Late Ming Dynasty: From the Defeated Soldiers at Daling River to Ascending the Throne

Just as Chen Feng put the banknotes into the wooden box and tucked them under the table, there was a sudden knock on the door.

His heart tightened.

Who would come so late?

He stood up, walked quietly to the door, touched the dagger at his waist, and listened to the sounds outside.

"Tap tap." Two more soft sounds.

Zhao Sheng's voice came from outside the door, "Commander, it's me."

Chen Feng felt a sense of relief, removed his hand from the dagger, and opened the door.

Zhao Sheng and Hao Dadao were standing outside the door.

Chen Feng looked at them, then glanced behind them; the corridor was empty, no one was there.

He ushered the two inside. "What's wrong? Can't sleep?"

Zhao Sheng scratched his head and didn't say anything.

Hao Dadao was much more straightforward. He took out the stack of silver notes from his pocket and handed them to Chen Feng, saying, "Boss, I don't really need this money. Here, take it."

Chen Feng was stunned.

He looked at the stack of silver notes, then at Hao Dadao's honest face, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

When Hao Dadao saw that he wouldn't take it, he got anxious and shoved the silver note into his hand.

He muttered, "Boss, you'll still be leading me to fight the Tartars in the future. Just like you said, we need to recruit soldiers and buy horses. Most of the money I get will just be used to buy wine. You should use this money for something worthwhile."

He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if it were not six thousand taels of silver, but six copper coins.

Chen Feng looked down at the silver notes in his hand, and something inside him seemed to be struck hard.

Zhao Sheng stepped forward and handed over his stack of silver notes, saying, "Lord Commander, I don't need that many."

He paused, his voice lowering, "My parents were killed by the Tartars a few years ago. I'm unmarried and have no ties. Besides... once a person has money, their sword becomes dull."

He looked at Chen Feng, his gaze calm, "You are destined for great things. Once you have a team, you'll need to support your men, buy weapons, and there will be many expenses. Use this money wisely and help more brothers survive."

Chen Feng looked at the two stacks of silver notes in front of him, and then at the two people.

Hao Dadao remained in the gesture of handing over the money, his face showing an urgent "please accept this quickly" expression.

Zhao Sheng stood beside him with a faint smile on his face. That smile contained trust, entrustment, and a little bit of something else... a sense of reassurance.

He suddenly felt a little ashamed.

Just a few hours ago, he was worried that these people might be tempted by the money and run away with it.

But what about them?

They returned the money they had received.

Chen Feng took a deep breath and took the two stacks of silver notes.

"Okay." His voice was a little dry. "I'll keep this money for you. Come and get it from me whenever you need it."

Hao Dadao grinned: "Alright! I trust you, boss!"

Zhao Sheng nodded without saying anything.

Chen Feng looked at them and added, "The capital is different from other places; there are many places to spend money. You should also keep some for yourselves."

Seeing that Chen Feng had accepted the silver notes, Zhao Sheng smiled with relief. "We're not stupid. Da Dao and I each kept a few hundred taels, enough for us."

Hao Dadao nodded repeatedly from the side: "Yes, yes, yes, I kept two hundred taels, enough to buy dozens of acres of fertile land. I couldn't possibly cultivate any more than that!"

Chen Feng chuckled at his words. "Alright, go back to sleep. We have to travel tomorrow."

The two nodded and turned to leave.

As he reached the door, Hao Dadao turned back, grinning sheepishly, "Boss, you should go to sleep early too!"

Chen Feng waved his hand at him.

The door closed.

Soft footsteps echoed down the corridor, gradually fading into the distance.

Chen Feng stood in the room, looking down at the two stacks of silver notes in his hand, then at the table where the wooden box was hidden, and suddenly smiled.

It wasn't the usual perfunctory smile; it was a genuine, heartfelt laugh that couldn't be suppressed.

He recalled a saying his old sergeant from his past life in the army had said: "What is a brother? It's someone who entrusts their back to you, entrusts their life to you, and you still feel at ease with them."

He carefully put the banknotes into the wooden box.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a layer of frost on the ground.

Chen Feng lay back on the bed, looking at the ceiling with a smile on his lips.

