Hou Fangyu, a great talent who was sent to Wuchang by Zhu Cixiang to propose marriage to Zuo Liangyu, was walking in a gloomy mansion with a strong military attache at this time.
This mansion is the residence of Zuo Liangyu, the Marquis of Wuchang! As the saying goes, once you enter the Hou Men, it is as deep as the sea, but now Zuo Liangyu's Hou Men in Wuchang is a gloomy dead sea. Hou Fangyu, who was walking among them, really couldn't feel any life at all!
In this vast palace, there were no women, no children, no laughter, no music of silk and bamboo, no paintings of flowers, and no one even dared to speak loudly. Only soldiers wearing white clothes and carrying swords walked silently.
Hou Fangyu was a little suspicious that he was not walking in the Hou's mansion, but in a mausoleum. He really didn't know that Zuo Liangyu was a senior prince, so why did he live in such a lifeless house?
I don't know how long they walked, but when Hou Fangyu's legs and feet were aching, he came to a building. He almost lost his footing and bumped into the big military attache in front.
When I looked up, I saw another large, lifeless building in front of me. The main door of the building was closed, and outside the door stood two armored warriors, holding polished swords and looking murderous.
The officer looked back at him and said, "Master Hou is in a bad mood. Be careful when you speak. If you anger Master Hou, no one can save you!"
What? Hou Fangyu was stunned. He knew Zuo Liangyu, and he had the impression that he was a very kind warrior. It was hard to say to others, but at least he was quite polite to Hou Fangyu, the son of his benefactor. How could he be so "no one can save him?" to the point?
Just when he was about to ask again, the officer had already walked in, and then he heard the voice of roll call: "My subordinate Li Conglong, please bring Mr. Hou to see Mr. Hou."
After the announcement, there was dead silence.
I don't know how long it took before I heard a hoarse and old voice: "Oh, it's Mr. Hou Ge's young master who has arrived. Pass the message quickly! Pass the message quickly!"
The officer named Li Conglong then turned around and made a respectful gesture towards Hou Fangyu: "Master Hou, please come."
Hou Fangyu then stepped into the lifeless house. The light inside the room was very poor, and there was a dying and gloomy atmosphere.
This is a study room with a large area. There are several bookshelves with dozens of books scattered here and there. Swords, bows, and quivers were hung on the walls, but there were no paintings or calligraphy. There was a desk in the middle of the room, with the Four Treasures of the Study on it. A fat old man in a Confucian shirt was sitting behind the desk, looking at the visitor with a dull look. Behind the old man, there was an unfolded screen with many words crookedly written on it.
Hou Fangyu looked at the old man who looked like a clay puppet. It took him a while to recognize that this old man was Zuo Liangyu, the Governor of Hubei Military Affairs and the Marquis of Wuchang.
"The late son of Kenan Shangcheng Bo Shizi Hou Fangyu is polite."
Seeing Hou Fangyu bowing and saluting, Zuo Liangyu pondered for a long time before speaking again: "Sit down and talk."
Hou Fangyu finished his work on a chair that Li Conglong had moved. He looked at Zuo Liangyu quietly with a smile, as if waiting for him to ask questions.
But Zuo Liangyu lowered his head and began to read a book on the table, as if Hou Fangyu was no longer in front of him...
How is this going?
Hou Fangyu looked back at Li Conglong, and Marshal Zuo's confidant whispered: "Master Hou, if you have anything to say, just say it."
"Ah," Hou Fangyu responded, and raised his hand to Zuo Liangyu, "Master Hou, my father heard that Master Hou's adopted daughter was released by the bandits, so he wanted to find a matchmaker for her, because he didn't know about Master Hou. I mean, I will take this junior to come to Wuchang to pay homage to the Marquis."
"Oh." Zuo Liangyu nodded, "I wonder what kind of husband Mr. Hou Ge wants to find for Mengmei?"
Hou Fangyu smiled and said, "Master Hou, my father would like to invite your wife to enter the palace to serve Prince Fujun."
"What?" Zuo Liangyu frowned, "Isn't this against the rules?"
"Master Marquis, the rules in Nanjing have changed now!"
With a snap, Zuo Liangyu suddenly hit the table with his right palm, startling Hou Fangyu.
"Why has it changed? Doesn't Nanjing City belong to the Ming Dynasty?" Zuo Liangyu shouted, "Your father is also confused. Is he, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, supposed to ask about the prince's draft? Such matters should be dealt with by the Holy Spirit. The edict is drafted by the cabinet, and then handed over to the Ministry of Rites for implementation after the Holy Spirit approves it."
