serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 151

Anhui, Fengyang.

Fengyang, the land of Longxing in the former Ming Dynasty, and the hometown of Emperor Hongwu.

The sound of shouting and killing shook the sky and went straight to the sky.

Fengyang, the hometown of emperors, has been besieged by the rebels of the Cao gang for more than ten days. Countless rebels are attacking the city, and the overwhelming flow of people is constantly attacking day and night.

After several days of onslaught, the defenders in the city suffered heavy casualties, the defense equipment was exhausted, and without the suppression of artillery and arrows, simple ladders were set up on the top of the city. It was overthrown, but more ladders were built on the top of the city, and rebels from the Cao gang continued to attack the city wall, and were soon wiped out by the supporting defenders.

Behind the mighty siege team, an elite army of more than [-] people has formed a square formation and is ready to attack.

In front of the army formation, a large flag with the word "Yang" fluttered in the wind.

Under the banner, Yang Kai Wuxiong, the former vice leader of the Cao Gang, sat on a big white horse.

Looking at Fengyang City in front of him, Yang Kaiwu was full of ambition. Since the army officially started on the 27th of the twelfth lunar month in the second year of Jianwu, this attack on Fengyang City was the first real siege operation of the army. With the cooperation of the White Lotus Sect, they won almost without bloodshed. The army did not accept the baptism of war.

After several days of onslaught, the defensive equipment in the city was exhausted, the officers and troops suffered a lot of losses, and all of them were exhausted. Yang Kaiwu decided to capture Fengyang City today.

Looking at the gang members of the Cao Gang who were driven off the city wall again, Yang Kaiwu clenched the hilt of his sword tightly, and then shouted: "Send my order, attack the city immediately!"

The drums were loud.

The roar shook the sky, and the elites of the Wanyu Cao Gang behind him rushed forward brandishing knives and guns.

At that time, there was overwhelming cheers from Fengyang City: "The city is broken! The city is broken!"

The Cao Gang's army poured into the city like a tide, and after the shocking shouts of killing, there were countless people's terrified cries!
At five o'clock the next day, with the sound of drums outside the city, Cao Gang's army drove the people of Fengyang City out of the city. their loot!Then flames burst out everywhere in the city!

Fengyang City was quickly engulfed in a sea of ​​flames!
At this time, Fengyang City became deathly silent, with fires everywhere, and a row of heads hung at the gate of the city, which were the heads of the officials of the Fengyang government.

The capture of Fengyang City greatly boosted the morale of the Cao Gang, as well as those belongings and women, which gave the Cao Gang's army a taste of sweetness. After easily breaking through Dingyuan County, Yang Kaiwu led the army to drive the people to Chuzhou!
Spring rain is as expensive as oil!
Last night, Beijing ushered in a precious spring rain. After the rain, the air in Beijing is exceptionally fresh!

It was already dawn, and several servants from Ningguo Mansion were sweeping the lawn in front of the gate with brooms.

Today, the yamen rests, and no officials from the Ministry of War come to work.

At this moment, there was a rush of hoofbeats.

Jiao Da led two personal soldiers galloping over.

Ning'an Hall Backyard

Jia Hu did not practice martial arts like in the past, and was slowly practicing Tai Chi in the courtyard.

Except for Hu Po who was waiting from a distance with a towel in her hand, there was not a single maid in the courtyard.

Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps outside the courtyard, Hu Po frowned, looked up, and saw Jiao Da walking in with his head covered in sweat.

As soon as he entered the door, Jiao Da was stunned for a moment, but walked over lightly, "Second Lord."

Jia Hu didn't stop, but just responded habitually: "Yes."

Amber retreated into the house.

Jiao Da stepped forward and said softly, "Second Master, Zhen Fu led those Manchus to Shandong."

Jia Hu paused for a moment, then closed.

Jiao Da went on to say: "After entering Tianjin, they all changed to fast horses and went all the way south into Shandong."

Jia Hu changed the subject: "How is the development of the intelligence network?"

Jiao Da: "Taking advantage of the civil strife in the Cao Gang, a large number of backbones loyal to the Hong family were purged, and our people took the opportunity to win many important positions. The Gyeonggi region has been firmly controlled, and Shandong and Jiangsu can also share information about the Cao Gang. gone."

