Wuchang, leap June is in the scorching heat, there is not a trace of wind in the air, but it is hot, the sound of cicadas in the governor's palace is bursting, a group of officials in the lobby is stuffy, simply put on cloth coats and shorts, around a few cut watermelons to eat.

"You guys are here, Wuchang is short of people, Hui Dengxiang was killed, Zhang Mengcun and Ji Qi went to Hunan, and now Huizhou, Quzhou, and Chuzhou have been added, I have to send Jiang Tianyi and Fu Shan two young people to act as agents of the affairs of the three governments, and it is not a good thing that the territory is too big." Li Huai shook the pu fan and said to Jin Sheng, Yun Rong, and Ma Guangyuan.

The three of them arrived in Wuchang in the morning, Jin Sheng was transferred to Jiangxi as the commander and assistant of Nanzhili and Zhejiang affairs, and the former governor of the Criminal Trial Department was taken over by Yan Jizu; Ma Guangyuan failed to command the Battle of Xiangcheng and was transferred back to Wuchang to continue to serve as Lao Shuai's deputy, and Zhang Ding was promoted to the governor of Henan; Yun Rong killed too many people in Henan, and was jointly sued by the local gentry to the Senate, and it happened that the Holy See, the English Parliament, and the Dutch Parliament sent letters to invite Datong to send people to visit, and the presidential palace urgently transferred Du Hongtai, the political envoy of Shaanxi, to take over as the commander of Henan, and sent Yun Rong to hide abroad for a few years.

"When our army enters Nanzhili and Zhejiang, can the Qing army react?" Ma Guangyuan asked.

"Dolgon is crazy, the 'shaving order' has made a big mess in Jiangnan, and the Qing army doesn't dare to touch us because of its own time, but sooner or later there will be a battle, Lao Ma, you go to Nanchang as soon as possible, Jiangxi's troops are weak, only Ma Xianglin's Bushi Town and Tian Jianxiu's Fourteen Town, I selected 20,000 elite troops from the Jingxiangshun army in Toushun and transferred them to Jiangxi, but these guys are unreliable, and they must be reorganized as soon as possible." Li Huai replied with a wave of his hand.

Zhou Yi asked Jin Sheng, "Brother Zhengxi, what has happened in Datong recently?" When the news of the 'Yangzhou Massacre' and the 'Hair Shaving Order' came, officials and local gentry in the former Ming Dynasty in Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi provinces seized the opportunity to incite public opinion to arbitrarily discuss sending troops, and also gathered people to surround the Governor's Mansion to pick quarrels and provoke trouble. ”

The "Yangzhou Massacre" case and the "Hair Shaving Order" had little impact in Datong, and the people of Datong could march on the streets to show solidarity with the people of Jianghuai, and they could also shed a few tears for the victims, but they were unwilling to send people and money to fight for the Ming Kingdom, and according to the "Liberty Daily", there was a party dispute within the Qing court, and the Northern Party headed by Feng Quan and Sun Zhiqi overpowered the Southern Party headed by Gong Dingyu and Chen Mingxia. However, Song Xuezhu, the governor of the Datong Branch of the Criminal Trial Division, could not swallow this breath and filed a public prosecution on the Yangzhou Massacre case, but the Datong Branch of the Datong Division of the Grand Law Department refused to accept it on the grounds that it had no jurisdiction, and Yan Jizu happened to take over as the governor of the Criminal Trial Division at this time, and Song Xuezhu immediately appealed to the Federal Grand Law Division with the support of his old boss, and the case has not yet been decided.

"There is also a group of corrupt Confucians in Datong who make trouble, and the inspection department directly sent the excessive trouble to the barracks for training, and it was all honest in less than ten days, and we were burdened with Sichuan and Henan, and we couldn't help it if we wanted to start a war with the Qing State." Jin Sheng finished eating a large piece of watermelon, patted his stomach and sat down and said.

