The Tatar army left and attacked the Ming Dynasty.
Mu Zhuoer is here to catch up with Li Qing.
"I'm sorry." Mu Zhuoer apologized.
Li Qing sighed bitterly: "Is there any use in saying this?"
Mu Zhuoer was silent for a moment and said: "We are about to move. This time the Tatars are almost out in force. To prevent Oara from sneaking a surprise attack, we can only move in advance."
"This is your business." Li Qing said firmly.
"Yes." Mu Zhuoer nodded lightly and said hopefully: "I won't be leaving in a few days after I feel better. Can you... accompany me for the last part of the journey?"
The problem is that if you don't let him go, I can't leave even with Zhu Qizhen... Li Qing nodded: "Okay."
"Thank you."
~
Capital.
With no one available in the court, Yu Qian could only be put in charge of defense.
The ministers agreed with this and raised their hands in approval.
Yu Qian did not want to deal with them, but Yu Qian was a civilian official, and it was their dream to be a civilian official in charge of the army. Now that they got what they wanted, how could they refuse.
Once the precedent is set, it will be of great benefit to them.
Yu Qian will retire sooner or later, and even if they are gone, the younger generations will be able to step up.
The Ming Dynasty implemented the imperial examination system, but hereditary inheritance still existed. The children of high-ranking officials in the court could directly enter Chinese studies, and without any accident, they could become minor officials.
If it works well, it is not impossible for the younger generation to strive for success and achieve the achievements of their parents.
In addition, they are also good at investing. Whenever there is an imperial examination, they will establish a good relationship with the candidates in advance and use various means and channels to send money to the candidates for their expenses, which can be regarded as forming an alliance in advance.
Even for those who fail the exam later, they will provide money to go back and make a good relationship in case they get into high school in the future.
This was the operation of the Ming Dynasty's bureaucratic system, and it was impossible to prevent it. The court could not detain all candidates.
The candidates insist that the money is theirs, but you can still arrest them and torture them.
The power of civil servants in the Ming Dynasty was also based on this.
But having said that, other dynasties were not much better. At least the imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty were relatively fair.
Because there are sealing lines and copying methods to prevent cheating, it is very difficult to cheat unless the question is leaked, but under normal circumstances, few people dare to risk the Yi clan to do this.
Based on the overall future interests of the civil service group, Yu Qian took control of the military and became popular.
Yu Qian was also helpless about this.
My husband has been working hard to suppress the civilian clique and prevent civilians from taking charge of the army, but in the end, I became an accomplice in pushing the civil servants to become bigger... Yu Qian smiled bitterly: "Alas... everything never goes smoothly!"
Yu Qian recommended Zhang Fu, but everyone opposed it. After all, Zhang Fu lost Zhu Qizhen. This sin cannot be forgiven.
In fact, Zhang Fu was extremely lucky not to be convicted, and the court would never use him again.
Zhu Qiyu's absolute trust forced Yu Qian to step up.
The defense of the capital and the defense of the border fell all at once on Yu Qian.
Zhu Qiyu was also very interesting. He was rewarded with a luxurious house and gave Shang Fang a sword. His favor was endless.
After all, Yu Qian was the only person who spoke for him and thought about him before he ascended the throne. It was also Yu Qian's credit that he ascended the throne.
In this regard, Zhu Qiyu is much more generous than his brother.
Time waits for no one, and it is somewhat too late to deploy border defenses. Yu Qian can only focus on the capital. He runs between the Yamen and the Palace all day long and has no time to return home.
As the days passed, Yu Qian never dared to relax and prepared with all his strength.
…
The capital was very busy, but Li Qing was leisurely on the grassland, eating and drinking all day long, or chatting and reminiscing with Mu Zhuoer.
However, he doesn't like this kind of life, and he also wants to return to the capital.
Although he cannot directly preside over the overall situation with his seventh-grade rank, he can at least provide help to Yu Qian.
There's nothing he can do here, and he doesn't even know what's going on in the capital.
This feeling of uncertainty is not good.
"Are you worried about Daming?" Mu Zhuoer asked.
"Yes, this is cruel to both parties." Li Qing sighed, "I really hope that both parties can put aside their prejudices and coexist harmoniously."
"The prejudices in people's hearts are like mountains, how can they be easily discarded?" Mu Zhuoer said, "You are too idealistic."
