The dawn illuminates the earth, and the capital city in late spring is bathed in morning mist. This ancient capital has not diminished its beauty because of the disputes in the world.
The city outline is still majestic and solid, the streets are still open and straight, and the buildings are still tall and exquisite. Several large rivers in the city are winding and criss-crossing, still flowing slowly. Several lakes are still rippling with spring water, like beautiful jade, embedded between the inner and outer cities and markets.
The entire Bianliang City has been baptized by months of war, but every morning, it seems to be reborn, still as magnificent and exquisite as before.
If you insist on finding flaws, then the collapsed city wall at the Nanxun Gate in the South City counts as one, and the bare and unreconstructed city tower on the Fengqiu Gate in the North City counts as one. One of the inner palaces is still suffering from black spots.
The palace with embers of smoke is considered a place. However, these do not affect the magnificence of the entire city. They are like slight flaws on the white wall and do not reduce the overall scenery.
Although the sun has not yet risen, every household in Bianliang City has already gotten up and dressed. They opened the doors and windows and came to their courtyards. On the street in front of the door, everyone looked curious with a hint of doubt.
.This morning was the quietest morning they had ever experienced. For more than half a year, what they heard every day was the noisy sounds of carriages and horses on the streets, the sounds of soldiers running, and fighting.
The sound of fighting. Sometimes in the middle of the night, the Forbidden Army soldiers would knock on the door, conduct interrogations and inquiries, scold and beat. It can be said that during this period, the people in the capital hardly had a peaceful sleep or a quiet night.
night.
But today's morning was surprisingly quiet. Although there was a huge commotion in the city before midnight yesterday. The Luoyan Army invaded the capital, and Lu Zhongtian became emperor for a day and sat on the throne of Chongzheng Hall in the Da Nei Palace.
He burned himself to death. After the Luoyan Army entered the city, it was indeed noisy. In the middle of the night, these foreign soldiers and horses were galloping back and forth on the streets. Some people also saw those soldiers escorting many prisoners on the streets. They heard that they were going to be escorted to
Zhuquemen went to behead him and so on. In short, the chaos lasted until midnight.
But for some reason, after midnight, it seemed as if someone suddenly issued an order, and the whole city suddenly became quiet. The soldiers and horses on the street disappeared, but there were soldiers and horses patrolling, but they did not disturb the people, walked very lightly, and did not
They were shouting and talking in whispers. All the previous noises suddenly disappeared. This kind of quietness made the people feel a little uncomfortable, and many people tossed and turned for a long time before falling asleep.
But now, the people were standing on the streets and in their own courtyards, and their ears were still very quiet. They even heard the sound of leaves blowing in the wind, and their noses suddenly smelled the fragrance of gardenias flowing all over the city.
Seeing the peach blossoms that should only bloom in March due to the late spring in Bianliang and the recurring weather, blooming like clouds in the streets and corners of the city, they suddenly realized that it was already late spring. What happened in the past
This period of time was like a dark and long nightmare. They were so anxious all day that they didn't even know that time was passing by and that it was already spring and the flowers were blooming. This morning, everything seemed to be different. The nightmare was over.
, a new day comes, everything seems to have changed.
…
Thousands of people gathered in Zhuquemen Square. At this moment, they were three
They stood in the square in twos and threes, looking up at the row of corpses hanging on the high flagpole above the city tower. They were a dozen generals and officials under Lu Zhongtian who were beheaded overnight in Zhuquemen Square last night. They
There is only one crime, and it is clearly written on the notice board on the side of the city gate building. The writing is simple and clear in white and black paper.
Those rebellious ministers and traitors who aid Zhou in his oppression, collude with foreign enemies, and seek to usurp the country and usurp the throne should be executed and executed to serve as a warning to others.
The dozens of names written in cinnabar were dazzlingly red, like blood. The names on them were all familiar to the people of the capital, and everyone had seen their arrogant and domineering appearance.
"These thieves are finally dead, they have caused harm to us for so long. Good death, good death."
"Commander Lin acted so quickly. He killed them last night. It is said that more than a hundred officials were arrested in the first half of yesterday night and they were all being interrogated. It was really a thunderous method."
"Everyone can punish the rebellious officials and traitors. Such people should not be allowed to live another day. Marshal Lin did the right thing. How many people have they harmed? Since Lu Zhongtian and these thieves took control of the capital, the common people have been under their control."
How many people were killed. My youngest son can rest in peace. He forced him to work as a laborer for the Jurchen thieves and died in the Jurchen camp. Even his body has not been found."
"Yes, they have harmed so many people, and they don't deserve to live another day. Master Lin has done a good job. Master Lin and the new emperor are back, and the world should be at peace now. We can't bear the trouble anymore."
"Yeah, we can't stand the trouble anymore."
The people watching pointed and whispered, saying that they were cautious at first, but then became unscrupulous. Some people got the news and came to see the bodies of Chen Bin, Zhu Zhirong and others who were beheaded last night. Some were frightened, some were silent, and some were panic-stricken, but more
The people cursed and spat at the hanging corpses, and their suppressed emotions broke out. Because in the past six months, their families were ruined and they had no food to eat. They lived an extremely miserable life. They hated it.
these people.
