Chapter 14: Extraordinary Times
Zimusai has been a little unsettled these days. Although the palace ban of the Manchus is not as strict as that of the Han people, over the years, Huang Taiji has deliberately implemented the regulations of the Han people, which is much stricter than in the Nurhachi era. These days, the palace is much tighter than before, and even ordinary guards like Qi Musai can detect it.
The heads of the guards of each palace have been replaced, especially the personnel from the two white flags, and they must definitely be among them, from the leader to the small leader on duty, no one has been spared. If it weren't for Qi Musai being a hero, I am afraid that he would have to go to Shengjing Yamen to be a soldier guarding the city from now on.
Regardless of Qi Musai, he was not glad for this, but he was more worried about the figure in the Yongfu Palace that he was guarding. Zimusai hadn't seen her for a month, and the young heart, which had just been filled with the heat of love, was suddenly restless by the long separation.
There is also a deep sense of concern.
Because, just yesterday, there were many unfamiliar faces in the palace, and some brothers who were quite good on weekdays disappeared in an instant, and even their whereabouts were secretive. In particular, this Yongfu Palace was once again surrounded by these unfamiliar faces, as if it were facing a great enemy.
Qi Musai was also informed that he would be transferred to the Ten Kings Pavilion in the Great Hall early tomorrow morning, and this news was like a bolt from the blue for him. Eventually, he would have to leave Yongfu Palace, (but before leaving, if he couldn't meet her, how could Qi Musai leave with peace of mind?)
Standing at the foot of the steps of the outer courtyard of Yongfu Palace, Qi Musai spent the day somewhat absent-mindedly. Behind him was the closed palace gate, and no one was allowed to enter it except for the licensed grandmother and eunuchs, and dozens of ways to sneak in flashed through Qi Musai's mind, but he quickly ruled them out one by one. It would be whimsical to want to sneak into the inner palace without the eyes and ears of these strange guards around you.
At the end of the hour, after the end of the day's duty, Qi Musai was a little reluctant to look at the palace wall close at hand, and could only helplessly go back to the duty room for dinner with the leader of this group of guards, that is, Ta Duohai, who was in the red flag. After that, the group will leave the palace in unison.
The guards in the palace are frequently transferred, and even Ta Duohai was only ordered to enter the palace half a month ago, and the origins of the guards under his command are also varied, so they are not familiar with each other. Even when the group entered the duty room on the side of the Daqing Gate, they didn't talk to each other too much, but just swarmed and pounced on the meatloaf and hot mare's milk that had already been placed and munched on. In March, it was still freezing and snowy, and the cold wind blew outside for a day. Even if everyone is an iron-clad man, they can't stand it, but when they think about it, they have a better life in the army.
With the hot food, the guards finally had a conversation with each other, and the deserted room was a little lively.
Qi Musai was angry in his heart, but he didn't have the heart to participate in the chat between the guards, and his stomach squeezed to the end of the kang. Holding a bowl of mare's milk, he gulped down a hot meatloaf. His eyes kept looking in the direction of Yongfu Palace.
Leng Bu slapped a palm on his shoulder, and when he looked back, it was Taduohai with a full beard. Ta Duohai winked at him and motioned for Qi Musai to follow him out of the duty room.
Walking out of the steaming room, as soon as I walked out of the door, the oncoming cold wind rubbed against my face like a barb. It made Zimusai, who had just recovered some heat, a little uncomfortable.
Tadohai didn't speak, just walked forward with his head down, but Qi Musai didn't dare to say much, so he had to follow him closely. After walking around a palace wall, the lights of the palace not far away came through. A few wandering figures were faintly reflected.
Qi Musai was taken aback, and his palm involuntarily pressed the saber on his waist, and the strength of his whole body unconsciously became alert. But Ta Duohai didn't think so, and looking at his footsteps, he walked straight towards those black shadows.
"You're ......!" He had just taken two steps, but suddenly a voice came from behind him, Qi Musai's already tense body was a little out of control, and his fingers pressed the machine spring sharply, and the saber shot out of the scabbard with a click.
Zimusai took advantage of the situation and drew his steel knife, and without even looking at it, he slashed backwards.
The person behind him really didn't expect Qi Musai to have such a reaction, and he was shocked, but he was not slow at all, and with a slight side of his body, the steel knife was empty. The man then approached Qi Mu Sai's body, and his right hand was directly wrapped around Qi Mu Sai's palm holding the knife, and I don't know where it was pressed, Qi Mu Sai suddenly felt half of his body numb, the steel knife instantly took off his hand, the man's wrist flipped over, but the saber was exactly into Qi Mu Sai's scabbard.
"It's me!" The man whispered.
