Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 276: Suppress first and then advance 1

Early the next morning, two "criminal ministers", Jia Cong and Sun Chi, accompanied Prince Zhongxin to Beijing to meet the saint.

The guards camp and most of the Jurchen men were taken to two villages, Baihe and Teal, outside the city, where they were placed. Modao, heavy armor, etc. were all wrapped up and tied on horseback, keeping a very low profile.

Enter the city from the Anding Gate in the north of the city, go south along Anding Street, then turn to the west, and enter the imperial city through the west gate of the Meridian Gate.

It was the first time for Jia Cong to enter the palace. He was very curious and looked around. Seeing that there is a double tower in the middle of the Meridian Gate, it is a nine-bay wide hall with yellow tiles and red walls, double eaves on the roof of the verandah, and two towers extending from the left and right walls. There are four pavilions with connected eaves and ridges, connected by open corridors. magnificent.

After entering the Meridian Gate, passing through the Jinshui Bridge and passing through the Taihe Gate, you will find the Taihe Hall. Entering from the middle right door, you will find the Zhonghe Hall and the Baohe Hall. Then pass through the back right gate and enter the Longzong Gate. to a row of small houses.

Sun Chi smiled and said, "Brother Cong, do you know what this row of houses is for?"

Jia Cong looked at this row of inconspicuous little houses and said: "This place is deep inside the forbidden palace, guarding the internal and external gates. The location is very dangerous. I guess it is the duty room where the imperial guards rest, or it is the place where the eunuchs rest. .”

Sun Chi burst out laughing, covering his mouth with one hand and his stomach with the other, and stamped his feet.

Jia Cong rolled his eyes at him. Is this a normal guess?

Prince Zhongxin shook his head and said with a smile: "You are also a border general, but you don't even know about the military aircraft department?"

This, this is the military aircraft department? The center of power in the world? Jia Cong's jaw almost dropped. He was not even as good as my Liaohaiwei Yamen.

Prince Zhongxin smiled and said: "Your Majesty is thrifty and hard-working, and does not care about luxury. He once said that the military masters are to serve the people of the world, not to enjoy themselves. Since they are doing business, it is enough to have a tile above their heads and tables and chairs on the ground."

Therefore, this place was chosen as the duty room of the military aircraft office to facilitate internal and external transportation. But your guess is not wrong. During the Taizu period, this was indeed the duty room for Ouchi guards. "

Jia Cong nodded and took a closer look. People were coming and going inside, and it was very busy. Such a small space was okay in winter, but I don't know how hot it is in summer.

"Who are you? How dare you spy on the military aircraft?" A military aircraft officer walked out and glared at Jia Cong.

Prince Zhongxin stepped forward with a smile and said: "He is Jia Cong, who has come to meet the Holy Spirit. It is my first time to enter the palace and I don't understand the rules. I hope you will forgive me."

When he heard Jia Cong's name, he calmed down his arrogance and said, "I've seen the prince. Your Majesty is in the Yangxin Hall. Please stop."

Prince Zhongxin nodded and was about to take Jia Cong in when he suddenly heard a voice coming from the duty room of the Military Aircraft Department.

"Is Brother Cong back?" A handsome middle-aged man wearing a purple robe, with a graceful demeanor, a face like a crown jade, and a calm expression came out. On the patch of his clothes, a crane spread its wings and was ready to fly.

The walking hurriedly stepped aside and stood with his hands solemnized.

Prince Zhongxin and Sun Chi saw the visitor and hurriedly raised their hands and said, "The little king has met Huo Xiang."

Only then did Jia Cong realize that it was the Minister of Military and Aircraft who was in front of him, so he had no choice but to prostrate himself to the ground and said: "General Liaohai Guards are guarding Jia Cong and are paying homage to Prime Minister Huo."

"Get up quickly. As expected, he is a majestic young man with a majestic appearance. I have been famous for a long time, but it is a pity that we met each other today. He is well-deserved. Come in quickly to meet the saint, and come to meet me for a cup of tea later. How about it?" Tiren Pavilion Academician Huo Peng twists his beard and smiles, very approachable.

Jia Cong was flattered and hurriedly bowed and said: "I will obey the Prime Minister's instructions."

Huo Peng nodded with a smile, turned around and went into the check-in room.

