On this night, if someone could be in the sky above the border between the Ming Dynasty and the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, he would be able to see the mountains under his feet, with bonfires faintly connected into a line. Stretching from Jiayuguan Pass in the west to Shanhaiguan Pass in the east, the Ming Dynasty Border Wall is almost completely on display.
The city of Beijing was filled with joy, because the emperor's sister was about to get married.
The reason why Lu Bing worked as an errand in the palace for several months was because Zhu Houcong's handsome sister was initially dazzled by the choices: first she won the top prize in the examination, but then she immediately said she would choose the top prize in martial arts, and next year she would also take the exam for the system. , so she immediately became a waiting party.
Zhu Houcong was happy that she would have a biological child when she was older. Unexpectedly, Lu Bing won the Wu Jinshi. Empress Dowager Jiang immediately felt that the child who had grown up in front of her was reliable, talented, and in good health.
Zhu Qingyi was not happy at first. She still preferred elegant and handsome literati. But it turns out that after Empress Dowager Chiang secretly glanced at Lu Bing when she summoned him, Zhu Qingyi, who had only seen the first normal young man besides her brother since she was an adult, still had her heart beat faster.
After learning that Zhu Qingyuan and Yu Chengye soon separated in two places after getting married, and their relationship was not very good, Zhu Houcong asked Lu Bing to stay in the palace as an errand, and then naturally let him meet Zhu Qingyi a few more times. This sister was confused, and Zhu Houcong didn't want him to worry about any family conflicts in the future.
Lu Bing is both talented and trained by a top-notch teaching team. Yan Shifan said that "one of the three most talented people in the world is Ji, Lu Bing, and Yang Bo."
Nowadays, Lu Bing is dating at public expense, and he could barely be considered a "childhood sweetheart." Although Zhu Qingyi's appearance is not first-rate and handsome, Zhu Qingyi's heart has finally settled down.
So the wedding is imminent.
Yan Song, the Minister of Rites, continued to be busy. Because of the current friendship between Yan Shifan and Lu Bing, he and Lu Song can still be described as "world friends".
As fate would have it, at dawn that night, urgent reports on the border army's situation in Xuanfu and Jizhou, the two places closest to the capital, were the first to arrive in the capital.
The sound of horse hooves shattered the pre-dawn calm on the capital's long streets.
According to today's rules, if there is an emergency report on military information, it should first be reported to the Political Envoy Department, and then to the Military Affairs Council, the State Palace, the Fifth Military Governor's Office, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Household Affairs.
There is no need to report it to Jin Yiwei and the Internal and External Inspection Factory, they will definitely know.
The general affairs envoys and various government offices all had people who were loyal to the government. Naturally, they were shocked when they received the news. They quickly took their badges and ran through the streets of the capital, which was still under curfew, to the homes of important ministers who needed to know immediately. .
That night, the person who stayed in the General Affairs Department was Gong Yongqing, who was very talented in literature but not very practical, so he was appointed to the General Affairs Department as a seventh-level official.
Xuanfu and Jizhou discovered at the same time that the captives were heading south. This must have been the war caused by His Majesty's previous humiliation of the Great Khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty.
Gong Yongqing didn't know anything else. He only knew that over the years, the Ming Dynasty had lost more than they won against the prairie cavalry. The border information just presented was obviously not as simple as an ordinary robbery - the war had not started yet, but the number of captives reported from Xuanfu and Jizhou alone may exceed 30,000.
Gong Yongqing is waiting for the general political envoy and the two deputy general political envoys to arrive. At this moment, the Chief of Ceremonies should go to disturb His Majesty's sleep, right? Soon, the important ministers may enter the palace late at night to discuss plans to resist the enemy.
It's just that he waited and waited until dawn, but he didn't wait for the ministers to leave the palace to summon any important ministers, nor did he wait for the general political envoys and deputy general political envoys to arrive.
Are you afraid of shocking the people in the capital? Anyway, it's almost dawn, not less than two or three hours.
But Gong Yongqing waited for the news from Datong: enemy cavalry had been detected outside Yanghe Pass, Shahukou, and Piantou Pass. It was estimated that there were more than 20,000 cavalry.
Gong Yongqing's hands were shaking a little: this might just be the striker who has been detected. Starting from Shanhaiguan in the east and reaching Piantouguan in the west, the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties heavily pressed the border. So what about Taiyuan, Shaanxi and Ningxia?
It's even further away over there, and it would take three to five days to send it back eight hundred miles quickly.
It was already dawn, and Zhu Houcong was not disturbed. But as soon as he opened his eyes, Zhang Yong, Zhang Zuo, Huang Jin and others were waiting there together.
"Your Majesty, military information began to arrive at around four o'clock in the morning last night. The night before yesterday, the sentries in Jizhou and Xuandadun all detected the Tatar army heading south."
