In the second year of Shaowu, on the tenth day of October, after two months of work, the imperial court was about to arrive in Beijing.
At this moment of great concern, winter has already entered the Beijing area.
A cold wind blew gently across this northern capital, and a thin layer of snow covered the dry land. It was dry, arid, and bitterly cold, which made many southern officials couldn't help scolding the generals.
Jiang Yueguang, who was left behind in Beijing and was also the Minister of Industry, immediately followed the people's wishes and dug out a large amount of coal from the western Beijing area to heat the city of Beijing at a low price.
A large number of mules and horses are traveling to the west of Beijing, and the air in Beijing, which was originally filled with yellow sand, is getting worse day by day.
"Ahem——"
Zhou Shixian coughed, got on the carriage, and headed out of the city.
The emperor is about to enter the capital, and all civil and military officials in the city are no exception. It is inevitable to go out of the city to meet Baili.
"Lao Liu, I heard that people now like to burn coal. This stuff is poisonous! Don't burn it. Our family is not short of this little charcoal. I will give you a hundred catties when I get back today."
Zhou Shixian looked at the thick smoke coming out of the chimneys along the street and couldn't help but cover his nose with a handkerchief, with a look of disgust on his face.
"Master, you are so kind-hearted. We are blessed by our ancestors. I heard that there was a family two days ago. After sleeping at night, all five of us died. The youngest was only three years old!"
The coachman Lao Liu couldn't help but murmured: "Although it is poisonous, it can't be cheap. As long as it can keep warm, who knows that it is a disease of poverty?"
In the winter in Beijing, the price of a pound of charcoal reaches ten cents. After a winter, it is impossible to buy without a hundred pounds of charcoal.
Even firewood costs five or six cents per pound, while cheap coal only costs two or three cents per pound, so demand simply exceeds supply.
Although we know that it is easy to die by burning coal, in the face of freezing to death, it is better to die warmly.
Compared with the hundreds or thousands of people who freeze to death in Beijing every winter, the number of people who die from burning coal is simply minuscule.
"This city of Beijing has really changed a lot."
Zhou Shixian looked at the wisps of black smoke, which formed into dark clouds in the sky, and then fell to the ground, where the white snow had a dirty color.
He kept shaking his head, with a look of disappointment on his face.
"Yes, the road is much wider."
The driver couldn't help but admired: "How many rows of people can we walk without being blocked? It's the new dynasty after all, so it's different."
"Bah, what a new dynasty? This is the Ming Dynasty, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty."
Zhou Shixian was annoyed.
"People say that the emperor is a relative who cannot be beaten by eight poles. It is equivalent to rebuilding a new dynasty, which is different from the Ming Dynasty!"
"I don't care what other people do. Don't talk nonsense. This is Beijing!"
Even so, he was still very anxious in his heart.
As the people said, Emperor Shaowu was no less than a new dynasty. He treated the new dynasty's new dynasty with a cold shoulder and almost swept them away.
Although many noble and civil servants were given posthumous titles in Xiaoling, who doesn't know his indifferent thoughts?
For him, it is difficult to know the pros and cons of marrying Princess Changping.
With such a mood, when he arrived outside the city, a dense crowd had gathered. It could be said that the ground was filled with purple, and everyone could see the officials.
Standing at the front with the cold wind blowing was Jiang Yueguang, the Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, who was left behind in Beijing, followed by Wang Yingxiong, the Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel, Lu Daqi, the Shangshu of the Ministry of War, Gao Hongtu, the Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, Zhu Mou, the Shangshu of the Ministry of Husbandry, and Feng Xianzong, the Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishments.
The rest are Xiao Jiuqing, and again the ministers, ministers, etc.
Almost everyone here is here.
They had set out several months in advance to settle down in Beijing, and they were not allowed to see the palace as a reward from the imperial court in advance.
Only the cabinet ministers, those in the middle school, and some concubines in the harem can go north together with the emperor, and the speed can be accelerated.
Even so, it consumed more than a hundred dragon boats, which were connected for more than ten miles.
Suddenly, a horse suddenly came. The snow on the ground had been cleared away. Its speed did not slow down, and it did not stop until it took more than a hundred steps. It dismounted beautifully and knelt down on one knee:
"Luanjia is only ten miles away from here."
"Keep exploring."
Jiang Yueguang straightened his figure, couldn't help but tidy up his clothes and hat, and straightened his back.
The other officials in red robes started to move one after another, fearing that there would be even the slightest flaw.
"Abu Nai has stopped questioning Monan and asked for mutual trade. The Xuanfu asked how to deal with it."
Lu Daqi, the Minister of War, couldn't help but murmured.
The direction he asked was Zhu Mou, the Minister of Household Affairs.
Zhu Mou smiled slightly and said in a low voice: "I have given you food and guns, what else can I do? Follow your Majesty's wishes and never let him enter the Great Wall."
"Do you really think he is the lord of the grassland? If the court doesn't admit it, it means nothing. What happened in Monan is nothing more than a threat. The Ministry of Revenue can't come up with money to reward him."
"As for the mutual market, let's wait for His Majesty's instructions. This is not something you and I can decide."
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves was heard, and the ground shook slightly.
I saw a black line in the distance, almost as far as the eye can see, as if covering the entire ground.
These are the 20,000 soldiers and horses of the Beijing camp who guard the imperial chariot. They are the most elite army of the Ming Dynasty, half cavalry and half infantry.
His steps were neat and steady, his figure was burly, and his whole body exuded murderous aura. Even if he was just walking, facing the powerful impact of the army, all the high-ranking officials could not help but be moved and their faces twitched.
Some civil servants, on the other hand, had their legs trembling and their faces turned pale with fright.
"Rumble--"
From far to near, the footsteps of the Beijing camp were like the sound of a bronze bell, and like the huge thunder in the clear sky, constantly beating the hearts of everyone.
"I respectfully welcome your Majesty——"
I don't know how long it took for everyone to react, and they quickly lifted their robes and knelt down.
The soldiers maintaining order on the sidelines were no exception.
When the huge carriage stopped and the curtains were lifted, Zhu Yixi's eyes came into view as a blur of heads.
At a rough glance, there are no less than ten thousand people.
"Long live my Lord, please slow down——"
Tian Ren supported the emperor, stepped off the carriage step by step, and stepped on the red carpet.
"Get up! You have worked hard too."
At this time, under the fatigue of traveling and traveling, Zhu Yixi had no interest at all, and just nodded slightly, thinking that he understood.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Everyone then stood up slowly, revealing familiar yet unfamiliar faces.
After looking around for a while, the emperor nodded, got on the carriage again, and walked on the wide imperial street. The scenery along the road came into view.
The Imperial Street, which only emperors and new scholars could walk on, was extremely smooth and wide.
If Nanjing still has a hint of restrained beauty, then the city of Beijing is rugged yet bold, with a different kind of beauty that makes people’s eyes brighten.
But what is surprising is that wisps of black smoke give the city a different flavor.
"Is this the Forbidden City?"
Without waiting for him to admire it for a while, the carriage arrived at the Forbidden City.
This famous palace has been home to the royal families of the Ming and Qing Dynasties for 600 years.
At this time, in his eyes, it was like a huge cage, making him somewhat breathless.