Jia Cong followed Prince Zhongxin through the two corner doors and entered in a low voice. He couldn't help but whisper: "Brother Chi, why were you and the prince so respectful to the bachelor just now? Can the bachelor control you?"

Sun Chi rolled his eyes at him and said: "You know nothing. From the time when the emperor was the emperor, he respected his ministers very much. He explicitly ordered the princes and princes to call themselves little kings or students in front of the bachelors. The minister of military aircraft was like the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty. He was polite and courteous to all officials. Both young and old worship me, and I haven't even tasted the lower rank. How can I take it easy." Although Jia Cong has heard of the authority of a great scholar, he didn't expect it to be so prominent. Why did Huo Xiang look so kind to me just now? What did he mean?

Just as he was guessing, he suddenly saw Prince Zhongxin turning around and saying, "We're here, wait." After saying that, he walked into the palace.

Sun Chi was used to it, so he took Jia Cong to Danqi and waited.

Suddenly, a eunuch came out to summon him. Sun Chi hurriedly pulled Jia Cong in to follow him.

The eunuch led the way and sang: "The emperor's tenth son and the Liaohai guard Jia Cong have an audience."

Sun Chi led Jia Cong up a few steps and knelt down: "My son, I bow to my father and admire the beauty of the sky. I am so happy that I feel like I have ascended to a fairyland."

Nausea, Jia Cong secretly cursed and kowtowed: "The guilty minister Jia Cong comes to see the emperor and respectfully greets you."

snort! There was a cold snort from the imperial steps, and a low, cold voice was heard.

"You two bastards are guilty."

Sun Chi hurriedly said: "Father, the soldiers led by my son were ambushed and were killed in battle. The matter of privately deploying troops for the expedition has nothing to do with my son." He sold Jia Cong backhand without any burden.

Emperor Xifeng laughed angrily: "You bastard! It has nothing to do with you? Why did I hear that you still strangled Shi Wuhuan?"

"Father, my son, I have nothing to do when I see Young Master Jia Cong. As a prince, for the sake of the country, I cannot give him any advice." Sun Chi defended.

"You bastard! He is young and has done nothing, so you are more troublesome? As a prince, you do not know how to behave, disregard your filial piety, act wantonly, interfere in military affairs, and still claim that you are not guilty?" Emperor Xifeng scolded.

"If it is a crime to drive out the Tartars and serve the imperial court, I am willing to accept the crime." Sun Chi said with a pinched neck, relying on the queen's protection.

"Hmph! You are a bit unreasonable. Do you think I won't punish you for carrying the banner? Come on, fork it out with a forty imperial staff as a warning to others." Emperor Xifeng sneered.

Sun Chi was immediately frightened, and hurriedly laughed and said: "Father, please calm down. I will know my crime, and I will know my crime. My former son killed thieves for the country in Liaodong and was seriously injured. I beg your father to have mercy and temporarily use the imperial staff." Make a note of it, and I will deal with it after I recover from my injuries. I will never say anything else."

Emperor Xifeng originally loved this brave and simple son, but this time he was just annoyed that he didn't care about his own life and went to war without authorization. Hearing that he won a great victory and even restrained Shi Wuhuan, he inevitably felt a little like his father in his heart. Joy and pride.

Yin said with a sullen face: "In that case, let's note it down for now. If you don't go and pay your respects to your mother, I will raise you in vain!"

"Yes, yes, I will retire." Sun Chi glanced at Jia Cong proudly, "Brother, I'll dodge first, you hold on."

Is this okay? Jia Cong didn't have such a big heart. Seeing Emperor Xifeng looking over, he had no choice but to say honestly: "Your Majesty, I know that I am guilty. I should not send troops to go to war privately."

Emperor Xifeng was not so polite to Jia Cong, and said coldly: "Jia Cong, since you know that leading an army privately is a serious crime, why do you knowingly commit it? Do you think I will spare you the last nonsense of 'Yizhe'?"

Jia Cong was well prepared and said in a deep voice: "Back to the emperor, I knew that this was a capital crime, but at that time I only thought of one sentence, so I put everything aside, even though tens of thousands of people went there."

"What?"

"Gou Li country lives and dies, so how can we avoid misfortune and good fortune?"

(End of this chapter)