Add Bookmark | Recommend this book | Back to the book page | My bookshelf | Mobile Reading

Free Web Novel,Novel online - All in oicq.net -> Historic -> night light

Volume One, Border Town at Night, Chapter 724: The Merit of Support

Previous page        Return to Catalog        Next page

    The troubled times are over.  People in the northern border rushed to tell each other. They cut off the braids on the back of their heads and walked to the graves of their clansmen carrying sacrifices.  Too many people have died in the past twenty years, and the ability to leave descendants to offer sacrifices is the result of the countless virtues accumulated by our ancestors.  A row of large ships with bright flags sailed slowly in the canal.  Ma Shiying and Liu Suifeng, two ministers of the Ming Dynasty, were sitting inside.  The two elders couldn't stand the trouble, so Zongmao, the minister of household affairs, was escorted by Qingqi and galloped along the official road of the canal to Beijing day and night.  For a journey of several thousand miles, riding a horse is only a few days faster than taking a boat, but it is much more difficult.  Ma Shiying leaned against the window railing of the cabin, enjoying the cool summer breeze.  After being silent for a long time, he said angrily: "I don't know why Zong Shangshu is so anxious. It is a great joy for the prince to regain Beijing, but he is so anxious." "The prince summoned the three of us at the same time. He did this"  He seemed to have endless grievances.  Liu Suifeng smiled lightly, the conflict between Ma Shiying and Zong Mao had been made public.  Now that there are no eunuchs, of course there is no such thing as the eunuch party. The Donglin party and the eunuch party have united to find new enemies.  The so-called eunuchs are just the emperor's domestic slaves. Isn't that the identity Zongmao is playing now?  Under Ma Shangshu's expectant gaze, he said leisurely: "Zong Shangshu said that he doesn't like riding boats." Ma Shiying raised his beard and said: "Canal boats are not sea boats. There are no big winds and waves. Isn't it more comfortable than riding a horse?"  If he is so eager to show off his merits, can he compare to your Excellency for his achievements in the Northern Expedition? He is just the Minister of the Ministry of Husbandry, and you are the Minister of the Ministry of War." Liu Suifeng shook his cattail leaf fan and said calmly, "When it comes to merit, Zong  The minister is really bigger than me. The army marched northward with great momentum, but it also cost a lot of money and food. Especially my Ming army used mostly firearms and lacked silver. The blunderbuss was not much different from the fire stick. I spent the silver, and Mr. Zong earned the silver.  "Yeah." No matter how Ma Shiying teased her along the way, Liu Suifeng just couldn't fall for it.  Over the years, the wise emperors of the Ming Dynasty have known to suppress the Donglin Party, and the regent does not look like a brainless person.  As a Jin native, Liu Suifeng could maintain a detached status even if he was not in the same party as Zong Mao, and there was no need to get entangled with scholars who didn't really like him.  However, Zong Mao was so anxious to go north, he felt equally uncomfortable.  "Master Zong, Master Zong, you are indeed doing something wrong." Qingqi chased the light south wind.  "Drive, drive" The knight in brocade shakes the reins, even the Mongolians who are skilled in riding are just like this. After ten years in Jiangnan, Zongmao has not neglected his riding skills.  A Tumut Han slave has become a man who can make the Ming Dynasty tremble even when he stamps his feet. He is not satisfied yet.  He wants to become a person inferior to the Ming Dynasty and a person above ten thousand people. The opportunity is right in front of him.  When you are thirsty, you take a sip of the turbid canal water; when you are hungry, you take a bite of pancakes.  He estimated that he could travel three days faster than the two ministers in the boat.  Ahead is Baoding City, with a slow column of cavalry blocking the official road.  "Get out of the way" Zong Mao was about to scold him when he saw a flag with the word "Xiao" at the top.  