Stepping into the new year, the Central Plains ushered in three different era names, the first year of Shunzhi in the Manchu Qing Dynasty, the first year of Yongchang in Dashun, which withdrew from Gyeonggi and headed for Shanxi, and the first year of Yixing in the Ming Dynasty, which was located in the south of the Yangtze River. The three imperial courts are facing different situations, and they are also facing their own embarrassments.

As for Zhang Xianzhong, who had entered Sichuan and established the Great Western Dynasty, because his own strength was far from the above three forces, and at the same time, he was closed in Shuzhong, just like the style of a mountain king, so he was automatically ignored by the people of the world.

Dolgon drove Li Zicheng out of the Beijing Division, and then pursued at the tail end, inflicting heavy losses on the Dashun army in Qingdu and Zhending. Gu Ying, the general of the old camp of the army and Li Zicheng's favorite general, was killed in battle, and the Dashun army had to speed up the pace of withdrawal to Shanxi, but the Qing army Duoduo and Azig attacked left and right, causing a lot of losses to the Dashun army.

During this period, the evil consequences of the Dashun Army's previous policy of recovering stolen goods and subsidies were undoubtedly revealed. In the case of successive defeats in Dashun, the former Ming generals in various places began to form a camp that fell to the Qing army. On the one hand, this is due to the policy of Dashun, and on the other hand, it is due to the important role played by generals such as Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui. Under the persuasion of Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui, Jiang Liang, the general of Datong Town, surrendered to the Qing army, which also directly led to the opening of the door to Shanxi.

At the same time that the Dashun army and the Qing army were fighting desperately and bloodily, the Northern Expedition army of the Yixing Imperial Court in Jiangnan did not move an inch in Henan. If it weren't for Sun Chuanting's Hu Dawei, Jiang Yunyi, Zhou Shifeng, and Xu Chengming's efforts to stabilize the morale of the army, as well as the response of Shandong soldiers and horses, I am afraid that the Northern Expedition would have been in chaos without a fight.

Emperor Zhu Cihong, who was far away in Nanjing, did his best to support the Northern Expedition. But the edict was that it could not leave the huge palace city at all. Within a month of December last year, Zhu Cihong successively used the emperor's edict to dismiss Zhao Zhilong, Ruan Dacheng, and Qian Qianyi, three cabinet ministers. Ruan Dacheng was one of the leaders who supported King Lifu at the beginning, and it was not too late to settle accounts after the autumn, and everyone had already foreseen his fate. But the fall of Zhao Zhilong and Qian Qianyi shook the entire court.

These two people. They are inextricably linked to the Donglin Party, and they are the representatives of the Jiangnan gentry in the court. Their uncooperative attitude towards the Northern Expedition eventually angered Emperor Yixing, but Zhu Cihong did not realize that his move had caused a series of chain reactions.

The evil result of this is to incur the dissatisfaction of the ministers above the court. Previously, Zheng Sanjun and Fang Yuegong's proposal to emulate Shandong and restore the Yamen of Bosi in various coastal areas, and the construction of the Yamen, which was under the unified control of the imperial court, was always opposed by the courtiers and gentry. However, Zhu Cihong insisted on implementing this decision despite public opinion, and he and the courtiers were at loggerheads for this. In addition to the removal of Zhao Zhilong and Qian Qianyi, a number of court officials were also dismissed.

For this reason, the courtiers continued to impeach Zheng Sanjun and Fang Yuegong, and even the mediation of internal officials such as Lu Jiude and Wang Pin, who had a good reputation among the civil ministers, had no effect.

Zhu Cihong was exhausted by this. The huge imperial court can't even afford an army of 30,000 people now. When the new emperor ascended the throne, not only was the treasury empty. Even his own internal money is empty. The style of land annexation in the south of the Yangtze River was so strict that it was unbelievable, and the land in the provinces basically belonged to the hands of courtiers, gentry, wealthy merchants, and wealthy families. Therefore, it is impossible to use grain to support the operation of the entire imperial court.

It is precisely because of this that Zheng Sanjun and Fang Yuegong have to plan to follow Zhu Ping'an's practice and gather wealth for the country, it is really difficult to move an inch without money! But no one thought that there would be such a big reaction from the court and the people.

Time came after the first year of Yixing. The situation has not changed, the situation is still a pot of paste, but the people of Shengdou have no heart to pay attention to these, although the world is in chaos, but the land of Jinling is still prosperous as before.

Morning. On the side of the horse road outside the Xianhe Gate, Yao Qi set up the store early, he is the traffic artery into the city, and people come and go every day, and his business in this tea house is naturally prosperous.

Seeing that it was about to open the city gate, a large number of people had gathered outside the crane gate, and it was still midwinter at this time, so many people squeezed into the tea house, and wanted a bowl of hot tea, which was finally able to resist the attack of the cold wind. If you are wealthy, you can buy a few more of the well-known vegetable and meat buns in Yao Qichaliao, which can dispel the cold air all over your body.

After a while, the city gate opened, the crowd gradually dispersed, Yao Qi was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, and took a few men to clean up after the rush, sent the wrapped buns to the steamer, and poured hot water into the empty tea stove.

