Zhu Qiyu had another two days of leisure at home. Now the combined troops of Wala and Ming outside the city were close to 300,000. Zhu Qiyu no longer dared to go out of the city to inspect military affairs, otherwise he would have an accident like Zhu Qizhen's, and it would be a lot of fun.
Now that the four Ming army camps outside the city have all been set up, they did not interfere too much, but accepted the Empress Dowager Sun's offer of a million taels of silver to redeem the Supreme Emperor.
Yes, this matter was done in the personal name of Empress Dowager Sun, and the mother paid for the redemption of her son. This was done privately, which could reduce the damage to the court's reputation.
Empress Dowager Sun knew clearly that this was Xinjun's fault, but she still had to accept it.
Moreover, Zhu Qiyu explicitly requested that no national treasury or internal funds be used. The reasons are also very sufficient: once the national treasury is used, using money to redeem the emperor becomes an act of the state, which is unseemly; once internal funds are used, it becomes an act of the royal family, which is also detrimental to the royal majesty. Therefore, Empress Dowager Sun could only take the lead in raising the one million taels privately.
So in the past few days, Queen Mother Sun, Queen Qian and Queen Zhou, began to search the entire harem, trying to get at least 600,000 taels of silver. As for the rest, it depends on donations.
Zhu Qiyu's own harem was made harmonious, but Zhu Qizhen's harem was made full of complaints and the concubines were miserable.
Empress Dowager Sun, Empress Qian, and Concubine Wan Chen were the most active. Not only did they take out almost all of their own wealth, but they also plundered the other concubines as if they were bone-crushing, thoroughly offending them all.
This played into Zhu Qiyu's plan. Only Queen Zhou lived leisurely every day, neither willing to bleed out herself nor to squeeze other concubines. Comparing the two, all the concubines in the harem began to praise Queen Zhou privately. Queen Zhou stayed at home and did nothing, and her popularity skyrocketed.
After several days of searching, Empress Dowager Sun finally squeezed out more than 300,000 taels of silver from the concubines in the harem. Together with her own and Queen Qian's private money, she collected a total of 600,000 taels of silver.
Although the harem had a lot of wealth, it was mainly jewelry and curios. In just a few days, it was quite difficult for the concubines to collect so much cash.
Zhu Qiyu was fed breakfast and just as he was going to the front hall, news came from the palace that the Queen Mother Sun had collected 600,000 taels.
Lin Xiangyu heard this and asked with a smile: "The harem is not very rich. It's only 600,000 taels, but it took so long to collect it. The slave family thought that the Queen Mother alone could provide so much."
"Hey, the princess is thinking too much. The harem doesn't have that much cash in hand. The treasures in their hands are valuable, but they are all archived and cannot be sold casually for money.
Regardless of the beauty of the concubines in the harem, when it comes to wealth, eunuchs are richer.
After the eunuchs rebelled in the fifth year of Jingtai, I will wipe out all the wealth of the eunuchs in the Forbidden Palace. Then you will know how amazing the wealth of the eunuchs is. "
"Then what happens next?"
"Let's keep the 600,000 taels in the harem first. Our family will provide 100,000 taels in cash, and the remaining 300,000 taels will be raised throughout the capital.
I asked Gang Lian to be responsible for publicity and let everyone in the capital know about this matter.
I just want to take this opportunity to see how many people are willing to pay for the Supreme Emperor. This is actually a disguised form of forcing everyone to take sides. Fortunately, I have a plan in mind.
If there are too many people who support the Supreme Emperor, I will conduct a general purge in the court. If there are not many people supporting the Supreme Emperor, then just make do with it for now. "
Lin Xiangyu smiled and said: "Husband, I told you in advance that our family has more than 500,000 taels of silver left in cash. If we take out this 100,000 taels, we will have more than 400,000 taels left.
Don't give a million taels to a few of your generals with a wave of your hand like before. If this happens again, you will have to sell your wife. "
Zhu Qiyu also smiled and said: "That's just right. The princess is worth five hundred thousand taels. If I sell you and confiscate your private money, I can make up one million taels."
"Okay, our Holy Son really knows how to live a good life, and the slave family is so impressed by him."
"Hey, it's normal. I have some illnesses, and I'm not as good as you said. But there's one more thing. I've already ordered King Xiang to come to the capital.
