Emperor Kangxi: The First Rule of the Palace

Chapter 66

To celebrate Obai being crowned first-class prince, the residence of Obai was decorated with lanterns and festoons, and a grand banquet was held.There was a lot of noise in the middle of the night, and at the second watch, Oboi said he was not feeling well, so he went back to the Crane Hall alone.Bumbleshan, Nemo, Murima, Jishi, and Ge Chuha all gathered at this time to discuss matters and wait for the good news of Taibitu.

"It's really annoying!" Ge Chuha said, "The scouts sent couldn't send any news back, and the admirals of the nine gates sealed off a street, no one can enter, and no one can come out."

"Taibitu must have succeeded." Ji Shi said.

"Then what does Wu Liuyi Street mean?" Aobai pondered, "Wu Tiegai has always been at odds with me, and I'm afraid that this hundred thousand silver won't be able to buy his heart!"

Ji Shi laughed and said, "Don't worry, Grand Master, one hundred thousand silver, plus a military servant, is enough. Don't forget that he was born as a beggar! This street closure shows that he will not intervene in both parties."

"I don't think so," said Bumble, who had been silent for a long time, "I don't see Taibitu replying. We must make other arrangements."

Ge Chuha blushed, waved his hand and said: "Seal the Meridian Gate, lock the Yuanwu Gate, let him become the admiral of the nine gates and become the admiral of the seven gates. We work inside, what can he get in the way?"

Bumble clapped his palms and said with a smile: "This plan is very good. It's really a three-day farewell. Let's look at it with admiration!" He stood up excitedly, "As long as you succeed in Da Nei, not to mention iron beggars, even steel beggars have to weigh it! "

Just as he was talking, the door officer hurried in, without saluting, he went straight to Aobai and whispered a few words.Aobai showed joy, and ordered: "Call him in!" Turning his face to the crowd, he said: "Okay, someone from Taibitu has delivered a letter!" Everyone immediately fell silent.

After a while, He Zhiming, wearing a long gown in green, floated in, saw Oboi and hurriedly bowed and said, "He Zhiming has been entrusted to come to congratulate the Lord." good!"

Aobai stared at him for half an hour, before he asked: "Did the Thai servant send you here?"

"Yes." He Zhiming said, and handed Taibitu's handwritten note with both hands.Ao Bai held it in his hand, handed it to Bumbleshan, and asked, "Do you know what this note means?" He Zhiming blinked his black beans, smiled slyly, and said, "The meaning of this note is very clear. , the Grand Master knows it himself, so why call me He Mouming to say it!"

"Presumptuous!" Seeing that this servant-like man dared to be so rude, he slapped the case and shouted, "You are not allowed to be so arrogant!"

"Hehehehe..." He Zhiming looked up to the sky and laughed loudly, "Your lord, you are so ignorant. Anyone who wants to win the world should be courteous to the virtuous and corporal. Don't you know that scholars are more expensive than princes and kings? What's more, all the lords here will have requests to me!"

"The eyes are so raw!" Bumbleshan stood up, squinted at He Zhiming and said, "I'm afraid you are not from Taibitu's house, right?"

"Say it again, I'm He Zhiming, a staff member under the tent of General Iron Beggar." After finishing speaking, he smiled again, "Why, can't I come to deliver the letter?"

"He Zhiming?" Bumble-Shan rolled his eyes pretending to think.

"Aren't you Master Bumbleshan?" He Zhiming said, "You are so forgetful! Who did you give the 10 taels of silver you sent?"

"Oh, it's for you!—"

"Do you think that 10 taels of silver can send a beggar?"

"Huh?" Bumble looked at He Zhiming and said, "So what if you can't pass?"

"If I give the 10 taels of silver to the little emperor, Grand Master Ao will bring your class master and all the gentlemen present, and they will go to Caishikou for a banquet in one go!" He Zhiming said Heidou rolled his eyes and gestured at his neck with his hands, "A broken drum sounded, and two pieces of broken gongs struck... a slash!"

