The eight convicts had already been lined up from east to west according to the rules and knelt on the ground, listening to the order of execution, and the executioners dressed in coarse linen and red and holding ghost-headed knives shouted in unison, "Master! I'm waiting for you to go, and it's also a bowl of rice to eat, so you can rest assured. After finishing speaking, the knife in his hand fell, and as the knife flashed, a puff of blood splashed out.

Because of the money received, the executioner's work was quite neat, and the strength of his hands was very accurate, and he did not turn around with a severed head. This is convenient for family members to carry the corpse, sew the head and bury the whole corpse. really wanted to meet the one who had no money, but the executioner was not so polite, he raised his knife and beheaded him, raised his foot and kicked the corpse, without a kind word.

Seeing the blood of eight corrupt officials splashed five steps, a group of onlookers were silent for a moment, and immediately applauded, at this time, the sky was dark, the sun was covered by clouds again, and the wind was blowing straight one after another.

In less than two quarters of an hour, a downpour came quickly, and the long-awaited rain finally ushered in the long-awaited rain in the capital after two months of drought.

Zhenwu stood in the corridor outside the hall of the Qianqing Palace, looking at the dense rain curtain, suddenly felt relaxed, the eunuch Gao Jinxi hurriedly rushed in with his feet in an oil coat, and saw Zhenwu standing outside the hall, busy with the oil clothes, and stepped forward to say: "Your Majesty, the eight prisoners have abandoned the market at noon at the entrance of the vegetable market, and the crowds of people are watching, and the cheers are endless. ”

Zhenwu nodded slightly, groaned slightly, and said: "Corrupt officials are punished, and the heavy rain is falling, so ask the Beijing newspaper to publicize it well." ”

"Servant Honor." Gao Jinxi hurriedly bowed and said.

Bao Fuquan's heart tightened when he heard it, the master didn't mention praying for rain on the hill, but only mentioned that corrupt officials were punished, this is to rectify the rule of officials? Seeing that Zhenwu turned around and entered the hall, he dared to think too much, and hurriedly followed in.

In the pouring rain, the envoys of the two vassal states of Ryukyu and Japan entered the capital and stayed in the Yuheqiao Huitong Hall, the permanent central guest house of the imperial court.

Yangmeizhu Xiejie outside the east gate of Liulichang, the yamen of the four translation halls. Du Deyuan, the young secretary of the Taichang Temple of the Admiral Fourth Translation Hall, couldn't help but glance at the rain outside after hearing the report, and saw that it was still raining heavily, he couldn't help frowning slightly, the Ryukyu mission came to Qin, but he didn't need to come forward to receive it, but Japan was a newly attached vassal state, and the first time an envoy came to Beijing, the etiquette could not be neglected. It stands to reason that he should have met him in person, but how could he make the trip with such heavy rain?

Just when he was hesitating, he heard the subordinate come in and report: "My lord, He Zhuo, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, has come to visit. ”

He Zhuo? Du Deyuan listened slightly, and then immediately got up and went out, the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy was only from the fifth grade, which was much worse than his Shaoqing who was the fourth grade. It stands to reason that he doesn't have to be so polite, but He Zhuo is the attendant of Yinxi, the king of Lianjun, and is very appreciated by Yinxi. Today's Eight Sages King is a high and powerful person, and he doesn't dare to slack off.

Du Deyuan rushed to the gate, just as He Zhuo got out of the sedan chair, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Brother Zhan, look up for a long time." ”

He Zhuo didn't expect him to be greeted at the gate, so he hurriedly bowed and returned the salute, and said with a smile: "How dare Lord Lao Du personally greet him." ”

"Brother Qi Zhan's name is covered by Jinghua, and I dare to trust it when I come to the door today." Du Deyuan said. He stretched out his hand and said, "Please." Brother Qizhan inside, please. ”

He Zhuo was willing to trespass, and after giving in, the two entered the inner hall side by side, and after taking a seat in the signing room, Du Deyuan said tentatively: "Brother Qizhan came in the rain." But what's the matter? ”

"Yes, I came here on the order of King Lian County." He Zhuo didn't go around in circles, and said bluntly: "I heard that the Japanese envoys have collapsed the Yuhe Bridge Huitong Pavilion, and King Lian Jun deliberately ordered him to rush to inform him and let Lord Du dry the Japanese envoys for a few days. ”…,

How many days will the Japanese envoys be dried? Du Deyuan couldn't help but stare at He Zhuo suspiciously. What does this mean? If the court investigates it, he can't get out of it, and he can't help but hesitate and say: "Japan is a newly attached vassal of Japan, and it is the first time to enter Beijing for the Hajj, and it is not a violation of etiquette to avoid it?" ”

He Zhuo smiled slightly and said, "Lord Du, have you ever heard that the emperor is going to adjust the relationship between the clans and vassals of the coastal vassals?" ”

Du Deyuan still heard a little rumor about this matter last year, is the emperor going to start implementing it now? But he didn't hear the slightest rumor at the court meeting, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly, this matter is not obeyed, he still feels that he has no bottom in his heart, it is related to the vassal, and it is a newly attached vassal, he does not dare to listen to the words of one side.

Seeing him shake his head, He Zhuo said in a deep voice: "The emperor has already decided, with Japan's New Year's coins, pledges, and relatives, this matter is fully responsible for the Lianjun Wang Yinxi, and the reason why the Japanese mission has to be hung for a few days is to make it easier to negotiate related matters." ”

Du Deyuan nodded slightly when he heard this, but he didn't dare to make a rash statement, and after a little hesitation, he said: "It is reported that the Japanese mission is on a large scale this pilgrimage, and dozens of women are accompanying it. ”

Seeing Du Deyuan talking about him left and right, He Zhuo was not in a hurry, and he didn't expect to stabilize Du Deyuan in a few words, after all, Taichang Temple and the Four Translation Hall were not bound by King Lianjun, and he came just to delay time, King Yinxu of Lianjun had already entered the palace to ask for a decree, and there would be a decree soon.

