In Tongzhou City, a dark cloud floated in the sky, enveloping this well-guarded city.

In the first year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, Yanshan Marquis Sun Xingzu built Tongzhou City at the old site, the circumference of the city wall is nine miles, the battlement wall is three zhang and five feet high, there is a door in each of the four directions, the door has a building, the name is hung on the gatehouse, the east is said to be lucky, the west is said to be Chaotian, the south is said to welcome Xun, the north is said to be Ning Cui.

In the fourteenth year of orthodoxy, because it wanted to protect the Xicang outside the city, the imperial court decided to build Tongzhou New City to the west.

It's just that compared with the heroism of Yangzhou New Town, Tongzhou New Town looks small, with an area of less than half of the old city, and unlike Yangzhou New Town to accommodate wealthy salt merchants, a number of grain warehouses were built to store rice and grain in the west of the new city.

"Please, let us into the city!"

Thousands of people gathered at the gate of Tongzhou and pleaded in front of the closed gate.

"There is an order from the peak, Tongzhou City is under martial law, you wait to leave quickly!" The general on the wall faced the people begging below, and drove away with a blank face.

In this world, perhaps the most worthless thing is the lives of the people. Not to mention that they don't have a house in the city, even if they have a house in the city, they are already "outcasts" abandoned by the government.

At the same time, the shipping door was opened.

Su Changgui, the governor of Tongzhou, led a group of Caoyun-related officials to rush out and welcome Lin Haoran, who was wearing a three-grade official uniform, into the city, but behind Lin Haoran, there were thousands of Tongzhou people who turned from sadness to joy.

"Thank you Lord Qingtian for saving your life!"

Thousands of people entered the city as if they had escaped, and immediately bowed down to Lin Haoran.

"Fathers and fellow villagers don't need to be polite, please get up quickly!" Lin Haoran helped an old man led by him up, raised his hand gently to everyone, and then bowed his hand to the squire who came to greet him: "Today, there are changes in Tongzhou, I don't know which townsman is willing to help and set up a shed to give porridge, and this official is grateful here!" ”

"I'm willing!"

As soon as the words fell, the squires also felt Lin Haoran's heart, and immediately responded.

Lin Haoran arranged these things properly, and immediately gave instructions to Fan Jian with a calm face: "General Fan, you immediately send scouts to pay close attention to the movements around Tongzhou City, open the city gate and let the people in!" ”

He understands the desire of these officials and generals to seek stability, but he does not agree with their approach. The figure of the Tartars has not been seen so far, and only 5,000 Mongolian cavalry have broken into the pass, but the gang has changed color.

Although the Mongol cavalry came, the gate did have to be closed, but if it could be delayed for a moment, more people could take refuge in the city, which was already related to hundreds or even thousands of lives.

Tongzhou General Fan Jian's brows furrowed slightly, and he immediately responded with a straight face: "Lord Ministry, the Tartar riding skills are exquisite, and his deeds come and go like the wind!" Tongzhou guards millions of stone grains, once it is lost, it will not be able to bear this responsibility! ”

Many people did not go far, and at this time they also looked at Lin Haoran curiously.

Lin Haoran's eyes closed slightly, he, the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, could have stayed out of the matter, but looking at the suffering of the people outside the city, after all, his conscience was still intact, and he thought of the feat of the tiger girl who fought outside the city for the people in Guangzhou City in the past.

He let out a long sigh and immediately replied resolutely: "Everything is borne by this official!" ”

The world is very fair, and if he wants to rule the city, then he has to bear the corresponding responsibility. You can't ask everyone else to listen to him, and the consequences have to be borne by others.

At this moment, he chose to take on the city with all his might.

The people are all emotional animals, and when they heard Lin Haoran's decision, they were already in awe. If there are still good officials in the Ming Dynasty, then this Lin Qingtian can definitely be regarded as one, this is a different official in the Ming Dynasty.

"How can you carry it? All the consequences, the next official will bear it! Su Changyuan has always been by Lin Haoran's side, but at this time, he was currying favor.

Fan Jian, the general of Tongzhou, looked at Lin Haoran with a little surprise, and immediately turned to the captain of the guard beside him and ordered: "You are still stunned to do something!" Didn't you hear what Lin Butang said? Go and open the gates of the city and let the people outside into the city! ”

"Yes!" The captain of the guard immediately surrendered his hand, turned around and hurried away, opening the city gate to let the people outside into the city.

"Boss, you must be tired and sleepy after a long journey. The lower official has ordered someone to clean the back house of the yamen, please move to rest first! Su Changyuan immediately invited.

Lin Haoran glanced at him, but he ordered lightly: "Prepare the carriage, you can follow the official to Ningcui Gate!" ”

Since he has chosen to take this risk, win the support of the people of Tongzhou, and earn a good official reputation, he needs to do everything well, instead of really putting his career and life here.

"Yes, the lower official will go and prepare!" Su Changyuan was slightly stunned at first, and then nodded.

From the west gate to the north gate, the carriage needs to pass through the main street of Tongzhou City, and Lin Haoran also paid attention to the situation here.

Although the people were in the city, their faces were obviously worried, and the originally lively streets were no longer open for business at this time, and they were all inquiring about all kinds of gossip.

Lin Haoran's brain was running rapidly, his whole face was slightly constricted, and he went straight to the north gate and directly climbed to the top of the city.

The Ningcui Gate had been opened, and a large number of people were frantically pouring into the city. He had just come from the west gate and spent a long time, and now a large number of people were still pouring into the city, which shows how many people had been blocked by this gate before.

However, he also knew in his heart that if he wanted to really solve the problem, it was not to accommodate how many fleeing civilians there were, but to allow the Ming army to take the initiative to attack and annihilate this group of invading Mongol soldiers.

Sometimes I have to admit that today's court lacks that kind of benevolence, and it has no regard for the life and death of the people under its rule.

Lin Haoran took the single-hole telescope from Lin Fu's hand, looked at the people who fled into Tongzhou City in terror, and secretly let out a long breath in his heart, feeling that his actions today had some value.

As soon as his heart was put down, he pinched it again inexplicably, but saw a large number of old and young women and children coming towards this side, and he was afraid that there was still more than half a pillar of incense from here.

But at this time, a fast horse came from the north, and this scene naturally attracted the attention of the officials and generals at the head of the city.

The scout turned over and dismounted, and soon ran to the head of the city, panting and reported: "Report! Thousands of Mongolian cavalry are coming towards Tongzhou City, and I am afraid that it is only ten miles away from us! ”

As soon as they heard that the Tartars were coming towards Tongzhou City, and it was only ten miles away from here, the faces of the generals changed greatly, and someone immediately issued an order: "Quickly, close the city gate!" ”

"Wait!" Lin Haoran put down the monocular binoculars, but stopped them in a deep voice.