Liu Shimin drove through Chongwenmen Street and arrived at the junction of Dizangsi Street and the South Patrol Hall.
He raised the car curtain and saw clearly the signal hanging on the second floor of the tea shop, a small apricot flag, and then ordered his servants to drive the car into Bianzhan Alley.
Entering the small and inconspicuous courtyard, Liu Shimin saw that Cui Wenjing had arrived and was talking to Zhu Qianyu, whom they called "Your Highness."
"General Liu arrived just in time, General Cui just started."
Zhu Qianyu said hello in his usual soft voice, and then stood up in person to carry the tea that was warm on the stove to pour tea for Cui and Liu.
Liu Shimin looked back as if he were normal, while Cui Wenjing said with sincerity and fear: "How can your Highness, with his rich body, work so hard for you?"
Zhu Qianhuan smiled quietly, with a hint of teasing: "Why not? You are all my generals. Didn't Zhu Laosi's descendant, Zhu Houcong, write a poem about me and the general taking off my shirt?"
Cui Wenjing carefully took the tea cup and flattered him sullenly: "Come on, Zhu Laosi's descendants will soon take off their dragon robes."
Zhu Qianyu pursed his lips and patted his shoulder: "Drink tea."
Then he turned to Liu Shimin and said kindly: "Old Liu, you also want to drink the orchid snow tea brought from the south."
Liu Shimin thanked him and glanced at Cui Wenjing before sipping the tea.
Cui Wenjing and his brother Cui Wensheng, who was a close confidant of Concubine Zheng, had similar facial features but very different expressions.
Cui Wensheng showed sternness on his face, while Cui Wenjing looked naive.
This dull look may be a kind of protective color that can deceive even close relatives.
Many years ago, when the little spy in the palace told Liu Shimin that Cui Wensheng's godson Hu Fang, who was also an eunuch, had forced Cui Eunuch's sister-in-law to become the daughter-in-law of Caihu, Liu Shimin set his sights on Cui Wensheng, who looked even stupider than he does now. Such Choi Moon Kyung.
Cui Wenjing was not an eunuch, but he had always been at the mercy of his brother Quan. He was even forced to give up one of his sons to become his uncle's confidant in the palace.
Liu Shimin's mind-attacking tactics gradually worked, Cui Wenjing's sense of humiliation was gradually replaced by ambition, and Ma Xianglin's joining made Cui Wenjing believe that the Zhu family bloodline behind Liu Shimin was up to something.
"Your Highness, General Liu," Cui Wenjing put down the tea cup and said, "Cui Wensheng said that we would take advantage of the emperor's death to strengthen the city defense and eliminate thieves, and recruit more young men to the patrol camp. He also asked us to For those in my hometown who are really good at fighting, Zhu Changluo is the one to take advantage of. After a while, the patrol camp will be able to have two thousand more people."
Zhu Qianyu smiled approvingly: "That bastard brother of yours must have never imagined that by then, these good guys would not only not listen to his orders, but maybe even his life, as well as those who have no power and only two powerful words. The lives of civil servants were taken together."
Liu Shimin agreed: "Two thousand people is indeed a lot. At present, the military strength of the Five Cities Army and Horse Division is mediocre. At the beginning of the month, I confirmed that the Beijing camp is even more empty. In fact, there are only about 7,000 useless people who are not trained. In the middle of the capital, under King Qin Before the army arrives, the only people who can carry the troops of General Cui Ma are mainly the Jinyi guards and the guards in the forbidden area."
Zhu Qianyu nodded: "Old Liu is right. By the way, speaking of the Jinyi Guards, there is something that General Cui already knows about. Our people are getting close to Liu Qiao's family in Beizhen Fusi, and Liu Qiao's mother will be detained. He and his wife and children. This Liu Qiao is famous for his filial piety, and the imperial court is also very cold towards them, Beizhen Fusi..."
Liu Shimin was slightly surprised: "Our people? Are they arranged by Princess Miao or Duke Zheng of Ningde?"
Zhu Qianyu said lightly, "None of them", then lowered his head and blew the powdered tea.
