The wind brushed the surface of the Qinhuai River, and the coolness of the water blew across both sides of the Dazhong Bridge.
Gu Zhengchen couldn't help but shudder, and then he realized that his back was wet and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
The middle-aged man just now was so powerful!
is it him?
Gu Zhengchen was a little unsure. In terms of appearance, he did not look like a pig or a dragon as was rumored. He was extremely ugly. However, there was no doubt that his cheekbones were bulging and his chin was slightly long. This was consistent with the historical records.
He is majestic and calm, tall and determined, with a bold voice and a guard at his side.
is it him?
Gu Zhengchen raised his hand and touched his forehead, looked towards the distance of West Chang'an Street, turned around and walked to the ferry, found a boat and returned to the inn.
Imperial City, Kunning Palace.
Empress Ma was holding needle and thread, mending clothes like an ordinary woman, and talking to Concubine Guo Ning. Suddenly, a loud voice came from outside the door: "Sister."
Concubine Guo Ning stood up, looked at Queen Ma, and said with a smile: "It's so late, and your Majesty still comes to see the Queen, which shows the deep affection for her."
Queen Ma put down her clothes and went up to Concubine Guo Ning to say Wanfu.
"Concubine Guo Ning is here too."
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to excuse himself.
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's uncontrollable smile, Empress Ma joked to Concubine Guo Ning: "Your Majesty, it's a happy event. Look, he can't hold back any longer."
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily, walked to the table and sat down, putting one hand on the table: "After the evening court, I left the palace incognito, visited the old and weak soldiers of the Beijing Guard, and saw whether the winter cloth given was enough. On the way back to the palace, I met an interesting scholar, and the queen also knew about it."
"Does my concubine also know?"
Queen Ma was a little surprised.
"I have never met him, but I have heard his name."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and saw that Queen Ma couldn't guess it, so he stood up and showed the movements of using the plunder.
Empress Ma suddenly remembered: "Your Majesty is talking about that Gu Zhengchen, right?"
"Liu Zi Ju Ren?"
Concubine Guo Ning looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and Queen Ma suspiciously.
Zhu Yuanzhang sat down again and said to Concubine Guo Ning: "The queen is right, it's the plunderer who can lift people. In the past, people used sickles to cut wheat, and they could only cut two acres in one day. You can use plunderers, and you can cut wheat in one day." Harvest six acres. I have given orders to the northern prefectures and counties to reduce the number of corvees and make more plunder in winter."
Concubine Guo Ning sighed: "You can harvest six acres in one day. Your Majesty, this is a great thing for the people. I heard that during the summer harvest, many crops were beaten to the ground by wind and rain because they were not harvested in time. The people had no choice but to A little bit of wheat was pulled out of the soil, looking miserable..."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly and took the tea bowl brought by Queen Ma: "Summer harvest means competing with the sky for time, not to mention robbing children saves time and effort, which is indeed beneficial to the people."
Empress Ma sat down and picked up her needlework and robe: "This Gu Juren came to Jinling and was met by His Majesty. It shows that there is still some fate. Your Majesty said that he is interesting, but where is the interest?"
Zhu Yuanzhang blew on the tea bowl, took a sip, and said with a smile: "He stood by the bridge and was meditating. I came up to ask, and he actually said that he wanted to find a way to immortalize the dynasty and extend the country forever. Haha, I have the world, and I am a fierce adviser." Countless, but no one has thought about this, even Liu Bowen and Li Shanchang, they have never dared to think about the immortality of the dynasty."
Empress Ma solemnly repeated: "The dynasty will be immortal and the country will last forever?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded solemnly.
Concubine Guo Ning asked: "Then your Majesty believes in him?"
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head slightly: "A young scholar has some talents. If you want me to trust him, these two sentences are not enough. But he has reminded me that if you want to be immortal for generations, you have to boldly take new steps." road."
That’s right, take a new path!
