Sure enough, as the more Nanjing garrisons gathered from all sides, the three military chiefs in Nanjing City also arrived, they were - Xiong Mingyu, the Shangshu of the Nanjing Military Department, Han Zanzhou, the eunuch of the Nanjing garrison, and Liu Kongzhao, the noble "Sincere Uncle" of the Nanjing garrison, and Shen Liangzuo, the former chief of ceremonies and the eunuch Shen Liangzuo, who came south from Beijing to serve as the commander of Songjiang City, also followed.

Seeing that there were many people under their command, these people had surrounded the two thieves who had held Ji Qingwen hostage, and felt that there was no danger at all, so they walked out from under the heavy guards, and Xiong Mingyu, the Shangshu of the Nanjing Military Department, came forward and reprimanded Xu Hongru: "Where are you a bandit?" If you dare to hold the official of the court hostage, and if you don't release him quickly, this official can leave you a way out! ”

Ji Qingwen heard Xiong Mingyu's words still reasonable, so he also echoed and said to Xu Hongru behind him: "Sect Master Xu, did you hear it?" If you spare my life, you spare your own life. The adult who spoke just now was not an ordinary person, he was ......"

Before Ji Qingwen finished speaking, Xu Hongru preemptively said: "This lord, the old man knows him, but it is Lord Xu, the secretary of the Nanjing Military Department, right?" "He suffered a gunshot wound and lost some of his vitality, and his tone of speech became more and more weak and floating.

Xiong Mingyu, who was on the other side, was quite proud when he heard that Xu Hongru recognized him, so he said in an official tone: "This ...... This old man, since you know the identity of this official, then you should listen to this official. This official advises you to rein in the precipice, don't defy the law, why don't you let Master Ji go soon? ”

Xu Hongru didn't eat Xiong Mingyu at all, coughed lightly, and said: "Lord Xiong, it's not that the old man doesn't give you face, it's really that the words of the court never count, if I believe you now, you turn around and turn your face and don't recognize people, how is it good to call the old man?" I don't think it's as good as this, so I still ask Lord Xiong to let Lao Yu wait and escort Lord Ji to go first, and when I wait for a safe place, Lao Yu will naturally let Master Ji go. ”

After that, Xu Hongru coughed twice, and then said: "The old man is still quite prestigious in the rivers and lakes, and he has never broken his promise to others. Lord Xiong, I wonder if you agree with the old man's suggestion? ”

Xiong Mingyu heard that Xu Hongru seemed to be a little conceited about his fame, so he casually asked, "Oh? Is it? Although the official lives in the temple, he has also heard about the affairs of the rivers and lakes. But I don't know who you are? ”

Xu Hongru laughed loudly: "Hahaha, the old man is the White Lotus Sect Leader Xu Hongru, such a reputation, Lord Xiong should have heard of it!" ”

Ji Qingwen was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and thought: Isn't Xu Hongru's primary purpose now to get out? Why did you reveal your identity so easily? You must know that the White Lotus Sect has always been an enemy of the imperial court, and his identity as the leader of the White Lotus Sect was known to Xiong Mingyu, how could this secretary of the Nanjing Military Department easily let him go?

Xiong Mingyu was also stunned when he heard Xu Hongru's words.

The information he originally received only said that there were bandits in the "Jade Courtyard" and Ji Qingwen was arrested. Xiong Mingyu had long wanted to see Ji Qingwen, the high-flying and domineering five-product weaving admiral, and he didn't want to help in his heart, but after all, the matter was in Nanjing, and it was Ji Qingwen who made great contributions in the battle of Beijing.

In case Ji Qingwen really has three strengths and two shortcomings, Emperor Chongzhen will be held responsible, although he is not a petty official in the Nanjing Military Department, he may not be able to afford it - a few months ago, Wang Qia, the serious Beijing Military Department Shangshu, was not pushed to the entrance of the vegetable market because of the unfavorable battle, and it was a knife in the head?

If the Beijing Military Department Shangshu can be killed, can't the Nanjing Military Department Shangshu be killed?

Thinking of this, Xiong Mingyu hurriedly ordered the officials of the department to order the soldiers and horses under his command as soon as possible, and ordered someone to call Han Zanzhou, the eunuch of the Nanjing garrison, and Liu Kongzhao, the commander of the army, to deal with this tricky matter together.

However, the degree of trickiness of this matter far exceeded Xiong Mingyu's expectations, and Xu Hongru's identity as the "White Lotus Sect Master" forced the old bureaucrat to the point of a dilemma.

