In the night, the capital's flames soared into the sky like daylight.
People were on their backs on the streets, and many high-profile households were also in chaos.
The servants wandered around the house, inquiring for news, packing things, and guarding the door with sticks and hatchets.
Although there was not a mass of crying and shouting like on the street, everyone looked panicked.
Escape or hide? What's the latest news?
Ning Yan strode out, and behind him Mrs. Ning Er hurriedly followed.
"Master, master..." she shouted quickly, with tears in her voice.
Ning Yan stopped and looked at her with a frown.
"What are you crying for?" he said, "Don't blame Yunzhao for not delivering the news earlier. It's extremely difficult for him to protect himself."
Here he paused again.
"He ran away with the emperor, not because he was afraid of death. Your Majesty always has someone by your side."
This person obviously didn't just mean to protect the emperor.
Mrs. Ning Er raised her hands to wipe her tears.
"Of course I know. I've grown up watching Yun Zhao. Don't I know what his temper is?" She choked and said, "It's just you, sir, you..."
"I must go out." Ning Yan said solemnly, interrupting Mrs. Ning's words. "In the past, if I didn't go out, it was a matter of sacrificing your fortune and being loyal to you. If you don't listen to my words, I will definitely stick to my guns and not retreat."
.”
"Then you have all run away now." Mrs. Ning Er cried.
"It is precisely because you have run away now," Ning Yan said, "that I have to stand up for the sake of the saints, the destiny of heaven and earth, and the livelihood of the people."
Mrs. Ning Er raised her hands to wipe her tears.
"You and the children should hide at home and don't run around. At this time, there must be no chaos in the capital." Ning Yan said in a softer tone.
Mrs. Ning Er cried and nodded.
"Master..." she said, pulling on Ning Yan's sleeve.
Ning Yan frowned.
"Don't cry endlessly..." he said.
Before he finished speaking, Mrs. Ning Er took out a sword and handed it over.
"Master, you forgot to take your sword." She said, "Even though you are a scholar, since you have to defend the city, you still have to hold the weapon."
Ning Yan smiled.
"I really forgot." He said, reaching out to take it, "Then I'll go."
Mrs. Ning Er nodded with tears in her eyes.
"You go ahead." She said.
Ning Yan turned around and strode out with his sword in hand. When he reached the door, he saw a group of people standing there. They were the servants of the family, each carrying wooden sticks, swords and guns in their hands.
Ning Yan and his wife were stunned for a moment.
"Dad." Ning Shiyi walked out and said, "Let's go."
There are two other sons behind him, including the youngest Jushiro, who is only eight years old.
"Dad, let's go." He also shouted, holding a wooden stick taller than himself in his hand.
"Eleven, what are you doing?" Mrs. Ning Er said, hurriedly stepped forward to pull her youngest son over and took the wooden stick from his hand.
"Mom, of course we have to defend the city." Ning Shiyi said, "To defend the country is to protect the family, it is everyone's responsibility."
Ning Yan nodded.
"Okay." He said, "Let's go."
Ning Shiyi and others responded solemnly, saying that Shiro Fourteen was about to follow, but Mrs. Ning Er grabbed him and he couldn't help but start making a noise.
"Fourteen, my brothers and I have gone, and only your mother, sister, and female dependents are left at home. You have to stay at home to protect them." Ning Yan looked at him and said.
Ning Shiroro nodded and puffed up his chest.
"Dad, don't worry, I'm at home." He said loudly.
Ning Yan smiled and touched his head. The door opened, and the noise and cries on the street suddenly rushed in like a tide. Although he couldn't see the specific scene, hearing it in the night was enough to make people turn pale and frightened.
The door was immediately closed, and the remaining servants locked the door bolts one after another and put sticks on top to make the door solid and protect the people inside.
But this solid door protects the people inside and blocks the family members outside.
Mrs. Ning Er held her little son tightly in her arms and looked at the door with tears streaming down her face.
God bless you.
The noise in the streets rushed towards the city gate, and the people who originally poured into the capital wanted to rush to the city gate.
Dragging families and families, pushing carts and driving horses, you cried and I shouted, it was so crowded.
The city gates were closed, which made the panic even worse and the noise even louder, almost drowning the city gates.
All the soldiers and horses from the Five Cities deployed their swords, guns and whips, but it was completely useless in the face of the surging people. How could the people be afraid of this under the fear of death? The panic gathered together like a snowball and grew bigger and bigger, crushing everything.
"Master Ning is here!"
"Master Ning is here!"
Shouts rang out from the crowd, and the shouts got louder and louder. The guards tried their best to hiss to drown out the noise around them.
