Caifang, Xichengbu.
Five hundred acres of land had just been opened in Bucaifang, and Jinyiwei reopened the Elephant Training Center here.
Since the Hongwu Year, Jinyiwei has set up an elephant training center to tame elephants to please the royal family.
Of course, Grandpa Taizu was diligent and thrifty, and setting up an elephant training facility was by no means as simple as raising elephants for fun.
Jin Yiwei has set up an elephant training center, so there must be elephants, right?
Then it is reasonable for me to send hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers to hunt elephants in Yunnan, Guangdong and Guangxi and other southern Xinjiang areas, right?
Hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers have been stationed locally to hunt elephants for a long time. Is it reasonable to establish 20 Southern Xinjiang Elephant Taming Guards?
Taizu's true intention was to use the elephant-taming guards in southern Xinjiang to intimidate the local chieftains and guard the border.
I have to say that Grandpa Taizu is worthy of being a sage.
Time flies, and a hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye. Emperor Chenghua ascended the throne. The young Emperor Chenghua was a fierce man. He directly changed the tamed elephant guards into ordinary guards and implemented a high-pressure policy against the chieftains in southern Xinjiang.
Everything I look at is bright earth. Why should I rule you in the name of elephant taming?
I don’t tame elephants, I only tame people!
What, you don’t accept it? Hit it! In the first year of Chenghua, a battle at Duanteng Gorge in Guangxi made the Ming army famous. At the same time, it also established the authority of the newly enthroned emperor in the court.
From ancient times to the present, when a new emperor ascends the throne, the most effective and direct way to establish his power is to fight.
Now that the Southern Xinjiang Elephant Taming Guard has been changed to an ordinary town guard, there is no need for the Jinyi Guard Elephant Taming Station in the capital.
In the second year of Chenghua, the imperial court abolished the establishment of the Thousand Household Elephant Training Station in Jinyiwei.
Until a year ago, Queen Zhang served Emperor Hongzhi to read at night.
When Emperor Hongzhi read in "Shuowen" written by Xu Shen of the Han Dynasty: "Elephant, a big beast in the south, with long nose and teeth, and breasts every three years", Empress Zhang was very interested.
Empress Zhang had never seen an elephant, so Emperor Hongzhi described it based on records in ancient books. Queen Zhang said: "This thing is interesting."
Emperor Hongzhi, like his father, was a maniac about doting on his wife. My wife says elephants are interesting, is that okay?
Emperor Hongzhi immediately issued an edict and ordered Jinyiwei to reopen the elephant training center. In addition, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan were ordered to pay tribute to Xiang.
Two days ago, the first batch of five tribute elephants from Guangxi arrived in the capital. The elephant training center was officially opened.
Chang Feng recommended Fatty Xu to become an elephant tamer. A big fat man raising an elephant is also a sight to behold.
At this moment, Chang Feng, Qian Neng, Li Guang, and Fatty Xu stood in the center of the elephant training center, watching the elephant slaves perform elephant training.
These elephant slaves are all strong people from Guangxi. The elephant had been tamed by them on the way to Beijing.
I saw five elephants rolling up the big tank with their long trunks and coming to an artificially dug stream.
They placed the vat steadily on the ground, sucked water through their noses, and sprayed it into the vat.
Elephants are both smart and naive. It attracted frequent praises from Qian Neng, Li Guang and others.
Qian Neng smiled and said, "Interesting."
Li Guangdao said: "The emperor and his queen will come here to observe the phenomenon in the future. They will definitely be amused by these big guys."
Chang Feng turned to look at Fatty Xu and joked: "Fat. These giant elephants are rare. You have to take good care of them."
"Don't keep it for ten days and a half. The elephant has lost weight and you have gained weight. It won't sound good if the news spreads!"
Fatty Xu smiled and scolded: "Fuck you, Mr. Chang, no matter how greedy we are, we won't compete with elephants for food!"
"What I like to eat is mutton and women, but I don't like eating grass!"
Fatty Xu was always the eldest son of a duke, and he dared to make jokes even in front of the two supervisors and supervisors.
