The left and right sides of the barracks lit fires, and one hundred and ten black shadows have surrounded Yuan Chonghuan's bedroom, Yuan Chonghuan is holding a sword, and is fighting hard with Han Runchang with the guards, joining hands to resist the enemy, but these soldiers are all fierce warriors, but the skills of technical attack are not very skillful.

Li Zicheng listened, as if pouring a basin of cold water on his head, and said in a daze: "Over the years, I have only cared about temporary pleasure, eating, drinking, and playing with sticks, and I didn't save a few taels of silver. ”

Gao pulled him away and cried, "How can this be good? ”

Li Zicheng gently broke free of her hand and groaned, "It's useless to be anxious!" He's begging for money, and he's not going to kill me, is he? Wait until I go to Aifu and ask for it, and then I will reason. ”

Gao couldn't stop him, and chased after him and said, "You have to talk to Master Ai for a good time, and you must not be ruthless." Let's be short, and people are lonely, and they can't fight others. ”

"I take care of it, I have my own measure." Li Zicheng strode out the door. Gao couldn't rest assured, hugged the child and waited, like a hare in his heart, he couldn't stop jumping suddenly, and looked at the gate from time to time. It's about to be changed, the child has already been asleep, only to see her husband come back, seeing that his face can't tell whether he is happy or angry, and is about to speak, Li Zicheng said: "You don't have to worry, there is no disaster." When I arrived at Ai's house, Master Ai saw that I couldn't pay the money, and planned to teach me to herd sheep for him for three years to pay off his debts. Although we suffered some losses, there was no other way to think about it, so I should do it. ”

"Thank goodness! As long as you are in peace, you will not suffer anything. Gao clasped his palms together and prayed, and sighed again: "I am a woman's family, and the work of sewing and washing is my duty, but it is really difficult for you to pity you, an eight-foot-tall man, who wants to herd sheep for others." As he spoke, he burst into tears again.

Li Zicheng patted his thigh and said: "A penny is difficult for a hero, who taught us to have no money?" It is better to endure hardships for a while, to become a master, to be able to bend and stretch out a husband, and to endure some hardships is nothing, than to starve and be tortured. When I was studying at a private school, my husband explained Mencius, and that was a really good thing, but now when I remember it, it seems to be talking about me. ”

"What?"

"If you want to descend to the people, you must first suffer their minds, strain their muscles and bones, starve their skin, empty their bodies, and act chaotically, so they are tempted to endure and gain what they can't do......" Li Zicheng stood up, learned from the appearance of Mr. Private School, carried his hands, paced back and forth in the room, shook his head and chanted, and saw Gao's dazed and ignorant look, and said with a smile: "What the book says means is not afraid of hardship, so that you can live with your wife and children, and you will give birth to a white and fat son for me." ”

Gao Shi turned crimson and said, "Talking well, why is it so inserious?" ”

"What's wrong with that? I'm going to herd sheep tomorrow, so it's rare to have free tonight! Li Zicheng leaned over, Gao sighed, looked back at the sleeping child next to him, and blew out the light......

When the second year of Chongzhen arrived, he thought about redressing grievances in the first year, electing cabinet ministers, raising border salaries, and providing disaster relief...... Everything is full, tired all day long, fortunately, there is a cheering atmosphere, Chongzhen does not feel hard, but has great satisfaction in his heart, when he accepts the New Year's Day greetings of the ministers in the Huangji Palace, the psychology is faintly filled with the joy of the Holy Lord. Returned to the harem and sacrificed to the ancestral gods with Queen Zhou. Queen Zhou's waist was clumsy, her abdomen was bulging, and her dress was heavy, and after a few salutes, she already felt panting, and Wu Wanrong, the head of Kunning Palace, hurriedly stepped forward to help her, went to the phoenix crown dress for her, and sat down to rest. Chongzhen looked lazy and lazy, as if he was overwhelmed, and said apologetically: "It's hard for you, this stupid body still has to hold on." ”

Empress Zhou's breath was still a little short, and she said: "The New Year's Day gift has been a rule for many years, how dare the concubines be sloppy?" That will teach the ancestors to be disrespectful. ”

