West Garden, Yuxi Palace.

There weren't a few fish in Beijing all summer, and the weather was very hot. The dazzling white sun is falling little by little, turning red little by little, and finally being able to be forced to be seen.

The whole Xiyuan seemed to be shrouded in this sticky red, and the night finally fell, a little lantern was lit one after another, and countless eunuchs were busy swimming back and forth in the dark, but silently.

The water in Yuyuantan has shrunk a little, the weather is so hot that the world seems to be detained in a hot pot, and sweat flows silently.

A eunuch vigorously hit the flint in his hand, and he didn't light the flint for a long time, probably because there was too much sweat on his hands, which wet the flint.

"It's so fucking hot, I thought it was cooler here than in the palace by the water. But I don't want to see the moisture, it's more stuffy than the Forbidden City. I knew that our teacher would stay in the inner study hall to study. ”

As he spoke, the other eunuch's face changed color, and he whispered in a hurried tone: "Xiao An, don't stop talking quickly, on such a hot day, everyone has a fire in their hearts, if you ask people to listen, eat carefully." ”

The eunuch surnamed An was obviously a little frightened when he ate him like this, and muttered: "It's not because of the matter on the southeast front, Long live Lord is in a hurry, and our days are not easy, I just hope that Lord Wu Jie will solve those dwarfs soon." Look at the feet, it's been half a year since Lord Wu went to the southeast, why hasn't there been any news yet? ”

That's right, the whole city of Beijing knew that Wu Jie went to the southeast to urge Hu Zongxian to use troops against the Japanese. Some time ago, Wu Jie and Qi Jiguang sent an urgent item to Beijing with an urgent dispatch of 600 miles, saying that they had found the main force of the Japanese and brought the main force of the Taizhou Army to Fujian to fight a decisive battle with the enemy.

Now, almost two months have passed, and there is no news from there.

How the battle went, whether it was won or lost, but there was no news.

Speaking of the Ming army in the southeast, only Qi Jiguang's Taizhou Army and Hu Zongxian's Northern Guangdong Army really had combat effectiveness. If the Taizhou army is defeated, the entire southeast coast will be out of control. Although this war has nothing to do with national fortunes, it is of great significance. Won, the entire Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian and even Guangdong Heqing Haiyan. If defeated, the southeast fiscal and tax areas will be eroded, and the finances of the entire Ming Dynasty will completely collapse.

With the opening of the Grand Canal, the economic prosperity of the south began in the Yuan Dynasty. Jiangnan is the source of wealth for the whole of China. If Jiangnan is dilapidated, it will not be able to support such a huge empire with only the production of the north.

This is also in real history, once the Manchus seized Beijing, they eagerly risked sending troops south, rather than digesting the fruits of victory. Divide the river with Nanming.

China, with the completion of the excavation of the Grand Canal and the development of Jiangnan, has become a whole, which cannot be divided and cannot exist alone.

The whole Ming Dynasty is also clear about the power of this, which is also the reason why Jiajing is eager to solve the war in the southeast, and even does not hesitate to adopt the gold system. Today's Ming Dynasty has completely collapsed financially, even if most of the military expenses have been offset because of the centi. This year is still a huge deficit.

Another eunuch whispered: "I'm afraid it's not so easy, Lord Wu has been walking in Xiyuan for many years, we are also familiar with him, and we know that he is a good person." But these days, good people are only afraid that there will be no good reward. Lord Wu's poetry and articles are first-class, and he has never led soldiers before, so I am afraid that this battle may not be won. ”

Eunuch An was shocked and sighed, "Yes." Kure-sama is too. Why is it such a thankless errand? Although I don't know much about military affairs, I read a few military books when I was studying in the inner study hall. In the art of war, it is important to concentrate on attacking one point. If this battle is to be fought, it is necessary to concentrate all the forces of the entire southeast, and it is necessary to complete the work and the battle. Unexpectedly, Lord Wu would lead a detachment of divisions to fight a decisive battle with the enemy. If you lose, what will happen to you? ..., another eunuch also sighed and said: "Who said that this is not the case, but the southeastern army is in the hands of Hu Zongxian, and he is a protégé of Yan Ge Lao, and he will definitely not cooperate with Lord Wu." Lord Wu is also really, a dignified champion and a close minister of the Son of Heaven. For other people, he definitely doesn't do anything, just stay in the Hanlin Academy to boil his qualifications, eat his idle meals for more than ten years, with his talent and learning, he may not be able to survive until he enters the cabinet, so why take such a big risk? Cabinet ministers, originally did not need military merit. ”

Eunuch An's expression darkened: "When I was studying in the inner study hall, Master Wu's articles and poems were a compulsory subject for my generation. Such a great master, if it is really ruined in this matter, it will make people feel unbearable. Kong said that he became benevolent, Meng said that he took righteousness, and Lord Wu couldn't even care about his personal future for the sake of national affairs, and hoped that he would be a good person and have good rewards. ”

The other eunuch sighed, and suddenly hesitated: "Xiao An, you are studying in the inner study hall, and you know more things than me." Are we thinking wrong, maybe Lord Wu will win the battle, but not necessarily? ”

Xiao An shook his head depressedly: "Father-in-law has forgotten the old story of the Mongolian siege of Beijing in the thirty-ninth year of Jiajing, the towering Ming Dynasty, even the capital of Long Live Lord was besieged, and all the troops from all over the world came to King Qin, and still did not win the enemy." This is something that happened under the nose of Banzai, and no army dared to cheat and cheat, but it turned out to be like this. It can be seen how unbearable the army of our Ming Dynasty is. Lord Wu went to the southeast to lead the troops, but he was afraid of ......"

