The New Year of the eleventh year of Chongzhen has just passed, and the official road outside the gate of Fengyang City is still gloomy. The bandits Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong have been defeated one after another, and they have retreated in the southwest direction, and the government and the opposition are boiling, and they are all looking forward to the new year and new atmosphere, so that they can calm down the thieves this morning, and they can also reclaim and sow seeds in time in this year's spring fields, so as to have a peaceful and bumper year.

As soon as the city gate was opened in the morning, more than ten carriages drove out of Fengyang City, and there was no drop of water for more than a month, and the ground was frozen hard, and the wheels were crushed on it, making a creaking sound. The people who went out of the city early in the morning looked at these carriages curiously, but there were three or four strong horseback men guarding each carriage left and right, and they knew that they were not good at stubble, and their cold eyes swept around, and the idlers and people around hurriedly trotted a few steps, for fear of being targeted by these guys.

The convoy traveled all the way until it stopped at the gazebo ten miles away. The pavilion was particularly deserted, and there were no pedestrians in sight, only a lonely tea house standing next to the official road, and the shabby guise shivered in the cold wind.

Hearing the sound, a few figures came out of the tea house, looked at it, and then bowed down to the tea house, "My lord, it's here!" ”

One of them waved at the convoy and shouted, "Please pass Mr. Yin, your Excellency is here to see you off!" ”

Zhu Ping'an walked out of the tea house in a fur fur under the protection of Zhang Ergou and Wang Jinfa, the cold wind blowing on his face like a knife cut, and seeing that the guards of the convoy had changed into uniform cotton clothes and leather jackets, he nodded with satisfaction.

Yin Shigang, dressed as a businessman, got out of the car and couldn't help but be a little surprised when he saw Zhu Ping'an. A few days earlier, he had already received Zhu Ping'an's order to go to the capital to meet Zhou Mian and set up a place to exchange news in the capital. For this reason, Yin Shigang temporarily put aside Zhu Ping'an's matter of establishing a source, fortunately, in the past half a year, there has finally been a rough prototype, although the recruited manpower is not much, but they have all gone through layers of screening and verification, even if Yin Shigang leaves temporarily, Zhu Ping'an can control it, for now, Fengyang has something to do, and it is already impossible to hide Zhu Ping'an's eyes and ears.

Zhu Ping'an dragged Yin Shigang into the tea house, and Zhang Ergou and Wang Jinfa and other guards were distributed near the tea house to guard.

When I entered the thatched hut of the tea house, a wave of heat rushed in my face, and there were two braziers and a simple table of wine and food in the room. The owner of the tea house, an old man with white beard, saw the two of them coming in, hurriedly put down the tongs, said a promise, turned around and took the door out.

Yin Shigang found out that Cao Wuxian was also in the house. Looking at his expression, he was a little sullen, sitting alone at the table, pouring himself a drink, drinking stuffy wine.

Zhu Ping'an ignored him, beckoned Yin Shigang to sit down, picked up a pot of hot wine brewed in the thermos, and helped Yin Shigang fill a glass.

After three rounds of drinking, Zhu Ping'an suddenly smiled a little embarrassed, "I told so much, but I still couldn't sleep last night, and I didn't want to come to the door early in the morning, disturbing my sister-in-law and nephews and nieces, so I waited at this pavilion, thinking that there were some things to discuss with my husband!" ”

Zhu Ping'an's words made Yin Shigang's heart warm, he stood up, and solemnly saluted Zhu Ping'an. "Shizuna has made adults worried! Rest assured, this trip to Beijing will definitely live up to the trust of adults! ”

Zhu Ping'an's face gradually became solemn, "Mr. misunderstood, Ping'an is not worried about the success or failure of this trip, but this trip is really a matter of life and death for my high wall guard." ”

Yin Shigang was stunned for a moment, "Why did your lord say this?" ”

"Last year, when Huang Gongfu and Chen Zizhuang came to Fengyang, the two adults must have known about the gambling contract with the official, right?"

"I've heard a little."

"Sir, do you think this official is a bit alarmist?"

Yin Shigang shook his head, thought about it, and nodded again.

Zhu Ping'an smiled bitterly, "This is human nature, what this official said is indeed a bit unbelievable." Zhu Ping'an poured down a glass of wine violently, and his face became a little flushed, "But it's true that the Tartar is in the Kou!" ”

Zhu Ping'an pressed Yin Shigang's arm, "Sir, don't ask me where the news came from, but look at the overall situation at the end of this year." But before we do that, we must be fully prepared. Originally, I wanted to delay these things, but after tossing and turning, I thought about it again and again, and decided to explain it to you clearly! ”

In September of the 11th year of Chongzhen, the Qing army entered the fortress by two routes, east and west, the Beijing division was shaken, and the soldiers went straight to Shandong. Chongzhen issued an edict to the general soldiers of all places and the capital to enter the king of Jingqin. In this battle, the struggle between the two factions of the DPRK and China to negotiate peace and the main station was also fiercely contested, and finally caused a tragedy. Sun Chengzong, the former governor of Jiliao, led the whole family to defend Gaoyang, the city was broken, and the country was martyred. Lu Xiangsheng, the superintendent of Xuanda, was constrained by the court situation and had no available soldiers, and he had the courage of 10,000 men and 2,000 sharp soldiers, but he could only fight to the death.

The thieves Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong took this opportunity to raise the anti-flag again, and the situation in the Ming Dynasty once again fell into an irreversible abyss.