…
When the sun rose, a group of cavalry galloped into the palace and went straight to the ruins of Chongzheng Palace, which had been burned to rubble. The knights dismounted and looked at the pile of ruins and broken walls that were still smoking.
Clicking the tongue. They are none other than Lin Jue and the seven or eight senior generals of the Luoyan Army.
The fire was really fierce last night. The most feared thing for a wooden palace like Chongzheng Hall is fire. Seventy percent of its components are made of wood. Once a fire breaks out, it is basically difficult to put out. Last night, Lin Jue tried to have someone save a house.
It turned out that it was impossible to put out the fire. The fire was so fierce that it was difficult for people to get even dozens of steps away, let alone put out the fire. Lin Jue had to give up fighting the fire and ordered people to cut down trees next to the fire location and remove flowers and grass to build a
Fireproof belts were installed to prevent the palace fire from spreading. Many people were also deployed in the surrounding palaces to prevent sparks from spreading to other palaces with the wind and causing fires. After a night, it seemed that nothing went wrong.
"General, I have met Marshal Lin and all the generals." Ruan Ping, who was dirty and with a dark face, walked quickly from the ruins and saluted Lin Jue and others.
Lin Jue looked at Ruan Ping's red eyes and smiled: "Brother Ruan stayed up all night?"
Ruan Ping is from the engineering battalion
Commander, naturally the engineering battalion stayed behind to guard the burning palace last night, while the rest of the soldiers and horses guarded the city walls, streets and yamen respectively, and went to eliminate the remaining enemies in the city. Ruan Ping led his men to guard the surroundings of Chongzheng Palace.
The rescue lasted all night.
"How dare I be negligent? This is the palace. If other palace buildings are on fire, I cannot bear the responsibility. In other words, this is also a blessing for me and my brothers. How many people in the world can do this in my great Zhou Dynasty?"
Spending a night in the palace? Hahaha." Ruan Ping said with a smile.
Lin Jue, Ma Bin and others also burst into laughter.
Ruan Ping pointed to the collapsed ruins of Chongzheng Hall and said: "The fire became smaller in the second half of the night. We poured some water with the water hose and finally extinguished the fire. I was about to order people to clean it up when the commander came.
Just in time, please wait a moment, Commander-in-Chief, and I will bring someone to clean up this place."
Lin Jue nodded, looked at a group of soldiers who were busy moving on the ruins, and said: "Sun Dayong, let's do it together with the brothers of the cavalry, and do it faster. Our purpose is to determine whether Lu Zhongtian was burned to death in the palace. After confirmation,
Then you don’t have to be careful.”
Sun Dayong nodded in agreement and called on the more than 200 brothers from the Guards Cavalry Battalion who came in to help. Lin Jue and others did not come here to see the ruins of Chongzheng Palace. It was a pity to burn a big hall, but Lin Jue and others were not here to see the ruins of Chongzheng Palace.
However, he didn't care about it. What he cared about was whether Lu Zhongtian really died in the hall. After all, everything was just hearsay. Without seeing Lu Zhongtian's body with his own eyes, the matter could not be brought to a complete end.
The soldiers carried the wood from the ruins and cleaned them down from the center of the top of the ruins, which was where the main hall was. Lin Jue and others sat by the flower bed nearby, talking and waiting. Soon after, several horses came galloping over, but it was Shen Tan who led the group.
The Guards Cavalry also arrived.
"Brother Shen, isn't the emperor here?" Lin Jue stood up and asked. Shen Tan was sent by Lin Jue to invite Guo Kun. At this time, it would be best for Guo Kun to come and personally confirm Lu Zhongtian's life and death, so Lin Jue specially invited Shen Tan.
Tan went to invite Guo Kun to come.
Shen Tan turned over and dismounted and saluted: "Commander Qi, Your Majesty... He said there was no need to confirm. He said that the Marshal and other adults had witnessed it. He said he was feeling a little unwell and wanted to stay in the old palace to rest.
How many days."
Lin Jue frowned and said: "I'm going to court to discuss matters later. How can the emperor not come? Are you feeling sick? Where do you feel uncomfortable?"
Shen Tan said: "The emperor said that he was tired. I asked, but he didn't say anything in detail. I asked the doctor to come and have a look, but the emperor refused."
Ma Bin smiled and said, "I'm afraid it's a mental illness."
Everyone rolled their eyes and didn't dare to say anything. Lin Jue thought for a moment and said, "Well, let the emperor rest. Let's do the things here first and confirm the facts of Lu Zhongtian's life and death. At noon, we will go to the public room of the political affairs hall to convene.
Your Excellencies, please discuss the next matter. Although it is best if the Emperor is present, it will not be delayed if the Emperor is not present. In short, the result of the discussion should be reported to the Emperor. Things cannot be delayed."
Everyone clasped their hands and said, "Just follow the commander's orders."
Shen Tan's mouth moved, and he wanted to say something, but he didn't say it. The emperor was absent, but Lin Jue wanted to discuss something, which was against the rules. But thinking of what the emperor said in the old palace before, Shen Tan felt extremely worried.
, I didn’t dare to say those words. I just felt a little worried in my heart and couldn’t settle down.