Qian Neng said: "Prince Xu, from now on your elephant training center will not only raise elephants. The chief envoy of Sichuan just handed over a note, saying that he will go to the capital to pay tribute to the iron-eating beast Yuanyuanhuhu, who only eats and sleeps."
"When the time comes, I will put him at your elephant training center. Your Majesty is diligent in his work. He attends morning and afternoon meetings, attends various Buddhist banquets, and reviews memorials all day long. There is almost no time for leisure."
"It would be a good idea to take the time to come to your elephant training center and see the rare and exotic animals."
Fatty Xu said: "Don't worry! Fatty will get fat no matter what he raises. I will definitely take care of these strange beasts."
docile and obedient. "
Chang Feng then said to Fatty Xu: "Although the strong people who raise elephants are called 'elephant slaves', they are not slaves. They are Guangxi civilians."
"They left their hometowns and came to the capital, so we have to treat them generously. There are twenty elephant slaves in total, and they all receive the salary of the royal guards."
Fatty Xu said: "Okay! These elephant slaves are lucky to have such a good boss like you!"
Chang Feng asked someone to call Wei Chaoming, the leader of the elephant slaves, in front of him. Wei Chaoming is in his twenties, a short but strong and strong man.
He told Wei Chaoming that the elephant slaves would be paid like the Jinyi Guardsmen in the future.
Wei Chaoming is very grateful.
Chang Feng was very considerate: "The emperor and the queen will come to watch the spectacle in person in two days. If you can make the emperor and the queen happy, I will ask the Guangxi Governor's Yamen to send your wives and daughters to the capital to reunite with you. .”
Wei Chaoming kowtowed again.
Chang Feng said: "That's all. Go down!"
Chang Feng, Qian Neng, and Li Guang continued to watch the elephants perform acrobatics with great interest. I was made to laugh from time to time.
It was not until evening that everyone reluctantly left the elephant training center.
Chang Feng returned home.
In the front yard, Hu Zi was lying on the belly of the female dog given by Liu Jin.
The female dog has been pregnant for more than a month and her belly is bulging. It will be produced in just over a month.
Chang Feng started a husband-concubine joke with Madam Ninth, who was sitting in the front yard embroidering girl's red: "Oh, I didn't expect the tiger to get stronger and stronger. It can really make this bitch's belly bigger."
Madam Ninth rolled her eyes at Chang Feng: "Are you laughing at me for not being able to get pregnant?"
Chang Feng knew that he had made a mistake, so he sat next to Madam Ninth and changed the subject: "How can I? What are you embroidering? Two fat geese?"
Madam Ninth said angrily: "What a fat goose. What I am embroidering is a mandarin duck! A mandarin duck playing in the water!"
Madam Ninth has given up her stolen goods business in the capital. I had nothing to do at home, so I imitated Han women and started embroidering red needlework. Her needlework is really not very good.
The square embroidered handkerchief in her hand had two fat and bloated mandarin ducks on it. Yuanyang's eyes are still a little squinty.
Liu Xiaoyan entered the mansion and came to the front yard.
She is dressed respectfully. Apparently he just came back from the palace.
Chang Feng asked casually: "Went to Kunning Palace again?"
Liu Xiaoyan replied: "Forget it, I went to Kunning Palace in the morning. I was chatting with the Queen when the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother passed by."
"There were just four of us who gathered around a table of mahjong. The Queen Mother got so addicted to playing cards that she didn't even eat lunch and played a full sixteen rounds. The game lasted until the hour of the hour."
Chang Feng smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager is killing everyone again, right?"
Liu Xiaoyan replied: "That's not true. How can the Queen, the Queen Mother and I dare to win the money from the Queen Mother?"
Mrs. Jiu said, "Sister, I'll ask the cook to prepare food in the dining room."
Liu Xiaoyan said: "Well, go quickly. I have to eat two big bowls of japonica rice tonight to replenish my body. Playing cards with the Queen Mother is a strenuous job. Feeding her cards makes me unable to turn my head."
