serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 124 Insidious slaughter
On the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, the snow stopped suddenly, and the sky was clear.

The capital city has never been so lively as it is today. In the early morning of this day, people crowded inside and outside the Chaoyang Gate, all gathered there, discussing a lot, waiting to see the mission of the Yi Kezhao League.

At the beginning of Sishi, martial law was imposed here, and the three steps and one post inside and outside Chaoyang Gate were full of infantry battalion soldiers with guns and knives.

A group of officials stood in the gate of the city. The new minister of the Ministry of Rites stood in the middle, the right servant of the Ministry of Rites stood behind him, and on both sides were officials from various departments of the Ministry of Rites.

The right servant of the Ministry of Rites let out a low voice: "Here we come!"

In the distance, a group of people came up the official road, and this was the Yikezhao League mission that had traveled a long distance.

The long convoy was gradually approaching, and the people who watched the excitement realized that a group of cavalry in the military uniform of Daquan Township followed closely behind with three prison cars guarding them.

There was no grand welcome ceremony, and the Minister of Rites went up to greet the chief envoy of the Yi Kezhao League, and the group prepared to enter the city.

At this time, a group of criminals came from the east protecting a big sedan chair.

The big sedan stopped outside Chaoyang Gate, and when the curtain of the sedan was lifted, it turned out to be Dai Quan, the chief eunuch of Qianqing Palace, who came out!

The Minister of Rites led the officials of the Ministry of Rites to welcome him.

"Director Dai."

The Minister of Rites bowed his hands and asked, "Does it have a purpose?"

Dai Quan turned his body sideways, "The decree is for the Yi Kezhao League." As he spoke, he turned his gaze to the chief envoy of the Yi Kezhao League.

The Minister of Rites was startled, turned around and approached the chief envoy of the Yi Kezhao League, and whispered a few words.

Leader Yi Kezhao's expression changed, and he hurriedly walked up to Dai Quan and knelt down.

Dai Quan shouted in a high-pitched voice: "The emperor has a decree to send the rebels who colluded with the Qing Dynasty to Caishikou for questioning and beheading! Those who think that the world has evil intentions!"

Minister of the Ministry of Rites was startled again, Yi Kezhao's envoy was also startled, and all the officials of the Ministry of Rites were also startled, looking at Dai Quan.

The onlookers let out bursts of heartfelt cheers!

Dai Quan reminded gently: "Thank you."

The envoy of Yi Kezhao came back to his senses, kowtowed again and again, and said in a trembling voice: "The sinner takes the order to thank you!"

Dai Quan nodded with a satisfied smile: "Get up." Then he said to the Minister of Rites: "Your Majesty said, take them around the capital, eat delicious food, and entertain them well. Don't break the etiquette."

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites twitched the corner of his mouth, and beheaded the three royal children who were sent to take the crime before entering the city, but he could only answer: "Observe the decree."

Dai Quan waved his hand.

A group of Fanzi from the Criminal Division replaced the Yulin Guard cavalry and escorted the prison cart to Caishikou.

The onlookers were excited, and those behind continued to rush forward, and the infantry battalion soldiers who maintained order desperately resisted the surging crowd with their spears horizontally.

Dai Quan: "Don't stop me, let the common people follow along to watch the excitement."

The people inside and outside the city let out a thunderous cry!
Zhongshun Palace
outside study

King Zhongshun was sitting in front of the desk, writing something with a pen.

Zhongjing Hou Shi Ding, the infantry commander, the deputy commander of the yamen, and the Zuoqian capital censor Mei Changwen who had just defected were all sitting on the chairs on both sides at this time, looking at King Zhongshun.

After finishing writing, King Zhongshun raised his head, and said to the deputy commander: "Take this king's warrant and go to the infantry camp and ask them to cooperate with Prince Teng temporarily!"

The deputy commander stood up and said loudly: "No!" He stepped forward, took the warrant with both hands, and walked out.

Shi Ding said: "What if the prince can't come?"

King Zhongshun sneered: "If he doesn't come, let him go back to the grassland."

Shi Ding glanced at Mei Changwen first, and then said: "Wang Ziteng is different from me, His Majesty can't let him get too close to the prince."

King Zhongshun's chest was blocked, and then he coughed violently.

At this time, the eunuch in charge of the palace came in with medicine, "My lord, drink the medicine."

King Zhongshun slowed down, took the medicine bowl and drank it in one go.

The chief eunuch handed over a bowl of warm water, King Zhongshun rinsed his mouth, and said to the chief eunuch, "Go to the imperial hospital and ask, when will the medicine be prepared?"