"Not sure!" Aobai suddenly said coldly, "Now I can tell you to try the knife first!" After saying that, he glanced sideways at the crowd, and Murima, Namo, and Ge Chuha said "whoosh" Pull out the knife!He stared at He Zhiming fiercely.Bumbleshan lowered his voice and asked, "What's your purpose here? Is it just to make fun of us?"

He Zhiming stared straight into Bumbleshan's eyes, and said for a long time: "Since you are so unwilling to win my trust, what's the use of telling me! If you believe, you should treat each other with courtesy; if you don't believe it, just kill me !"

"I can't believe you, push it out!" Bumble said with a change of expression.Ge Chuha swooped over, picked up He Zhiming and left.He Zhiming scolded: "Zhuzi! I'll go by myself!" He stood up, turned around and left.

"Come back!" Bumbleshan suddenly stopped and laughed dryly, "It's not that cheap. Come on, what are you doing here?"

"Block it!"

"Ask for seals? What seals are you asking for?"

He Zhiming suddenly relaxed and smiled: "Your one hundred thousand silver, I will distribute it to several capable generals under Mr. Wu's account. I don't know what to do now. Your servant Taibitu is now sitting in the admiral's mansion. Wu Liuyi I became a prisoner. I, He Zhiming, bear the feeling of betraying the Lord on the inside, and the name on the outside. Who would have thought that you are such a villain who steals and steals, and can't accomplish anything great!"

These words made everyone dumbfounded.He Zhiming's money was used in such a way that even Oboi did not expect it.This person can be regarded as a courageous counselor.Bumbleshan also couldn't help thinking to himself: "It would be better to give this person the post of Admiral of the Nine Schools at the beginning!"

Aobai was very excited, took the note from Bumbleshan's hand, examined it carefully, confirmed that it was definitely Taibitu's handwriting, and praised: "Good job, I can't see that you are really good at it!" He Confidently, he walked two steps on the ground with his hands behind his back, "Now I can only make a wish, and when it's done, I'll give you the title of Minister of the Ministry of Officials, how about it?"

"He is just acting in accordance with the sky." He Zhiming bowed and saluted, "Zhiming watched the sky at night, the Yinghuo star violated the Ziwei star, and the emperor star changed its position. This is the will of God, and it is ominous to go against it-Tai Shigong should be in this omen .May I be sympathetic to the common people when things are done. It is enough for me, He Mou, to go to the mountains with my hair scattered and live forever.”

"Why?" Obai asked in surprise.

"Wu Tiegai is my old master. Now that justice is broken, what will the people of the world think of me? What face will I have to see my old friend again?" He Zhiming said, his eye circles were already red. It is too late to regret. But after the request is fulfilled, I will beg Ao Gong to spare Lord Wu from dying, and my wish will be fulfilled!" He spoke with sincerity and emotion, and even Murima and Ge Chuha were moved.

"Iron Beggar is a man, he can be used as a good official." Obai also sighed, "How can I put him to death? Sir, you can rest assured."

"That's it, I'll take my leave!" He Zhiming finished his work, his eyebrows looked happy, and he bowed to the ground and said, "The yamen over there is not stable, the soldiers below don't know about the incident in the yamen, and some of the generals at the top will inevitably be dissatisfied. Lord Tai, Lord Li I am doing my best to prevent it, so I ordered Zhiming to deliver the letter alone - I have to rush back to help with the cooking."

"Mr. thank you!" Obai was full of ecstasy, restraining himself, "Tell Tai and Li to close the Meridian Gate and Shenwu Gate, tell them to enforce martial law along the way, and don't leak any news."

He Zhiming was slightly stunned, and asked: "The position of admiral of the Nine Gates has been obtained, and Beijing is full of people from grand masters. Why do you need to seal the Meridian Gate and the Shenwu Gate? Why don't you cut off the way to respond."

"I can take care of the affairs in the Meridian Gate." Aobai said with a smile, "Why do you need to mobilize the people and make the city full of wind and rain?"

"Otherwise!" He Zhiming said, "Tai, Li and other generals, as well as the lives of the subordinates, are tied to this. How can we sit idly by? Once there is a change, it can be rescued. It is the best policy to add security to everything!" Bumbleshan also hurriedly said: "Mr. He is right, there is more safety than safety! It's better to let them enter the palace to take care of it."