Liu Xiaoyan turned around and said to Chang Feng: "By the way, the queen said that she will go to the elephant training center in two days to observe the elephants. Let's all go there."
Queen Zhang and Liu Xiaoyan have a deep love for each other. Naturally, he would think about the Chang family when he saw such rare sights.
Chang Tian and Zhuang Zhuang came over to deliver dog food to Hu Zi and the female dog, and heard this: "Okay. I haven't seen an elephant yet!"
A thirteen-year-old girl with strong curiosity.
Chang Feng smiled and said: "I guess we are not the only ones who have received the order to observe the elephant. By then, there should be many young nobles in the elephant training center."
"Tangtang, don't just stare at the elephant. Tell your sister-in-law if you have a good-looking noble son. Let the queen be the matchmaker for you."
After hearing this, Chang Tian's face drooped, he put the dog food bowl on the ground, turned around and left.
Two days later, the elephant training center.
An observatory was erected on the east side of the elephant training house.
Emperor Hongzhi
Sitting in the center of the front row with Queen Zhang.
A group of dignitaries, officials and family members sat behind them.
Fatty Xu said loudly: "Your Majesty! The five tribute elephants from the Qianhu Elephant Training Station of the Jinyi Guards have been lined up. Your Majesty, please review them!"
Standing next to Emperor Hongzhi, Xiao Jing shouted loudly: "Open the reading!"
The five elephants first performed rolling cylinders to absorb water, then performed acrobatics such as rolling logs and standing on three legs.
If these acrobatics were placed in the circus of later generations, they would be nothing more than mediocre tricks.
In the Hongzhi Dynasty, it was a magical skill that opened the eyes of the emperor and ministers!
Zhuang Zhuang, who was sitting on Chang Tian's lap, clapped his hands excitedly and shouted, "Wow, the elephant is so annoying!"
From Emperor Hongzhi to Empress Zhang, to the ministers and female relatives, everyone was smiling.
Changfeng was also happy. After all, the Elephant Training Center is under the jurisdiction of Beizhen Fusi. The elephant taming station felt comfortable serving the emperor and the queen, and his face as the caretaker of Beizhen also felt bright.
Shouning Hou Zhang Luanru, who was sitting in the second row, was in a dream.
Only seven years ago, he was a run-down scholar who failed to succeed after repeated attempts. He spent all his money to donate the title of supervisor.
The family cannot even guarantee three meals of white flour. I also have multigrain pancakes for dinner in the evening.
Seven years later, he was honored as the head of the country and the Marquis of the Ming Dynasty. There are countless mountains of gold and silver in my family, which I can never spend in my lifetime.
Today I followed the emperor to observe the phenomenon again and saw the legendary auspicious beast.
Zhang Luan was overly happy for a moment and felt that his blood began to surge again. In the past month or so, his blood has surged whenever he encountered something happy.
Zhang Luan shouted: "Hey! Okay! I'm rich!"
This shout was quickly drowned out by bursts of exclamation and laughter from the observatory.
Just as there was laughter and laughter in the elephant training center. The situation changes suddenly!
The leader of the elephant slaves, Wei Chaoming, made a gesture to the five elephants.
The five elephants immediately fell to the ground.
All twenty elephant slaves climbed onto the elephant's saddle.
Emperor Hongzhi thought that the elephant slaves were going to perform some novel acrobatics, and he was looking forward to it.
It's too late to say it, but it's soon! The elephant slaves suddenly picked up the bamboo from the elephant saddle. All those bamboos have their heads sharpened!
These pointed bamboos hanging from the elephant saddle are very common and not very noticeable.
Once held in the hands of the elephant slaves, it becomes a real bamboo gun!
Wei Chaoming shouted: "Dog Emperor, take your life!"
After shouting, the five elephants ran wildly towards the observatory! The sound of the elephant trotting along was thunderous and earth-shaking!
Regardless of ancient China, ancient India, or ancient Egypt, elephants have never been playthings. But a weapon for charging into battle!
The elephant is only half a mile from the observatory. The Han generals responsible for the escort had no time to react!
Emperor Hongzhi and his ministers also realized that this was to assassinate the king and kill him!
