Picturesque Rivers and Mountains in the Red Chamber

Chapter 486 6.57 Princess Yongjing: Many thanks to the emperor’s sister-in-law for the generous gift

Volume VI

6.57 Princess Yongjing: Many thanks to the emperor’s sister-in-law for the generous gift

On the morning of March [-]th, there was a small court meeting in Daming Palace, Imperial Study Room.

"Niu Aiqing, are the follow-up troops and horses ready?" Even though Zhou Yang had quickly set off with his cavalry to quell the rebellion, Emperor Changxing was not really relieved, because no one present thought that this rebellion could rely on mere Four thousand cavalry were tied, "When can we set off?"

"Back to Your Majesty, the Shenji Battalion has six thousand infantry and one thousand fine cavalry on standby. The Three Thousand Battalion can arrange up to six thousand more cavalry. We can set off immediately as soon as the food and grass are ready and the wages are paid." Niu Jizong said very confidently. , "It's just that Wen Shangshu has never been ready, and that's why it's been delayed."

"Wen Aiqing?" Emperor Changxing's face immediately turned cold.

"Your Majesty, I have prepared all the supplies of food and grass according to the standing standard." Wen Fu, the Minister of Household Affairs, said quickly, "It's just that Mr. Niu Daren also needs to pay a double salary as a 'departure fee' plus the promised double salary during the war. I am unable to pay for my salary, please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

"Master Wen, this wartime rule of double pay and troops' departure fees was not set by me. It has been passed down since Emperor Taizong's Northern Expedition and has never changed." Niu Jizong said unceremoniously, "I want to If you want the men below to work hard, you have to give them money, and if you don't let them make good arrangements for their children, how can you expect them not to be afraid of death?"

"Mr. Niu and Mr. Wen didn't say they wouldn't give it. It's just that the national economy is in dire straits now and they are unable to support it, so they are not paying it for now. If there is a surplus at the end of the year, they will be the first to make up the money for everyone. Isn't this enough? "?" Wei Guang, the censor of Zuodu of the Inspectorate, said dissatisfied, "Can't you people think about the imperial court?"

"Oh? Mr. Wei is really loyal to the country." Liu Fang, the left minister of the Ministry of War, smiled sarcastically, "But I wonder if Mr. Wei can tell me, when was the last time the imperial court had a surplus at the end of the year? This year, there is also a war. , let alone a surplus at the end of the year, I’m afraid it’s going to be a deficit, I don’t know how much it will be, right?”

"That's enough!" Emperor Changxing was never a patient person.

"I have behaved inappropriately!" The ministers quickly apologized.

"Wen Aiqing, since the army is about to set off, the departure fee is still indispensable." After thinking about it for a while, Emperor Changxing, who also couldn't make money, could only choose to be reconciled, "Niu Aiqing, you might as well postpone this double payment for a while. Wait, if the imperial court still has insufficient balance at the end of the year, how about I make up for it with internal funds?"

"I don't dare!" Having said this, how could Niu Jizong take over?
"Has there been any news recently?" Seeing that the argument had been temporarily settled, Emperor Changxing relaxed and turned to Qiu Shi'an and asked, "How is the situation at Shanhaiguan now?"

"Your Majesty, there is no news yet." Qiu Shi'an replied quickly.

"Hurry up." Emperor Changxing was a little anxious, even though he knew it was useless to be anxious.

"Your Majesty, the war situation is critical now and the front is tight. The White Mountains and Black Waters have always been troubled places. Should we send out reliable personnel to coordinate first?" Unexpectedly, Wei Guang, the censor of Zuodu of the Inspectorate, made another trouble. "After all, This war will end sooner or later, but things will not end just because the war ends."

"Hey, why can't I understand what you are saying?" Hou Xiaokang showed a sarcastic smile, "Master Wei, does he mean that General Zhou may not be able to control him, so he needs to send another one with more prestige?" ', but I don't know who has this ability, and it also makes us vulgar warriors look bad? If you ask me, it's better to let Mr. Wei pass!"