The eunuch was upset in his heart, and said: "I didn't expect my Ming Dynasty's army to be so unbeatable, yes, that battle has already destroyed the spirit of my Ming Dynasty." If the southeast side loses again, how will it win? ”

The sunset had completely set, probably under the influence of the depressed mood of the two eunuchs, and it was very dark.

When I looked up, there were large black clouds, not as starry as before.

While he was sighing, suddenly, a little rain dripped onto the lantern, making a "Flutter! There was a bang, and then it splashed like a plum blossom.

And then there's the second point, the third point.

"It's raining!" Xiao An screamed and hurriedly ran to the long corridor next to her.

The rain was not heavy, but it fell without hesitation, and a gust of wind blew, and an indescribable cool air echoed throughout the West Garden.

Autumn has arrived.

"It's raining, it's raining!" Everywhere there were the low shouts of the eunuchs.

"Who's messing around!" A lantern came from the side of the cloister, and many people were walking in a hurry, and the sound of footsteps even drowned out the sound of rain.

The leader is the chief eunuch of the ceremonial supervisor in civilian clothes, and Chen Hong, the superintendent of the Dongji Factory.

Behind him was a eunuch wearing a five-grade palace uniform, this person was not low-grade, but he had a fresh face, and he didn't know what it was. You must know that the eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty were not of high grade, such as the masters of ceremonies, and they were only at the end of the fourth grade.

Chen Hong is in charge of the East Factory, and he is a cold face. The wind blows, the lights flicker, and it looks very hideous.

The two eunuchs were so frightened that they knelt on the ground at the same time: "Gonggong Chen, it hasn't rained in Beijing this summer, and the minions were happy just now, and they couldn't help but scream." ”

Chen Hong's hideous face suddenly slowed down, and immediately became vivid: "This is a big auspicious fortune, get up, who is on duty today?" ”

Seeing that Chen Hong was not in a bad mood, the two eunuchs hurriedly stood up, "If you go back to your father-in-law, today is Xiao An's errand." ”

Chen Hong: "Xiao An, is Long Live Lord here?" ”

Eunuch An: "Long live Lord is refining qi in the house, and Father-in-law Huang Jin is waiting next to him!" ”

Chen Hong: "So, who is on duty in the cabinet today?" ..., Eunuch An: "Gao Xiang is here." ”

"Go, please come over to Xu Xiang, 100,000 is in a hurry." Chen Hong said: "There is an urgent military situation coming from the front line. ”

"Frontline...... Is it Lord Wu......" As soon as these words were asked, Eunuch An screamed in his heart. If it is usual, but with this question, it is a wrench.

He was so frightened that a layer of sweat broke out in his vest.

It's strange to say, but Chen Hong laughed: "It's ......" and then said again: "Great victory!" ”

"Great victory, great!" The two eunuchs trembled at the same time, but their eyes were hot, and they almost shed tears of joy.

The Ming Dynasty needed this victory so much.

Looking at the two eunuchs who wiped their tears and ran into the rain quickly, Chen Hong smiled at the eunuch beside him: "Gonggong Song traveled thousands of miles from Fujian to Beijing to learn, and he worked hard all the way. The journey was tiring, and I wanted you to rest for the night at the inn. Helpless, long live looking forward to this victory, I have been looking forward to it for a long time, and I can only make you work hard again. ”

Yes, the eunuch beside Chen Hong is Gonggong Song, the Taizhou Military Supervisor.

He looked tired and haggard.

Listening to Chen Hong, he said: "Father-in-law Chen is polite, he is about to meet Long Live Lord, and he doesn't dare to delay." ”

"Let's go."

When I arrived at the door of Jiajing's house in Yuxi Palace, the rain was still very heavy, and I looked out through the light, and the outside was full of silver white lines, and the heaven and earth were like hanging a bead curtain.

Hearing the report from outside, Huang Jin slowly walked out from inside, his expression unshocked.

"Godfather, over there, Lord Wu ......" Gonggong Song hurriedly bowed, probably too excited, and his face turned red.

"Got it, good news." Huang Jin smiled slightly and motioned for him to get up: "Long live Lord is meditating, everyone is waiting here." ”

Chen Hong saw that Huang Jin seemed to know earlier, and was stunned: "Huang Gonggong, you already knew." ”

But there was some unhappiness in my heart, as if someone had robbed me of the jackpot.

Huang Jin: "I received Wu Jie's secret fold as early as a month ago, but I can't be sure that when I saw Gonggong Song today, his old man can probably rest assured." Long live just took the elixir, Hu Dashun and Hu Shenxian are waiting inside, everyone is waiting here for a while, waiting for Gao Xiang to come, let's go in together. ”

"Yes."

Unlike the casualness of Chen Hong and others, Gonggong Song still stood straight under the eaves, motionless, still drenching his shoulders a little by the falling raindrops.

Huang Jin nodded secretly in his heart: "Xiao Song has been training in the army for many years, but he has also become a little like this. Now that he has military merits again, it's time to transfer back to the capital to use it. ”

After a while, Gao Gong rushed over and shouted: "Great victory, great victory, but really, how about the victory?" ”