April is approaching the middle of April, and spring is gradually showing. The weather is gradually getting warmer, and coupled with the good situation in China, it seems that the hope of Ming Dynasty's revival is increasing day by day. After subduing Liu Junxue that day, he was directly named Minister of the Ministry of War, and added
Being awarded the rank of fifth-grade official, it can be regarded as truly entering the imperial establishment.
On this day, everyone was discussing the next strategy. Zhu Ling also suddenly remembered that it had been many days, but Shi Kefa had not arrived, and he was quite critical of it. However, according to historical records, this person was an upright person and should not be ignored.
Feng Zhao was also quite puzzled.
Until Jin Yiwei came in a hurry to report that Shi Kefa, the Minister of War in Nanjing, was outside the city asking for an audience at this time.
Wang Jiayan asked in confusion: "You can just let him enter the city, why do you have to stop him outside the city?"
Jin Yiwei then explained: "Replying to your lord, it's not that we don't want Lord Shangshu to come in, it's just that the magistrate discovered that there were not only Lord Shi's followers outside the city, but almost tens of thousands of troops. He was really afraid that they were intruders.
That’s why I came here to ask for your Majesty’s instructions.”
After all, Zhu Ling, who was in charge, was quite surprised. How could Shi Kefa have such a large army? What's more, the previous news only said that he led 3,000 troops and horses to Yanzhou lightly.
Unknown tens of thousands of troops? And such a large army must not be from Nanjing.
Where did that come from?
The rest of the courtiers also fell silent. No one knew where Shi Kefa came from with tens of thousands of troops. Could it be that Shi Kefa secretly surrendered to the intruders and led such a large army in an attempt to march into Yanzhou? But this conjecture seems a bit outrageous.
Not to mention that although today's intruders occupy a large area of land, they only operate in the north. How could they go to the south? Although there is Zhang Xianzhong in the south, because Zuo Liangyu's hundreds of thousands of troops are in Wuchang, he Zhang Xianzhong may not necessarily
It's passable. Then how this huge army came is a mystery.
"Everyone, please come with me to have a look, so that you can personally welcome my minister of humerus."
Now that His Majesty said this, everyone immediately followed His Majesty and went to the south city tower together. After boarding the tower, everyone was really shocked by the scene below the city: the shock brought by tens of thousands of troops was really unimaginable. Only
Seeing so many troops lined up, it was impossible to see beyond the horizon, and the dark area was like a black cloud covering the sky.
It's like that poem: Dark clouds are pressing down on the city, ready to destroy it. But now there is no armor light, let alone golden scales.
Shi Kefa, who was at the foot of the city, saw a flash of bright yellow suddenly appear at the gate tower. He immediately stepped forward and knelt down on the ground, shouting loudly: "Shi Kefa, Minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing, sees your majesty! Long live, long live!"
Zhu Dadian next to him was even more frightened. He knelt down and said together: "Zhu Dadian, the guilty minister, comes to see your majesty!"
Although he was shocked by this scene, Zhu Ling was still able to calm down and not become silent. Hearing the words of the two people below, he immediately replied: "You two, please get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After Shi Kefa and Zhu Dadian stood up, Zhu Ling asked: "Shi Qing, your letter is talking about three thousand soldiers. How did you get these tens of thousands of horses? If you don't explain, I won't dare to open this city gate for you."
.”
I saw Shi Kefa cupping his hands again and saying: "This is the gift I brought to your majesty. Your majesty will be very happy when he sees it!" Then he waved to the rear, and someone walked out immediately.
The man, carrying a thorn stick on his back, immediately knelt down to Zhu Ling and said loudly: "Commander Gao Jie, the guilty minister, pays homage to your majesty!"
As soon as he heard the word Gao Jie, Zhu Ling's heart was deeply touched. Could this Gao Jie be the Gao Jie from one of the four Jiangbei towns in the history of the Southern Ming Dynasty? The Gao Jie who once robbed countless people under Yangzhou City? In the end, because he was framed by others,
As a result, he was killed. His army entered the city directly the next day and massacred them.
To be honest, my impression of this man is only limited to his high combat effectiveness in the army. But in terms of his character and behavior, he is simply despised. Most of the people hate him, and the officials of Nanming in the past also hated him.
But today, I learned from Shi Kefa that the person below was actually Gao Jie. For a moment, my heart was extremely complicated and I didn't know what to do.