I will do things that people in the previous dynasty did not dare to do.
I will kill those who the previous dynasty did not dare to kill.
As long as they threaten the entire country, I don't mind sending them away.
But now is not the best time to take action.
Empress Ma saw the evil look on Zhu Yuanzhang's face and said quickly: "Perhaps this person can really assist Your Majesty in finding a path to immortality. I wonder how Your Majesty plans to use this person?"
"The officials have made arrangements for him to go to Jurong as the county magistrate."
Zhu Yuanzhang recovered his thoughts and said calmly.
Empress Ma smiled faintly: "It is no ordinary talent to be able to propose that a dynasty will be immortal and a country will last forever."
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Empress Ma was advising him to reuse talents and was being underestimated by the county magistrate Gu Zhengchen. He stood up and said: "If he can't even cure Jurong, then it is nonsense to talk about the immortality of the dynasty and the longevity of the country. I will not punish him." It’s tolerance.”
Concubine Guo Ning covered her mouth and smiled: "Queen, your Majesty is giving him a chance to see if he is really capable."
Queen Ma nodded slightly.
Late at night.
The palace was already quiet, but Zhu Yuanzhang was not sleepy. He closed his eyes and murmured: "Is there really a way to be immortal for ten thousand years in this world? Gu Zhengchen, I am also looking for the answer..."
The next day.
Before dawn, the morning dynasty has begun.
After the discussion, on his way back to Huagai Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his pro-soldier Zhang Huan: "Has the investigation been clear?"
Zhang Huan quickly replied: "Your Majesty, we have investigated clearly. Gu Zhengchen went to Beijing with Liang Jiajun on this trip. Liang Jiajun's father Liang Heng had an old relationship with Kaiji, the assistant teacher of Guozi. Yesterday, the two went to Kaiji's house for a drink as a guest. Kaiji There is no violation of the rules by hosting a simple banquet with four dishes and one soup. Gu Zhengchen's appearance in Dazhong Bridge is purely accidental. He is currently staying at the Baoyuan Inn next to Gongyuan."
"Didn't you report to the official department?"
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly.
Zhang Huan's heart tightened: "No, maybe I just arrived in Beijing and the Mid-Autumn Festival is so close..."
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhang Huan sternly: "You've been a bit talkative lately!"
Zhang Huan quickly apologized.
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhang Huan coldly and arranged: "Let Liu Bowen come to see me."
Zhang Huan responded and let out a long sigh.
After walking out of Baoyuan Inn, Gu Zhengchen took Gu Cheng and Sun Shiba and walked through the streets and alleys of Jinling, enjoying the little freedom and leisure.
In the market, stalls are set up, shouting and soliciting buyers, and passers-by stop and argue over small profits, creating a hustle and bustle in the street.
Walking into an alley, the hustle and bustle fades away.
The quiet lanes are like fetters, connecting thousands of households.
No matter how old or autumn the years go, people can always follow this bond and go home.
Passing through the alleyway and walking out, the noise came again.
Unknowingly, Gu Zhengchen arrived outside Hongwu Gate.
Hongwu Gate faces south and leads directly to Zhengyang Gate. To the north is Qianbu Corridor. On the left and right side of Qianbu Corridor are Zhongshu Province, Wubu and Dadudufu. At the end is Chengtianmen. Behind Chengtianmen are Duanmen, Meridian Gate and the Imperial Palace. .
Hongwumen Street is very lively, and the items sold here are different from the bamboo, wood, firewood, and firewood at Jubaomen. Most of the items sold here are chicken, goose, fish, and vegetables. I think it's convenient for the official to take some food home with him when he goes back.
Gu Zhengchen was about to buy a fish and ask the inn to prepare a good meal for him. He was haggling over the price when the sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance. Gu Cheng and Sun Shiba quickly pulled Gu Zhengchen aside.
Two horses stepped on the official road, making a clattering sound. On top of the horses, the postman bowed his waist, tightened the reins in his hands, and shouted: "Send the good news quickly, make way for Xianza!"