You prepare two good houses for Jian Shu and Wu Shu to live.
Prince Xiang especially likes to talk to me about the elders and elders of his concubines. So when he comes, I will take him to see the common people first, and then take him to worship Queen Hu.
I would like to see what he said about Empress Dowager Sun's abandoning his wife with a concubine, and what he said about Taizong's use of a small sect to attack the big sect.
Doesn't he like to tease the legitimate concubine? I asked him to do it in front of the concubine and in front of Queen Hu's tomb. "
Lin Xiangyu smiled and nodded: "The slave family doesn't understand these concubines and concubines. The slave family is responsible for listening to the husband's instructions and working for him down-to-earth."
"Hmm, yes, you are right to think so. The princess is more enlightened. Have you made arrangements for the woman who will be presented to the Supreme Emperor?"
"That's almost it. Sister Zhou has been busy with this in the past few days. Do you need to send it to your husband for review? If there are any that you like, I can keep a few for my husband."
Zhu Qiyu shook his head repeatedly: "That's not necessary. I only sleep with domestic prostitutes, not outside prostitutes."
Just as Lin Xiangyu was about to reply, Xian'er ran in and reported to the two of them: "Husband, sister, it's not good. The ministers came again and said they had urgent military affairs to report."
Zhu Qiyu replied angrily: "These ministers just like to be surprised. In fact, everything is under my control, and I don't know what they are worried about.
Zhi'er, Xian'er, Ningxiang and Linglong all rushed to wash themselves off. After I've dispatched these difficult ministers, I'll come back to hook up with a prostitute. "
Hearing this, Lin Xiangyu helped Zhu Qiyu tidy up his clothes and told her, "I know my husband. The slave family and several sisters took off their clothes and waited for me on the bed. Don't beat or scold the ministers when you go. If you are angry, come back and vent it on me." It’s all on the slave family.”
Zhu Qiyu agreed with a smile, pinched the two beauties' little faces, hugged them again, and then slowly walked into the West Flower Hall.
At this time, the ministers were already crowded, and they were gathering together, whispering and whispering to each other.
Zhu Qiyu sat on the couch impatiently, covering his face with his hands, waiting for the ministers to speak.
Jiang Yuan, the right minister of the Ministry of War, stood up first and replied with worry on his face: "Your Majesty, Alazhiyuan stormed Juyong Pass. Yang Jun's troops were unable to resist and collapsed when they encountered the enemy. The entire army has been destroyed."
When Zhu Qiyu heard this, he just said softly to express that he understood.
Jiang Yuan was even more excited in his heart. Now two ministers of the Ministry of War and a left minister of the Ministry of War were outside to supervise the army. He, the right minister of the Ministry of War, had just taken office and was temporarily in charge of the ministry. He encountered such a big defeat. As long as the new king was a moment away, If you get angry, you have to go home and hold your child.
However, to Jiang Yuan's surprise, Zhu Qiyu was stunned for a while, and then comforted him: "Jiang Aiqing, don't worry, this is not your fault, nor is it Luo Aiqing's fault.
Not many of the Xuanfu fleeing troops died. If my guess is correct, most of them surrendered directly. "
Jiang Yuan hurriedly replied: "Your Majesty, the Xuan Mansion's fugitive army almost did not die, but more than 10,000 people surrendered. Alazhiyuan has sent a document requesting the imperial court to pay for the redemption of the people."
Zhu Qiyu glanced at Jiang Yuan appreciatively, feeling quite pleased that he was well-trained by such a minister, but after giving him a few words of comfort and consideration, he quickly followed in my footsteps, and also called Yang Jun's army the Xuanfu Escape. Army. Such an informed minister makes people happy when he uses them.
After taking a sip of tea, Zhu Qiyu ordered: "Your Ministry of War sent a message to Alazhiyuan, saying that we are willing to redeem people. Previously, the Polo army was completely annihilated and 20,000 sets of armor were seized, which was enough to arm 20,000 soldiers and their horses.
Transfer all 20,000 sets of armor to Alazhiyuan, and order him to escort the captured Xuanfu fugitive troops to Datong, and hand them over to the jurisdiction of Wang Ge Lao and Guang Ning Bo, so that they can form an army separately and intercept them first. , take advantage of your guilt and make meritorious service. "
(End of chapter)
