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

"Good! Good! With Magistrate Zhang's words, I am relieved!"

Seeing that Zhang Da had become sensible, Yang Sichang finally showed a slight smile.

As long as he is allowed to go to Henan to suppress the rebels, it would be tantamount to gaining a great help to Yang Sichang.

So he turned and walked back to his desk, picked up a pre-prepared letter of appointment, and lightly tapped the paper with his fingertip.

"I, the Governor, will immediately submit a memorial to the court, appointing you as the Assistant Military Supervisor of Henan, concurrently serving as the Military Advisor to the Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters, and granting you the Commander-in-Chief's token. You will be in command of the troops in Nanyang and Yunyang, and will work with generals such as Chen Yongfu and Zuo Guangxian to guard the key routes in western Henan and southern Shaanxi, and to curb Li Zicheng's eastward advance!"

They even said they came to ask for my opinion, and they've already prepared their letter of appointment.

Zhang Da silently complained to himself.

He wasn't particularly impressed with the title of Assistant Military Supervisor bestowed upon Zhang Da by Yang Sichang. Although it was a high-ranking official of the fifth rank, concurrently serving as an advisor on military affairs and commanding two armies, wielding the power of supervision and rewards/punishments… it was all talk and no action. In reality, it merely ensured Zhang Da wouldn't be bullied anywhere. Such a hollow title was certainly inferior to returning to Shaoyang.

However, this can be considered a legitimate entry into the Ming Dynasty's military.

"Your subordinate thanks the Commander for his guidance!"

Zhang Da bowed again, this time without being polite.

Seeing this, Yang Sichang's smile deepened.

"You don't need to be so polite. Li Zicheng lay low for half a year, and took advantage of the severe drought in Henan to rise again. Now he has captured several counties and his military strength is growing stronger every day."

"I do not expect you to win after you go to Henan. As long as you can stabilize the Central Plains, and you succeed in the future, I will certainly petition His Majesty for your merit, and it will not be difficult for you to be ennobled and appointed as a general!"

Zhang Da felt like he had said those words before.

"Three days later, I will send five hundred elite cavalry to escort you to Nanyang. Therefore, Lord Zhang, you should rest at the camp for two more days, pack your belongings, and handle the handover matters. Your servants will take care of the arrangements."

Zhang Dalian quickly agreed.

Yang Sichang then gave a few more instructions on the strategy for suppressing the rebels, emphasizing it several times before finally leaving satisfied.

Quiet returned to the warm pavilion in the west courtyard.

Zhang Da stood there, clutching the gold-embossed document of appointment.

He served as the Vice Commissioner of the Military Circuit, assisted in military affairs, and commanded the troops in Nanyang and Yunyang.

The Heavenly Khan's claim of controlling all the armies in the land is not an exaggeration; however, the armies he controls in these two regions might very well ignore him completely.

From now on, I will practice true self-discipline!

After dinner, night fell.

What was Zhang Da writing inside the room?

The candlelight flickered, and the five charming maids, just as they had done in the past few days, gracefully moved forward to surround her.

"My lord, you must be tired from your journey. Let me help you rest. The soup is warmed up; would you like to soothe your throat?"

The maid on the other side gently took his arm, her soft skin pressed against his arm, her fragrance intoxicating.

"My lord will be departing soon. Why not have some fun with us tonight? It's a way to say goodbye before he leaves..."

A few days ago, Zhang Da would have already gone along with it, putting on that vulgar, lustful act... well, he was simply drained dry.

Zhang Da suddenly raised his hand, shoving the crowd aside. His face, no longer showing any trace of his former foolishness, was now filled with a solemn and cold expression.

"All of you, step back."

"I have important matters to attend to and need no service," Zhang Da waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Go to the side room and wait. No one may enter without my permission."

The women saw that his expression didn't seem fake, unlike his previous role-playing.

So Zhang Da was left alone in the room.

He walked to the desk, spread out the letter paper, ground the ink, dipped his brush in the ink, and began to write replies one by one.

It was naturally written to his trusted confidants, family, wife, and others who remained in Shaoyang.

He simply said he would be returning a few months later, so they wouldn't worry, reiterated his policies, and reassured the people in the rear.

Just as he sealed the last letter, the door was gently pushed open, and several maids entered again. This time, they carried warm wine and delicate fruit and pastries, their faces showing a hint of cautious flattery.

"Sir, the letter is finished, it's time to rest."

The maids handed him wine cups, their eyes sparkling.

"Doesn't Your Excellency intend to enjoy yourself a little longer tonight? Once you arrive in Henan, you may not find such gentle and considerate servants to attend to you..."

Another maid gently circled behind him, lightly touching his shoulder with her delicate hand, and spoke in a soft, seductive voice.

"Let's drink and be merry while we can, let's not waste this beautiful time, let's not betray the good intentions of our servants..."

Soft jade and warm fragrance beside me, gentle voices and sweet words in my ears

Alas, the wicked old society was utterly ruthless, devouring people without spitting out their bones.

……

……

The three-day period arrived in the blink of an eye.

On the day of departure, just as dawn was breaking, the city of Xiangyang was already ablaze with armor and spears. Five hundred elite cavalrymen, fully armored and armed, were on horseback and saddles, all of them the elite troops under Yang Sichang, responsible for escorting them along the way.

Zhang Da was dressed in a light blue round-necked robe, with a commander's token at his waist. He was lightly dressed and carried almost no luggage.

Yang Sichang personally came to see him off, and after exchanging a few words with Zhang Da, he let him go.

Thus, five hundred elite cavalrymen escorted Zhang Da from the front and back, heading north along the Wanxiang Ancient Road.

Leaving Xiangyang and passing Fancheng, the official road gradually widens, but also becomes increasingly desolate.

