xymnovel Chapter 65 Support
Chapter 65 Support
"What did you say?!"
"Young master, there's a group of thieves looting near Wang Sheren's shop, about forty or fifty of them!"
Upon hearing the servant's report, Zhang Zhiyuan's eyes showed a hint of fear, but even more so, excitement.
A moment earlier, one of Zhang Zhiyuan's sharp-eyed servants saw flames rising from the direction of Wang Sheren's shop.
Zhang Zhiyuan sent two of his servants to investigate, and this is what he learned.
As the son of the Duke of Ying, Zhang Zhiyuan, who had practiced martial arts since childhood, harbored a deep desire to earn military merit.
However, his father, Zhang Weixian, did not think highly of him. His elder brothers all held official positions in the Five Prefectures, the Beijing Garrison, or the border towns, while he remained a commoner.
Upon learning that there were only forty or fifty bandits, without horses or armor, Zhang Zhiyuan's heart began to stir with desire.
"Young Master,"
The experienced and prudent guard noticed that Zhang Zhiyuan's expression was off and quickly tried to dissuade him:
"We're out here to scout and gather military intelligence; we should first report to Commander Zhang..."
"That's right!"
Zhang Zhiyuan interrupted the guards and sentries, pointed at two guards, and ordered:
"You two go find Commander Zhang and report the military situation here!"
He then ordered the remaining twenty-odd servants, "Let's go, let's go to Wang Sheren's shop and kill the thieves!"
Having said that, without waiting for the servants or officers to dissuade him, he spurred his horse forward and charged towards the direction of Wang Sheren's shop.
......
Xu Bengao's standard battalion, Zhang Kun's guards, and the servants of the British Duke's mansion did not participate in the mountain battle.
They, along with the Jinan garrison, blocked off the left and right flanks to prevent the bandits from escaping from either side.
"My daughter is worried that there are far more than forty or fifty thieves."
Upon receiving the military intelligence report from Zhang Zhiyuan, Zhang Jingzhen immediately ran to the central command tent, knelt on one knee, and pleaded with Xu Bengao:
"We urge the Grand Commander to immediately send troops to provide support!"
"Please rise quickly."
Xu Bengao hurried over, raised his hand to help the Duke of England's niece up, and instead of replying directly, looked at Zhang Kun and said:
"Nephew, how did this thief end up at Wang Sheren's shop? Could it be that Governor Li's side...?"
Since the other party dared to use the banner of King Ping Shi, Xu Bengao believed that they must have some real skills.
Taking advantage of the mountainous terrain and with a bit of good luck, they might actually be able to defeat Li Changgeng.
Xu Bengao knew neither Ping Shiwang nor the government troops in Jinan. He was ignorant of both himself and his enemy, so he was filled with fear and anxiety.
"Grand Commander, if Governor Li is truly in trouble, he will definitely ask us for help."
Zhang Kun first offered a word of comfort to Xu Bengao, and then offered words of comfort to Zhang Jingzhen:
"Young lady, don't panic. Most likely, a group of thieves set up a separate stronghold and managed to escape."
Actually, Zhang Kun was also a little unsure, because he suddenly remembered:
Apart from northern Shaanxi, Shandong also seems to have experienced a major peasant uprising at the end of the Ming Dynasty. Could this be the one?
Not only in Shandong, but also in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan, a major rebellion broke out, but it was eventually suppressed by the Ming Dynasty.
"Young lady, as you know, my battalion is newly established. During our march from the capital to Jinan, nearly two hundred men escaped."
Xu Bengao, unwilling to send troops, smiled wryly at Zhang Jingzhen:
"It's several miles from here to that Wang Sheren's shop, I'm afraid we'll have to flee another two hundred miles along the way..."
"I understand,"
Zhang Jingzhen stood up, her expression resolute, and respectfully addressed Xu Bengao:
"Please allow my daughter to lead her servants to provide assistance, Grand Commander!"
"No!"
Xu Bengao hadn't expected Zhang Jingzhen to be so strong-willed, and quickly tried to dissuade her:
"Young lady, I understand your feelings, but you're just letting your concern cloud your judgment!"
Zhang Jingzhen did not reply, but simply bowed and turned to leave the central command tent, clearly ignoring any advice.
"Please wait, young lady!"
Zhang Kun quickly stopped Zhang Jingzhen, turned to Xu Bengao and volunteered:
"Grand Commander, please allow me to lead the guards to provide support."
