Li Qing's journey took two days and one night, and the army traveled for half a month.
Approaching the border, Li Qing ordered the army to be stationed. At the same time, he asked He Yong to hand over the weapons of his men to the Ming army and return them to them after the emperor appointed them.
He Yong had no objection to this. The four thousand of them couldn't afford to make waves, and it didn't matter whether they had weapons or not.
By handing it over to the Ming army, misunderstandings can be avoided.
After resting for a day and handing over, the army continued to advance.
When he arrived at the border pass, he was stopped by the guarding general as expected.
Li Qing went up to explain and took out the Emperor's Xinbao, which calmed the situation.
They entered Zijingguan without any danger and traveled for another three days before arriving at the capital.
The Ming army could enter the city, but He Yong's four thousand subordinates could never enter the city, even though they had surrendered and even though they had no weapons.
Li Qing left a thousand Ming troops behind to take care of him, and then led He Yong and Nasen into the city.
…
As soon as they entered Zijingguan, Li Qing had someone report the news of the army's return to Beijing to Zhu Qiyu. Zhu Qiyu didn't know the specific situation, but he already knew that the Supreme Emperor had not returned and that four thousand Tatars had taken refuge.
For some reason, when he learned that his eldest brother was not back, he felt inexplicably lighter.
But then, I couldn't help but sigh: Mr. Li really kept his promise, but if his eldest brother doesn't come back for a day, they won't give up; óΠъ.oяＧ
In the end, I still have to bring my eldest brother back!
The cost of this trip was not great. Apart from some extra livestock and 10,000 taels of silver, there was no other loss.
However, compared with the consumption of four thousand iron cavalry, this amount of money is simply huge.
The Ming Dynasty got four thousand cavalry, and the Tatars were four thousand short. One plus and one minus equaled eight thousand. Zhu Qiyu could still figure this out.
After the afternoon, Zhu Qiyu stayed in the imperial study for a while and then went to the harem.
I briefly told Mr. Sun the results.
"Li Qing is willing to take back the Emperor. Perhaps the Tatars are dissatisfied with their desires, so they force the Emperor to stay." Zhu Qiyu excused Li Qing, and then assured, "Don't worry, Queen Mother, I will definitely take back the Emperor."
When Mrs. Sun heard that her son had not come back, her face suddenly turned ugly, and she snorted: "Those things the emperor brought are too shabby, just like giving them away to beggars. It's not surprising that this is the result."
After a pause, "The Ai family understands that the emperor cherishes the country's strength, but isn't it important for the emperor to do so?"
Mrs. Sun's words were not too unpleasant, mainly because she made a mistake last time, which made her a little afraid, fearing that Zhu Qiyu's grandson would be disadvantaged.
She didn't suspect that Li Qing was causing trouble, but she instinctively felt that Zhu Qiyu didn't want his son to come back.
Sun's utilitarianism is very important. People who are utilitarian also think in terms of utility when thinking about problems.
It would be in the greatest benefit to the emperor if the Supreme Emperor could not come back. Of course she suspected that Zhu Qiyu did it on purpose.
Zhu Qiyu nodded and said: "What the Queen Mother said is that the Supreme Emperor is definitely more important. When Li Qing comes to the palace to reply, I will ask for details. If it is because of money, I will not be stingy."
"The eldest brother is like father. The emperor has a heart of benevolence and filial piety. The Ai family is very pleased." Sun said lightly, "The Ai family also wants to listen. The emperor won't have any objections, right?"
She was worried about Zhu Qiyu.
Zhu Qiyu smiled: "The Queen Mother wants to know about the current situation of the Supreme Emperor. Of course I have no objection. There are still some state affairs, so I will go back first."
"Your Majesty, go slowly." Mrs. Sun said something for the occasion, and when Zhu Qiyu walked away, she added: "Bah, you hypocrite."
After sitting for a while, she got up and rushed to the front hall.
…
After entering the city, Li Qing and Shi Biao separated.
Shi Biao led the army back to the capital camp, and Li Qing led He Yong, Na Sen, and Jin Yiwei to return the order.
When we arrived at the gate of the palace, it was already afternoon time.
Li Qing first asked the Jin Yiwei to go into the palace to report, while he, He Yong, and Na Sen waited outside.
He Yong was a prisoner before, and Nasen was a general of the grassland tribe. It was unjustifiable that he was not allowed to bring the two of them into the palace rashly.
He has great energy and privileges, but he cannot act recklessly.
Two quarters of an hour later, hundreds of households in brocade clothes left and returned.
"Mr. Li, the emperor ordered you to enter the palace."
Li Qing nodded: "Where are they?"
"The emperor agreed to the summons." Baihu smiled and said, "Please invite me."
The two glanced at Li Qing, who gave them a reassuring look and walked in.