When the people heard about it, they avoided it one after another.
An old man carrying a load moved slowly and had no time to escape. The messenger suddenly pulled up the reins in a hurry, and the horse suddenly retracted its strength. The messenger on his back was unprepared. He turned over the horse's head and fell heavily to the ground. The war horse was frightened, its hooves leaped, and it almost stood up.
Seeing this, Wei Sheng, another post envoy, quickly stopped his horse and got off: "Chen San, Chen San, wake up!"
But the messenger named Chen San fell to the ground and was no longer breathing.
"Doctor, is there a doctor?"
Wei Sheng shouted at the top of his lungs, but when no one answered, he didn't bother to lead the horse anymore and ran towards the Qianbu Corridor.
When the old man saw the dead man, he collapsed on the ground and shivered, and the vegetables in his burden were scattered on the ground. The people did not dare to approach for fear of causing trouble.
"master."
Gu Cheng saw Gu Zhengchen walking out and shouted quickly.
Gu Zhengchen walked to Chen San, leaned down, and checked for breath. He was no longer breathing. He put his fingers on his neck, but there was no movement. He stretched out his hand to open Chen San's eyes and saw that the pupils were not dilated or dilated. He knelt beside Chen San with a solemn expression and moved his wrists.
It was really difficult for me. I only took one first aid course in later generations. I didn’t even have a chance to practice it, and I didn’t know whether I could save him or not.
Just when Gu Zhengchen put his hands on Chen San's chest, a roar came from the distance: "Stop!"
Gu Zhengchen looked up and saw a young man with a square face hurriedly approaching. He was wearing a scarlet robe and had a lion patch on his chest. This man's eyes were big and bright, his eyes were firm and powerful, and his jawline was clear.
"Doctor Wang, go and treat him quickly."
The young man ordered sharply.
Behind him was an elder carrying a medicine box, and four guards with knives.
Gu Zhengchen looked at the young man and took a deep breath. Who is this man? He looks like he is less than thirty years old, but he is already ranked as a second-rank military commander!
Could it be Li Wenzhong?
No, Li Wenzhong and Xu Da were both in the north. Bei Yuan was not honest during this period, not to mention that Li Wenzhong was a first-class governor.
Doctor Wang hurriedly stepped forward to investigate. He stood up helplessly and looked at the young man: "I know the governor, he is dead."
Wei Sheng was so sad that he knelt down not far from Chen San and cried and blamed himself.
"Maybe there's still hope."
Gu Zhengchen knelt, straightened his waist, placed the heel of his left hand on the lower third of Chen San's sternum, and placed his right hand parallel and overlapping on the back of his hand.
"People are dead!"
Doctor Wang was a little angry, and some people actually questioned his judgment.
The young man looked at Gu Zhengchen and asked sharply: "You said he's not dead yet. Are you sure you can revive him?"
Gu Zhengchen adjusted his breathing: "If you keep talking nonsense, he will really die. Get out of the way!"
Canglang!
The guard drew his knife and stepped forward: "How dare you be disrespectful to the Governor?!"
Gu Zhengchen didn't care about anything. He knew that this person did not drown and did not need to clean his mouth and nose. He probably held his breath due to a heavy fall. He could not delay any longer and started to press hard, counting the number of times in his mouth.
The young man raised his hand to stop the guard, looked at Chen San's chest that was constantly rising and falling as he was being pressed, and then looked at Gu Zhengchen. He saw that this man seemed to have spent a lot of effort. Not long after he started, he was already dripping with sweat.
Gu Zhengchen also felt that his energy was being consumed a lot, and he did not dare to stop. He pressed again and again, sweat sliding down his face.
There was silence all around, and the people watching were also staring blankly.
"Come to life!"
Gu Zhengchen gritted his teeth and persisted, shaking his head and causing big beads of sweat to fly out.
