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

Chapter 315 Everyone, long time no see

In recent days, rumors have gradually arisen in Beijing - it is related to Duke Qi, which is always arousing people's imagination.

What's more, some good people published the whereabouts of Duke Qi in the Di newspaper every day and followed up every day, which aroused the attention and discussion of the people in the capital.

For example, in recent days, the title on the front page of Di Daily has been particularly eye-catching:
  On the sixth day of April in the third year of Tianqi, the ceremonial guard of Qi Duke Wang Qi had left Jinan, Shandong.

On April 13, the ceremonial guard of Duke Qi of Qi arrived at Tianjin Sanwei.

On April 20th, the honor guard of Duke Qi of Qi arrived in Wuqing County, which was only three hundred miles away from Shuntian Mansion.

And as the news of Duke Qi's return to Beijing continued to spread, the entire capital was plunged into a subtle and slightly strange atmosphere.

Everyone knows that the power struggle between the emperor and the Duke of Qi is at a critical moment.

From the Duke of Qi destroying the Qing Dynasty in Liaodong, to the corpse hanging high in the east forest of Chaoyang Gate, to beheading the imperial officials in the street outside Xuzhou City, to the letter of memorial, leaving the cities without seeing the emperor, and finally the emperor sent three ministers to the cities, Negotiating with the Duke of Qi - now that the Duke of Qi has entered Beijing, this is the final outcome of this struggle.

This result will determine the court structure of the Ming Dynasty in the coming decades.

After all, the emperor and Duke Qi are still young and tight.

"Who do you think can take the initiative?" People inside and outside the capital were discussing this matter.

"Although the Duke of Qi has troops, prestige, and many Austrian aids," the people in Gyeonggi Province are somewhat grateful to the Duke of Qi. However, judging from the facts, most people still bet on the eventual victory of the emperor.

The best result is that the emperor will completely take control of the world, and after the Duke of Qi marries Princess Ningde, he will resign from all official positions and assignments and return to the cities to retire.

Unless there is another country-destroying enemy like the Manchu Qing Dynasty, Qi Guogong will no longer be able to be used in the next few decades.

"Hey, what a pity," the middle-aged man discussing the matter on the street shook his head: "What a pity, what a genius!"

"It's no pity. Since ancient times, powerful officials have worked hard, and there will be no good end." The companion saw clearly: "While the reputation in the world is still there, retreat bravely from the rapids. Only those who understand the current affairs!"

"By the way, Duke Qi is about to return to Beijing. Why haven't you heard about the war in Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi Province recently?" The middle-aged man asked in a low voice, "I don't know whether it will win or lose."

"Hey, at this critical moment, even if you lose, you still have to brag about it and call it a big victory!" My companion added a chopstick of pork head meat to his mouth, and said with a sigh: "Just wait! There won't be any surprises. !”

While the two were talking, bursts of noise suddenly came from the street!
  The imperial envoys are doing things, and the rest are gone!
  When you leave the capital according to the order, the idle people stay away!

All spread out, spread out!

As the noise came one after another, everyone in the restaurant turned their heads and looked downstairs. Everyone was watching: they saw a group of high-standard dragon flags, drums, colorful silks, and umbrellas coming from a distance.

Chaplain?

The middle-aged man looked at his companion: "Which imperial envoy?"

"No," the companion pouted towards the left front: "Isn't that the word 'bear' written on it?"

Bear?
  The middle-aged man chewed a few words and already knew who the imperial envoy was: the new Minister of War, Xiong Tingbi!
  Since he chose to submit to Wei Zhongxian, Xiong Tingbi, who came out of the imperial edict, has risen through the ranks. From being in jail and waiting to die in fear, he was promoted to the Minister of War in just half a month!

It makes countless candidates in Beijing jealous, whether it is a gift of a thousand dollars, or whether it is Xiong Tingbi who controls Donglin, anyway, Wei Zhongxian's move kills two birds with one stone, it is extremely beautiful!
  "If you leave Beijing at this time, I'm afraid it has something to do with Duke Qi."

In the center of the ceremony, in the gorgeous sedan, Xiong Tingbi frowned, sitting in the sedan, still looking uneasy.

In order to survive, he could rely on Wei Zhongxian. Whether it was the Zhejiang Party, the Chu Party, the Donglin Party, or the Supervisor of Ceremonies, they were all working for the emperor. In Xiong Tingbi's eyes, there was no difference.

But now, the emperor issued an edict, asking him to go to Wuqing County as an imperial envoy to greet the Duke of Qi on behalf of the sky.

This is why the Duke of Qi was able to wipe out the Manchu Qing Dynasty because of Xiong Tingbi's stupid move under Shenyang City, which made Wang Qi one of the top three military forces in the history of the Ming Dynasty.

Now, as an imperial envoy, I am going to Wuqing County to greet Wang Qi. Isn’t it equivalent to secretly belittling Qi Guogong’s contribution to the destruction of the country?

Emperor Tianqi's childish thoughts really made Xiong Tingbi feel helpless.

At this time, in the restaurant on the street, the two people who had just been chatting had taken their seats again, and at the table next to them, a man in black shirt also sat down.

Beside him were three capable men protecting him.

This attire and formation are either rich or noble.

The man in black shirt turned his head and glanced at the cars and sedans passing by on the street and the large banner with a bear character on it, then withdrew his gaze and drank alone.

Thump thump thump.
  When I was drinking my third glass of wine, there was a rush of footsteps on the stairs.

"Sir, I'm late," the man who arrived panted and bowed to the man in black.

"It's not too late. I kept my whereabouts hidden all the way. Few people knew about it. I didn't inform you until I arrived in Beijing." The man in black shirt waved his hand: "Qingsong, sit down."

The person who came was none other than Duke Qi's secret guard commander in the capital, Li Qingsong.

The identity of the man in black shirt is self-evident.

"Sir, you are here alone." Li Qingsong said and glanced downstairs: "Didn't you let some people miss it?"

"It doesn't matter," Wang Qi shook his head: "Tomorrow, I will go to Donghua Gate to do the incantation, and I will go to court three days later. Some people have not seen each other for a long time, and I miss you very much."

"Sir, I have sent people to clean your house in the capital. You can move in tonight." Li Qingsong looked around and felt that the restaurant here was not safe. The dignified Duke of Qi could not stay here.

After picking up the wine glass and drinking the fourth glass of wine, Wang Qi exhaled softly and said with deep eyes: "Let those people come to see me later!"

"Little understand!"

----

It is April 21, the third year since the dawn of the Great Tomorrow, in Qingchengfang, Beijing.

In the study room, the three candles were not bright. They could only illuminate the desk, the door and Wang Qi's figure respectively.

As the door opened and closed, six figures walked in from the door one after another.

Former Prime Minister Ye Xianggao;

Sun Chengzong, the former emperor’s master;

Lu Yu, former Minister of Rites;
  Wang Huazhen, former minister of the Ministry of War;

Now Yin Wenling, Shuntian Prefecture;
  The eunuch in charge of the ceremonial department and Wang Tiqian, the governor of the East Factory.

The six people were led into the room, and their figures disappeared quietly into the darkness. In the silence, they waited patiently and nervously for Wang Qi to speak.

Under the candlelight, the figure and expression of Wang Qi, who was sitting in the main seat, looked a bit blurry and mysterious.

despair!
  The tea cup was placed on the table and made a gentle knock.

But the silence and pressure in the room suddenly disappeared!
  What followed was a voice of Shen Yi Zhongzheng:

"Everyone, long time no see."

(End of this chapter)