"Brother Yushan, you just have too soft hands, the people are not stupid, the war is to produce Ding and grain, which one is full and wants to fight, the people who make trouble are the remnants of the Ming Kingdom, just kill a few more, and no one in Henan will dare to make trouble." Yun Rong said and threw out a piece of watermelon rind casually.

Li Huai smiled and didn't answer, Yun Rong went on a killing spree in Henan, and got the nickname "Yun Butcher", the remnants of the Ming Kingdom and the local heroes were so frightened that they didn't dare to act rashly, and the new policy was successfully implemented, and the people got benefits, and called him "Yun Qingtian".

"Li Yushan, the traitorous party went to Wuchang to do evil!" A figure suddenly rushed into the lobby, followed by a big fat man who was panting, but the appearance of Li Huai and the others in shorts and shorts startled him, and he turned his face a little embarrassed and took a few steps back.

Li Huai paused for a moment, and when he looked closely, it turned out to be Ruan Dacheng, and couldn't help laughing: "Mr. Yuanhai, what are you doing with a piece of cloth wrapped on your head on a hot day?" Come and eat melons, just fished out of the well water, Your Highness, you can also have a piece. ”

"It's hot, it's hot!" King Fu picked up a piece of melon and sent it to his mouth, this guy lived in the Governor's Mansion after arriving in Wuchang, delicious food and drink and pocket money, and when he was bored, he took Ruan Dacheng to go shopping and watch the play, and his life was delicious.

Ruan Dacheng pushed away the melon handed over by Li Huai, tore off the head wrap and shouted: "It's the opposite, it's the opposite, the Nanjing traitorous party went to Wuchang to make trouble, they, they shaved the old man's head, Li Yushan, do you care?" ”

"How can this be, who did it? This governor must be punished heavily," Li Huai glanced at Ruan Dacheng's bald head, and forced a smile to introduce to everyone, "This is Mr. Ruan Yuanhai, not only writes poems well, but also is proficient in gardening, painting, and engineering construction, especially can be called a master of opera, Mr. Zhang Taoan (Zhang Dai) once said that Ruan Yuanhai's play 'is excellent, the feet and feet are excellent, the output is excellent, the sentences are excellent, and the words are excellent', and there is no one more talented in the world than this!" ”

Ruan Dacheng has a bad reputation, but his talent is known to the world, Jin Sheng and Yun Rong hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and by the way, comforted the old man's wounded heart. Ruan Dacheng was still angry, and he didn't say a word, King Fu felt comfortable after eating two pieces of melon, and said what happened intermittently: he and Ruan Dacheng were wandering on the street, and they met a group of scholars who encouraged the people to go to the Governor's Mansion to petition for troops to attack the Qing Dynasty, led by Yuan Jixian and the former Nanjing servant Shaoqing Wan Yuan Ji and Ruan Dacheng had old grudges, and they scolded each other when they collided together, and Huang Zongxi, the backbone of the Restoration Society, happened to go to Wuchang - Ruan Dacheng was beaten by Huang Zongxi in Nanjing Confucius Temple, and also arrested Huang Zongxi by the Shun case, and the enemies were very red when they met, Huang Zongxi quarreled and suffered a loss, and in a fit of anger, he led someone to shave Ruan Dacheng's head bald.

"They also scolded me for being the toad emperor, and Mr. Ruan also became a traitor to the country, which is really infuriating!" King Fu picked up another piece of watermelon and took a bite of it.

Yun Rong frowned and said, "Brother Yushan, these people are obviously restorationists, they must be cleaned up as soon as possible, and they must not be tolerated and raised. ”

"What Hezhou said is extremely true, they use the 'Yangzhou Massacre' and 'Hair Shaving Order' to pick quarrels and provoke trouble, and they should be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law, and if you don't do it, let the old man do it." Ruan Dacheng also figured it out at this time, since his head was shaved, he simply used the power of Wuchang to fight with that group.

Li Huai shook his head and sat down slowly, Yunrong's set did not work in Huguang and Jiangxi, Huguang people once formed the famous Chu Party, Jiangxi people also produced Xia Yan and Yan Song in the Jiajing Dynasty, and the two places produced many talents in the imperial examination, and the gentry power was deep-rooted, which could not be easily shaken.