The emotions of the people in the room suddenly became active.Some said that soldiers should be brought into the Wenhua and Wuying Second Halls, some said it was best to ambush in the upper study room, and some simply suggested ambush in the wing rooms on both sides of the Qianqing Palace.There is no consensus on what to say.In the end, it was Aobai who said that it should be set up in the second hall of Zhong and Baohe, with the tendency of being condescending, and at the same time, a part of it can be hidden in the court rooms on both sides, and it took half an hour to decide.

There were so many people who stayed up all night.Kangxi half-lyed on the imperial couch in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, staring at the algae well above with piercing eyes.Aunt Su Ma and the eunuch Zhang Wanqiang sat on the lower footrest one by one, also thinking silently.Dozens of candles in the hall were brightly lit, and the maids and eunuchs standing in the corridors outside the hall were silent.Kangxi, Lagu Su Ma and Zhang Wanqiang all knew very well that a violent storm was about to break out in the court that had been up and down for hundreds of years.

"Elder Emperor can't be Adou, Erhuang can't be Han Xiandi, Erhuang can't be Zhou Chai Zongxun! Erhuang wants to rule the world by himself and be the ruler of a generation!" This is after Kangxi dismissed all the eunuchs and maids , Kneeling down and speaking to the Empress Dowager. "I want to punish the traitor and capture Oboi, and I have decided to do it tomorrow."

"Is the emperor ready?" The Empress Dowager said calmly, "This matter must be done sooner or later!"

"Grandmother," Kangxi said, "since my ancestors and ancestors established the foundation of the Qing Dynasty, I have never heard of such a bold and reckless courtier.

"Oboi received the unconditional kindness of the late emperor, and as a trustworthy minister, for the past eight years he has bullied his colleagues, killed his assistant ministers, trampled on the imperial court, and repeatedly roared at the golden palace. Tang, our great Qing Dynasty will fall into the hands of Oboi sooner or later!"

Seeing the empress dowager nodding frequently, Kangxi plucked up his courage and said again: "The matter of enclosing the land, harming the country and the people, was originally a bad government by the previous dynasty. After the first emperor roughly ruled the world, he deliberately abolished it. The son emperor followed the legacy and issued many edicts. Stop the ban. Oboi dared to rely on his power and act recklessly, and even enclosed the land of Huangzhuang under the Banner of Xianghuang. Because of this, troubles often occurred in the upper three banners, and the common people left their homes and wandered around. Seduced by the remnants of the Nanming Dynasty, he became an enemy of the Qing Dynasty."

These words were heartbroken and righteous, and even a person like the Empress Dowager, who had experienced political risks for a long time, was moved by hearing them.

Aunt Su Ma, who was kneeling beside her, also said: "Also, Aobai blatantly coerced, searched the minister's mansion, surrounded and suppressed the people's house, in order to kill the king and stand on his own feet!"

"Let's not say that Xiang Zhuang's sword dance is aimed at Peigong." Kangxi continued, "Just because he searched the minister's residence without the edict, there is nothing wrong with it!"

Speaking of this, Kangxi looked up at the Empress Dowager, who was very excited at this time, her white hair trembling slightly, glanced at Kangxi, and said firmly: "Good will be rewarded with good, and evil will be rewarded with evil! But This matter is of the utmost importance, the emperor must proceed with caution and make careful arrangements."

"Yes!" Kangxi said, "Elder Emperor has made arrangements, and he did not dare to disturb Lafayette. Today is a last resort, so I will let you know in advance. But the outcome is still undecided, and there is fear of unexpected events. Erhuang wants to ask Lafayette to take up the car temporarily and avoid In a few days, when the overall situation stabilizes, the emperor will welcome Luan back to Beijing in person!"

The Empress Dowager shook her head and said: "Emperor, this is your filial piety, I appreciate it very much. But I will not go anywhere! I have issued a decree to station in the Eight Banners of Rehe, and enter the king of Jingqin in the starry night, within two or three days. To Beijing!"

