The seventeenth day of the lunar month.

It snowed lightly again. This time, the snow was slightly heavier than at the beginning of the month, and thin layers of snow gradually accumulated on the glazed tiles in the imperial palace and in the corners of the palace walls; For a moment, the palace seemed to be shrouded in a layer of white light veil.

Emperor Zhu Gaochi still did not go to court, nor did he convene ministers; But it's been almost half a month, and he hasn't indulged in sexual pleasure anymore.

It's not that he "woke up", but he did get a little tired of playing too much. Especially after the incident every day, his interest in the group of beauties in the palace has greatly decreased.

This is not the first time he has done such indulgence; As early as not long after Zhu Gaochi ascended the throne, he had already done it. At that time, although the state affairs were restless, he was aggrieved for too long when he was the prince and the crown prince, and he was very wanton when he suddenly ascended the throne.

Both times it was after a while, and he himself didn't find it much interesting; And no one could restrain him.

However, Zhu Gaochi still did not go to court, and would rather sit in the Qianqing Palace every day to read books and listen to music......

Zhu Gaochi knew all the most important things in the court. He just didn't want to deal with the cantata; However, there was no order to prevent the celebrant from meeting with the eunuchs, the Jinyi Guard, and other confidants.

Yesterday, Tan Qing, the commander of Jinyiwei, came to the Qianqing Palace and sent a secret performance of Jin Zhong, the secretary of the military department! But Zhu Gaochi ignored it and asked Tan Qing to send it to the outer court for disposal.

At this moment, the celebrant and eunuch Haitao came to the Qianqing Palace again. Haitao bowed over and said carefully: "Emperor, the second chapter of the Jinbu Hall has arrived again. ”

Zhu Gaochi didn't put down the book in his hand and maintained a comfortable posture on the cushion of the chair, and he asked without looking back, "What did Jin Zhong say this time?" ”

Haitao said: "Jin Butang wrote that the British had just mobilized almost all the land and water troops in Huguang Province to go south, hoping to stop the rebels on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River......"

Zhu Gaochi let out a meaningless voice and continued to look at his book.

Seeing this, Haitao said: "Several ministers of the DPRK and China said that the most important thing about this recital is not the matter of the Jinbutang performance, but the words '800 miles expedited' on the envelope. ”

"Oh?" Zhu Gaochi finally became a little interested, and looked away from the book. Haitao hurriedly held up the envelope with both hands and pointed it to him.

Haitao said cautiously: "The ministers all want to face the holy council, waiting for the emperor to come up with an idea." ”

Zhu Gaochi didn't respond, but his eyes didn't look at the book in his hand again. His gaze was not focused on anything, as if he was thinking about something. It remained like this for a while.

Haitao wanted to speak again and again, and finally leaned over and whispered: "The slave maid also saw the queen's mother." The queen said that the British prince only had a crippled son, and did not necessarily care about his younger brothers; This kind of high-ranking and powerful military minister, his heart is made of iron and stone, ruthless and cold......"

Zhu Gaochi glanced at Haitao. He knew before that this eunuch had already been co-opted by the queen, and Zhu Gaochi just didn't want to worry about it. Because once you think about it, the rest of the matter will be very troublesome.

Zhu Gaochi still didn't say anything; And Haitao only said that, and stood silently on the side with interest.

After a long time, Zhu Gaochi spoke: "I believe that Jin Zhong will not deceive me, but that spy of the military department will definitely not deceive Jin Zhong?" There was only speculation in this matter from beginning to end, and there was not even a little evidence. ”

Haitao didn't dare to contradict the emperor, and hurriedly said: "The emperor is wise." ”

Zhu Gaochi said: "Let the ministers make their own ideas." ”

Haitao said: "The slave obeys the order!" ”

…… So Haitao walked to the cabinet study of the Hanlin Academy, where several ministers happened to be deliberating.

"Ahem!" Haitao cleared his throat and sang, "Holy Decree! ”

Several officials hurriedly saluted. Haitao walked to the north and raised his head and said, "The emperor has issued an order to let the ministers come up with their own ideas." Chin this. Haitao likes to preach edicts very much, even if he knows that people are in awe of the imperial power, not him, a eunuch, but he still feels good every time like this.

"Thanksgiving!" The ministers bowed.

Everyone stood up one after another, including Yuan Hui, Ru Yu, Guo Zi and others. Some of them are former ministers of the former dynasty, and some are confidants of the emperor, but they are all ministers relied on by the emperor.

The study soon began to talk and became a little noisy.

At this time, Ru Yu's voice said: "I'm just a military secretary, and I will say a few words impartially......"

As soon as these words came out, everyone else consciously stopped and looked sideways. Perhaps because Ru Yu said it was very reasonable, he was a surrenderer who surrendered after the end of the "Battle of Jingyan", and he didn't even have the qualifications to favor anyone! So, of course, it's more likely to be out of public interest.

Ru Yu said: "I have been doing the errand of the military department since the Hongwu period, and I want to say something from my heart: In the current situation, Huguang no longer needs to set up the post of 'General Pinghan'. The Huguang Hui army was defeated, and now who can the remaining men and horses over there be equalized? ”

Those present were all people from the center of the court, and there was no need to hide anything; Ru Yu asked a big truth, and no one could answer immediately.

Ru Yu continued: "At present, the retention of the 'Pinghan General' in Huguang Province is not only useless, but it will increase the danger of the imperial court. To this day, the British public can still command the water abstinence, what can he do? Can a warship climb ashore to quell the rebellion? ”

"Makes sense......" Someone immediately chimed in.

