In the imperial city.
An eunuch hurriedly entered Donghua Gate and started running all the way: "Eunuch Chang has returned to the palace, Eunuch Chang has returned to the palace." The sound was not loud but it was enough to arouse the emotions of the people in the palace. The eunuchs and maids on duty could not hide their excitement after hearing the news. If it were not strictly prohibited in the palace, they might have cheered. As for the reason for cheering, Chang Yu came back It doesn't matter what it has to do with them, I just feel excited.
Moreover, the eunuch deliberately raised his voice when passing by Wenyuan Pavilion. Could it be that he wanted to send a message to the cabinet bosses inside?
Emperor Chongzhen, who was taking a nap in the Qianqing Palace, stood up after hearing the news: "Quick, quick, come see me, where is he?".
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Chang is changing clothes in the Neidongchang Yamen. He has just entered the city and is covered in dirt..." Before he could finish his words, Emperor Chongzhen rushed out: "Why should he wash himself? Where can he come from so many rules... …”
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, where are you going?" Wang Chengen, who was waiting next to him, saw this and hurriedly chased him out.
"I'm going to the Yamen to look for him..." Chongzhen walked out in disheveled clothes. Wang Chengen sweated anxiously: "Hey, Your Majesty, please put on some clothes. Don't let those cabinet ministers see you. You'll have to spit again... …”
Fortunately, Emperor Chongzhen met Chang Yu before he left the Qianqing Sect.
Chang Yu saw someone rushing towards him in a hurry, thinking that someone in the palace dared to be as unruly as himself, and took a closer look, uh... "My lord, let me see the emperor."
"You... oh, why are you so slow and why are you coming back now!" Emperor Chongzhen looked at Chang Yu, who had darkened several shades and looked a lot rougher in front of him. He suddenly became emotional and his eyes were red, but he didn't want to be too excited. Too sensational, he punched Chang Yu forward.
"Ahem, sir, I had some things to do on the way, so I was delayed a bit." Chang Yu smiled faintly.
Emperor Chongzhen was too excited to say what he wanted to say but was a little incoherent: "You, hey, hurry up and tell me how to capture Bai Wang. Be more careful, even more careful than those storytellers outside the palace!"
The news of Chang Yu's return to Beijing quickly spread to every corner of the imperial capital. This had no impact on the lives of ordinary people. It just provided more talk, and it was not even talk talk.
But it has a small or small impact on people at other levels, especially those who have a constant and chaotic relationship with Chang Yu. However, most people have begun to speculate on his next move, whether it is outside the customs or Xi'an, anyway. Zhang Xianzhong is unrealistic.
The big guys in Wenyuan Pavilion are also talking about the returning king. The achievements of the little eunuch who they were full of prejudice and disdain to look at now makes them ashamed.
It seems that so many big guys in front of him are just doing it for a living, and they can only read papers and discuss martial arts for the sake of coolness. In addition, during this period, Emperor Chongzhen always criticized some officials every time he went to court in the morning. They were trash and useless. In addition to spitting, can you come up with some practical and effective measures...
This made Li Banghua, Wu Xuan and others always feel that Emperor Chongzhen was actually scolding them.
There are many people in Beijing who hate Chang Yu, wishing that he would die in battle and never come back, but there are also many people who are looking forward to his return. There are several people in the palace alone, such as Queen Zhou and Princess Kunxing. After learning that Chang Yu I was very excited after entering the palace, so I hurried to Qianqing Palace to greet Emperor Chongzhen, pour him tea or something, and meet Chang Yu.
Unexpectedly, the gate of Qianqing Palace was strictly closed. Wang Chengen and several eunuchs stood under the eaves of the corridor, refusing all visitors, not to mention the courtiers who asked for an audience, even Queen Zhou!
It was almost dusk. Chang Yu couldn't remember how much tea he drank in the Qianqing Palace, but his mouth was still dry. He hadn't talked as much in the past few months as he had today. Since he left Beijing and went south, he had done everything he had done along the way. I have to listen to everything about Chongzhen, such as how he deceived King De into getting food in Jinan, how he borrowed salary from Liu Zeqing, and what happened in Qufu, all in detail.
