, "There is good news from the front, our homeland is safe, there is not much I can do, so I will just join in the fun. Congratulations to the Ming Dynasty, and to Datong!"
"Congratulations to the Ming Dynasty!"
Everyone raised their bowls and cheered.
Zhao Wenhua slowly came back to his senses at this moment. He looked at Shen Jun and asked, "Jiang Qingzhi's reputation... is it really like this?"
Shen Jun nodded, but immediately couldn't help but raised his arms and shouted: "Congratulations to Ming Dynasty!"
Looking at those excited red faces, Zhao Wenhua raised his head and drank the wine in the bowl.
Unexpectedly... bitter.
(End of this chapter)
