There was chaos outside the window, with the light of burning lanterns, and sounds spreading from far away. I don’t know what time of night it was, so Ning Yi stood up from the bed and touched his swollen and painful forehead.
In the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, the funeral process is still going on, and the late-night wake is not deserted. It's the fourth day of March, the seventh day of the lunar month.
Qin Shaohe is dead.
On February 25th, Taiyuan City was finally captured by Zong Han, and the defenders were forced into street fighting. Although the city defenders had made a lot of preparations for street fighting before, they had been defending the isolated city for several months and reinforcements had not arrived. At this time, the city wall
It was broken and could not be recaptured. The will of the large number of remaining soldiers in the city to fight in the streets was finally annihilated, and it has not played any role in resistance since then.
The massacre of the city began.
At this time, the defending army that had gathered its last strength still made a breakthrough. With the army's breakthrough, a large number of people who still had some strength began to flee. However, this was just the last struggle. The Jurchens besieged the city on all sides and operated for a long time.
In such a huge chaos, only one out of ten people can escape, and after the escape gap of at most one or two hours, there are no more people who can come out.
Qin Shaohe was the last group of people to evacuate. After leaving the city, he raised a banner as the chief officer and attracted the attention of a large number of Jurchen pursuers. Finally, in the evening of that day, he was surrounded and killed by the pursuers on the bank of the Fen River.
His head was brought back by Jurchen soldiers and hung on the top of Taiyuan City, which had become a hellish scene.
As a member of the Secret Investigation Department, Ning Yi naturally knows more details.
On February 25, after the city of Taiyuan was broken, the city was already in chaos. Qin Shaohe led his guards to resist and fight in the streets. He was determined to die and charged forward. By the time he left the city, he had suffered multiple stab wounds.
Covered in blood, he fled all the way to the Fen River. He also ordered the people around him to drag a big flag, in order to hold back the Jurchen pursuers and let those who might escape split up and escape as much as possible.
Qin Shaohe finally jumped into the Fen River. However, the Jurchens prepared a boat nearby and went down the river. They dragged Qin Shaohe on board with a harpoon and fishing net, trying to capture him alive. One of Qin Shaohe's legs was pierced by a long harpoon, but he still fought to death.
Resistance. In the chaos of his sudden resistance, he was killed by a Jurchen soldier with a knife. The Jurchen soldier chopped off his head, chopped his body into several pieces, and threw it into the river.
When Qin Shaohe was in Taiyuan, he had a concubine named Zhanmei by his side, who was already pregnant with his flesh and blood when the city was broken. During the breakout, he handed her over to another breakout team to be taken away. Later, this team was intercepted.
The killing was broken up, and the concubine's whereabouts were missing. At this time, it was not known whether she was dead or captured by the Jurchens.
Li Pin is temporarily missing and Cheng Zhouhai is on his way back to the capital.
This news about Ling Ling Zong Zong was a headache, and the atmosphere in the Qin Mansion was even more sad. Qin Shaoqian wanted to go to the north several times to bring back his eldest brother's head, or at least his flesh and blood, but he was suppressed.
The sad Qin Siyuan gave him a few stern lessons. In the afternoon, Ning Yi had a drink with him. When he woke up, it was almost late at night. He opened the door and went out, crossed the courtyard wall, and saw the night sky on the side of Qin Mansion.
, there was light filling the air, and some people’s spontaneous condolences continued.
Under the publicity of Zhu Ji in the past two days, Qin Shaohe has become a hero within a certain range. Ning Yi rubbed his forehead and looked at the light. He knew in his heart that at the same moment, thousands of miles north of Taiyuan City, ten
The massacre of Ribu Fengdao is still going on, and Qin Shaohe's head is still hanging on the city wall, exposed to the wind and rain.
For the first time, I don’t know if he can come back...
****************
There was a "bang" sound. The copper coin fell accurately into the rim of the wine glass, splashing water. Above the alum tower, the man surnamed Long laughed.
"Young Master Long is so good at playing this. If this continues, no one will dare to come here." The woman next to her looked at her with resentment and started to get angry, but then she drank the wine in the glass amidst his laughter.
At this time, there was a faint sound of people downstairs.
"...Of course I want to drink the blood of these golden dogs——"
Then someone echoed.
The man named Long's expression turned pale, he picked up the wine glass, and finally sighed. The oiran next to him said: "Master Long is also sad about the incident in Taiyuan, right?"
"...The country is like this, why should the people deserve it?" He said, and then drank the wine in his hand, "Of course... I feel a little sentimental."
"I also listened carefully to what happened in Taiyuan. Young Master Long was down there just now, and he must have also listened to Master Qin's story. It's true...those golden dogs are not human beings!"
