The sound of horse hooves is like a rolling flood with turbulent waves.
Every sound touches the heartstrings and makes people feel shocked involuntarily.
In the palace.
The faces of civil and military ministers, royal family members, and foreign envoys all showed panic.
The Minister of Civil and Military Affairs and the royal family members felt that someone might take advantage of the lax defense of Bianjing City on New Year's Eve to cause chaos.
The foreign envoys felt that the Song Dynasty wanted to kill them while they were gathered together, and then use this to start a war.
Among the crowd, the only ones who were as calm as water were only four people.
Zhao Zhen, Kou Zhun, Kou Ji, Chen Lin.
The moment the hoofbeats sounded, the four of them guessed where the hoofbeats came from.
Cao Liang was also one of the people who knew about it, but he seemed to have something on his mind, looking in the direction of the palace where the Queen Mother lived with a sad face.
Li Di and Wang Zeng were also disturbed by the sound of horse hooves, but after seeing Zhao Zhen and Zhao Zhen's expressions as normal, they felt a lot more relaxed.
Li Di lowered his voice and asked Kou Zhun, who was sitting next to him, "Brother Pingzhong, do you know anything?"
Old God Kou Zhun said calmly: "Don't be impatient for a moment..."
When Li Di heard this, he looked at each other and said nothing.
Kou Zhun is like Jiang Taigong sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai, which means that the sound of horse hooves outside the palace is only under the control of the imperial court.
Since it is under the control of the imperial court, there is no danger.
Just wait and see what happens.
Kou Zhun glanced at Zhao Zhen who was sitting on the dragon throne. Zhao Zhen saw his gaze and nodded secretly. He coughed lightly amidst the whispers of the ministers of civil and military affairs and the foreign envoys.
Chen Lin, who was standing next to his dragon chair, quickly gave him a cold drink.
"quiet!"
There was silence in the palace.
Zhao Zhen's voice slowly sounded in the hall, "Chen Lin, send someone to see where the sound of horse hooves outside the city comes from..."
"Slave, please obey."
Chen Lin gave the order and left the palace.
Zhao Zhen looked around at the ministers of civil and military affairs and envoys from foreign countries, and said calmly: "My dear friends, there is no need to panic. I have sent people to investigate the origin of the sound of horse hooves outside the city.
After we find out clearly, we will naturally clear up the doubts in your hearts."
"Officials, the sound of horse hooves outside the city is like thunder, and there is a vague appearance of a large army marching. We have to be on guard. We should mobilize Tianwu to help the Japanese and Japanese armies enter the capital."
Wang Qinruo raised his hands and suggested with an ugly expression.
Wang Qinruo felt a little uneasy and his eyes stayed on Zhao Yuanyan for a moment. After seeing Zhao Yuanyan sullenly shaking his head, his mind became even more unstable.
He was a little doubtful that someone had discovered what he and Zhao Yuanyan were planning behind the scenes?
Then the court took advantage of New Year's Eve to purge them...
Under everyone's gaze, Zhao Zhen said calmly: "Don't be impatient... I believe in the soldiers guarding the border. They will never allow any foreign enemies to invade our Song Dynasty.
I also believe in the soldiers guarding Bianjing City and outside, and believe that they can protect me and you all no matter what difficulties we face."
As soon as Zhao Zhen said these words, Manchao Wenwu looked at him a little differently.
The generals looked at Zhao Zhen with more intense eyes.
That is the excitement shown after being trusted.
The civil servants looked at Zhao Zhen with more confusion and solemnity.
Zhao Zhen's calmness in the face of danger made the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty realize that the officials had grown up and matured.
They must change their attitude towards the official family in the future and no longer treat the official family as a child.
After Zhao Zhen finished speaking, he sat quietly. Ministers of civil and military affairs, envoys from foreign countries, and members of the royal family sat quietly with him.
It took about two sticks of incense.
The imperial guard sent by Chen Lin to investigate the news entered the palace. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he knelt on one knee and said: "Inform the officials that there is a troop of troops outside the city. They rushed to Bianjing City overnight, saying that they were serving the inner court."
, ordered by the Privy Council to station in Beijing.
Now wait outside the city gate for orders from the officials."
"Nonsense!"
Hearing the noise caused by the mobilization of soldiers and horses into the capital, Wang Qinruo breathed a sigh of relief, opened his eyes, and shouted.
When the ministers of civil and military affairs and the royal family members heard the news, they all breathed a sigh of relief, and then followed Wang Qinruo to accuse the troops outside the city.
The look on the Fanbang envoy's face was somewhat different.
After the crisis was resolved, the first thing they considered was not pointing at the troops outside the city, but secretly thinking about the Song Dynasty court's intention of sending troops into Beijing on the critical day of New Year's Eve.
