On the first day of August, the morning bell rings and the night ban is lifted.
The quiet city of Beijing slowly became lively. Some small vendors pushing carts walked out of their houses one after another and walked towards the main street.
When they arrived at the main street, groups of sergeants carrying brooms and shovels came from all directions and began to clean the streets from Anding Gate to Meridian Gate.
On the city wall, the Ming military flag took on a new look and fluttered in the wind.
After the cleaning was completed, everyone was surprised to find that the sergeants brought buckets of clean water to clean the streets, and then picked up good loess to start filling the potholes on the streets.
"It seems like water is poured on the street and the road is paved with loess?"
"Nonsense, we are not blind. What is going on? Your Majesty is going on a patrol?"
"Didn't the imperial court announce the great victory of Zunhua a few days ago? Why do we still need to go on patrol? Could it be that Zunhua can't stop it and the emperor wants to conquer it himself?"
"I just said that the Zunhua victory a few days ago was a show staged by the imperial court. It can't be covered up now. It's a slap in the face!"
"Huh, you see clearly, the end of this road is Andingmen, not Deshengmen. Do you know what Andingmen means?"
"Andingmen? The gate where troops are sent out to conquer and return after victory? Does it mean stability after the war? Hiss... So it means that the army won the battle and the troops returned to the court?"
"It's not stupid. Splashing water to clean the streets, paving the road with loess, and saying "Yuan Ji Gao Ying" below, coupled with the Anding Gate, we can be sure that the army will win the battle."
…
The common people were talking as they watched the sergeants cleaning the streets. The news that the army had won the battle and returned to the court quickly spread from the vicinity of Andingmen to the entire city of Beijing.
At a quarter of the hour, Sun Chengzong led the civil and military officials who stayed in Beijing out of the Anding Gate. A dark mass stood on the left side of the road.
On the right side are officials such as Taichang Temple Minister, Shaoqing, and Doctors, and behind them are Xielu Lang, Zanli Lang, Si Le, etc.
In anticipation, the songs of victory and triumph sounded, from intermittent at first, to clearly audible, to like the waves crashing on the shore, Chongzhen's army finally appeared in everyone's sight.
Uh...ang...
Several horn horns sounded at the same time on the city wall, an apricot-yellow banner was erected from the city gate, several fire flags and large lanterns cleared the way, and several war drums were beaten by drummers.
Dong dong, dong dong, dong dong dong dong...
The sound of the drum suddenly started, like thousands of horses galloping, and like the crashing waves on the shore. It was powerful and exciting, making the people near the city gate get goosebumps all over their bodies.
There was no need to look outside the city. From the momentum of the drums, one could tell that a great victory must have been won.
"Your Majesty, Sun Chengzong, together with hundreds of officials from the capital, respectfully welcome your Majesty's subordinate to return to the court!"
Seeing Chongzhen's dragon chariot approaching, Sun Chengzong knelt down instantly, and all the officials behind him also knelt down.
He shouted long live, long live, long live, long live, long live, long live, his voice soared into the sky.
"Sun Aiqing is exempt from courtesy, and all of you Aiqing are safe!"
After the ministers thanked them, they stood up. Sun Chengzong said solemnly: "Your Majesty, the Taimiao and the Taisha are ready. Your Majesty can go to the two places to pay homage first and to present the victory and the prisoners!"
"I know!"
There is a whole set of etiquette procedures for returning from a victorious battle. After the army only stopped for a while, they marched towards the city again.
Baigan soldiers, Xuanfu soldiers, etc. were stationed outside the city. The other armies, except for the Tengxiang right guards, returned to their respective positions.
Chongzhen led the officials towards the Ancestral Temple, and the Anding Gate was closed again, but the streets were crowded with people coming from other streets to watch the excitement.
When Chongzhen paid his last respects at the Ancestral Temple, several people gathered in the lobby of the Kong family's mansion in Beijing, but everyone's face was full of doubts.
"Second uncle, the sound of drums and music outside seems a bit strange, as if I have heard it somewhere."
Kong Shangda, who was sitting at the head of the table, did not respond, but tapped the edge of the table with his fingers. After a while, he suddenly said: "The sound of drums and music coming from outside is a gift from the master."
"Master's gift?"
Kong Xingxie repeated it softly, and then stood up instantly: "Military salute, triumphant victory? Could it be that the imperial court won a great victory and the troops returned to the imperial court?"
Could it be that the imperial court expelled the Jiannu who entered the Pass from Longjing Pass? How is this possible? That's cavalry. Which army can compete with it?
Could it be that the Guan Ning cavalry from Liaodong is coming? That is impossible.
Guan Ning's cavalry only had more than 20,000 men, and it was impossible to withdraw them all. How could they stop the slave-building army with a long-distance attack? what is going on? "
"Holy Son, something big has happened, something big has happened!"
While Kong Xingxie was muttering to himself, a guard rushed in in a panic, shouting loudly.
The exclamation woke up Kong Xingxie and said angrily: "Why are you so panicked? The sky is falling?"
"Holy Son, my subordinates heard the comments of the people passing by at the door. This morning, water was suddenly poured in front of Anding's door to clean the street, and the road was paved with loess.
Sun Chengzong led the officials out of the city. Now the emperor led the army into Andingmen. According to the people's comments, it seemed that he had won a great victory. His Majesty now took the officials to the Ancestral Temple to pay their respects. "
"We're in big trouble!"
After listening to the report, Kong Xingxie sat down on the chair in shock, his face pale.
"Why are you panicking?"
Kong Shangda picked up the tea cup with a calm expression and took a sip of tea, and said calmly: "So what if we win the battle? You know the combat power of the Dajin Cavalry, can the imperial court resist it?
Of course, it is possible to heap the lives of the soldiers and annihilate Dajin's 10,000 cavalry at the cost of 100,000 casualties, which can be considered a victory, but this kind of military order that does not care about the life and death of the soldiers is the work of a foolish king.
"Okay, let's wait and see what happens!"
Seeing what Kong Xingxie wanted to say, Kong Shangda interrupted him and looked at the guards who came in: "Go find a copy of today's Daming Daily.
Big news like this will definitely be published in the Ming Dynasty Daily, let’s see what it says! "
After hearing this, the guard immediately turned and left.
Not only the Confucius Mansion, but also several mansions in Beijing were performing the same scene, with countless servants pouring into the streets to inquire about the news.
At this moment, in Beijing City, although the nine gates are still closed, the city is very lively, and people are discussing everywhere...guessing what this victory will be like.
Many people wait at the place where the Ming Daily is sold on weekdays. They know that the Ming Daily will definitely publish it.
While waiting, more than a hundred children rushed out of the yamen where the Ming Dynasty Daily was printed.
"Selling newspapers..."
"Kid, we want all of today's Daming Daily."
"You want them all? No, today's Ming Dynasty..."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Wouldn't it be better to sell out and go home early?"
"That's what I said, but today..."
"This is fifty taels of silver. Give me all the Daming Daily newspapers in your hands!"
The person at the front of the crowd threw a silver coin over and directed several subordinates to grab the newspaper from the child's hand.
"Let me tell you fellow citizens, today's Daming Daily must have published something about the great victory. If you want to know more, you can buy a newspaper from me for thirty copper coins.
Don’t think it’s expensive, this kind of inspiring news is definitely worth it!
And today’s newspapers have all been bought, so you don’t have anywhere to buy them! If you want to buy it, hurry up. If you’re quick, you’ll get it, but if you’re slow, you won’t! "
