As the spring rain falls in the North, large tracts of snow melt, and the white color that lasts for a winter gradually loses its dominance. In the upper reaches of the Yellow River, as the rumbling melting ice begins to enter the river bed, the water level of this mother river begins to rise. It has grown significantly. The roaring river water rushes down, rolling up the dirt that spreads on both sides of the river bed in winter. The rain curtain on both sides of the Yellow River is desolate.
Going down from the Yellow River and across the rolling Yangtze River, the world in the south has woken up early. After February 2, spring plowing has begun. On the vast land, farmers drive their cattle in the farmland. A new year of work has begun. On the Yangtze River, the merchant ships coming and going have become busy despite the wind and waves. Large and small cities, large and small workshops, and caravans coming and going are working non-stop for this period. The prosperous age provides strength. If you don't look at the millions of troops in action north of the Yangtze River, people will sincerely sigh that this is really a good year for the prosperous age.
In a sense, it was indeed a good year.
In Lin'an City, the beggars gathered selling their pitiful stories to passers-by. The knights went to the border in small groups and drew their swords. At this time, the scholars finally found their passion. Due to the catastrophe in the North, the brothel and prostitute village Most of them are girls who have been sold into the country. The songs of the nobles often have a lot of sadness or tragic colors. Business travelers come and go, the court is busy with official business, and officials often work overtime. I was exhausted. In this spring, everyone has found their suitable position.
The war in the North and Tian Shi's tragedy are arousing heated discussions in the city. Black Flag's participation here is insignificant. With Zong Han and Xi Yin's army launching, Jin is about to face a annihilation. At the same time, the war in Xuzhou has also begun. Prince Junwu led an army of one million to guard the northern defense line, which was the focus of most attention in the eyes of the scholars.
At the same time, people of insight were still paying attention to the situation in the southwest. As the Chinese army issued a truce statement and called for joint resistance to the Jin Dynasty, a scandal related to the southwest was unexpectedly revealed in the capital. Already.
This scandal concerns Long Qifei.
Since the Black Flag Army invaded Shu last summer, Ning Liheng, the former regicide madman, once again entered the attention of everyone in Nanwu. Although the Jurchen threat was imminent at this time, the situation suddenly changed into a three-legged confrontation. Later, the huge threat from the side and rear like the Black Flag Army became an important focus even surpassing the Jurchen side in many scenes.
After all, whether from the perspective of chatting or showing off, talking to others about how powerful the Jurchens are undoubtedly seems to be an old-fashioned way of thinking. And letting everyone pay attention to the blind spots on the side and rear can show the difference in people's thinking. Black The theory of flag threat gradually increased over a period of time. By October and November, Da Rulong Qifei, who arrived in the capital with first-hand information about the southwest, became a new upstart in Lin'an's social circles.
As mentioned before, in order to save the situation, Long Qifei, who had just arrived in Lin'an, was exaggerating his efforts to mend the cracks in the sky with one hand. He was actually lobbying the powerful everywhere, hoping to make people aware of Black Flag's power and ambition. Of course, the importance of the Chengdu Plain occupied by the Black Flag to the Wu Dynasty was also included.
However, the situation is stronger than the people. There are not many people who can pick up a hot potato like the Black Flag Army head-on. Even Qin Hui, who once advocated the crusade against the southwest, could only silently swallow it after being set up by the emperor and his colleagues.
It was a bitter pill - it wasn't that he didn't want to attack the southwest, but what if he continued to advocate sending troops, and then the emperor put him on the same side?
For this reason, Long Qifei's appeal hit a wall. In anger, he joined the left-minister Zhao Ding and told many bad things about Qin Hui, as well as how he initially encouraged everyone to go to the southwest to cause trouble.
Never mind the ugliness of the troubles in the southwest.
During the New Year period, Qin Hui suffered from enemies from both sides and pretended to be his grandson before getting forgiveness from Emperor Zhou Yong. At this time, it was already February.
