At dawn, the red sun rises in the sky, leaping out of the horizon, and the light is whitening.

Coiled on the bank of the Yellow River, Kaifeng City, the ancient capital of several dynasties and the great city of thoroughfare, is as silent as death.

In the distance outside the city, a few wisps of black smoke still fluttered for several days, but the curtain never ended, as if it was still telling the way back of the thieves before the prosperous era.

Under the city gate, several government and county officials lazily huddled under the shed, rolling up their cotton clothes, and it was always cold in the early morning. At this time, even if the emperor came, the servants would not move for half a minute.

If it weren't for the fact that the army was still outside to sweep away the remnants, they would have returned to their homes and their wives and children as neighbors, telling them about their great achievements in defending the city in the first battle a few days ago, and their demeanor of not being afraid of the enemy.

That was affirmed by His Royal Highness the Imperial Grandson himself.

In the merit book of the Ming Dynasty, there are their names.

In the city, the streets are quiet, and the most industrious people in the past are not willing to go out of the house at this time, but prefer to hold their wives at home, lie on the bed with their eyes open for a long time, and count the hours of stability that have passed.

In the northwest corner of the city, next to the huge lake near the Zhou Palace, there is a palace under the name of the palace.

In the backyard, there is a water pavilion garden in the former Song Dynasty, and under the corner of the wall, the branches and leaves are piled up with the dew accumulated in the middle of the night in the early summer morning.

A gust of wind blew.

The branches and leaves shook a little, and the drop of dew hanging on the tip of the leaf finally couldn't support it and dripped down.

Tick.

"The remnants of the rebels in Henan Province have returned, please enter the city, please see His Royal Highness the Imperial Grandson, I don't know what His Royal Highness means?"

The young political envoy holding a white cloth tie with his right index finger sat behind a small eucalyptus, took a piece of music, and hung the pen with his fingers, but his appearance was slightly funny because of that finger.

The same young Yan Shizi sat on the other side, bowing his head, the ink pen in his hand never stopped, and one by one the articles about the promotion of innovation in Henan Province and the establishment of tax bureau branches gradually took shape under the pen.

Zhu Yunxi held a bowl of white porridge sprinkled with a few salted beans, rolled a piece of cooking cake, and chewed slowly and carefully, it seemed that this simple and simple breakfast was the most delicious in the world.

Suck and suck.

A mouthful of white porridge is mixed with cooking cakes.

Zhu Yunxi raised his head: "Repeat, the people in Kaifeng City are out of danger, the imperial court can't bear to disturb the people of Li, the military horses of all parties are not allowed to enter Kaifeng without orders, and the army withdraws from thirty miles to camp in order to wait for the will of the imperial court." Liangguo fairly determined the hard work of the Henan rebellion, gave wine and meat, comforted the soldiers temporarily, and left the military merits to be examined. ”

Pei Benzhi lowered his head, the corners of his eyes moved, the imperial grandson only said that Liangguo was fair and told, but he did not mention military exploits, which has deep meaning.

It's just that he still truthfully left the Taisun decree on the song sent to the city by the Duke of Liangguo, and only waited for the officials to send it back to the Duke of Liangguo.

After a while, Pei Benzhi said again: "Xiping Marquis Muying is in the camp thirty miles outside the city, and he wrote a letter to ask, Wanghe Henan Province will allocate military rations, and the army will return to Beijing, so as not to stay in the place for a long time and cause the people to be uneasy. Xiping Hou played again, if His Royal Highness the Emperor Sun has a summons, then he can be ordered to see him within an hour. ”

Zhu Yunxi groaned.

Zhu Gaochi on the side quietly raised his head and glanced at him.

Zhu Yunxi opened his mouth and said: "Repeat, all the battalions of the Beijing Army work hard, and there is a division to test the merits, and the merits should be judged by the sky." The Marquis of Xiping is loyal and brave, and everything he asks should be followed. However, the military affairs of the armies are complicated, and Henan Province is in ruins, so there is no need to ask for it. ”

Pei Benzhi flicked the tightly bandaged fingers that had been personally started by the imperial grandson, and while writing sentence by sentence, he replied to Xipinghou's recital, and at the same time thought about it in his heart.

Liang Guogong and Xiping Hou are roughly the same, but they are completely different. And the emperor's reply seems to be the same, but it is completely different.

It was also hard work, but Xipinghou got a loyal and courageous reply.

Conventionally, these four words are used together. But now it is clear that the Marquis of Xiping is loyal and brave, and there is a degree. It is to be said separately, that is, it is far more than Liang Guogong.

Wait until the recital of the two noble princes is finished.

Pei Benzhi said again: "The previous Henan Provincial Song asked the imperial court to approve the filling of the official vacancy, and the director of the Ministry of Literature and Literature came to reply, and he will send the waiting officials and the Guanzheng Jinshi to Henan Province in the near future. ”

"Is it Bai Yuxiu's book?"

Zhu Gaochi, who had never spoken, suddenly opened his mouth and asked Pei Benzhi, and then shifted his gaze and silently looked at Zhu Yunxi, who was drinking porridge with his head down.

