The Prosperous Era of Longwan

"Da da da da."

The dense sound of horse hoofbeats broke the quiet night sky in Beijing. The horse team galloped out of Xiyuan with torches. One team rushed to a mansion somewhere in the city, while the other team turned south after reaching Chengtian Gate and soon arrived at Zhengyang. Door.

The capital of the Ming Dynasty implemented a strict night ban system. Riding horses was not allowed during the day, let alone at night. However, this group of knights was speeding along the official road in such a majestic manner that the night watchmen could not even see it from a distance. Dare to stop.

The cavalry did not continue forward in front of Zhengyang Gate, but went around to the left to go to the ticket gate downstairs of the West Gate. After putting a bronze medal in the hanging basket lowered upstairs, the ticket door creaked after a while. The middle was slowly opened.

"Dong dong dong."

The sound of violent slapping on the door panel was heard, and it took a while before someone's voice came from inside the room, "Who is it?"

As footsteps sounded, people outside the door shouted loudly inside: "Open the door quickly, there is an imperial edict."

"What imperial edict? We are here at the Jiujiang Guild Hall, and the officials outside may have made a mistake."

This time the sound came from behind the door panel. It was obvious that someone was already behind the door, but whether it was because it was already midnight or the sound of banging on the door just now was so fierce, the people inside did not dare to open the door.

"Hurry up and open the door. An angel has arrived and asked Wei Guangde, a concubine of the Hanlin Academy, to come out and receive the order."

The man outside continued to speak viciously to the people in the room, but finally opened the door.

As a door was opened, the person inside was still sorting out his clothes. The back door of the lobby was also opened, and someone had already ran into the courtyard to look for someone.

"Sir, do you need to prepare an incense table to receive the order?"

The person who opened the door was a shop assistant. Now he could clearly see the clothes of the person knocking on the door. The man in Jinyiwei was shaking a little for no reason, but he still asked bravely.

It's just that the imperial guard in golden clothes didn't pay attention to the store clerk. Instead, he turned around and said respectfully: "Sir, please come inside."

While he was talking, an official in blue official attire had already walked into the Jiujiang Guild Hall.

"Go and make a report and ask Wei Guangde, a member of the Hanlin Academy, to come quickly to receive the order."

The man entered the room and took a look. Although there were several people standing in the corner of the room, it was obvious that they were not the people he was looking for. They were just a few shop assistants, and then he urged in a bad tone.

"Sir, we have sent someone in to report."

In the inner courtyard, the shopkeeper's voice calling the door naturally woke up the people in the entire courtyard.

It's June now, the weather is hot, and it's not easy to sleep. Naturally, the waiter's call to the door will easily wake up everyone else.

"What's going on? Why are you making so much noise so late? Do you want anyone to go to bed?"

Zhang Ke happened to be awake at this moment. After the doorbell rang, he got out of bed, walked to the door and shouted loudly to the outside.

"sorry Sorry"

The shop assistant outside hurriedly apologized.

The people living in this courtyard are Jinshi Jinshi, and he can't afford to offend any of them.

"Squeak."

Zhang Ke had already opened the door and walked out. He saw the store clerk standing in front of Wei Guangde's door and asked curiously: "What's the matter? You're calling the door so late to prevent anyone from having a rest."

"Master Zhang, there is nothing I can do. An official came in front of me and asked for Master Wei by name."

The store clerk explained hurriedly.

He came running from the front. He only knew that he was looking for Wei Guangde, but he didn't know what he was doing.

"What official? Where did you come from at this late hour?"

Zhang Ke was very unhappy. The person who was unhappy was naturally not that he was making noise in the middle of the night, but that the store clerk was talking about some kind of official.

Not long after, Wei Guangde's door also opened. Wearing a t-shirt, he stood at the door and asked, "Who is looking for me?"

Wei Guangde was suspicious. He had heard Zhang Ke's question just now, and he couldn't figure out the situation.

"Master Wei, I don't even know, I just know."

When he was talking about this, another boy ran out of the courtyard. The young man came to Wei Guangde and bowed and said: "Master Wei, the adults outside said that they are here to deliver the order. Please go out quickly to receive the order."

"Accept the order?"

Wei Guangde was surprised. Well, he must not be able to go out now that he was wearing his clothes. He had no choice but to say "wait a moment" and immediately turned around and went into the house to change clothes again.

Lao Kan had already opened the door and came out. He looked at Zhang Ke and chose to go back and change clothes immediately.

Although the decree was not preached to them, they still wanted to see what decree was preached in the middle of the night?

In fact, everyone in the courtyard had already come out at this time. Zhang Ji had already dressed and was waiting outside Wei Guangde's door. As Wei Guangde's book boy and long follower, he must follow Wei Guangde.

Not long after, Wei Guangde, Zhang Ke and Lao Kan had all put on their official uniforms and went out. At this time, Xia Kefan had also dressed up and followed them out.

