Hundreds of households in Liaodong, covering the light with one hand

Chapter 22 Good news accompanies auspicious snow in Beijing

Ming Dynasty, Beijing City, January 24th.

The sky above the capital was still gloomy and so dark that it made people breathless. Apart from the thin layer of snowfall at the beginning of the year, there was no other rain throughout the winter.

The official road outside Dongzhimen of the capital was now filled with merchant vehicles and freight vendors waiting to enter the city.

During their breaks, several coachmen like to drink a large bowl of all-you-can-drink tea at the tea stall and chat at the same time. Most coachmen travel all over the country and are well-informed. Chatting about the mountains is also interesting.

"It's another famine year," the dark-skinned man looked at the sky and complained: "If it doesn't snow, the freezing soil will delay spring plowing."

"Who says it's not the case? Ever since the new emperor ascended the throne, there have been constant warnings from heaven. There have been famines for two consecutive years. I heard that the emperor stopped his beloved carpentry work due to severe drought and frequently summoned cabinet ministers. Looking for advice!" Another burly man lowered his voice as if he had some gossip.

"What channel did you get the news from? It's already a different version!" The man in a gray cotton coat laughed, with a look of disdain on his face: "The reason why the emperor frequently summons the ministers is because of another matter. A major event that shakes the world!"

"What news do you have? Is it related to the cabinet?"

"Is the imperial court going to start a war again?"

"Are they Shanshan rioters?"

The words of the man in cotton-padded jacket immediately aroused the interest of several companions, and they all made speculations.

"Let me tell you," the man chuckled, whetting everyone's appetite, and then said two words leisurely: "Liaodong!"

hiss! ! ! !

As soon as the word "Liaodong" came out, it immediately caused a gasp from one side.

In recent years, everyone in the world doesn't know that a barbarian demon named Nurhaci came out of Liaodong. He raised an army with thirteen pieces of broken armor. In just thirty years, he turned the northeastern territory of the Ming Dynasty upside down. Saarhu lost 400,000 troops. Countless elites died in a foreign land, which shocked the world. Two years ago, they occupied Liaoyang, an important town in Liaodong. The entire west of the Liao River fell into the hands of the old chief. Countless Han people were driven into slavery, and the dignity of China was lost.
  No one in the whole of China is its enemy.

Now, whether in the court or among the people, Liaodong seems to have become a taboo word, and no one dares to mention it again.

"Is there going to be a war?" the muscular man asked in a low voice.

"A war?" The man in the cotton-padded jacket smacked his lips and added with a mysterious expression: "Maybe it's over. The battle results in Liaodong are already on their way back to Beijing!"

"what?"

"Is that a victory? Or a defeat?"

Everyone became nervous when they heard this.

"Wang Huazhen and Xiong Tingbi were fighting each other to death in Liaodong. Think about it, can they win?" Before the man in the cotton-padded jacket could speak, the dark-skinned man next to him said: "It's not like they abandoned their helmets and armor. They were defeated. People are running away? I’m afraid Guangning will be lost this time!”

Yes, not only the court, but also the people are not optimistic about the situation in Liaodong.

"What a pity for the country that I, Emperor Chengzu, have worked so hard to build!" Everyone lamented.

Seeing that his limelight had been stolen, the man in the cotton-padded jacket suddenly became anxious and said hurriedly: "Who said we were defeated?"

After everyone heard this, they were about to ask detailed questions when the sound of horse hooves suddenly sounded in their ears.

"Eight hundred miles urgent!!!"       "Great victory! Great victory!!"

The soldiers and horses galloped along the official road, and they shouted loudly: "Great victory in Liaodong, great victory in Zhenwu Fort, great victory in Siping Fort, 30,000 people resisted 60,000 people! There were countless casualties in Jianzhou, and Nurha Chi retreated in a hurry!!!" "

The soldiers and horses galloped past the tea stall, splashing dust and branches and leaves on the ground, which fell on everyone, but no one paid attention to them. They all turned to look at the man in the cotton-padded jacket.

"Oh my god, did you really win?" The man in the cotton-padded jacket opened his mouth wide and looked at Pu Bing going away with a dull look on his face.

While everyone was still stunned, the strong man suddenly felt a cold feeling on his face. When he looked up, he didn't know when heavy snow had fallen in the sky.

Forbidden City, Wenyuan Pavilion.