"It's all to blame! You're nine months pregnant, so you don't have to be so stubborn, and if anything goes wrong, I'm sorry for my ancestors, and my ancestors will blame me for being rigid and unkind. Chongzhen smiled and asked again, "Has Imperial Doctor Xuan taken the pulse?" ”

"Done. Wu Yiru, the envoy of the Tai Hospital, came from all over the place, and he didn't dare to be careless, saying that he was ordered by the emperor. He turned out to be a careful person, looking, smelling, asking, and cutting almost became a daily lesson, and for most of the past six months, the concubines taught him to toss and be afraid. ”

"Do you praise him or belittle him, isn't it that I am annoying? I won't teach him to be noisy anymore, but it's okay to teach you to be quiet and quiet? Chongzhen couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Empress Zhou also smiled and said, "The concubine knows that this is the emperor's kindness, where will it be strange!" It's just that I'm too lazy to be heavy, and I can't always lift much energy, I always like to be quiet and can't listen to noise. Every time Wu Yiru is diagnosed, he always says that the pulse is like a man, I don't know if it's true or not, shouldn't it be a temporary favor for the concubine? ”

He didn't dare, and he had already said this to me. After the autumn accounting year-end audit, he will not understand this truth? Besides, his medical skills are also extremely clever, can't he tell the pulse clearly? ”

"Yes! At the beginning, the concubines were afraid of being thin and infertile and delayed the royal heirs. ”

"When you were elected to the Zhuyang Pavilion, the imperial sister-in-law was also worried! Concubine Liu thinks that you are still young, and your body will gradually plump up in the future, which shows that more experience will make you know better. Haha......" He raised his head and laughed a few times, he was in a good mood, and kept walking back and forth in the warm pavilion, not realizing that a little displeasure flashed on Queen Zhou's face, and frowned slightly. "This is the number of times since the founding of the Ming Dynasty that the eldest son of the emperor has been born in the main palace, and there has not been more than a hundred years since the Zhengde Dynasty, which is a good omen! When I come, I will grant amnesty to the whole world and rejoice with all the people. ”

"The emperor wants to give a name." Queen Zhou was about to leave her seat and kneel and beg, but Chongzhen hurriedly waved her hand and stopped: "Name, I have already thought about it, according to the number of the five elements, it should be according to Huode." It's hard for me to say it at this time, and I'll give it a name as soon as the emperor is born. You're in a hurry, too! If you still work like this, bending down and kneeling on the ground, if you trigger the fetal gas, it is not fun, you are not an ordinary man, you are the future co-owner of the subjects of the world, but you must be extremely careful. He turned his head and changed his face to Wu Wanrong and said: "You slaves and maids are by the queen's side, you have to look at it more, you should persuade those who should be persuaded, and you should be stopped." Although I can't make Niangniang angry, but everything can't be left to her, Niangniang is sensible, I won't hold a grudge against you and punish you, mother and son are safe, and I have a heavy reward. If it's not good, there is the slightest difference, hum! Needless to say, you will know the outcome. The tone was cold and stern, and there was no trace of tenderness just now. Wu Wanrong and the others were so frightened that they knelt down, their bodies trembling and unable to speak.

Empress Zhou said: "The emperor doesn't have to talk around the bend to listen, the concubines know that they are careful, and the emperor will be relieved and dare not make any more mistakes." The emperor spared them! ”

Chongzhen nodded slightly, saw Wu Wanrong and the others trembling, waved them back, sat side by side with the queen, stretched out his arms and hugged her waist, and whispered: "Teach me to hug the emperor too." ”

Empress Zhou was taken aback, and twisted: "The emperor can't hold it, his body can be sunk!" ”

"I don't believe it, I still have the strength of a hundred and ten pounds in my arms, and I can't hold a child?" Chongzhen grinned, put his hand into her cotton robe, and patted it gently: "Emperor, do you say yes or no?" The fetus in September has already become an adult, and the baby's induction is no different, the fetus was stroked and patted by him, and he naturally responded a few times, Chongzhen was overjoyed: "Look, he also nodded!" ”

Queen Zhou smiled secretly, and said disagreeingly: "The emperor is shaking his head, he said that the emperor can't hold it." ”

"How do you know he's not nodding? You're not him! ”

