Chapter 156 The Emperor raised a brothel girl outside
The general guarding Juyong Pass is an old acquaintance, Xiuwu Bo Shen Rong.
During the 14-year orthodox personal expedition, Kuang Ye, Zhang Yi, and Shen Rong all accompanied the emperor, and they can be regarded as old comrades who have carried guns together.
Shen Rong was surprised when he saw Kuang Ye and Zhang Yi. If these two people don't stay well in the capital, what are they doing out of seclusion?
Unexpectedly, Kuang Ye slapped his head and covered his face and scolded: "Uncle Xiu Wu, you are so brave!"
Monk Zhanger, who was scolded by Shen Rong, was confused and asked: "Master Kuang, I didn't offend you, did I?"
"How dare you call yourself me in front of me?"
This is not bad, after all, Kuang Ye is already sixty-five years old, and Shen Rong has just turned fifty this year.
Shen Rong was not in the mood to argue with him about his age, so he asked: "Master Kuang, what happened to you that you came to Juyongguan to scold me for no reason?"
"You are still pretending to be in front of me?" Kuang Ye said angrily, "Let me ask you, the emperor went on a tour and did not receive a document from the Ministry of Rites, and no officials from the Ministry of Rites accompanied him, why did you let him go?"
"The emperor has left seclusion?" Shen Rong asked in surprise, "When?"
Kuang Ye stared at Shen Rong closely, but found that he didn't seem to be lying.
Could it be that he is acting...
At this time, Zhang Yi came forward and said: "Uncle Xiu Wu, this matter is related to the safety of the emperor, so don't dare to joke!"
Shen Rong hurriedly said: "What exactly is going on, tell me clearly!"
Kuang Ye and Zhang Yi looked at each other and asked doubtfully, "Are you really unaware of this?"
"What do you know?"
"The emperor has not left seclusion?"
Shen Rong was so anxious that he didn't know what to do and said, "Where do you start talking about this?"
Kuang Ye saw that he really didn't seem to be lying, so he told the whole story.
"Seven or eight days ago?"
Shen Rong seemed to have thought of something and said: "There is a group of people who said they were ordered to go out to inspect the construction situation in Mobei, but they didn't see the emperor!"
Kuang Ye quickly asked: "Who led the team?"
Shen Rong thought for a while and said: "The leader is a member of the Jinyiwei family, I can't remember his name... Oh, by the way, there is also a censor, his surname seems to be Tang..."
A person flashed through Kuang Ye's mind and he asked: "Tang Xinggu?"
"It seems like this name...it's recorded, just wait!"
While talking, Shen Rong ordered the clerk to get the record of leaving customs. Sure enough, Tang Xinggu's name was on it.
Kuang Ye and Zhang Yi suddenly became nervous. Tang Xinggu was a member of the emperor's family, and he most likely left with the emperor when he left the customs.
"How many people will be leaving the customs this time?"
"Roughly speaking..." Shen Rong thought carefully and then said, "There are only about fifty people, but most of them are coachmen and horsemen, and they transport a lot of food and supplies."
Kuang Ye was so angry that he jumped up and pointed at Shen Rong's nose and said: "The emperor may be in the team, why don't you take a closer look!"
Shen Rong felt aggrieved and said, "How did I know?"
"This is a serious dereliction of duty. I will settle the score with you when I come back!"
After Kuang Ye finished speaking, he was about to leave, but Shen Rong quickly stopped him and said: "You two, it's getting late. Even if you pursue me, you have to wait until dawn tomorrow morning..."
"Can't wait any longer!"
Kuang Ye waved his hand and said: "The Emperor only has so many people around him. What should we do if we encounter enemies outside the customs?"
Shen Rong also realized the seriousness of the matter, looked at the sky, and said: "In that case, I will bring some men and horses to chase after you two!"
"Don't go, Juyong Pass needs someone to guard it!"
"It doesn't matter!" Shen Rong said, "Monan and Mobei have been pacified, Juyongguan is no longer so important!"
"That's right..." Kuang Ye muttered, and then said, "Without further delay, let's set off now!"
At that moment, Shen Rong counted fifty soldiers, held torches, and headed north.
The group traveled day and night, and finally arrived at Yumuchuan ten days later.
At this time, Yumuchuan has been built into an important town outside the customs. In just a few months, the people have reclaimed a large area of farmland. The highland barley seedlings in the fields have grown to more than half a foot high. Looking from a distance, it is refreshing.
Kuang Ye couldn't help but said: "I always thought that the desert was a bitter and cold place, but I didn't expect that after it was reclaimed, it would be no different from the pass!"
"What Mr. Kuang said is absolutely true!" Zhang Yi followed up and said, "What kind of desert is this? It is clearly a countless granary!"
