Ming Dynasty Road

Chapter 36 First Entering the Capital
The sky was dim, and the setting sun slanted down, shedding a piece of afterglow.A well-groomed convoy appeared at the north gate of Xiping Fort. In the convoy, sixteen well-known soldiers in full body armor and wearing waist knives were guarding a brand new carriage and driving into the city. A yellow flag was planted on top of the carriage. .

The guards of the convoy are all high-headed war horses, the saddles are extraordinarily gorgeous, and the knights on the horses hold their chests up one by one, full of arrogance, and each knight has an incomparably noble temperament. After the carriage enters the city, it will not stop on the street. , under the guard of honor, went straight to the garrison camp of Xiping Fort.

In the army camp, Zhao Yi, Zhou Zhongyi, and Zhang Fengnian were drinking tea and chatting about all kinds of thrilling things in Shengjing. When the chat was getting exciting, a soldier hurried in and said: " My lord, there is a convoy driving towards the camp outside the gate, it seems that they are rushing towards the camp, and there is a team of guards guarding them, dressed very luxuriously."

Zhao Yi was very surprised when he heard this, Xiping Fort is located at the border, usually few royal relatives pass by, could it be news from Beijing.

Zhao Yi, Zhou Zhongyi, Zhang Fengnian and the others didn't hesitate anymore, they rushed out of the camp, and saw a carriage coming slowly along the main road at the gate of the camp, and there were several riders on each side of the carriage. The knight on the tall horse, the knight on the horse is wearing armor, very mighty.

Seeing the yellow flag on the carriage, Zhou Zhongyi quickly leaned into Zhao Yi's ear and whispered, "My lord, the yellow flag is from the capital."

Zhao Yi nodded slightly, and stood at the gate of the camp, only to see the carriage stop in front of him, and a man walked out with his waist bent, with a sharp and thin face, dressed like an eunuch.

When Zhao Yi saw the person coming, it was the nasty father-in-law Zeng Zhicheng. Zeng Zhicheng got out of the carriage and said with a sneer, "Boss Zhao, let's meet again. Our family and you are really destined, it's not... Only a few months later, I met you, Mr. Zhao again."

Zhao Yi was angry in his heart, but he didn't know the purpose of Zeng Zhicheng's visit. Zhao Yi let Zeng Zhicheng into the army tent with a normal face, and the guards who escorted the convoy also stepped into the tent and stood on both sides, with their hands on their waist knives Without looking sideways, Eunuch Zeng walked to the middle of the hall, turned around and coughed lightly, and said loudly in the voice of the male duck: "Tumubao takes the order from Chief Zhao Yi!"

Zhao Yi stood in the tent for a while and didn't recover. Fortunately, Zhou Zhongyi, who was beside him, knew that Zhao Yi hadn't reacted for a while, so he pulled Zhao Yi's sleeve with his hand, and said softly, "Master Zhao, kneel down and listen. Xuan!" Zhao Yi came back to his senses, quickly knelt down, saluted, only to hear Eunuch Zeng snort coldly, obviously thinking that Zhao Yi didn't understand the rules.

Hearing Eunuch Zeng's cold snort, Zhao Yi knew that Eunuch Zeng must still hold a grudge because his son was cut off by him, but he couldn't turn his face at this time, and said: "Minister. Zhao Yi listens to the announcement." In front of Eunuch Zeng Kneeling, Zhao Yi felt very uncomfortable, but Eunuch Zeng was under the emperor's order, and if he was caught for being rude, the gain would not be worth the loss, and he would just find a chance to get back in the future. Thinking of this, Zhao Yi felt more comfortable.

Eunuch Zeng slowly unfolded the imperial decree on the yellow silk, and read aloud in the throat of the male duck: "Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the edict said: I heard..."

Zeng Zhicheng shook his head while reading, and his voice was also cadenced.Zhao Yi, on the other hand, was ignorant, because Eunuch Zeng read all classical Chinese. Although Zhao Yi understood the general meaning, it was very laborious. After a long while, Zhao Yi heard the main topic: "He is the old man, the lord of the country, and the son of heaven." To lead the people to rule the world, to be a king, to be trustworthy and respectful, to select the virtuous and capable. Today, Zhao Yi is loyal and courageous for the country, and has repeatedly made outstanding achievements. Zhao Yi is specially granted to go to the capital and take up the post of Jinyiwei Qianhu. He ordered Zhao Yi to hear the edict immediately. There should be no delay in entering Beijing. This is yours."