The woman's scolding seemed delicate, but the emotion in it was real. Mr. Long next to him was holding a wine glass, but he was turning it slightly in his hand, noncommittal.
At this time, Master Long, who had been to Fanlou several times, was naturally Zhou Zhe.
Wu Shengjun's rescue was defeated, Chen Yanshu died, and Taiyuan fell. This series of events made him feel heartbroken. For several days, the court and the people were discussing this matter, especially among the people, in Chen Dong
Instigated by others, large-scale petitions were launched several times. When Zhou Zhe came out incognito, various things about Taiyuan were also circulating on the streets. At the same time, some storytellers were describing Qin Shaohe's tragic death as a hero.
Rendered like this.
But regarding this matter, he could see clearly that others might be incited.
Nazhuji is good at calculating, and he is quite skillful in using these small means of inciting people's hearts!
However, Ning Liheng's heretical methods are endless, and it is not a strange thing for him.
Anyway, when times are critical, clowns always have their uses!
Turning the wine glass in his hand, he remembered something and asked casually: "By the way, when I came here, I asked casually. I heard that the teacher girl was not here again. Where did she go?"
"Master Long originally wanted to find Senior Sister..."
"Not really." Zhou Zhe smiled, "It's just that the most talented and beautiful people in the Alum Tower are here at this time, but she ran out. She was a little curious."
"Senior Sister has gone to the Prime Minister's Mansion." The woman beside him was not annoyed and came to pour him wine again. "Master Qin, on the first day of the week, many people went to the Prime Minister's Mansion to keep vigil for him. In the afternoon, my mother said,
Let Senior Sister go on our behalf. I am a prostitute, and this is the only way I can express my feelings. When the Jurchens attacked the city, Senior Sister even went to the city to help. We all admire her very much. Before Mr. Long
Have you met Senior Sister?"
"Although you are living in the world, you can still worry about state affairs. Miss Ji, there is no need to belittle yourself." Zhou Zhe's eyes wandered and he thought about it for a moment. He didn't know whether the glance under the city wall that day could be regarded as meeting Li Shishi, but he finally shook his head.
Shaking his head. "I came here several times and wanted to meet, but I didn't see him every time. It seems that Long and Miss Ji are more destined." In fact, the name of the woman next to him is Ji Yanluo, and she is Fanlou.
The currently popular Oiran is sweeter and more lovable than the slightly outdated Li Shishi. In this concept, it is not a pity to not see Li Shishi.
Ji Yanluo smiled sweetly and said a few more words to him, and Zhou Zhe frowned slightly: "It's just that Qin Shao and one of the high officials, and the mourning hall is the prime minister's residence. Although Miss Li is famous, can she go in today?
"
"Uh, this... Yanluo doesn't know, oh. I heard before that Senior Sister and the Prime Minister's Mansion still have some relationship." She said this and smiled again, "Actually, Yanluo feels that for such a great hero,
, we have done our best to keep the vigil, and once it has passed, it will be considered that we have done our best. Whether we can get in or not, it actually doesn’t matter."
"Too……"
Zhou Zhe replied with a slight hum in his heart. When he thought about the Taiyuan people being massacred at this time, it was really hateful that Qin Siyuan used some tricks to portray Qin Shaohe as a great hero. On the other hand, he thought about Li Shishi.
Because he had a good relationship with Ning Yi, who was a staff member of the Prime Minister's Mansion, he was naturally able to bring her in. It was said to be a wake-up call, but in fact it might be regarded as a meeting.
These two thoughts flashed through his mind, but he didn't know which was lighter and which was heavier.
***************
It's just that Zhou Zhe's thoughts were wrong at this time.
Although she went to the Qin Mansion to pay condolences, Master Li did not request to enter the mourning hall through Ning Yi. That night, like other people who were keeping vigil, she lit some incense and candles on the side of the Qin Mansion, and then silently prayed for the blessings of the deceased.
.And Ning Yi, who was in the Prime Minister's Mansion, didn't know that Shishi had been here that night.
Passing through the corridor in the backyard of the Qin Mansion, Ning Yi went to the courtyard where the staff of the Qin Mansion usually gathered.
This night's wake for Qin Shaohe was attended by many relatives, friends and descendants of the Qin family. As for some people who were Qin Shaohe's elders, naturally they did not need to keep watch. Although Ning Yi was not considered an elder, he did not have to stay there all the time.
In the front, most of the guests, staff and other people who were really close to the Qin family rested and stayed in the backyard.
Since it has not yet passed midnight, Jueming and others have not yet gone back during the day during the Yaozu Year. Wenren Buer is also here to talk to them. Qin Shaohe is the eldest son of Qin and the successor of Qin Siyuan. It is said that in the Yaozu Year
, it is not an exaggeration to say that Jueming and others have watched him grow up. When the news of his death came, everyone was sad, but at this time, the first wave of emotions gradually began to settle.
