Chapter Seventy-One: Intimacy

  This memorial should be approved by Emperor Chongzhen as soon as possible and then fed back as soon as possible. Therefore, the best messenger is Zhong Jinwei's follower, Dongchang people, who can directly reach Tian Ting immediately.

  This glorious yet simple task was left to Wang Peng to carry out.

  After the matter was settled, Sun Chengzong said: "Zhongxing Bo, Jiutai, go to the rear account to rest for a while and discuss the specific details of tomorrow's troop reduction."

  Zhong Jinwei had been suppressing the doubts in his heart, and now that everything was settled, he couldn't help but ask: "This... isn't Lu Zhifu's name Xiang Sheng, with the courtesy name Jiandou? Sir Sun, why do you call Lu Zhifu 'Jiutai'?"

  Sun Chengzong listened and smiled "heh heh" at Lu Xiangsheng, then said: "Jiutai, you explain it yourself."

  Lu Xiangsheng also smiled and said: "Report to the supervisor, Jiutai is my humble title."

  At the end of the Ming Dynasty, people who were close in relationship no longer called each other by name, but instead used nicknames. Even thieves gave themselves nicknames to follow the trend.

  Zhong Jinwei didn't know this and was naturally puzzled.

  Sun Chengzong, upon hearing Zhong Jinwei mention the matter of his courtesy name and style name, couldn't help but recall something. He asked Zhong Jinwei: "I've been in contact with Duke Zhongxing for a long time, but I don't seem to have heard him mention his courtesy name or style name; may I ask if you know?"

  Zhong Jinwei smiled awkwardly: "Sorry, I don't have a pen or a phone number."

  Suddenly I remembered that in middle school, classmates had given me a nickname. Is this the one? Busy added: "There might be one, but it doesn't sound good."

  Sun Chengzong, this old stubborn child, upon hearing these words, became even more energetic and urged Zhong Jinwei to quickly say his number.

  "My number is Three Big Steps." Zhong Jinwei was forced to say it out loud.

  "...", Sun Chengzong and Lu Xiangsheng heard, is there still such a number?

  "I've already told you it's not good to hear, but you insist on making me say it."

  Sun Chengzong refused to give up and said: "What's your origin? I'm very curious, quickly tell me and let me hear."

  Zhong Jinwei just wouldn't say, and was finally forced to say: "My three big steps are unpredictable by ghosts and gods, that's all."

  Sun Chengzong wanted to ask further, but Zhong Jinwei refused to say any more and only begged for mercy. Sun Chengzong had no choice but to give up.

  This back-and-forth conversation also brought the distance between the three of them closer. There was a deliberate factor in Sun Chengzong, the old guy knew that Zhong Jinwei was a red man in front of the emperor, and he was leading troops outside, it's easier to do things with someone in the court.

  Zhong Jinwei is more interested in historical figures. He asked Lu Xiangyang, "Jiutai, did you use a 140-jin big knife when practicing your skills?"

  Lu Xiangsheng was very curious about Zhong Jinwei, whom he had never met before, knowing that he used a 140-jin big knife to practice his skills, because there should be very few people who knew this.

  He said to Zhong Jingwei: "How did the supervisor know that I practiced with a knife? Not many people know about this."

  "Haha, I not only know that your sword weighs 140 catties, but also know that you usually like to read military books and are good at riding and shooting." Zhong Jinwei said with a pleased smile.

  Lu Xiangsheng listened and looked shocked.

  Zhong Jinwei added fuel to the fire: "I also know things you don't know, so I recommended you to the Emperor. I have high hopes for you."

  Lu Xiangsheng suddenly realized that he had been wondering who recommended him, and it was not because of his own background as a jinshi.

  This ancient kindness of recommendation is very heavy, Lu Xiangsheng knew that it was Zhong Jinwei's recommendation, and he gratefully bowed his fist and body: "Thank you, General, for recommending me."

  Sun Chengzong was also puzzled, this kid not only recommended himself, but also recommended Jiutai, don't know who else he will recommend.

  "It's nothing, it's nothing, it should be." Zhong Jinwei said with a smile. But in his heart, he thought again, if there was a referral fee, that would be great.

  Lu Xiangsheng asked again: "Just now, the supervisor said that he also knew something that I didn't know about myself. What is it?"

  Those things can't be repeated now. Besides, one's origins cannot be known to others, this is what Emperor Chongzhen repeatedly instructed. So, he pretended to be mysterious: "Heavenly secrets must not be revealed."

  Lu Xiangsheng saw that Zhong Jinwei was unwilling to speak and had no way to force him, after all, Zhong Jinwei was the supervisor of the army and also his benefactor.

  The three men went back to their tent to rest while discussing the details of the troop reduction.