Seeing that he was anxious, Queen Zhou smiled and said: "The concubine's belly is full of thousands of rivers and mountains, how can a hundred and ten catties of strength move him?" ”

Chongzhen laughed when he heard this: "That's naturally not something that a laborer can hold, but a laborer." Reaching out to touch the queen's underwear, Queen Zhou hesitated to look out, and saw Wang Chengen walking back and forth outside the flower window, so she hurriedly took off his hand and said, "Little Enzi is waiting for you!" ”

Chongzhen scolded with a smile: "This blind minion! It's a terrible sight to come at this time! He asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"The old man of Han Pavilion has come, and he is waiting for the emperor in the Dongnuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace."

"The fire hasn't been on the room yet, what's the hurry? This matter has been dragging on for more than a year, and it is not at this time. Don't come in, and kneel outside the door and wait! ”

"Obey the order-" Wang Chengen knelt by the door and put the fold on his head.

"Since there is something, the emperor should go! There's no rush on this matter. Queen Zhou smiled and pointed her finger at her stomach, "There are still some days to listen to!" ”

Chongzhen got up and said, "It's not a matter of eunuching against the case!" Although there is no urgency, the government and the opposition can not delay any longer. I had decreed in December of the seventh year of the Apocalypse that it should be made as soon as possible, and Huang Liji, Lai Zongdao, and several cabinet ministers repeatedly used excuses to delay, and I understood that they were also eunuchs, and their own homes were not clean, so I was afraid of offending the anger of the public and causing shame. Years ago, will Han? I think he will do his best to do this for me, but I think that he is old and timid but small, and he only took a list of more than 50 people to give the errand, am I easy to deceive? They were ordered to report it widely, and not one of them would slip through the net. ”

Seeing that his face was a little gloomy, Queen Zhou comforted: "Your Majesty, the eunuch party was powerful at that time, and it was difficult for officials not to associate with them, so didn't Yuan Chonghuan ask for a temple in Liaodong?" If not, I'm afraid there will be no Ning Yuan and Ning Jin victories. The concubines thought that it was better to be lenient than strict in this matter, so as not to connect too much, and the courtiers were already intertwined, and in the same year, fellow villagers, classmates, and in-laws...... If you can't tear it up, if you chase this matter and arrest it to death, I'm afraid that the court will be empty, and the emperor won't have many ministers available. ”

Chongzhen nodded, exhaled and said: "I also know this reason, but I am afraid that it will be indiscriminate, and it is not important to escape a few sinners, what I am afraid of is that in the future, everyone will be lucky and unwilling to contribute to the country. The intention is not to kill a few criminals and villains and reward a few loyal ministers and filial sons, but to cultivate righteousness and open up a generation of world style. He patted his forehead and said, "I have decreed the case for the first time, no! By the time the "Three Dynasties Canon" was burned, you were not pregnant, but now that you are about to give birth, I will have a future, but the reversal case has not been decided for a long time, is it more difficult to choose a few names than to have a child? ”

Empress Zhou nodded and said, "It should be difficult." The concubines have goods in their stomachs, unlike when they decide against the case, they still need to search around, weigh left and right, and think that their heads will be split. Chongzhen was stunned when he heard this, then pointed his finger at her and couldn't stop laughing, took the mink cloak and said: "I want to summon the ministers to discuss, the case will not be decided, and I am unwilling to fall behind you." ”

"It's almost noon, and the concubine has ordered Yikun Palace to prepare dumplings, which must be about to be delivered. Besides, for the New Year, the ministers have just returned home for a reunion. ”

"Is it New Year's Day? I forgot. Chongzhen smiled, "I heard that there is a palace maid surnamed Liu in Concubine Yuan's palace who is good at making flat food, and I can't find a second share in the imperial city, so when I summon the ministers, I will order someone to send some to the Qianqing Palace, reward them with taste, and teach them that the queen also has a heart that loves the minister." ”