Yuan Hui asked: "What does Ru Butang mean, temporarily remove the post of 'General Pinghan'?" ”

Ru Yu nodded and said, "This is the best!" Within a few months, the official army could no longer attack the rebels, and could only rely on the defense of the city to buy time; Do you need such a powerful general to defend the city?

There is also the strategy of the British public, I think it's nonsense! If only the sailors can cut off the rebel boat bridge, just ask Chen Xuan to go, and it can also delay the rebels to cross the river; Those remnants of the defeated army in Changsha hurried over, what effect will it have for a while and a half? ”

At this moment, Guo Zi spoke: "I also have two sentences. ”

Several ministers turned their heads to look at Guo Zi, because the ministers were discussing various government affairs together for a while, and Guo Zi's ideas were still very calm.

Guo Zi did not speak to the ministers, but beckoned to the eunuch Haitao and asked: "The holy decree passed down by the Duke of Hai should be the original words of the Holy Chrysostom?" ”

Haitao was startled, and hurriedly said: "Our family has eaten leopard gall, and dare to be overbearing?" ”

"Don't worry, Grandpa Hai, I'm just making sure." Guo Zidao.

He pondered for a moment, then looked back at his colleagues on the left and right, and said in a deep voice: "Have you ever thought that the abolition of the 'General Pinghan' must be a holy decree? The Holy Decree told us to think of our own ideas, but it did not issue an edict to retract the will of the 'General Pinghan'. What can we think of? ”

After Guo Ziyi mentioned it, everyone suddenly realized. Even Ru Yu muttered: "I really didn't expect this section just now. ”

Yuan Heng said helplessly: "This matter seems to be ...... There is no need to inform other ministers of the decision. ”

Everyone nodded yes.

Jin Zhong's first secret recital, after the emperor got it, he sent it to the cabinet study of the Hanlin Academy; The second eight-hundred-mile expedited chapter, the general political envoys, and the central ministers of course almost knew about it.

Therefore, among the important ministers of the court, there must be some people who suspect that Zhang Fu colluded with the king! But at this point, it seems that the decision cannot be made, so it can only be put on hold for the time being.

…… The nineteenth day of the lunar month.

Something strange happened to Jingshi. The people of Jinyiwei found out in the early hours of this morning that Liu Sheng's family wanted to run!

At that time, the two people who were in charge of monitoring Liufu did not even have the military status of Jinyiwei, but only the rest of the army who received some money. After they found out, they did not dare to touch the mansion of the noble general, and hurriedly reported to the peak.

Unexpectedly, Tan Qing of Jinyiwei attached great importance to this matter, and soon arrived on horseback, and immediately led the army to block Liu Sheng's mansion. Tan Qing personally went out and led people to rush into Liufu!

In the early hours of the morning, there was still a long time before dawn, and the Liu family members not only dressed neatly, but also packed a lot of things. If they hadn't had to pack so many things, they probably wouldn't have to get up so early to toss.

Tan Qing asked Mrs. Liu more politely: Where are you going, please explain to the old lady.

How do you explain this? The old lady can't answer.

So Tan Qing immediately mobilized a large number of Jinyi guards to surround the Liufu and control everyone in the mansion. Then he went to the imperial city, just waiting for the dawn and the saint to get up, so that he could enter the palace and face the saint!

As soon as the morning dawned, the eunuchs in the palace opened the noon door. The brocade guards can operate at the noon gate and are responsible for defending the gate; Tan Qing called a eunuch and invited the celebrant and eunuch Haitao.

Tan Qing talked to Haitao about what happened in the early hours of this morning, and invited Haitao to enter the palace to start the saint.

Sure enough, when there is something really important, the Holy One will take care of it. After a while, a eunuch arrived at the noon gate, passed the edict to Tan Qing, and went straight to the Qianqing Palace to face the saint!

Tan Qing's footsteps were very urgent, and the eunuch who led the way couldn't keep up, panting like pulling a bellows.

When Tan Qing arrived at the Qianqing Palace, he knelt at the door and asked for an audience; When he was allowed to enter, he saw that the emperor had just put on his robe and boots, and the maid was combing his hair.

The emperor asked Tan Qing some specific things, when did he notice the movement of Liufu, did the people in the mansion really pack their luggage, and how did those people explain...... Then the emperor asked solemnly: General Tan confirmed that the Liu family wanted to run?

Tan Qing thought for a while before returning to the emperor: The minister is sure that the Liu family must be preparing to escape!

At this time, the emperor finally combed his hair in a bun and put on a black gauze hat. The eunuch Haitao bowed down and asked, "Emperor, do you want to issue an order to summon the ministers?" ”

Zhu Gaochi shook his head and said, "No need, prepare the pen and ink seal." I want to issue an edict ordering the British public to immediately cancel the strategy of 'southward expansion by land and water'! All military powers of the 'Pinghan General' were suspended, and Zhang Fu and Liu Sheng were summoned to return to Beijing on the same day as they received the order. ”

Haitao bowed and said: "The slave obeys the order, and immediately goes to handle the things." ”

Zhu Gaochi looked at Tan Qing and said, "You go to the military department to summon and ask the military department to issue a similar military order." Prepare the fast horse, and send it to Wuchang Mansion for 800 miles after it is done! ”

Tan Qing hugged his fists and said: "The minister obeys the order!" ”

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