The dawn of dawn illuminates the earth, and the capital is bathed in morning mist in late spring. The ancient capital city did not diminish its beauty because of human strife.

The city is still majestic and sturdy, the streets are still open and straight, and the buildings are still tall and beautiful. Several large rivers in the city meander and criss-cross, still flowing slowly. Several lakes are still rippling in spring, like beautiful jade, inlaid between the inner and outer city markets. The entire city of Bianliang has been baptized by months of war, but every morning, it is as if it has been reborn, and it is still as magnificent and exquisite as before.

If you insist on looking for his flaws, then the collapsed city wall at the south smoke gate of the south city is counted as one, and the bare city tower on the Fengqiu gate of the north city is counted as one place. In Ouchi Miyagi, a temple that is still emitting black smoke and embers is considered one. And these do not affect the magnificence of the whole city, just like a slight flaw on the white wall, without diminishing its overall view.

Although the sun has not yet risen, the people of Bianliang City have already gotten up and dressed, and they opened the doors and windows of Karakala and came to their own courtyards, and on the streets in front of the door, they all looked curious and had a trace of doubt. This morning was the quietest they had ever experienced, and for the past six months or so, all they heard in their ears every day was the noisy sound of carriages and horses on the streets, the sound of soldiers running, and the sound of fighting. Sometimes in the middle of the night, the soldiers of the forbidden army would knock on the door, conduct interrogations and inquiries, and scold and scold. It can be said that during this period of time, the people of the capital hardly slept a peaceful sleep and spent a quiet night.

But this morning was surprisingly quiet. Although there was a great commotion in the city before midnight yesterday. The Luoyan army invaded the capital, and Lu Zhongtian became the emperor for one day, and he sat on the throne of the Chongzheng Hall in the inner palace and burned himself. After the Luoyan army entered the city, it was indeed noisy until midnight, and these foreign soldiers and horses galloped to and fro on the streets. There were also people who saw those soldiers escorting many prisoners through the streets, and heard that they were going to be escorted to the Suzaku Gate to behead Yunyun. In short, it was chaotic until midnight.

But for some reason, after midnight, it was as if someone suddenly gave an order, and the whole city suddenly fell silent. The soldiers and horses on the street were gone, but there were soldiers and horses patrolling, but they did not disturb the people, they walked very lightly, did not shout, and spoke in a low voice. All the hustle and bustle of the past suddenly disappeared. This kind of quietness makes the people feel a little uncomfortable, and many people toss and turn for a long time before falling asleep.

And now, the people are standing in the streets and in their own yards, and their ears are still very quiet. They even heard the sound of the wind blowing the leaves, suddenly smelled the fragrance of gardenias flowing all over the city, and saw the peach blossoms that should have bloomed in March because of the late spring in Bianliang and the repeated weather, and they suddenly realized that it was already late spring. The past days were like a dark and long nightmare, and they were so terrified that they didn't even know that time was rushing, and they didn't know that it was time for spring to bloom. This morning, everything seems to have changed, the nightmare has passed, a new day has arrived, and everything seems to have changed.

……

Thousands of people gathered in Suzakumen Square. At this moment, they were standing in the square in twos and threes, looking up at the row of corpses hanging from the high flagpole above the tower. It was a dozen generals and officials under Lu Zhongtian who were beheaded overnight in Suzaku Gate Square last night. They had only one crime, and it was clearly written on the bulletin board on the side of the city gate tower. The writing is simple and clear in black and white.

A rebellious minister and thief who aided and abused, colluded with foreign enemies, and plotted to usurp the country. When you make a decision, you can set an example.

The dozen or so names written by cinnabar were dazzlingly red, like blood. The names of the people on it are all familiar to the people of the capital, and they have all seen them arrogant and domineering.

"These dog thieves are finally dead, and they have plagued us for so long. It's good to die, it's good to die. ”

"Lin Dashuai is so fast, he killed them last night. It is said that more than 100 officials were arrested in the first half of last night, and they were all interrogated. It's really a thunderbolt. ”

"Everyone is punished for the chaos and thieves, this kind of person should not let them live for an extra day, Lin Dashuai did the right thing. How many people they have harmed? Since Lu Zhongtian and these dog thieves took control of the capital, how many people have been killed by them. My little third son is dumbfounded, but he forced him to work as a coolie for the Jurchen thieves, and died in the Jurchen camp, and he has not even found his bones. ”

"Yes, they hurt so many people, they shouldn't live another day. Well done Lord Lin. Lord Lin and the new emperor are back, and now the world should be peaceful, we can't afford to toss. ”

"yes, we can't afford to toss anymore."

The onlookers pointed and whispered, at first cautious, and then became unscrupulous. Some people got the news one after another to watch the corpses of Chen Jue, Zhu Zhirong and others who were beheaded last night, some were frightened, some were silent, some were panicked, but more people were cursing viciously at the hanging corpses, spitting, and suppressed emotions were able to explode. Because in the past six months, their family has been ruined, they have not had enough clothes, they have lived an extremely miserable life, and they hate these people so much.