He stopped a person wearing the uniform of President Qian and asked: "Are you Xiao Zhiyan's subordinates?" When President Qian saw Zong Mao wearing a purple official robe, he quickly saluted and said, "That's right." "Where is Xiao Zhiyan?"  " Mr. Qian replied: "Master Xiao already entered Beijing yesterday." "So, the generals of the Ming army have gathered together. There is no more suitable time than this." Zong Mao can't wait to fly to Beijing.  He knew that the army would not be able to gather in Beijing for long. In less than ten days, the generals and soldiers would be sent to separate defense areas.  One day later, Qingqi arrived outside Beijing, and Zong Mao saw Yuan Qizhou's battle flag coming out of the city.  He urged his horse forward to say hello: "General Yuan, where are you going?" Looking at the hundred Qingqi running towards them, Yuan Qizhou took a long time to figure out that the person was Zong Mao.  He came up to meet him, dismounted and saluted: "Zong Shangshu, the Tatars have escaped. Your Majesty ordered me to garrison Shanhaiguan." Zong Mao hesitated for a moment and asked: "Are all the generals in the army in the city?" "Exactly, when the general pursues me,  Jige went all the way to Shanhaiguan and came back yesterday with orders. Your Excellency ordered me to replace him." Zong Mao nodded slightly and held his hands on the horse: "Then General Yuan, go ahead. I was about to go to see the prince." The two said goodbye. He  After urging the horse to go forward four or five miles, he saw the majestic Beijing City Gate.  No matter how strong the capital is, it will not be of any use whenever the dynasty comes to an end.  In the early Ming Dynasty, Xu Da led his army to the Northern Expedition, and Emperor Shun of the Yuan Dynasty fled without a fight. Later, Li Zicheng entered the capital, and eunuchs and civil servants rushed to present the city. Today, the regent is on the Northern Expedition, and the Qing Emperor has no courage to hold on.  What Zong Mao felt in his heart was in front of the city gate.He stopped his horse and watched for a moment, then sighed and entered the city.  The Ming army's retrieval of Beijing was much better than when Li Zicheng entered the capital. Except for forcing all the people in the city to cut off their braids, there were no orders to disturb the people.  The Han officials who had been abandoned by the Qing Dynasty were driven out of their mansions and imprisoned in jails. The charges have not yet been determined.  Zong Mao found Yan Yingyuan, who was in charge of city defense, and after a little inquiry, he found out that Zhai Zhe did not live in the palace, but set up a camp in the former Prince Heshuo Jian's mansion.  He laughed a few times and said: "With all the ladies away, the prince will probably feel lonely staying alone in the palace." Yan Yingyuan laughed in agreement.  Zong Mao asked several generals where they lived, bid farewell to Yan Yingyuan and rushed to Prince Jian's Mansion.  Yan Yingyuan ordered two soldiers to lead him.  The city of Beijing is still under martial law. There are no tokens for the city defense soldiers, and the Minister of Household Affairs cannot wander around the city at will.  The shops on the street were open for business, and there were few pedestrians. A group of more than twenty knights galloped boldly in the middle of the street. Two-quarters of an hour later, they arrived at Prince Jian's palace. The entrance to the palace was guarded by personal guards. Two stone lions with teeth and claws glared at the visitors.  .  Zong Mao ordered the guards to report inside, and after a while, Fang went in and out to pick him up. Zong Mao suddenly turned around and told the two city guards: "Don't leave, you two. I will come out later to have something to do." Then he followed Fang in.  Entering the Prince's Mansion The climate in the north is dry, but the Prince Jian's Mansion is lined with green trees, and it is still full of flowers in autumn. Many of the flowers are even more prosperous than they can be called.  His steps were like wind, and he had no intention of enjoying the beautiful scenery.  Across two courtyards, Zhai Zhe was talking to a Xifan man with gray-blond hair in a small pavilion.  Fang Jin pointed there and said: "That man's name is Tang Ruowang. He used to be an official in the Ming Dynasty, and later he defected to the Qing court. This time the Tatars came out of the customs, and he was caught by the soldiers on the way. The prince looked down upon the Tatars.  