After four years of peace and hundreds of battles, today, they finally reached the gates of Jinling City.
Now that the overall situation has been determined, the morale of the three armies is full, which is in sharp contrast to the panic and discouragement of the defenders at the top of the city.
Countless soldiers, with their backs bare, were busy under the scorching sun, excitedly marching to the gates of Jinling City. The siege equipment was built on the beams and large timbers abandoned by the Confederate army in panic. The sun shone on their dark skin, and their sweat glistened.
The banner with the word "Yan" stood straight under the scorching sun. King Yan's army set up a ten-mile camp at the foot of Jinling City. The flags and banners were fluttering and the camp stretched to the sky. The majestic momentum made the defenders at the top of the city frightened.
Zhu Di took a bath and changed clothes, put on the grand robes of the feudal lord, wore a Yishan crown on his head, a vermilion python dragon robe, a coiled collar and narrow sleeves, and a jade belt around his waist. Under the guard of dozens of fierce generals, he inspected the positions under the city, passing by
Here, the soldiers cheered like the roar of the sea.
Zhu Di rode his horse and raised his whip. Directly in front of him was the majestic Jinling of the Imperial Capital. Zhongshan Mountain in the east was winding around like a coiled dragon. Stone Mountain in the west was like a tiger standing on the bank of the river. The mighty Yangtze River flows from Jinchuan
The flow flows to the northeast under the gate. The dazzling golden towers and pavilions in the southeast corner of the city are the imperial city. As soon as he saw it, Zhu Di couldn't help but feel excited.
The flying snow on the fortress, the bright moon on the Baigou River, the fast horses under the Dezhou City, the chariots in front of the Jinan City, and the tragic defeat under the Dongchang City, all appeared before my eyes... Four years have passed, and the emperor has stepped forward step by step.
He was forced to fight to the death, and now he is sure of victory when he reaches the city. He has been to the target many times, and has narrowly escaped death many times. Now, he finally ushered in the moment of victory.
The 800,000-strong army did not stop him, and the natural barrier of the Yangtze River did not stop him. Can the city wall of Jinling stop his progress?
In Jinling City, countless princes, ministers, ministers and generals are waiting in panic for their final fate. At this moment, no one believes that Jinling can be defended. Indeed, Jinling is stronger and more majestic than Jinan City, but time has changed.
The situation has changed. No matter how strong the city wall is, there will always be someone to defend it. Who has the courage to fight King Yan now? Not to mention Tie Xuan, the current emperor is in the city and cannot boost the morale of the three armies.
In the courtyard of Hanlin editor Wu Pu's house, under the thick shade of trees, there was a table of wine and food, and several friends were discussing the current situation worriedly.
Present here are the host Wu Pu, and guests Hu Jing, Wang Gen, and Li Guan. The other one who is the shortest and unattractive is the great talent they admire most, Xie Jin. Xie Jin is also known as Yang Shen and Xu Wei.
One of the "Three Great Talents of the Ming Dynasty", a famous scholar, suffered in Lanzhou for more than three years. Later, through his good friend Dong Lun, the Minister of Rites, he continued to work for him. Finally, at the beginning of this year, he was transferred back from Lanzhou.
The current Hanlin is awaiting imperial edict.
At the banquet, everyone was talking loudly about the current situation. Almost everyone agreed that they did not think Jinling City could be defended. Wang Gen shed tears and said to Hu Jing, Li Guan and Hu Pu: "In the second year of Jian's reign, you
The four of us became Jinshi together and ranked among the top four. I thought that you and I could serve the country from now on, but I didn’t expect that in just two years, the country would end up like this..."
Hu Jing thought to himself: "Serving the country has nothing to do with whether Jianhe and King Yan will be the emperor. They are all the royal family of Zhu Ming. When King Yan takes over the world, doesn't he need ministers to take care of the country for him? We are not making noises.
They are clamoring to cut down the feudal vassals, and there are twenty-nine people on King Yan’s ‘treacherous list’, but there are no names like yours or mine, why are you so sad?”