"Why did Yuan Jixian get together with Wan Yuan Ji and Huang Zongxi?" Jin Sheng asked.

Zhou Yi replied with a wry smile: "Yuan Jixian has been lying in Jiujiang and not leaving, I heard that Nanjing fell and went to Nanchang to encourage Yang Tinglin to raise troops, Wan Yuan Ji also had the same plan after escaping from Nanjing, the two happened to meet together, Yang Tinglin was entangled but simply hidden, they ran to Wuchang to find the governor's mansion, of course we refused to send troops, the two of them instigated Wuchang scholars to march and petition, and surrounded the governor's mansion twice before and after, Huang Zongxi also went to Wuchang a few days ago, and asked to see Yushan was blocked back by me, Yushan, it seems that he will not leave if he can't see you." ”

Li Huai nodded, diverted the topic and said to Ruan Dacheng: "Zhejiang General Army Fang Guoan sent a letter saying that Ma Shiying was in his hands, asking if we want people, Mr. Yuanhai, what do you think?" ”

"Let the old man come to Wuchang, the old man is about to ask him, why do you want to escape alone, and you don't want decades of friendship?" Ruan Dacheng was angry again, and King Fu told him that if Ma Shiying hadn't stopped him, he would definitely have taken him to escape from Nanjing at the beginning, and this kind of person was also a friend!

"No, you and Ma Shiying have too bad reputations, if they are in Wuchang together, wouldn't it be for the world to scold me for hiding dirt and dirt." King Fu hurriedly interjected, choking Ruan Dacheng's face flushed.

"Your Highness is very knowledgeable, I admire you!" Li Huai couldn't help but praise, King Fu's face immediately turned red, in fact, Ma Shiying didn't forget his old friend before he ran away, but he strictly ordered not to leak the news to others, including Ruan Dacheng, Ma Ruan would definitely expose the matter when he met, and his face would not look good at that time.

"Shandong's Xu Hengchen is doing business well, he is almost a political envoy, Lao Ma is a veteran of politics, let him go to Shandong by sea, His Royal Highness and Mr. Yuanhai should also set off for Datong, it is best to go on the road in a few days." Jin Sheng said.

"No, the old man is still rehearsing in Wuchang, and he will leave in a month." Ruan Dacheng shook his head.

"What kind of play, is it good?" Yun Rong came to be interested.

"It's a good show, tell the story of the new deal that allows the people to live and work in peace and contentment, the old man has written the play, and he will be cast with the song," Ruan Dacheng was very proud, grabbed Yun Rong and said, "If you want to say that the play is still the best in Anqing Mansion, the song is beautiful and the lyrics are beautiful, the drama in Huguang and Jiangxi is not good, the tune is messy, the drama is vulgar, and I can't find a decent horn, for example, this flower drum tune should be sung like this......"

"Mr. Yuanhai, you are frightened today, hurry up and accompany His Highness back to the post house to rest, this governor will definitely be angry for you, come here, send off guests!"

Li Huai's face changed and he pushed and shoved Ruan Dacheng and King Fu away, and then turned back to Yun Rong and said: "Don't talk to him more, this old man knows everything about the Nine Streams and Three Sects, and if he opens the topic, it will be endless, and if he doesn't tell people that he can't stop falling asleep, we have all suffered." ”

Zhou Yi nodded immediately, and everyone laughed, this old man is weird and interesting.

"Okay, I'll go to Nanchang with Lao Ma tomorrow and go back to rest first," Jin Sheng patted his stomach and stood up, approached Li Huai and said, "Yushan, the Colonial Bureau has moved the people of Chongming and Zhoushan to Tuntian, Taiwan, and there will definitely be no war this year, and those people must be sent as soon as possible, lest they continue to deceive people." ”

Zhou Yi nodded and said: "Just follow Datong's method, I will immediately send someone to post a notice, and those who dare to encourage troops will be assigned to the camp for training." ”

"Yuan Jixian, Wan Yuan Ji and Huang Zongxi will definitely come to the door, and I will bombard them away." Yun Rong said with a smile.