Shen Rong looked at the two of them and said: "You two, let's get down to business!"
Kuang Ye nodded repeatedly, then found the responsible local official and learned that a convoy from the capital had indeed come, but they distributed some food and daily necessities and left the next day.
The three people hurriedly continued to chase north. Along the way, there was a village every ten miles, with newly reclaimed farmland everywhere. The former Mongolian horse farms had become full of life.
However, the three of them were worried about the emperor's safety and were not in the mood to enjoy these scenery.
The chase continued for more than ten days, and there were two rains on the road. Everyone was covered in mud, and their faces were gray. From a distance, they looked like refugees fleeing.
However, this is not the worst!
Shen Rong suddenly realized that the dry food he had brought with him was gone.
When I went out, I didn't expect to go so far. Moreover, if I brought too much food, it would slow down my progress. Now that I have finished eating the food, I suddenly feel worried.
Kuang Ye said dissatisfied: "The soldiers and horses have not moved yet, the food and grass go first. Uncle Xiuwu, how did you do it? How could you run out of food at this time?"
Shen Rong was also reluctant and retorted: "Master Kuang, Master Zhang, how dare you accuse me? I brought all the food along the way from Juyongguan. You two came from the capital. Don't you know how to bring food with you?" ?"
Since Juyongguan, these two adults have begun to teach themselves, especially Kuang Ye, who has been training him all the way. Even the clay figures are still angry, not to mention that Shen Rong is also the uncle of Xiu Wu who was conferred by the imperial court.
Kuang Ye was choked and speechless. After a long silence, he said, "Isn't it because of your dereliction of duty? If you had stopped the emperor at Juyong Pass in time, what would have happened today?"
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"My dereliction of duty?"
Shen Rong was still restrained at first, but when he heard this, he exploded.
"The emperor came from the capital, right? It took seven or eight days for you to find out that such a big living person was not in the palace? According to you, what does the cabinet do for food? What does the Ministry of Rites do for food? Something happened now. Just push it on others to save face, Mr. Kuang!"
"You...you...are simply unreasonable!"
Kuang Ye's face turned red when Shen Rong pointed at him and scolded him, but he had no way to refute.
"Okay, you two!"
Zhang Yi stepped forward and said to the two of them: "Now is not the time to divide responsibilities. Since we are officials of the imperial court and we are out on business, why are we worried about having nothing to eat?"
Kuang Ye nodded. Yes, there were villages, towns and farmland everywhere along the way. The desert was no longer what it used to be. It shouldn't be difficult to get along with a stutter, but I was worried that the news would spread... and make people laugh...
One is a bachelor of the cabinet, another is a minister of the Ministry of Rites, and the third is a dignified scholar of martial arts, but they are reduced to living in the autumn wind...
"Report!"
I saw a fast horse galloping towards me. It was a sentry under Shen Rong.
"We found a lake ahead. Surrounding the lake is a village and town. It is very large, with about tens of thousands of people!"
Zhang Yi couldn't help but take a breath of cold air. The scale of tens of thousands of people was almost as big as that of a county town.
I didn’t expect that there are villages and towns of this size in the hinterland of the desert, but it’s a world of its own.
But it’s okay, dinner is ready!
…………
In the evening, Tang Xinggu had dinner and lay idle in bed in a daze.
It has been a month since I followed the convoy northward every day, distributing supplies and expressing condolences to the people along the way.
He now has some doubts about life. Didn't he agree to accompany the emperor on his tour, but...
Where is the emperor?
"Tang Yushi, someone is looking for you!"
Tang Xinggu got up from the bed and asked: "Who is it?"
"He says he's from the capital, and he doesn't even know him even though he's in a humble position. You'd better go and see for yourself!"
"Here from the capital?"
Tang Xinggu looked puzzled, thinking that all his colleagues in the capital were offended by me, how could anyone be kind enough to come to the desert to see me?
"Let them come to my house... By the way, make me a pot of tea!"
After finishing speaking, Tang Xinggu straightened his clothes, and then wrinkled his nose. He didn't take a shower or bring a change of clothes along the way. He just wore this for a month, and his body smelled a bit...
Other people in the convoy have clothes that they can borrow, but those are servants’ clothes, and we are people with status...
While he was struggling, he saw three old men walking in anxiously.
One of them came to him and asked in an almost hoarse voice: "Tang Xinggu, you made us chase so hard!"
Tang Xinggu couldn't help but frown. At first glance, he looked like an uneducated country boy who didn't understand any rules.
I am an official of the imperial court. Where did this country man come from, shouting and yelling, how can I behave like this?
But why does this person look familiar?