The observatory immediately became a mess. No one wants to be trampled to pieces by an elephant!
Chang Feng shouted hysterically: "Guard me! Guard me!"
However, there were only two hundred Han generals in front of the observatory. There is no way to stop five elephants with rough heads and thick flesh that are rampaging!
For a moment, Chang Feng broke into a cold sweat!
The elephant slave of the elephant taming station under Fusi of Beizhen assassinated the king and killed him. Regardless of whether it is successful or not, his immediate boss cannot absolve himself of the blame!
If Emperor Hongzhi escaped death, it would be easy to say. After all, Emperor Hongzhi favored Chang Feng. At most, he would be fired from his job.
If Emperor Hongzhi is assassinated and dies, a new emperor will take the throne. Chang Feng, the immediate superior of the elephant training center, will definitely be killed!
Regardless of whether Chang Feng participated in the assassination or not, he is the person directly responsible!
No matter how smart and capable Chang Feng is, he is just a human being, not a god with magical power! He wanted to rush towards Emperor Hongzhi to escort him. The flow of people fleeing in panic blocked his way.
So what if he rushes in front of Emperor Hongzhi? How can a mortal body live in the huge body of a giant elephant! It's just that he was trampled into a pulp together with Emperor Hongzhi!
The five giant elephants are only fifty steps away from Emperor Hongzhi!
Emperor Hongzhi and Empress Zhang were stunned. Xiao Jing, who was waiting on the side, was so frightened that he collapsed on the ground and trembled.
Thirty or forty Han generals rushed forward with spears in hand, trying to resist the giant elephant's footsteps. Either they were knocked several feet away, or they were directly trampled to death by the giant elephant.
Emperor Hongzhi and Empress Zhang almost died!
Chang Feng closed his eyes in despair. The Chang family is finished! Seven years of good luck are over. There is no escape from bad luck this time!
In the blink of an eye, a magical scene happened.
Chang Tian, who was holding a strong figure in his arms, was squeezed by the crowd and was about to be pushed off the elephant training platform.
She could only use all her strength to throw her nephew Zhuangzhuang to her sister-in-law Liu Xiaoyan.
Liu Xiaoyan caught Zhuang Zhuang. But Chang Tian lost his balance and fell under the elephant training platform.
The elephant training platform is not high. Chang Tian only suffered minor injuries from the fall.
She looked up and saw that the first of the five giant elephants was already less than ten steps away from her!
Once that huge elephant hoof falls on her, she will turn into a pulp!
When Chang Feng saw this scene, a series of complex emotions such as panic, fear, and sadness surged into his heart.
He shouted: "Tangtang, run!"
But Chang Tian, a young girl, was already stunned when she saw such a scene. Where can I think about running?
She stood frozen in place. The Seven Souls have scared the Six Souls away!
Sometimes, many things in the world can only be explained by metaphysics.
Even if later generations approach science, they can't deny the existence of metaphysics in the world even if they shoot 10,000 issues.
Seeing that the elephant riding on the assassin Wei Chaoming was about to knock Chang Tian away or trample him into a pulp.
Suddenly, the elephant stopped!
The elephant herd relies heavily on the head elephant. The first elephant stopped, and the other four giant elephants also stopped.
The elephant fell to the ground on all fours and sat down in front of Chang Tian.
It stretched out its trunk and gently rubbed Chang Tian's arm with its trunk. As if comforting the disfigured girl.
The four giant elephants behind them followed suit. Also sat down.
The leader, Wei Chaoming, shouted hysterically: "Beast, charge quickly! Kill the Dog Emperor!"
The elephant was unmoved. A pair of big gong-like eyes looked at Chang Tian tenderly.
Chang Tian has been very courageous since he was a child. She actually reached out her hand and touched the trunk of the elephant, which was as thick as a human waist.
The head elephant said "moo". As if responding to the girl's gentle touch.
Assassin Wei Chaoming calmed down. He knew that Touxiang stopped because of this girl.
Wouldn't it be better to kill this girl?
