Ten miles away from Fengyang City, flags were fluttering and a sea of ​​people gathered. Hundreds of officials and a large number of gentry and common people were here to welcome him.

The leaders are the right minister of the Ministry of Hubu and the censor of Youdu, the governor of water transportation, the governor of Fengyang and the administrator of sea defense Zhu Dadian, the eunuch of Fengyang Wang Yumin, the chief military officer of Fengyang Yang Yufan, the censor of Youqiandu Zhang Guowei, the censor of Qiandu.

Shi Kefa, and behind them were officials from various prefectures and states near Southern Zhili.

Zhang Guowei is forty-two years old this year. In the seventh year of Chongzhen's reign, rogue bandits were rampant in the Central Plains. In order to stabilize the rear area centered on Nanjing and ensure smooth water transportation and the supply of military supplies, Chongzhen appointed Zhang Guowei as the censor of Youqiandu and the governor of the ten prefectures.

These ten prefectures were the most prosperous areas in the Ming Dynasty, the place where Ming Dynasty was established, and the main supplier of military supplies and soldiers to the Ming Dynasty. Zhang Guowei was ordered to station in Suzhou when he was in danger. After taking office, he did everything personally, inspecting farmland and paying close attention to water conservancy.

Construction has achieved good results.

Shi Kefa, at the beginning of this year, Zhang Xianzhong invaded Anqing, and Chongzhen appointed him as the censor of Qiandu, patrolling Anqing, Luzhou, Chizhou and other places.

Like Zhang Guowei, Shi Kefa is also a very conscientious official, and both of them are members of the Donglin Party. They are very concerned about quelling the chaos. They often personally persuade the wealthy businessmen and relatives of Jiangnan to give them support.

Money, food and supplies.

Under the strict defense of the two men, Zhang Xianzhong and other bandits did not get any benefits in Anqing and could only garrison in Tongcheng in despair. General Pan Keda pursued the bandits to Tongcheng and defeated the bandits. The bandits fled from Tongcheng to the surrounding areas.

On the way to escape, they were blocked by armies from Luzhou and Fengyang. The bandits were forced to flee back to Tongcheng and looted around Tongcheng. Shi Kefa and Pan Keda led their troops to encircle and suppress the bandits. The bandits were defeated and fled to Lujiang. Shi Kefa and Zuo Liangyu returned to Tongcheng.

Defeat him at Fengxiang Station.

Hearing that Luzhou was besieged, Shi Kefa quickly took up residence in Luzhou and commanded the defense. Later, he heard that Tuo Xianling went north to attack Suzhou, and Zhang Xianzhong withdrew his troops again. Shi Kefa knew that he had been tricked, and quickly led some troops to Suzhou.

Zhang Guowei, who was inspecting in Chuzhou, was also very panicked when he heard about it. He rushed to help at starry night. The two met in Fengyang. Zhu Dadian, the governor of water transportation stationed in Fengyang, told them that the crown prince was coming to Fengyang soon, so they should prepare to welcome him.

Although they didn't know what happened to the rogue bandits who went to Suzhou to attack, Zhang Guowei and Shi Kefa were very happy to hear that the crown prince was fine, and immediately prepared to go out of the city to greet him.

After seeing the crown prince in the dragon chariot with their own eyes, the two of them finally felt at ease and hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.

"My lord, Zhang Guowei, the imperial censor of Youqiandu, pays homage to His Royal Highness the Thousand Years Old Prince!"

"My lord, Shi Kefa, the censor of Qiandu, would like to pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Thousand Years Old Prince!"

After the two people came forward to salute, other officials and people who greeted them also bowed and saluted.

Zhu Cixi walked out of the dragon chariot and said calmly: "Xing!"

After the salute, Zhang Guowei and Shi Kefa both turned their heads and glanced at Huang Degong coldly. Huang Degong's soldiers surrounded the capital procuratorate and buried the censor of Zuodu alive. For them, as censors, it was simply a great shame and humiliation.

Although they were extremely dissatisfied with Yongwei Battalion and Huang Degong, they had to admit that the men and horses of Yongwei Battalion were definitely a powerful force. The sergeants had neat military appearance and neat queues.

nothing.