Counting the date, it is only eight months ago. This is also the reason why Zhu Ping'an had no choice but to order Yin Shigang to put down the mission at hand and rush into Beijing. At this critical moment, it is the most important thing to grasp the movements of the imperial court and get the specific news of the Tartars' march!

Because Zhu Ping'an has been planning for a long time is this war, participating in it, and winning some credit, this has a good opportunity to develop and grow, either defeated and killed, or become famous in a war, and the future wealth and honor are all based on this battle.

Taking root in the capital, connecting with Zhou Kui, and maintaining an understanding of the palace and the court situation is also an ability that must be possessed in the troubled times of the late Ming Dynasty. Although Zhu Ping'an knows history, after all, that history is written by posterity, and every bit at that time, as long as there is a mistake, it is an irreparable loss.

Therefore, it is imperative for Yin Shigang to enter Beijing.

Zhu Ping'an pointed to Cao Wuxian, who was drinking on the side, "This trip is a very heavy task, I will send you without injury, this year, I will hand over several children among the homeless people to him for secret training, which can finally come in handy at this time." With him by your side, you can rest assured of your safety, and besides, once there are some necessary tasks, he and his children can make a difference. ”

Cao Wu snorted and put down the wine glass, "Little one leaves, what about your safety, young master?" ”

Zhu Ping'an stiffened his face, "How many times have I told you, only if the capital side is well done, once my side goes into battle, can I have more certainty, that is to say, the better you and Mr. Yin do in the capital, the safer my side will be!" ”

Cao Wuxian's eyes were a little red, and he could only nod heavily, "If the young master is in danger, he will fly pigeons to pass the book, and the carrier pigeons around the second dog are all raised by me, and it will only take three or two days to fly to the capital, even if you are in the army, you will definitely help you get out of danger without injury!" ”

Only then did Zhu Ping'an relax and nodded heavily.

Before leaving, Yin Shigang turned around again, "My lord, the student has a sentence like a fish in his throat, don't vomit or be unhappy, and when he leaves, I hope that the adult can consider one or two." ”

"Sir, but it doesn't hurt to speak!"

"The new eunuch Wang Pin seems to have ulterior motives for adults, adults must be careful!"

Looking at the back of Yin Shigang resolutely leaving, Zhu Ping'an fell into deep thought.

Lu Jiude left Fengyang to take office in Nanjing, but the new Wang Pin was very different from his predecessor. Although this person is an internal official, he can't see the arrogance that most internal officials have, and the Fengyang civil and military officials talk and laugh on weekdays, and the officials and even the common people have something to ask for the door, there is no refusal, things are done safely and carefully, impartially, although it has only been half a year, but it has won an excellent reputation.

Even the imperial mausoleum and other facilities that were looted by bandits back then, under the leadership of Wang Pin, also began to carry out large-scale rectification, and the use of money and food was done in an orderly manner, which was unanimously recognized inside and outside the palace.

is such a delicate person, but he has a good eye for Zhu Ping'an, and when he has nothing to do on weekdays, he always likes to go to the grange and school field of the high wall guard, come and go, and Duan Xinian, and even the officers under Zhu Ping'an. In addition, Wang Pin has no shelves, he comes and goes freely in civilian clothes, drinks wine in a big bowl, and eats meat, no one can see that this is actually the town guard lieutenant of Fengyang.

For Wang Pin's overtures, Zhu Ping'an maintained a natural vigilance, and even Lu Zhenfei privately reminded his students that Wang Pin was such a person, who was a well-known figure in the palace before, only knew that something happened in the palace a few years ago, and as a result, he was demoted to the governor's prison. An internal official like this, with an identity like Zhu Ping'an, it is better to stay away.

In contemplation, a fast horse galloped along the official road, "My lord, Lord Governor Lu, please come to the mansion!" ”

"What?"

"I really don't know about the little one, but I heard that the person who came to deliver the letter said that the prince of the town guard is also in the mansion of Lord Lu!"

Zhu Ping'an's head suddenly became bigger. No need to ask, this is my own teacher who is urgently recruiting himself to block the gun! This Wang Pin didn't know where to learn that Lu Zhenfei loves chess, and he always brought his own pair of agate chess pieces to Lu Zhenfei's house every once in a while to disturb him. At the beginning, Lu Zhenfei was also happy to make this chess friend, but after a long time, Lu Zhenfei tasted a different taste, but he did not inform Zhu Ping'an of the specific situation, but said that Wang Pin's plan was not small, so he often looked for Zhu Ping'an, a stinky chess basket, to perfunctory Wang Pin.

Wang Pin didn't care, and always had to take a few days of free time every month to ask for advice, which also became a drudgery that Zhu Ping'an couldn't hide.

Thinking about the scene of being "brutally abused" by Wang Pin for a while, Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but be a little depressed.

When the soldiers went to lead the horse, Zhang Ergou came over with a red face, "My lord, my wife wants to invite my adult to come to the house at noon!" ”

"Isn't it that my aunt is not feeling well, but I can ask the king of the horseman to find the doctor five to see it?" Although the Zhang brothers' wife is a peasant woman, her vision and mind are very admired by Zhu Ping'an, plus she is very strict in governing the family, and the two Zhang brothers are extremely filial, so they are very famous in the countryside.

I haven't seen him for a while, and the old man is old after all, Zhu Ping'an heard that he was a little uneasy.

"Well, that's not ......!" Zhang Ergou suddenly stood up, but Wang Jinfa on the side only covered his mouth and snickered.

"You bastard, what the hell is my aunt so anxious to find me, you are in a hurry to die, I can't do it!"

After being aggrieved for a long time, Zhang Ergou still didn't say it, "You, you'll know when you go!" ”