"Yes." The chief eunuch retreated in response.

King Zhongshun slapped the desk with his palm, and shouted in a low voice: "Sooner or later, I will kill this little woman." After saying that, he coughed violently again.

Shi Ding advised: "My lord still pays attention to his body, don't get angry."

Mei Changwen then said: "Your Majesty's words are correct. Your Majesty must take care of his body first, and only after heals up can he have energy."

The Zhongshun Dynasty glanced at them, and said coldly: "This king not only wants him to die, but also wants everyone around him to suffer because of him!"

Looking at the ferocious King Zhongshun, both of them fell silent.

King Zhongshun's face sank: "Are you scared? If you are scared, you can leave now!"

Shi Ding sighed: "Jia Hu is not only in charge of the Yongwei Battalion now, but also connected with the frontier army and the local army behind him. Even if someone sues him for rebellion, it will be useless."

Mei Changwen's eyes flashed: "What if he really has this ambition?!"

Shi Ding was startled for a moment, and then his eyes turned to Mei Changwen like two cold lights!

Mei Changwen shivered.

King Zhongshun: "Go ahead."

Mei Changwen swallowed, and continued: "Now the Jia family's wealth has reached its peak, there is a noble concubine in the palace, the foreign court is connected with various forces, and Jia Hu is in control of [-] elites, so it can be said that the power is overwhelming.

The Jia family wanted money and power, and the palace couldn't ignore such a big threat!It's just that the power behind the Jia family is too great. As soon as they came back, they smashed Wu Guiren's natal family's property. This is a slap in the face of today and a blasphemy against the imperial power!Two days ago, he took the opportunity to overthrow the Secretary of the Arsenal, but he is a little swollen from the confidant who has been supported today! "

King Zhongshun seemed to understand something, his face turned red, and then he stood up and said as he walked, "Okay, okay, you are right, he has swollen recently. A young man of seventeen or eighteen years old Surely there will be a desire for power!"

Speaking of this, he laughed loudly, "Then let's add fire to him and push him up, as long as he shows a little ambition. Huh! The old man is about to die, this is a golden opportunity. For power, he But he can even give up his own son!"

King Zhongshun stopped in his tracks and said to Mei Changwen: "Didn't the Liaodong Army advocate that Jia Hu has the demeanor of a famous general in ancient times, so let him become the God of War and Army God of the Great Zhou Dynasty? This king wants to see if he can bear the burden." worthy of this name!"

Mei Changwen nodded: "My lord, this method is good. It can not only make Jia Hu more inflated, but also drive a wedge between him and other military generals, especially the frontier army."

King Zhongshun smiled: "Leave this matter to you."

Mei Changwen gritted his teeth: "Yes."

King Zhongshun: "This matter is over, and this king recommends you to the imperial brother as the imperial envoy doctor."

Mei Changwen was so excited that his hands trembled slightly, he couldn't help but knelt down, and said in a trembling voice, "Thank you, my lord!"

King Zhongshun gave him a deep look: "Get up." Then he turned his gaze to Shi Ding, "The Supreme Emperor and His Majesty both know about the matter of the Shi family and the Jia family. You don't have to worry about being implicated. Besides, this king will protect the Shi family. .”

Shi Ding gritted his teeth and didn't speak.

Still smiling, King Zhongshun walked back to the desk and sat down, saying, "Go back."

"Yes." The two of them retreated in response.

Hearing the sound of footsteps getting farther and farther outside, King Zhongshun's expression darkened, and he murmured, "No wonder Brother Huang would rather hand over the command of the infantry to the hands of Wang Ziteng, a good-for-nothing."

Outside the Yimen Gate of Prince Zhongshun's Mansion

Zhongjing Hou Shi Ding walked in front, and Mei Changwen followed closely behind.

Suddenly, Shi Ding stopped and turned around: "You and the Jia family are also considered relatives, why do you do this?"

Mei Changwen looked distressed: "This."

Shi Ding sighed, and said: "You are also someone who experienced that disaster back then, do you know the consequences of doing so? Once the Jia family is forced to rebel, the entire military will be impacted, and it is very likely that the Great Zhou Dynasty will fall into war. "

Mei Changwen's face turned pale, and he was lost in thought.

Shi Ding ignored him and strode forward alone.

At this time, the eunuch in charge of the royal residence hurried over and said to Mei Changwen, "My lord, please go back, Lord Mei."

Mei Changwen came back to his senses, pondered for a while, then turned and walked towards the study.

(End of this chapter)