During this February, in order to cope with the upcoming war in the north, Qin Hui was extremely busy in the Privy Council. It was difficult to go home every day. He seemed to have no time to care about a small person like Long Qifei.
As for Long Qifei, he has already been on the stage, so naturally he cannot get off easily. In the past few months, Long Qifei has been worried about the affairs in the southwest, and he has become a leader among the scholars. Occasionally he leads the Taixue students to kneel in the streets in the city.
, the general trend of the world at this time is in a period of turmoil, and it is a good story for students to worry about patriotism. Zhou Yong has also passed the initial stage when he was an emperor and wished he could play with women every day and was caught. At that time, he had people who liked to chew his tongue be killed.
Chen Dong, now he doesn't care about these students and scholars in the harem, but occasionally praises them. When the students receive awards, they praise the emperor's sage, and both parties live in harmony, and everyone is happy.
The first thing that happened to Long Qifei was Lu Guoer, the top brothel who followed him eastward. This female heroine drugged Long Qifei at the critical moment and knocked him out, and then accompanied him to escape from Zizhou, which was in danger under the threat of black flags.
The incident of traveling to the capital became a good story. After Long Qifei became famous, Lu Guoer also began to become famous as Long Qifei's confidante. In the past few months, even though he pretended to be committed to Long Qifei,
I don't go out much, but gradually I have a small social circle.
However, on Long Qifei's side, the original "good story" actually had another story. Long Qifei had something in his heart and had some grudge against the women around him. He promised Lu Guoer a concubine status, and then left the woman and ran away.
In Vanity Fair, it was only in February that Long Qifei realized that something was wrong with the woman around him during their occasional interactions with each other.
He was originally an outstanding person, so he stood still and investigated privately. Later, he discovered that this woman from the southwest border had already been immersed in the colorful world of the capital and couldn't extricate herself. The most troublesome thing was that the other party also had a young scholar concubine.
On February 17, the war in the north and the war in the southwest were making a fuss in the capital. At midnight, Long Qifei killed Lu Guoer in the newly purchased mansion. Before he had time to destroy the body and get rid of the traces, he got Lu Guoer.
The official who reported Lu Guoer's new love interest rushed into the house, arrested him and imprisoned him. This new love interest of Lu Guoer - a young scholar who was concerned about the country and the people - stepped forward and reported the case to the government.
Long Qifei was so ugly that later the official found Lu Guoer's handwriting in the house, which recorded the development of various events in the southwest, as well as the ugly truth that Long Qifei allowed himself to collude with when he fled.
On the third day after being imprisoned, Long Qifei confessed everything under irrefutable evidence, including the whole story of why he accidentally killed Lu Guoer because he was afraid that things would be exposed. This incident shocked the capital for a while. At the same time, the people who were sent
The official mission to the southwest to pick up another meritorious man, Li Xiannong, was already on his way.
After you sing, I will appear on the stage. When Li Xiannong comes to the capital to redress his injustice, we don't know what the situation will be like in Lin'an. During this period, Qin Hui, who has been busy in the Privy Council, has never made any movement - before he was arrested
There was no movement when Long Qifei attacked, and there has never been any movement until now - when people think of this incident and talk about it, they can't help but give a thumbs up sincerely, saying that this is the selfless hero who is unfazed by favors and humiliations and is dedicated to serving the country.
member.
In this spring rainy February, some people who knew the inside story mostly laughed it off after hearing about the development of the situation.
Zhou Pei heard about Long Qifei on the carriage to the palace. People around her roughly described what happened. She just sighed and forgot about it. At this time, the outline of the war had changed.
It was obvious that the permeating smell of gunpowder smoke almost reached people's eyes. The princess's house was already very busy with many tasks such as publicity, internal affairs, and hunting down Jurchen scouts. On this day, she was about to go outside the city when she suddenly received a call from her father.
, I don’t know what new ideas this father, who has been a little worried since the beginning of the new year, has.
Entering the palace, Zhou Yong was pacing under the eaves in front of the Imperial Study Room with his hands behind his back, wondering what he was thinking about. After Zhou Pei said goodbye, the emperor came over to help her with a smile on his face: "My dear daughter, you are here, no need to be polite.
