"Okay, these things have passed, let's not talk about it anymore." British Duke Zhang Weixian interrupted several people to continue talking.
The soldiers escorting the silver came from the Beijing camp. Whether the things being escorted to Liaodong were silver or stones could not be concealed from the Beijing camp. But they also benefited from it and cooperated with those big turbans.
Zhu Chunchen, Duke of Chengguo, said: "I don't know when the reinforcements will arrive, and it's hard to say how long the capital will need to be defended. The money and food consumed will definitely not be a small amount. If this problem is not solved, it will be difficult for the capital to hold on for too long."
"The money and food must be dealt with by those with big headscarves. They usually get the most, but now something happens, we can't put it all on our heads." Xu Yunzhen, the Duke of Dingguo, said, patting the table with his hand.
He didn't like the turbans in court.
The empire of the Ming Dynasty was conquered by nobles like them, but it was the turbans who ate and occupied more in the court. These nobles from poor backgrounds often joined forces with turbans to suppress them.
Dingyuan Marquis Deng Wenming, who was sitting below him, snorted coldly and said: "It is better to expect the tiger thieves to retreat on their own initiative than to expect the big turban to take the initiative to prepare money and food for the Beijing camp."
For so many years, the nobles have been suppressed by the big turbans. If the big turbans themselves had not been fighting among themselves, they, the old nobles of the Ming Dynasty, might have been expelled from the court long ago.
As a member of the noble family, he didn't have the slightest fondness for those turbans.
"That's what I say, but we still have to rely on those big turbans to solve the problem of money and food." Zhu Chunchen, Duke of Chengguo, said.
Xu Yunzhen, Duke of Dingguo, cursed unhappily: "Damn it, these big turbans control everything. If it weren't for them, how could the Ming Dynasty collapse like this."
"These turbans are not only greedy, but also evil-minded. They are not good things." Deng Wenming, the Marquis of Dingyuan, cursed.
Their Dingyuan Marquis Mansion has suffered a lot from the big turbans.
"Okay, don't complain. Talking about this now will not be of any benefit to the defense of the capital." British Duke Zhang Weixian said, "The problem of food and grass needed for the capital camp is left to the court to solve, Uncle Anxiang!"
As he spoke, he looked at Uncle An Xiang, who kept his head lowered.
"My nephew is here." Uncle An Xiang responded hurriedly.
British Duke Zhang Weixian said: "Tomorrow at the court meeting, I hope you can stand up in the court hall and ask for a batch of money and food for the Beijing camp. I and Duke Chengguo Dingguo will help you speak at court."
"My nephew, my nephew has a humble position and I'm afraid I might miss the Duke's affairs." Uncle An Xiang stuttered.
Money and food have always been controlled by the big headscarf. He stood up and asked for money and food for Jingying. It was equivalent to grabbing food from the big headscarf's plate. If he didn't do it, he might offend those big headscarves.
"With us supporting you, what are you afraid of?" Chengguo Duke Zhu Chunchen glared.
Uncle An Xiang shrank his neck in fright.
The British Duke Zhang Weixian said to him in a warm tone: "Don't worry, Uncle Anxiang. With us standing behind you, those turbans will not dare to do anything to you. Besides, the army of tiger thieves has already arrived at the city, and those turbans will not embarrass you."
"My nephew is afraid that he won't be able to do this well." Uncle An Xiang felt bitter in his heart.
He knew that the British Duke had nothing good to do by calling him, and the person in front of him was either a Duke or a Marquis, and he was the only earl to bully.
Xu Yunzhen, Duke of Dingguo, said: "This matter is settled. We will take you to court tomorrow."
The matter was decided directly.
The three princes all spoke, and An Xiangbo knew that he could no longer refuse.
If he refuses again, he, as an uncle, will not be able to stay among the nobles in the future, and it is even less likely that the big turban will accept an uncle from a noble family.
Several people talked for a while and then stood up to leave.
The Earl of Anxiang, who had the lowest rank, was at the back.
As soon as he left the house, Uncle An Xiang was stopped by Butler Zhang from the British government.
"Uncle Zhang, the Duke has invited me."
As he spoke, he made a gesture of invitation in the direction behind him.
This is the British Duke's mansion. Uncle An Xiang knew that the British Duke wanted to see him, and he couldn't refuse at all, so he said: "Can you please lead the way, housekeeper?"
Butler Zhang took Uncle An Xiang back to the previous room.
At this time, the room had been tidied up by the maid, and two cups of hot tea were served, one of which was delivered to Uncle An Xiang.
The British Duke Zhang Weixian twisted some tobacco and put it into the pipe pot. The maid next to him lit the tobacco with a fire stick, and the British Duke took advantage of the situation and took a sip from the cigarette holder.
call!
White smoke slowly spit out from his mouth, forming a shapeless white mist.
"Do you know why I kept you here?" The British Duke Zhang Weixian took a puff of smoke and glanced at Uncle An Xiang in front of him.
"My nephew, I don't know." Uncle An Xiang replied cautiously.
I was also wondering in my heart, why should I be left alone? What should I really discuss? The two princes who left were obviously more suitable than this little An Xiangbo.
British Duke Zhang Weixian took a puff from his cigarette and said, "If the Beijing camp has enough food to grab, do you think the Beijing camp can defend the capital with its support?"
"Yes, there are several princes in the capital camp who will be able to defend the capital and protect the country of the Ming Dynasty." Uncle Anxiang boasted.
The British prince behind the smoke, Zhang Weixian, squinted his eyes and said: "I did not listen to your flattery. I left you alone just to listen to your truth. After all, among the nobles, you are the only one who has seen the army of tiger thieves and returned. I personally went to the tiger thief’s camp in Yuquan Mountain.”
Hearing this, Uncle An Xiang fell silent.
I was a little unclear in my heart, whether the British father wanted to hear the truth or wanted comfort.
Half a bag of cigarettes passed, and when the British Duke Zhang Weixian saw Uncle An Xiang didn't say anything, he understood in his heart and said: "Okay, I know it. It seems that it is not that easy for the Beijing camp to defend the capital. That's right, the tiger thief will On the way, we attacked the city and captured the territory, and the Ming army was unable to fight back. Now the capital is a dead city. Even if we don't attack, we only need to besiege the city for a few days to force the capital to surrender."
Uncle Anxiang lowered his head.
As early as the fall of Shandong, the fate of the capital had been seen by many people. Officials who could escape had already found ways to leave the capital, and only they, the nobles, had to stay in the capital.
British Duke Zhang Weixian handed the cigarette bag in his hand to the maid beside him, picked up the tea on the table and rinsed his mouth. After putting down the tea cup, he said: "How about you go out of the city to Yuquan Mountain?"
Plop!
Uncle An Xiang, who had only half a seat in his seat, was so frightened when he heard that the British father wanted him to go to Yuquan Mountain again that he slipped off his seat and fell to the ground.
"Your uncle Anxiang is also from Jingnan, and your ancestors accompanied your ancestors to the grasslands to conquer the Tatars. You should also learn from your ancestors." The British Duke Zhang Weixian saw Uncle Anxiang's lack of progress and immediately gave him a bad lesson. road.
