The end of the Ming Dynasty swept the world

Chapter 575 My Son, Please Get Up

Brothers and sisters Zeng Wen and Zeng Rou are the children of officials. They are both 14 years old this year. There are two younger brothers and sisters in the family. This time the Qing soldiers entered the pass and attacked Shunyi. Shunyi, myself and my wife stayed behind.

Shunyi was breached, and all Ming officers and generals were beheaded.

The servant who sent the four of them to the capital took away all the wealth on the way and fled.

The four of them wandered in the capital and visited two of their father's classmates, but they were all rejected because their father was condemned by the court as a crime of 'defeating soldiers and losing ground'.

The two brothers and sisters usually study and study etiquette, but they don't think that their father died for the country. The court is so unkind and blames the father for the defeat.

Zeng Wen and Zeng Rou took their younger siblings to sue everywhere in the capital, trying to justify their father's name, but they hit a wall everywhere.

The two begged every day and competed with beggars for food, so they barely survived.

But the cold winter is approaching, there are more and more refugees and beggars in the city, and they start to form groups. They are young and unable to compete with others, life is getting more and more difficult, and they are struggling.

Seeing that many refugees had been frozen to death or starved to death, Zeng Wen finally made an important decision.

In the dilapidated Earth Temple, Zeng Wen held his younger sister Zeng Rou's face and said in a good voice: "After I leave, you bring some dry food and take your siblings to Dengzhou, Shandong. I heard that there is food and porridge there, maybe can survive."

"No." Zeng Rou cried bitterly, hugging her brother and refusing to let go.

It turned out that Zeng Wen decided to cleanse himself and enter the palace as an eunuch.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, being a eunuch was a very sought-after job. Many people went to apply for eunuchs by themselves because they could not survive.

But being a eunuch is not so easy, the competition is very fierce, and some people have to go through the door to have a chance. In history, there was a case where 2 eunuchs were recruited, but more than [-] people signed up.

In the end, those who were not recruited and purified themselves in advance were called 'Wu Mingbai', and their fate was bleak.

Zeng Wen complained everywhere in the capital these days, trying to defend his father, but there was no way to complain.

At this time, a colleague of his father said, "I know that your life is difficult, so you should stop complaining everywhere. I know a eunuch in the palace. If you are willing, I will introduce you and give you 20 taels of nutrition."

At this time, others cleanse themselves, and they have to pay about 20 taels for the operation fee and medical expenses. Now Zeng Wen doesn't have to pay, and he still has money to take, which is already considered good.

He refused at the time, but now he has no other way out. In order to support his younger siblings, he has no choice but to do so.

"Brother, don't go." At this time, the younger brothers and sisters also rushed forward, hugging him tightly, and the four of them cried together.

Zeng Wen didn't want to go either, but in order to save his younger siblings, there was only this way.

Apart from being able to read and write, he can't do anything. Whenever he thinks of this, he feels inexplicably angry and hated towards the imperial court.

Just when the four brothers and sisters were crying together, someone came in from outside.

"Mr. Zeng's elder brother is like a father. He voluntarily sacrificed himself to protect his family. It is really admirable."

Everyone turned their heads in silence, but it was a strange man.

The man is Lu Chao.

He reached out and put down ten taels of silver and a pack of dry food: "My name is Lu."

The boys and girls looked at the bag of dry food with green eyes.

But they could bear it and looked at their elder brother Zeng Wen one after another.

"You don't get paid for nothing." Zeng Wen hissed, "Who are you? What do you want to do?"

"I have a connection, I can send your eldest sister into the palace as a palace maid, you can stay outside and take care of your younger siblings, I wonder if you would like to?"

Anyway, entering the palace, being a court lady is better than being a eunuch.

Eldest sister Zeng Rou nodded desperately when she heard the words: "I am willing, I am willing—"

"No, how can the eldest sister enter the palace alone, and she is a girl—"

"She's a girl, how can she take care of your young siblings?" Lu Chao sighed: "You have skin and hair, and you are the parents, how can you have the heart to injure yourself? Are you worthy of your dead father and mother?"

Zeng Wen's face was pale, and tears welled up like a fountain.

"Brother, I'm fine. I'm really fine. If I can meet a noble person, maybe I can reverse my father's case and clear his name in the future." Zeng Rou's meaning is obvious. I'm a girl, and I'm not bad looking. Being favored by the emperor in the palace may restore my family's innocence.

Zeng Wen hated the Ming Dynasty now, so naturally he didn't expect this aspect, he still didn't want his sister to fall into the fire pit.

Lu Chao had no choice but to say, "I can assure you that within five years, I will bring her back."

"How do you guarantee it?" Zeng Wen glared at him.

"You can just follow me from now on." Lu Chao smiled.

"Who are you, why do you want to help us? What are you trying to do to us?"

"You brothers and sisters are penniless, what can I do to you?" Lu Chao said, "You help us, I help you, everyone just helps each other."

