The snow is getting heavier, pedestrians are walking in a hurry on the street, and the laughter of children in the alley is getting louder and louder.
Outside a courtyard near Xizhimen, a middle-aged man stood at the door looking up at the sky and looking around, as if waiting for someone.
After a while, a young man appeared at the entrance of the alley, carrying a load of firewood and slowly walked over. The middle-aged man hurriedly greeted him: "Why are you here?"
The young man chuckled, "We lined up outside the city before dawn, and walked around in a few big circles after entering the city, for fear of being followed."
"That's right, you should be careful first." The middle-aged man opened the courtyard door and led him in.
There are briquette stoves in the house, which became popular last year. At first, they were only used by wealthy families. Later, because they were cheap, practical and convenient, they became popular among ordinary people.
"The situation in the west is not optimistic. Many mountaintops are concerned. After the lord learned that the young master was forced to leave the seclusion, he ordered to rescue the young master at all costs." The young man baked his shoes and swept away the people in the room: "This must be done quickly to avoid long nights and dreams. Boss Huang, you have to take charge of this matter."
Boss Huang was the middle-aged man, but he frowned and said, "This matter is extremely difficult."
"No matter how difficult it is, we have to do it. If something happens to the young master, there will be chaos in the west!" The young man was a little anxious, and Boss Huang waved his hand to stop him: "The young master was kidnapped by the eunuch, and he will be strictly monitored on weekdays. Not to mention whether our people will be able to find him, if we get close to him, even if we find him, it will be difficult to rescue him. What’s more, there have been rumors going viral recently that there is going to be a war outside the customs..."
Everyone in the room was silent.
After a while, a person in the corner suddenly said: "There is a war, this is the opportunity."
Everyone was startled for a moment, then suddenly realized, and gathered together to discuss in a low voice.
Jinan, General Military Mansion.
As soon as Li Yan got up, a beautiful young woman walked in with a basin of hot water and said casually: "It's snowing."
This beautiful young woman is none other than a matchmaker who came to Jinan to visit relatives.
As the director of the Ming Dynasty Military Hospital, the Red Lady is also very busy with official duties. The couple usually spends less time together and more time away from each other. Perhaps it is because they have a deep relationship, or maybe it is the beauty of distance. The relationship between the couple is very good, and the Red Lady even proposed to let Li Yan accept a marriage. The concubine came to take care of him but was rejected by Li Yan.
In most dynasties in ancient times, when a general was stationed in a general or place, his wife and children had to stay in the capital. As everyone knows the reason, when Li Yan followed Chang Yu in the north and south, the red lady stayed in the capital to manage the army. Hospital, when Li Yan was promoted to the Shandong General Army and stationed in Jinan, the couple were still in different places. However, because Emperor Chongzhen valued Li Yan more, he would summon Li Yan to Beijing from time to time, or allow the matchmaker to come to Jinan to visit relatives.
So although the two are in a different place, they are not separated for a few years.
Each has his own career and cares about each other.
This relationship and feeling are quite good.
At least that's what the couple thinks. Especially for the red lady, she has been feeling particularly at ease in the past two years and has a special sense of accomplishment in her career.
Her husband's achievements also made her feel extremely proud. Therefore, she felt from the bottom of her heart that she had made the right choice two years ago, and she was fortunate to have followed a wise man.
But this Mingzhu did not refer to Emperor Chongzhen. Although the Emperor was good to them, the couple always felt that the great eunuch Chang Yu was their Mingzhu!
"It's snowing outside." The red lady put down the basin and handed another glass of salt water to Li Yan.
Li Yan groaned, took a sip and walked outside the door. He looked up at the sky, mumbled a few times and spit out: "I heard that there is heavy snow outside the customs and the mountains and roads are closed."
"I also heard that there is going to be a war outside the customs." The red lady sighed: "It will be a disaster to fight at such a time!"
Li Yan smiled and said nothing. The red lady handed him a wet wipe, "People say this battle is not going to be easy to fight. What do you think?"
Li Yan wiped his face: "You stay in the hospital every day, how come you hear so much?"
"I also want to go to court. Although I haven't said a few words, my ears are not deaf. People in Beijing have been discussing this matter during this period. It is said that this battle must be fought. Many people are watching the outcome. Woolen cloth".
"The result will definitely be as they wish, but it will disappoint them." Li Yan smiled faintly, and the red lady frowned, looking confused: "I really don't understand what you said. By the way, it's so tight over there, and the court actually They didn’t send troops to fight for reinforcements. It’s okay if you are far away here and I didn’t send you there. Tang Tong from Ji Town didn’t go, and even Gao Di from Shanhaiguan didn’t go. Wouldn’t the imperial court’s move mean that Eunuch Chang would have to fight alone?” .
Li Yan coughed lightly and said, "It's not that the imperial court didn't send for help, but the fact is that the incident happened suddenly and was caught off guard. People have long been accustomed to the small and big troubles outside the customs. Who would have thought that when Eunuch Chang went to patrol the frontier, he would start to do it with his back. It was so sudden, not to mention that the water far away here cannot quench his thirst. Even if Gao Di went there, he would not be able to make it in time. What's more, the heavy snow blocked the road and he couldn't move if he wanted to. If he had arrived, the winner would have been decided by now." .
"As a result, Eunuch Chang will be even more burdened." The red lady looked solemn: "If you are not careful, you may suffer a big loss."
"Li Yan looked relaxed. Fighting is a technical job, and Eunuch Chang has already mastered this skill. He may not win this battle, but he will definitely not suffer a big loss." He then comforted the matchmaker and said, "Taking a step back, this battle has been a setback." , Lost Tashan Fort and returned to Ningyuan. No matter how bold Dorgon was, he would not dare to touch Ningyuan at this time. If he has the heart, he must also have the strength."
The red lady relaxed her brows slightly and sighed again: "But if we lose this battle, Eunuch Chang will definitely be in trouble. I'm afraid the people in the court won't be able to let him go."
"It's not surprising." Li Yan snorted: "But don't worry too much. Eunuch Chang will not fall until the thieves are eliminated and the Tatars are not wiped out."
After washing up, the couple had breakfast together. In addition to the food, there was a pile of official documents on the table. As the general soldier of Shandong, Li Yan had no leisure every day. He had a lot of official business to deal with, including things in the yamen, things in the army, and so on. There are some secrets.
The snow was falling slowly and moderately outside. Li Yan was eating, reading official documents and chatting with the red lady. At this time, a soldier came to the door and said, "Sir, there is a letter from the west." He took out a small The bamboo tube was handed over, and the red lady couldn't help but raise her eyebrows. She was not an ordinary woman. She knew that the bamboo tube sent was not an ordinary official letter, which was usually a confidential letter.
Li Yan took the secret letter and looked at it for a while, with a vague smile on his face. The red lady ate her meal absently and asked casually: "It couldn't have been sent from outside the customs, right?"
Li Yan smiled: "At this time, even if Eunuch Chang asks for help, he won't ask for help from me."