Qianqing Palace, East Warm Pavilion.

Listening to Yinxi's plea to let the Japanese mission dry for a few days, Zhenwu did not hesitate at all, and ordered someone to go to deliver the decree, and then looked at Yinxu and said with a smile: "Starling is from Arai Junmei to lead the group, see the strange?" ”

"The Emperor Mingjian." Yin Yu bowed slightly on the pestle and said: "Arai Junmi is one of the two ministers of the Edo Shogunate who assists the young monarch, with a high status, and has always sent envoys to make pilgrimages, and few important ministers come. ”

Zhenwu said with a slight jaw: "Na Sui coin, pledge, and pro, this and pro, Na Sui coin are easy to say, only pledge, the Edo shogunate does not dare to accept it easily, this article can be changed to another name, such as studying, you can consider yourself." ”

Yin Yu was slightly stunned when he heard this, and hesitated: "In this way, Arai Junmei may not be too resistant, but if the name is not right, it will not be good, how can it be publicized to other vassals?" ”

Zhenwu smiled slightly, and said disapprerovitically: "When the proton arrives in Beijing, the Beijing newspaper will publicize it in the name of pledge." ”

Doesn't this put the Edo shogunate in danger? Yin Yu was stunned for a moment and then reacted, this is Zhenwu's intention to provoke civil strife in Japan, does he want to conquer Japan again, or does he want to take the opportunity to control the Edo shogunate?

Glancing at Yinxi, Zhenwu said with a smile: "The Japanese people are capricious, we can also be regarded as using the way of others, and also treat their bodies, Arai Junmi is the leader of the team, it should be the Edo shogunate is in crisis, the huge indemnity of 70 million, I am afraid that they have been overwhelmed, and the starling brother has probed the bottom and reported it at any time." ”

"Minister, honorable will." Yin Yu hurriedly bowed and said.

Zhenwu took a sip of tea, looked out the window again, it had been raining for more than half an hour, the rain had been much lighter, and when he turned around, he said slowly: "With this rain, the drought in the northern provinces should be greatly alleviated, and I will recall the ninth brother and the sixteenth brother back to Beijing tomorrow, and the ministers of the upper study have been rewarded, and the brothers should also be rewarded." ”

Zhenwu, who listened to it, clearly said that he wanted to reward the brothers, and Yinxi hurriedly bowed down and said: "Your Majesty, the rewards of the brothers, the ministers thought that it should be stopped, the emperor worked hard, and the foundation of civil and martial arts was laid, and the brothers still had many opportunities to make contributions in the future, and the rewards were too high, and the ministers were worried that there would be no rewards in the future." ”…,

"Starling's words are really the words of Lao Cheng's plan for the country." Zhenwu glanced at him with appreciation, and said: "A group of brothers or literature or martial arts, all are outstanding, I want to create a great prosperity that has never been seen in the Qing Dynasty, so that all the brothers will leave a name in the history of the Qing Dynasty, titles, I am not stingy, I do not study martial arts, but those who are outstanding, I am not stingy with the iron hat king, even if the iron hat king is sealed, there are still large areas of land overseas, I am not worried about no reward." ”

The Iron Hat King is hereditary, and he does not surrender, he is the most noble title in the Qing Dynasty, but it is not comparable to ordinary princes, this is the second time Zhenwu has mentioned the Iron Hat King, and the meaning of the words is that their brothers can also break the territory overseas!

Yin Yu couldn't help but be slightly moved, and hurriedly bowed down and said: "The emperor is determined to swallow the world, and the ministers and other brothers will definitely do their best and do their best." ”

Zhenwu nodded slightly and said, "Kneel down first." ”

When Yinxi withdrew, Zhenwu stretched his waist, got up and moved in the hall, but Bao Fuquan bowed in and said, "Your Majesty, it's time, do you want to pass the meal?" ”

Listening to the passing of the meal, Zhenwu couldn't help but groaned slightly, although the imperial dining room is famous, but Zhenwu is not interested in the imperial dining room, the palace pays too much attention to it, the most important point, non-seasonal food, a season, turning over and over is those dishes, although there are many patterns, but also exquisite, but after eating too much, I still feel greasy, not to mention the process of eating, which makes people have enough appetite.

After a slight sigh, he said, "Inform Concubine Qi that I will go to him for dinner today." ”

Qi Concubine is Zhang Mengjiao's title, Bao Fuquan heard it, and even the green head card was exempted, he couldn't help but sigh that this Qi Concubine was immortal, and hurriedly bowed down and said: "The slave is going to pass the decree." With that, he bowed and withdrew.

After Bao Fuquan withdrew, Zhenwu paced leisurely in the palace, for more than a month, the drought did not rain, Zhenwu has been following the rules of Kangxi in the palace fasting and praying for rain, women, wine and meat are taboo, although he does not believe in this set, but the palace people are mixed, even if it is a look, he also does enough, so as not to have gossip out of the palace, damage to reputation, although he does not care too much about reputation, but now Kangxi is still there, he has only ascended the throne to change the yuan, and in the fanfare of the eight banners of military power, rectification of the eight banners stationed in Beijing, this is the bone eye, You can't let people gossip and give people a handle. (To be continued)