"Are you Tartars?" Zeng Wen suddenly snapped, as if he had guessed something.

"Will the Tartars still choose you?" Lu Chao said with a smile, "I'm from Dengzhou, Shandong."

The four brothers and sisters finally came to Dengzhou with Lu Chao at the end of December. They lived in Dengzhou for half a year, and Zeng Rou was taught every day.

In June of the following year, Lu Chao sent Zeng Rou to the palace, and Zeng Wen, brother and sister went to Lushun.

Not long after Zeng Rou entered the palace, she was arranged to be a maid beside Princess Zhu Yuxi of Kunxing, in the Pingyang Hall of Shouning Palace.

At this time, Auntie Zhu was only seven years old.

After Lu Chao sent Zeng Rou to the palace, he called on his servant Gao Qiqian at night.

Since the Ping Kong Youde Rebellion that year, Ding Yi gave him 1 taels of silver every year as agreed, and Gao Qiqian guaranteed Ding Yi's salt interests in Jinan, Qingzhou, and Dengzhou.

More importantly, Gao Qiqian was favored and reused by Chongzhen, and he was able to speak in front of Chongzhen.

As Lu Chao said, some officials can only be used by the court, but some corrupt officials can be used by Ding Yi.

"Thank you, Senior Supervisor, for your help." As soon as Lu Chao met, he offered 2000 taels of silver first, and at the same time said sincerely: "My little niece enters the palace with all her heart and dreams of climbing the dragon and the phoenix. It's useless for me to persuade you. I can only do my best. , thank you very much."

"Hehehe" Gao Qiqian said with a strange smile: "Your Majesty hasn't chosen a concubine for many years, and most of the time he puts the most important things on the country. I think Lu Tongzhi's niece is thinking for nothing."

"Anyway, I tried my best. Whether it will be successful or not is up to her. Everything is possible. Maybe there will be a chance?" Lu Chao smiled wryly.

Gao Qiqian was secretly funny, Emperor Chongzhen was diligent in government affairs, even the queen seldom went there, so he was in the mood to choose a concubine.

This Lu Chao's heart is really big, he actually wanted his niece to enter the palace to cling to the Holy Majesty, but unfortunately, his calculation was wrong.

But he is very smart, knowing that the Holy Majesty loves the princess very much, so he asked me to arrange to be with the princess.

"Aren't you afraid that Zongbing Ding will find out if you do this secretly?" Gao Qiqian suddenly looked at him with a smile.

Lu Chao's face changed, his eyes flustered a little, and Gao Qiqian caught the sudden change in his expression.

"This is a family matter. How could Lord Chief Soldier ask more questions?" Lu Chao thought for a while, gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "I really don't want to hide it, and I also want to find another way."

Gao Qi subconsciously showed a look of interest in you.

In the past two years, the relationship between Chongzhen and Ding Yi has become worse and worse. Chongzhen's dislike for Ding Yi even exceeds that of Zu Dashou. Everyone can see it.

Now that Ding Yi has soldiers in his hands, naturally no one speaks out.

In case Ding Yi is defeated by the Qing army one day and loses his generals, at that time, old and new grudges can be revealed.

"As long as Lu Tongzhi is loyal to the court and loyal to the Holy Majesty, I will keep you safe in the future." Gao Qiqian said with a smile, and at the same time he felt complacent. Does this count as being my own person by Ding Yi's side?The sage knows that Longyan must be happy.

Lu Chao wept with joy, lay down on the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "Thank you, Senior Supervisor, thank you, Senior Supervisor."

"After Lu Chao, he will be a cow and a horse for the high supervisor army, and his body will be smashed to pieces."

Lu Chao tried his best to show his loyalty.

If it was before, Gao Qiqian certainly wouldn't believe it, but now that Lu Chao's niece is being sent to the palace, he must be required. He is quite confident. From now on, Lu Chao will be my Gao Qiqian.

Gao Qiqian then asked some more about Ding Yi.

Lu Chao knew everything, but he said that he could not be trusted by Ding Yi. He had been traveling outside Lushun and never entered Ding Yi's confidant.

In Dongjiang Town, only those who can stay in Lushun are Ding Yi's confidantes.

Gao Qiqian thinks so, he has known Lu Chao for many years, and often accepts money from him, but he sees Lu Chao running around and rarely stays in Lushun.

"You do it well first. If there is any disturbance, report to me in time. If something happens to Ding Yi in the future, I will protect you." Gao Qiqian finally said proudly.

Lu Chao was dripping with gratitude again. Suddenly, he gritted his teeth, thumped, and knelt on the ground: "The villain is so cheeky, I want to worship Gao Jianjun as my righteous father, and I hope it will be fulfilled."

Gao Qiqian was taken aback for a moment, and after a while, he laughed loudly: "Hahaha, please get up, my son."

(End of this chapter)