Qianqing Palace and Dongnuang Pavilion.
Zhu Cixiang was discussing the matter of southern grain with Shen Zhanran with a worried look on his face. When he saw Wu Mengming coming in, he looked at him again and said, "Wu Tongzhi, have you found out any news about those bandits?"
Wu Mengming shook his head helplessly and said: "Your Highness, I am incompetent and have not found any information yet."
Zhu Cixiang couldn't help frowning when he heard this, and said angrily: "Although the food was robbed in the North Canal, they abandoned the ship and landed in Xianghe River soon after."
"Xianghe is also a place in the capital. How come you Jin Yiwei are so late in realizing it? Besides, ten thousand shi of grain is not a small amount. It takes them an hour or two to unload and load the truck, no matter how fast it is."
"If they wanted to transport this batch of grain, they would need at least three to four hundred horse-drawn carriages. With such a long time and such a large convoy, how could there be no clues?"
Although Wu Mengming felt aggrieved in his heart, seeing Zhu Cixiang's angry face, he knew that this was not the time to explain, so he had no choice but to kneel down and plead guilty.
It turned out that after the third batch of southern grain was robbed, Zhu Cixiang was worried that the second batch of southern grain would be in danger, so he asked Wang Jiayan, the Minister of War, to order Cao Youyi, the chief military officer of Tianjin, to send troops to respond.
The grain transport officers of the second batch of Nanliang also heard about the robbery of Nanliang. In order to avoid an accident, they rushed to the capital day and night.
Therefore, the second batch of southern grain arrived one day earlier than expected, and began to be transferred to the capital in batches on the night of arrival.
But after Zhu Cihong received the news that Nanliang had arrived at Tianjin Port, he still did not relax at all.
He didn't go to rest until he confirmed that the first batch of transshipped grain had arrived safely in the middle of the night.
Unexpectedly, I suddenly received news this morning that the second batch of transshipped grains had been robbed of 10,000 shi.
When Zhu Cixiang first heard about this, he was also shocked. After a brief thought, he ordered the news to be blocked.
Then he allowed the grain that had not yet been transshipped to be temporarily stored in Tianjin Port, and at the same time ordered Wu Mengming to lead the Jin Yiwei to investigate.
But half a day passed, and Wu Mengming found no clues at all.
Zhu Cixiang had been under great pressure due to the Nanliang matter in the past two days and was already a little overwhelmed. When he heard this, the anger in his heart immediately burst out, and he uncharacteristically blamed Wu Mengming.
Shen Zhanran on the side saw this and knew that this was not the time to hold people responsible.
At the same time, he thought that the guards in the capital still needed to rely on Wu Mengming, so he advised: "Your Highness, Wu Tongzhi does have difficulties in this matter."
"You must know that there are many ships coming and going on the North Canal, and the bandits attack in the middle of the night, and we only get the news in the morning. This time alone is enough for them to deal with the traces..."
Zhu Cihong's expression gradually softened after listening to Shen Zhanran's words.
After he asked Wu Mengming to stand up, he said politely: "Wu Tongzhi, it's not that I'm trying to make things difficult for you, it's really because the matter is serious!"
"The robbery of southern grain in the past few days has caused panic in the capital. Now the grain that has arrived in Beijing can also be snatched away. Once this matter spreads, I am afraid that the capital will be turbulent again."
"In addition, there is still a war in Yu County. If this matter affects the morale of the military, it may be a disaster for our Ming Dynasty."
"So Wu Tongzhi, no matter what method you use, I must recover the stolen food within these two days. At the same time, I strictly order that this matter cannot be spread outside. Anyone who violates the order..."
Zhu Cixiang paused for a moment before saying in a deep voice: "Behead!"
When Wu Mengming heard this, he glanced at Zhu Cihong in surprise, and then responded respectfully.
When Shen Zhanran saw this, he couldn't help but frowned.
Because through these few days of getting along with each other, he knew that although Zhu Cixiang was talented and intelligent, he was somewhat soft-hearted.
Perhaps because he had practiced Confucianism since childhood, Zhu Cixiang left room for others in his behavior and was accustomed to subduing others.