Moreover, if you can call me by your name, you must know him.
"Who?"
Kuang Ye was stunned for a moment and said in surprise: "Tang Xinggu, don't you recognize me?"
Tang Xinggu smiled politely and said, "Sorry for my blindness, I don't know..."
Kuang Ye was furious, raised his hand and slapped him on the face.
Tang Xinggu was sitting upright, but he didn't expect disaster to fall from the sky. The slap made him dizzy, and little stars appeared in his eyes.
When he came to his senses and was about to call someone, the other person was already pointing at his nose and scolding him.
"Tang Xinggu, you old pimp, open your eyes wide and see, who am I?"
Tang Xinggu was stunned. He thought to himself: What is the background of this old man? He is so fierce...
Wait a minute, why is the voice so familiar?
He took a closer look and said in surprise: "Kang...Master Kuang?"
It’s not his fault. Kuang Ye and the others were not prepared at all when they came out. It had rained twice in the past few days. Their clothes were stained with mud. It was impossible to tell that they were official robes. Their hair and beards were also stuck together.
No one else would suspect a beggar who was on the run.
Kuang Ye’s beard was about to explode and he said angrily: “I ask you, where is the emperor?”
Tang Xinggu said blankly: "Yes, where is the emperor?"
Kuang Ye became even more angry. He grabbed Tang Xinggu's collar and said, "Let me ask you, why did you ask about me instead?"
"I, I...I don't know either!"
Tang Xinggu broke away with force and said: "I didn't see the emperor at all!"
"Are you a liar?" Kuang Ye continued, "If you don't hand over the emperor today, I will never be done with you!"
Zhang Yi and Shen Rong also came forward, as if they could not see the emperor vowing not to give up.
Tang Xinggu was helpless and said truthfully: "When I left the capital, I did get the emperor's will. However, from the day I left the capital to this day, I have never seen the emperor's face. If you don't believe it, how can you You can go look for it yourself, and when you find the emperor, please let me know. Your subordinates are also waiting to see the emperor!"
After hearing this, Kuang Ye was stunned on the spot. Looking at Tang Xinggu's expression, it didn't look like he was pretending.
Could it be that the emperor really did not leave Beijing?
"Tang Xinggu, is everything you said true?"
Tang Xinggu sneered and said: "If there is a lie, you can pick off the official's head and kick it as a ball, okay?"
The hope on Kuang Ye's face gradually disappeared, and this result was really unacceptable.
All the way from the capital to Mobei, you tell me now that the emperor never came!
At this time, Shen Rong said with an aggrieved look: "Let me tell you, there was no emperor in the team at that time, otherwise, I would have seen it long ago!"
It can be said that when a person is sitting at home, the pot comes from the sky.
I was pointed at my nose and scolded for no reason, and I drove hard for twenty days, but the result was... I made a mistake!
Where are you kidding silly boys?
Kuang Ye turned his head and looked at Zhang Yi, who also looked confused.
"That's not right. It's impossible for the people in Shangshan Supervisor to lie. The emperor is really not in the capital!"
Things reached a deadlock, and the four of them sat around the table. Everyone had something on their mind and kept drinking tea.
Finally, Kuang Ye couldn't help but said: "Is it possible... that the emperor lives outside the palace? Supervisor Shang Shan only said that the emperor was not in the palace, but did not say that the emperor was out of the capital!"
After listening, Zhang Yi shook his head and said: "If you occasionally live outside the palace for a day or two, it would be reasonable, but if you are not here for seven or eight days, it is unlikely..."
"Isn't this impossible? I heard that the emperor raised a brothel girl in the imperial village outside Chaoyang Gate..."
"Ahem..."
Zhang Yi coughed twice in embarrassment and said: "That woman's status is quite special. She is currently just recovering from her injuries in the Imperial Mansion. If we take a step back, if such a thing really happened, how could the Queen Mother and the Empress give up? ?"
"That's right..."
Kuang Ye scratched his head and murmured: "But, where is the emperor..."
Among these people, Shen Rong was the most aggrieved. He said angrily: "Think carefully, what big things have happened in the court recently? It is impossible for the emperor to leave the capital for no reason!"
Kuang Ye was suddenly startled and blurted out: "Annan!"
Zhang Yi also reacted and said: "Could it be that he went to Nanjing with the team of Prince Jing'an?"
Immediately afterwards, he said: "That's not right. When Prince Jing'an left, the emperor personally went to see him off. Later, he summoned me and waited for us and talked all morning..."
Kuang Ye thought carefully about Zhang Yi's words, and then asked: "Have you finished talking?"
"After talking..."
Zhang Yi recalled something and said: "We went back after the conversation, but King Tan stayed behind and talked alone for a long time."