"Your Majesty, I am also dedicated to serving the country." Compared with the military commander who spoke without a clue, Wei Guang was obviously much smarter.

"Wei Aiqing is interested." Emperor Changxing glanced at him coldly and did not answer.

While everyone in the imperial study room was continuing to discuss national affairs, they saw the little eunuch standing at the door lifting the door curtain and winking at Qiu Shi'an repeatedly. Qiu Shi'an's face paused, with an angry look on his face, but suddenly he found that the little eunuch was holding a ball in his hand. After reading the book, my heart moved slightly.

Only then did he glance strangely at the pavilion elders who were still discussing, and quietly walked around to the door. When the little eunuch saw him coming, he hurried up to greet him and whispered a few words, and saw Qiu Shi'an taking the book with a surprised look on his face. After reading it for a while, I was so shocked that I was speechless.

"Slave dog, what's wrong?" Seeing Qiu Shi'an stunned at the door, Emperor Changxing shouted dissatisfied, "Is there something you can't come in to talk about?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me." Qiu Shi'an held the fold and hesitated for a moment before quickly entering the study and handing it to Emperor Changxing. "This is the [-]-mile express just sent from Shanhaiguan. Thanks to your majesty's great fortune and the lives of the soldiers, God The Machine Battalion and the Three Thousand Battalion, under the leadership of two adults, have completely wiped out more than three thousand rebel cavalry in one battle, and the leader of the thieves escaped with only dozens of cronies!"

The imperial study room fell silent for a moment.

"Eunuch Qiu, are you serious about this?" After a long while, Niu Jizong looked at Emperor Changxing who was reading the memorial, and then asked carefully. "How dare this old slave say that?" Qiu Shi'an didn't have a good impression of someone, so he didn't want to take the opportunity to do something about it at this time. "However, the memorial did say that at noon the day before yesterday, General Zhou took advantage of the opportunity of the rebels to have dinner. He led [-] elite cavalry and successfully fought under the cover of artillery. The nearly [-] rebels did not escape much."

"Your Majesty, this must be a false report!" Before Niu Jizong could think about what to say, Tian Gui, the censor of the right capital of the Supervisory Council, had already jumped out, "I heard that the ancient powerful army did attack for six hundred miles in several days and made a sudden advance in ten days. It's thousands of miles away, but it's just a surprise attack. It's more than [-] miles from the capital to Shanhaiguan, and the troops just arrived the morning before yesterday, right? How can we attack for five consecutive days, engage in a head-on battle with the enemy on the same day, and still defeat them in one battle?"

It didn't matter what he said. The imperial study room, which had just heard the news and was already very cheerful, fell silent again. Even Emperor Changxing, who had just looked at the memorial with a happy face, also looked suspicious.

"Qiu Shi'an, besides this memorial, is there any other news?" After thinking for a moment, Emperor Changxing decided to take a look at the situation first.

"Your Majesty, it's not true." Qiu Shi'an said quickly, "It's just that I heard that His Highness Yongchang is also following this troop dispatch. Is there something else?"

"Oh?" Emperor Changxing was overjoyed and quickly turned to the last page of the memorial. He saw three names at the end of the signature. They were Zhou Yang's signature and seal, Qiu Liang's signature and seal, and finally It was Princess Yongchang’s private seal. She couldn’t help laughing anymore, “Okay, okay, good Zhou Ziyang, you have lived up to my grace!”

"Your Majesty, it's just a memorial." Tian Gui still refused to give up.

"The signatures of the three people who went to Shanhaiguan are all there. If they don't know, what can Tian Aiqing know?" Before Tian Gui could finish speaking, Emperor Changxing interrupted him with dissatisfaction, "Zhou Aiqing is still here." The memorial suggested that the main force of the rebels has been severely damaged, and it is hoped that the imperial court will send reinforcements to sweep away the White Mountains and Black Waters and completely wipe out the rebels."