"Oh? Has it finally begun?" Zhu Houcong suddenly woke up, "Wash up! Change clothes!"
"Your Majesty, the military information reported by the three towns of Jizhou, Xuanfu and Datong shows that there are more than 50,000 captives in total. Are the nine gates of the capital..." Zhang Yong, who had kept a low profile for a long time, asked.
"There is no need to rush." Zhu Houcong shook his head, "The city gates are still open, and everything is as usual. It has been more than forty days since Waichang detected that the young men of various tribes have begun to mobilize. It is already known that they will choose a day to go south. But the three towns The enemy cavalry attack was detected at the same time, which shows that the Tatars really share the same hatred and agreed on a time this time."
Zhang Yong was a little worried.
The fact that all the grassland tribes went south at the same time can only show that their morale is high this time and they are determined to win.
"Summon Lin Xiyuan and wait for the edict to come first!"
Zhu Houcong had just washed up, and Lin Xiyuan, who came to work on time in the morning, and the Hanlin Academy arrived at the Imperial Study Room.
"Quickly print a special issue and spread this edict to various places."
One is to reach the people through the channel of "Ming Pao"; the other is to convey the imperial edict through official channels.
The decree had been drawn up long ago. At this moment, the two people knew that the border town had encountered an enemy and the national war had begun.
But so peaceful?
The emperor actually arranged this matter first, and then stood up: "Get up and go to the National Policy Palace!"
Gong Yongqing, who was not as sleepy as before, turned in his shift with full of doubts and was ready to go home to catch up on his sleep - could he make up for it?
In the capital, the five-city army and horse divisions were not nervous, and the city gates were even more open. Pedestrians came and went as usual, and they were even talking happily about Princess Yongchun's wedding and the Wu Jinshi Prince Consort.
They have no idea that a war is already going on in Bian Town! Big battle!
Gong Yongqing specially passed by the street between the Five Governments and Six Ministries before, and saw some tension there, but it was not as nervous as before after knocking on the imperial staff.
He made an excuse to go to the Ministry of Finance to ask a friend about something, but he only saw Yang Shen convening a lot of people there to give lectures, but he did not see the Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Zuo Shilang.
Somewhat weird.
After returning home, I couldn't sleep.
Such a big thing, now it's just the calm before the storm. Soon, the people in border towns such as Jizhou and Xuanda will be afraid of the soldiers crossing the border and flee south. Such a big battle cannot be hidden at all.
In his opinion, the situation before him was just that His Majesty and his ministers were discussing strategies, and he wanted to keep it a secret for fear of causing chaos in the capital.
Just after noon, the housekeeper came over nervously: "Master, the special issue of "Ming Pao" just arrived, the Tatars are calling!"
Gong Yongqing jumped up: "What's going on outside?"
"Everyone is a little scared, but His Majesty decreed that everyone should not be afraid." The steward quickly added, "The nine gates are not closed. But some people who entered the city from the south said that they saw the three major battalions heading north."
Gong Yongqing listened and only stared at this special issue.
The printing is very rough. I haven't seen Ming Pao printed in such a rough way for a long time. It only has one page.
There is an article above: "Everyone has the responsibility to defend the land and support the borders: In the current national war, His Majesty the Emperor sends a message to the people of the world."
In the Imperial College in the capital, someone was reading this article loudly.
"On the night of September 21st in the sixth year of Jiajing, the troops from the north captured Chen and the Ming Dynasty, and they came fiercely from all sides. In the current national war, I feel that there is no need to keep silent, and I should tell my subjects something from the bottom of my heart!"
"First, under the rule of the Meng Yuan Dynasty, our Han people were like pigs and dogs! Taizu expelled the Meng Yuan Dynasty, restored our Chinese clothes, and launched the Northern Expedition, and the power of the Ming Dynasty spread far and wide. Taizong personally conquered the country five times and moved the capital to Beijing. From then on, the emperor personally Guard the country's gate. In the 160 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the northern barbarians were in trouble and invaded the borders many times. They invaded our Ming Dynasty territory, plundered our Ming Dynasty people, and killed our Ming Dynasty generals."
"However, the civil affairs changed and Ying Zong was captured. He was named Bei Shou. It was really a national humiliation!"
After reading this, all the supervisors who heard it were shocked.
This is the first time that the emperor of the current dynasty has so clearly and openly announced to the people of the world: Ying Zong is a prisoner! His Majesty is also deeply ashamed of the Tumu Fort incident.
No wonder Emperor Jing professed his ancestral status and entered the temple... It was really not all because Emperor Jing was also the vassal king who succeeded to the throne.