He took out a letter from his bosom, handed it to Jia Hu, and said, "This is a secret letter copied from Yanzhou Mansion by our people."

Jia Hu took Zhan Kan, slightly startled, the rebels from the Cao gang broke through Fengyang City, and wanted to transport some of the property looted from local wealthy businessmen to Gyeonggi and Shandong to exchange for silver.

Yang Kaiwu actually ordered the looting of Fengyang City. He was planning to grab it in Anhui and leave!

Then leave a mess full of holes for the court.

This slap is estimated to wake up the present. If Yang Kaiwu is allowed to burn, kill and loot like this, even if the imperial court collects the wealth of the Central Plains in the end, the vitality of the Central Plains will be severely damaged. I don’t know how much manpower and material resources will be spent to recover, and it may even affect his life. throne.

The old emperor calculated and calculated, but finally fell into the calculation of others.

Thinking of this, Jia Hu couldn't help feeling that some people live too long, which may not be a good thing.

Jiao Da hesitated for a moment, and asked: "Should we take this batch of property, after all, it should be worth one or two hundred thousand."

Jia Hu raised his hand: "No, tell them to bring all the belongings to Beijing. I will use this incident to force the palace to send troops south to quell the chaos!"

Jiao's big eyes lit up: "Second Lord is planning to lead troops south to quell the chaos?"

Jia Hu nodded: "The old emperor's action is too fast. Yesterday Yang Dayong came to report that two former generals of the Right Sentinel Army have publicly stood in line, and more former generals of the Fifth Army Battalion will express their views in the future. If you make such a fuss again Go on, except for the old battalion and the cavalry battalion, all other soldiers and horses will be in the hands of the old emperor."

Jiao Da was taken aback, and asked anxiously, "Will he agree?"

Jia Hu glanced at him and said with a smile, "Yes."

At this moment, Lin San walked in and said, "Marshal, that drunk King Ni Er is here."

Jia Hu was stunned for a moment. Today is the tenth day, only the seventh day. I don't know what kind of surprise he will bring to himself.

Jiao Da: "I won't delay the second master's business."

Jia Hu smiled: "Don't rush, let's go and have a look together." Said and strode out.

Jiao Da and Lin San quickly followed out.

Seeing Ni Er standing in the front yard from a distance, Jia Hu walked over with a smile.

Seeing Jia Hu coming out, Ni Er hurriedly knelt down: "Cao Min pays homage to Lord Hou." After speaking, he kowtowed three times.

Jia Hu stretched out his hand to help him: "Come on, let's talk in the house." He said and walked straight to the front hall.

Ni Er quickly got up and followed.

Jia Hu sat down on the main seat and asked directly, "What kind of surprise did you bring to Ben Hou?"

Ni Er looked at Jiao Da, "This."

Jia Hu: "There are no outsiders here, so let's talk."

Ni Er: "Yes." Clearing his throat, he said, "Caomin overheard something when I was having dinner with some friends. Someone paid for the backlog of a grocery store in Dongshi after the Lantern Festival. firecracker.

There is still more than half a year before the Mid-Autumn Festival, so the grass people paid attention to it, and inquired in the eastern and western cities, and found that the firecrackers in the backlog of several grocery stores were also bought by others. "Speaking of which, he took a careful look at Jia Hu.

Jia Hu: "Go ahead."

Ni Er's eyes lit up: "Yes. Yesterday, a few debtors from Nancheng suddenly came to repay the interest, and they were all five taels of official ingots. Caomin asked them, and they all said that they went to the pharmacy to buy stone sulfur to earn money. The money, more than half a month."

Jia Hu glanced at Jiao Da, who nodded in satisfaction and walked out.

Sulfur and flame nitrate were important military supplies in the Great Zhou Dynasty and were controlled products.

However, stone sulfur is a traditional Chinese medicine, which can be bought in many pharmacies, but the quantity is small and it is more troublesome.

As for flame nitrate, it is not like later generations. When it comes to sanitation, chamber pots and toilets are only used by rich people. Earth nitrate can be found under the walls of the alleys in the North and South City.

