Iron Age

Zhu Youxiao is 17 years old this year, but it does not mean that his mind is only 17 years old. He has been a puppet emperor since he was five years old. He has no freedom, no maternal love, and only crisis and surveillance. In the oppressive and dark palace, he created In addition to his suspicious character, he also has an extremely strong sense of insecurity. Zhu Youxiao does not trust anyone in his bones, or his trust in anyone is not absolute. For example, Wei Zhongxian, the eunuch who has followed him for more than ten years, My own brother-in-law and good brother Liu Ziguang

But he is the emperor after all, and the emperor needs help. Although the situation of the Ming Dynasty has improved in the past two years, it still has serious internal and external troubles. The provinces that the imperial court can control are Zhili, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, and Fujian. , there are still many provinces under the control of the real power governor, who are obedient to the imperial court. Although they are officials of the Ming Dynasty in name, they are not much stronger than the separatist regimes at the end of the Tang Dynasty. There are also large areas of northern land that are occupied by the Qing Dynasty. Underneath, there is still a vaster land occupied by the Xixia people. As for Tubo, which was still under the imperial court's orders, it has long since become an independent country.

At this juncture, Zhu Youxiao didn't want any more troubles to happen. He didn't want to believe what was written on this stele from the bottom of his heart, but the three words "Seizing the World" were indeed too dazzling, and no emperor could take it easy In view of it, although Zhu Youxiao is a scientific boy, he fears ghosts and gods, and attaches great importance to the providence in the dark, especially this stone tablet was dug out under his imperial mausoleum construction site, so he has to believe that it was given by God. a warning to myself

There was silence in Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youxiao stared blankly at the stele, Wei Zhongxian knelt on the ground trembling and dared not speak, and the little eunuch outside was even more silent, not daring to breathe out, after a while, Zhu Youxiao took a deep breath He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Xiao Weizi, you are very loyal, I am very pleased."

Wei Zhongxian raised his head, tears streaming down his face: "The emperor is holy"

"Okay, don't let more people know about this. You find someone to smash the stele and throw it away. In the future, the East Factory will add a task, which is to monitor the South Factory. Do you understand?" Zhu Youxiao stared at Wei Zhongxian's eyes say

Wei Zhongxian hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground again: "The slave is taking the decree to thank you, and I will definitely live up to the great trust of the emperor."

The atmosphere in Qianqing Palace returned to the harmony of the past. Zhu Youxiao also asked the little eunuch to take two bottles of Coke for Wei Zhongxian to drink. The wind was calm for a while, and the little eunuchs also breathed a sigh of relief, before they stepped forward. Report: "The deputy capital censor Lin Ruhai has a book to play, and has been waiting outside the Meridian Gate for a long time."

"This Lin Ruhai is full of dedication, I think about joining people all day long, let him come in" Zhu Youxiao said

Not long after, Lin Ruhai came to Qianqing Palace under the guidance of Xiaohuangmen. It seemed that he had been waiting outside for some time, his chest and back were soaked with sweat, and his face was also dripping with sweat.

"Lin Ruhai, who do you want to join?" Zhu Youxiao asked with great interest. After he joined Liu Ziguang last time, the emperor read his files, and he felt pretty good about this honest and upright minister. Yushi? , it's good to have this kind of stunned young man who catches wind and shadows, and the slick and slick can't do this job

"Your Majesty, I want to visit Liu Ziguang, the Marquis of Wu, who secretly hides the Dragon and Tiger Sword and is spreading rumors in the market with the intention of plotting rebellion," Lin Ruhai said loudly.

"Oh? Present the notebook," Zhu Youxiao said

Lin Ruhai's booklet clearly states that now there is a nursery rhyme that "the golden sword, the dragon and the tiger sword, when the two meet, the world will change", and it is also rumored that the stone tablet with the prophecy engraved on the construction site of the imperial mausoleum: the dragon and the tiger sword will win the world, All this reveals Liu Ziguang's disobedience. Since ancient times, people who spy on the world will always create some so-called miracles to confuse the common people in the world. Hiding the silk with written characters in the belly of the fish, these tricks emerge in endlessly, so it can be inferred that Liu Ziguang is planning to rebel and seize the Zhu family.

After reading the scriptures, Zhu Youxiao laughed instead. Just now he had doubts, but now Lin Ruhai’s scriptures dispelled such doubts. It turns out that people have been doing this kind of tricks since ancient times, just forging miracles. He didn’t want to believe it. Liu Ziguang will take over his country. Now that he read Lin Ruhai's account of Liu Ziguang's intention to rebel, he is even more convinced of Liu Ziguang's loyalty, because no matter how he looks at it, he does not have the conditions for rebellion now.

"Xiao Weizi, take a look too. It seems that the stele is really a forgery." Zhu Youxiao said to Wei Zhongxian, and Wei Zhongxian hurried forward to read it with both hands, and then he had a gratified smile on his face: " This is good, this is the best, the servant just said, Zhenwuhou is the pillar of the country, and the emperor's close relative, how could he rebel?"