Of course, things that should be concealed should still be concealed. For example, when he manipulated public opinion to blackmail the Kong family, he pretended that it had nothing to do with him and it was just a coincidence.
Then how to deal with those nobles in Nanjing, the first battle after sending troops...
Emperor Chongzhen listened attentively. Sometimes he gritted his teeth and cursed, sometimes he laughed heartily, and sometimes he clenched his fists and looked nervous. When Chang Yu went over everything again, it was almost dark.
"It's really hard for you to go south this time, and it's hard for you." For a long time, Emperor Chongzhen didn't come out of Chang Yu's wonderful stories: "While begging for food and credit, he was leading troops to fight, and he was in charge of so many people. The assassin still has to deal with those nobles... Hehe, apart from you, I really can't think of anyone else in the Ming Dynasty who is qualified."
"It is the duty of the minister to share the emperor's worries." Chang Yu smiled lightly. There was no trace of arrogance or arrogance on his face. This was what Emperor Chongzhen was most satisfied with.
"Did Liu Zeqing really die in battle?" Emperor Chongzhen narrowed his eyes and stared at Chang Yu's face.
"I was in Dongliu at that time. According to Li Yan and Gong Ziying, he and Gao Jie entered the city to torture the surrendering soldiers. The surrendering soldiers were dissatisfied and suddenly rose up and killed him."
"Are you really not the one who did it?" Emperor Chongzhen seemed to be smiling but not smiling. Chang Yu shook his head: "Although I have the intention to kill him, I will never kill him in front of the battle. This is an accident."
Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said: "The Kong family in Qufu..."
"At that time, I was still fighting fiercely with Bai Wang in the south. Besides, I had no reason to kill him." Chang Yu shook his head slightly: "According to the information I received, he was assassinated by a murderer who sneaked into the house. It seems that the method was done by Jianghu people. , although the Kong family has the supreme status in the gentry class, among the Jianghu people, they are just rich and unkind rich people. Perhaps due to the influence of the rumors some time ago, there are people in the Jianghu who are murderous, do you want me to investigate? "
Emperor Chongzhen rolled his eyes: "You have nothing to do, or you have too much free time to look into boring things." Then he added: "You can't just fight honestly when you go south, but if you poke a hornet's nest, let me know in advance. Say hello, I’ll wipe your ass later.”
Chang Yu chuckled: "This time I really calmed down and didn't do anything, but... I flirted with Zuo Liangyu." Then he said that he and Zuo Liangyu were wrestling with each other in the distance.
Emperor Chongzhen took a breath of air after hearing this: "Why do you need to provoke him at this moment and use such drastic methods? You are not afraid of forcing him to rebel!"
Sure enough, they had the same worries as Lu Daqi, Yuan Jixian and others.
"The more ambiguous or weak the court's attitude is at this time, the more he will climb up the pole. If he is given an uncharacteristically tough attitude, he will not be able to figure out the reality for a while..." Chang Yu shrugged: "At least on his surface now. I dare not disobey orders."
"You have made a dangerous move. If something like this happens again in the future, you'd better report it to me first and wait for me to discuss it with the ministers in the cabinet. I know that you look down on those corrupt people. Although they are not as good as you in fighting, But playing with power is far better than playing with you!"
Chang Yu admitted it. Chongzhen asked him what his next plan was. He also knew that he would not have the strength to attack Xi'an for a while. First of all, food and salary were not available. Let alone food and salary now, the people were starving to death. .
Chang Yu explained the deployment of his troops and horses again, and Chongzhen listened: "No one in the Ming Dynasty knows military affairs better than you. It's already decided how to deploy the troops and horses to defend you, and others have no reason to object, but it's still a formality. Otherwise, there will be people who accuse you of being arbitrary and arbitrary. I will discuss this matter with them tomorrow morning, but... there are so many soldiers, horses, food and grass..." Emperor Chongzhen frowned.
"I have tried my best to make ends meet, but I am not hungry now." Chang Yu fully explained some of his measures, such as borrowing one million from the Wang brothers of Huizhou merchants to buy grain in Yangzhou, and borrowing another one million from Gao Jie in Xuzhou. The large amount of money and the confiscated Liu Zeqing's storage in Jinan were enough to supply tens of thousands of troops with food rations for March and May.
