The bitter cold at the border is first reflected in the food.
Even though the empire has lived smoothly for twenty-eight years, in the border forts far away from the capital, the border soldiers who silently guard the peace of the empire in the wind and snow can still only eat the simplest foods.
, as dinner on this New Year’s Eve.
Several large pots are lined up.
There are many pots, but the contents in them are all the same.
Half the pot comes from the clean snow outside the fort.
There is always an endless supply of frozen beef and mutton at the border.
The old tofu made by the soldiers themselves from soybeans.
Bean sprouts sprouted from soybeans soaked in water.
Pair it with a few green vegetables dug out from the bottom of the snow, which are in short supply at the border.
Add as much condiments as you need.
The large iron spoon was turned and stirred vigorously in the pot, until the aroma filled the entire fort.
That’s it for New Year’s Eve dinner.
In view of the fact that the new flag officer is a man of noble birth.
In the garrison, an extra fat lamb was specially roasted this year, and there were enough oil and water pipes to fry a basket full of egg pancakes.
"Commander Qi, these are the eggs that the boss has fried for you. Please try them while they are still hot."
A small flag officer brought a bowl to Zhu Yunwen with a smile on his face.
In the bowl, there is a fried golden egg.
No matter how hard the court worked, border officials were still short of food and clothing.
Those egg noodle pancakes are dyed a light yellow color by the egg liquid.
Originally, these eggs were slowly accumulated a month or two ago.
What I saved is just for today’s New Year’s Eve dinner.
Zhu Yunwen took the bowl and chopsticks and looked at the soldiers gathered around him.
He reached out and placed the bowl on the iron pot in front of him, slowly tilting the bowl in his hand.
The fried egg slipped from the bowl into the steaming pot.
"Give it to Xiaosi. He went out on patrol a few days ago and injured his tailbone. He needs to take some to replenish his body."
Among the crowd not far away, there was a young border officer and soldier who was the shortest in stature. His face, already flushed by the heat in the fort, immediately turned redder.
Others, on the other hand, burst out laughing.
The red-faced Xiaosi roared: "When spring comes next year, I, Xiaosi, will be the one who kills the most wolf cubs in our fort!"
The old man in charge of the food at the fort held a big iron spoon in his hand, turned it around in the pot, and put the fried egg and a spoon full of meat into Xiaosi's bowl.
"Eat it! After eating the fried eggs that the commander-in-chief gave you, you will be in good health. Let's see how many wolf cubs you can kill next year."
There was another burst of laughter all around.
Xiaosi only came to the garrison this year.
As a military householder, after his father died in the war last year, he received the call-up order from the border army and rushed to the garrison to replace his father and guard the border for the empire.
As the youngest in the garrison, Xiaosi would always be teased by these uncles.
Xiao Si fiercely stuffed the fried egg filled with soup into his mouth.
He blushed and hummed: "I must be the one who kills the most wolf cubs!"
These are the fearless men and women who guarded the border for the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Yunwen clapped his hands: "If you really kill the most enemies next year, I will take credit for you! Then this knife will also be given to you!"
As he spoke, Zhu Yunwen patted the saber on his waist.
That knife from the General Flag!
Xiaosi's face showed anticipation.
The sword on Zhu Yunwen's waist is not a military standard, but a hundred-refined steel sword sent from Taiyuan City a few days ago.
There is no decoration or carving on the whole body, but it is the sharpest.
Xiao Sizhong nodded: "General Qi, please don't lie to me."
Zhu Yunwen glared: "I keep what I say!"
Xiaosi's eyes widened: "Then it's agreed that if I kill the most enemies next year, I don't want the general to ask for credit for me, I just want this knife."
"good!"
Zhu Yunwen was not stingy and agreed generously.
The old man holding the big iron spoon twisted the iron spoon and knocked Xiao Si on the back.
"You bastard thing, I want the commander-in-chief's sword too!"
Xiaosi chuckled and hid aside.
