The people in the capital were still immersed in the joy of Wang Xian's army turning defeat into victory and sweeping across the grassland. Over the past month, they held various celebrations, but they still could not completely calm down their excitement. Many old gentry wrote letters, hoping that the court would agree to pay for the victory.
Wang Xian established a shrine and renamed his hometown Fuyang as "Xianyang". Some people even suggested that the old system should be broken and Wang Xian be made a county king in recognition of his immortal contributions.
But when these suggestions were submitted, they were like mud and cattle drowning in the sea. The imperial court did not express any position. There was not even normal commendation or reward...
Except for the initial victory report, the daily Dibao official documents almost did not mention Wang Xian's victory, which was quite secretive. Only the unusually frequent transfers of civil and military officials occupied almost all the pages. This made the sense of smell
The sensitive gentry class soon realized that the imperial court did not welcome Wang Xian's triumphant victory, and even felt caught off guard and even extremely nervous...
Reminiscent of the fact that in recent days, there have been more frequent galloping horses and strict military patrols than during the war. In a street tavern, an officer wearing a dark flower gown shook his head and sighed: "In all the dynasties, how can we welcome a triumph like this?
From the soldiers?"
"Hey, my brother's caravan was going to Zhangjiakou for trading the day before yesterday." Next to the wine table, a middle-aged man dressed as a businessman said in a low voice: "As a result, as soon as they arrived at Juyongguan, they were driven back by the army, saying it was martial law.
During this period, no one is allowed to pass.”
"Isn't that right?" Several people nearby also nodded and said, "I heard that a lot of troops were transferred from Beijing to Juyongguan. With the original troops, there won't be more than 100,000 troops there?"
"Scared!" Everyone was startled: "A hundred thousand troops gathered at Juyong Pass, who are they trying to guard against?!"
"Who else could it be?!" The member of staff who spoke first said angrily, "The Duke of Zhenguo!"
"Hey, I really don't know what the court is thinking. It insists on doing things so urgently and with such absolute certainty." The businessman also sighed: "Even if you want to bully the little widow, you have to wait until her man has completely died!
"As he spoke, he couldn't help but sneer and said: "It's okay now, don't you know how it will end?"
"I don't understand, why can't the imperial court tolerate Duke Zhenguo?!" A red-faced man gritted his teeth and said: "Duke Zhenguo is very loyal and has great achievements. He is the patron saint of our Ming Dynasty, but those people insist on putting him down.
If he goes to a dead end and rebels against the father-in-law, then they will live a good life?!"
"Keep your voice down..." A timid guest hurriedly advised the red-faced man nervously: "Be careful that the spies from the East Factory hear it!"
"Yeah, Dongchang has been going crazy lately, arresting people everywhere..." Others also said with fear on their faces.
"What are you afraid of! Why don't you let people talk?!" When they said this, the red-faced man became even more excited and shouted: "I still want to say something, that is, the prince, Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, Hu Hao, etc.
Helping others is pushing our Ming Dynasty into a pit of fire!"
"Hey..." Although the people around him were not as bold as him, they all nodded and sighed.
"Hmph!" Suddenly, a conspiratorial voice sounded from the next table: "We don't know who pushed Daming into the fire pit, but we know that you are pushing your guys into the fire pit..." As he said that, that person pushed Daming into the fire pit.
The owner of the voice threw the tea bowl in his hand to the ground and said sternly: "Get someone!"
In the horrified eyes of the red-faced man and others, they saw seven or eight big men at the next table showing their swords and chains and rushing towards them.
"Don't do business in the east factory, keep people out of the way!"
The tavern immediately became a mess, and the guests at the table who had just made comments were all chained up by people from the East Factory.
"At the stall, no one ran away." A waiter said respectfully to the beardless middle-aged man.
"It's bad luck. You can't even make a living even if you go out to eat." The middle-aged man was originally the eunuch beside Zhao Ying, and he could be ranked in the East Factory. Later, the East Factory closed down, and the eunuchs like them were also kicked out of the palace.
Being ridiculed and bullied all the time, life was the most miserable. Therefore, after Hu Hao recalled these eunuchs to Dongchang, these guys were the most dedicated and cruel.
Looking at the shivering shop owner, the eunuch said in a cold voice: "Take him away too and close this shop too."
"Sir, spare my life, you are so generous!" The shop owner knelt down and begged with tears streaming down his face: "This is the first time these drunkards have come back to my shop!"
"If we happen to be in the store, you won't report it, right?" The eunuch walked over, raised his foot, and stepped on the store owner's head with his leather boots embedded with iron nails, "Don't lie, you certainly won't.
Reporting, this means knowing but not reporting, if not arresting you, who will be arrested?"
"Okay!" His subordinates handcuffed the shop owner who was lying on the ground.
When the eunuch and his men escorted the unlucky shop owner and a group of drinkers out of the store, several fast horses suddenly galloped past on the street, almost hitting the eunuch!
The people from Dongchang were used to running rampant in Beijing, and they immediately yelled: "Who dares to rush into my stall, talking about you, stop it immediately!" As he was shouting, he saw clearly the knights on horseback with red flags on their backs, and these guys suddenly
Zi lost his arrogance and said sadly: "Forget it, let's go..."
