The plain was covered with the sound of huge horse hooves of "rumbling ......", and more than 20,000 cavalry surged on the ground. Some of the men and horses were walking slowly in formation, while others were jogging in a roundabout way. The area occupied by the horse army is large, and the battle of more than 20,000 horsemen is already earth-shattering.

The banner of the Chinese army of the Ming Emperor fluttered in the wind, the guards in bright armor surrounded Zhu Gaoxu, and a group of people and horses gradually walked onto the official road.

At this moment, a shout came from the road ahead: "The forward general is safe and urgent!" ”

The two horsemen stepped forward and interrogated. After a while, the messenger walked to Zhu Gaoxu's horse, knelt down on one knee and presented a piece of the recital, saying, "King Zhao has sent Huang Taiping, the eunuch of the Zhao Palace, and a copy of the recital. General Ping will bring the chapter and present it to the Holy Lord on a fast horse! ”

Zhu Gaoxu asked Chen Wu beside him to open the paint seal. He took the piece and sat on his horse and read it; Then he handed it to Qi Tai, Hou Hai, Zhang Fu, Wu Gao and others next to him.

Gao Sui said in the article that the eunuch Huang Yan next to him may have committed a serious crime and suddenly fled a few days ago. Gao Sui admitted that he was not strict and difficult to get rid of his faults, so he kidnapped Huang Yan's godson and asked to dismiss all the guards of Zhao Wangfu!

Zhu Gaoxu and the other civil and military forces around him had finished watching the recital, and he looked back left and right with an inquiring gaze.

Unexpectedly, everyone was silent, and even Hou Hai, who had always talked a lot, did not speak easily. After all, Gao Sui is Zhu Gaoxu's younger brother, and the officials don't seem to be able to make suggestions......

This place belongs to the North China Plain, and the terrain to Beiping is a flat river. Zhu Gaoxu personally led more than 20,000 horse troops, marched normally, and arrived outside Beiping in less than four days.

The majestic Beiping City should be the largest city in the north; During the Yongle period, the imperial court was preparing to move the capital here. Zhu Gaoxu is also familiar with this place, and there is still his former home in the city, the palace of Gaoyang County.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the city tower in the distance, and saw that the city gate in the east was open, and a large group of people had come out of the city gate. Obviously, Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui is not prepared to resist at all this time!

The 10,000 cavalry of the Ping'an vanguard army had already passed through the city of Beiping, and they did not enter the city. The tents in the city were the barracks built by the baggage battalion under the command of Ping An for the follow-up army.

After a long time, the crowd of chariots and horses that came out of the city gradually approached the side of the banner of the Chinese army, and the distance was not far away.

Suddenly, a person jumped out of a gorgeous carriage called "Xiangluo". The man "plopped" and fell to the ground, it was Gao Sui wearing a red regimental dragon robe!

The surrounding entourage was in an uproar and hurriedly surrounded Gao Sui to save him. Gao Sui pushed people while lying on the ground and crying: "Second brother! Second brother...... My brother has finally met you! ”

Gao Sui was crawling on the ground, and Ordow was crying, and his appearance was simply touching.

However, almost all of the people on both sides had solemn expressions; People's expressions made the atmosphere inexplicably tense, but few people were moved.

Zhu Gaoxu hurriedly turned over from his horse and strode forward. The distance between the two brothers was getting closer and closer, and Zhu Gaoxu stepped forward and grabbed Gao Sui's arm and said, "It's too stupid! What should I do if I fall and the third brother! Is the third brother okay? ”

Gao Sui shook his head, hugged Zhu Gaoxu's leg and cried: "How many times has my brother seen my second brother in my dreams, thinking about the days when our brothers laughed in the past...... Isn't my brother dreaming now? ”

"Alright, alright, don't cry. So many people are looking at it, don't make people laugh. Zhu Gaoxu sighed, "The safe men and horses have set up the big tent of the Chinese army, and our brothers will go to the Chinese army and sit down to reminisce about the past." ”

So Zhu Gaoxu helped Gao Sui up, and asked someone to give him a mount and let him ride a horse by his side. Gao Sui told his heartfelt story all the way, and when he talked about the troubles of his brothers in the past, he burst into tears from time to time.

Everyone came to the Chinese army, and the big tent had been set up in advance by the vanguard army and the people of the baggage camp. Zhu Gaoxu sat down directly north of the big tent, and Gao Sui and Zhu Wenwu bowed and were also allowed to sit down on both sides.

Zhu Gaoxu took the confession file from Hou Hai's hand and said: "The third brother and Gu Changshi (Zhao Wangfu Governor Shi Gu Sheng) have a look, this is the confession of Yang Pu, the acting king's adviser. Huang Yan should have absconded in fear of crime! With that, he handed the file to Chen Wu beside him.

Gao Sui and Gu Sheng, who was standing behind him, looked through the file for a while. Chen Wu bent down, turned a page, and pointed to the content about Huang Yan.

Gao Sui's face was very pale, and he occasionally took out a handkerchief and put it on his forehead and gently wiped the sweat. After a while, he said bitterly: "Huang Yan was originally a slave and maid rewarded by his father, and he has served his younger brother for a long time, so his younger brother mistakenly believed him!" Unexpectedly, the slave and maid actually ate inside and out, and the brother didn't notice it in time, and regretted it too late, so he accidentally let him run away......"

