Begging in late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 606

The defense of the capital on the first day achieved amazing results. No one would have thought that the cavalry from Ningyuan would be so strong that they charged directly at the Chinese army. Chuang Wang Li Zicheng, who was caught off guard, was pushed back ten miles. Retreating, the Eighth Squadron of the Chuangjun Vanguard Army, which attacked first, was caught in the front and rear pincers.

If it weren't for the fact that the teammates in the Beijing camp were so useless, it would not be impossible to wipe out these tens of thousands of horses. After fighting hard until evening, under the leadership of Li Yan, the vanguard of the army barely maintained a complete state and withdrew back. Under the attack of guns and Ningyuan soldiers, thousands of people were still killed, and two to 3000 people were captured.

On the first day, it can be called a big victory!

The Ming Dynasty has not encountered such a great victory for a long time. Although it has been beaten to the bottom of the capital and most of the north has been occupied, it is still a great thing for the Forbidden City. In the evening, Emperor Chongzhen personally went to the Jianji Hall Set up a state banquet to reward today's meritorious officers and men, and feast on civil and military officials.

This banquet is also signaling one thing!Daming will not perish!
The red lanterns, red silks and satins that were not brought out during the New Year’s Eve were hung up in the Forbidden City by eunuchs and maids of joy. At the gate of the palace, almost all the nobles and wives came, and the densely packed gorgeous carriages were full of Suzaku. The square is more than ten times more luxurious and popular than the court balls in Western courts, and the former strength and wealth of the Ming Dynasty are faintly revealed again.

But what no one mentioned was that the silver taels that supported the face of the Ming Dynasty came from Song Qingshu, a disobedient warlord under the dynasty's command, Jianghuai commander-in-chief.

"This old slave welcomes Uncle Ping Xi!"

For today's star of the fierce general, the emperor attached great importance to it. Not only did he personally bestow bath utensils and the most expensive spices and soaps on the market, but he also sent eunuchs and maids to scout in person to wash off the dirty blood and replace them. Putting on a set of luxurious earl court clothes, riding a royal horse to Tianjie, and arriving at the gate of the palace, the eunuch Xu Gao personally greeted him at the gate of the palace, which can be described as extremely courteous.

But Wu Sangui also knew how to be a man, seeing Xu Gao bowing and bowing to himself with a smile on his face, he hurriedly jumped off his horse and returned the salute cautiously.

"Don't dare to do it. Sangui has met the father-in-law of the director. It's a mere courtesy. It's not a respect!"

Ordinary gifts and money are no longer in the eyes of eunuchs such as Xu Gao. Along Wu Sangui's sleeves, a few round things the size of glass balls slipped into Xu Gao's sleeves. Looking at them with a peek, they are all high-quality, round and jade-like things. Beads, each one is hard to buy, Xu Gao was even more delighted when he saw it, and hurriedly extended his hand in front of him to invite him more respectfully.

"Uncle, please get on the horse! Your Majesty has given permission. Uncle can ride a horse in the palace. This old slave will lead the horse for uncle himself!"

"This, how can this be done?"

"Your Majesty has good intentions, uncle don't delay!"

After arguing, Wu Sangui got on his horse unnaturally, and under the envious eyes of a large group of honorable courtiers, passed through the Duanmen and went straight into the Forbidden City. Over the years, only the champion of the new department was qualified to ride a horse in the imperial street. Now a warrior Occupying all the light of the civil servants, it must be said that the scenery is extremely beautiful.

But in such a festive scene, among the entourage following Wu Sangui's team, no one noticed the last Jin Yiwei with a horse face and a skinny face, but his dark complexion turned leaden gray time after time, and his eyes also changed. It is becoming more and more godless.

"Wow……"

Before walking a few steps into the palace, Jin Yiwei, who was still outside the palace, suddenly spit out a mouthful of dirty blood, tilted his head, and lay down straight on the ground. The Jin Yiwei at the back also yelled in panic and scattered, and the dignitaries who followed behind retreated far away, crying like ghosts and wolves.

"God of Plague!"

"pimple disease, I'm done!"

This incident was so sudden that even Wu Sangui and Xu Gao were a little caught off guard. They were taken aback for a while, and Xu Gao immediately let go of the horse's reins with a gloomy face and rushed over. The bloody Jin Yiwei was far away, yelling loudly with his toes high and high.

"In the heart of the Forbidden City, what's the point of shouting and shouting? Immediately drag this dead star down, and you guys also retreat quickly, otherwise, His Majesty will get angry, and you won't be able to keep your heads! Get out!"

"Follow your orders!"

The Jin Yiwei who were sprayed with blood really felt amnesty, kowtowed and turned around and ran away, and the team entering the city restored order, but today's incident cast a haze on the whole celebration.