No need to be polite..." He said, "Come on, come on, it's cold outside, come inside first."
Zhou Pei entered the royal study and stood in front of the chair. Zhou Yong, who was smiling, put his hands on her shoulders: "Have you eaten?"
"Father, what's the matter? But..."
"It's nothing, nothing big. I just missed you, haha, so I called you in to take a look. Haha, what's the matter? Are you busy over there?"
Zhou Pei stared at this unreliable father with sharp eyes, and then lowered his eyes out of respect: "It's no big deal."
"Looks like I've lost weight." Zhou Yong said sincerely.
"The father cares about his daughter's health, and the daughter is very touched." Zhou Pei smiled and behaved gently, "It's just that it's better for the father to tell the truth about why he summoned his daughter to the palace."
"Ahem, it's... it's not a big deal, it's just..." Zhou Yong was a little embarrassed, "There's just something that I've been thinking about for the past few days, but I haven't figured it out yet. I just want to... come to you.
Please refer to the details, after all, my daughter, you are resourceful, of course, uh..."
"..."
Zhou Yong said "uh" for a long time: "It's just... things in the southwest..."
"What's going on in the southwest?"
"The man surnamed Ning said that we are seeking peace..." Zhou Yong stared at his daughter, "What do you think of this matter, the emperor?"
Zhou Pei understood. Ever since the shadow of Jurchen struck, this unreliable father would not say anything on the surface, but in fact he was worried every day. His wisdom was limited and he usually indulged in pleasure. At this time, he wanted to use his brain again.
It was a bit reluctant. After Tian Shi's death in Jin Dynasty, Southwest immediately issued a message to stop attacking Zizhou, and called on the Wu Dynasty to stop the confrontation with Southwest and use its greatest strength to fight against the Jurchens.
The black flag has occupied most of the Chengdu Plain and stopped at Zizhou. This message was spread to Lin'an, and there were many opinions. However, among the high-level officials of the imperial court, negotiating with a regicide demon was still a completely unbreakable bottom line. Who among the many high-ranking officials in the imperial court?
I don't want to step on this line either.
From the standpoint of the Wu Dynasty, this kind of statement seemed to be righteous, but in fact it was just giving Wu Dynasty eye drops, giving two unchosen options and pretending to be open-minded. These days, Zhou Pei has been secretly promoting this issue.
The black flag spies involved in the matter tried to fight against him, trying to eliminate the impact of this message as much as possible. Who knows, the ministers in the court did not take the bait, and his father bit the hook.
Zhou Pei suppressed his anger: "My father knew clearly that negotiating with the regicides would make it difficult for the Wu Dynasty to survive - this was simply impossible. Ning Yi was just using rhetoric and persuasion. He knew full well that the Wu Dynasty had no choice.
…”
"Oh, my father doesn't know the difficulty of this matter. Once he says it, the old scholars in the court will probably point his finger at my father and scold him... But my daughter, the situation is stronger than others, and she can be arrogant sometimes.
, sometimes you can't beat it, so you have to admit defeat. The Jurchens are coming to kill you. Your brother, he is in front..."
When Zhou Yong said this, he sighed: "When I became the emperor for my father, I was chasing a duck at first. I wanted to be a good emperor and leave a good reputation, but I didn't have a clue after all. But the Jurchens came that year.
My father still remembers the situation. During the half year at sea, Jiangnan was wiped out. Many people died. My father can't help them, and the most sorry is your brother. He abandoned him and left.
He was almost caught up by the Jurchens..."
"Junwu is fierce, upright, and smart. My father can see that he can be a good emperor in the future, but our Wu Dynasty is still in a mess now. The Jurchens destroyed all these belongings, and we have nothing."
, My father has asked the ministers in the court carefully these days, and I am afraid that they still can't stop it. What's wrong with Jun Wu's character? What should I do? There must be a way out..."