Only two days after the notice was posted, Yuan Jixian, Wan Yuanji, and Huang Zongxi blocked the door of the governor's mansion and made a big noise, and the secretary in charge, Yin Ruweng, came forward to take them into a side room, and after waiting for a while, Li Huai and Yun Rong walked in with cold faces.

"Li Yushan, you deposed the gentry before, and now you want to arrest the scholars as soldiers, where do you make the scholars face?" Yuan Jixian shouted when he saw Li Huai.

"Anti-Qing aspirants can't just talk and don't do things, ordinary people can be soldiers, why can't soldiers be soldiers, and it is also for their good to enter the camp for training, so as not to give their lives in vain." Yun Rong sneered.

"It's ridiculous, scholars are the pillars of the country, and they should be awarded officials based on their talents, how can they be arbitrarily incorporated into the battalion." Wan Yuan Ji shouted.

"Encourage troops to let others bleed, but I just want to be an official, a good calculation, go back and tell your people, either enter the camp as a soldier, or stay at home honestly, don't want to use the anti-Qing to confuse people."

Yun Rong's words angered Yuan Jixian and Wan Yuanji, and the three of them immediately quarreled, but Li Huai didn't speak, his eyes kept staring at Huang Zongxi.

"Li Yushan, you are a big official, it's not easy to see each other, don't you remember the old man?" Huang Zongxi was stared at uncomfortably, and couldn't help but speak first.

"Not only do I remember you, but I also remember Gu Yanwu who went to Fengzhou with you, but I'm thinking, what are you Huang Taichong doing when you don't study at home, so you came to Wuchang?" Li Huai replied lightly.

"The Qing people are tyrannical and forced to shave their hair, and people of insight all rise up to save the world. I have raised troops in Yuyao, Yanwu is also preparing for a big plan in Kunshan, Li Yushan, you are a scholar, how can you stand by and watch! Huang Zongxi said loudly.

"You have defected to King Lu, if you have something to say, please speak directly," Li Huai saw Huang Zongxi's eyes glancing at Yun Rong, waved his hand and said: "Yun Hezhou is not an outsider, but it doesn't hurt to say it!" ”

"Zhang Guowei's letter." Huang Zongxi hesitated, took out a letter and handed it to Li Huai.

Zhang Guowei once served as the secretary of the military department of the Chongzhen Dynasty, went to Datong on the way to the south, met with Li Huai, and had a good impression of each other, and now he is a scholar of the Dongge University of the Lu Dynasty, his eyes involuntarily aimed at Li Huai, he said in the letter: Yushan is significant, the governance of Huguang, Jiangxi politics and people, all industries are prosperous, Shaoxing ministers do not admire, but foolishly think that Yushan is not only the brother of Li Hanmin, but also outstanding achievements, outstanding authority, this is the taboo of the previous dynasties, Tang Li Jiancheng is a lesson from the past, for the net worth should be planned early, King Lu is thirsty for talent, and wants to grant Wuyingdian University Scholars to supervise Huguang and Jiangxi, and when the country is in trouble, he only seeks to help the world, and he must not refuse.

Zhang Guowei still looks at the problem with old eyes, now that Datong's system of checks and balances has become perfect, it is impossible to have a bloody tragedy of infighting-Li Huai shook his head and handed the letter to Yun Rong, and Yun Rong couldn't help laughing after reading the letter.

"I'm not optimistic about you at all, the Ming Qi is exhausted, you should reflect and seek change, instead of going down with this piece of stinky meat, hmph, King Lu and King Tang will be destroyed by the Qing army one by one sooner or later." Yun Rong threw the letter on the table with contempt.

