Outside Yanhui Gate, the south gate of Ningyuan City, Man Gui was wearing armor and leading a war horse.
Behind him were the soldier captain Gao Fei and more than a dozen soldiers, all of whom were good at crawling out from the pile of dead people.
Man Gui looked at Zhao Shujiao who looked a little angry next to him, then looked at the city gate, and pulled Zhao Shujiao aside.
"Brother Zhao, after I leave, except for you, all the other generals in Ningyuan City are native to Liaodong.
There is no doubt that they are loyal to the Ming Dynasty, but it is also true that they exclude foreign generals.
I was here before, and as a commander-in-chief, I could still protect you.
After I leave, you have to be careful. If they say some unpleasant things, just endure it.
If I am going here and back just for Hajj, then I will come back after a while. If you want to investigate me, I will risk my life to ask Your Majesty to transfer you out. "
"Brother Man, I have good intentions. Please don't offend His Majesty. It's nothing if a brother suffers a little grievance. The war is about to begin, so they don't dare to go too far!"
After Zhao Shujiao finished speaking, he lowered his voice: "Brother Man, regarding the governor in the city..."
"Shh!"
Man Gui's face turned solemn: "Brother Zhao, this is Jiannu's counterintuitive plan. Jiannu couldn't attack for a long time, so he wanted to use the counterintuitive plan to kill people with a borrowed knife.
Or transfer the supervisor away from Ningyuan to achieve their goals,
Although Governor Yuan is usually a bit irritable, does things unfairly, and likes to talk about world affairs,
But he will never do such a dishonorable thing. He is absolutely loyal to Ming Dynasty.
Just in terms of means and actions... Well, sooner or later it will bring disaster to oneself. "
"Brother Man, it's good if you understand. I'm really worried that you will criticize me when you go back. This will not please both parties."
Zhao Shujiao breathed a sigh of relief, then waved to the back. A sergeant handed over a pot of tea and poured a bowl for everyone.
"Brother Man, brothers, alcohol is prohibited in the army, so I will give you tea instead of wine to see you off!"
Behind Zhao, a group of about ten guardsmen, generals, and guerrillas said in unison: "Send all the troops to you, sir, have a good trip!"
"What are you doing?"
Mangui took the tea and drank it in one gulp. He looked at his subordinates in the camp and said angrily: "I'm just going back to perform Hajj. I'm not going to the guillotine. Go back to me and kill a few more slaves for me!"
After saying that, he threw the bowl away, jumped on his horse, clamped the horse's belly hard, and the horse galloped.
Upon seeing this, Gao Fei raised his fist towards Zhao Shujiao and flew onto his horse, followed by several soldiers.
"The mountains are high and the rivers are long, we will meet again later!"
Man Gui's voice floated in the wind, looking a little sad.
"Brother Man, take care!"
Listening to the voice, Zhao Shujiao also clasped his fists and looked at the increasingly blurry figure.
It wasn't until Mangui and others disappeared from sight at the end of the world that he put down his fists, turned around and walked towards the city.
No one noticed that the moment he turned around, his face turned completely cold.
A few days later, several war horses appeared outside Beijing. Most of the people on the horses were wearing armor. Although they were dusty, the eyes of the generals on the horses were still cold.
The city gate guard immediately let them go after checking Mangui and others' seals and edicts to return to the capital.
Entering the city, the huge noise was in sharp contrast with the silence outside the city, as if the city wall was the dividing line between the two worlds.
The streets are clean and tidy, with an endless stream of pedestrians and vendors selling goods. Although they are very busy, everyone has a smile on their face.
"This, this...is the capital?"
Gao Fei behind Man Gui was a little surprised. He had come to Beijing not once or twice.
But every time I come here, the people in Beijing either have eyes that reach to the top of their heads, or their eyes are numb, or they are trying to attract cats and dogs.
With the scene in front of him, if he hadn't come back with Hanlin Chengzhi, he would have doubted whether this was the city of Beijing.
Although Man Gui didn't speak, his eyes were still full of doubts. While he was doubtful, most of the worries in his eyes disappeared at this moment.