…………

Jianji Hall, state banquet.

"In today's battle, General Wu was unparalleled in loyalty and bravery. He defeated the intruders and beheaded many people. We have such a strong general in the Ming Dynasty. It is really a blessing for the country. I am very relieved!"

How many years have passed, either the army has been defeated, or the army has been defeated, defeated, defeated, it is rare to win a big battle under his nose, even if he is beaten to the capital, Emperor Chongzhen is still very happy, holding a wine glass in person , Standing on the high golden hall, looking down from afar.

Today, Emperor Chongzhen is still the emperor of Ming Dynasty. His praise still carries extremely heavy weight in the hearts of Ming officials like Wu Sangui. After hearing this, Wu Sangui hurriedly stood up from his seat again, ran to the central aisle, and knelt down to the emperor. Thank you, postponed in trepidation.

"Your Majesty is absurd. Sangui is just a warrior. Today's achievements are all due to Li Dashi's ability to mobilize. Sangui is just trying his best!"

Now domineering warlords like Song Qingshu, Zuo Liangyu, and Liu Zeqing are rampant, and humble and obedient generals like Wu Sangui are too rare. Looking at his humble appearance, Chongzhen is even more delighted and praised. However, Wu Sangui's modesty hurt the hearts of several others.

Xiangcheng Bo Li Guozhen lowered his head with an ugly face, and covered it up by drinking. Today's Beijing camp can be regarded as a fierce battle, but unfortunately, this glory has nothing to do with him at all. Tang Tong is okay, he and Wu Sangui are still somewhat Friendship, but on the other side, the dignified first assistant, second assistant, Chen Yan and Wei Zaode, with their handsome and handsome positive faces, the corners of their mouths and foreheads couldn't help twitching.

The conflict between Li Jiantai and the two of them had completely erupted in the last proposal to move the capital. Although the emperor did not listen to anyone's opinion in the end, Li Jiantai dared to take responsibility for the emperor, and he still won the favor of the emperor. The battle to defend the capital was to be borne by him, a new member of the cabinet who could not be ranked among the fourth assistants. Once he really repelled the intruders, in terms of credit, he, the supervisor, dispatched the credit. When the time comes, the two of them will return Shouldn't they retire like Xue Guoguan and Zhou Yanru before, and go home to plant sweet potatoes with their grandchildren?
A fierce look appeared in his two eyes.

But at this time, Li Jiantai, who is also a hero, spoke again.

"His Majesty!"

Standing up from his seat, he also walked to the central aisle to bow down. Li Jiantai's expression was not the slightest bit happy, but his face was full of dignity, and his voice was like an emperor's audience.

"Your Majesty, although there was a small victory today, it did not hurt the intruders at all. I am afraid that the intruders will still come back in the near future. However, the soldiers from Ningyuan and Jizhen came from afar. The food for the soldiers has not yet arrived, and Mr. Ni of the Household Department shirks that there is no food in the household storehouse. Frost, starvation and death everywhere, the hearts of the soldiers are unstable, if things go on like this, they may repeat the mistakes of Geng Ruqi and Zhang Honggong in the third year of Chongzhen, boldly, I ask your majesty to send food to relieve the hearts of the soldiers fighting hard!"

As the saying goes, the emperor is not short of hungry soldiers!Lack of pay is serious enough these days. Soldiers are fighting with their lives. If you don’t have enough food, who will work for you?Geng Ruqi, the governor of Shanxi, and Zhang Honggong, the commander-in-chief, were an example. The two of them led Jin soldiers eastward to the prince. When they arrived in Gyeonggi, the household department tossed them to change three positions for three days. Distribute food and salaries.

After traveling for more than thousands of miles, the An family had no money, so the soldiers were full of resentment and had no food. On the third day, the Jin soldiers mutinied, some of them went to Shanxi, and the rest joined the peasant army. The imperial court indiscriminately beheaded Geng Ruqi and Zhang Honggong to show the public, which was a very bad start for the later King Qin's soldiers. Now under the order of King Qin, there are not many troops in the world to assist the capital, and they have ended up in a state of betrayal. It doesn't matter what you do.

In the past, Emperor Chongzhen would have hated asking for salary and food the most, but today he won a big victory, not to mention that Li Jiantai was also responsible for the capital. Hearing Li Jiantai's request, Emperor Chongzhen immediately nodded.

"This matter will be handled quickly by Mr. Wei, a scholar of Jianji Temple, and Ni Hubu. Tomorrow morning, I must feed my soldiers!"

"The minister leads the order!"