There was no way around it; if Duke Zhang Weixian of England found out:
Zhang Kun and Xu Bengao actually sat idly by while Zhang Jingzhen went to support Zhang Zhiyuan alone, without sending a single soldier. The two sides are bound to become enemies.
If anything happens to Zhang Zhiyuan and Zhang Jingzhen, it will be a fight to the death!
Of course, Zhang Kun wouldn't actually risk his life to save Zhang Zhiyuan; rather, he would show that he was doing his best.
"Nephew..."
Xu Bengao wanted to send some of his personal guards to Zhang Kun, but then he thought that Li Changgeng's side might be facing setbacks, so he swallowed his words and said:
"My dear nephew, please be very careful!"
In Xu Bengao's mind, Zhang Kun was more important, after all, without Zhang Kun, the Nanjing Jinyun could not have been launched.
"Thank you, Grand Commander."
Zhang Kun bowed to Xu Bengao, then turned to Zhou Zhong and gave the instructions:
"Old Zhou, you will assist the Grand Commander here."
Zhou Zhong was not only placed in the river engineering camp by Xu Bengao, but he was also more trustworthy than the military officers in Xu Bengao's standard battalion.
Therefore, Zhang Kun took the initiative to suggest that Zhou Zhong stay behind, so that he could retain some say in the central command tent.
Leaving the central command tent, Zhang Kun called over Xu Xin and Cao Meng, and ordered, "Assemble the fifth team!"
Then, turning to Zhou Zhong who had followed him out, he patted Wang Chenglin on the shoulder and said, "Old Zhou, I'm entrusting these younger ones, Chenglin, to you!"
"Master Kun..."
Wang Chenglin wanted to refuse, but Zhang Kun interrupted him in a deep voice, "If both of us are in trouble, who will take care of Grandpa and Grandma?!"
Just then, Zhang Jingzhen also stepped out of the central command tent. "Commander Zhang, my daughter will go with you."
Zhang Kun forced a smile at Zhang Jingzhen, trying to dissuade her, but she said coldly:
"The servants my daughter brought are far more elite than the soldiers under Commander Zhang!"
If Commander Zhang is determined to refuse my daughter, is it merely lip service without any intention of actually providing support?
So, they're just going to act as the supervisory team again?
Zhang Kun, whose true thoughts had been revealed, put away his smile and said:
"Since you insist on taking this risk yourself, young lady, I will not try to dissuade you further. I only ask that you be careful, for weapons have no eyes!"
After saying that, he turned around, mounted the large Western horse that Xu Xin had brought over, and rode towards the camp of the river engineering battalion's guards.
......
Zhang Kun's guards and the retainers of the Duke of England's mansion joined forces, totaling more than a hundred cavalry.
We quickly proceeded along the official road towards Wangsheren's shop, and stopped at a high point near Wangsheren's shop.
The inn of Wang Sheren was engulfed in flames, with black smoke billowing into the sky. The servants who had been acting as scouts returned to report:
Half of the market was set on fire by thieves. The number of thieves is unknown, but it is definitely more than forty or fifty.
"Let's follow the official road and smash through this Wang Sheren's inn!"
Zhang Kun suggested to Zhang Jingzhen beside him, "Shall we find Brother Zhiyuan first?"
Zhang Jingzhen remained noncommittal, drew a willow-leaf dagger, and volunteered to Zhang Kun, saying, "This humble woman is willing to be the vanguard!"
Zhang Kun did not try to dissuade her, waiting until Zhang Jingzhen led more than thirty servants from the Duke of England's mansion to attack.
He ordered Xu Xin and Cao Meng, "Keep up!"
The layout of Wangsheren's shop is very simple, with many shops and residences on both sides of the east-west official road.
In the middle, a north-south rural road connects to the official road, and there is a market town to the south of this T-junction.
Along the official road, there were scattered thieves as well as panicked civilians who had nowhere to go.
Anyone who blocked the way, even those who didn't react in time, was killed by the guards of the Duke of England's mansion, who mistook them for enemies!
Some of the more aggressive and ruthless bandits, upon discovering the arrival of the government troops, climbed onto the rooftops of shops and houses and began shooting arrows and throwing stones in their direction.
"Ignore it, don't stray from the group!"
Zhang Kun's iron arm deflected an arrow, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone draw a horsebow to retaliate. He immediately shouted:
"Slay our way through here!"
At the same time, a thief climbed down from the market's roof and urgently said to Zhang Jixu:
"Marshal, government troops are advancing this way, several dozen of them!"