It was late autumn of the twelfth year of the Chongzhen reign, a time when granaries should have been full after the autumn harvest, but all that could be seen along the way was a scene of desolation.

The crops in the fields were withered and scorched, the stalks were bent over, and there was not a trace of gold in the fields. Only the dry and cracked earth was like a tortoise shell, crisscrossed with cracks.

The trees along the roadside had their bark stripped bare, revealing pale trunks—traces left by starving people stripping them to stave off hunger.

Every now and then, one could see ragged refugees, supporting the old and leading the young, their faces sallow and thin, their eyes vacant, moving aimlessly northward like walking corpses.

Among them, some collapsed from hunger by the roadside and could no longer get up; some sold their children for half a bran cake; and some women sat by the roadside, silently weeping, holding their starving children, too weak even to cry.

Occasionally, when passing through a few villages, nine out of ten houses were empty, with broken walls and ruins, no sound of chickens or dogs, and weeds growing everywhere. Only a few crows perched on withered trees, emitting hoarse cries, adding to the desolation.

How did the heartland of the Ming Dynasty become like this?

No wonder Li Zicheng's call to arms was met with overwhelming support, and in just a few months, his army swelled from a remnant of defeat to tens of thousands.

When Zhang Daxing reached the border of Xinye County, soldiers and scouts began to appear on the official road. Their armor was worn and they looked tired. They patrolled and guarded in groups of three or five.

Upon seeing Zhang Da and his entourage in their distinctive vests and holding the commander's token, they hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects, not daring to show the slightest negligence.

The magistrate of Xinye County personally went out of the city to welcome him, and prepared food, drink and wine. Zhang Da only rested for a short while and replenished his water before setting off immediately, not wanting to delay for even a moment longer.

Further north, entering the territory of Dengzhou, the scene became even more tragic.

Dengzhou is adjacent to the heart of Henan, where drought and locust plagues are even more severe. The fields are barren, and even the wild vegetables by the roadside have been dug up.

From time to time, one could see corpses of the starved lying in the wilderness, unburied, with a faint stench of decay permeating the air.

However, the number of soldiers along the way had increased significantly. The camps were long and the flags were tattered. Most of the soldiers were old, weak, sick, or disabled. Their weapons were rusty, and many of them were emaciated and not much better off than the refugees.

With such troops and such morale, how could they possibly withstand the army of starving and freezing refugees under Li Zicheng's command, who were desperately fighting for their lives?

Heading north, they traveled over sixty li a day, traveling by day and resting by night, without daring to delay.

After passing through Dengzhou and Neixiang, the mountain roads gradually become more numerous and the passes are treacherous.

The section from Neixiang to Nanyang is the throat of western Henan. The mountain roads are rugged and easy to defend but difficult to attack. Chen Yongfu had already deployed heavy troops here to guard the key road and prevent Li Zicheng from sneaking into the heart of Nanyang from Shangluo Mountain.

The closer they got to Nanyang, the more vigilant the officers and soldiers became. Scouts came and went in an endless stream, and dust rose everywhere, creating a tense atmosphere as if a great battle was about to begin.

It was afternoon that day.

Finally, a magnificent city appeared ahead, with towering walls, numerous crenellations, fluttering banners, and a constant flow of people and horses. It was Nanyang Prefecture, an important town in Henan.

Nanyang, formerly known as Wancheng, controlled Ruzhou and Luoyang to the north, sheltered Jingzhou and Xiangyang to the south, connected Guanzhong and Shaanxi to the west, and overlooked the Yangtze and Huai Rivers to the east. It was a strategic location fought over by military strategists in the Central Plains.

Once Li Zicheng captures Nanyang, he can advance east to Luoyang, west to Tongguan, and south to Huguang, and the Central Plains will be completely ruined.

At this moment, a group of generals dressed in armor and with weapons at their waists were already standing at the city gate, each with a solemn expression, waiting for a long time.

The two men at the head of the group were a burly man with a resolute face, a slight beard, and wearing heavy armor. He exuded a calm and composed aura and was none other than Chen Yongfu, the General of Nanyang.

The other man was slightly thinner, with sharp eyes and a fierce air about him; he was the deputy general, Zuo Guangxian.

Behind the two were more than ten generals, including lieutenant generals, guerrilla commanders, and garrison commanders.

Upon seeing Zhang Da's group approaching from afar, Chen Yongfu and Zuo Guangxian exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.

Several days earlier, they had received a letter from Yang Sichang informing them that the Grand Coordinator had dispatched a military supervisor and advisor to Nanyang to oversee the various armies and assist in suppressing the rebels.

Why is there a child here?

He was only eighteen or nineteen years old, but he looked like a young scholar who had just left the countryside.

To everyone's astonishment, someone specifically introduced Zhang Da's background to the two of them.

The two men's expressions softened slightly, and they stepped forward to greet each other.

"Zhang Da, the Vice Military Supervisor of Henan and Military Advisor to the Commander-in-Chief, has been ordered by the Grand Secretary to come to Nanyang to assist the generals in suppressing the bandits!"

Chen Yongfu was the first to recover his senses. Although he was shocked, he dared not be negligent.

"This humble general, Chen Yongfu, Commander-in-Chief of Nanyang, respectfully welcomes Vice Commissioner Zhang!"

Zuo Guangxian followed closely behind, cupping his hands in greeting: "This humble general, Zuo Guangxian, greets Vice Commissioner Zhang!"

Upon seeing this, the other generals also awoke with a start and bowed in unison, saying, "Welcome, Vice Commissioner Zhang!"

The sounds were unified and resounded throughout the city gate.

Whether they welcomed him or not, Zhang Da still arrived in Nanyang City.

I'm determined to accomplish something great!