Zhao Yi was baffled by what he heard. Didn't Zhou Zhongyi tell himself that he was a five-rank fellow-knowledgeer? How did he become a thousand households of Jinyiwei?He looked at Zeng Zhicheng who was sneering in front of him, and he knew that the eunuchs must be behind the scenes. Promotion in the officialdom is a joke, and the official career is dangerous. It seems that it is extremely dangerous for him to work in Beijing.

Zeng Zhicheng saw that the imperial edict had been read, and Zhao Yi was still kneeling on the ground, so he said impatiently, "Zhao Yi, why don't you accept the edict to thank you?"

Zhao Yi came to his senses and hurriedly shouted: "Minister, take the order to thank you." He took the imperial order in Zeng Zhicheng's hand with both hands, took a peek at it, and saw that Zeng Zhicheng had no intention of embarrassing himself, so he stood up.

When Zeng Zhicheng handed over the imperial decree, his complexion became even worse immediately, with a high-ranking demeanor, and he said to Zhao Yi in a strange voice: "General Manager Zhao... Oh, no, it's Zhao Qianhu. From now on, you will be a member of Jinyiwei. Our factory guard is a family, and our family will take good care of you in the future."

Zhao Yi heard that there was something in Zeng Zhicheng's words, and said with a slight smile: "From that day on, Eunuch Zeng will have to worry about it."

"Hmph, it's getting late, so let's set off." Zeng Zhicheng sneered a few times, then urged Zhao Yi to hurry, and with a flick of his sleeves he led the guards out of the tent.

Zhao Yi ignored Zeng Zhicheng's attitude and called Niu Yong to start packing his luggage. However, both of them were men, so they could pack up as soon as they wanted. Because Niu Yong had always served as Zhao Yi's personal soldier, Niu Yong also rushed to Xiping Fort this time. Go to the capital to take up the post with Zhao Yi.

After tidying up, Zhao Yi, Zhou Zhongyi, Zhang Fengnian and others said goodbye one by one, and asked Zhang Fengnian to take good care of the folks in Tumubao when they returned to Tumubao. When everyone wanted to greet for a while, Zeng Zhicheng sent someone to urge them Several times, Zhao Yi and Niu Yong had to set off.

At this time, the three carriages had already set off slowly, and the knights formed a circle to guard the convoy. Zeng Zhicheng's carriage was in the front, and the last two carriages were sent from Xipingbao. Zhao Yi and Niu Yong sat in the second carriage. A carriage is a miscellaneous salute and souvenirs brought to Beijing.

Niu Yong looked out of the window silently. This was the first time Niu Yong left the civil castle, and it was the first time he was separated from his family. When Zhao Yi said a few days ago that he would take him to the capital to take up his post, Niu Yong was still excited. No, but when it was time to leave, I felt a little bit reluctant.

Seeing Niu Yong's appearance, Zhao Yi knew that Niu Yong was a little bit reluctant, so he asked loudly, "Niu Yong, what's the matter, are you homesick?"

Hearing Zhao Yi's question, Niu Yong immediately grinned and said honestly: "No, wherever your lord is going, the old cow will just follow, it's just that the old cow is not used to sitting in this carriage, only women ride in a carriage. "

Zhao Yi saw that Niu Yong had calmed down, so he didn't say any more. What kind of role is Jinyiwei Qianhu? In Zhao Yi's memory, Jinyiwei was wearing a flying fish suit and holding an embroidered spring knife. What he did was bullying the common people. The most terrifying thing is Wei Zhongxian, who has power over the government and the public. Thinking of this, Zhao Yi shook his head helplessly, and then firmly thought that even if they deal with him, as long as his soldiers come to stop him, the water will come. Tutun is enough, and then he closes his eyes and takes a short rest.

*****
"Lord Zhao, we're here." A knight shouted from outside the car. After several days of traveling, he finally arrived in Beijing.

