Late Ming Dynasty: Starting with the overthrow of the county magistrate, a rebellion was launched to

As the most important town in Huguang (Hubei and Hunan provinces), Xiangyang naturally had a large population. Commoners, officials' families, soldiers... all sorts of people gathered in Xiangyang, so the city walls were lined with shops, taverns, inns, pawnshops, and grain stores. Although it was a bit crowded due to the large number of people, it was still very orderly.

The Governor-General's Headquarters was located on the former site of the Xiangyang Prefectural Government Office. After expansion and renovation, it became even more magnificent. A golden plaque with the words "Governor-General's Headquarters" hung high above the main gate, guarded by stone lions on both sides, and heavily armed soldiers stood guard.

The main hall of the military headquarters is nine bays wide and five bays deep, with blue brick flooring and red pillars standing tall. A plaque inscribed with "A Bright Mirror Hangs High" hangs on the main wall, and below it is the main seat, which is Yang Sichang's seat.

On either side of the main seat were more than ten seats, with military officers on the left and civil officials on the right. All the core generals and staff who were in Xiangyang City and had not gone out to lead troops had gathered here, waiting for Zhang Da's arrival.

It's astonishing that a mere magistrate of Shaoyang County could mobilize such a large entourage, gathering all the prominent figures of the town, yet they didn't seem to find it inappropriate.

Especially when Emperor Chongzhen's edict of commendation was delivered to them...

Imagine if Zhang Xianzhong had entered Sichuan without any resistance. The government troops would have been basically unable to deal with him in a short period of time. If the officials in Sichuan had then submitted memorials to the imperial court, pleading their deaths and suffering...

None of you here should be sitting here so comfortably, all dressed up and looking so glamorous...

Therefore, they still held some goodwill towards Zhang Da in their hearts.

At this moment, on the left side of the military officers' seats sat generals including He Renlong, the Shaanxi General Commander, Zhang Yingyuan, Wang Yunfeng, and Li Guodong, the Huguang Military Commander.

On the right side, in the civil service seats, sat high-ranking local officials such as the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Huguang, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, and the Prefect of Xiangyang, as well as a group of staff members from the military governor's headquarters.

Yang Sichang, dressed in a first-rank official robe with a crane emblem, sat upright in the main seat. He had a thin face, sharp eyes, and a dignified and composed expression.

When he learned that Zhang Da was about to arrive in Xiangyang, it was he who put aside all military affairs and summoned key civil and military officials to the main hall.

The hall was completely silent. All eyes were fixed on the entrance, awaiting Zhang Da's grand entrance.

A moment later, Wan Yuanji and Zhang Da appeared at the entrance of the lobby.

Yang Sichang looked up and his gaze fell on Zhang Da, and he nodded to himself.

Before him stood a tall and handsome young man. Though dressed in a simple cotton robe, without armor or official attire, he was upright, composed, and steady in his steps. He was neither arrogant nor humble, and remained calm and composed in the face of a hall full of high-ranking officials and fierce generals, without the slightest hint of unease.

The rough, uncouth air that Yang Sichang had imagined in Zhang Da did not appear; instead, he possessed the dashing and heroic spirit of a young hero.

Good lad!

"He is indeed a handsome and talented young man with an extraordinary demeanor."

Even the well-informed Yang Sichang couldn't help but admire it in his heart.

As the protagonist, Zhang Da, stepped into the hall, he instantly felt dozens of gazes converge on him—curious, scrutinizing, questioning, and respectful—like countless sharp blades that seemed to pierce through him.

He looked up and could only distinguish the civil and military officials by their official robes. Of course, the man sitting upright in the main seat, with his dignified expression and imposing presence, was undoubtedly Yang Sichang.

However, no matter who it was, Zhang Da could feel their burning gazes focused on him.

For some reason, this made Zhang Da feel as if he had been transported back to the day he first rebelled in Shaoyang.

Fortunately, Zhang Da didn't have a heart condition; otherwise, the mix of fear, excitement, shock, and restraint that caused his heart to pound would have been unbearable.

Zhang Dayong had rehearsed the etiquette countless times in his mind beforehand. He bowed respectfully, his voice steady and calm.

"This humble citizen, Zhang Da, greets Your Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief, and all the esteemed officials and generals."

The childish voice rang out, yet the hall remained completely silent. All the generals and officials were secretly sizing up this man who wasn't even as old as their own sons.

"Lord Zhang, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise and take a seat. I invited you here today not for any other reason than to meet you in person, a pillar of the nation."

