Maybe Baochu didn't hear it, maybe he didn't care if he heard it. He started to walk hard towards the Forbidden City against the flow of people fleeing all over the city!
At this time, the sky was getting dark. I took out my pocket watch and saw that it was already 5:40 in the evening. Normally, except for the Minister of Military Discipline, ordinary ministers were not eligible to enter the palace during this time!
However, Baochu didn't know what he was thinking, and he still stubbornly headed towards the Forbidden City. When he arrived at Xihua Gate, it was already half past six, and all the lights in the palace were lit!
Looking at the city gate, he touched his waist badge and wondered whether to hand it over or not. But when he took a closer look, why were all the defenders at Xihua Gate changed?
What about those former arrogant soldiers from the guard camp? How tall is a tiger gun? What about the guard who held the knife behind his back? It's all gone, and all that's left are the new soldiers with straight military postures, poking Mauser with bayonets, standing as solemn as sculptures!
"The official who handed the sign please go to the left and don't block the main road!"
Just when Baochu was hesitant, the sentry guarding the gate suddenly spoke. Baochu was startled and then walked over naturally!
"Minister Baochu of Sanzhi, please see your Majesty... This is my brand!"
After the soldier took the sign and saw that it was true, he immediately waved and said, "My lord, please...the palace ban system has been greatly changed. After entering the palace, please walk under the leadership of the foreman. Don't walk around at will!"
As expected, Emperor Tongzhi changed the palace ban system, and all the people guarding the four gates of the Forbidden City were the new imperial guards and kidnappers!
The Imperial Forest Army system that was originally in charge has been abolished, and everyone is waiting at home for notification. God knows when they will be reorganized!
After entering the Xihua Gate, there was a young eunuch holding a lantern and waiting carefully, "Uncle Guo, please come this way. Let's turn from Duanhong Bridge. The Queen currently lives in the Yangxin Palace. Please hold your feet high..."
Baochu touched his pocket and found that there were only about ten silver dollars and a few banknotes in it. He didn't even count many and stuffed them all into the little eunuch. "Eunuch, drink tea..."
Of course Baochu was an upright official, but this was the rule in the late Qing Dynasty. No matter how honest you were, you would not dare to pay for the door package system. Whether you went to the palace or the palace, or even to the chief executive's home, you had to give the door package to the person in charge. benefit!
This has become an iron rule in the officialdom. Even Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang and others must abide by it and dare not disobey it!
But something was strange today. When the little eunuch saw Uncle Guo's doorman, his expression changed greatly. "Oh... Uncle Guo, please don't harm this slave. I really don't dare to accept you. I really don't dare to accept you..."
"Oh...father-in-law, please don't be too little. I just came back from the northern suburbs. I came in a hurry and didn't bring much money. I will definitely give my father-in-law a big package next time..."
Baochu was explaining, but he didn't expect the little eunuch to put the lantern on the ground, knelt down and kowtowed, "Uncle Guo! Please don't harm this slave... I didn't offend you, slave? Please raise your hands and spare me." A dog’s life!”
"What...what's going on? Father-in-law, please get up quickly, I'm confused..."
"Uncle Guo, you really don't know? Hey...you will understand everything when you get around the eighteen locust trees. Please, Uncle Guo, please collect the money quickly!"
Entering the Forbidden City from Xihua Gate, along the main road on the left hand side is the north. One is Xian'an Palace and the other is Wuying Palace!
There is a spacious area between the Wuying Hall and the Chonglou of the Taihe Hall, which leads directly to the north, including the House of Internal Affairs, the right-wing gate, including the Cining Palace and the Longzong Gate.
There are 18 ancient locust trees planted in the Ming Dynasty in this spacious area, and they are lush and green!
This is the famous eighteen locust trees, and it is also a grand scene in the Forbidden City!
Baochu was quite familiar with this place, but as soon as he walked around the Duanhong Bridge today, the sight in front of him stunned him!
"Ouch...this, this, this...what's going on?"
Good guy, the area around the eighteen locust trees has become an execution ground. There are hundreds of eunuchs and maids gathered together. Several bonfires are burning, and all kinds of torture instruments are filled with the ground in the light of the fire!
Da Sixi, the eunuch in charge of the respect room, is now a fierce figure. In the brightest firelight, there is a grand master's chair and a small table next to it, with four dishes of wine and food on it!
Right in front of the Fourth Happiness, a row of eunuchs and maids were being tortured. Boards, sticks, whips, soldering irons... it was like a reappearance of the former Ming Dong Factory!
Da Sixi turned around and immediately changed his face to a smile, "Oh... Uncle Guo is here! I'm kowtow to Uncle Guo..."
After the night of the wedding, who still doesn’t know that the emperor loves the queen? For the sake of Arut, he could fall out with Cixi, and even send an airship to scatter roses!
Aiwujiwu, the uncle's status in this country is rising. How dare he pretend to be in front of Baochu, and kneel down and kowtow!
"Good luck to you, uncle... Are you coming to the palace to visit your empress? Your empress just drank the decoction and her fever has gone down a bit..."
Baochu pointed at everything in front of him in astonishment, "What...what is this for? They have all made mistakes?"
"Haha, uncle, I don't know. His Majesty asked his servants to strictly inspect the palace. In the past, many of the whereabouts of the Forbidden City were secretly passed on. The Forbidden City looked like a copper wall. In fact, a lot of it was eaten away by these bullies! "
"The ungrateful dog slaves have to be interrogated one by one. If you don't catch those little brats who eat inside and outside, then why do you need slaves?"
ah! It turned out to be an interrogation of rebellion, which was reasonable. Baochu nodded, "Rebellion is indeed hateful...but, this, this, this...are these all rebellions?"
Baochu couldn't help but feel frightened! The total number of palace maids and eunuchs currently being held captive is no more than one hundred, fifty or sixty!
The one in front has been beaten to pieces, while the one in the back is trembling with fear and is still waiting in line to be tortured!
The uncle's question was heard by the nearest palace maids. Their clothes were torn by the whip, and the almost naked palace maids cried loudly, "Please help me, uncle... I'm really not a rebel." ah!"
"The manager tortured us when he caught us...many of them surrendered to torture!"
"Little bitch..." When Da Sixi heard that this bitch dared to complain in front of Uncle Guo, she rushed up and slapped her twice. Her long nails tore the corners of her mouth into pieces, and blood gushed out.
The palace maid probably knew that she was in doom, so she risked her life and shouted loudly, "Dasi Xi, you are seeking personal revenge! Wasn't it just five years ago that my aunt refused to confront you?"
"You want to avenge your personal revenge now! I won't let you go even if I'm a ghost..."
When Da Si heard this, he grabbed a wire brush directly from the torture rack. This was used to brush the flesh of a living person after scalding them with boiling water!
He held the iron brush and stuffed it directly into the palace maid's mouth. The stirring almost destroyed her tongue!
"Stop...how can you use such harsh torture to extract a confession?" Baochu's scholarly attitude relapsed.