And combined with the current situation in the Qin Mansion, this precipitation will only make people more sentimental.
Qin Shaohe's biological mother and Qin Siyuan's first wife were already old. When the news of their eldest son's death came, she fell sad and fell ill. Qin Siyuan stayed there occasionally when nothing happened. After Ning Yi talked to Yao Zunian and others for a while, Qin Siyuan came over.
The changes in these days, and even the death of his eldest son, did not seem to make him more haggard or older at the moment. His eyes were still bright, but they had lost their enthusiasm and looked calm and profound.
"Thanks to Li Heng and Fuji for Shao Qian's matter, he feels better now that you are here. I just heard that Li Heng drank too much, so I asked the maid to prepare ginseng tea, and Li Heng will drink some later..."
After a brief exchange of greetings, everyone sat down in the room and listened to the faint sounds of movement outside. Qin Siyuan also expressed his gratitude to Ning Yi for those who took the initiative to express condolences to Qin Shaohe on the street outside. In the past two or three days,
, Zhuji spared no effort in publicity, and just organized such an event.
Ning Yi shook his head: "The deceased is gone. Brother Qin probably doesn't care too much about this matter. It's just that there are different opinions outside. I just... found something to talk about. To balance it out, it's all selfish.
, it’s hard to take credit.”
Qin Siyuan also shook his head: "No matter what, those people who came to see him are always sincere. Now that he has gone, accepting this sincerity may be a little comfort... In addition, it is also a matter of time to find the whereabouts of Zhan Mei in Taiyuan.
The people under Heng responded quickly, if they can find... that would be great."
The old man spoke briefly, and Ning Yi nodded. In fact, although the people sent by Ning Yi were looking for them, but they couldn't find them, there was nothing to comfort them. Everyone was silent for a moment, and Jueming said: "I hope that after this incident, the palace can
I have some concerns."
Yao Zunian also nodded.
Although the news that the Qin family was going to be attacked came from the palace, and Cai Jing and others seemed to have set their posture, but at this time, the Qin family had a hero who died for the country, and the people around him may have to slow down. They must also attack Qin Siyuan.
There are many concerns, which is also one of the purposes of Ning Yi's propaganda.
Everyone then made some lively gossip, and Jueming laughed: "I heard that Wang Fu sent someone to find Li Heng again yesterday?"
Ning Yi looked calm, with a trace of ridicule on his lips: "I will attend the dinner in a few days."
"You can have both sides." Yao Zunian smiled slightly, "When I was young, I also had such a time." Then he said: "Old Qin, you must be the same."
Although there was sadness in his eyes, Qin Siyuan also smiled at this time: "Yes, it has been decades since I was young and proud. The prime minister at that time was Lord Hou Qinggaohou, who supported me a lot..."
They are all outstanding figures in the world. They have been prominent when they were young. They have experienced such things and have long been accustomed to them. However, as their status increases, such things finally become less common. The people on the side are very familiar with it.
: "I really want to know what Grand Master Cai and Li Heng said."
"Let's sit down and talk about it and win over in private." Ning Yi did not shy away from it. He looked at Qin Siyuan. In fact, at that time, Ning Yi had just received the news of the fall of Taiyuan and went to the Taishi Mansion. Cai Jing also happened to receive it. Things collided.
, the atmosphere was subtle, Cai Jing said something, and Ning Yi also conveyed it to Qin Siyuan: "Cai Taishi said that Qin Xiang wrote books and compositions, and made brilliant and high-level arguments, but on the one hand, he established the rules and principles and gained power for the literati, and on the other hand, now
During the stormy autumn of the Wu Dynasty, he wanted to rectify the name of the warriors again. The literati and warriors all have to stand out, where does the power come from... It's probably like this."
Ning Yi spoke calmly, Qin Siyuan's eyes remained still, and the others were slightly silent. Then they heard Fu Er snorted. After a while, Ning Yi also shook his head.
"To be honest, after this incident, if the prime minister's office is no longer there, I will leave."
Everyone raised their eyebrows, and Jueming was sitting up: "Where are you going? Aren't you going to stay in the capital?"
Yao Zunian also frowned greatly: "Li Heng has great potential, so you are discouraged?"
In the officialdom of the Wu Dynasty, there were often ups and downs. Although this time the matter was serious and almost heartbreaking for many people, even if Lao Qin was dismissed from office or even convicted, in the current national crisis, he was still young and powerful and obviously
After all, Ning Yi, who is favored by many parties, can still do many things. Therefore, when he said he was leaving, Yao Zunian and Jueming felt it was a pity. (To be continued.)