Yang Sichang was the first to speak. He seemed quite satisfied with Zhang Da at this moment, and even showed a smile despite his years of toil for the country.

Zhang Ziran bowed in gratitude, and then, guided by Wan Yuanji, slowly walked to the specially set-up seats in the lobby and sat down.

Seeing Zhang Da take his seat, Yang Sichang spoke again.

"Truly a fine son of the court! Magistrate Zhang previously offered a brilliant strategy to defeat the bandits, and his contributions are truly remarkable. Both the court and I remember your merits."

Before Zhang could express his gratitude, Yang Sichang's tone became serious.

"Governor Zhang is so skilled in suppressing bandits that I would like to propose that from now on, all generals and staff of the headquarters may consult you on matters involving suppressing bandits, defending the territory, and ensuring the safety of the people. If you have any questions, you should treat him with the respect due to a teacher, and you need not refuse."

These words shocked everyone in the room.

It was already quite an honor that we were able to gather together and wait for that seventeen-year-old boy from Shaoyang. Yet, Governor Yang actually asked us to become his disciples in front of that boy.

A scholar can be killed but not humiliated!

At this moment, both the military officers on the left and the civil officials on the right were extremely agitated, their expressions contorted as if they were in excruciating pain.

"Thump"

Zhang Da was so frightened that he immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Excellency, you mustn't! This humble subject dares not accept such a grand gesture. I beg you to rescind your order!"

"Oh? Why is that? Please explain, Magistrate Zhang."

Yang Sichang looked at Zhang Da with a half-smile and asked him the reason.

"This humble subject has three things he dares not and three things he cannot do, and I am utterly unable to comply:"

Firstly, I dare not disregard the proper etiquette of hierarchy. You esteemed officials are pillars of the court, while I am but a humble villager. How dare I be treated with the respect due to a teacher by you high-ranking officials?

Secondly, I dare not be arrogant because of my meager achievement. It was merely a lucky guess that led me to the enemy's escape route; it was just a trivial scheme. You esteemed generals and lords have fought countless battles and governed the country with great skill and merit, far surpassing mine. How dare my humble efforts compare to the brilliance of the sun and moon?

Thirdly, I dare not mislead the people or the country. I have farmed since childhood, never studied the classics, and only have a rudimentary understanding of military strategy; I am not knowledgeable in governance or battlefield tactics.

When Zhang Dayang finished his long speech, Yang Sichang and his two groups of subordinates reacted in completely different ways.

Yang Sichang stood up excitedly and immediately cheered.

The generals and civil officials below remained indifferent.

Yang Sichang: These are truly fine young men of the Ming Dynasty! I've struck gold!

Military general: Loading cargo

Civil official: A loader who hasn't read many books and can't even recall the classical allusions.

For some reason, Yang Sichang showed no interest whatsoever when others spoke these words to him, yet he was quite pleased with Zhang Da at this moment. He even personally stood up, took two steps forward, bent down, and helped Zhang Da up.

"You're being far too modest. Don't you know that throughout history, heroes have never been judged by their origins, and wise men have never been judged by their social status?"

"In the past, when Tang of Shang overthrew Xia, he appointed Yi Yin, who was in the kitchen, as his prime minister and treated him with the respect due to a teacher, and eventually gained the world; King Wen of Zhou met Jiang Shang, who was fishing on the banks of the Wei River, and brought him back in a cart, honoring him as Shangfu, and eventually overthrew Yin Shang; Duke Huan of Qi employed Guan Zhong, a prisoner under his command, put aside past grievances, and appointed him as Zhongfu, and eventually became the hegemon of the Spring and Autumn Period..."

Yang Sichang's voice was powerful and resonant, full of allusions and quotations, and he became more and more enthusiastic as he spoke. However, just as the civil officials had guessed, Zhang Da hadn't heard of the later allusions and therefore couldn't remember them.

However, he only knew the general meaning!

He just wants me to come up with ideas for the next bandit suppression campaign, right?

So Zhang Da pretended to be influenced by these historical allusions and decided to repay the imperial court properly.

"Your Excellency has said all you need to say, and I dare not refuse. The formal apprenticeship ceremony is absolutely unacceptable, but I, a humble commoner, am willing to speak frankly and without reservation, to do my part in the court's campaign against the rebels!"

Yang Sichang was very satisfied with what he saw, returned to his seat, and turned to face his generals.

"Since Magistrate Zhang has said so... generals, if you have any further questions, please speak freely."

As soon as Yang Sichang finished speaking, He Renlong, who was sitting on the left, was the first to stand up.

"This humble general has some questions he would like to ask Magistrate Zhang."