  It's quiet here, but it's busy over there.

  After General Cao Ming Lei returned to his own camp, he immediately convened a military meeting. He roughly told his subordinates about the situation in the central army account and then gave orders: "Tonight, all soldiers will have a full meal this evening and tomorrow morning, let them eat their fill, and provide enough charcoal for heating. Let them get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, line up, I want you to stand well. As long as we can outlast the others and stay in the end, I promise each of you will be rewarded with five silver coins. Did you hear that?"

  The subordinates knew that the commander was going to stake his life on this, so they also didn't dare to slack off and nodded in agreement one after another.

  After seeing that the subordinates understood their orders, they were dismissed and told to hurry up and prepare. Then, the cavalry captain was left behind to be instructed: "Tomorrow you will supervise the other troops, if there is even a slight wavering, drive them out of formation, show no mercy, understand?"

  The cavalry captain blinked his eyes, not quite understanding. Although he wasn't very close to the brother troops usually, it wouldn't be so ruthless either. However, he still nodded, indicating that he would show no mercy.

  Cao Ming Lei's trusted subordinates knew him all too well, and just by looking at him, they could tell that he was only habitually obeying his own orders. So he explained: "If other troops had made up for the number of eliminated soldiers earlier, wouldn't we be able to eliminate fewer ourselves, get it?"

  Now, the leader of the cavalry understood and nodded vigorously. When it came to matters that affected his own interests, he was determined not to show any weakness.

  Cao Ming Lei did this, other generals are actually doing similar things, the central idea is one, try to keep their own soldiers' quota, and eliminate others.

  But there are also some generals who have not given up their evil intentions, wanting to see how things go before making a move. If they see someone retreating, they will follow suit and run away. After all, it's impossible for everyone to be killed.

  These people were soon disappointed. With the sound of "Wu Wu Wu" bugle, Zu Dashou's 18,200 Guanning Iron Riders divided into four troops and headed to the four corners of the main camp, blocking the traffic arteries in all directions.

  Soon, the fleeing general understood the intention of Zu Dashou's division of troops and reluctantly gave up his own idea, obediently participating in the competition of "die together as friends, not die alone in poverty".

  When Emperor Chongzhen received Sun Chengzong's memorial forwarded by Wang Chengen, it was already sunset.

  The Chongzhen Emperor quickly finished reading the memorial, and couldn't help but feel both joy and worry.

  Fortunately, I have just sent out ZTE's dispatch for half a day and actually promoted the implementation of the strategy of eliminating the weak and retaining the strong. The intensity of eliminating soldiers is so great that the pressure on logistics will be greatly reduced.

  What's worrisome is that there are so many people who want to join the ranks of refugees, and it's unclear whether they can be taken care of.

  The Chongzhen Emperor never considered whether he should settle down or not, but rather whether he could settle down at all.

  He thought of this and asked Wang Chengen: "This afternoon, has the number of civilians responding to the imperial court's call increased?"

  "Your Majesty, I inquired once at the end of the hour of Wu and the beginning of the hour of Shen, apart from that wave in the morning, another group of merchants who are famous for their philanthropy have also donated. I immediately sent someone to Wang Gong's factory to get a detailed record." Wang Cheng'en replied with a bow.

  "Hmm, come and go quickly, I still need to respond to Master Sun and Master Zhong here."

  "Yes, Your Majesty." Wang Chengen hastily bowed and retreated from the palace to make arrangements.

  The Chongzhen Emperor was no longer seated, but stood up and paced back and forth along the edge of the imperial desk, thinking that if the response from the people of the capital was still not enough to solve all the difficulties, how would he settle the problem.

  After some thought, I finally think that the only way is to take action against the literary and military officials, as well as the noble and royal relatives. The court is in such a difficult situation, it's also time for them to contribute their strength.

  The Chongzhen Emperor thought of this and returned to the imperial desk, picked up the memorial and prepared to write a reply.

  The result was that I saw Zhong Jinwei's pathetic signature again and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  As for this Master Zhong, you can say he's not very capable, but ideas come to him one after another. Whatever the matter is, it can be resolved once it reaches his hands. But if you say he's very capable, then how come he can't even write his own name straight?

  Chongzhen Emperor smiled and his mood improved a bit, he didn't even wait for Wang Chengen's news, directly picked up the pen and wrote "Very good, you follow the plan, the remaining common people I will take care of."

  Then have someone pass on the memorial to the large camp outside the city, so that Sun Shifu and Zhong Shifu will not be worried and delayed in their affairs.

  After about half an hour, Wang Cheng'en came in with a paper and said: "Your Majesty, the result of the donation from the Wang Gong factory has arrived."

  The Chongzhen Emperor hastily said: "Quickly bring it for me to review."