Qi Musai suddenly looked at it carefully, and couldn't help but be a little surprised, "Fifth brother, why are you?" ”
A thin but angular face emerged from the darkness, and Huo Wu seemed to be smiling, "Brother, what a quick skill!" ”
Ta Duohai ignored the incident between the two, strode to a figure standing against the wall, and knelt down on one knee, "Slave to the fourteenth master, please be safe!" ”
Several figures in the darkness were dressed as palace guards, covered in delicate cotton armor, and the covering of helmets covered most of their cheeks. As soon as he heard what Ta Duohai said, Qi Musai was taken aback again, and after looking carefully, the man slowly took off the iron helmet on his head and nodded, "Huo Wu, this is the person you recommend?" Well, it's good! ”
Huo Wu just bowed his head slightly and did not speak. Ta Duohai stood up, "Fourteenth Master, the minions have already transferred Qi Musai and other trustworthy personnel according to your orders, and they will be on duty at the side gate of Yongfu Palace tonight!" ”
Zimusey stared blankly at Dolgon's handsome face, but he completely forgot to step forward to answer. Judging by the situation, Prince Rui is going to enter Yongfu Palace at night, and the palace is heavily guarded these days, even a small person like Qi Musai knows that this is a sign that something big is about to happen, but he never expected that Dolgon would be able to find someone like himself.
Dorgon smiled, he had wanted to infiltrate the inner palace a few days earlier. After the victory of Matsuyama, Dolgon's prestige and prestige have faintly shown the hint of high merit, and Dolgon has already prepared a perfect strategy, which is to retreat as advance, using a small pony foot deliberately set by himself, that is, the Eight Banners nobles secretly sent the elite back to their hometown to preserve their strength in front of the Eight Banners nobles, so as to make Huang Taiji mistakenly think that he had caught the sore feet of Dolgon and others, and punished him logically, so that he could save his strength smoothly.
However, Dolgon did not expect that Shengjing's situation would evolve to such a sinister point today. Even Zhu Ping'an, who was far away in Shandong, couldn't help but intervene, although it was a few light rumors, but it made Dolgon busy.
Coupled with the violent death of Concubine Chen before, the palace has become isolated from the outside world again, and all things are backlogged together, and Dolgon, who has been persecuted, has to enter the palace in person to ask Concubine Zhuang Da Yuer to understand, and then he can make plans again.
The guards in the palace originally had the manpower of the Dorgon brothers, and many of them were cleaned out in this purge. But Huang Taiji also acted in a hurry, and transferred a group of henchmen from the Eight Banners into the inner palace, which also gave Dolgon a chance. After many years of operation, there are eyeliner eyes and ears in each flag, and Taduohai is one of them.
As a result, Dolgon took great pains to mobilize a group of new guards to facilitate this entry into the palace, and Qi Musai was recommended by Huo Wu.
Zimusai felt that his brain was a little insufficient, so he was cold for a moment, but he muttered, "How can this work? This is a great crime of quarreling and exterminating the race! ”
Several of Tadohai and Dorgon's guards suddenly became alert, and with a wave of their hands, their blades were already copied in their hands, and their eyes were full of hostility to look at Zimuxa.
Huo Wu smiled and signaled that Ta Duohai and the others didn't need to be so nervous. The only remaining right hand flickered in front of Qimusai's eyes, "Brother, don't you think about someone in the Yongfu Palace?" ”
In Huo Wu's hand was a purse with a unique style, which made Qi Musai shiver, and he was busy touching his chest, speechless in surprise.
Huo Wu restrained his smile, stuffed the purse into Qi Musai's cold hand again, and then patted him on the shoulder, "When the husband encounters an extraordinary moment, he can make immortal achievements, so that his wishes can come true, think about who her master is, if she wants to hold the beauty and return without taking some risks, how can it be done?" ”
Just when Qi Musai was stunned, Huo Wu stretched out his hand, "Brother, please, we still need you to lead the way!" ”
Qi Mu Cello hesitated slightly, but his hands and feet were no longer obedient and walked in the direction of Yongfu Palace.
The moonlight was like water, the night was silent, and along the way, Dolgon couldn't help but tremble. When did the imperial palace in Shengjing be so heavily guarded and tense. The guards who were replaced in the palace swept a glance with their eyes, and they knew that they were the white armor in each banner. The blades used are all used in field battles, where are the things used in the inner palace. In particular, the neighing of war horses came from time to time in the palace ban, and when I heard it, I knew that there were more than hundreds, when did this palace raise such many war horses? When did the palace need so many cavalry?
Dorgon was glad he had been here, and if it weren't for this, it would have been hard to know that the inner palace had become like this. Fortunately, according to Ta Duohai's reply, although Yongfu Palace was tightly controlled, Huang Taiji obviously did not plan to make a move against Concubine Zhuang.
The thought of the woman he loved, not only to be the wife of others, but now to endure the possible disaster of the knife for his own sake, Dolgon's heart felt unspeakably uncomfortable.
Dolgon took a deep breath and looked up at the bright starry sky, "Maybe the day of meeting the Emperor Taiji is coming soon, right?" (To be continued......) R1292