Cui Wenjing noticed that the atmosphere was a little subtle, so he took a few sips of orchid snow tea, stood up and said respectfully: "Your Highness, Wen Jing came in for inspection. It is not appropriate to stay for a long time."
Zhu Qianyu raised his face and said warmly: "General Cui, go ahead. I'd like to thank you, General, for training your sons to be braver and braver. I'll definitely get a heavy reward for you."
As soon as Cui Wenjing left, Zhu Qianyu's expression darkened.
"General Liu, why did you introduce Zheng Haizhu to the commander of the Jinyi Guards?"
Liu Shimin didn't look worried, and stood up and stood opposite Zhu Qianxuan: "Because this girl, well, because Zheng mentioned that she wanted to ask for the rules of coaching the camp, my subordinates thought that if Chongming had a strong army, it would be the same as Zheng Yina of Fujian." Just like a water master...and His Highness wants to marry the Zheng family..."
Zhu Qianyu chuckled: "General Liu, don't you and my aunt object to Zheng Lang marrying his granddaughter to a widower?"
Liu Shimin was still calm: "The soldiers in the Chongming camp heard that Xu Xinsu's son was leading them, so Xu Xinsu has a good relationship with General Zheng Yi..."
"Okay, don't go around," Zhu Qianyu interrupted Liu Shimin, "General Liu, I don't blame you, but later on, you still have to report to me immediately what Zheng did in Beijing."
"My subordinate understands."
"Mr. Zheng came back from Beizhen Fusi. Did she say anything to you?"
"Never."
"Oh." Zhu Qianyu touched the edge of the tea tray noncommittally.
Zheng Haizhu had entered the cell where Ma Qiancheng was originally imprisoned. Zhu Qianyu learned about this from an informant who had been in prison during his father's generation, and he was not prepared to tell Liu Shimin.
But there is one thing that must be said today.
Zhu Qianyu waved his hand and signaled Liu Shimin to sit back and drink tea. After a moment of silence, he spoke again: "You just asked, the person who went to Liu Qiao's family in Fusi, Beizhen, is a Jurchen."
Liu Shimin's heart froze, and he suddenly raised his head, just like that night in Sheshan a few months ago, staring at Zhu Qianjue in disbelief.
Zhu Qianyu had a calm expression on his face: "So you should understand why I let the Tong family go that day, right?"
Liu Shimin felt a sudden chill on his back, and it spread quickly in an instant, like a smooth and cold python skin, wrapping himself up, and even Zhu Qianjuan's voice seemed to float far away.
"General Liu, my ancestors told me long ago that your Majesty died in Liaoyang. General Liu, please think about it, if it weren't for the descendants like Zhu Laosi, who are so stupid and lazy, how could the courtiers below be so cunning and corrupt, and even the military pay?" The situation was empty, border affairs were slack, and border quarrels caused trouble. Your Majesty was surrounded without reinforcements, so he had to take risks and make a surprise attack, and eventually died. In fact, it was all the fault of the one on the throne and the group under the throne."
Zhu Qianyu's voice was like a demon's voice, and he spoke with certainty. He hoped that every word would be like a ladle of clear water of spiritual wisdom, washing away the unknown hatred of foreigners in Liu Shimin's heart, leading him to understand the essence of the principle of karma, and become like the wise king himself. , can cooperate with foreign races calmly.
Liu Shimin said "Oh" and seemed to come back to his senses.
"Your Highness, do Duke Zheng and the princess know about this?"
"After the Battle of Fushun, I heard the news on the island. I sent someone from Ningde Zhenggong to go north to Liaodong to contact Hetuala. He knew it a long time ago. As for my aunt, I will tell her as soon as possible that Yuesheng The Songjiang Artillery Factory that the girl is eyeing always has to send some goods to Nurhachi."
Liu Shimin tried his best to ask calmly: "Your Highness wants to give the Jurchens firearms?"
Zhu Qianyu had enough time to calm down and said: "That's right. When the Jurchens knock on the pass, how can the frontier troops in Liaodong and western Liaoning be loyal to the king?"