In the post house, Zhou Renyuan and Zhu Cihong, Wang Fuzhi is receiving Ma Shiying, the governor of Fengyang, the capital of China, and Lu Zhenfei, the governor of Fengyang, Nanjing, it stands to reason that Nanjing belongs to Nanzhili, and Fengyang, Anhui is the hometown of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, so after Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne, the position of Fengyang was raised to a very high status called Zhongdu, which was under the exclusive jurisdiction of the imperial court. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 Info: It is unreasonable for these two top leaders of Anhui Province to come to Nanjing.

Governor Ma Shiying had tears on his face, and was kneeling on the ground and begging Zhu Cihong bitterly, "Prince, please save the people of Anhui!" There is really no money to repair this imperial tomb! ”

It turned out that in the eighth year of Chongzhen (1635), after Fengyang was broken by Zhang Xianzhong's army, the ancestral tomb of the Zhu family was destroyed by Zhang Xianzhong's troops, and even the Huangjue Temple of Zhu Yuanzhang's monk was also burned. Chongzhen issued an "edict of guilt" at that time, walked to the Taimiao and cried bitterly, and killed the governor Yang Yihe to thank the world. Then he ordered to rebuild the imperial mausoleum, but the court had no money, and it was all borne by the local officials, gentry and common people. Until now, thirteen years have passed in Chongzhen, five years have passed, and only half of the imperial tomb has been repaired, of course, the money is apportioned to the people. After the destruction of the peasant army by Zhang Xianzhong and Gao Yingxiang, Anhui was ten rooms and nine empty, not to mention that there was not much money left, where was there still money to repair the imperial mausoleum. Ma Shiying really felt helpless, and when he heard that the prince was going south, he hurriedly took the governor Lu Zhenfei to Nanjing to intercede.

Zhu Cihong looked at Ma Shiying, who was kneeling on the ground, and didn't know what to do. Can you not repair your own ancestral grave? That's the face of the court and the emperor, let's continue to repair, no money is indeed the truth, otherwise a feudal official would not kneel on the ground and cry so bitterly.

He looked at Zhou Renyuan as if asking for help, hoping that Zhou Renyuan could help him out of the siege.

Zhou Renyuan was looking at Ma Shiying, who was compiled into the "Biography of the Traitorous Minister" in the history of the Ming Dynasty at this time, this Ma Shiying didn't look like a traitor who cherished the people! There was something strange in his heart. In fact, he also knows that history is written by the victors, the history of the Ming Dynasty was compiled during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, this Ma Shiying resisted the Manchu Qing Dynasty in Nanjing and was finally killed unyieldingly, it seems that it is a smear of the Qing Dynasty!

"Governor Ma, please get up, this king and the crown prince will definitely play the emperor, whether this imperial mausoleum continues to be repaired or not, we will discuss it again. After all, the hardships of the people of Anhui are also true! Zhou Renyuan said.

"Oh--" Ma Shiying was overjoyed in his heart, seeing Zhou Renyuan showing a sympathetic tone, "The prince is so sympathetic to the people's feelings, and the people of Anhui have thanked the prince and the prince." ”

"The king just said that it will be played, as for this decision, it is still in the hands of the emperor and the court, I didn't pack a ticket!" Zhou Renyuan said slyly.

"Yes! Be! The lower officials know that the lower officials only hope that the emperor and the ministers of the imperial court will understand the suffering of the people of Anhui, and the lower officials will be content! Ma Shiying thanked him repeatedly.

"I wonder what else is going on with the two adults?" Zhu Cihong saw that Zhou Renyuan had calmed Ma Shiying and asked.

Lu Zhenfei, who had not spoken on the side, spoke, "Prince, prince, the lower officials have something sensational to tell." ”

"What sensationalism? Is it also related to the people of Fengyang? Zhu Cihong said in surprise.

"It's not about the people, it's about the former Tang King Zhu Yujian who was imprisoned in Fengyang, and he is the uncle of the prince." Lu Zhenfei bowed and replied.

"What? Fengyang still imprisons a vassal king, what's going on? Zhou Renyuan and Zhu Cihong looked at each other and were taken aback.

