In the Yiluo Academy in Luoyang City, Lu Weiqi, the former Minister of the Ministry of War of Nanjing, just told everyone the words of His Highness Prince Fu.

Wang Yinchang said: "Commander Wang and I, together with Magistrate Kang, have gone to the palace twice to ask for an audience with His Royal Highness Prince Fu, pleading for more money and food from the royal treasury to stabilize the morale of the army and the people, but His Highness has refused to agree.

The officials and gentry gathered together today and couldn't think of any other way, so they had to come and ask the old gentleman to come to the palace again."

However, Lu Weiqi shied away and said: "You are the civil and military guardians of Luoyang City. When you are appointing officials, His Highness King Fu still refuses to agree. I am going to ask for help in my idle life. I am afraid that it will not be possible, right?"

Yinchang, the King of Military Preparation, stood up hurriedly and said: "No, no. The old gentleman was once a high official in the imperial court, and he was a famous scholar in Neo-Confucianism. He was highly respected by people in Heluo. His Royal Highness King Fu also respected him very much. If the old gentleman goes

If you ask, there will be no reason why you won’t accept it.”

Zhang Zhengxue, the magistrate of the county, also persuaded him: "Please go to the palace again and save a living being in Luoyang City!"

The wealthy gentry who followed also encouraged him, saying that Prince Fu would definitely listen to his advice.

Until then, when Lu Weiqi saw that the heat was almost over, he said with emotion: "In this case, for the sake of the lives in the city and the protection of Sangzi, the student will go to the palace again, explain the interests and risks to His Highness Prince Fu, and give it a try."

After Lu Weiqi saw off all the officials and guests, she called her servants to help him change his clothes, got on the sedan and ran towards Fuwang Palace.

…………

Although only separated by a thick red palace wall, Prince Fu's Mansion and Luoyang City are two different worlds. Within this thick red wall, there is still a carefree world of drinking, debauchery, drunkenness, and dreams every day.

The setting sun shines on the towering yellow glazed tiles, reflecting golden light, which is particularly dazzling in the cold and windless twelfth lunar month. The huge palace is not lively, and some of the painted cloisters are even more gloomy.

In the bedroom behind the Fu'an Hall, Zhu Changxun, the Fu King of the Ming Dynasty, was lying on a carved gold-lacquered round chair covered with mink fur and brocade mattresses. He placed a pair of white and fat bare feet on the carved sandalwood covered with thick red velvet cushions.

On the low wooden table.

Two beautiful palace ladies were kneeling on the left and right, gently beating his thighs and kneading his fat feet. The other two palace ladies were sitting on low stools on both sides, each holding one of his fat arms on their own.

The legs were also lightly beaten.

The slightly thin palace lady on the right was pressed by his heavy and fat arms for a long time. She glanced at him secretly from time to time, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

King Fu's round belly was bulging high, like a big cooking pot leaning on him. About a foot away in front of his feet, a group of musical prostitutes dressed as palace ladies were playing with various musical instruments.

Playing and singing.

King Fu closed his eyes and snored softly most of the time. Sometimes the snoring suddenly became very loud, but then it subsided. At this moment, he opened his eyes slightly and asked in a slightly sleepy voice: "Xiong

Aren’t you familiar with your palms?”

The eunuch standing behind him took two steps forward, bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, I just went to ask, and the stew is almost ready."

"Why didn't you stew it earlier?"

"Your Majesty understands that it usually takes two or three hours to stew bear paws properly, but now it has been stewed for more than an hour."

Suddenly, Eunuch Liu lifted the curtain and entered, bowed to Prince Fu and reported: "Your Majesty, Lu Weiqi has come to the palace to ask for an audience. He has been waiting for a long time."

Prince Fu was still lying on the golden lacquered round chair without making a sound, but his eyes were half closed and half open. Liu Chengfeng took another step forward, leaned down and said softly: "Your Majesty, Lu Weiqi has been waiting for a long time.

"

King Fu half-opened his tired eyes and asked a little impatiently: "Is this old man also here to ask me for money and food? You go and sue him and say that I am almost unable to untie the pot here. The city guards should call Wang Yinchang and Wang Shaoyu."

They handle it with care, and others will ask for their reward."

Liu Chengfeng showed a slightly anxious look, and then said: "Your Majesty, Lu Weiqi said that he has to see the prince, and he will not leave the palace until he can see the prince."