……

As the sun rose, a group of cavalry galloped into the palace and headed straight for the ruins of the Chongzheng Palace, which had been burned to rubble. The knights dismounted, and smacked their tongues at the pile of smoky ruins in front of them. They were none other than seven or eight senior generals of Lin Jue and the Luoyan Army.

Last night's fire was really fierce, and what a palace with a wooden structure like Chongzheng Hall was most afraid of fire, and seventy percent of the components were made of wood. Once a fire has started, it is basically difficult to extinguish. Last night, Lin Jue tried to get people to save the fire, but it turned out that it was impossible at all. The fire was so fierce that it was difficult for people to get close to dozens of steps, let alone put out the fire. Lin Jue had to give up fighting the fire, and ordered people to cut down trees next to the fire location, and cut flowers and plants to create fire belts to prevent the palace fire from spreading. A large number of manpower was also arranged in the surrounding palaces to prevent the sparks from spreading to other palaces with the wind and causing fires. After a night, it didn't seem like anything had gone wrong.

"The last general has met Marshal Lin and the generals." Ruan Ping, who was dirty and had a black face, walked quickly from the side of the ruins and saluted Lin Jue and the others.

Lin Jue looked at Ruan Ping's red eyes and smiled: "Brother Ruan hasn't slept all night? ”

Ruan Binh was the commander of the engineer battalion, and last night the engineer battalion was naturally left to guard the burning temple, and the rest of the soldiers and horses were guarding the city wall and the yamen of the market to clear the remaining enemies in the city. Ruan Ping led his men to guard and rescue around the Chongzheng Hall all night.

"How dare the last general be negligent, this is the palace inside, if other palace buildings are on fire, then the last general will not be able to bear this responsibility. In other words, this is also a blessing for me and my brothers, how many people in this world can spend the night in my Great Zhou Palace? Hahaha. Ruan Ping said with a smile.

Lin Jue, Ma Bin and others also burst into laughter.

Ruan Ping pointed to the collapsed ruins of the Chongzheng Hall and said: "In the second half of the night, the fire was a little smaller, and we poured some water on the water dragon to finally extinguish the fire." This time I was about to order someone to clean it up, and the handsome man came just in time, please wait for the marshal, and then take someone to clean it up. ”

Lin Jue nodded, looked at the group of soldiers who were busy carrying on the ruins, and said, "Sun Dayong, let's do it together with the brothers of the personal guard cavalry, and make it faster." Our purpose is to determine whether Lu Zhongtian was burned to death in the hall, and after confirmation, we don't need to be careful. ”

Sun Dayong nodded in response, and beckoned the more than 200 brothers from the Guards Cavalry Battalion to come in to help. Lin Jue and the others are not here to see the ruins of the Chongzheng Hall at this moment, it is a pity to burn a big hall, but Lin Jue doesn't care about it, what he cares about is whether Lu Zhongtian really died in the main hall. After all, everything was heard, and without seeing Lu Zhongtian's corpse with his own eyes, the matter could not be completely ended.

The soldiers carried the wood from the ruins and cleared them down from the center of the top of the ruins, where the main hall was located. Lin Jue and the others sat in the flower bed on the side, talking and waiting. Soon after, several horsemen galloped over, but it was Shen Tan who led the personal guard cavalry to also arrive.

"Brother Shen, didn't the emperor come?" Lin Jue got up and asked. Shen Tan was sent by Lin Jue to invite Guo Kun, at this time, it was best for Guo Kun to come and personally confirm Lu Zhongtian's life and death, so Lin Jue specially asked Shen Tan to invite Guo Kun to come.

Shen Tan turned over and dismounted and saluted: "Enlightened handsome, the emperor ...... He said he didn't need to confirm it. It is said that the great commander and the rest of the adults have witnessed it. He said that he was feeling a little unwell and wanted to stay in the old palace for a few days to rest. ”

Lin Jue frowned and said, "I'm going to go to the court for a while, how can the emperor not come?" Are you sick? What's uncomfortable? ”

Shen Tan said: "The emperor said that he was tired, I asked, but he didn't say anything specific. I said ask Lang Zhong to take a look, but the emperor refused. ”

Ma Bin smiled: "I'm afraid it's a heart disease." ”

Everyone rolled their eyes, not daring to speak more. Lin Jue thought for a while and said, "Okay, just let the emperor rest, let's do the things here first, and confirm the facts of Lu Zhongtian's life and death first." At noon, we went to the public room of the government hall to gather all of you to discuss the next matter. Although it is best for the emperor to be present, the emperor's absence does not delay, in short, the result of the discussion is reported to the emperor. There is no delay. ”

Everyone bowed their hands and said: "Just by the command of the commander." ”

Shen Tan's mouth moved, wanting to say something, but he didn't say it. The emperor was absent, but Lin Jue wanted to discuss the matter, which was not in accordance with the rules. But thinking of the words he said before in the old palace, Shen Tan was extremely worried in his heart, and he didn't dare to say those words. I only feel faintly worried in my heart, and it is difficult to settle down.