"There is an old saying among the Han people: Once you come, let it go." He Yong whispered, "We are all here, let's go."
Nasen nodded imperceptibly, and followed Li Qing's pace with He Yong.
…
Step into the nave.
Li Qing was slightly surprised when he found that Sun was there, but then he was relieved.
As a mother, she still can't let go of her son, even though there was such a quarrel.
"Long live my emperor, my dearest minister, and the Queen Mother." Li Qing saluted.
He Yong and Nasen prostrated themselves.
"Excuse me." Zhu Qiyu and Sun spoke at the same time.
Mrs. Sun waited for two hours and even had lunch in the middle hall, just to prevent Zhu Qiyu from coming. She didn't care about being rude and spoke first:
"Li Qing's family, have you seen the Supreme Emperor?"
"I see, the Emperor is very good." Li Qing nodded, "The Tatars returned with a huge defeat in the last battle, and they don't dare to be disrespectful to the Emperor."
Sun's face softened a little, "In that case, why are they unwilling to let the Supreme Emperor come back?"
"Queen Mother, it's not that the Tatars won't let the Supreme Emperor come back. In fact, the Tatars are of little use keeping the Supreme Emperor." Li Qing sighed, "It's that the Supreme Emperor doesn't want to come back!"
"How is this possible?" Sun stood up suddenly, with a face full of disbelief: "Li Qing, you lied!"
Li Qing looked aggrieved: "If the Queen Mother doesn't believe it, you can ask them both."
Both of them could speak Chinese, and they raised their hands and said, "That's what Mr. Li said."
Mrs. Sun sneered: "The Ai family knows about it, and you colluded before going."
As he said that, he glanced at Zhu Qiyu emphatically, and then turned his attention to He Yong.
"The Ai family has met you before. If I remember correctly, you are the Tatar Grand Master Totu Polo, right?"
He Yong cupped his hands and said, "Queen Mother, my name is He Yong. This time I came to seek refuge with the Ming Dynasty."
Li Qing added: "The name He Yong was given by the Supreme Emperor."
They had made a good confession before they came here, and the three of them were in cahoots with each other, and there was no leakage.
"Haha, just act." Mrs. Sun sneered again and again: "You really think that the Ai family is a fool, can you at least make it decent?
You can tell me all the lame reasons why the Emperor doesn't want to come back. Do you believe it yourself? "
Zhu Qiyu also didn't believe it. What's so good about the grassland? The bitter cold land couldn't be half as good as the Ming Dynasty.
"Li Qing, what's going on?" Zhu Qiyu said: "The Emperor doesn't want to come back, there must be a reason, right?"
Li Qing didn't explain any more and just enlarged his move.
"Your Majesty, this is given to you by the Supreme Emperor." Li Qing untied the package on his body, took out a wooden box and offered it with both hands.
Xiao Hengzi quickly stepped forward to take it and presented it to Zhu Qiyu.
Mrs. Sun's face was raised high and she stretched her neck to see.
Zhu Qiyu took the wooden box and opened it, his pupils shrank and his face moved. He slowly took out the imperial seal and looked at it carefully.
That’s right, this level of craftsmanship and thickness cannot be a fake.
The Emperor's Trust Treasure is the most important of the many imperial seals.
It symbolizes military power!
Sun's face couldn't help but change slightly. She didn't expect her son to ask Li Qing to bring this thing back.
She has been in the palace since she was a child and has been exposed to the influence of her ears and eyes. She knows everything about the royal family in detail. Naturally, she knows the importance, specialness and significance of sending this imperial seal back.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty has something else for you." Li Qingyou took out a square piece of cotton cloth.
Xiao Hengzi stepped forward to take it and presented it to Zhu Qiyu.
Zhu Qiyu unfolded it and read softly: "I have been in the imperial court for fourteen years..."
After reading these few words, he stopped talking, because he realized that this was an... edict to sin against oneself.
Sun stretched her neck again and again, but this time it was not the imperial seal. The cotton cloth was facing Zhu Qiyu, and she could not read a single word on it.
After not seeing him for a year, how could a mother like her not miss her son?
Simply ignoring the Queen Mother's demeanor, she stood up and walked behind Zhu Qiyu to take a look.
With just one glance, she was sure that her son had written it correctly.
But the content inside shocked her.
My son, who has always been stubborn, actually... admitted his mistake?
How can this be?
She couldn't believe it, but couldn't refute it.
The ink mark definitely belonged to her son, and he even gave it the imperial seal. Sun opened her mouth again and again, but still could not utter a single word.
She was so angry that she trembled all over and gritted her teeth: What do you think, naughty kid?
Don’t you even want the throne?
When you come back, the two of us will join forces inside and outside, and maybe we can get the throne back... Mrs. Sun was so depressed that she almost couldn't get over.
