I thought about how Taoist Mu Shi set up a great Feng Shui array in Guangzhou, intending to destroy Kun Thief's royal aura. Unexpectedly, Kun Thief was able to defeat him in the end. Thinking about the "New Taoism" spread everywhere nowadays... maybe I have learned some strange overseas armor-defying skills...
Thinking of this, he pricked up his ears and listened carefully, wanting to know what this person's insights were, but he didn't expect that this person was just a layman, talking here and there, but he had no "real stuff". Luo Heying listened to a few words and realized that he was just alarmist and had no real evidence. I felt slightly disappointed.
In the evening, he talked about it as a joke with Gou Xunli. Unexpectedly, this old and cunning guy narrowed his eyes and started stroking his rat beard.
"It doesn't matter if it's true or false, just have something to talk about..." Monk Walrus said in a low voice.
"What does the mage mean?"
"The Kun thieves came here without any trouble. The local people have no ill feelings toward them. On the contrary, many people have benefited from them. So, it won't work if we just say that it is the will of the gods to kill the Kun thieves."
"Of course." Luo Heying nodded, "Even if you go, you won't be able to do anything."
"So there has to be something evil that makes the people angry."
"Evil things?" Luo Heying thought for a while, thinking that the locals had never been massacred by Kun thieves, so if they wanted to talk about "evil things", they really couldn't remember them. Even if the people are dissatisfied with some of the policies, it is not to the point where they can rise up.
"If you don't have any, just help Kun." Gou Xunli had already thought about it and whispered, "Didn't they build the camp to level the land for the cemetery?"
"Yes, but money was given to the landowners. Although the graves were leveled, all the owners were given money to bury them, and the bones of the owners were also collected and buried together..." Luo Heying suddenly understood something when he said this, "You are explain?"
"Stealing graves and digging up graves is a heinous crime. It is also closely related to the local people and the gentry, so this is all we need to do..."
After hearing this, Luo Heying took a breath of air: "This is too unethical. It would be terrible if the Li family finds out."
"Of course it has to be kept secret to be new." Gou Xunli sneered, "Don't worry, someone will do it. You just need to seize the opportunity."
Luo Heying couldn't help but ask: "Time, time, when will this time come?"
After hearing this, Gou Xunli looked up at the sky, and then sighed: "You ask me, I don't know either! I've been waiting here for ten years!"
Just when Luo Heying was about to scold X, Gou Xunli said again: "Don't be impatient, it will only happen in the past few months. Don't worry, Taoist Mu Shi said that as long as there is a suitable opportunity, you can take action!"
Luo Heying said: "If there is a suitable opportunity, it is now."
Firstly, the Australians are currently building roads and fortresses, and they are digging and digging everywhere, which is a good time to frame and steal graves. Secondly, the puppet troupe that came to Lijiawei to perform in the previous stage is performing at Xiaoyao Market.
Attacking the camp may not be successful, but attacking the theater troupe staying in the hotel in the market is not something that can be done easily.
"This puppet troupe is run by the thief Kun. If we take this opportunity to destroy them, the thief Kun will be furious."
Gou Xunli nodded silently, thinking that this man really had some plans and was not a reckless warrior.
In fact, Taoist Mu Shi had already told him that it was a foregone conclusion that the imperial court would go south to attack the Kun thieves. Although there was no clear purpose, the cabinet and the emperor had made up their minds, and action would be taken within the next two or three months.
But when will this action come? I am like a land that has been in drought for a long time, and I am looking forward to the rain!
Capital
The first day of December in the ninth year of Chongzhen (December 27, 1636)
It was almost midnight, and the huge city of Beijing had fallen into silence. Because Donglu entered the country in July, his troops attacked Changping, Liangxiang, and Shunyi, and their troops were directed towards the capital. The capital has several police officers in January. Although the Donglu have retreated, many of the resulting refugees are still stranded in the city. The public security in the city is not peaceful, and the government strictly enforces a night ban. The night markets and tourist places outside the city are also quiet now. I could vaguely hear the sound of banging in the distance. There was darkness outside the city and it looked particularly eerie and desolate.
Although it has already entered the twelfth lunar month, there is no joy and celebration of the New Year in the city. The world is difficult and the people are struggling to make ends meet.
There were feasts, singing and dancing as usual in Qinlou, Chuguan and other wealthy families. But the entrance hall was covered with curtains, and the light from the high-burning red candles and Australian oil lamps didn't shine through at all. The songs of the singers and musicians are all low, lingering in the ears of the host and guests. Even they rarely spoke loudly, only talking quietly.
In recent years, the war has been unfavorable and the country's power has declined. The emperor's temper also became worse day by day. The originally ostracized eunuchs and factory guards gradually regained their prestige a few years ago. Although a group of people have changed, things are still the same as before. The pleasure-seeking activities of officials and wealthy people also became much more secretive, lest anyone deliberately bring it to the attention of the emperor, disturbing his mood and attracting the wrath of thunder.
The light of the lanterns and candles hanging at the gate of the imperial city swayed in the wind, reflecting the uneven stone road and the armor of the Han generals standing guard, glowing slightly. For the owner here, the ninth year of Chongzhen was a year that was neither too bad nor too good. Of course, for the emperor, bad news is already the norm. As long as there is no worse news, it is considered a good thing.