Zhu Yunwen looked around: "The first team is still patrolling outside. You guys eat first. As usual, each person is given a pot of wine. You are not allowed to drink it all at once tonight. You must stay until the seventh day of the lunar month. After eating, the second team will go out to take over.
The first team continues patrolling."
After saying that, Zhu Yunwen sat on a bench next to the iron pot.
He sat like a golden sword, reached for the big iron spoon beside the pot, and filled a bowl of broth for himself.
After a few mouthfuls of meat and soup, Zhu Yunwen took another big mouthful of egg pancake, and finally stuffed a piece of peeled garlic into it.
After chewing for a few times, before everything in his mouth was swallowed, he raised his head and took a sip of wine.
"tasty!"
“Delicious!”
Zhu Yunwen acted boldly, and his face turned a little red because of the sip of wine.
Sun Cheng had been staying in a corner, looking at Zhu Yunwen who was mingling with the border soldiers, and the worries of the previous days gradually disappeared from his eyes.
After three sips of wine.
The festive atmosphere in the fort was also completely evoked.
There are military regulations, and you can't drink any more wine.
But the boys at the border took advantage of the smell of wine and began to sing loudly.
The soldiers gathered together to eat meat and sing songs, and the lyrics were full of expectations for the future.
Zhu Yunwen gathered together with the four small banner officers under his command.
"General Banner, when spring comes, will the imperial court really use troops at the border?"
A small flag officer glanced at the bustling fort with a complicated expression, and then looked at Zhu Yunwen in confusion.
Another small flag officer on the side immediately said: "Yes, Chief Flag, some brothers were supposed to be rotated back according to the rules, but the imperial court issued an order last month to temporarily postpone the rotation. This is to prepare for next year's war.
Bar?"
Among the four small flag officers, the one who spent the most time in the fort looked at Zhu Yunwen solemnly: "If someone like the chief flag officer can come here, the imperial court may have decided to have a big war.
.”
They didn't know why Zhu Yunwen came here, but the surname and middle character of the new flag officer caught people's attention.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! And the man with the embroidered spring knife staying in the fort accompanied by the flag officer further proves this point.
Zhu Yunwen smiled.
Only he and Sun Cheng understand why he is here.
only.
"Your guess is probably correct." Zhu Yunwen pressed his finger and said softly: "If my guess is also correct, when spring comes, the snow on the grasslands melts and the roads become hard, the imperial court will probably mobilize troops.
Already."
"Why……"
One of the four flag officers let out a deep sigh.
Zhu Yunwen looked over immediately.
The little flag officer's eyes suddenly shrank and he quickly lowered his head: "The imperial court is going to fight, so of course we will rush forward with our swords in hand. But... I don't know how many of us will be able to come back after the battle next year...
…”
"People always die in wars... If we don't go to war, do we want our wives and children at home? We in the Ming Dynasty can't do such a thing!"
The other person had a firm gaze and spoke in a deep voice.
Zhu Yunwen's face was calm.
When he found Liu Zongsheng on the Yellow River in Bingfeng, and when he fired that shot, he had already put his own life and death at risk.
However, he felt that he could not ignore the lives of these soldiers in front of him. However, without these people in his family, country and world, how could the Ming Dynasty be the Ming Dynasty?
Zhu Yunwen felt that he was about to realize something, but he couldn't explain it.
He could only shake his head and said in a low voice: "I will pursue my own affairs in my position. As soldiers, it is my duty to protect our home and country. But... if there is a war next year, you should follow me and don't rush."
too fast……"
It's okay if he dies. If the news of his death reaches the heavens, I'm afraid Qiuniang won't have to worry about her life.
But if these people in front of me die, then an ordinary person's family is gone.
If we really start a war then, we will be able to save one person.
Zhu Yunwen thought silently in his heart.
"Egg balls!"
A small flag officer secretly drank half of the bag distributed to him. His eyes turned red and he patted his chest. He said in a deep voice: "We are all military households. We were born to defend the Ming Dynasty."