Therefore, since he took charge of the country, he has hardly punished any ministers, let alone killed anyone.
The Duke of Ding, Xu Yunzhen, the Marquis of Yangwu, Xue Lian, and others seemed to have seen this, so when it came to Nanliang, they not only ignored Zhu Cixi's dissuasion, but also repeatedly caused trouble in the name of seeking to see Zhu Yuanzhang.
In the face of provocation, Zhu Cixi still treated him with courtesy.
Later, because he was unwilling to reveal Zhu Yuanzhang's departure from Beijing, under the pressure of Xu Yunzhen and others, he had to declare that Zhu Yuanzhang became ill from overwork and needed to stay in bed.
Unexpectedly, after Xu Yunzhen and others heard about this, the riot became even more serious. Even Feng Quan, a remnant of the eunuch party, went to the palace to see Zhu Yuanzhang on the grounds that the people were asking for orders.
Even under such circumstances, Zhu Cixiang did not get angry. Instead, he reasoned with them, which made the situation more serious.
Fortunately, Zhou Hou came forward at this time and expelled Xu Yunzhen and others from the palace on the grounds that they were affecting Zhu Yuanzhang's rest, and the matter was settled.
After this incident, Zhu Cixiang was worried that someone would break into the palace, so he moved directly to Dongnuang Pavilion on the pretext of serving Zhu Yuanzhang, but he still did not want to punish Xu Yunzhen and others, which shows his benevolence.
Now Shen Zhanran saw that he suddenly wanted to kill someone, knowing that he must have lost his normalcy under pressure, and couldn't help but feel worried.
At this moment, there was a loud noise outside Qianqing Palace.
When Zhu Cixi heard the sound, he couldn't help but frowned, and a ray of anger flashed across his face.
At this time, Wang Chengen hurriedly came in to report that Xu Yunzhen and others were outside asking to see Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Cixiang heard this and immediately said angrily: "Didn't my mother already tell them that my father needs to rest, why are they here again?"
Wang Chengen said helplessly: "The servants told them the same thing, but they said that His Majesty is ill and must come in to pay his respects..."
Zhu Cixi snorted coldly and said: "Okay, let me go and have a meeting..."
"Your Highness, let me go out and take a look!"
Shen Zhanran knew that Zhu Cixiang had lost his normal mind and was worried that he would do something wrong when angered, so he spoke first.
Although Zhu Cixiang is not very old, he has been practicing Confucian classics and has some prowess in Qi nourishing skills.
It was just because Nan Liang was robbed that he got excited and lost control of his emotions.
Hearing Shen Zhanran's words at this moment, although the anger in his heart was still lingering, he also understood.
So he nodded and said politely: "Okay, Mr. Shen, thank you for your hard work!"
It turned out that before Zhu Yuanzhang left Beijing, he was also worried that Zhu Cihong would do something wrong due to too much pressure, so he asked Zhu Cihong to treat Shen Zhanran as a gentleman, so Zhu Cihong was called this.
Shen Zhanran said he didn't dare. After bowing and saluting, he quickly walked out of Dongnuan Pavilion.
When he walked to the gate of Qianqing Palace, he saw a crowd of people standing outside.
Among them were not only Xu Yunzhen, Xue Lian, Feng Quan and Chen Mingxia, who had caused trouble several times, but also the Marquis of Funing Zhu Guobi who was in charge of water transportation, the British Duke Zhang Shize who had just ascended the throne, and the Marquis of Linhuai Li who rarely appeared. Ancestors.
In addition, there was actually a Confucian scholar in the crowd.
Shen Zhanran was also shocked when he saw this formation.
He knew that the other party was well prepared this time and might not be easily dismissed. While thinking about countermeasures, he suddenly heard Xu Yunzhen's voice: "Shen Zhanran, if you don't let us see His Majesty this time, we will break into the palace. "
As Xu Yunzhen's voice sounded, everyone looked at Shen Zhanran angrily.
Only Zhang Shize looked a little panicked because of his young age.
Then there was the Confucian scholar, looking at him with a smile as if nothing had happened.