"Haha, you are still the most loyal. Under such circumstances, you dare to risk your life to speak up for Marquis Zhenwu, and I will ask Marquis Zhenwu to thank you very much later." Zhu Youxiao laughed heartily, and a knot in his heart was finally untied. Lin Ruhai was at a loss as to whether I was participating in Liu Ziguang or praising Liu Ziguang. How could such a sensational report make the emperor trust Liu Ziguang even more?

This is the effect of fighting poison with poison. Lin Ruhai unknowingly helped Liu Ziguang. He is a speech officer and has no hesitation in taking action. He will not pretend to be a good person like Wei Zhongxian and stab a knife in the back. I heard nursery rhymes on the street today. Afterwards, he became alert, and went home to write the notes to prepare for participation. While writing, a colleague of the censor who was monitoring the imperial mausoleum came to report that a stone tablet engraved with prophecies had been unearthed, so Lin Ruhai paid more attention to this issue, not waiting for tomorrow The pilgrimage is over, so go directly to the palace to face the saint, and report this great discovery

The most depressing thing right now is Wei Zhongxian, whose good move was actually interrupted by Lin Ruhai, an idiot. He adopted the tactic of boiling frogs in warm water to slowly destroy Liu Ziguang's image in Zhu Youxiao's heart. This stele is an important step. Of course, he didn't expect Liu Ziguang to be brought down with such a simple move. As long as he caused the embarrassment in the emperor's heart, his merits and deeds would be consummated. In addition, he had to stand up to speak a few good words for Liu Ziguang from a fair standpoint, so as to show that he was not the one who made trouble. people

Lin Ruhai jumped out to make a fuss, and the good situation was completely ruined. Of course, the effect caused by the stele was gone, and the nursery rhymes for walking in the market outside didn't even work, so they were invalidated. It's sad, this is Mr. Sima's plan for several nights Ah, it turned into nothing like this, let Mr. Sima know and still vomit blood in anger

Blood dripping from depression in my heart, and I have to put on a happy expression on my face, this is the most uncomfortable thing. Fortunately, Wei Zhongxian has been working as a servant in the palace since he was a child, and he has practiced a pair of duplicity. Wearing his beardless young eunuch face

Zhu Youxiao said to Lin Ruhai with a smile: "Lin Qing, you have done a good job, the book will stay here, you can retire now."

"But... Your Majesty... Marquis Zhenwu is indeed suspected of treason. We must make preparations early, just in case." Lin Ruhai was talking, when he heard the little eunuch shouting outside: "Let the guard and inner minister Liu Ziguang have an audience." It turned out that the person involved came

Liu Ziguang supervised the errand of leading the guards and internal ministers to walk in front of the imperial court. Entering the palace is to go to work, and there is no need to report at all. At this moment, he has already brought the dragon and tiger sword to the gate of Qianqing Palace

Zhu Youxiao said: "It's just in time, let's announce it quickly."

Liu Ziguang walked into Qianqing Palace with a dragon and tiger sword in his arms. Lin Ruhai jumped up in shock when he saw him coming in with a weapon in his arms. No?"

Liu Ziguang wondered: "I am a bodyguard of Ouchi, so it is only natural that I carry a sword. Not only do I carry a sword, but I also carry two firecrackers. Would you like to see Lin Yushi?"

Only then did Lin Ruhai remember that one of Liu Ziguang's positions was the head of the Ouchi guards, and it was reasonable to carry weapons, but he was still worried, and pointed to Liu Ziguang and said, "Could it be the Dragon and Tiger Sword that you took from Beijing? , you seized the sword of the enemy chief and did not dedicate it to the emperor, is this the practice of a courtier, I want to join you!"

Liu Ziguang said: "I came to the palace to talk about this dragon and tiger sword. This sword must not be dedicated to the emperor, and only I can have it."

As soon as this remark came out, even Zhu Youxiao felt strange, and Lin Ruhai was so angry that his beard fluttered, pointing at Liu Ziguang and yelling: "You are bold! Presumptuous!" Wei Zhongxian smiled and did not speak, quietly observing the situation development of

Liu Ziguang talked eloquently: "This sword is a murderous thing. Its several masters died badly. The first master, Nurhachi, was originally as healthy as a cow, and he was able to fight the enemy at the age of 60, but he got this sword. Soon after the sword, he became weak and died of an arrow. His son Huang Taiji took over the throne and also used the dragon and tiger sword as a sidearm. The owner of the sword became Dorgon, Prince Rui. Dorgon, as you all know, committed suicide by touching a pillar after I captured him alive. However, this sword followed Ao Bai back to Beijing. Tiger sword, it was not half a year ago, it was given by Kangxi, and then the sword returned to the hands of Nurhachi's descendants. Kangxi took this sword to suppress the uprising of the heroes in the capital, and you know the end, I sprayed iron sand on my face , I'm afraid the face is still covered with gauze, such an inauspicious sword, do you think you can dedicate it to the emperor? Isn't that a conspiracy to kill the emperor? Lin Yushi, I want to ask you, you are a courtier way?"

How could Lin Ruhai know so many allusions, and he was speechless after being robbed, Zhu Youxiao listened to it with great interest, and he asked, "Then why Liu Aiqing, you can keep this dragon and tiger sword?"