At nightfall, Nanjing Guide Guild Hall welcomed a guest.
"Master Li?" Fan Sanbo was surprised to see Li Shutai.
Fan Sanbo was the eldest son of Fan Yongdou, the leader of the eight imperial merchants who established slaves, but he had never been in the Manchu and Qing official circles, so he knew almost no Manchu and Han officials in the court.
But he knew Li Sutai.
Because Li Shutai’s father’s name is Li Yongfang.
During the era of Lao Khan, Li Yongfang was in charge of the secret agents of the Later Jin Dynasty.
Li Shutai had been ordered by his father to sneak into the pass many times to contact the Fan family, so Fan Sanbo was able to get to know Li Shutai.
Later, Li Yongfang's eldest son secretly collaborated with the Ming Dynasty. After the failure and execution, Li Yongfang lost the trust of the old Khan and no longer took charge of the secret agents of the Ming Dynasty.
Unexpectedly, Li Shutai was sent to Nanjing by the regent.
Could it be that the regent is preparing to let the Li family take charge of the secret spies of the Qing Dynasty again? If so, how will the Luo family deal with it? Will the Luo family turn to Nanming again once they are forced into a hurry?
Thinking of this, Fan Sanbo felt very confused.
Once the Luo brothers switch sides, they will be doomed.
"Fan Shaodong's family, what are you thinking about?" Li Shutai asked suddenly.
"No, I didn't think about anything." Fan Sanbo said hurriedly, "I was thinking about how to help you catch the wind and wash away the dust."
"It's no longer necessary to accept the wind and wash the dust." Li Shutai waved his hand and said, "I came to clean up the secret espionage organization in Nanjing at the behest of the emperor's father and the regent. I didn't come here to have a banquet with the emperor."
"Well, the spy organization needs to be cleaned up, and the banquet also needs food."
Fan Sanbo was secretly shocked. The regent was indeed very dissatisfied with them.
But this is not surprising, their performance in Nanjing is indeed hard to describe.
Li Shutai asked directly: "Where are the Fan Shaodong family and the Luo family brothers now?"
"The Luo brothers are naturally at the Shaanxi Guild Hall." Fan Sanbo asked, "Does Mr. Li want to see them?"
"We must meet, but there is no rush." Li Shutai said abruptly, "As for now, the Fan Shaodong family should gather all the people from your Fan family as soon as possible."
While he was talking, a man in Tsing Yi pushed open the door and barged in.
Li Shutai's face instantly darkened, while Fan Sanbo looked embarrassed.
"Something happened at Shaodong's house!" The man in green wiped the sweat from his forehead and said in panic, "Several of our shops on Chaoku Street, Taiping Street and Gongyuan Street have been sealed by the Secret Investigation Department.
"
"What did you say?" Fan Sanbo's expression suddenly changed, "All the shops have been closed down?"
"Yes, they have all been sealed up." The man in green continued, "People have also been arrested."
"No, get out of here quickly." Li Shutai reacted instantly and turned around to leave.
However, before Li Shutai could move his legs, the man in green was already punching him hard.
There was a pop, and Li Shutai received a heavy punch on his face. He immediately rolled his eyes and fell back.
"Ada, are you crazy?" Fan Sanbo shouted in shock and anger, "This is... this is someone sent by the headquarters to check our accounts, how dare you do this?"
While talking, Fan Sanpao stretched out his hand to touch his waist.
"Young Master, please lie down, too." The man in Tsing Yi punched me again.
Fan Sandiao had been spoiled since he was a child. He was no match for these fierce spies whose blades licked blood. He was knocked to the ground with a fist, but his mind was still clear.
"Ada, have you been incited to rebel too?"
"Young master, I can't help but feel sorry for you."
Fan Ada stepped forward and tied up Fan Sanbo and the two of them.
…
Two days passed quickly, and the time came to December 27, 21st year of Chongzhen.
In three days it will be New Year's Eve, a day for family reunion, but the Ming Dynasty is about to launch its Northern Expedition.
Just after Yinshi, it was still dark outside Shence Gate. Civil and military officials headed by Lu Zhenfei and Xun Qiguiwei headed by Huang Degong arrived at the campus one after another.
But there were others who came earlier than them.
That is the more than 30,000 students in the Imperial College, the Medical College and the Naval Academy.
Gao Quanwen stood in the queue of first-year students in the cold wind, feeling suffocated like never before. This was the first time in his life that he had participated in such a solemn ceremony.
In comparison, Zheng Zongming was much more relaxed.
After all, he is the second son of the Min family, so he is used to seeing big scenes.
"Brother Yigong, take a deep breath." Zheng Zongming whispered, "Exhale slowly."
Gao Quanwen took a deep breath and felt better. He immediately thanked him and said, "Brother Erguan, thank you."
"They are all brothers, why are you thanking me?" Zheng Zongming smiled brightly and asked Xu Yingxiong on the other side, "San'er, do you think this is true?"
"Get lost." Xu Yingxiong rolled his eyes.
"My nickname is Xu Yingxiong, my nickname is Ye Wang, not San'er."
"Yi, Yi Gong, Er Guan, San Er, how neat are the pronunciations?" Zheng Zongming didn't worry, he just said with a smile, "I think you can just go with it and change the name to San Er."
"Get lost!" Xu Yingxiong rolled his eyes again.
While they were joking, the instructor standing in front of the queue suddenly shouted: "Everyone is here, stand at attention and salute!"