"This former Tang king was in the fifth year of Chongzhen, when the thieves were everywhere, and he remembered the king of Bingqin. He asked the imperial court to send troops, but the imperial court did not agree, so he recruited thousands of troops in his fiefdom to fight against the thieves, but unfortunately failed. In the end, he was condemned by the imperial court as a vassal king to lead troops and violated the law of the country, was cut off his title, abolished as a concubine, and has been imprisoned in Fengyang. Lu Zhenfei explained.

"I didn't expect that my Zhu family clan already had a prince who was dedicated to the country." Zhu Cihong said in a loud voice. "He really shouldn't have been imprisoned by his father, but Lord Lu wants Prince Ben and King Yongming to intercede like the emperor and release him?"

And Zhou Renyuan on the side was thinking about how the name "Tang King Zhu Yujian" was so familiar to me? Ah, it's him! Zhu Yujian, the Longwu Emperor in history, committed suicide in Chongzhen, Zhu Yousong, the Hongguang Emperor of the Southern Ming Dynasty, was killed by the Qing soldiers, and then Zhu Yujian, who will be the emperor in Fujian, is the emperor who wants to do something like Chongzhen, appoints virtuous ministers, fights corruption, and has no other concubines in the harem. It's a pity that he was betrayed by Zheng Zhilong, and the Qing soldiers captured his last place of refuge, Yanping, he wanted to take Empress Zeng to flee to Hunan to meet Zhu Changying, but was caught up by the Qing soldiers, Empress Zeng jumped off the cliff and martyred, he was captured by the Qing soldiers and then died of hunger strike, he is really a rare bloody man among the vassal kings!

"Lord Wang, Lord Wang!" Wang Fuzhi saw that Zhou Renyuan was a little distracted, and reminded him softly.

"What? Oh--this king raised his hands in approval, and he will definitely ask the emperor to release the king of Tang. Zhou Renyuan came back to his senses and hurriedly said.

"It's a pity that King Tang was killed by the villain and is in danger, so the lower officials had to come together with Governor Ma to ask the prince and the prince for help." Lu Zhenfei said excitedly.

"Huh?" Zhou Renyuan and the others were taken aback, "There are still people who dare to murder the vassal king, although the king of Tang is now a concubine, he is also a clan, who has such courage?" Zhu Cihong was furious.

Lu Zhenfei said hatefully, "It's the Fengyang Tomb Eunuch Shi Yingzhao, since the Tang King was imprisoned, he has been constantly asking for bribes from the Tang King, and after being rejected by the Tang King, this thief actually locked the Tang King with a stone lock, making him unable to move an inch, and often cut off water and food, and now the Tang King is dying." Although we are second-class officials of the imperial court, we have no right to enter the high wall of the imperial tomb and save the Tang King! ”

"How did you find out about this, Lord Lu?" Wang Fuzhi asked.

"A little eunuch guarding the tomb couldn't stand it, so he secretly went to my mansion and told me. I know some martial arts, and one night I took advantage of the unpreparedness of people, climbed over the high wall, and met the Tang King, who told everything to the lower officials. If there is a lie, the lower officials will listen to the fate of the prince and the prince! Lu Zhenfei swore.

"This damn thief Shi Yingzhao really deserves a thousand cuts!" Zhu Cihong slapped the table and said loudly.

Zhou Renyuan was also full of anger, Zhu Yujian, such a loyal and patriotic person, was now tortured so unbearably by a eunuch, it was really unbearable. "Prince, it will take too long for us to wait for the emperor's approval, and I am afraid that King Tang will have no strength to return to heaven by then. Without further ado, please ask the prince to give me the holy decree of the Heavenly Patrol, and I will go to Fengyang with the two adults to save the Tang King. Zhou Renyuan thought of this solution.

"The Holy Decree is no problem, but what about the affairs in Nanjing?" Zhu Cihong asked.

"Nanjing's affairs are not something that can be done in a day or two. I left Lord Wang to help you, and I only took ink bamboo with me when I went to Fengyang. Besides, the horse can come back in two or three days! Zhou Renyuan replied.

"That's okay, with Lord Wang staying, Cihong will be much more relieved." Zhu Cihong also admired Wang Fuzhi's insight and wisdom along the way.

