A few days later, because there were no major problems in Shanxi, Shen Yi wrote letters to various armies, and then he and Zhang Jian got on the carriage back to Jiankang.
At this time, even Shen Yi was unwilling to ride a horse.
After all, it was winter now, and it was really uncomfortable to ride on horseback.
More importantly, after two years of running around outside, Lord Shen is not an iron man. He is somewhat exhausted physically and mentally. Sitting in a carriage will still make your body tired, but compared to riding a horse, it may be more Or less able to rest.
In fact, Zhang Jian originally wanted to take a sedan chair. After all, it was not difficult to find a sedan bearer in the north. Compared with riding a carriage, the speed of riding a sedan chair was only slightly slower, but the comfort level could be said to be that it was full.
After all, the shock absorption of a humanoid self-propelled vehicle is infinitely higher than that of a horse-drawn carriage.
However, because Shen Yi insisted on taking a carriage, the two brothers took the same carriage and set off from Shunde to Jiankang.
Traveling with them on this trip, in addition to Shen Yi's entourage, was Jiang Shangshu's eldest grandson Jiang Ming.
The last time Jiang Ming went back was with Shen Yi two years ago. However, he was addicted to the battlefield and was originally reluctant to follow Shen Yi back to Jiankang. However, he was Qianhu of the Pioneer Army and fought with the Tatars in Shanxi. He was slightly injured and was recovering in Taiyuan. Shen Yi sent someone to pick him up from Taiyuan.
Shunde is more than 1,700 miles away from Jiankang. The group started setting out at the beginning of the twelfth lunar month. During this period, because they were not able to make it in time, they also rode horses for a few days. Even so, they only walked for more than 20 days. , on the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, a group of people arrived in Jiankang Mansion.
In the carriage, Zhang Jian opened the curtain and looked at Jiankang City in the distance. He breathed a long sigh of relief. Unknowingly, his eyes became a little red.
"I haven't been back for a long time."
Zhang Fantai let out a long breath and was filled with emotions.
What is different from Shen Yi, who is from Jiangdu, is that although his hometown is Yu Qian, he was born and raised in Jiankang since he was a child. His feelings for Jiankang are undoubtedly much deeper than Shen Yi's.
After saying this with emotion, Zhang Jian turned to look at Shen Yi and asked, "Zi Heng, have you sent someone to inform the court?"
Mr. Shen stretched and said with a smile, "No."
"When I came back two years ago, His Majesty personally went out of the city to greet me, which made me feel very uncomfortable. If I can avoid disturbing the imperial court, I'd better not alarm the imperial court."
Shen Yi yawned and said, "I hope we can enter the city silently. It would be best if we suddenly appear at Deqing Palace during the court meeting at the end of the year and scare those gentlemen."
Zhang Jian laughed and said: "It's probably unlikely. With your current status and reputation among the people, if you return to Jiankang quietly, it may affect the reputation of the imperial court."
"The people will also complain about Your Majesty and wronged the hero."
Before Zhang Jian finished speaking, a shout came from outside the carriage: "Who is it!"
This is the voice of Zhu Zhen, Shen Yi's new personal guard commander. This time, he is also escorting Shen Yi back to Jiankang.
Hearing the movement outside, Jiang Ming, who was riding a horse, immediately became excited and galloped up. Just as he was about to follow Zhu Zhen and shout a few words, he heard the person who came replied in an unassuming voice: "The Minister of Internal Affairs of the Imperial City" Sun Jin has been ordered to greet Lord Shen."
Shen Yi's carriage was at the front, and the carriage at this time was not very soundproof. He naturally heard Sun Jin's words outside. Lord Shen looked stunned and turned to look at Zhang Jian, a little confused: "Senior brother, this is about 30 kilometers away from Jiankang City. , is there still some distance?"
Zhang Jian looked strange: "There are still forty miles."
He looked at Shen Yi and suddenly smiled: "It seems that the scene to welcome you is not very big, but it is surprisingly big."
"We ran all the way back without even a guard, let alone a guard of honor. It's unworthy of your status as Lord Shen."