There is no such thing as hiding behind the general banner. I just hope that the general banner will not forget the merits of the brothers who died in the war, and then the court’s pension will be fulfilled."
The remaining three flag officers also nodded silently.
Zhu Yunwen could only nod in agreement.
The imperial court has a very complete pension system, and no one dares to violate this. If there is even half a penny less, and there is no trouble in the family of the principal, those military households will be smashed by the government.
Moreover, this is what the emperor allows them to do.
At this time, footsteps were heard outside.
The first person to come in was the flag officer of the first team of the garrison.
The first team that saw the patrol came back.
The flag officer of the second team in front of Zhu Yunwen immediately stood up: "General flag, I am taking the people out."
Zhu Yunwen still nodded.
The topic of discussion stopped.
Outside, the people of the first team walked into the fort one by one. The doorways that were opened frequently gave the wind and snow that was raging outside an opportunity to take advantage.
…
Yingtian City.
Fireworks have been going on since nightfall.
According to the emperor's decree, starting from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month in the 28th year of Hongwu's reign, until the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the 29th year of Hongwu's reign, Jin Wu could not help but provide it for the people to play.
It was almost midnight, and in the streets and alleys of the city, there were still groups of people who had had New Year's Eve dinner at home and were out having fun.
The bustle extends from the roots of the Imperial City to the streets where foreigners live in Xicheng.
It seems that everyone is immersed in the atmosphere of the New Year.
However, in such a huge capital, there are always secluded places.
There are always some people who stay away from the hustle and bustle of the New Year and are doing things quietly.
For example, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, Jiang Wei, had a New Year's Eve dinner at home before it got too late today.
I finished my meal early, distributed New Year's red envelopes to my family, and then put on my official uniform and went out.
Even as the emperor's minions and the commander of the Jinyi Guards, Jiang Gu today just made an excuse to go back to the Yamen to prepare for any eventuality due to King Jinwu's inability to restrain himself.
However, at this moment, he appeared in a secluded and dark alley in the city with a team of people.
Jiang Wei's eyes were pressed under his big bucket-brimmed hat.
Under a courtyard gate in the alley ahead, there was already a small group of Jin Yiwei officers and soldiers guarding both sides.
There is a small blank space on the snow-covered courtyard wall.
Few and.
The closed courtyard door was quietly opened.
"kill!"
Jiang Wei gave an order in a low voice and gently pressed forward with his palm.
The officers and soldiers swarmed into the courtyard and fought their way from the backyard to the front yard.
It took no more than a quarter of an hour.
Jiang Wei was already standing in the front hall of the mansion.
There are several tables placed in the front hall, and the fruits, wine and dishes on the tables have already been used.
But with the arrival of Jin Yiwei, it became a mess.
A man in regular uniform was tied up by officers and soldiers and pushed in front of Jiang Wei.
The man's face was full of alcohol. When he saw Jiang Yu's appearance, he trembled all over and showed some fear in his eyes.
But it was probably because of the alcohol that he gained some courage that he shouldn't have.
"Jiang Wei! What are you going to do!"
"Now that the imperial court has sealed it, what are you going to do?"
Jiang Wei looked indifferent: "With the imperial seal, I, the Jin Yiwei, can no longer do anything and kill people?"
His eyes looked faintly at the corpse lying aside.
The man's eyes looked a little panicked.
"I am a doctor in the Ministry of Household Affairs. I abide by the law and be fair. I have never been corrupt or derelict in my duties. What are you going to do, Jiang Yu!"
This was the third time he asked Jiang Yu what he wanted to do.
Jiang Wei sneered and shook his head: "You don't have to think too much. In addition to you tonight, there are also the Doctor of the Qing Li Division of the Shaanxi Province of the Ministry of Revenue and the Lang Zhong of the Qing Li Division of the Beiping Province. They are all on the list."
"What on earth are you going to do?"
"I have not broken any laws!"