He raised the bamboo spear in his hand high and threw it at Chang Tian.
The elephant actually noticed Wei Chaoming's movements as if there were eyes on its back.
It flapped its trunk directly and blocked Chang Tian with its trunk. The bamboo spear couldn't penetrate the thick-skinned trunk of the elephant, so it fell to the ground.
Tou Xiang deliberately shook his body and threw Wei Chaoming heavily to the ground!
The other four giant elephants followed suit and shook their bodies one after another. One by one, the elephant slaves fell off their backs and landed on the ground.
Changfeng was overjoyed. Shout: "Kill the thief! Protect him!"
A group of Han generals reacted from their initial panic. He picked up his sword and gun and rushed towards the elephant slaves!
Chang Feng also exerted extra effort, squeezed through the crowd and jumped off the elephant platform. He took out the Xiuchun Niangsi sword he was carrying and rushed towards the assassins.
Fighting for his life with the assassin is Chang Feng's only chance to save the Chang family's wealth!
The elephant slaves lost their fighting ability when they fell off the elephant's back.
Twenty bamboo spears are no match for more than 170 Han generals!
The generals of the Han Dynasty knew full well that it was their duty to protect the emperor. If the assassins succeed, they will be greeted by the executioners!
They fought hard for the lives of their whole family!
After just one stick of incense, fifteen of the twenty elephant slaves were killed and five were captured alive!
Emperor Hongzhi and Empress Zhang stood on the observatory and saw the whole process from the elephant slave launching the assassination to Chang Tian blocking the elephant, to the Han generals killing and capturing thieves.
Queen Zhang has calmed down. She is a very smart woman, and she thinks in her heart: The elephant training place was built by the emperor because of me. Today's observation is my suggestion.
The emperor was assassinated today at the elephant training station. I can't blame myself.
However, what if it was my sister-in-law who rescued you in a critical moment? That will be different!
Thinking of this, Empress Zhang said to Emperor Hongzhi: "Your Majesty, the souls of Taizu and Taizong have possessed the Chang family girl! It must be the ancestors who used the Chang family girl's body to protect the Emperor!"
Emperor Hongzhi came back to his senses and said, "This woman... is definitely not a mortal woman! All things have animism. Why is this five-headed giant elephant as big as a small mountain only obedient to her?"
The Han generals have taken control of the situation.
Chang Tian was still standing under the observatory.
An even more incredible scene happened.
The five giant elephants stood up first. Then he knelt down on both front hooves and bent his big head to the ground. It was like a living person, as if he was worshiping Chang Tian or Emperor Hongzhi.
Xiao Jing is a timid person. At the critical moment just now, he collapsed to the ground in fear.
Now that the crisis was over, he regained his energy: "The emperor is the emperor and the emperor. Everything in the world is the emperor's ministers! The giant elephant is bowing to the emperor and saluting the emperor!"
Emperor Hongzhi regained his composure: "Hurry and treat the ministers who were trampled and injured! In addition, the assassins are elephant slaves, not five giant elephants. Treat the giant elephants kindly!"
"Go back to the palace immediately!"
The Han generals protected Emperor Hongzhi and his wife and left the observatory.
Chang Tian is still standing in front of the giant elephant.
Chang Feng rushed to Chang Tian's side and hugged his sister: "Tangtang, you scared my brother to death!"
Chang Tian said: "That's weird, brother. I seem to be old friends with these big guys."
Chang Feng is a maniac about doting on his younger sister. His sister narrowly escaped death, and he, known as "Chang Butcher", actually shed tears: "As long as you're okay, it's okay."
After speaking, Chang Feng hugged Chang Tian tighter.
At this moment, Xiao Jing ran over and said, "Chief Chang Zhen, the emperor ordered you to go to Qianqing Palace."
Chang Feng's heart trembled: It's over! There was a conspiracy to assassinate the king and kill the driver in the elephant training center. The emperor will definitely hold me accountable!
Xiao Jing added, which reduced Chang Feng's worries by nine points: "The emperor said that when you enter the palace, take Chang Tian, the great minister who is escorted by King Qin with you!"