Shen Yi shook his head slightly: "I never like any kind of ceremonial guard. I'm going out to have a look. Senior brother, will you come with me?"
Zhang Jian nodded and said softly: "Didn't you tell me? This Eunuch Sun is probably already the Prime Minister of the inner court. It's okay for you to fight with him, but I can't fight with him."
He smiled and said: "Let's go out together and meet this Eunuch Sun."
Shen Yi nodded. He jumped out of the carriage first and saw Sun Jin who was talking to Zhu Zhen from a distance. At this time, Jiang Ming had returned to the team. He bowed his head slightly to Shen Yi and said, "Uncle Shen, he is from the palace. people."
"I heard."
Mr. Shen patted Jiang Ming's shoulder and smiled hoarsely: "You kid, you are still so lively, even if you are injured, you are not at ease."
Jiang Ming scratched his head: "I'm already fine. I said I wanted to stay in Datong, and you were absolutely unwilling..."
Shen Yi shook his head: "If you don't go back, your eldest father will come to me to question me."
After saying these words, Shen Yi and Zhang Jian strode towards Sun Jin. Before Shen Yi could get close, Sun Jin immediately bowed forward and saluted: "I pay my respects to Lord Shen."
Shen Yi hurriedly stepped forward, helped him up, and said with a smile: "Eunuch Sun has risen to great heights now. How can you worship me like this? I should worship Eunuch Sun."
After Shen Yi said this, Zhang Jian on the side smiled at Sun Jin and held his hands, but did not bow his head.
"Zhang Jian, the governor of Shandong, met Eunuch Sun."
Sun Jin's slightly chubby face shook his head repeatedly and waved his hands: "I don't dare, I don't dare."
He looked at Shen Yi, then at Zhang Jian, and said: "Master Marquis, Mr. Zhang, your Majesty learned that you are arriving in Jiankang today. He asked your servants to prepare it early in the morning. When you leave Jiankang later, the courtiers I will go out of the city to welcome you."
Shen Yi looked back at Zhang Jian, a little distressed: "He's really here."
Zhang Jian smiled and said to Sun Jin: "Eunuch Sun, most of the princes in the court are here to welcome Lord Shen, but I will not participate. I will go to the city alone now, and wait until early tomorrow morning. Enter the palace to meet the saint."
Sun Jin quickly shook his head: "Xiangong Zhang, His Majesty has issued an order for you two to enter the city together and be welcomed by hundreds of officials."
Mr. Shen laughed and looked at Zhang Jian: "Senior brother can't escape either."
Zhang Fantai grimaced, then looked up at the sky.
"Zi Heng, it's already time now. By the time we arrive at the gate of Jiankang City, it will probably be afternoon or evening."
Shen Yi also reacted. He looked at Sun Jin and asked: "Eunuch Sun, is it not appropriate for the emperor to leave the city in the afternoon? How about I and Senior Brother Zhang stay outside the city for one night and arrive at Jiankang City early tomorrow morning? ?”
"Your Majesty said, it won't be a problem."
Sun Jin said with a smile: "You two just go forward. The imperial court has been discussing your return to Jiankang for several days. I promise to make appropriate arrangements for you now."
After that, he raised his hands to Shen Yi and said, "I would like to congratulate the Marquis on his triumphant return. I have other things to arrange, so I would like to say goodbye to you two."
Mr. Shen looked serious and said sternly: "If Eunuch Sun takes one slave at a time, the friendship between us will be ruined."
Although Shen Yi is not in Jiankang, he knows very well that Gao Ming has retreated to the second line. If he doesn't talk about establishing a good relationship with the eunuch of the inner court, at least he can't let his attitude be too low.
Otherwise, there will be nothing you can do in the future.
Sun Jin hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head slightly: "Master Marquis, please go slowly, I will arrange things along the way first."
Shen Yi smiled and nodded. He also cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Eunuch Sun."
Sun Jin quickly lowered his head: "I don't dare, I don't dare."