A doctor from the Qing Li Division of Shanxi Daohu Department raised his head, his eyes full of anger.
Jiang Wei was a little bored and breathed a sigh of relief: "The Ming Dynasty wants to use troops on the grassland."
After finishing speaking, Jiang Wei glanced at the entire family that had been captured, breathed another sigh of relief, and walked toward the front door.
But the doctor's eyes suddenly widened.
Before he could speak again, a sword flashed in front of his eyes.
Jiang Yu, who had just walked past the screen wall, slowed down a little.
There was a faint smile on his lips.
"The Ming Dynasty is going to create a prosperous age, and this time there can't be anyone holding back."
The killing is going on throughout Yingtian City.
Not only the civil servants above the court, but also the Rear Army Governor's Mansion responsible for the military affairs of the Nine Borders were thoroughly purged.
Anything that is slightly illegal.
In the past, all sins were forgivable, but on the New Year's Eve of the 28th year of Hongwu's reign, they were all severely punished.
All officials and generals who might influence the Ming Dynasty's next large-scale military deployment outside the Pass will have no chance to see the sunrise in the 29th year of Hongwu.
In Wenyuan Pavilion.
The lights are also brightly lit tonight.
All cabinet ministers in Beijing were present.
One message after another was continuously sent from outside the palace to the cabinet.
Ren Hengtai's face was twisted together, but he didn't say a word.
The news is currently being received by Xie Jin and Xu Huizu.
"Your Majesty will not allow any mistakes in this Northern Expedition. This is what you should do."
After reading the latest news, Xie Jin looked sideways at the chief assistant with a solemn expression.
Xu Huizu, who was beside him, also turned around and said: "They are all things with more or less unclean hands and feet. Just kill them and replace them with a group of honest officials."
Ren Hengtai snorted coldly: "That's not what I'm annoyed about. It's that His Majesty is acting without even knowing his will! Will I just do things secretly in the Ming Dynasty?"
"This is a nationwide effort, and there is no room for error!"
Xie Jin explained in a deep voice.
Ren Hengtai's face was gloomy, and he sighed and said: "I want everyone in the capital to know the crimes of these people tomorrow morning!"
Xie Jin smiled: "It's already being done. It's already being done. Don't be angry."
Ren Hengtai, however, was furious. He stood up and waved his hand: "I'm tired. I need to take a nap. You guys can stay on duty."
After saying this, he walked into the cabinet room.
There are beds and bedding for cabinet ministers to stay.
Xie Jin smiled and said nothing, then turned to look at Xu Huizu: "I still have to work hard for the Duke to issue several military orders and send them to various places in the nine sides. Next year, there will also be the Southern Guards who will take turns to come to Beijing to join the Beijing army. After the new year,
We have to leave immediately."
The Beijing army marched north.
It is even possible to use the direct military guards to go north to participate in the upcoming Ming Dynasty's full-scale northern expedition.
As for Yingtian City, which is vacant, it is necessary for officers and soldiers from guard posts from all over the Yangtze River and the south to enter the capital to form a new Beijing army to continue to protect the safety of the capital.
This is the established plan and steps.
Xu Huizu nodded and said: "The military order has been prepared and will be sent to various places from the Governor's Mansion tomorrow morning."
Xie Jin nodded and stood up: "Then I will go and take a rest. The Duke is young, so I can do a lot of work for you."
Xu Huizu's face showed helplessness and he could only let Jie Jin hide inside to rest.
He turned to look at Zhai Shan and Mu Ying who were left in the class room.
Mu Ying opened her legs, took out a wooden box from under the stool, and placed it between the three of them.
"The mahjong that Taisun made before, let the Hanlin bachelor who is waiting outside come in and stay up all night."
Zhai Shan shook his head: "Where did Hanlin get the money? Let's exchange it for the meritorious service of the Governor's Mansion."
Xu Huizu smiled and said, "This is a great kindness."
Finished speaking.
He shouted outside the class room: "Let Huixian Bo Sangjing come in!"