The essence of the Shandong section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
It can even be said to be one of the richest places along the entire canal.
With the Grand Canal's convenient transportation and freight, goods from all over the world gathered, merchants came and went, and the commercial and handicraft industry was extremely prosperous.
In the pre-Ming Dynasty, Linqing was definitely not as prosperous as Yangzhou.
But now, Linqing is much more prosperous than Yangzhou.
The reason is very simple. Yangzhou was massacred by the Qing Dynasty. All the people in the city were killed, and not even a tenth of them survived.
Over the past ten years, even if Yangzhou has regained some of its vitality, it is still far from the paradise it once was.
Therefore, Linqing can be nominated as the most prosperous city along the canal, thanks to the contribution of the Qing Dynasty.
Therefore, when the Qing Dynasty's southern expedition army arrived in Linqing, the wealthy gentry in Linqing "voluntarily" donated military pay and paid for the army.
The army was stationed outside Linqing City to receive rewards.
Tu Hai and Hong Chengchou, on the other hand, appeared together in Linqing City under the protection of their guards, and accepted the banquet hosted by the wealthy local gentry in Linqing.
The banquet was filled with delicious food and fine wine.
Delicious dishes that are rarely seen on weekdays can be found everywhere here.
The atmosphere at the banquet was lively!
Even Hong Chengchou, who was weak and weak, drank several glasses of wine, and two clusters of blush appeared on his pale and bloodless old face.
The Kong family in Qufu also sent a clan elder with a batch of gold and silver to pay homage to Tu Hai and Hong Chengchou.
Kong Yanjing picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. The spicy wine made his face flush, and he said to Tu Hai.
"Your Majesty the Governor, Mr. Hong, and the common people, here's a toast to you two!"
Kong Yanjing was just an ordinary person in the Kong family.
The seniority is not low, but the status is not high.
Nowadays, he can drink at the same table with big figures like Tu Hai and Hong Chengchou, all because he represents the Kong family.
How could he not feel emotional about this?
Tu Hai and Hong Chengchou also raised their glasses. Although the wine in the glasses only touched their lips, it was considered as enough honor.
The other representatives of the gentry who were present at the table also continued to flatter Tu Hai and Hong Chengchou.
"The two adults led the troops south to defeat the thieves. They are actually the humerus of the imperial court!"
"The two adults will lead the troops to the south this time. They will definitely win the battle and return the Qing Dynasty to a bright future."
"Our Qing heavenly troops are marching southward, and their momentum is unstoppable. The Ming thieves will be frightened when they hear about it!"
"..."
Baskets of all kinds of good words were thrown at me.
Tu Hai and Hong Chengchou even felt a little elated under the constant praise.
I have a little more confidence in this southern expedition!
However, just when the banquet in Linqing City was reaching its climax and the atmosphere was the most enthusiastic.
Suddenly a messenger broke in from outside.
The messenger was covered in dust and extremely embarrassed. He ran all the way to Tuhai's ear and whispered something.
When Tuhai heard this, his eyes suddenly widened, he stood up and overturned the table in front of him.
An old face was full of disbelief.
"Are you...are you sure?"
Tu Hai waited for the messenger with stern eyes and asked.
The messenger nodded vigorously and said.
"My Lord Governor, this is the news coming from the capital, it cannot be wrong..."
When Hong Chengchou saw Tu Hai being so rude, he couldn't help but ask.
"Lord Tuhai, what happened?"
Seeing Hong Chengchou asking, Tu Hai opened his mouth, with an expression on his face as ugly as if he had eaten shit.
But he still spoke.
"There is news from the capital that the Empress Dowager... was assassinated!"
When Hong Chengchou heard this, the expression on his face kept twitching.
His emotions were extremely complicated, and his face finally settled on an expression of shock mixed with sadness.
His physical condition was very bad, and he knew that he might not live much longer.
Unexpectedly, Bumbutai walked ahead of him!
If you want to ask what Hong Chengchou's mentality is now, Hong Chengchou himself doesn't know.
Sad?
Maybe there is!
After all, everyone understands the relationship between him and Bumbutai.
happy?
There seems to be some!
Bumbutai was so ruthless that he forced him to go to the battlefield in his dying years and insisted on letting him die on the battlefield. Who would believe that Hong Chengchou had no hatred for Bumbutai?
Bumubutai's death was like a prelude to the end of an era for Hong Chengchou.
Let Hong Chengchou clearly realize that the times no longer belong to their generation!
Tu Hai and Hong Chengchou looked at each other, both realizing the seriousness of the matter.
He didn't care to continue to make excuses with those gentry and landlords at the banquet, and left hand in hand.
But before leaving, both of them showed appropriate sadness and confusion.
On the wide streets of Linqing City, two sedan chairs were walking side by side. The curtains on the side of the sedan chairs were opened. Hong Chengchou and Tu Hai were talking to each other in low voices.
"Such a big thing has happened in the capital. Should we continue going south or return to Beijing?"
Hong Chengchou asked tentatively.
Tu Hai was the leader of Zhenghuang Banner, and he also held more than 200,000 elite Qing court troops in his hands.
Now that Bumbutai has been assassinated, the political situation in the court is in chaos!
If Tuhai chooses to lead his troops back to the capital, as the leader of the Zhenghuang Banner, he has the capital to replace Bumbutai's role in the court.
You know, in troubled times, military power is the foundation of everything!
Tu Hai frowned, feeling extremely complicated in his heart.
Return to Beijing?
It's not like he hasn't thought about it.
But what about the war situation in the south?
If he leads his troops back to the capital now, wouldn't he be allowing the Ming thieves in the south to grow bigger?
But if we don’t return to Beijing, what will happen to the situation in Beijing?
Without the Empress Dowager, can the Empress Dowager Borzigit control the ministers? Can Obai and others protect the emperor?
These are issues that Tuhai cannot ignore!
But after weighing it for a while, Tuhai finally shook his head and said.
"Don't go back to Beijing yet!"
"Without an order to lead troops back to the capital, what's the difference between me and the rebellious officials and traitors?"
Hong Chengchou instantly understood Tu Hai's meaning.
He didn’t return to Beijing, but he didn’t say he would continue to lead his troops south!
There is a high probability that he will choose to station troops in Linqing first and wait for the follow-up news from the capital, so that he can make corresponding choices based on the specific situation.
Hong Chengchou suggested.
"How about the army renovating in Linqing?"
Hong Chengchou's proposal was right in Tuhai's favour, he nodded slightly and said.
"So good!"
"The army went south from the capital and had a difficult journey. Now it's time to repair a section of it!"
After Tu Hai said this, he glanced at Hong Chengchou and thought to himself, Old Fox.
When the news came that Bumu Butai had been assassinated, although Tu Hai and Hong Chengchou were shocked, they were not very sad.
They are all purely political animals, and they no longer care about personal emotions!
The emotions displayed in front of outsiders are mostly staged.
How should I put it, those people who play politics, who are best actors in acting per capita, are beating up a group of young actors and actresses in the entertainment industry.
While talking to Tu Hai, Hong Chengchou was already thinking about how he should start writing a memorial to Bumu Butai.
…
Outside Changsha City, people and horses meet the sky!
Wu Sangui Ping Xiwang's banner was flying high, and countless sergeants of the Guan Ning Army stood in formation outside Changsha City.
Artillery pieces were pushed to the front of the formation, aiming in the direction of Changsha City.
Countless cavalry blocked the surrounding area of Changsha City. The war horses galloped and drove, and the knights on horseback bent their bows and set arrows.
Like a sharp scimitar, it passed by the outside of the moat of Changsha City.