If it is an ordinary thief, Xiong Mingyu naturally takes saving Ji Qingwen's life as the first priority, and the thief will let him go, but he will only be punished for not being strict in law and order.

But Xu Hongru, the leader of the White Lotus Sect, is one of the few important prisoners in the Ming Dynasty, if he is let go because he is worried about Ji Qingwen's safety, this sin can at least make him lose his official position and remove him.

However, if Xu Hongru is forcibly arrested, then Ji Qingwen's life will be hanging, and nine times out of ten he will be killed by Xu Hongru who jumped off the wall in a hurry.

Faced with this situation, Xiong Mingyu could only use the valuable experience he had accumulated in the officialdom for more than 20 years, and began to make peace with him: "I said...... Everyone, please be impatient, please be impatient, we will discuss something...... Good to discuss......"

He was right, but it was not much different from not saying anything.

Therefore, Xu Hongru didn't buy it, and said: "Lord Xiong is very patient. It's a pity that the old man was injured by Lord Ji, and he was anxious to seek medical advice, so I'm afraid I can't talk to a few adults here anymore. Lord Xiong, please give an order immediately and order all the horses to retreat, otherwise don't blame the old man's men for being ruthless! ”

As he spoke, he raised the cold dagger in his hand and put it on Ji Qingwen's neck again.

Xiong Ming met him, and was frightened by him for a moment, and hurriedly said, "Don't be it." The officer knew about it, so he ordered the soldiers to take a few steps back. Xu Hongru, you must ensure the safety of Lord Ji! ”

Xu Hongru nodded and said, "That's nature." If Lord Ji is alive, the old decay can also leave here alive, and if he dies, the old decay will immediately be beaten into a mess of dead meat. To put it bluntly, I'm afraid that no one here is more worried about the life or death of Lord Ji than the old man! ”

"Okay, okay, you don't have to say a word." Xiong Mingyu interrupted Xu Hongru's words, and ordered the more than 3,000 Nanjing defenders who had gathered around the "Jade Courtyard" to retreat back.

However, in the city of Nanjing, Xiong Mingyu is not alone in charge.

At present, the Nanjing garrison here, in addition to the guard army directly under the Nanjing Military Department, there are two other parts belonging to Liu Kongzhao's Chengyi Bofu and Han Zanzhou's Nanjing Garrison Yamen.

So Xiong Mingyu could only be patient and start the work of Liu Kongzhao and Han Zanzhou, and finally persuaded these two adults who were also responsible for the security of Nanjing, but Shen Liangzuo had a seizure.

I saw him take out the style of the celebrant and the eunuch, and said, "No, you can't let go of the White Lotus Sect Leader Xu Hongru!" In the past few decades, the White Lotus Sect has always been a thief, fanning the flames everywhere, and I don't know how many big crimes have been committed all over the country. The files of these cases, starting with the first emperor, have been pressed on the emperor's dragon book case. Today, I finally caught the culprit, how could I let him run away like this? ”

Xiong Mingyu knew that if Ji Qingwen died in Nanjing, then Shen Liangzuo would not have the slightest responsibility, but it was a great credit for him to catch Xu Hongru, so he made such a decisive and somewhat ruthless decision.

However, he had the responsibility of guarding the side, so he naturally couldn't let Ji Qingwen die in front of his eyes, so he said: "No, Lord Ji is a popular person in front of the emperor, if he lacks arms and legs, I will definitely not be able to pass the emperor's pass." ”

The other two people included in the word "I" in Xiong Mingyu's sentence—that is, Han Zanzhou and Liu Kongzhao—also agreed with him, and immediately spoke up to support Xiong Mingyu's decision.

Shen Liangzuo's heart for meritorious service was hot, and when he saw that he couldn't convince the three top officials in Nanjing City in front of him, he simply gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, good." Since the three of them don't have the courage, the miscellaneous family is about to do it, and the miscellaneous family also brought two thousand elites out of the Jingshi City this time, and there are seven or eight hundred people gathered here, which is enough to restrain Xu Hongru, a traitor, so please stand by and watch! ”

After speaking, Shen Liangzuo turned his head and said to Ji Qingwen: "Lord Ji, what is the identity of the traitor who held you hostage, Lord Ji should also know, right?" The adult is deeply favored by the emperor, and must be willing to use his life to serve the court and serve the court with death, and to serve the long live, and to die with Xu Hongru, a traitor, Lord Ji can be regarded as a well-deserved death, and the miscellaneous family will naturally praise the lord in front of the emperor for his fearless and unyielding demeanor, and when the time comes, he will also ask the emperor to be gracious, build a temple for Lord Ji, and enjoy the ......incense for generations."