After that, Eunuch Sun took several young eunuchs with him, mounted his horse and ran back.
Looking at Sun Jin's retreating figure, Zhang Jian thought thoughtfully and said with a smile: "This eunuch seems to be much more humble than Eunuch Gao."
"After all, it's not long."
Shen Yi said calmly: "In addition, I have made a lot of achievements now, so he respects me. No one can say what the future will be like."
"After all, it takes time to see people's hearts."
After saying that, Mr. Shen looked back at the carriage behind him, then shook his head and said: "The court is waiting in front. We can't take the carriage slowly and leisurely into the city anymore. We'd better change horses."
Having said this, Mr. Shen sighed: "It stands to reason that only when a battle is completely won can it be considered a triumph and be welcomed by hundreds of officials. Now that the Northern Expedition has not started, I have been welcomed twice."
"The Northern Expedition is not a war."
Zhang Jian patted Shen Yi on the shoulder and said with a smile: "According to me, it is appropriate to welcome you ten times."
Mr. Shen did not answer, so everyone put on their horses and rode towards Jiankang City.
At almost noon, we finally arrived at a place more than ten miles outside Jiankang City. Everyone changed into new clothes and rode to ten miles outside Jiankang City.
Emperor Hongde has led hundreds of officials and is waiting under the Shili Pavilion.
Shen Yi and others jumped off their horses and, together with Zhang Jian, half-knelt in front of the emperor: "I, Shen Yi, the governor of Shandong, would like to pay homage to your majesty."
"I, Zhang Jian, the chief envoy of Shandong Province, pay homage to Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, Jiang Ming, would like to pay homage to your Majesty..."
Everyone knelt on the ground.
Emperor Hongde, who had not seen Shen Yi for two years, looked at Shen Yi kneeling in front of him with mixed feelings in his heart. Before he could speak, he saw Shen Yi kneeling on the ground, facing a young man kneeling far behind him. The man waved.
The young man hesitated for a moment, then took the courage to kneel behind Shen Yi, lowered his head and said, "The Huai'an Army Ling Zhan is here to bow to Your Majesty."
The emperor touched the beard on his chin, glanced at Ling Zhan one more time, then stepped forward, stretched out his hand to help Shen Yi up, with a smile on his face.
"We haven't seen you for two years. Thank you for your hard work, Shen Qing."
Mr. Shen looked respectful, lowered his head slightly and said, "I just did a little bit of work, it's not worth mentioning."
The emperor smiled and stretched out his hand to help: "Everyone, please get up."
Everyone then stood up. His Majesty the Emperor said a few more words to Zhang Jian, then looked at Ling Zhan behind Shen Yi and asked with a smile: "Are you General Ling's son?"
Ling Zhan was speechless. He lowered his head and said in a trembling voice: "Back to your Majesty, yes..."
The emperor smiled at him, then stretched out his hand to pull Shen Yi's sleeve and walked towards the dragon chariot.
"We haven't seen each other for two years. Shen Qing also has selfish motives."
Mr. Shen had already ridden in the dragon chariot once, and now he was no longer frightened, and said with a smile.
"It's rare for him to see His Majesty, so naturally he needs to be familiar with His Majesty."
The emperor didn't say anything, but pulled him onto the chariot, and then looked at the ministers and officials.
"Your Majesty."
His Majesty the Emperor cleared his throat.
"The greatest hero of Chen Dynasty has returned to Jiankang."
All the civil and military ministers looked respectful, bowed their heads one after another, and their voices were uniform, as if they had been rehearsed.
"Long live your Majesty!"
"Marquis Shen is mighty!"
"Long live your Majesty!"
"Marquis Shen is mighty!"
I've been stuck on this chapter for a long time, mainly because I was considering whether to write the section outside Jiankang City, or skip it altogether to avoid the suspicion of hydrology. I was originally planning to abandon this section, but after hesitating for a long time, I decided to write it out. Already.
We still need to highlight the protagonist.
In addition, I would like to recommend a new book by an old friend and the veteran history guru Da Luoluo! Friends who are interested can take a look, thank you all!