After finishing this qiē, Yao Qi couldn't help but look at the earthen house in his backyard, the door was still closed, and the people inside obviously hadn't finished talking about their own affairs.

was busy, but a figure hurriedly walked into the tea house, Yao Qi looked up, and hurriedly walked up to meet him. The person who came was already a little old, but it was the head of the famous Taoist temple Taisu Palace outside the Crane Gate, Mama Qi.

Speaking of which, in fact, this Taisu Palace is not a real Taoist temple, and the people of the entire Jinling City know that it is the residence of Zhu Yujiao, the sister of Emperor Yixing. After the fall of Jingshi, Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou were both martyred, and the originally said good concubine also took refuge in Li Chuang, and the eldest princess became a loner. However, Emperor Yixing resolutely refused to allow it, so he built a Taoist temple outside the city of Nanjing, so that Zhu Yujiao could live here for a long time with peace of mind and relieve her depression.

Zhu Yujiao is a modest person, often helping the poor people nearby, so she is deeply respected, and the people near Xianhemen also respect her and regard her as a fairy-like figure.

Mama Qi walked into the tea house, but she was out of breath, and told the carriage to wait for a while, and then asked Yao Qi directly, "Brother Qi, can you see Gonggong Cao today?" ”

Yao Qi greeted with a smile on his face, "See, see, Grandpa Cao has just entered the city, and he has drunk tea and snacks at the villain's place!" ”

Mama Qi stomped her feet, immediately got out of the tea house, got into the carriage, and went into the city to find Cao Wuxian.

Yao Qi watched her walk away and couldn't see a trace, so he told a few guys, and he turned around and entered the courtyard behind, came to the door and knocked lightly a few times.

The door creaked open, but Cao Wuxian walked out of the room, followed by a person, but it was Ah Da, the head of the Four Seas Merchant in Beijing.

"Master Cao, Mama Qi of the Taoist Temple just came to look for you, and according to your instructions, the villain replied, saying that you have entered the city!"

Cao Wuxian nodded, turned around and said to Ah Da: "Let's stop here today, if there is any news, I will send someone to the Taoist temple!" ”

"Yes!" Ah Da replied respectfully, watching Cao Wuxian turn around to leave, but he opened his mouth again.

"Master, there is a saying that I don't know if the villain should say it or not!"

"Just say it!"

"Yes!" Ah Da then continued: "This time I went to Jinan, the handsome also asked about your recent situation, and the lady inquired about the details, and ordered the villain to send all the gold, silver, food and clothing over, it can be seen that the handsome and the lady are a little worried!" ”

Cao Wu's heart was warm, but his brows were furrowed, "If you have something to say, don't go around the bend!" ”

"Yes!" Ah Da smiled, "The situation in Nanjing is not very peaceful now, the villain means, you might as well find an opportunity to persuade Your Highness, rather than this, it is better to move to Shandong, at least the marshal and his wife can take care of it more, so as not to ...... here!" ”

Cao Wuxian shook his head, "I understand the thoughts of the eldest princess, now she will never leave Nanjing, the emperor has just succeeded to the throne, and now she is in trouble with the courtiers, how can she leave with confidence!" ”

Cao Wuxian paused, "This is also the reason why I came to you today, the young master and the emperor are incompatible, we all know these in our hearts." After all, I have already left Shandong, and there are some things that are wrong with Mr. Yin or the young master, but I look at the current situation and feel a little uneasy in my heart, so I ask you to take more pain, if there is any news, please notify the Taoist temple, and I will prepare early! ”

Ah Da bowed and saluted, "Please rest assured, Ah Da's life was given by you, and your orders will be obeyed by Ah Da!" ”

Cao Wuxian patted Ah Da on the shoulder, "Okay, you and I both know it in our hearts, but there is one point." You have appeared in Beijing, many people know your relationship with Shandong, in Jinling is not as good as Beijing, you must be careful, everything is left to the people below to do, do not take risks lightly! ”

Ah Da smiled gratefully and nodded yes.

Cao Wuxian turned around and walked out of the courtyard, but he saw Yao Qi cooking tea, so he shouted, "Old Qi, go back and send some of your tea foam to the master, but the tea in the Taoist temple is not suitable for the master's appetite, and it is still the most flavorful you have here!" ”

Yao Qi suddenly made a bitter face, "Master Cao, aren't you burying the villain?" The tea here is for the peddler pawn to quench his thirst, the Taoist temple is either the tea given by the emperor, or the best tea specially sent by Shandong, how did it fall in love with the tea foam where the villain stands, if His Royal Highness knows, it must be counted small! ”

Cao Wuxian laughed, "How about it, the master is just a good mouthful, don't talk nonsense, send it quickly!" After speaking, he opened the steamer directly, hurriedly took a few hot vegetable and meat buns, and ate them fiercely as he walked.

Looking at Cao Wuxian's figure gradually moving away, Ah Da and Yao Qi couldn't help but smile at each other, although Cao Wuxian is now following the eldest princess's side, his personality and temperament have not changed at all. (To be continued......) R1292