However, they all studied moral chapters, so naturally they couldn't say such words, so Busy also echoed a few words, looking loyal and courageous. If he really wanted to say such beautiful words, he would say them better than Wang Gen.
Be nice. Xie Jin looked on with cold eyes, half-smiling but not smiling, but it was hard to guess his state of mind.
He didn't have a good impression of Emperor Jian. It was Emperor Jian who asked him to go to Lanzhou to eat dirt. Now, he entrusted his friends with activities and finally returned to Nanjing. He didn't want to encounter the change of ownership just after he came back.
Son, he doesn't care, he is full of talents and knowledge, and he can't put it to use in the hands of Emperor Jian. This Hanlin has been waiting for the imperial edict for two months. He has no chance to draft an imperial edict for the emperor. That work
They were all taken care of by Bachelor Fang.
Is the sky going to change? What does it have to do with the sun rising and setting?
At the end of the song, everyone dispersed. They were helpless about the current predicament and could only express some emotion before going back. Wu Pu's youngest son was already nine years old. He listened to several uncles who were either impassioned or quoted.
, even those who didn't understand it could vaguely understand it. After the uncles left, he snuggled into his father's arms and said: "Dad, Uncle Hu just said that he will leave with Emperor Jian on the day the city is broken.
Those words were impassioned and made people's blood boil. He is truly worthy of being the champion."
Wu Pu shook his head silently. His wife was clearing the table. She was afraid that after hearing this, her husband would imitate the idiot scholar and commit suicide, so he quickly pulled away from his son and slapped him hard on the buttocks.
He said angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about? Go back to your room and study." Then he said to Wu Pu uneasily: "My lord, this is the emperor's family matter. You must not have any stupid thoughts. If you have something wrong, leave it alone."
We who are orphans and widowed..."
Speaking of this, Mrs. Wu couldn't help but shed tears.
Wu Pu smiled bitterly and said: "Madam, what nonsense are you talking about? I will never die for my husband."
He was silent for a while, and then slowly said: "Wang Gen, Hu Jing, and Li Guan are the same as me and have been on the same imperial examination list for the past two years. Based on my understanding of them, I am afraid that Wang Gen is the only one who is willing to die to serve the king..."
That’s just stubbornness.”
As soon as Wu Pu finished speaking, he heard Hu Jing's voice from his neighbor on the left: "Madam, there is a war and chaos outside, how can you still be so leisurely and at ease? Hurry up and pack up the valuable things at home and hide them under the rice cupboard!"
Wu Pu, Hu Jing, and Wang Gen were in the same imperial examination, ranking first, second, third, and fourth respectively. After becoming officials, except for Li Guan, whose family was relatively wealthy, and he bought a house alone in the bustling downtown area, the other three people all bought their houses in the same alley.
The house on the left in Wupu is the Hu Jing family, and the right house is the Wang Gen family.
After hearing what Hu Jing said, Wu Pu and his wife looked at each other. After a moment of pause, Wu Pu smiled bitterly and said: "Madam, how are you? I am still thinking about the valuable things at home. Mo was hit by the war. How can he?"
Are you going to seek death?"
Mrs. Wu broke into laughter, tapped his forehead coquettishly, and said: "Master Hu, you are a smart man. It has nothing to do with us who will be the emperor, uncle or nephew of the Zhu family. Don't be stupid, don't be cruel, and give up."
Come on, my slave family and my children, learn from Hu Zhuangyuan!"
At Wang Gen's house, Wang Gen said to his wife solemnly: "Madam, I have to live up to the salary of Emperor Jian. Now that King Yan's troops are approaching the city, it is impossible to hold it. When the city is destroyed, the emperor must
Wang Gen is willing to die for his country. As a minister, Wang Gen can neither share your worries nor let your father die on the head of a minister like me. I will go first, under the Nine Springs, and then serve the emperor in front of you!"
"Husband..."