When the ministers around him heard that he was Gao Jie, some of them who knew him well immediately changed their expressions. Among them, Wang Jiayan didn't know much about Gao Jie, but he had heard about it.
"Your Majesty, this Gao Jie is of bad character. Your Majesty once ordered him to rescue Shanxi, but he refused directly. He was previously a subordinate of a bandit, but he defected to the Ming Dynasty because he seduced his wife. Later he became a subordinate of Sun Chuanting, and later he was promoted to a guerrilla
, a senior general, and now the commander-in-chief. But he is still arrogant and domineering, and even more cruel and unkind."
Wang Jiayan couldn't help but stepped forward and said, compared with his name as a god, the two of them seemed like an angel and a devil.
"Such a person should not be easily trusted in his loyalty to the court. Even if we accept him, I'm afraid the people will not be willing." Huang Bodang also stepped forward to persuade him.
Although the ministers behind him did not speak, their general meaning was the same as the two of them. This person must not be gullible, just like Liu Zeqing.
"Of course I don't believe it." After Zhu Ling finished saying this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but the next sentence made them really confused.
"But I believe in history and law."
After saying that, Zhu Ling immediately shouted down: "Your crime will not be judged until you enter the city. Shi Qing, you can just place these tens of thousands of troops outside the city, and then they can enter the city. My Yanzhou can be released
There won’t be enough people left to die.”
"I obey the decree."
…
Zhu Ling led all the officials to wait at the Yanzhou government office early. After about an hour and a half, Shi Kefa, who had been busy for a long time and was already sweating profusely, led everyone to the government office. As soon as he entered, he knelt down.
But Zhu Ling stopped him, leaving Gao Jie, who was carrying a thorn stick on his back, still kneeling on the ground.
"Shi Qing, you are three days late." His calm words also revealed Zhu Ling's attitude that although it was not enough to punish him for delaying the date, he still had to talk about it.
"After I received the order, I rushed to Yanzhou at night, but I went to a place to do something on the way, so I was a little late. But I thought that if this matter was done well, the delay of a few days would be worth it.
.”
"This is the sinner Gao Jie you are talking about?" Wang Jiayan immediately stepped out and said, his tone was not polite at all. There was obvious disdain in his words.
"Exactly,"
Shi Kefa was startled and immediately admitted that in front of the real Minister of the Ministry of War of Nanjing, his Minister of the Ministry of War of Nanjing always felt humble. Maybe it was like Zhen Zhen and Fake Wukong.
"Master Shi, do you know that this Gao Jie has committed many crimes and must be cut into pieces according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty?" Huang Bodang, as Wang Jiayan's man, naturally wanted to help out.
"This person is different from the past. He is determined to make corrections, and it is the time for me to employ people in Ming Dynasty..."
"The Ming Dynasty never lacked good ministers and famous generals." Unexpectedly, Wang Jiayan suddenly interrupted him, looking a little unhappy.
"You don't need to argue." Zhu Ling quickly interrupted the conversation between them. They were so at odds when they first met, and it would be troublesome in the future. But now it is best to solve the Gao Jie matter first, and said: "Gao Jie, do you admit that you have committed the crime?"
offense?"
"Admit it." Gao Jie closed his eyes in pain. Now that he's here, he has to admit it even if he kills him.
"In the past, you disobeyed military orders, plundered people, burned, killed, and looted. You did all kinds of evil. Even the intruders were not as evil as you. Do you know that?" Zhu Ling said sharply.
"I know." Anyway, he just admits everything he says. All historical ministers vouch for him, so he is not afraid.
"and you……"
At the end of the sentence, Zhu Ling found that he had nothing to say. His crimes had been summed up in a few words. He could only sigh, throw away his hands and change the subject.
"What sincerity do you have to show your loyalty?"
"I gave the looted one million taels to the victimized people before. I also sincerely admitted my mistake to them and handed over my military power." Gao Jie said sincerely. After saying this, he was also moved by his loyalty. Apart from him, there is no other person in the world.
Who is willing to do this?
"that's it?"
"Ah?" Gao Jie was helpless. Isn't this enough? What else do you want me to do? You won't kill me, right?
"Your Majesty, Gao Jie has sincerely repented. Moreover, he has also served the imperial court. Although he has been punished, the imperial court still needs him. The crimes he committed before should be deserved." At this time, Shi Kefa also stepped forward to help him.
excuse.
"As long as he does one thing, he can be spared." Wang Jiayan said suddenly and abruptly.