Kangxi didn't expect that this calm old grandmother had secretly dispatched the army to Beijing, and he immediately cheered up: "My son, thank you, the empress dowager!"

The empress dowager's eyes were full of tears, and she said excitedly: "I entered the palace at the age of 14 and served your grandfather all these years. I have gone through all kinds of hardships and dangers."

Seeing the old man's determination, Kangxi couldn't help shivering when he thought of the battle of the next day: "The Lafayette respects this, and the emperor dare not disobey him. If there is any disagreement, please let the old man push it to the emperor." It's gone..." After saying that, weeping, Aunt Su Ma was also torn apart, but she didn't dare to cry out.

...Recalling this point, Kangxi jumped up from the couch and ordered: "Let's drive to the Xiandian Hall!"

So Aunt Su Ma and Zhang Wanqiang led the lamp, and Kangxi also changed into an eunuch's uniform, mixed in and followed, from the Yuehua Gate through the Rijing Gate to enter the Compassionate Ning Palace.The imperial guards after the Qianqing palace thought they were the eunuchs watching the night, and let them come without interrogation.On a corner of the north wall from the Ci Ning Palace to the Yuqing Palace, Lagu Su Ma suppressed the news, and half the wall opened a crack silently, allowing only one person to pass through, waiting for Kangxi and the others to enter. Fu and slowly close together.

Entering Yuqing Palace, Kangxi ordered the lights to be blown out.The three of them quietly walked south along the east wall of the hall, as long as they stepped out of the south gate, they would arrive at Fengxian Hall without anyone noticing.While walking, suddenly a person appeared from behind the big bronze tripod in the corner of the hall, Lagu Su Ma took a step back in fright, almost screaming, Zhang Wanqiang straightened up, and took a step forward to protect the front.

"Sun Dianchen?" Kangxi asked in a low voice.

"Slave Sun Dianchen is here to welcome you!"

"Is everything ready here?"

"Slaves dare not neglect!"

"This is a confidential matter!"

"Yes! Please follow the sacred order. The three craftsmen will each be rewarded with 1000 taels of silver. Now lock them up in the wine cellar of Douchi and take medicine. They won't wake up within three days!"

"Okay!" Kangxi said, "You stay here, and I will come whenever I go!" Although he couldn't see his face in the dark ground, he could tell from his voice that he was extremely calm.

The three of them passed through the quiet Yuqing Palace, and walked eastward, and here is the Fengxian Palace.

This Fengxian Hall was originally used by the priests of the Qing Dynasty. Unless there is a big sacrifice and a big ceremony, there are only a few old servants waiting for it, so it is a deserted place.As soon as he walked to the door, Mu Zixu had already greeted him inside.Kangxi changed into auspicious clothes at the entrance of the hall. He wore a velvet gauze crown on his head, a Shi Qingjiang silk jacket on his upper body, and a brand-new bright yellow Kesi clip gold dragon robe on his upper body. The handle is inlaid with a golden dragon sword, blue satin cool-leaf soap boots, and Bodhi beads hanging on the neck-a costume for an imperial court ceremony.Aunt Su Ma and Zhang Wanqiang worked for a long time before they got dressed, took a step back, and invited Kangxi in.Zhang Wanqiang and several old servants were in the corner room of the hall, La Aunt Su Ma was worried, and went to watch the wind outside Fengxian Hall.

Kangxi pressed his sword boldly, strode forward and pushed open the palace door, stepped in, and couldn't help being stunned.Looking at the silence from the outside of the hall, the inside of the hall is actually full of lights and candles, and the places where the window lattices see through are tightly covered with quilts. ——What is even more surprising is that under the portrait of Taizu Taizong, there is a chair, and the empress dowager, who is dressed in costumes and looks solemn, sits tall. ——Headed by Wei Dongting, Mu Zixu, Stubborn Donkey, and Hao Laosi were kneeling side by side.Sixteen Yuqing palace guards, including Lang Su, knelt in the second row. Together with the young guards who were successively selected into the palace, there were a total of more than sixty people, neatly kneeling for half the hall.

(End of this chapter)