Zhao Zhen looked at the civil and military ministers and the royal family members with cold eyes and roared without saying a word.
When Kou Zhun, the minister of civil and military affairs, and the royal clan members were almost done roaring, he snorted coldly, "That's enough..."
Kou Zhun looked at everyone and said coldly: "The soldiers and horses outside the city, no matter which group they are. The fact that they can insist on marching and obey the court's orders on New Year's Eve is enough to show that they are far better than ordinary soldiers and horses."
Know the rules better and obey them better.
What if it’s wrong to follow the rules?
So why does the court still need so many rules and laws?
You were just frightened by them, so you accused them wantonly.
I really don’t dare to think about how many soldiers you killed when you were sitting in the army and serving as supervisor."
Kou Zhun's words touched the hearts of the military officials in the palace, and they all spoke out in support.
Among the civil servants, some felt that they were wrong and did not say anything.
Some people disagreed with Kou Zhun's words.
Wang Qinruo puffed up his chest, stroked his beard, and said in a neutral tone: "No matter how strict the rules are, we still have to worry about human relationships. It was wrong for them to rush into Beijing on New Year's Eve and alarm the people in Bianjing City.
They can definitely go back to Bianjing during the day tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, or after the Chinese New Year."
Kou Zhun frowned when he heard this. Before he could speak, Cao Wei's voice rang out.
"According to the royal officials, even if there are thieves attacking the city, the soldiers and horses dispatched from various places can delay their arrival for some time?"
Cao Wei's words were cold.
Wang Qinruo said calmly: "I'm just discussing the matter. There is no war now. Cao's Ministry of War should not compare the rules during wartime with those during non-wartime. There is a big difference between the two."
Cao Wei snorted coldly, "I just want to tell the royal officials what military orders are like mountains."
Wang Qinruo said disdainfully: "On weekdays, when you military ministers lead troops to fight, many of you miss the time..."
Just as Cao Weigang was about to retort, Gao Shanggong interrupted: "That's not because the supervisory army is causing trouble..."
Wang Qinruo's eyes fell on Gao Chugong, "The supervisory army is a system established by Taizu. Without the supervision of the supervisory army, who knows what you will do with your troops."
Gao Chugong narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly: "Everyone in my Gao family is loyal to the officials and the court."
Wang Qinruo couldn't help but continue to retort, "loyal..."
"Bang!"
Halfway through Wang Qinruo's words, Zhao Zhen slapped the table and stood up.
"Enough!"
When Wang Qinruo wanted to speak, Kou Zhun snorted coldly, and he shut his mouth obediently.
Zhao Zhen glanced at Wang Qinruo, Gao Chugong and others, and asked the imperial guard who was kneeling on one knee in the palace: "Which army and horses rushed to Bianjing City overnight?"
The imperial guard hurriedly said: "When I return to the official house, it will be your personal army, the Tiger-Character Army."
Wang Qinruo, Cao Wei, Gao Chugong and others were shocked when they heard this.
It took less than a year for the emperor's personal army to be formed.
In the eyes of the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, the emperor's personal army was the nonsense of Kou Ji and Zhao Zhen.
They never paid attention to this troop from beginning to end.
Anyway, all the expenses after the formation of this army will go to the national treasury and internal treasury, not their private treasury and treasury.
It's not like they are spending their own money on nonsense, so they naturally don't care.
But judging from the sound of horse hooves outside the city just now, this emperor's personal army has been in existence for less than a year, but it has the momentum of an elite army.
Wang Qinruo and other civil servants had more or less been on the battlefield. Although they did not understand military affairs, they still knew clearly what was an elite soldier and what was a coward.
Not to mention Cao Wei and others, they are all veteran generals on the battlefield. From the moment the hoofbeats sound, they can tell the strength of the soldiers and horses outside the city.
Civil servants do not understand how difficult it is to train an elite army.
But the military officials understood.
In just a short period of time, the emperor's personal army gained the momentum of an elite army.
The amount of manpower and force expended is unimaginable.
If you continue to practice, a strong army will appear.
They all looked at each other, unable to conceal the shock in their eyes.
Wang Qinruo and others did not focus on the strength of the troops outside the city. After learning that the emperor's own army had some combat effectiveness, they had other thoughts.
"Officials, I didn't know you were mobilizing the emperor's personal troops..."
Wang Qinruo was just halfway through what he said.
I saw Zhao Zhen patting the table in front of his chest and said with excitement: "Okay! They are indeed my own soldiers. Although I didn't get a glimpse of their grace, I heard the sound of their majestic hooves.
’s clear.
They have lived up to my love and my expectations for them."
Wang Qinruo swallowed the remaining half of his words and looked at where Zhao Zhen was bragging.
After Zhao Zhen finished boasting about the tiger-character army, he said loudly: "Summon them into the palace for an audience."
As soon as these words came out.