On the other side, in the study room, Emperor Jianwu sat on the dragon chair without saying a word.

Side by side on the royal case were two expedited six-hundred-mile documents, one from Huaiyuan County, Fengyang Prefecture, and Lai'an County, Chuzhou Prefecture. Another memorial reported that Chuzhou, the capital city, was besieged by rebel bandits from the Cao Gang.

Chief Assistant Song Chengliang, Li Guogong Liu Fang and Wang Hetang all rushed to stand in the hall one by one.

Emperor Jianwu's eyes slowly shifted to Liu Fang.

Liu Fang replied: "Return to the emperor, my minister's opinion, this matter is very simple, dispatch troops from the capital to the south to suppress the rebellion."

After pondering for a while, Emperor Jianwu turned his gaze to Wang Hetang again: "What do you think?"

Wang Hetang: "I think this matter needs to be discussed in the long run."

Liu Fang couldn't help it: "Think about it in the long run? Do you know how many people the rebels of the Cao gang have taken hostage? After breaking through Chuzhou City, their team will grow stronger, and within three to two months, they will have the strength to attack Anqing. Throwing After Anqing, Jinling will open its doors! Even if they don't attack Anqing, they will attack Huguang, and it will be a disaster!"

Song Chengliang went on to say: "The rebels of the Cao gang did not occupy the city like Lianghuai, but destroyed the city and engulfed the people. Without houses and land, the people who were ensnared would become refugees, hungry people, and eventually assimilated by the rebels and become rebels! Such a team of rebels will expand at an alarming rate."

Wang Hetang interrupted Song Chengliang, "Didn't Wang Ziteng go south to lead the army to put down the rebellion? Don't worry about the first assistant, just wait."

Liu Fang's face darkened: "You put it lightly, what if something happens, can you bear this responsibility?!"

Immediately, Wang Hetang's face became uneasy: "Are you always doubting Wang Ziteng's ability?"

Liu Fang: "Yes. I just don't believe that Wang Ziteng is capable of putting down the rebellion!"

As soon as this remark came out, Wang Hetang was blindfolded on the spot.

Emperor Jianwu and Song Chengliang were also blindfolded.

Dai Quan stood beside the emperor with his hands down and his head bowed.

There was silence.

"I understand your old heart."

Wang Hetang obviously thought it over clearly, and said again: "But your old ideas may not be all right."

Liu Fang stared at him closely: "Tell me, what is right?"

As soon as Wang Hetang opened his mouth, Liu Fang took another army!For a moment, he was stunned again.

Emperor Jianwu said: "The reason why Fengyang was attacked by the rebels was because the reinforcements did not arrive in time. Counting the time, Wang Ziteng will arrive in one or two days. Chuzhou is not far from the Jiangnan camp, and he will be able to arrive in time." reinforce."

Looking at Song Chengliang again, he asked with a smile, "What do you think of the chief assistant?"

Song Chengliang just glanced at the emperor, then lowered his eyes again.

A gleam of coldness quickly flashed in Emperor Jianwu's eyes, and in an instant he regained his smile, and said softly: "The soldiers and horses from Henan and Shandong have recovered most of Huai'an Mansion, and they will soon be able to enter Anhui to suppress bandits. With the cooperation of these two forces, Jiangnan Daying will easily wipe out the rebellion."

Wang Hetang immediately nodded in agreement.

At this moment, a loud noise came from outside the hall, followed by several earth-shattering loud noises.

Emperor Jianwu was startled, and asked anxiously, "What's the sound?"

Liu Fang immediately replied, "It's the sound of gunpowder exploding."

Emperor Jianwu's expression changed, he stood up abruptly, and strode out.

Dai Quan was startled: "Your Majesty." He hurriedly chased him out.

Song Chengliang, Liu Fang and Wang Hetang rushed out after them.

At this time, there was another loud noise from the northwest direction of the imperial city, followed by puffs of smoke and dust that filled the sky.

Everyone's eyes were wide open, that's where the clan and princes lived, and there was an explosion just on New Year's Eve!

Emperor Jianwu looked at the thick smoke rising in the distance, without saying a word.