As soon as Emperor Changxing finished speaking, Tian Gui, who had a "loyal and loyal minister" expression just now, suddenly withered, as if he was a vegetable leaf that had been poured with hot water. His face was green and white, and his whole body seemed to be gone. He was full of energy; unfortunately, no one had the time to pay attention to him at this time.

"Your Majesty, I suggest that we let the six thousand elite cavalry from the three thousand battalions set off now, and then quickly mobilize the nearby cavalry to assemble and set off in the shortest possible time." Niu Jizong said with a face full of joy as if he had been given blood, "White Mountains and Black Waters" The land is vast and empty and sparsely populated. Once the rebels disperse, it will be difficult to find them. It is better to block them while searching. Even if they are not found in a short time, they must be blocked in the mountains and forests to fend for themselves!"

"Niu Aiqing is really a seasoned advocate for the country." Emperor Changxing nodded with satisfaction, turned to a group of ministers with different expressions and said, "All of you, Aiqing, might as well discuss it carefully and come up with a suitable charter. To counter the rebellion, the sooner the better, of course; and Shengjing City, we can’t rely on cavalry to attack the city, right?”

"I obey the order!" No matter what they think in their hearts, no one will be stupid to sing the opposite at this time - well, except for Tian Gui, the censor of the right capital of the Inspectorate who has been standing still. This is probably the last time he appears in the imperial study room. .

"Qiu Shi'an, please have someone send this book to the Queen Mother, so that she will be happy." Not mentioning the civil and military ministers who had already started discussing, Emperor Changxing turned around and started making arrangements, "Just say it is my wish, let the Queen Mother be happy." Please work hard, arrange some suitable rewards to be sent to the Zhou family, and spread the news as soon as possible."

"The slave obeys the order!"

"In addition, I have decided to personally conquer the rebels, completely wipe out the rebels, and restore the land of white mountains and black waters!" Throwing a firm sentence in the imperial study room seemed to pour a bucket of ice water on the lively atmosphere, and instantly restored the dead silence here.

At noon that day, Cining Palace.

"I've met the Queen Mother!" Princess Yongjing jumped to the Queen Mother with a smile, Zhen's head gently resting on her obviously bulging belly, with a look of envy on her face, "I haven't seen you for so many days, my little nephew is quite honest."

"You girl, I'm afraid I haven't seen him making trouble." The Queen Mother gently patted her sister-in-law, pulled her to the soft couch in the middle of the living room and sat down, and then motioned to Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai, who were also called, to sit down respectively. Then he said with a smile, "Besides, it's hard to say anything else about that boy. There is almost no room for living in a row of yards at home. How can there be less space in the future?"

"How could my daughter be as lucky as my empress?" Xue Baochai quickly complimented.

"Okay, don't be so polite. Yuan Chun, why don't you arrange a banquet?" The Queen Mother smiled and ordered Yuan Chun, who was also called, and then turned around and continued, "This time, the one from your family has done a great job. Originally, His Majesty was Let me give you some rewards. Unfortunately, I haven't thought about what you still lack after thinking about it.

This is why I asked someone to send a batch of new jewelry just sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so that you young sisters can choose for yourself. Here in the palace, there is also a table of wine and food. Let’s sit down together and have something to eat. Let's have a drink and talk, and the whole family will be harmonious, which will save us a lot of trouble, right? "

"Thank you, Sister-in-law, for the gift!" Princess Yongjing was naturally happy and took her hairpin to express her gratitude.

"Your Majesty, the dishes are ready." Just as he was saying this, Yuanchun, who was in charge of serving the dishes, came in to report.

"Okay, our sisters will go too." The Queen Mother nodded with satisfaction and led the three sisters to the restaurant.

(End of this chapter)