Ye Xianggao, the chief assistant of the cabinet, Han Xu, a bachelor of Dongge University, Zhu Guozuo, a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion, and Sun Chengzong, a bachelor of Dongge University, were all there.

"In the past few days, Your Majesty has asked you almost three times a day, all of which are about the situation in Liaodong." Ye Xianggao, dressed in a crimson robe, sat upright and said, "I will ask questions in front of the Wenhua Palace. You still have to keep your Majesty's mind calm. , don’t let the eunuchs take advantage of the opportunity and send supervisory troops to Liaodong again!”

The collapse of the Gaohuai Rebellion and Liao Dynasty continues to this day. Everyone in the cabinet really doesn't want to see such a scene anymore. Emperor Tianqi has just ascended the throne and is uncertain. After being threatened by the eunuchs, he wants to resign from the throne. It is really upsetting that the ceremonial supervisor sent people to Liaodong to monitor the frontier officials.

"Then you can't just use the same excuse every time, right?" Han Xu felt helpless.

Every time the Holy Emperor asked, the cabinet said the same thing: Wang Huazhen and Xiong Tingbi are a perfect combination, and they will definitely reach Jianzhou to the west of the Liao River, so as not to invade Guangning. In addition, Wang Huazhen united with the Mongolian tribes, and Mao Wenlong in southern Liaoning attacked from three sides, making it difficult to take care of the beginning and the end of Jianzhou. , will inevitably defeat itself!

This is true, but the cabinet itself has no confidence.

"The Holy One is very wise. Maybe he already knew that we were just delaying." Sun Chengzong spoke highly of Emperor Tianqi. During the banquet, Sun Chengzong once discussed the situation in Liaodong with Emperor Tianqi. At that time, Zhu Youxiao's words made Sun Chengzong remember You Xin: I see that Liaodong can be defended but not attacked. The Jiannu land is poor and has few people. The land has been surrounded for a long time, so that it will destroy itself without attacking. If it is rash to launch a war, it will fall into his trap, causing the situation to collapse step by step.

With just this sentence, Sun Chengzong felt that Emperor Tianqi was young and wise, and if he grew up, he might not fail to become a wise king.

"No matter what, we cannot let the Supervisor of Ceremonies ruin important things. The emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats govern the affairs of the world. When will it be the turn of the Supervisor of Ceremonies to dictate? How will the world view us? If an eunuch does bad things, it is better to return home as soon as possible. Teach in the township, so as not to be reviled!" Zhu Guozuo, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion, said in a cold voice: "On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Wang Huazhen had already reported to the imperial court the status of state establishment. Now half a month has passed, and no matter what, there should be a report back. , not less than these days!"

"Alright, I will be the one to answer the questions when the Holy One will ask you later." Ye Xianggao stood up and said, "The time for the Holy One's summons is coming, let's set off. It is always disrespectful to let you wait for your ministers!"

At this moment, a foreign official from Wenyuan Pavilion reported at the door: "My lords."

"Did the emperor summon us? Lead the way!" Han Xu was impatient and interrupted the clerk before he could finish speaking.

"My lord, it's a great victory in Liaodong! The Ming Dynasty defeated Jianzhou in Sipingbao, rushed eight hundred miles, and Lubu was very fast! The whole Forbidden City was rumored to be crazy!" The civil servant looked happy.

With a crisp bang, the fine official kiln tea cup in Zhu Guozuo's hand fell off and shattered on the ground. The hot water soaked into the bluestone floor and steamed.

But no one paid attention to the small tea cup at this time. Several cabinet bosses came forward to surround the small official: "Where did you get the news? Eight hundred miles of Lubu Feijie? When did it arrive?"

"It was the Supervisor of Ceremonies who asked me to deliver the message!" The clerk had never seen this scene before. He was surrounded by several big men, his calves were spinning, and he almost couldn't stand still.

"Supervisor of Ceremonies?" Han Xu's eyebrows twitched: "The eunuchs are giving us eye drops! For the great victory in Liaodong, we and other ministers should congratulate the Holy Master! When will it be the turn of the Supervisor of Ceremonies to issue a notice to our cabinet? Already?"

"Let's go to the Wenhua Hall, the Holy Emperor is still waiting! The victory of Liaodong is a great joy, don't let the eunuchs get into a bad mood!" Ye Xianggao was very good at nourishing Qi, without any anger, but took the lead and took a step forward Enter the palace gate.

"Supervisor of Ceremonies?" Han Xu snorted coldly: "We'll see!"

(End of this chapter)