That night, he slept more soundly than any other night in recent days.

........................

Tieshizi Hutong, Tian Mansion.

The faint sounds of string and wind instruments drifted from the back room, mixed with women's laughter and the clinking of wine glasses.

Tian Wan sat in the main seat, with two beautiful women in his arms, one on each side, his face flushed from drinking.

Sitting opposite him was Xiong Mingyu, the Minister of War, who was also surrounded by women, both of whom were flushed from drinking.

"Come on, Minister Xiong, let's have another drink!" Tian Wan raised his wine cup and toasted Xiong Mingyu from afar.

Xiong Mingyu smiled, raised his glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

Tian Wan put down his wine cup, waved his hand, and the two beauties understood, getting up and stepping aside.

Xiong Mingyu waved his hand, and the two people beside him also stepped back.

Only the two of them remained in the back room.

Tian Wan leaned forward and lowered his voice, "Minister Xiong, when exactly will the reinforcements from Dengzhou and Laizhou arrive?"

Xiong Mingyu put down his wine cup, sighed, and said, "Lord Tian, ​​to be honest, it's difficult."

Tian Wan frowned: "How is it difficult?"

Xiong Mingyu said, "The military pay is insufficient. Sun Yuanhua has reported three times that the battalion commanders Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming have been owed pay for several months, and the soldiers refuse to move. Grand Secretary Sun is frantic in Ningyuan, but he has no money. What can he do?"

Then, changing the subject, a smile appeared on his face: "Thanks to Lord Tian and the generous donations from the court officials, we finally managed to raise a portion of the military funds a few days ago. According to reports from Dengzhou and Laizhou, Kong Youde and his men broke camp half a month ago."

Tian Wan's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Absolutely true." Xiong Mingyu picked up his wine glass. "Judging by the distance, we should be in the Wuqiao area by now."

Tian Wan clapped his hands and laughed, "Good! Good! They've held out at Dalinghe for so long; once reinforcements arrive, the Jurchens will surely retreat!"

He raised his cup to Xiong Mingyu and said, "Minister Xiong, this cup is for you, and also for the soldiers fighting on the front lines!"

Xiong Mingyu smiled and raised his glass, and the two drank it all in one gulp.

Just then, a servant hurried in and whispered a few words in Tian Wan's ear.

Tian Wan's face lit up with joy, and he waved for the servants to leave.

Upon seeing this, Xiong Ming asked, "What's wrong? Is there good news?"

Tian Wan smiled and said, "The person has already arrived in Tongzhou."

Xiong Mingyu was taken aback, then smiled. "Oh? That Commander Chen?"

Tian Wan nodded, her eyes narrowing as if she were lost in thought.

Xiong Mingyu said, "General Tian, ​​this Commander Chen is now a favorite of His Majesty. I heard that His Majesty was delighted after reading his merit list and personally issued an edict summoning him to the capital for an audience. This favor from the Emperor is quite extraordinary."

Tian Wan smiled. "He's just a commander of a thousand men, nothing to mention. Let's drink!"

Xiong Mingyu picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Tian Wan put down his wine glass. Although he spoke softly, something different was revealed in his eyes.

........................

Meanwhile, at Zhang Pu's residence.

In the study, the candlelight flickered.

Zhang Pu had just seen off a young official who had come to deliver a message when his gaze fell on the letter on the table.

The letter was written by Zhang Lan and was delivered two days ago.

The letter clearly stated Chen Feng's background: he was not from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but was merely a military household in Liaodong.

He held the letter to the candle flame and lit it.

The flames licked the edge of the paper, slowly burning upwards.

Zhang Pu stared at the flickering flames, his expression unreadable.

The paper burned out, turning into ashes that fell onto the table.

He despised his uncle's collusion with the border general and the imperial guards, which led to their deception and cover-up.

But he also knew in his heart that this was necessary for the stability of the area outside the Great Wall.

However, based on Zhang Lan's description of Chen Feng's behavior in his letter, it was still to his liking.

He blew away the ashes on the table and sighed softly.

That night, the lights at the Tongzhou Post Station went out.

One by one, the lights in the capital city were lit up.