The sky is clear, but the north wind is still blowing, the sun shines in the open air and it is dry and cold, the snow on the ground has not melted in the slightest, the palace road is very clean, there are neat piles of snow under the trees on both sides, the palace dependents are still immersed in the joy of the New Year, and few people come out. In the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, it was as warm as spring, Chongzhen came in and saw Han? , Li Biao, Qian Longxi, Wang Yongguang, Qiao Yunsheng, and Cao Yubian all arrived, beckoned them to sit down together on the kang, watched them thank the emperor and queen for their grace, ate the rest of the dumplings, and said: "Just after the Lantern Festival, I summoned you to the palace, I am really a little unkind, but there is no way, this matter will not be bypassed sooner or later, I and you can't get out, now work hard, and you will live in peace in the future." After a pause, he pointed to Li Biao and said, "I heard that a pair of Spring Festival couplets are posted on the door of your mansion, which is quite interesting, so let's listen to it." ”

"The Spring Festival couplets written by the minister are just copying the meaning of the words of the predecessors, the upper couplet is the spring full of Kyushu Daqing Xinfeng to change the first year, and the lower couplet is a song to play a song of the whole world to play the music of Taiping, and there is nothing new about it."

There is nothing new in the two couplets, but the horizontal criticism is intriguing, and it is another year, in which the hardships and bitterness, such as drinking spring water, know that it is not something that outsiders can understand. It's just that I can't help but sigh more than I have enough pride, and I am a little decadent. Thou li, I have not wronged you! People are diligent and persevering, the sage doesn't say that you forget to eat, you forget your worries, you don't know that old age is coming, you are all old ministers of several dynasties, those new young people are all ambitious, nothing in their eyes, in fact, they can't compare to your weighing of the old man, Jiang is still old and spicy! I don't know that you have a white horse sighing through the gap, your own family is discouraged, and people are old from their hearts! Chongzhen saw that they looked stunned and taught, and said with a smile: "My words are heavier, but I don't mean to blame, I just feel that now is a change that has not been seen since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. I want to create heroes in the current situation, and I have more available talents! ”

Han? said: "The emperor works hard, thinks about something, and the ministers and ministers are all excited." The first thing to do is to correct morale, morale is upright, and the rule of officials is naturally clear; The government is clear, the people's livelihood is naturally worry-free, the border is naturally solid, and Yidi is naturally naturalized. It's just that the yang energy is returning for the first time, and it still needs to be cultivated slowly, and I can't ...... in a hurry."

"I can't wait any longer!" Chongzhen interrupted him and said, "For example, it has been more than a year since the case was reversed, what is the benefit of delaying it to this day?" I have been strict and reprimanded again and again, and you have turned a deaf ear. Back then, the eunuchs were almost all over the government and the opposition, how could you not know? Huang Liji, Zhang Ruitu, and Lai Zongdao dragged it out, and they just did it, I knew that they couldn't get out of it, and I was afraid of burning themselves. A few of you are different from the eunuchs, but you are also timid, what are you afraid of? As he spoke, he took out a fold from his sleeve and threw it on the kang and said: "A few of you have been selected by me repeatedly, and your arguments are all in the Donglin lineage, and you have suffered from the eunuchs, I think that although you will not declare your personal vendetta, you will always take this opportunity to vent your personal anger, how do you think that you will casually make a list to prevaricate, what is the purpose?" Do you want to protect yourself and wipe the mud? ”

Han? Hurriedly replied: "The minister's meaning is not suitable for Zhulian, back then, Taizu Shenwu, who understood the treachery and malpractice of Hu Weiyong's case, was very happy, but he still suspected that he was too involved in the public, so that everyone was in danger and hurt the vitality of the court." According to the situation, from the courtiers to the ordinary people, they are all proud of clinging to Wei Zhongxian, chasing the smell of fish, and gathering ants and flies, and it is difficult not to have anything to do with the eunuchs. If you don't investigate the reasons and liquidate harshly, the minister is worried that the court will be empty and there will be no available materials, which will miss the emperor's great cause. There are not many names listed by the ministers, one is to cherish the talents of the court, and the other is to show the emperor's virtue of good life, and give the rebels a chance to change their minds. ”

When Chongzhen heard this, his face softened and said: "You have also put a lot of effort into it, and it is good not to wantonly snare it, but you must not miss the fish that swallows the boat, and the law enforcement must be peaceful, so that you will not give people a handle." But why do you have only the outer courts, and not the inner courts? How to convince people? ”

"This ...... "Han?" Secretly felt that his face was hot, and his mouth was unspeakable, and he said: "The palace is strictly forbidden, and it is really difficult for the ministers to know what is going on." ”

"I really don't know? I'm afraid I don't dare to offend people! Chongzhen saw that he was trying to cover it up, and he felt even more disappreciative in his heart, and sneered.