Compared with last year, in the first month of the first month, thirteen families of bandits invaded Fengyang and burned the ancestral mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty; in February, the Kun bandits raided Guangdong, and Guangzhou and Zhaoqing fell successively, and then Guangdong and Guangxi... The situation in the ninth year of Chongzhen was not too bad. . The best news is that the rogue bandits, who once had the potential to start a prairie fire, have lost their former momentum under the suppression of officers and soldiers commanded by Lu Xiangsheng, Hong Chengchou and others. Especially in July of this year, "Giant Canal" Gao Yingxiang was captured and deported to the capital before being executed. . This was nothing less than a shot in the arm for the already exhausted imperial court.
However, looking at the overall situation, the situation in Ming Dynasty has not improved. Gao Yingxiang's capture was only a major setback for the strongest group of rogue bandits. Overall, the activities of rogue bandits are still very frequent. Li Zicheng and other troops were active in Shaanxi, Ningxia, and Gansu; Zhang Xianzhong, Gezuo Wuying, Luo Rucai, Liu Guoneng, Li Wanqing and other troops were active in the vast areas of Henan, Huguang, and Anhui. As for the small-scale "roving bandits", "local bandits", "mountain bandits" and "sea bandits", they swirled around like sparks of fire, spreading everywhere. The imperial court was overwhelmed with attention to one thing and lost to the other, and fell into a passive state everywhere.
The Donglu outside Shanhaiguan proclaimed themselves emperor that year and called themselves Manchuria, officially fighting against the Ming Dynasty. If this is just a false name, then in July the Eight Banners Army led by Azig entered the pass and plundered, but once again stabbed the devastated northern land with a knife.
Fortunately, the Kun thieves who captured Guangdong and Guangxi last year and shocked the government and the public have stopped moving forward. There has been no major movement in the entire nine years of Chongzhen. It seems that they have been satisfied with the status quo of occupying two provinces.
No matter what the Kun thief's intention is, as long as no trouble occurs, it is good news for the young emperor.
It is already the twelfth lunar month, and even though the year is approaching, there must be a sense of pomp and circumstance in the palace as usual. The palace ministers packed up the gourds and python robes in preparation for the New Year; the young eunuchs and maids cleaned the palace rooms, and the craftsmen repaired the house utensils, including the peach charm boards, general charcoal, and door gods used for the gates during the New Year; the indoor hangings Paintings such as God of Fortune, Ghost Punisher, and Zhong Kui. The eight treasures of gold and silver hanging on the bed, the Western prayer wheel, the dragon woven from yellow coins; the sesame straw planted in the eaves, the cypress branches burned in the courtyard... all the objects were continuously sent to the palace through the twenty-four yamen. . The palace, which was usually deserted and lifeless, now seemed to have some vitality.
The first watch has been beaten, and the emperor in the Qianqing Palace finally put down the cinnabar pen in his hand and temporarily left the pile of memorials.
Although the memorial did not bring him any happiness and was sometimes the source of endless troubles, he was unwilling to leave. He had a feeling that as long as he did not open the memorials to review, these memorials would turn into raging flames and devour the Ming Dynasty.
Sometimes, he felt that he was worse than a death row prisoner, who was just waiting to die. But he was like a man who was about to drown, struggling desperately, but couldn't even hold on to a straw...
"Your Majesty..." When an eunuch saw him getting up, he quickly seized the opportunity to tell him that today he was going to have dinner with Concubine Tian.
Dinner was originally served at the second quarter of Shen hour, but now it has passed the quarter of Xu hour. Concubine Tian Guifei had already sent several groups of eunuchs outside the Qianqing Palace to inquire when the emperor would end the review, but none of the eunuchs dared to remind the emperor.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Chongzhen touched his forehead with his palm, his forehead was cold. The palace is tall and tall, and even if I review memorials in the warm pavilion in winter, my hands and feet will still feel cold after a long time.
The eunuch in charge of Qianqing Palace immediately signaled that a eunuch would bring tea from the new tribute. Originally, it was very difficult to serve hot tea at any time in winter. The only way was to light a charcoal stove and stew boiling water on the porch at all times. Since then, a thermos bottle has arrived from Lingnan. The cost of the charcoal fire was still the same, but the money went into the pockets of the eunuch in charge of Qianqing Palace.
"This is autumn tea." This cup of tea with the right temperature and overflowing fragrance is very useful to the tired emperor, especially the cup in front of him, which is as thin as an egg shell and crystal clear as if it were carved from white jade. The enamel flower pattern inlaid with silver wire made me feel very comfortable looking at it, and I felt much better. I asked, "Where can I get the tribute?"
"The emperor said that the Wuyi Mountain tea came from Fujian." The eunuch in charge said, "It was offered by Zheng Sen, the commanding officer of the Zhongzuo Institute."
The name Zheng Sen caused a small ripple in his mind. He seemed to vaguely remember that Zou Weilian, the former governor of Fujian, mentioned this name. But he couldn't remember something.
Seeing the puzzled expression on his face, the eunuch quickly reminded him in a low voice: "He is the son of the former governor Zheng Zhilong. Now he has also inherited the worldly position..."
