Soon, a master and a servant came in and saluted: "I have seen (see) the emperor."
One just gave a slight salute, but the other knelt down and kowtowed. It was the same greeting, but the way of saluting was completely different.
Zhu Jianshen's expression was calm: "No courtesy."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhen'er stepped forward and started talking to Miss Li.
Wang Zhi also stood up, a look of shock flashed through his eyes, and immediately stood at the door with his waist bent, not to mention saluting Miss Li and her son, without even looking at them.
Zhen'er glanced at Wang Zhi and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
This time, it was not Wang Zhi who was arrogant. On the contrary, it was a display of his cleverness.
The emperor appeared in a private residence, accompanied by a beautiful woman and a young child. How could Wang Zhi not see the truth?
However, this private residence has obviously existed for a long time, but there are no rumors at all in the palace. Even the imperial concubine is secretive when she comes, which is enough to show.
At this time, pretending to be stupid is undoubtedly the best way to behave. If you really rush to salute and flatter, it will bring disaster.
After being trained by Zhen'er for several years and imprisoned in Zhao Prison for a year, Wang Zhi had completely enlightened. Although he was young, he seemed to have integrated into this utilitarian field.
His eyes look at his nose, and his nose looks at his heart, just like a sculpture.
Zhu Jianshen was in a good mood and asked with a smile: "Has Zhen'er had breakfast?"
It's been a while now, Zhen'er has naturally eaten, "Nothing."
"Then let's eat together."
Miss Li hurriedly said: "Sister, sit down quickly, I happen to have an extra pair of chopsticks."
With that said, he handed his pair of chopsticks that he had not yet used to Zhen'er.
At the same time, he picked up his son's chopsticks, picked up a meat bun for him, and whispered: "Call someone."
"Auntie." The child called.
Zhen'er nodded with a smile and joked: "Why, my aunt won't be here for a few days and you won't kiss her?"
"No, no." The little guy shook his head, as if to prove that he was not lying, and handed over the meat bun that he took a bite of, "Auntie, here it is for you to eat."
Miss Li's face changed slightly, and she was about to lecture her son, but Zhen'er took it with a smile and took a bite without any disdain: "My aunt has not loved you in vain."
As he said that, he took out a red envelope and said, "Here, this is the New Year's money given to you by my aunt."
"Thank you, Auntie." The little guy jumped off the chair and took it, laughing.
Seeing this, Miss Li breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious again.
"Eat, it's almost cold."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
…
After dinner, Zhu Jianshen and Zhen'er left. The little guy, who had been active all day, had a rare sad look on his fat face.
Miss Li knew that there was a big gap in his heart, so she comforted him: "Daddy will come again in the future."
"Hmm..." The little guy nodded sadly, and suddenly asked: "Mom, is the relationship between aunt and dad the same as that between you and dad?"
"Uh... why do you ask that?"
"is not it?"
Miss Li hesitated for a moment, nodded and said, "That's right."
The little guy was anxious: "Why? Both father and mother are married?"
The child doesn't understand any big principles, but he can feel some things without being taught. Besides... he is already four years old.
Miss Li thought for a while, her son had reached the age where he could read and write, and she had to try to make him understand some things.
So he said: "Because your father is the emperor, and the emperor must have many women."
"Can't dad just have mom?" He looked unhappy, both for his mother and for himself.
Miss Li smiled bitterly and said: "It has been like this throughout the ages. There is no emperor, only one woman."
"Can……"
"Okay, I missed my homework yesterday, and I can't do it today." Miss Li stood up and said, "Mom, go call your husband. You just stay here."
"I know." The little guy pouted, sullenly holding his fat face.
~
Two people were squeezed into the small sedan chair, which was swaying all the way. It was far less stable than the dragon carriage, but it had a different flavor.
Zhu Jianshen opened half of the sedan curtain and glanced behind him. Wang Zhi was bowing and following the sedan step by step.
After a moment, he lowered the sedan curtain and said softly: "Did you tell me beforehand?"
"No." Zhen'er shook her head and replied in a low voice: "The emperor has told me, how can I dare to go beyond the rules?"
"Well," Zhu Jianshen nodded with satisfaction, "It's like this, but it's usable. It's not in vain to keep him... Ahem, after more than a year of cultivation, I finally got the idea."
Zhen'er smiled and said, "I have long said that Wang Zhi is clever, but you still don't believe it."
"Haha...he is smart, and he was trained by Zhen'er?" Zhu Jianshen joked.
"Hey~" Zhen'er curled her lips and then became serious: "Your Majesty, I have something to ask of you."
Zhu Jianshen was not happy: "Do we still need this between us?"
Zhen'er nodded and said bluntly: "I want to beg the emperor. Even if you don't need him one day, don't abandon him. At least... don't kill the donkey."
Zhu Jianshen was ashamed. He had already done this once.
"If the emperor refuses, then it is better to let him continue to serve his concubine instead of going to the Royal Horse Prison."
"...Okay." Zhu Jianshen nodded, "I promise you not to kill him."