Hearing the instructor's roar, Zheng Zongming immediately straightened up his chest with a solemn expression. Because he was from a wealthy family, he was often out of shape, but he had extraordinary respect for their instructors.
Because this instructor had participated in the Battle of Hunhe River years ago.
Moreover, the instructor also lost an arm in the Battle of Hunhe.
After a while, Chongzhen, dressed in golden armor, slowly came over under the escort of three thousand honor guards.
Yi Ding and Jia Ding officially became history in the Ming Dynasty, and were officially reorganized into an honor guard by Chongzhen half a year ago.
"Long live our emperor!" the instructor standing in front of the queue raised his arms and shouted. Zheng Zongming and other students immediately responded, looking at Chongzhen with unabashed admiration in their eyes.
There is no student in the Imperial College who does not admire Chongzhen.
Even Zheng Zongming, the young master, was full of admiration for Chongzhen.
Chongzhen waved, and the students in the Imperial College suddenly became more enthusiastic.
The huge sound almost blew away the auditorium in the north of the campus.
At this time, more and more people gathered around the campus.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Seeing Chongzhen coming, the people also cheered overwhelmingly.
…
At this time, Lu Zhenfei and other officials, as well as Huang Degong and other distinguished nobles, were already sitting on the viewing platform on the north side of the university grounds.
Seeing the waves of cheers from the Imperial College students who were lining up below the stage, the officials and noble officials felt a little emotional.
Lu Zhenfei couldn't help but say: "The Holy One really wins the hearts of the people, and even more the hearts of the scholars. There are few emperors in the past who can be as supported by the scholars and the common people as the current Holy One."
"More than the people's hearts and minds?"
Huang Degong said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty has won the military's morale even more!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of Chachacha's footsteps could be heard inside the Shence Gate.
Just by listening to this sound, you can tell that it is the footsteps of thousands of people stepping in neat steps.
At this time, Chongzhen, who was dressed in golden armor, had already boarded the viewing platform. Lu Zhenfei, Huang Degong and other officials and nobles stood up one after another to bow to Chongzhen.
Half a month ago, the Ministry of Rites officially issued a new decree.
The kneeling ceremony has officially become history. From now on, monarchs and ministers, fathers and sons, teachers and students no longer need to kneel down and bow, they can just bow. Officials in the Ming Dynasty no longer need to kneel down when going to court.
This is also the staged achievement achieved by the reformists in the "Great Controversy over Rites and Educations".
"Get up." Chongzhen also became more and more casual, and he didn't even bother to say anything.
After finishing speaking, Chongzhen sat down on the brocade stool in the middle. When he looked back, he saw that the first town of the New Army had neatly lined up six columns running out of the Shence Gate.
It was already bright at this time, so we could clearly see the heroic appearance of the new army soldiers.
Every officer of the New Army was seen wearing a brand-new coat, shiny leather boots on his feet, and a shiny iron helmet on his head. He had two bullet bags crossed on his chest, and on his right shoulder.
He was carrying a flintlock gun with a bayonet on it, which reflected a dazzling cold light under the dawn.
As they passed under the viewing platform, the leading soldiers shouted loudly, and the New Army officers and soldiers who changed to marching all looked to the right, and countless pairs of burning eyes fell on Chongzhen in an instant.
"Long live the Ming Dynasty!" the leading soldier raised his right hand and shouted.
"Long live the Ming Dynasty! Long live the Ming Dynasty! Long live the Ming Dynasty!" The officers and soldiers of the New Army immediately responded.
Along with the cheers of the officers and soldiers of the new army, the Imperial College students who lined up to watch the ceremony and the people in the distance also cheered. Lu Zhenfei, Huang Degong and other officials and nobles could no longer hear any other sounds.
Only the cheers of "Long live the Ming Dynasty" filled my ears, which was deafening.
After walking for a long time, the first five towns of the New Army's expedition finally finished their formation.
Chongzhen nodded gently to Zhang Huangyan again, and Zhang Huangyan immediately stepped forward to the viewing platform and shouted loudly: "Sacrifice to heaven and earth, offer three animals, and be captured!"
At that time, the imperial guards carried up a roasted whole cow, a whole sheep, and a whole pig on a rack.
Immediately afterwards, another group of imperial guards escorted two prisoners onto the altar. They were Fan Sanbo and Li Shutai, but at this time they were still blindfolded.
But your ears can hear the sounds around you.
There seemed to be a lot of people around and it was very noisy.
The cloth that blindfolded the two people's eyes was removed.
Li Shutai and Fan Sanbao opened their eyes hurriedly and found that they were surrounded by people, including officials, dignitaries, and students. Groups of Ming troops with guns and live ammunition passed by their feet.
It’s so strange, why is there roasted whole beef and whole lamb?
Hey, wait a minute, the stage they are on is an altar?
The next moment, Li Shutai and Fan Sanbo's expressions fell.
It is really an altar. After a while, their heads will be placed together with the three animals to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth.
The most important thing of the country is to sacrifice to the Rong, and the sacrifice and the Rong have always been inseparable. The Ming army is going to sacrifice their heads and three animals to heaven and earth, and then they will swear to the Northern Expedition. The Ming army is really going to go to the Northern Expedition. Help!
At this time, Chongzhen had already led hundreds of civil and military officials and distinguished scholars to the altar and offered incense. Zhang Huangyan signaled to the executioner who had already taken his place. The executioner raised his knife and dropped the two heads, which fell to the ground.
Chongzhen's voice sounded at the same time: "The purpose of the Northern Expedition is to regain my homeland and return our rivers and mountains..."