Wang Fuzhi has no opinion, after all, Zhu Cihong is still very young, and Zhou Ren needs to help Zhu Cihong by his side after he leaves, because the water here in Nanjing is also very deep, and it is a bit reluctant to ask Zhu Cihong to take on it alone.

It didn't take long for Zhou Renyuan to carry Mozhu and Ma Shiying with a longbow, and Lu Zhenfei rode out of the post house and went straight to the direction of Fengyang.

"Guogong, the people who are staring at the post house see the prince and his entourage and the governor of Ma from Fengyang, and the governor of the road have gone out of the city." Jiao An, the housekeeper of the Wei Mansion, is returning to Xu Wenjue.

"What? The prince is out of town? How many people did you bring? In which direction did you go? You make it clear! Xu Wenjue hurriedly asked.

"Just one retinue! It seems to have gone to the direction of Fengyang! Jiao An replied.

Just two? Or did you go with Fengyang's feudal officials? Xu Wenjue thought about it, and then said that the final destination of the prince's trip this time was not Nanjing, but Fengyang? Could it be that something big happened to Fengyang, and King Yongming left in a hurry? "Go, tell those in the Grange to continue to be vigilant, keep their mouths shut, and not to talk nonsense when they see the living. Let's see how it goes! Xu Wenjue instructed, "You go and tell General Zhao and Gonggong Han the news of King Yongming's trip to Fengyang, and ask them to come over to the palace." ”

When Zhou Renyuan and his entourage arrived in Fengyang, it was already close to evening, but fortunately, Ma Shiying and several entourages led by Lu Zhenfei came on horseback, saving a lot of time. Everyone didn't care about the fatigue of the journey, and after arriving in Fengyang, they didn't rest and went straight to the imperial tomb.

"Tell Shi Yingzhao to come out!" Lu Zhenfei rode a horse and shouted at the gate of the imperial mausoleum.

The little eunuch at the door knew Lu Zhenfei, and when he saw that it was the local governor, he didn't dare to slack off and hurriedly ran in to tell him.

After a while, a roe head rat-eyed eunuch in his fifties walked out, followed by a group of young eunuchs, and he said lazily, "Who is it?" Running to this royal forbidden place so late to shout? Aren't you afraid of losing your head? Yo, it turned out to be Governor Lu, and Governor Ma, why did you two come to our place? When he saw Lu Zhenfei and Ma Shiying riding horses in the front, he was also a little strange in his heart, it was definitely not a good thing for the two major officials of Fengyang to come to the imperial tomb together.

Ma Shiying pursed his lips and motioned for Lu Zhenfei to speak.

"We want to enter the imperial mausoleum and see the former Tang King Zhu Yujian." Lu Zhenfei said loudly.

"What? Are you too bold, although the two adults are high-ranking officials of the imperial court, but no one can enter this imperial tomb without a holy decree! Please go back. When Shi Yingzhao heard the word "Tang Wang", he sighed in his heart and hurriedly rushed away.

"You are Shi Yingzhao?" Zhou Renyuan rode to the front and asked in a deep voice.

Shi Yingzhao looked at Zhou Renyuan's dress, and his heart was cold. It's broken, why is there still a prince. Hurriedly knelt down, "The old slave Shi should knock on the prince to see the prince!" ”

"Shi Yingzhao, can't this king enter this imperial mausoleum?" Zhou Renyuan asked with a smile.

Shi Yingzhao thought to himself that these people were here to see King Tang, and it seemed that the matter could not be hidden. Hengzhu is a death, so he said with a horizontal heart, "Lord, no one can enter the imperial tomb without a holy decree!" ”

"Good! Good! If you want a holy decree, this king will show you the holy decree! Zhou Renyuan's face changed, and he took out the holy decree from his arms, and Shi Yingzhao's eyes turned black when he saw the bright and shaky holy decree, and he immediately collapsed to the ground. I only heard Zhou Renyuan say loudly, "This king is patrolling the heavens, and he wants to enter the imperial tomb today, and those who dare to stop him will be killed!" The little eunuchs immediately fell to their knees, their bodies trembling.

"Take care of Shi Yingzhao!" Zhou Renyuan ordered those Fengyang's personal soldiers.