Xia Kefan is the oldest among the few, so his movements are naturally slower.

Four Jinshi in Tsing Yi came out to the front lobby in succession. Zhang Ke saw the man inside when he entered. He was a little surprised and said: "Master Li, why are you here."

"Master Zhang, I'm running an errand and disturbing your rest."

At this time, the Tsing Yi official had already seen four Tsing Yi officials coming out. Although they didn't have any tattoos on their chests, they knew that they were all Jinke Jinshi.

Although he didn't know who Wei Guangde was, when the four Jinshi came out, he knew that the person he was looking for must be among them. In fact, he should have seen him before when he was told, but he had already forgotten it.

Faintly, the youngest among the four has stood out, because the other three have stood behind him.

"Wei Guangde accepts the order."

Without hesitation, he turned around and took a blue-and-yellow imperial edict from the hands of a Jinyi captain behind him, and said in a serious voice.

"Your Majesty Wei Guangde accepts the order."

At this time, Wei Guangde could only take the lead and have room to kneel down. There was no incense case. Obviously, the matter was urgent. Mr. Li, who was delivering the order, did not ask anyone to prepare anything else.

"Imperial edict: The emperor carries the emperor's orders from heaven. Wei Guangde, a common official in the Hanlin Academy, has both moral integrity and talent, is gentle, courteous and thrifty. He is promoted to the Hanlin Academy for review. In the hope of self-discipline and diligence, Wei Guangde is also appointed to the Hanlin Academy for review as the deputy patrol envoy to patrol Jizhen. Xuanda along the passes.”

Just when Wei Guangde was about to kneel down to receive the order, he heard Master Li's voice again, "I admire this."

After reading the imperial edict, Wei Guangde knelt down and took the imperial edict with both hands. Now he is an official, becoming the fourth person among the Jinshi in this department to be awarded an official.

The Hanlin Academy reviewed it and found that although it was only from the seventh rank, the rank was considered lower among the Jinshi, and the seventh rank was more normal, but it was from the seventh rank of the Hanlin Academy, and it was considered valuable.

However, these were all what Lao Kan and Zhang Ke thought about. Wei Guangde was shocked and confused at the moment. He couldn't figure out why Emperor Jiajing made this decision and directly banned himself from the capital, which seriously violated the officialdom rules that had existed for hundreds of years. ah.

The common people were given official positions even before leaving the palace?

The final words of the imperial edict show that this imperial edict was drafted under the order of Emperor Jiajing. It was not a normal promotion procedure for officials. It was drafted by the Ministry of Personnel and submitted to the Bureau of Literary Affairs for approval.

When did I become so familiar with the emperor? I do not know how?

Also, what happened to that last appointment?

Patrolling the border?

The Anda Department is about to invade, and there will be another Gengxu Incident. How can you arrange for yourself to patrol the border at this time?

Isn't this a suicide?

No wonder he was so kind in conferring an official title on himself. It turned out that he was arranging a death mission to do it.

While Wei Guangde was thinking wildly, Mr. Li who announced the decree had already said with a smile: "Congratulations to Mr. Wei, this holy family is really enviable to others."

"I'm glad that I'm here. I haven't thanked Mr. Li for taking the trouble and being on a business trip so late."

Wei Guangde hurriedly recovered his thoughts and replied.

"Master Li, tonight you are."

Zhang Ke, who was behind him, had now calmed down from his previous shock. Although he was surprised that Wei Guangde did not follow an unusual path for promotion, he was even more surprised that the imperial edict was issued so late.

"I'm on duty tonight. If the imperial edict comes to the military department, I'll deliver it right away."

Master Li smiled.

"Master Li, the imperial edict says that I am the deputy patrol envoy. I wonder who the chief envoy is?"

Wei Guangde had to seize the time to ask the question in his mind. It is estimated that Mr. Li will go back to reply to the order soon, and he will not stay here for too long.

"This time the Minister of Border Patrol is Mr. Weng Puweng, the right minister of the Ministry of War, and Mr. Wei is the deputy envoy. I have some things to explain to Mr. Wei here."

At this point, Mr. Li glanced at Wei Guangde, who was frowning slightly, and then continued: "This border patrol is very hasty. Tomorrow morning, you and Mr. Weng will go to the third camp of the capital to select the accompanying guards. Once you have selected them, you will immediately Set off.

You must have already heard the news from the Xuanfu in the north. This border patrol is of great importance and affects the safety of millions of people in the capital. Before I came, Mr. Xu Ge and Nie Shangshu both told me to be careful. "

Wei Guangde felt quite aggrieved at this time. He had not even passed his internship period as an official, so he was asked to take up the post. He should still do the most dangerous job of patrolling the border. Who could he ask to reason with?