The Yongding Gate in the middle of the south side of the outer city of Beijing is the starting point of this central axis, and the Bell and Drum Tower in the north is the end point of this central axis.At this time, the city of Beijing was divided into the inner city and the outer city (the imperial city and the Forbidden City were located in the inner city).

The inner city is divided into nine gates, Zhengyang Gate in the center of the south, Chongwen Gate on the left and Xuanwu Gate on the right; Chaoyang Gate and Dongzhi Gate in the east of the city; Fucheng Gate and Xizhi Gate in the west of the city; To the north of the city are Deshengmen and Andingmen.

The outer city is divided into seven gates: Yongding Gate in the south, Zuo'an Gate and You'an Gate on both sides, Guangning Gate in the west, and Guangqu Gate in the east.And two small city gates for easy access: East Bianmen and West Bianmen.

At this time, the convoy was walking through Yongding Gate. Zhao Yi looked at the Beijing city at this time. The entire city was full of buildings and pedestrians. Looking at it, the shining golden and green buildings under the sunlight in the distance were the imperial city. up.

At this time, Zeng Zhicheng looked at Zhao Yi's appearance, and suddenly felt that Zhao Yi was just a country boy who had never seen the world, and must have been shocked by the magnificent palace, so he sneered and said: "Zhao Qianhu, it's getting late today, The gate of the palace has been locked, and at three o'clock tomorrow, our family will guide you into the palace outside the Meridian Gate, and you will go to the Ministry of Rites to learn the etiquette of meeting the saint tomorrow, so don't surprise the holy car when you meet the saint tomorrow."

Hearing Zeng Zhicheng finished speaking, Zhao Yi winked at Niu Yong who was beside him. Niu Yong took out a bag knowingly from the car. When the bag hit the car, there was a "click" sound. It seemed that the things inside were really heavy. Niu Yong Han Sheng said: "Eunuch Zeng, this is a little local product I brought you when I came out. Eunuch take it home and try something new. Don't dislike the country things. A small gift is not a respect."

When Zeng Zhicheng heard that it was a local product, his face immediately turned cloudy, but he still took the bag. Looking through the gaps in the bag, it was a local product. It was clearly a two-foot ingot, at least 300 taels of silver. His originally gloomy face There was also some joy, and the tone became better, and said: "Then our family will not be polite. Our family still needs to return to the palace to renew the order, so there is no delay. First go to the Ministry of Rites to learn the rituals and then go to Honglu Temple to report. Tomorrow Just wait outside the Meridian Gate at Yinshi three quarters."

After Zeng Zhicheng finished speaking, he led the motorcade to the direction of the imperial city. Zhao Yi's two carriages inquired about the direction of the Ministry of Rites and drove towards the Ministry of Rites.

At this time Niu Yong came over and said, "My lord, doesn't this old eunuch dislike us, why should we give it back to him..."

"Now is not the time to fall out with him. After all, we have just entered the capital, and there is... behind him." Zhao Yi said halfway, and stopped talking. Niu Yong didn't ask any more questions, and looked carelessly at the man outside the carriage window. The scenery is obviously attracted by the prosperity and excitement of the capital, let the adults think about things that take a lot of brains, and just do their own things well.

*****
Beijing City, Supervisor of Rituals

Zeng Zhicheng knelt in the lobby of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, and said cautiously: "Nine thousand years old, why didn't we attack him on the way? We can completely shift the responsibility to the bandits on the way."

Wei Zhongxian sat on the chair, without raising his eyelids, took a sip of fragrant tea and said, "Hmph, now you talk more and more, do we still need your advice? Since we can't stop him from coming to Beijing, let's Let's fight against him in Beijing, our family hasn't met an opponent for a long time, let's see if he is better than the dragon crossing the river, or I am better than the local snake, hehe..."

Zeng Zhicheng quickly kowtowed to admit his mistake, and said flatteringly: "You don't dare to be young, you dare not call yourself a dragon at nine thousand years old, so kid Zhao Yi can only be regarded as a bug."

"Hehe, you little monkey, you actually said it nicely! Hehe..." Wei Zhongxian was obviously relieved by Zeng Zhicheng's words!

(End of this chapter)