Dai Quan couldn't bear it any longer, and hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty?"

Emperor Jianwu had no expression on his face, and said in a straight line: "You send someone to take a look, and I will wait here."

"Yes."

Dai Quan looked up at the sky and turned around several times, then turned and walked to the deputy head of Qianqing Palace and whispered a few words.

The deputy head of Qianqing Palace replied with a bitter face: "Yes." He walked quickly to the outside of Qianqing Palace.

Dai Quan looked up again, and it must be the Manchus.

"What are you doing? Do you understand the rules?"

Dai Quan looked back and saw Li Zhong, the chief eunuch of Fengzao Palace, rushing in from Yuehua Gate.

Li Zhong rushed in sweating profusely.

Dai Quan frowned and walked over.

Li Zhong looked anxious: "Something has happened! Your empress is pregnant!"

Dai Quan was startled, and asked anxiously, "Have you been passed on to the imperial physician?"

Li Zhong: "Xu Yuanzheng and Wang Taiyi have already rushed over."

Dai Quan: "Go, report to the Emperor Ming!" He said and walked straight.

Li Zhong hurriedly followed.

Dai Quan walked quickly to Emperor Jianwu and whispered a few words.

Emperor Jianwu was startled and pointed at Li Zhong.

Li Zhong ran over, plopped down on his knees, and said: "The previous few explosions, the mother was frightened, and her fetus was gassy. Several old mothers said that she might have a premature delivery!"

Everyone's face changed drastically.

Liu Fang's face turned pale.

Emperor Jianwu paced back and forth for a few steps, then strode towards Fengzao Palace.

Dai Quan followed Emperor Jianwu.

Li Zhong, who was kneeling on the ground, quickly got up and walked away. Suddenly, a hand grabbed his wrist, and then Song Chengliang's voice came from his ear: "Go to Daming Palace to invite the old concubine."

Li Zhong nodded fiercely.

Ningguo Mansion

Huifang Garden

Jia Hu stood by the window on the second floor of Tianxiang Building, looking at Shichahai with a smile.

Just as Jiao Da confirmed the authenticity of Ni Er's information, there was an explosion sound from here. Upon hearing the sound, Jia Hu knew that Shichahai had been blasted again.

It is estimated that because of the material, the power is not as great as that of New Year's Eve, but it can still cause a lot of lethality at close range, and the clans over there are probably not enough.

It's really bad luck!

Thinking of Ni Er again, Jia Hu nodded with satisfaction. He has a bright mind, is self-motivated, understands the rules, and knows how to advance and retreat. The only bad thing is alcoholism, let's cultivate it slowly.

Suddenly, footsteps came from the stairs, and then Lin San hurried over: "Marshal, there is an urgent message from the palace, the empress has gas in her fetus and may be about to give birth prematurely."

Jia Hu's expression changed, he turned and walked downstairs.

Royal Palace
Fengzao Palace

In the side hall, headed by the empress, all the concubines in the harem could come, and the room was full of people.

They all came to serve the old lady.

The old concubine was sitting on the soft couch, counting the beads with her eyes slightly closed, while she was silently reciting Buddhist scriptures.

Outside the main hall, Emperor Jianwu hurried back and forth with his hands behind his back. It was almost an hour, and Yuanchun’s dystocia was still heard in his ears. Several old mothers said that because of the great shock, the fetal position was abnormal, and it was very difficult for this child to be born alive. .

The news from outside the palace has not yet come back, and the dystocia in Yuanchun has cast a shadow on Emperor Jianwu's heart. If the child cannot be born safely, there will be many more variables in the outer court.

Thinking of this, Emperor Jianwu sighed deeply.

Suddenly, there was a cry of a baby from the bedroom, and then an old woman rushed out and said loudly: "Congratulations to the emperor, he is a prince!"

Hearing that the baby was born, Emperor Jianwu breathed a sigh of relief.

At this time, there was a noise outside the palace gate, and Jia Hu pushed open the small yellow gate and rushed in.

Hearing the cry of a baby coming from the hall, Jia Hu stopped abruptly and stood there quietly.

Emperor Jianwu stood on the hallway and watched him quietly.

(End of this chapter)