I still hold the imperial edict in my hand, so it's impossible to stop talking at this time. If I want to give up my choice, the only voice I can hear is Mr. Li's voice.

"You have to rush to the capital camp at noon tomorrow."

Having said this, Master Li glanced at Zhang Kecai behind Wei Guangde and continued: "Master Weng's residence should have received the order by this time. You should go to Jingying to meet Master Weng in the middle of the day, and set off immediately after ordering the guards.

The specific strategy will be told to you after you meet Master Weng. I don't know this either. "

After finishing speaking, he raised his hands to Wei Guangde and said, "Master Wei, please rest early. It will be very hard to travel tomorrow. Don't miss the time."

Wei Guangde turned around and left before he could react. Zhang Ke behind him also quickly passed him and caught up with Mr. Li who was delivering the order.

The two people went out and muttered something. When Zhang Ke came back, they started talking to him inside. Wei Guangde understood what he meant, and the four of them quickly left the lobby and returned to the yard behind.

All four people entered Wei Guangde's room, and the entourage was left outside.

"I asked about the situation just now. It was Xiyuan's decision. During the discussion at the imperial meeting, the emperor was dissatisfied with the proposal of the Ministry of War and chose the cabinet's opinion. Before the Anta Ministry invaded the Great Wall, all the garrison posts were temporarily on hold and only strengthened The intensity of patrolling the passes along the Great Wall.”

When he got here, Zhang Ke didn't hold back anymore and directly told everyone the news he had just learned. After saying this, he looked at Wei Guangde with sympathetic eyes, "According to him, this border patrol is probably very dangerous. Although the court still has I sent an imperial decree to Xuanfu and Datong to mobilize troops, but it was just water from afar that could not quench the thirst nearby."

"It's almost a foregone conclusion that the Mongolian Tatars have broken through the barrier. Why doesn't the imperial court summon reinforcements from all over the country to fight the Tatars decisively?"

Lao Kan said in surprise at this moment.

"Why are we still patrolling the border at this time? I'm afraid the Tatars have already invaded before we reach the border."

Xia Kefan also shook his head and said, he didn't understand what the imperial court meant. This was to send people into danger.

"The news is the same as what I heard in the afternoon, except that there is an additional matter of asking Guangde to go with him. It is said that the emperor asked you to be the deputy envoy to patrol the border. He also gave the official position. At that time, Wu Shan, the Minister of Rites, was still There was a big fuss with the emperor there."

Zhang Ke shook his head and said to Wei Guangde: "Guangde, take care of yourself."

The imperial edict has been handed over to Wei Guangde. Wu Shan obviously still has not competed with Emperor Jiajing. This emperor is different from the previous emperors of the Ming Dynasty. He is tough-minded and can be said to be headstrong. That is to say, only the two emperors at the time of the founding of the country were You have this kind of character.

"Take care of yourself."

At this time, Lao Kan and Xia Kefan also thought about what Mr. Li who had delivered the order said, asking Wei Guangde to have a good rest tonight, as the days ahead would be very hard, so they did not stay to disturb Wei Guangde's rest, and they all said goodbye.

But at this time, Zhang Ke suddenly turned around and whispered in Wei Guangde's ear: "You may have to go to Ji Town first, and then go to Xuanfu Datong. It's best to stay in Ji Town. It should be safe."

After speaking, Zhang Ke left the room.

After the three people left, Wei Guangde looked at the imperial edict in his hand and curled his lips in silence.

I didn't mean to die all the way from Jiujiang Prefecture to Beijing, but the imperial edict in my hand now was a hot potato that I couldn't shake off, which was very troublesome.

Unconsciously, Wei Guangde regretted it a little. He should have waited for the first subject to come to the capital to take the exam, but now he was fine and took it for himself.

It is not Wei Guangde's character to just give up. Although this border patrol is very risky, Wei Guangde still does not intend to give up easily. He must find a way to survive in death no matter what.

At this time, Zhang Ji had already entered, followed by Li San. Before they could speak, Wei Guangde waved his hand to stop them from talking.

He put the imperial edict on the table and asked Zhang Ji to pour him a glass of water. He sat on a chair and pondered the matter.

The Tatars definitely want to attack the Great Wall Pass, but their target is unknown.

Well, in fact, even if it was the "Gengxu Incident", the original Wei Guangde didn't know where the Anda troops came from. He only knew that the Jiajing Dynasty had invaded the capital. That is to say, he only came to find him after hearing the news today. Read the document.

Zhang Ke's suggestion was to run to Jizhen and stop moving. This would save his life, but if the Tatars broke into the Great Wall, the emperor might not be able to pass it.

Wei Guangde knew very well that later generations also talked about crisis. There are dangers and opportunities. It depends on which one is caught in the end.

We know too little information to make a useful judgment. We can only learn more about the details after meeting with Mr. Weng Pu Weng tomorrow morning, and then make a decision.