With a face as bitter as a bitter gourd, Ni Yuanlu, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and Wei Zaode, who had a vein throbbing secretly on his forehead, stood up reluctantly and went to the middle passage to give thanks.

…………

After all, there was going to be a battle tomorrow, and this state banquet was just a taste of it. It broke up early and left the scene. Ni Yuanlu went directly to the cabinet with a full head of sadness.

"Mr. Wei, isn't this embarrassing for your Majesty? The grain harvest in Shaanxi, Shaanxi, Henan and most of Hebei has been exhausted. The severe drought in Shandong has reduced grain transportation by more than half, and the transportation of water in Jiangnan is also poor. Just guarantee the honorable minister of the capital. Lumi and the imperial palace are already short of money, so where can I ask my ministers to get military rations for tens of thousands of people!"

Standing in Wenyuan Pavilion, not caring about superiors and superiors, or a gentleman's face, raising her hands and stomping her feet, Ni Yuanlu gritted her teeth and cried poorly, she almost took off her coat to reveal the patches inside, but her face was also gloomy, Wei Zaode also looked helpless.

"Your Majesty's golden mouth and jade teeth, don't we ministers have to share our worries for His Majesty? Go back to the bottom of the various warehouses and sweep, if it is not enough, we will dig out the mouse hole. Patrol, use human flesh to support the army!"

What Wei Zaode said was all nonsense, a few stones of food could be swept out from the bottom of the warehouse, and as for raising the army with human flesh, he didn't even give up a little money for the salary, and he expected this group of bureaucrats to cut the flesh?This is to shirk responsibility. I gave the solution, and I was frightened by the order. If I can’t get food, it has nothing to do with the undergraduates. It’s your household affairs!

Being robbed by Wei Zaode's words, Ni Yuanlu's white and fat round face almost turned into a purple eggplant color, her cheeks twitched, and she wanted to say something more, but she finally swallowed her words and walked away.

"You have nothing to do, but the old man has nothing to do?" After Ni Yuanlu was sent away, Wei Zaode himself was annoyed and muttered to himself, but on his face, there was a look of jealousy like a woman. Unable to hide it, at this time, his study door was pried open again. After the notification, Chen Yan, who was also full of jealousy, came in from the outside.

"Hehe, Mr. Wei is refreshed. It seems that he has a plan in mind, and the emperor's order has been fulfilled. Congratulations for my brother!"

At this time, Chen Yan was still talking sarcasticly, and Wei Zaode's face suddenly showed annoyed expression. He couldn't do anything, but said sarcastically: "The court is so difficult, the political situation is corrupt, and the treasury is empty. What else can I do as a courtier? I can only serve the emperor with enthusiasm. If there is no food, I will follow the example of Zhang Xun of the Tang Dynasty and kill my beautiful concubine to feed the soldiers to satisfy their hunger. I am worthy of your majesty. Thanks!"

These words are bleak, but the irony is equally strong. Why is the country's political situation corrupt and the treasury empty?It's the responsibility of the first assistant university scholar, your brother's body is a vegetarian meal, you can't do it, brother, I will take it hard!
Usually, there were intrigues and conflicts between the two of them. With this sentence, Chen Yan's expression changed a lot. It was hard for him to suppress his anger. His face was gloomy for a moment, and Chen Yan suddenly said sullenly again.

"Brother Wei, in fact, there is still food in Beijing, but it can be used for urgent needs! It depends on whether you dare to use it!"

"Oh? I hope my elder brother can enlighten me. Wei is in charge of the household department. I really don't know where there is surplus food in Beijing!"

Wei Zaode was still full of sarcasm, but this time, Chen Yan had a sinister smile on his face.

"Have you forgotten, brother? There are still 77 shi of rice and wheat in T-30 to [-] warehouses!"

After these words, even Wei Zaode's face showed a look of horror, and even the beard and muscles on the side of his face trembled together.

"You mean, those bad grains, the rotten rice that was reported to be discarded? It was spoiled by snakes and rats, and many greedy officials have been eaten to death. Give this grain to the soldiers..."

"Uncle Xiangcheng, sincerity, Lord Baoguo, which family is not full of food? Zhou Kui's family is even more overflowing, and the subsidy took 2000 taels, which was borrowed from Zhouhou. Their old Zhu The Xun relatives and relatives in the family don't care anymore, what do you and me outsiders care about, it will take a day and a day, and besides, brother Wei, would you like to see the face of that villain Li Jiantai?"

The sky is big and the earth is big, and the party struggle is the biggest!It's hard to get power, but when someone stumbles, Chen Yan asks a question like a devil, and the face of Wei Zaode who asks the question is also showing deep thought, and then a ruthlessness is also showing...

(End of this chapter)