What's even more shocking is that there was not even a single noise among the tens of thousands of people. It was obvious that they were soldiers with strict military discipline.

"Sure enough, they are all elite soldiers. It seems that there is hope for countering the rebellion this time!" Zhang Guowei and Shi Kefa couldn't help but feel a little moved, and their expressions softened a lot.

Although Zhu Dadian was also a censor, and the censor of Youdu, he didn't take it seriously. Governors all over the Ming Dynasty would hold the position of censor. Why should he take himself as a public official? So seriously?

Zhu Dadian bowed and said: "Your Highness, I heard that the bandit Tuo Xianling led an army of 30,000 to raid Suzhou. What did you do..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw a cavalry coming from afar. After entering the guarding range of the Yongwei camp, they immediately raised their badges and shouted commands.

The dragon Xiang refused to stop at night and stood twenty steps away from the dragon chariot. He dismounted and ran quickly, reporting loudly: "Your Majesty, the bandit Tuo Xianling's tribe has been wiped out by our army. Our army's five thousand cavalry have beheaded ten thousand people.

The first thief, Tuo Xianling, was killed on the spot, and his head is here!"

As he said this, Ye Bushou took off the package wrapped around his waist and poured out the head in the box.

Seeing the head rolling on the ground, the surrounding officials were horrified and took a few steps back.

"The head of the thief's leader?" Shi Kefa took two steps forward, looked at it carefully, and ordered someone to fetch the portraits of each bandit leader.

After careful comparison with Tuo Xianling's portrait, Shi Kefa finally exclaimed: "It is indeed Wang Tuo Xianling with the word "thief"!"

Zhang Guowei also exclaimed: "How did the Yongwei camp defeat Tuo Xianling's 30,000 army with only 5,000 troops? This..."

Shi Kefa shook his head and said: "It's not defeat, it's beheading. Even Tuo Xianling's head was brought. This battle is more than what we have gained in the past few months after all our efforts to pursue and block the interceptor thieves."

Seeing that the two of them were a little angry and jealous, Zhu Cixi said calmly: "Although there are two hundred thousand bandits, they are all local chickens and dogs. As long as our Yongwei camp has enough food and salary, we can defeat all the bandits in the south of the Yangtze River!"

Although Zhang Guowei and Shi Kefa were both upright, honest, and loyal ministers who sacrificed their lives for the country in history, they now represent the interests of Jiangnan bureaucrats and landlords. Zhu Cixiang does not need to show respect to them at this time. On the contrary,

I also have to beat them from time to time.

Respect belongs to respect, and governing the country belongs to governing the country. They belong to one code and the other must not be abolished for personal reasons. If the two of them dare to cause trouble for him in Jiangnan, Zhu Cihong will not mind getting rid of them first.

Regarding the Crown Prince's shameless words, everyone looked unhappy, but the Yongwei Battalion had indeed achieved such a great result, and they themselves were unable to refute it. After everyone exchanged pleasantries, they accompanied him into Fengyang.

city.

Fengyang is the hometown of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. In the second year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang mobilized tens of thousands of craftsmen, soldiers and civilians from all over the country to build the central capital in Fengyang based on Nanjing City. The city, palaces and palaces were also built in accordance with the regulations of the capital.

Zhongdu has palaces, Zhongshu Province, the Governor's Office, the Yushitai, the branch of the military and horse command department, and other government offices, as well as the Wansui Mountain, Sheji, Taimiao, Qintianjian, etc., including Chengtianmen, Meridian Gate, and Xuanwumen.

, Donghua Gate and so on are all built almost according to the capital.

Later, the construction was stopped after half the construction was completed. After the construction of Zhongdu was stopped, Zhongdu was not regarded as the capital and was designated as the companion capital of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang required the princes and clan to go to Fengyang every year for training and military training. At least one third of the more than 300 miles from Nanjing to Fengyang must be walked, and no riding is allowed.

After Zhu Di, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, moved the capital to Beijing, Beijing was far away from Fengyang. Princes were no longer often sent to live in Zhongdu as they did during the Hongwu period, and the palaces here gradually became deserted.
Chapter completed!