The prince¡¯s concubines are not tired of talking to Tang Ruowang for several days. Zong Mao laughed softly and said: "Vice General Fang is so bold now, he dares to talk about the prince behind his back."  Are you pretty? They all smell bad." As they spoke, the two of them had already arrived in front of the pavilion.  Then I heard Tang Ruowang say: "I didn't expect that the prince is so familiar with Europa." His Mandarin was exactly the same as that of the Han people, and there was no unfamiliarity at all.  Zhai Zhe turned around and saw Zong Mao, beckoned him over and said, "I didn't expect you to come so fast." "The minister came on horseback." Zong Mao knelt down and saluted, and then said, "Master Ma and Master Liu will take the boat, there are still two or three days to go."  "Arrived." Zhai Zhe seemed to have not finished talking with Tang Ruowang. He waved his hand and said: "You rode all the way north. It was very hard. Let's go down and rest for a night. I will come to you tomorrow if I have something to do." "As you command." Zong Mao stepped back and walked to the door of the yard.  When I turned around, I saw Zhai Zhe talking to Tang Ruowang again.  He wondered how the regent and a Xifan could talk to each other. After leaving the palace, he saw that the two city defense soldiers were still there. Zongmao hurriedly mounted his horse and ordered: "You two, take me to General Zuoruo."  Zuo Ruo lives in Dongcheng District. When Zong Mao arrived at Zuo Ruo's residence, the sun was already setting in the west.  The soldiers at the door reported inside the house, and a moment later, heavy footsteps came from inside, like hammers hitting the ground.  Zuo Ruona's face, as sharp as an axe, appeared in the porch.  "Zong Shangshu, have you come to the capital?" Zuo Ruo was quite surprised, "How come you have time to come to me?" "I came to the general to discuss important matters." Zong Mao smiled and stepped into the crimson threshold.  The two of them entered the central hall, Zuo Ruo asked Zong Mao to sit down.  Zong Mao waited for the boiling tea to be brought up, cupped his hands and said: "General, please step aside." Zuo Ruo's face became serious, he did not ask questions, and waved his hands naturally.  The soldiers and servants quietly retreated.  "General Zuo, you guys really have a lot of time to do in Beijing." Zong Mao turned sideways and put one hand on the table, "Aren't you sad that the prince has not moved into the imperial city?" Zuo Ruo frowned.  A faint word "Chuan", contemplative and silent.  Zongmao slapped his palms flatly on the table, and the lid of the white porcelain cup trembled slightly: "People in the Ming Dynasty do not speak secret words. I am eager to come to Beijing. I want to support the regent on the throne before the Nanjing court understands.  The nights are long and the dreams are many." Zuo Ruo asked, "Where else did Zong Shangshu go before he came to my house?" "The first person I looked for was General Zuo." Zuo Ruo smiled and shook his head: "It's weird, you and Feng Qin are the same.  They are all people who came from the prince's side. Feng Qin made great contributions in the Northern Expedition. If you didn't find him, why did you come to me first? " Zong Mao said without hesitation, "Because I am the same person as General Zuo." "Good" Zuo.  Ruo high-fived, "Based on Zong Shangshu's words, I, Zuo Ruo, completely rely on Zong Shangshu's arrangements. If we don't do this, someone will do it sooner or later. Why bother?"It's better for those literati who can only move their mouths." Hearty laughter came from the middle hall. Zong Mao said: "Beijing city defense is controlled by Yan Zongbing. General Zuo is going there. I don't think Yan Zongbing will shirk it." "That's natural. I've been convinced.  General Yan, I will invite a few more generals to come to my house to discuss this matter, but" Zuo Ruo paused, "It's up to you to invite the general." Seeing Zuo Ruo's expression, Zong Mao vaguely guessed  Sensing his thoughts, he smiled and said, "Okay, I'll leave it to me every time.  "
Didn't finish reading? Add this book to your favoritesI'm a member and bookmarked this chapterCopy the address of this book and recommend it to your friends for pointsChapter error? Click here to report