Zhou Yong's words were sincere and condescending. Zhou Pei listened quietly and was a little moved in his heart. In fact, after becoming the emperor in these years, although Zhou Yong was quite indulgent to his children, he was actually a person who loved to put on airs.
Most of the people are alone and have few ideas. To be able to discuss it with him in such a low voice at this time is considered to be heartbreaking, and it is for his younger brother.
But even though he was moved in his heart, this matter was still difficult to deal with on the stage. Zhou Pei sat upright, clenching his fists on his knees: "Father..."
"So, I thought about it. I just thought about it, and I don't know if it makes sense. My daughter, just listen..." Zhou Yong interrupted her and said cautiously and cautiously, "Rely on the power of the court."
There is nothing the minister can do, but you, my daughter, can do something. Can you contact them first..."
"Father!" Zhou Pei became angry at that time.
But Zhou Yong didn't stop. He said: "Being a father doesn't just mean contact. Being a father means that you had a friendship back then. Last time Jun Wu came over, he said that you actually admired him quite a lot.
Father suddenly thought in the past two days, okay, extraordinary things must be done in extraordinary ways. The biggest thing that Ning committed back then was to kill Zhou Zhe, but now the emperor is our family, if it is my daughter, you and him...
... Let's force it. As long as we become a family, those old guys don't matter... My daughter, there is no one around you now, so Qu Zonghui should be killed... To be honest, your marriage back then, as a father, has always been
Feeling guilty..."
The emperor lowered his voice and danced with gestures, which made the scene in front of him seem particularly dramatic. Zhou Pei didn't understand it at first, until at some point, a "buzzing" sound sounded in her head, as if all her body was...
The blood rushed to her forehead, and there was also the incomparable embarrassment of having the deepest part of her heart glimpsed. She wanted to stand up but failed, and raised her arms, not knowing where.
The emperor in the dragon robe was still talking, and there was a bang on the coffee table. The princess broke the tea cup with her left hand, and the pieces scattered. Then blood flowed out, scarlet and sticky, shocking. The next moment, Zhou
Pei seemed to realize something, and suddenly knelt down, without noticing the blood on his hands. Zhou Yong rushed over and shouted loudly towards the outside of the hall...
The small episode in the palace ended with the eldest princess returning home in despair with her left hand bandaged. The emperor gave up this whimsical idea, which no third party knew about yet. This was in February of the 10th year of Jian Shuo.
At the end, many things in the South seemed calm.
The tragic wars in Daming Prefecture and Xuzhou have begun. At the same time, the division of Jin has essentially been completed. Although Lou Shuwan boldly achieved a lot of results through the victory of the Chinese Army, but as the
The Jurchens came out of camp, and huge pressure actually came here.
After arriving, Lou Shuwan, Yu Yulin, Lin Zongwu, Ji Qingli and other forces occupied some large and small cities to the west and south of Weisheng. The capitulation faction headed by Liao Yiren separated the east, north and other areas facing the Jurchen pressure.
Many areas, in essence, turned nearly half of Jin into occupied areas.
At the same time as they announced their surrender to the Jurchens, Liao Yiren and other families mobilized and gathered their troops under the instructions of the Jurchens, and began to march to the west and south, starting the first round of siege. At the same time, the Heilongjiang army that had won Linzhou had
The banner army rushed to the east, while Wang Juyun led the Ming army to begin their journey south.
Against this background, the Great Guangming Cult leader Lin Zongwu, with the cooperation of Lou Shuwan and others, and a group of followers obtained the control of three cities to the east and south of Gaizhou, and also obtained a large amount of
Materials and armaments.
In March, the army bore the brunt of the attack on Weisheng. Yu Yulin and Lou Shuwan occupied the city to defend it. What no one expected was that before Weisheng was broken, Xi Yin's ambush had already been launched. Gaizhou defender Chen Wei switched sides.
Suddenly, civil strife broke out, and Yin Shuke immediately led his cavalry southward, making the Great Guangming Sect led by Lin Zongwu the first team to be eliminated among the anti-gold forces in Jin...