He took a breath and asked with a pleading face: "What the subordinate brother said is true, does the Holy Lord believe the subordinate brother?" ”

"Ugh." Zhu Gaoxu sighed first and did not answer immediately. He looked at Gao Sui and said earnestly: "I didn't want to be an emperor before, I just wanted to be a prince." It is precisely because of those people who have unpredictable intentions and wolf ambitions who want to soar and slander and instigate that the eldest brother will make a big mistake; I was forced to sit in this position! I've been trying my best to keep my brothers and uncles safe. However, Jianwen's remnants and traitors everywhere continue to sow discord, plotting to do evil, and it is difficult for the second brother! ”

Gao Sui nodded solemnly and said yes.

Zhu Gaoxu continued: "The matter of the eldest brother's family, who of us two brothers is not sad? I really didn't expect this beforehand. If the third brother doesn't believe it, now the officials of the imperial court are still investigating the case in Zhongdu, you send someone to take a look! ”

Gao Sui patted his chest and said, "Can the younger brother still believe in his own brother?" Such a vicious thing must be the conspiracy of Jianwen's remnants! ”

Zhu Gaoxu immediately took over: "Since it is my own brother, the third brother believes me, why don't I believe the third brother?" The eunuch Huang Yan, who colluded with the palace advisers, must have deceived the third brother by himself! We are brothers, and it is impossible for the third brother to have two hearts for me. ”

Gao Sui's face was so moved that he almost burst into tears again. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, nodded vigorously, and said, "Brother and Shengshang, no matter when and where, always have the same heart!" ”

"Third brother!" Zhu Gaoxu looked at Gao Sui with emotion and nodded vigorously.

Gao Sui also hugged his fists and said: "Now that the father, queen mother, and eldest brother are gone, our family can only rely on the Holy Lord to be the master!" ”

Zhu Gaoxu's expression changed suddenly, and he said coldly: "But our thirteenth uncle, the acting king will never be wronged!" The people captured by the officials and soldiers were all the advisers and guards of the royal palace. I still have to rush to Datong Mansion and personally ask the acting king, why do you ignore family affection! The third brother is good to stay in Beiping, and your guards can't be removed; With you in the rear of Beiping, I can rest assured! ”

Gao Sui hurriedly knelt on the ground and said loudly: "Brother Xie Sheng's grace!" He said, lying there with a long sigh of relief.

The surrounding Wenwu also seemed to relax a little at this time, and the sound of buzzing began to appear in the big tent.

"Third brother, please get up quickly." Zhu Gaoxu made a gesture of support.

After Gao Sui thanked him, he invited Zhu Gaoxu to Beiping City and wanted to set up a banquet to welcome him.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "There is no time this time, my army will rest for a while, and we will continue to march tomorrow morning." The third brother is doing business for me first, and when I triumph in the northern expedition, it is not too late to have a drink with the third brother. ”

Gao Sui bowed and said, "Brother Chen's order." ”

Zhu Gaoxu said again: "After I caught the acting king, I asked the vassal kings to send people to Beiping. The third brother presides over the overall situation and is responsible for interrogating the truth of the matter. ”

Gao Sui was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly nodded: "The subordinate brother will do his best, and he will not dare to live up to the trust of the saint." ”

…… In the evening, Gao Sui returned to Beiping City with his men. Zhu Gaoxu was sent to the Chinese army and returned to the big tent.

Qi Tai, who was in charge of the transportation of grain and military supplies, walked into the big tent of the Chinese army. He waved his hand and told a few of the guards in the tent to go out for the time being.

Qi Tai stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Since King Zhao has asked himself to remove the guards, the Holy Lord has shown mercy this time, but he has compromised for the sake of the case of abolishing the crown prince?" ”

"That's not all the reason." Zhu Gaoxu raised his head and said, "When our monarchs and ministers were in Beijing, we discussed the strategy. This time, he went north in order to deter all places, stabilize the north, and weaken the military power of the vassal king; Instead of suddenly cutting the feudal domain! Although there are accidents, you can't just do it, and suddenly change your original intention. ”

Qi Tai thought for a while, and said, "The minister is too talkative, please ask the saint to surrender." ”

Zhu Gaoxu said disapprerovingly: "Qi Butang is my minister. Of course, I should let you know about my strategy. ”

Zhu Gaoxu sighed, stood up and walked a few steps, turned around and said to Qi Tai again: "The original strategy, after months of brewing and planning, I can almost be sure that nothing will happen!" Now that it's a little easier, if you change your approach temporarily and cut a few vassal kings in a row, who can tell what the consequences will be? ”

Qi Tai bowed and said: "The Holy Lord holds the power of the world, but he can refrain from abusing himself, and the ministers admire him!" ”

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand and asked, "Qi Butang thinks that I have done the right thing in this matter?" ”

Qi Tai said: "Holy Wisdom! ”

Zhu Gaoxu paced to the side of the chair and sat back. He looked pensive, and after a while, he suddenly spoke: "What I said in front of Gao Sui is not a lie. In the past, I really didn't want to be an emperor, I didn't have to worry about anything, I could enjoy a lifetime of wealth, why not? If I hadn't been forced to be helpless, I probably wouldn't have relied on the little force in Yunnan to plot a big deal. ”

Qi Tai nodded slowly thoughtfully, and then immediately clasped his fists and said, "What the Holy Lord said is extremely true. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "But I have become the emperor and rule the territory of the Ming Dynasty; So many people died for this throne. I want to do something long-term and meaningful, and I can't do anything about cutting the domain! ”

The two looked at each other for a moment, Qi Tai's expression was a little complicated, he seemed to understand Zhu Gaoxu's intentions, but he didn't seem to be very clear.

The sun has set, and the insects that remain in early autumn have been singing outside the tent one after another.