"Does he want to kill me?"

"Lu Weiqi talked about the survival of Luoyang City, and I met him here. He came to the palace to see His Highness for the sake of the safety of the prince, and for the life and death of the officials, gentry and people in Luoyang City."

Prince Fu breathed a sigh of relief and then said: "Are all the officials and gentry in Luoyang doing my best to do this? My country was awarded to me by Emperor Wanli, so I don't need a bad old man like him to worry about it!"

King Fu Zhu Changxun also knew that there was an army of thieves outside the city, and they had been besieging Luoyang for many days. Lu Weiqi must see him at this moment, and the situation must be urgent.

Although Wang Shaoyu, the commander-in-chief of Henan Province, had already led his deputy generals Liu Jianyi, Luo Tai and others to come to the rescue, and he had already issued a letter to Kaifeng to summon the governor of Henan, Li Xianfeng, and his deputy commander-in-chief Chen Yongfu to lead another troops to come to the rescue. What's more, that man's reputation for bravery was unparalleled.

Isn't Zhang Cheng, the commander of the Third Army's Xuanzang, also on his way to Luoyang?

But Lu Weiqi was so eager to see him, and he was afraid that the city guarding situation would change suddenly. After thinking for a while, he said to Liu Chengfeng: "Take Lu Weiqi to meet me at Fu'an Palace!"

King Fu stood up with difficulty with the help of several palace ladies, changed his clothes, and then was supported by two eunuchs. He arrived at Fu'an Hall and sat down on the throne.

Lu Weiqi was brought into the palace. He first knelt down and bowed, and then King Fu gave him a seat and tea. Then he asked, "Sir, why did you come to see me?"

Lu Weiqi leaned slightly and said: "The bandits have been attacking the city for several days. Fortunately, the officers and soldiers used their lives to save Luoyang. However, there are many hungry people in the city, and many people die from cold and hunger every day. There are boiling complaints and many

Thinking of being a thief.

Moreover, the soldiers guarding the city have been in arrears with pay for several months. They have been guarding the city for days. Every time there are casualties and rewards are not given in time, the army also complains about this. If they do not respond in time, they may become injured.

To defend the city and protect the country, the situation is urgent and I hope His Highness will make a quick decision!"

Although King Fu was frightened by this, he did not give up the money and food. He gasped and asked: "Luoyang is an important place for the vassal state, and the city is very strong. In the eighth year of Chongzhen, there were also intruders who came to attack. No,

It's safe and sound, I think I can stick to it this time."

He took a few deep breaths, and then said: "If you owe money or reward, you can ask Wang Yinchang, Kang Menghui and the others to take it from the official treasury.

The local civil and military officials have their own responsibility to defend the territory. If Luoyang is lost and the vassal dynasty dies, none of these officials, big and small, who live on the royal salary, will survive. Even if they can escape from the thieves, they will not be able to escape the laws of the country.

Sir, you came to see me for the purpose of guarding the city of Luoyang. Doesn’t the responsibility of guarding the city and protecting the vassal state lie with the local civil and military forces? Since you are a loyal minister, why don’t you urge the local civil and military forces to defend the city and protect the vassal state?"

Lu Weiqi couldn't help but smile bitterly, and said in his heart, "How long has it been, and you are still so stingy!"

But he couldn't say these words, so he could only say patiently: "Your Highness, you are in trouble! It is precisely because the official treasury is empty, and the civil and military forces in Luoyang are also without money and food, and are unable to do anything, that they publicly recommend Wei Qi to the palace to explain the interests to Your Highness.

.

I implore Your Highness to use some of the money and grain in the warehouse to protect Luoyang and protect the country. If Your Highness still does not care about the country as in previous years, how will you see your two ancestors underground?

We have no other good plan for Wei Qi today. I only ask Your Highness to put the country first, allocate money to support the troops, and distribute food to help the people. If the military's morale is strong and the people's sentiments are safe, Luoyang City can hold on, and Your Highness' country will be as stable as Mount Tai. Otherwise... the disaster will be unimaginable.

ah!"

After hearing this, King Fu suddenly understood that this was to force the widow to lose money!

He glanced at Lu Weiqi with boredom and felt frightened. He breathed heavily and cursed in his heart:
Chapter completed!