Today is already February 25, the nineteenth year of Yongle.
There are only a few days left before the March military parade announced by Ming Chengzu.
The location of this grand military parade has been determined, and it is at Huailaiwei outside Juyong Pass.
Huailaiwei is directly under the jurisdiction of the Houjun Governor's Mansion. It is located in the Yanshan Mountains, with towering mountains on both sides, forming a natural basin.
The five to six thousand people in the guard station, with their families and their families, are stationed here all year round. All the places that can be planted have been reclaimed into fertile land.
In order to welcome the emperor's military parade, Huailaiwei received official documents from the court and surrounded the flat land that was still frozen to form a parade square with a size of hundreds of acres.
The three elite troops under review, the Fifth Army Battalion, the Three Thousand Battalion, and the Shenji Battalion, have also been in place one after another and began to line up in the square for drills.
The coyote soldiers and white pole soldiers transferred from Guangxi, Yunnan, and Sichuan also set out many days ago and were about to arrive at Huailaiwei.
The construction of the Ming Chengzu camp located in Tumubao is also being stepped up.
As the emperor's most trusted organization, Dongchang also arrived at Tumubao under the leadership of Lin Shangli.
Prince Zhu Gaochi was still detained in Dongchang Prison. For the sake of safety, Lin Shangli kept Duan Tianming in Dongchang Prison to assist Du Shaoqin in protecting the safety of the prison.
With only Xiao Chen and more than 500 Dongchang captains, they arrived at Tumubao.
Tumu Fort is one of the three largest forts in the north of Beijing. It is located 20 miles east of Huailaiwei Station. The entire castle is surrounded by a wall two to three feet high. The wall is about one foot wide and is entirely made of earth.
The outside is covered with a layer of blue bricks.
The entire castle is 150 feet long from north to south and over 300 feet long from east to west.
Inside, a magnificent hall was specially built for this military parade for the emperor to rest and receive envoys from foreign countries.
After handing over to the Huailai Guards, Lin Shangli dispersed the Dongchang captains he brought with him in the castle. He also arranged for more than 2,000 Jinyi guards who came with him to strengthen security on and around the city wall. Just now he and Xiao Chen
, walked into the exclusive camp of Ming Chengzu.
Stepping on the thick carpet in the main hall, Lin Shangli said: "The emperor is old and his camp is so simple. This carpet made of wool will be very effective in keeping out the cold."
"The emperor's 'hunting' operation this time is intended to promote the country's prestige, and it is estimated that it will not be too short. However, the security issues here are not something that my subordinates dare to compliment." Xiao Chen said with a smile.
"What's the problem?" Lin Shangli couldn't help but turned around and asked.
"This earthen fortress is too small. Guards should continue to be stationed within ten miles outside the castle. No other people can get close to it. In this castle, only the court officials who came with the emperor are allowed to live alone, regardless of the servants.
Neither guards nor guards are allowed to enter." Xiao Chen said.
Lin Shangli nodded: "Well, what you said makes sense. This time, the emperor's accompanying people, that is, some of the senior officials of the Sixth Department, may as well let them come alone. The Huailai Guards will be responsible for the defense outside the castle."
After bypassing the screen of the main hall, Lin Shangli came to the side of the emperor's royal bed.
He reached out and touched the bedding: "It's still a little too thin. I'll send someone to add a few more quilts later."
Then he walked to the temporary "imperial kitchen" at the rear and inspected all the kitchen utensils one by one: "For the safety of the emperor's food, it is better to arrange for a few captains to keep an eye on it."
"Dongchang is responsible for all affairs in the castle." Xiao Chen said.
"Well, this place is not as good as the imperial palace. We at Dongchang must keep our spirits up and not be careless." With that said, Lin Shangli walked to the nearby reception room that was specially used to receive foreign envoys.
The layout of this living room is somewhat similar to that of the Jinluan Hall in the imperial palace.
The emperor's dragon chair was placed on a platform at the end of the living room. Apart from that, there was no other chair in the living room.
Obviously, this move was to heighten the aura of Ming Chengzu being aloof and all envoys to the country would respect the Ming Dynasty as their master.
Looking at the majestic dragon chair, which represented the supreme power, Lin Shangli said slowly: "Although the Le'an incident has passed, I am worried that someone will take advantage of this military parade to make an issue again."
"Making a fuss? They can do whatever they want. The Emperor has already determined this matter on the spot. I still don't believe that anyone dares to mention it again to refute the Holy Will." Xiao Chen smiled lightly and said indifferently.
"The General's Mansion built for you by the Ministry of Industry has been completely completed. When you go back this time, you can move in," Lin Shangli said.
"Why is this? Why did the factory owner suddenly mention the affairs of the General's Mansion?" Xiao Chen frowned slightly, feeling really confused.
The General's Mansion was built by the Ministry of Industry in the name of the Emperor. Once it is completed, leave it there. As for whether you can live in it or not, there is no need to force it.
Lin Shangli turned around and looked at Xiao Chen quietly with a smile on his face.
For a moment, Xiao Chen felt a little embarrassed.
"Mr. Factory Master, haven't I washed my face clean?" Xiao Chen said with a smile.
"I'm looking at your heart, not your face."
"My heart? Mr. Factory Master, your words have confused me." Xiao Chen raised his head with confusion on his face.
Lin Shangli smiled faintly: "Doesn't it feel uncomfortable to be stared at like this?"
"Mr. Factory Master, what exactly are you going to say today?"
Lin Shangli turned around and looked at the majestic dragon chair at the end of the hall: "We ordinary people are not used to having our hearts explored, so how can the emperor open his heart so easily?"
"What do you mean by the factory owner, the matter of Le'an and the emperor's statement in the court are all superficial?" Following Lin Shangli's gaze, Xiao Chen also looked at the huge dragon chair placed on the platform.
"That's not true." Lin Shangli shook his head gently, "In the emperor's heart, the prince is always on guard, and the King of Han who was expelled from the capital does not have much weight. The reason why he expressed his position in the court is that the emperor
This is a reassurance for our Dongchang, and it also indirectly tells the world that the emperor also has the tenderness of ordinary people as a father and son. But the law is greater than tenderness."
"The ministers in the DPRK should be able to think of these." Xiao Chen said with a smile.
Lin Shangli turned around: "But this is not the emperor's final intention."
"Oh. I dare to ask Mr. Factory, what is the emperor's final meaning?" Xiao Chen asked.
"The world is big and only the emperor has the final say. Right and wrong are all decided by the emperor." Lin Shangli said seriously.
Xiao Chen was stunned. Lin Shangli's words seemed to be meant for him to hear.
"What do you mean by the factory master, the emperor is doing this to express his position to Dongchang and me?" The expression on Xiao Chen's face gradually became solemn.
"You only have contact with the emperor, and you don't understand his heart. Through this matter, the emperor is telling us in Dongchang that it is he who decides the right and wrong of the matter."
Turning around, Lin Shangli looked at Xiao Chen meaningfully.