Huang Zongxi had expected that this letter was useless, sighed and got up and said to Li Huai: "Brother Yushan, the Ming Dynasty has been out of power for a long time, everyone in the world knows, but the people are innocent, there was a slaughter in Yangzhou before, the disaster of shaving hair, the dead are more than millions, the East captives, birds and beasts, the sky will punish them, the sage seeks benevolence and righteousness, how can he sit back and watch the people fall into fire and water, my brother is in charge of Huguang and Jiangxi, and he ascends to the heights and calls the people from Jingcong, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and ......

Li Huai shook his head and interrupted: "Military affairs are not child's play, Datong and the Qing State stand side by side, once the war starts from outside the Guanwai to the Guannei, from the Yellow River to the Yangtze River, it will be a piece, and the soldiers, horses, money and grain will also be consumed innumerable. ”

"Nonsense, with my big country, why worry about the lack of national strength, people of insight in the world have raised troops against the Qing Dynasty, only 200,000 Eastern captives have died one less than one, and the defeat is only between morning and evening, you are cowardly and cowardly, and you will definitely reap the consequences of your cowardice and cowardice." Wan Yuan Ji shouted angrily.

"I think you are going to die," Yun Rong couldn't help sneering, and said slowly, "As far as I know, the Eight Banners of the Qing State are gathered in Nanjing, Hangzhou, Yangzhou, and Xuzhou, and the local suppression of the people's rebellion is all Ming surrendered troops, I am afraid that you don't even have the opportunity to fight with the Eight Banners, fight, kill, anyway, it is all you Han people." ”

"You disperse the people and horses, if you really can't do it, you will surrender with honor, in fact, organized surrender is more meaningful than blind resistance, endure humiliation and bear the burden to protect the people, time will bring you hope." Li Huai said sincerely.

"It's better to be broken than to be broken!" Huang Zongxi gritted his teeth and replied.

"You can break jade, but what qualifications do you have to bring the people to their deaths, are they willing to die? You have promised righteousness, deceived thousands of people into going to the battlefield and sent them to death, and you are butchers just like the Eastern Captives. Yun Rong stood up and scolded angrily.

Huang Zongxi and the three of them couldn't bear it, and the two sides had a big quarrel, Li Huai resolutely did not let go, Yun Rong also continued to make things sarcastic, and when it came to the meal, he had to invite guests to dinner, Huang Zongxi was so angry that he shouted, "I don't eat your food" and turned his head and left, Wan Yuan Ji also wanted to leave but was stopped by Yuan Jixian.

Yun Rongpi smiled and said, "Mr. Yuan, the presidential palace summoned you to the federal senate and you didn't do it, you still didn't do it when you sent you to Nanjing, do you want to go to Shaoxing or Jianning now?" We can also send someone to escort us for the way out. ”

"We are all from Jiangxi, and we are also citizens of the Federation, so we will stay in Wuchang and fight with you, the "Datong Constitutional Law" is so good, if you dare to come nonsense, we will go to the legal department to sue you." Yuan Jixian smiled and pulled Wan Yuan Ji away.

"You are such a scoundrel, why don't you dare to go to the territory of Mingguo to make trouble!" Yun Rong yelled angrily.

"Mr. Yuan is familiar with Datong, forget it, let them be." Li Huai smiled bitterly.

Zhou Yi hurriedly walked in at this time: "Yushan, Hu Chunshui sent an urgent report from Nanjing, the Qing court implemented the "shaving order" caused a popular uprising, Duoduo dispatched the original Gao Jie and Liu Liangzuo to surrender troops to suppress the force, and Jiangyin, Songjiang, and Jiading were slaughtered. ”

"How can the Han people produce scum, it is not good to kill the emperor, nor can it be to suppress the thieves, but it is so tyrannical to kill the people of the same clan." Yun Rong scolded.

Li Huai paced and thought for a moment, waved his hand and said to Zhou Xuan: "Brother Nangui, you reply to Hu Chunshui, it is a great achievement to protect the people, and it is forbidden to directly clash with the Qing army in any form. ”

"Good way, the Chamber of Commerce has long wanted to find a way to knock out the bamboo bar of the Qing Dynasty, and it is no problem to double the price." Zhou was stunned and laughed.