It was an eight-hundred-mile fast horse, and anyone who stood in the way would be punished as treason. Even if Hu Hao, the director of the Dongchang Factory, was here, he would not dare to block their way.
"Hey, what's wrong..." The people on the street were just about to talk, but they saw the people from Dongchang staring at them. They quickly shut up and looked worriedly at the fast horses disappearing on the road leading to the palace.
superior……
In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Gaochi was discussing with the prince, two bachelors and six ministers the top priority in the court today - how to deal with Duke Zhen!
"Master Yang should have announced the decree to the Duke of Zhenguo, right?" At this time, the emperor was worried, and the dragon body was very weak, but he could only support the sick body to take charge of the overall situation: "I wonder if he will be obedient and stay in the royal city."
"Father, don't worry, he has to stay even if he doesn't want to!" Zhu Zhanji said confidently: "There are 50,000 troops from Zheng Heng and Qian Yu in Dawang City. Even if Wang Xian wants to resist the decree, he has to ask them if they agree!
"
"Yes, Your Majesty, Qian Yu has a secret decree in his hands, and he should keep Wang Xian in the King's City at all costs." Yang Shiqi also said in a clear voice. In the past month, the Chief Assistant has obviously aged more than ten years, and his back
He is stooped and has a gloomy expression. How can he still have half of the grace that he once had, looking forward to his own glory and being proud of the world?
"They must not mess around..." Zhu Gaochi still said solemnly: "At this time, it is best not to anger him."
Zhu Zhanji and Yang Shiqi looked at each other. Only the two of them knew that the imperial edict given to Qian Yu had been added. Although the general meaning remained the same, there were a few more hints for them to act according to the situation. With Qian Yu's response to
Yang Shiqi's character of unconditional obedience will probably cause some trouble.
"Don't be afraid even if you mess up!" Zhu Zhanji seemed to be refuting the emperor, but he was comforting himself: "The defense line of Zhangjiakou has been established, the Xuanfu is impregnable, and Juyongguan is invincible. What can Wang Xian do? What else can he do?
Can you put on wings and fly here? Haha..."
After saying that, Zhu Zhanji laughed, and Yang Shiqi and others had no choice but to laugh a few times. Even Zhu Gaochi's expression softened a little, and he said in his heart that these lines of defense were guarded by more than 200,000 troops. Wang Xian was indeed
I can only stay away.
The laughter hadn't stopped when the left minister of the Ministry of War, who was on duty, hurried in from outside the palace without waiting for an announcement.
When the monarchs and ministers saw the panic on his face and the thin military report held in his trembling hands, their laughter stopped abruptly, and a familiar sense of ominousness surged into everyone's heart...
"Your Majesty, it's not good! Wang Xian's army has captured Zhangjiakou," the Minister of War knelt down in front of the Emperor as if he were mourning for his heir, and shouted loudly: "We are on the verge of passing the Juyong Pass!"
"You fart!" Zhu Zhanji felt as if he had beaten a dog and firmly refused to believe it: "Where are Zheng Heng and Qian Yu's 50,000 troops? Where are Zhu Yong's 100,000 troops? They just watched Wang Xian fight to Juyong Pass.
!”
"Your Highness, this is true..." The Minister of War held up the military report with both hands and said in a trembling voice: "This is the military report written by Wang Tong, the commander-in-chief of Juyongguan Pass and the Marquis of Chengshan. He said that Wang Xian's army of hundreds of thousands has already arrived.
It’s outside the customs!”
"Sure enough, it's nonsense. How many soldiers and horses does Wang Xian command have? How can he have an army of hundreds of thousands?" Zhu Zhanji had lost his sense at this time and said frantically: "Could it be that he can spread the beans and make an army?"
"It's clearly written in the military newspaper. Your Highness will know it just by looking at it..." the Minister of War said helplessly.
"I don't want to watch!" Zhu Zhanji said flatly.
The servant had no choice but to turn to the Chief Assistant, but Yang Shiqi had a sullen face and did not even answer.
Seeing that the chief minister did not have the courage to read the military report, Yang Rong had no choice but to sigh and signal the minister to give him the military report.
When Yang Rong read the military report, needles could be heard in the hall. From Emperor Hongxi on down, everyone looked extremely shocked, frightened and frustrated!
After Yang Rong finished reading, he raised his head very slowly and said in a very heavy tone: "What Chengshan Hou can confirm is that the 40,000 troops under Duke Cheng Guo surrendered to Wang Xian. Moreover, Chengshan Hou also suspected that the 50,000 troops in the King's City also surrendered.
Wang Xian surrendered, but no report came and he couldn’t be sure.”
"How could this happen?!" Everyone gasped, and Emperor Hong Xi's eyesight went dark and he fainted.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" All the ministers hurriedly stepped forward to support the emperor, and hurriedly sent for the imperial doctor to come to the rescue.
Looking at the fainted emperor and the chaos among the ministers, Yang Rong felt his hands and feet feel cold. Could it be that I really did something wrong this time? I just don't know what price I have to pay to recover?
Could it be that, no matter what the price is, it cannot be undone?
The imperial doctor was waiting outside the palace and rushed in immediately. After a lot of acupuncture, Emperor Hongxi woke up. The first thing he said after waking up was: "Zhongde, how can you be so heartless?!" As he said this, the emperor's eyes shed tears.