Li Qingdao: "Actually, it's possible. Before the First Emperor, there were seven countries in the Central Plains. They spoke different languages and used different characters, but weren't they unified in the end?"
Mu Zhuoer didn't think so, "The grassland is vast. Although the Ming Dynasty was strong, it could not conquer it with force. We are different from you. You pay attention to living and working in peace and contentment, but we pay attention to freedom.
As long as there is a place with abundant water and grass, setting up a tent will be our home. "
"That's true," Li Qing nodded, "This is different from the time of the First Emperor, so I didn't have any intention of conquering by force.
In fact, the national policy of the Hongwu Dynasty was very good. If you are willing to accept the Ming Dynasty and return to the embrace of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty is also willing to accept you, provide you with seeds and cattle, and help you settle down..."
As he spoke, Li Qing sighed: "It's a pity that this moderate and feasible national policy was aborted not long after it was implemented."
"Are you blaming me?" Mu Zhuoer asked emotionally.
Li Qing shook his head: "That's not true. You are just adding fuel to the flames. Even without you, it will still not be able to proceed. In the end, you still don't trust the Ming Dynasty enough, or you are unwilling to give up and want to restore the glory of the Yuan Dynasty in the past."
"Indeed." Mu Zhuoer nodded, "It is the same now."
~
The two chatted for a long time until nightfall, but Mu Zhuoer seemed to have no intention of leaving today.
Even when the female doctor came to ask for her, she would not leave. She would not drink the medicine that was brought to her.
The rich food was brought to her, but she didn't eat it. She just looked at Li Qing infatuatedly and kept looking.
Li Qing felt a little uncomfortable being looked at. As it got later and later, Mu Zhuoer still had no intention of leaving. Li Qing had no choice but to say tactfully:
"We'll talk tomorrow."
"No, I haven't said enough." Mu Zhuoer said angrily, "I won't leave."
Li Qing's head felt heavy and he could only say, "I'm a little sleepy."
"Do you hate me that much?"
"No...the days are long."
Mu Zhuoer pursed her lips and glanced outside, "The moonlight is so beautiful. Come and look at the moon with me."
"...Okay." Li Qing stood up and waited for her.
Mu Zhuoer hesitated to get up. After a long stalemate, she said, "I have no strength left."
Li Qing was startled, lowered his body and said, "I'll help you."
Mu Zhuoer had exhausted everything and could not leave at all. Princess Li Qing hugged her and sat outside the tent.
"Are you... okay?" Li Qing asked softly.
Mu Zhuoer did not answer, but looked at the moonlight happily, "The moonlight is so beautiful tonight!"
"It's quite beautiful. The scenery on the grassland is very good." Li Qing stopped asking this question and smiled to cater to Mu Zhuoer.
The bright moonlight shines on the ground, like condensed frost, which is very beautiful.
The shadows of the two people were stretched so long, but they never met.
Li Qing looked at her thin shoulders and finally couldn't bear it. He stretched out his hand and hugged her into his arms.
Mu Zhuoer was stunned for a moment, and then she felt an unparalleled sense of happiness. In an instant, she burst into tears.
She hugged Li Qing, snuggled into his arms, and said infatuatedly: "Li Qing, I like you so much, I like you so much, I really like you..."
"I...like you too." Li Qing said, "If I had to do it again, I would never let you go."
"Well, I know that," Mu Zhuoer said shyly, "This princess is so outstanding, what's so great about you as a prince? You are so high up."
"That's the truth." Li Qing nodded, "The main reason is that you, the princess, are too squeamish and will neglect you."
"I'm not squeamish." Mu Zhuoer snorted, "It's you who are not blessed."
Li Qing nodded: "Yes, I am a person who is unlucky."
"You are not allowed to say that." Mu Zhuoer snorted, "I can tell you, but you can't."
"...Okay." Li Qing picked her up, put her on his lap, and hugged her tighter.
Mu Zhuoer pressed her cheek against his chest and said with some difficulty: "Li Qing, they said you can tell a story, tell me one too."
"Okay," Li Qing looked at the bright moon, "can you tell me a story about Chang'e this month?"
"good."
Mu Zhuoer's eyes were filled with tears, her face full of happiness and nostalgia.
Actually...she knows, she knows everything.
But what does that matter?
It was like she knew that this was not her moon, but at this moment, the moonlight did shine on her body.
He talks, she listens...
She just regretted that the time was too short and she never got to hear the ending.
…
Mu Zhuoer is gone...