There were tea shops in the capital, and there were also scholars who paused for a moment before continuing:
"From then on, the northern barbarians regarded our Ming Dynasty as cattle, sheep and crops. They invaded me every year, plundered our Ming Dynasty people and robbed our border towns of their property. Last year, after the great victory in Shuozhou, the Tartars were still proud of themselves. They sent envoys to Beijing, It's called an alliance, but it threatens me with soldiers and horses, asking me to respect the leader of the captives as my brother, treat the Ming Dynasty like a warehouse, and greedily ask for coins! Now that I have refused, I have raised tens of thousands of troops to oppress the Ming Dynasty."
"The food of the Ming Dynasty was produced by the people with hoe and hoe. The iron of the Ming Dynasty was excavated by the people with pick and pick. The silk cloth of the Ming Dynasty was woven by weavers, shuttle and thread, day and night. The people The purpose of paying the grain tax is to support the generals to guard the border and suppress thieves, so that you can live and work in peace and contentment. It is to allow the officials to assist me in governing the place to protect the environment and the people. It is not to provide for the greedy wolves on the grassland, so that they can always enjoy fine wine and delicacies. His eyes have been staring at my Daming eyes!"
"If I submit to the threat of the Northern invaders, wouldn't I be bribing the enemy with the people's anointment? Even if I can win the great victory in Shuozhou and the generals in the border towns can win the battle, how can all the civil and military officials be afraid of battle and submit? If we keep doing this year after year, our Ming Dynasty will truly be a success. Beilu granary! The people work hard and pay taxes year after year. If the monarch and his ministers cannot protect the land and bring peace to the people, how can they live in peace? This is what the people of the Ming Dynasty should ask for if they are willing to support the court, and it is also what the monarchs and ministers of the Ming Dynasty should do when they are in their high positions!"
Gong Yongqing also saw this, and his eyes couldn't help but froze.
Since ancient times, it has been a matter of course for people to pay taxes. But this is a matter of course, just because the emperor, clan, dignitaries, officials and gentry are the superiors of men.
But today, the emperor said why the people have to pay grain taxes, that is, he requires the monarchs and ministers to meet their small requirements for living and working in peace and contentment...
Otherwise, why would it be you?
The truth is actually not difficult to figure out. When people are in dire straits, it is often the time when thieves are everywhere. It's just that in the past, every time, the emperor would be named as the emperor who had lost his virtue, and a reason for the change of destiny would be given.
Yang Shen was also reading the next sentence.
"...The end of the physical way is the way of heaven! The end of the way of human reason is also the way of heaven! As the Son of Heaven, I am the son of the law of heaven who fulfills his duties and lives and works in peace and contentment as required by the overall human law of the Ming Dynasty! Now, I can't just let so many people pay taxes, but be afraid of difficulties and wars, just in exchange for the temporary comfort of me, the civil and military officials, and the generals in the border towns!"
... He has a new interpretation of the emperor. Another meaning of this sentence is that he believes that in the Ming Dynasty, the people of the world are the emperor.
From the king and father of the people of the world to the son of the people of the world as a whole?
The seniority was a bit confusing, and Yang Shen was a little confused, but he was greatly shocked.
"I implement new laws, supervise practical affairs, fix taxes and reforms, prepare for floods, and lift restrictions, all for the sake of the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty and the prosperity of the people. Now that the Ming Dynasty has the opportunity to rebuild a prosperous age, the large-scale invasion of the Northern Captives is really to destroy our Ming Dynasty. The fate of the country! Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the country. If the country is in ruins, how can the family survive?"
"Therefore, in the current national war, I have issued a decree to all the officials in the world: Anyone who takes advantage of the war to send extra money to collect money without permission and harms the people will be killed without mercy! Anyone who takes advantage of the border troubles to become bandits, commit crimes and commit crimes will be killed without mercy! The officers and soldiers in the border towns are doing their best. Kill the enemy bravely and achieve great achievements, and officials should not shirk important tasks and delay military supplies."
"The subjects of the Ming Dynasty do not need to worry about the war! Outside the border towns, the people are doing things as usual. Take good care of the crops, guard the gates of your houses, and do not mess up the roads. This is your duty to the country."
"The civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty and the generals in the border towns also need to know that if this battle is won, the Ming Dynasty will save an unknown amount of food and salary, and the soldiers in the border towns will be able to sacrifice a lot less in the future! The northern captives are afraid of power but not ethical, greedy but not satisfied. , this battle is in line with the principles of our Ming Dynasty, and everyone hopes that it is a fight for the people of the Ming Dynasty, a fight for the destiny of the Ming Dynasty, and a fight for the return of the Ming Dynasty to a prosperous age!"
"I also tell the people of the world once again: The emperor guards the gates of the country, and the king dies in the country! I will never go south, the Ming Dynasty will definitely win!"
In many corners of the capital, many people finally saw the end and once again imagined a clear image of the emperor - even though many people had never seen it.
However, the young emperor said many thought-provoking words and conveyed his attitude to the people of the world so clearly.