The two pro-soldiers immediately stepped forward and tied Shi Yingzhao with ropes, Shi Yingzhao came back to his senses and struggled and shouted, "Lord, what crime did the old slave commit?" The old slave is the chief eunuch appointed by the imperial court to guard the tomb, you can't do anything to me! ”

Zhou Renyuan glanced at him contemptuously and scolded, "Wait a minute, you'll know what crime you have committed, hmph--"

Entering the gate of the imperial mausoleum, under the leadership of Lu Zhenfei, they came to the place where Zhu Yujian was imprisoned, and a foul smell came to their faces. "Open the cell." Zhou Renyuan covered his nose and ordered. A little eunuch opened the cell door tremblingly, only to see a man in his thirties with his eyes closed, with messy hair, pale face, bloodless face, and a bloodstained iron chain tied to his right leg, and at the end of the chain was a stone pier weighing 100 catties.

"Lord Wang, we're here to save you!" Lu Zhenfei rushed into the cell and shouted loudly, holding Zhu Yujian's shoulder.

Zhu Yujian opened his eyes slightly, and when he saw that it was Lu Zhenfei, his eyes lit up, and he said weakly, "Lord Lu---" and then passed out.

"Quick, send him to the Governor's Mansion for treatment!" Zhou Renyuan hurriedly said.

In the living room of the Governor's Palace, Zhou Renyuan and Ma Shiying were waiting for the results of the doctor treating Zhu Yujian, while Lu Zhenfei and the doctor were treating Zhu Yujian in the wing.

"Governor Ma, which Shi Yingzhao and those little eunuchs can take care of it?" Zhou Renyuan asked Ma Shiying.

"Don't worry, the prince is all in prison, and none of them can escape!" Ma Shiying replied.

"That's good!" Zhou Renyuan nodded, and then muttered to himself, "What kind of world is this?" A eunuch can bully a prince in every way, can it be said that the world has been turned upside down? ”

When Ma Shiying heard this, he was very frightened, and hurriedly said, "The subordinate officials are incompetent, because of their limited power and responsibility, so they ---."

"Master Ma doesn't have to blame himself, this king is not blaming you, but this king sighs that the hearts of the people in the world are ancient." Zhou Renyuan said. From what happened to Zhu Yujian in the imperial mausoleum, he thought that although Zhu Yujian was just a vassal king who abolished his title, he was still a clan after all. A royal servant eunuch who didn't even take the prince of the clan in his eyes could humiliate and torture him. This shows that the name of the Ming Zhu family has lost its majesty in the hearts of many people, even if it is the prince, when you gain power, people respect you for three points, but after losing power, you are not even as good as a dog.

This made Zhou Renyuan feel a little worried about his future, he can say nothing in Hengzhou, but what about Hengzhou? Now how much Chongzhen trusts him, he himself doesn't know in his heart, and his current fate is in Chongzhen's hands, which is his weakness. If he had a hot head like Zhu Yujian and sent troops to attack the peasant army, would he be imprisoned by Chongzhen like Zhu Yujian? From then on, he spent the rest of his life in a dark cell, and then waited to be beheaded by the peasant army or by the Qing soldiers? No, absolutely not! You must get more self-protection, the only way to protect yourself in troubled times is the army, the more troops you have in your hands, the safer, and the strongest can survive in troubled times!

Zhou Renyuan's goal changed for the first time, he originally hoped to help Chongzhen rectify this broken tomorrow, but when he found that his fate was controlled by others, this was something that he could never accept as a modern person. If your own destiny is not controlled by yourself, what can you talk about revitalizing the Ming Dynasty?

"Lord Wang, Governor Ma. King Tang is fine! Lu Zhenfei came in excitedly and said, "The doctor said that he has been malnourished for a long time, his body is weak, and he needs long-term recuperation. Thankfully, we saved him in time, otherwise he would have starved to death! I poured a bowl of hot porridge just now and fell asleep again. ”

"That's good! That's good! Zhou Renyuan and Ma Shiying were also very happy, and their hearts finally fell to the ground.

"Master Ma, Lord Lu, let's try Shi Yingzhao tomorrow, let him confess all the crimes he has committed one by one, and then sign and report to the imperial court." Zhou Renyuan thought for a moment, "As for the disposition of King Tang, let's talk about it when this king meets King Tang tomorrow morning." ”

Nothing to say for a night.