The name Master Ning is still very attractive. Gradually everyone turned around and looked back. Under the light of the night torches, the crowd made a way and a tall and thin man carrying a sword walked out.
Ning Yan has not appeared in front of people for a long time, but this does not mean that the people have forgotten him. He is even more famous than when he was an official.
This was naturally because he defied the emperor and was dismissed from office.
The people may not understand the affairs of the government, and often do not care about right or wrong. For them, a person who dares to go against the emperor and does not hesitate to lose his official position or nobility is a person of high integrity and a selfless heart. This kind of person
It is trustworthy and admirable.
This is why censors like to impeach officials the most, especially the more famous officials are, the more they like to pursue impeachment, because it can build their reputation.
Ning Yan's appearance made the people temporarily quiet.
"My lord, my lord."
"Is the Jin man coming?"
They were crying and asking and begging.
Ning Yan looked at them with solemn expressions.
"There is no definite news as to whether the Jin people have called," he said. "But everyone also knows that the Jin people are not far from the capital. They appeared on Jingdong Road before, so everyone should be prepared for the worst."
The officials of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division who were slightly relieved because of his arrival suddenly became nervous. However, the people were not frightened and panicked by such a dangerous warning as expected. Instead, after hearing this sentence, they seemed to be more confused than the officials beforehand.
It's more reassuring to say that it's okay and to whitewash the situation by saying that the Jin people won't come over.
"Then let us get out of the city quickly." The people cried one after another. "Let us escape for our lives."
"It's really dangerous, so we can't open the city gate now, and everyone shouldn't leave the city." Ning Yan said in a deep voice, "Think about it, if you go out of the city and meet the golden people in the wilderness, will it be safer than here?
?”
He said and pointed to the city gate behind him.
"At least it is protected by tall, thick and strong gates and walls."
Everyone looked as he pointed.
The city walls of the capital look even taller and stronger at night.
Ning Yan raised the sword in his hand again and pointed at the soldiers and officials of the surrounding five city soldiers and horses department, and then pointed at the well-dressed defenders on the city wall.
"There are also soldiers and swords here."
This is true, it's not that everyone doesn't know this truth, it's just that they are panicked and just want to escape.
"Everyone, please be patient. The city is here and we are here. Even if the Jin people come, we can keep everyone safe."
The people became quiet, and those who blocked the city gate slowly retreated.
"Everyone, please follow the government's arrangements and do not surround the city gate." Ning Yan said, putting his sword behind his back, "I will guard the city gate for everyone."
After saying that, he strode towards the city gate, followed by Ning Shiyi and his servants.
Seeing Ning Yan approaching, the people who were blocking the city gate finally gave way and looked calmer.
"Master Ning is here."
"Yes, the court will make arrangements."
"The emperor is still here, how could he let the Jin people come in?"
The voices kept coming and going, making the city gate noisy again, but this noise was different from the previous panic, and made people feel at ease.
The officials of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division came back to their senses and relaxed, and began to direct and arrange for the people to disperse and let them retreat to different streets to rest.
The noise in front of the city gate subsided, and the officers and soldiers above and below the city gate breathed a sigh of relief.
"Fortunately, Sir Ning, you are here." The official on duty said with a scared look on his face, wiping sweat with his sleeves, "Otherwise, this city gate would have been broken down by the people."
Ning Yan nodded to him.
"No need to say more," he said, "Strictly observe the vigilance in all directions."
In response to the official's call, the guards at the city gate dispersed, clenched their weapons and pointed at the dark night outside the city wall. They were too nervous and did not notice the worry in Ning Yan's eyes.
His appearance temporarily calmed the people, but if...
………..
……….
At this time, in the imperial city, the exclamations from the emperor's palace were heard. The ministers who hurried to the palace to report and discuss the situation because of the commotion in the streets could no longer wait any longer.
They were stopped in front of the palace gate for a while, and after finally moving out the previous special case, and some veterans were holding up the accessories they had received from the emperor, the imperial army had no choice but to open the palace gate and let them in, and then they were stopped by the eunuchs.
Outside the palace, the east has already lit up after all this trouble.
You can go to the morning court directly.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it's not good." They shouted and rushed in, but their words suddenly stopped and they looked at the palace in disbelief.
The curtain in front of the dragon bed has been opened by the chamberlain who came in, and the lights have been lit, illuminating the empty dragon bed. The bed is neat and tidy without any trace of sleeping.
Where is Your Majesty?
"Your Majesty, you are gone..." a minister muttered. (To be continued)