"To say that I really don't know anything is not true; If you say you know a thing or two, but there is no evidence in the rumors, you can't do it. If it comes out without a head or a brain, I am afraid that it will not be investigated and questioned, and the ministers will not dare to list it in vain. "Han? Shaking his gray beard, he replied carefully, and fine beads of sweat were slightly soaked on his face.

"Do you want proof? That's easy! Wang Chengen-" Chongzhen shouted outside the door: "Go to the emperor's history? I picked all the red books. ”

Wang Chengen, who was standing outside the warm pavilion, promised to trot out, and after a while, he came in with a bulging Huanglong baggage, put it on the kang and said: "The slave maid took these first, I am afraid that the master will be anxious." And many others are choosing! ”

Chongzhen nodded and said, "You don't have to bring them all, it's enough to teach them to understand this." Stretched out his hand to open the baggage, and with a bang, most of the red books were scattered on the kang, "This is all evidence, you register and list them one by one, which one will be rebellious, unwilling?" ”

The six ministers each took the red book and looked through it, and saw that most of the above were words praising Wei Zhongxian's merits, some asked for knighthood, some asked for Jiansheng Temple, some played military merits, and some invited Yin Zizi...... Han? He glanced at Li Biao and Qian Longxi and said: "Your Majesty, since you have these actual deeds of forming a party, the ministers should supplement them according to the law, but the ministers are in charge of the votes on weekdays, and the three-foot law is not the director, and the inspection of officials belongs to the Ministry of Officials, so they can be submitted to the Ministry of Officials for election and then discussed." ”

Wang Yongguang saw Chongzhen turn his face and hurriedly excused: "The officials are only familiar with the method of assessing merit and demerits, and there is no way to be promoted and deposed, if it is appropriate to talk about sentencing and conviction or transfer to the criminal department." ”

Chongzhen narrowed his eyes slightly, glanced at the ministers and said, "I know that the comments of the officials are not countable, and if they want to be convicted, they must be taught that they have nothing to say. This time, Qiao Yunsheng and Cao Yubian were summoned to ask the Criminal Department and the Metropolitan Procuratorate to be selected together. Although there is no need to be strict in the pursuit of evil, there must be no major omissions. He picked up the fold on the kang, flicked his fingers a few times and said: "The fold lists Gu Bingqian, Wei Guangwei, Feng Quan, and Huang Liji, all of whom are cabinet ministers, why don't they have Zhang Ruitu and Lai Zongdao?" ”

"The two of them don't show ......any evil," Li Biao lowered his head to avoid Chongzhen's fierce gaze, and said in a low voice. Chongzhen didn't wait for him to finish, and said: "I have secretly written the trial situation of Dongyue Temple as an abridgement, and now the confessions of the five tigers are all there, Zhang Ruitu is famous for his calligraphy, in order to flatter Wei Zhongxian, I don't know how many lake pens have been written, and how many square emblem ink have been used!" The sacrificial text written by Lai Zongdao for Cui Chengxiu's mother actually called the spirit of the sky, so hateful, is it still true? ”

Qiao Yunsheng said: "Then according to the law, a crime of rebellion?" ”

"Hmm!" Chongzhen nodded and said, "How can Jia Jichun not be punished?" ”

Qian Longxi said: "Back then, he asked to treat Li Xuan's servant well, and he finally had the loyalty to be a courtier. ”

"Humph! At that time, he took advantage of the emperor's brother to ascend to the throne for the first time, but he intended to invite merit, where was there any loyalty? Later, I was afraid that Wei Zhongxian would blame him, so he was busy changing his words, how could such a capricious real villain at both ends of the rat wash him away? Chongzhen Tie's face turned blue, his voice raised, and his words became more stern and mean, the ministers did not dare to argue anymore, they all bowed their heads and obeyed orders, and the warm pavilion was quiet for a while.