Hearing this, Zhen'er felt relieved and said with a smile: "Wang Zhi will never let the emperor down."
"Are you so confident in him?"
"It's not that I have confidence in him, but that I have confidence in my own training and vision." Zhen'er said.
Zhu Jianshen nodded in amusement and did not continue the topic. Instead, he sighed softly: "After this new year, I will be very busy."
~
"After this year, we will be busy." Li Qing sighed.
Inside the tent, hot pot soup was surging and slices of meat were floating.
However, due to the lack of condiments, it was not very delicious, but Li Qing was used to it.
He Zhong heard this, but his face was filled with sadness.
"Master Marquis, the internal conflicts are almost beyond control. If we don't release them, something will happen." He couldn't hide his worry.
Li Qing nodded: "I understand. Tomorrow you ask someone to send some representatives out and allow them to check on the children's current situation. This will reassure them and stimulate their desire to perform meritorious deeds."
"Yes." He Zhonggong cupped his hands and said, "Master Marquis, when we set off is the key. I apologize for being presumptuous, we can't delay it any longer!"
"Let them see the children and then put it on the agenda." Li Qing said.
He took out the map, pointed to a marked point, and said: "This place was the location of the Tatar camp during the Yongle Dynasty. It is about five hundred miles away from us, and it is also where our next target is."
"Tatar camp?" He Zhong looked suspicious, "Master Marquis, is this... wrong?"
When he was a boy, his father was a Tatar grand master. How could he not know where the Tatar camp was?
"This is the old Tatar camp." Li Qing explained, "In the 22nd year of Yongle, Emperor Taizong's last Northern Expedition defeated the Tatars. When the Tatars fled in panic, the Ming Dynasty polluted the water there with dead enemy soldiers and horse corpses. Forced the Tatars to find a new foothold;
Nearly a month has passed, and I think things have returned to normal there. "
"Ah?" He Zhong was confused and said nonchalantly: "Is there still such a thing?"
"Can I still lie to you?" Li Qing said lightly, "But it's normal that you don't know. Your father was still a little kid at that time."
He Zhongtan nodded: "Yongqing Hou actually knows such secrets. It's really... Mr. Hou, you know so much."
"That's right." Li Qing smiled and said proudly: "I never fight an uncertain battle, so go ahead and make arrangements."
"Yes!" He Zhong stood up, his whole person seemed to be completely reborn, and all his energy was back, "I will do it now."
Li Qing watched him leave with another sigh. He had praised He Zhong enough, but he himself... was worried.
Different from Hezhong's worries, internal conflicts are not a headache worth worrying about in his opinion. With the hostages in hand, the other party cannot change the situation easily.
The current situation is just a means of putting pressure on the opponent. How could Li Qing not see it?
What he was worried about was...how many people and horses now lived in this old Tatar stronghold.
Reminiscing about the grasslands during the Yongle Dynasty, Li Qing could feel that the climate here had also changed, and the grassland population was gradually concentrating.
Otherwise, he would not have misjudged the population of the tribe he was in.
This is not a good thing, because a concentrated population means unification, but it is not entirely a bad thing. With a concentrated population, it will be easier for the Ming Dynasty to fight.
There are advantages and disadvantages...
Of course, this is still far away now, and Li Qing is worried about the present.
"Damn it, I hope it's not too outrageous..."
Li Qing cursed, picked up his chopsticks, banged them on the low table, and started eating...
Ten days later.
Li Qing and He Zhong led 3,000 troops from their own tribe, and then selected 2,000 strong men from this tribe. They only took the provisions when they left and went into battle lightly.
Before leaving, he promised that as long as he fought bravely to kill the enemy, he would not only receive the results of the battle but also free their children.
At the same time, we also promise that those who are not selected will still have opportunities in the future.
He left behind more than 2,000 elite members of his headquarters. They didn't have to do anything. They just had to watch over the children. If someone dared to cause trouble, his children would be killed.
It gave both hope and shock!
After doing this, Li Qing and his five thousand elites set out on the road. gōΠb.ōγg
Due to the great results of the previous battles, all the subordinates were full of fighting spirit. As for the two thousand troops who were forced to participate in the battle, they had to cheer up under the coercion of the children...
It was cold and freezing, and the marching speed was not very fast, but He Zhong was not in a hurry at all.
Because the strategic goal of transferring internal conflicts to external conflicts has been achieved, the rest is to fight.
Three victories in three battles, and one battle in which he won with less and more, his confidence doubled.
However, what he didn't notice was that Marquis Yongqing, who had always been a master of wisdom, showed a faint look of worry.
Emperor Zhenwu bless you, but please don't misjudge too seriously... Li Qing looked ahead, feeling unsure at all.
This is the first time he has fought an uncertain battle. Of course, the main reason is that this army is not Ming's own, otherwise Li Qing would not be so reckless.
However, this does not mean that he is a broken man, otherwise, he would not have left nearly half of the elite.
Less than half a month later, with only a hundred miles left to the planned location, Li Qing ordered the army to station himself and acted as a scout himself, going to investigate the situation...