"This, this, this..."
Hou Fangyu looked at the angry Zuo Liangyu and was a little at a loss. What does Zuo Liangyu mean? Don't you know that the imperial court has long been controlled by Master Qiantose?
He frowned and said, "Master Marquis, the imperial court is now regent of the Prince of Fujun..."
"Why is the prince regent?" Zuo Liangyu glared, "The Holy Emperor is only in his thirties, in his prime, and has not been heard to be sick. Why can't he be in power?"
"This..." Cold sweat broke out on Hou Fangyu's forehead. Something was wrong with Zuo Liangyu!
"Master Hou," Hou Fangyu said bravely, "Your Majesty feels deeply guilty for the fall of the capital. He feels sorry for Taizu Emperor Gao, and he also feels that His Highness the Crown Prince is talented and talented and is the best choice for the resurgence of the Ming Dynasty, so he allows Prince Fujun is regent..."
"That's nonsense!" Zuo Liangyu reprimanded loudly, "How did I hear that it was the prince who rebelled at Huangjimen to seize power, and then took the emperor and escaped from Beijing?"
this......
Hou Fangyu was so frightened that he was trembling. What does Zuo Liangyu mean by this? Are you going to send troops to clear your side? Is he crazy?
Now the prince already has six divisions (the old fifth division plus the new first division) and more than twenty new troops, with a total strength of more than 100,000 people - these are real soldiers, excluding those who serve with the army.
In addition, the Yangtze River Navy has nearly 20,000 people, with no less than 300 large and small warships! There are also several centipede warships equipped with Hongyi cannons. They can't be worse than Zuo Liangyu's navy, right?
Zuo Liangyu's troops were mainly composed of Jiliao border troops and surrendered bandits. Neither of them is capable of playing navy, and they cannot defeat the Yangtze River Navy, which was adapted from the Yangtze River water bandits, sand boat gangs and grain transport troops.
"Hou, Master Hou," Hou Fangyu gritted his teeth and simply opened the skylight to speak frankly, "Master Qiansui just wants to be in power as soon as possible! Now he already has a direct lineage of 100,000 land troops and 20,000 Yangtze River navy troops. They are not necessarily elite. But at least they are all strong enough. Most of the officers and soldiers of the Army Division have been rewarded with land, have a family business, and their future and fate are tied to the crown prince... Those are 100,000 strong men! The backbone is Guan Ning's servants , the elite soldiers of the Beijing camp and the old soldiers of the bandits!
In addition, Mr. Qiantui also copied tens of millions of acres of land and tens of millions of taels of silver from Lianghuai salt merchants and Nanjing nobles... Mr. Hou, do you think Mr. Qiantui has the capital to go further? ?
Now Chitose Master really wants to win over you. As long as your wife enters the palace, you will be the father-in-law of the country and your son will be the uncle-in-law! Mr. Qiantose is also willing to let you, Laohe Crown Prince, preside over the recovery of Sichuan. If successful, he will be awarded the title of Duke of Shu and Sichuan will be ruled forever!
Mr. Hou, you have to think clearly! "
In Hou Fangyu's view, the conditions given by Zhu Cixiang could not be more favorable. Zuo Mengmei was released from the bandits. It is not known whether she is innocent or not. Qiantui Master did not ask, but she was still willing to take her into the palace. She will definitely have a noble concubine in the future!
And the Duke of Shu has the status of a king, which is much stronger than that of the Wuchang vassal. Although Sichuan's territory has to be fought by himself, Zhang Xianzhong does not fully control Sichuan now. There are still many troops and officials loyal to the Ming Dynasty. If the left party enters Sichuan, they will definitely get their support. It's better than going south to rebel against Zhu Cixi, right?
Besides, Zhu Cixi was a genuine prince. The emperor was ignorant and unruly, and had lost the capital. The prince was wise and brave, so it was only natural that he should take over the throne ahead of schedule. The gentlemen of Donglin all agree, why do you, an old military leader, meddle in your own business?
But what Zuo Liangyu said next was something Hou Fangyu never expected. The old man glared suddenly and shouted: "King Yong will arrive in Wuchang soon. I will serve King Yong as my master. If the prince dares If you usurp the throne, I will support King Yong to ascend the throne in Wuchang and proclaim himself emperor!"
What? Hou Fangyu was stunned by Zuo Liangyu's words. Is this old man crazy? He was living a good life, but he wanted to establish a new court in Wuchang... How much strength did he think he had?