Kou Zhun, Li Di, and Wang Zeng were a little unable to sit still.
Kou Zhun raised his hands and said in a deep voice: "The officials, if they send troops and horses into the palace late at night without any incident, I am afraid it will cause unreasonable speculation and panic among the people of Bianjing City. Besides, all the four gates of the outer city and the inner city have been locked, unless it is a major event.
Good at starting."
Li Di and Wang Zeng nodded.
Seeing this, Zhao Zhen said with regret: "I can't wait to see my soldiers... However, what the three beloved ministers said is right. Tonight is New Year's Eve, so they rashly let them enter the capital and disturbed the people.
, but it’s not beautiful.”
Kou Zhun and the other three nodded slowly when they heard this.
After being persuaded by Kou Zhun and the others, Zhao Zhen gave up the idea of summoning the Tiger-Charactered Army and said: "Since my own army cannot enter the city, I will summon the Tiger-Charactered Army commander and deputy generals to the capital."
The Tiger Army has only 10,000 men. Although it has an army establishment, it does not have an army of soldiers.
After three reorganizations, the military system of the Tiger Army has undergone certain changes. It has four high-level military systems: commander, commander, general, and general.
Kou Ji currently serves as the commander of the Tiger-shaped Army and directly wants Zhao Zhen to take charge.
Kou Ji, the military commander with a tiger character, is just a name.
The soldiers and horses of the Tiger Army are currently in charge of the commander and deputy commander.
Chen Lin heard Zhao Zhen's instructions and immediately sent someone to deliver the order.
After nightfall.
All the four gates of Bianjing City, the inner city and the outer city, will be locked.
Except for special orders from officials, the city gates are generally not opened.
If someone wanted to enter the capital under special circumstances, the soldiers guarding the city would use hanging baskets on the crenels to hoist them into the city.
Another two sticks of incense time passed.
Two figures, one big and one small, wore armor and entered the hall.
The figure is large, slightly burly, and the dark armor is tightly stretched, giving people a sense of weight.
The small figure, whose stature is smaller, is also dressed in dark armor, and his steps are firm, giving people a sense of calmness.
The two of them entered the palace.
Under the gaze of everyone, he knelt down on one knee.
"Your Majesty Di Qing visited the official family..."
"Your Majesty Zhu You meets the official family..."
Needless to say, Di Qing, Zhu You is the smaller figure.
Zhu Younai is Zhu Neng's godson. After Zhu Neng joined the army, he followed Zhu Neng in all the wars.
Although he is not as powerful as Zhu Neng and has not achieved any great achievements, he is very calm.
When Kou Ji first asked Di Qing to take charge of the Tiger Army, he was afraid that Di Qing was young and would not be able to control the situation, so he asked Zhu Neng to recruit Zhu You and assist Di Qing.
When the civil and military ministers met Di Qing and Zhu You, they had different expressions.
Li Zhen stared at the two of them for a while. After his eyes fell on Di Qing, he frowned and said, "Mianjun is actually wearing a mask. You are showing contempt for the officialdom."
Cao Wei looked at Di Qing's figure with very complicated eyes.
Di Qing is his favorite disciple and his niece-in-law.
Although he was unwilling to acknowledge his niece-in-law, he did not take any action to suppress him.
On the contrary, I still admire Di Qing.
Seeing Li Zhen's words and scolding, Cao Wei said nonchalantly: "Is that a mask? That's a face armor. When a military official returns from leading an army, he will not remove his armor without an order."
Cao Wei's words not only left Li Shen speechless.
Those courtiers who wanted to use Di Qing's mask to speak out also kept their mouths shut.
Zhao Zhen stared at Di Qing, looking at Di Qing's slightly burly body and the thick aura all over Di Qing's body, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Take off your visor and let me take a look at you. My personal army commander..."
Whenever you face something that belongs to you, you will always show a hint of kindness involuntarily.
So when Zhao Zhen spoke to Di Qing, his tone was very gentle.
"Here..."
Di Qing agreed and took off his mask.
Although he has gone through many hardships and grown up a lot, it is still difficult to hide the childishness on his face.
What's more important is that as time passes, his handsome face has some traces of chiseling, making it even more handsome.
The princesses, princesses and others in the palace were slightly distracted after seeing Di Qing's face.
Not only them, but also some civil and military ministers were a little distracted after seeing Di Qing's face clearly.
Zhao Zhen was also slightly distracted for a moment.
He heard from Chen Lin and Kou Ji that Di Qing was handsome, but he didn't expect him to be so handsome.
"Aiqing is really...different."
Zhao Zhen didn't know how to praise Di Qing, so he simply said "different".
Di Qing's reputation was not great. Although he had been in the official position for two years and had fought in several battles, he did not have many achievements that he could tell the ministers of civil and military affairs about.