The emperor guards the gate of the country, and the king dies in the country.
"The Ming Dynasty will win!"
"The Ming Dynasty will be victorious!"
After all, the emperor still had his own prestige and influence. Despite his worries about the war, the young emperor showed his determination and confidence, which was to give ordinary people the first reassurance.
Moreover, the capital city at this moment is indeed peaceful as usual.
Then there is incentive.
The meeting in the National Policy Hall had just ended, and the military affairs meeting in the Wuying Hall continued.
Fei Hong was still in a daze - he didn't know those words in "Ming Pao" before.
The emperor is still continuing to take off the mysterious veil that hangs over the emperor. Now, the emperor is becoming less and less sacred, but he says it is more and more like a special job, or another kind of official position.
This is really unimaginable, and even Fei Hong is a little confused, so in the view of the leader - the Emperor of Heaven clearly means to rebuke some of his ministers for being afraid of difficulties and war. He is using this method to win the hearts of the people and gain the reputation of justice. Divide it?
In the name of righteousness, even ministers cannot go against the trend, or give the emperor a reason to "kill them without mercy".
Only important officials like Fei Hong knew that this was not the case.
The emperor took this opportunity to say these words.
He just said: "This is very necessary, this is mobilization."
More military information is spreading to the capital, and this special issue is also being dispersed to the border towns, along with many official documents on the civil and military affairs of the imperial court.
In the evening after the military affairs meeting, the printing press in the light industry park was started again.
The plate-making and printing workers all looked at the content in shock, with excitement, worry, and mostly emotion in their eyes.
In the Forbidden City, Sun Ming and others were all in tears. Empress Dowager Jiang just asked worriedly: "Why do you have to go?"
Zhu Houcong only comforted her: "The queen is at ease. Her son knows what's appropriate and there is no danger from the old incident in Tumubao."
Zhu Qingyi was also in tears. Why was Lu Bing going too?
In the Jinyiwei Yamen, standing in front of Wang Zuo were He Quanan, Liu Zhenyuan, Yan Chunsheng, Lu Bing and others.
He only gave the first three people a look, and finally looked at Lu Bing: "You and His Majesty cannot be separated! Do you remember?"
"Commander, don't worry!"
This is indeed gold-plated. When he returns and has the Prince Consort, Lu Bing will no longer be just a member of a thousand households.
However, the situation of the battle is unpredictable, and no one dares to say that it is foolproof.
"Special Service Office, Beizhen Fusi, Special Operations Battalion." Wang Zuo looked at the first three people again, "I am in the capital, over at the border town, and I rely on you to take care of the brothers who have dispersed, so that His Majesty will have no worries this time. Wang Zuo The division has won!"
In the internal and external inspection factory, Zhang Boring had already packed his bags and told the three people in front of him: "After I leave the capital, you must not relax. The movement in the capital is important, and the movement in Jiaozhi is also important. From the north, I will come in person!"
"Factory supervisor, don't worry!"
Yang Yiqing and Wang Shouren were also packing their bags. One of them was going to accompany Zhu Houcong to the Xuan Mansion, and the other was going to Santun Camp. In this way, changing generals in Jizhou was not a problem, and they were both at Wang Shouren's disposal. Funing Hou Zhu Qi is just an elite soldier.
In the temporary camp set up in the northern suburbs of the capital, Li Quanli was gearing up, looking eagerly and expectantly toward the northwest.
The Beijing camp selects 15,000 forwards, who are the imperial guards to protect the troops. He and Yang Yiqing, one civil and one military, will accompany the emperor out of seclusion.
In the capital, Zhang Jing, the general secretary of the Military Science Department, and Yang Shen, the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue, were all included in the food, salary, military resources and logistics leadership group. Their person in charge was Yang Tan, the Minister of State who was born in the Ministry of Revenue.
Gu Shilong still stayed in Wuying Hall. He just looked at the crude sand table of the border town with a little regret, and looked at Zheng Xiao, who had been promoted to a doctor in the Qing Li Division of the Ministry of War Arsenal after showing his talent again.
I saw him looking obsessively at the simple sand table made with reference to his "Nine Sides Picture Chronicles", his young face full of vigor.
Gu Shilong sighed in his heart: Although he is only forty-four years old, his body is old.
And the seventy-five-year-old Sun Jiao is still in good health, body, spirit and spirit. After the emperor's southern tour to control the situation, he volunteered to serve as an official in the fourth year of Jiajing.
Now, the seventy-five-year-old Sun Jiao was once again ordered to sit in the capital with Zhang Yong as the head of the country, temporarily participating in national policies and calming the situation in the capital.
Gu Shilong just didn't understand: Why are human bodies so different?
At dawn, Lu Bu Dajia almost broke the tranquility of the capital with another special issue.
The emperor does what he says, the Ming Emperor will march in person!
(End of chapter)