Mrs. Wang mourned and cried to the ground, but Wang Gen was very strict in running the family, and Mrs. Wang never disobeyed her husband. Seeing that her husband was already determined to die, she did not dare to dissuade him.
Wang Gen smiled miserably, quietly opened the cap of the small bottle of poisonous wine he bought with his thumb, and said: "If you raise your child well, you are fulfilling your righteousness for me. My husband will go to Jiuquan first to welcome the emperor."
!”
After saying that, he raised his head and poured the poisonous wine into his mouth...
※※※※※
Luo Kedi was ushered into the Zhengxin Palace with a solemn expression. He didn't know what important matters the emperor would have to give when he summoned him at this time.
The Yan army was about to enter the city. He really didn't expect that the imperial court would be defeated so miserably and so quickly.
In the past few days, Yang Xu's figure has been lingering in his mind.
He lost, he completely lost. That boy Yang Xu had such accurate vision and could see so far!
"Lord Luo!" Upon seeing Luo Kedi's arrival, the young eunuch Wang Yue hurriedly came up to greet him.
Luo Kedi asked quietly: "Where is the emperor?"
Wang Yue said: "The emperor is waiting for you inside. Go quickly."
Luo Kedi nodded and walked in. Wang Yue also followed. With a wave of his hand, all the chamberlains and maids bowed their backs and slowly retreated.
When Luo Kedi saw this situation, he couldn't help but feel a little moved: "The emperor has actually dismissed everyone around him. What top-secret matters are you entrusting me with? Could it be that...you want me to find a way to assassinate King Yan? If King Yan dies suddenly,
It’s a good way to resolve this crisis, but...it’s so difficult to assassinate King Yan.”
Luo Kedi walked around the screen with random thoughts and was pacing back and forth. When Zhu Yun saw Luo Kedi with an anxious face, he immediately came up to him. Before Luo Kedi could bow and salute, he grabbed his arm and said eagerly.
: "Luo Aiqing, at this time of national survival, at a critical moment of life and death, I can only entrust you with this important matter."
Luo Kedi felt a sore nose and almost shed tears after hearing this. What he had been dreaming about was to gain the emperor's trust and restore the glory of Jin Yiwei. This moment he had finally waited for. The emperor finally thought of him, finally thought of him.
Even though it was already too late for the Jin Yiwei, Luo Kedi was still excited: "Even if the emperor lets me sneak into the Yan army camp to assassinate King Yan, I will go, I will go in person. Since the emperor treated me as a national soldier and smashed my body to pieces, I will also
Die without regrets!"
Luo Kedi's eyes lit up. He had kept his power hidden for many years. At this moment, it was like a sword that had been hidden in its sheath for a long time. Suddenly it was unsheathed, and it was still radiating cold light. Luo Kedi said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, please give me your instructions.
Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will not disappoint the Emperor’s expectations!”
"Okay! Okay! I know that Luo Aiqing will always be loyal to me. She is a thousand times or ten thousand times better than those losers who always talk nonsense and abandon me when things get tough!"
Zhu Yun said excitedly: "I am really not sure whether Jinling City can be defended, so I have to prepare for a rainy day. I want you to make arrangements for me, and send me out of the palace once the city is broken!"
Luo Kedi was stunned, his eyes gradually dimmed, Zhu Yun said in fear: "Why, even you can't do it?"
Luo Ke's enemy was aroused, and he suddenly thought: "Could it be that the emperor wants to escape somewhere else and make a comeback?"
His eyes lit up again, and he asked hurriedly: "Where do you want to go, Your Majesty? To the King of Shu in Sichuan, or to the King of Mu in Yunnan? According to this, there is still a chance to seize the land and call on the world..."
Zhu Yun quickly waved his hands and said: "I think the whole world is still no match for King Yan, so what's the use of escaping there, it's just a moment of late death! My dear, please make arrangements so that I can escape as far away as possible. Don’t let anyone named King Yan find me!”
Luo Kedi was silent for a moment, slowly prostrated himself on the ground, knocked his head deeply on the ground, and said in a low voice: "I...obey your order..."