"Commander Man, I will go back to the palace to report first. I have about two-quarters of an hour of free time. Why don't you go to the guild hall to wash up and wait for His Majesty's summons?"
"Can!"
Mangui did not hesitate at all. Although he did not pay attention to these things, he still had to do good etiquette when meeting the emperor.
After arriving at the guild hall and washing up, as soon as Man Gui arrived outside the palace gate, he saw a eunuch coming to greet him. After explaining his purpose, Man Gui followed the eunuch into the palace.
After entering Dongnuan Pavilion, Mangui immediately saluted: "Your Majesty, your Majesty, Mangui!"
Hearing the voice, Chongzhen put down the memorial in his hand and looked up at Mangui. It was as recorded in the book that he had a majestic appearance and a burly figure.
Perhaps because he had been fighting in the army for many years, his skin looked rough and dark, but his eyes were bright.
"Man Aiqing, what do you think of Yuan Chonghuan, the governor of Jiliao, and the soldiers of Liaodong?"
Man Gui's heart tightened, but she was complaining in her heart. She was just giving him a proposal when they met.
"Why, you have worked with him for six years and don't know him?"
Faced with Chongzhen's questioning again, Mangui's face condensed: "Your Majesty, since Nurhachi raised his army in the forty-sixth year of Wanli,
For more than ten years, the slave atmosphere has been raging, people are frightened and want to escape, the soldiers are afraid of the enemy but not the general.
After Governor Yuan took office, his appearance changed drastically. The soldiers used his orders to make the soldiers and civilians live in peace. He was a great talent! "
"oh!"
Chongzhen said calmly: "There are rumors in Ningyuan City that Huang Taiji gave Yuan Chonghuan a big gift and wanted to recruit him to surrender. Is it true?"
"Jiannu was unable to attack for a long time and suffered heavy casualties. It was just a counter-measure."
His face was extremely serious: "Your Majesty, although I have differences with Governor Yuan, the differences are only in the defense of the city, money and food, and the unbalanced distribution of resources.
It is said that it is all about interests, but this cannot deny that Governor Yuan is loyal to the Ming Dynasty.
The governor vigorously defended the dangerous territory and killed the enemy several times outside the city, which is enough to prove it. "
Chongzhen stared at Mangui closely.
Man Gui was under great pressure from being stared at by Chongzhen's deep eyes. She was not under such great pressure when facing Jian Nu's thousands of troops.
"What if I believe it?"
"Your Majesty will not. Your Majesty is a wise king in the prosperous times. He will never believe in such childish alienation tactics as establishing slaves, let alone destroy the Great Wall."
Without waiting for Chongzhen to ask, Mangui continued: "A person's eyes will betray his heart. Nowadays, the appearance of the people in Beijing has changed drastically, and their eyes are full of longing.
On the city walls, the sergeants' appearance was neat and tidy, the streets were clean and tidy, and the merchants and common people were not afraid of the government officials.
Although it was just a glimpse into the city, it was enough to prove His Majesty's image in the hearts of the people.
The people's heart is the heart of heaven. Your Majesty understands this truth and is doing it. This is enough to believe that Your Majesty is a wise king. "
This was also the reason why most of the worries in his eyes disappeared after he entered the city and saw the scene.
"Hahaha, Mangui, you are very good!"
Chongzhen smiled, and he was very satisfied with several trials.
If Mangui uses this to criticize Yuan Chonghuan, even if he uses it, he will not reuse it. He ignores the overall situation for personal interests. This kind of person may surrender one day.
He could hear the sincerity in Man Gui's words. He did not shy away from the conflict between himself and Yuan Chonghuan, but he would not criticize the other party for it.
There is only the righteousness of the family and the country and loyalty to the Ming Dynasty, which is what he wants to see the most.
No wonder Sun Chengzong commented on him: He was brave enough to dive deep, and he was truly loyal and sincere. Only then could he be generous and magnanimous.
"My dear companion, please give me a seat and some tea!"
After Mangui sat down, Chongzhen picked up a booklet from the dragon table and handed it over: "Look at this first!"