Pei Benzhi flipped through the recital, and then raised his head and said: "It's Bai Yuxiu, the new director of the Literature and Anthology Department of the Ministry of Officials, and the minister has heard of it, and it seems that he has not been in the office for a long time." ”

After finishing speaking, Pei Benzhi paused and turned his head to look at the imperial grandson who was about to finish drinking the porridge.

Something doesn't seem right.

Pei Ben's heart muttered for no reason.

Originally, the Yellow River collapsed, Henan Province became a disaster, and the place was chaotic, and the political envoy Si Yamen went to the imperial court several times, asking the Ministry of Officials to appoint officials to fill the vacancy of Henan Province, but the Ministry of Officials never replied.

Why is it that now the Ministry of Officials has changed to the head of the Literature and Anthology Division, not only began to handle the Henan Provincial invitation, but even came to the letter to explain it.

Over the years, the imperial court seems to have tens of thousands of officials, but the Ming Dynasty is too big, and all aspects need manpower to govern, and the local government is not only poor every year, but also no one every year.

Official shortages have long become a matter of course in the Hongwu Dynasty.

When, the officials will also explain to the local authorities: Ah, I know your affairs, and don't worry, I will handle them all for you.

This doesn't make sense.

After Zhu Gaochi confirmed, he smiled and continued to lower his head and write his own innovative notes that seemed to never be finished.

Zhu Yunxi didn't speak, just wiped his mouth and motioned for Pei Benzhi to continue.

In the study room of the annex under the name of King Zhou's mansion, it suddenly fell silent.

……

Zhang Zhiyuan, who was wearing armor, was clearly silent around him, but he felt that there was a strange noise in his ears all the time, which made him unable to settle down for a long time.

In front of him, there were the generals of the Ma military camp who followed him south, and there were also the generals of the Yamen of the Shandong Metropolitan Division.

The commander of Shandong Province did not come, since Zhang Zhiyuan took more than 10,000 officers and soldiers of the Beiping Metropolitan Division to Shandong, the metropolitan secretary said that he was sick and could not leave the gate for half a step.

】

Tang Keke, who was sitting in the generals, looked left and right, and coughed lightly: "The rebellion in Henan Province has been quelled. ”

In the hall, no one spoke, but everyone's eyes couldn't help but let Zhang Zhiyuan, who had the right to temporarily control the military affairs of the entire territory of Shandong Province, glance at him a few times.

Tang Keke said again: "When will the traitors of Shandong Dao be cleared out!" ”

Everyone's eyes were still glancing at Zhang Zhiyuan, but no one was willing to speak.

Zhang Zhiyuan's face was a little gloomy, and he put it on the table, and his hand hidden in his sleeve was tightly clenched into a fist.

Missed this year's nine-sided northern expedition, from Beiping City south to Shandong Road, commanding more than 10,000 iron cavalry, leading the Shandong Provincial Capital Division Yamen and the following guards and horses, it has been a small half a month.

However, Zhang Zhiyuan had no clue about the rebellion in Shandong Province, and there has been no substantial progress until now.

The traitors are still there, and the soldiers and horses of Shandong Province have not yet been dispatched, but they have received military orders, and these traitors have already dispersed in a swarm, and it is difficult to find them no matter how you search and arrest them.

The rebellions in Shandong Province and Henan Province were completely different, presenting two completely different situations. The traitors in Henan Province are all gathered in large groups, waiting for an opportunity, and even dare to besiege Kaifeng City.

However, the traitors of Shandong Province never occupied the city and stood on their own, but only plundered the official warehouses and looted the people, and the most troublesome thing was to block the canal transportation, so that the cargo ships going north could not move forward, and it was difficult to move an inch.

It seems that the traitors of Shandong Province just want to show what they can do and what kind of influence and pressure they can bring to the Yamen and the imperial court of Shandong Province.

Zhang Zhiyuan glanced at Tang Keke, who was a little angry, and shouted at him so much in his heart, and did not express his displeasure.

The others present didn't know, but Zhang Zhiyuan knew very well that since he took the military horse to Shandong Road, Tang Keke invited them to secretly investigate.

And then the results were equally unsatisfactory.

Countless clues have been found, but these clues will always disappear completely at a certain point.

This made Zhang Zhiyuan, who was accustomed to being outside the Nine Sides Fortress and only leading the army and horses to charge the most enemies, as if he was stuck in the mud of a swamp, and his two feet were deep in it, and it was difficult to extricate himself.

"What do the political envoys say to the Yamen and the Yamen of the Inspectorate? How many days have it been, and who the leaders of the traitors are, haven't they been figured out yet? ”

Zhang Zhiyuan's deputy general, seeing that Tang Keke, the general's henchman, opened his mouth, and looked at the group of Shandong Daodu Yamen generals sitting opposite him with a gloomy face.

The problem cannot be solved for a while, but the pressure must be pressed down on the Yamen of Shandong Province.

The faces of the generals of the Shandong Metropolitan Division and the Yamen who were sitting opposite the generals of the Beiping Metropolitan Division were also a little unsightly.

"The political envoy Si Yamen promised that all the grain and grass needed by the general would not be delayed or deducted by Shandong Province, or shoddy."

"According to the reply of the Yamen of the Inspectorate Division, the criminal name is investigated, and there are traitors obstructing it, please ask the general to give a few days of grace, so that it can be clarified by the Inspectorate Division."

The general of the Yamen of the Shandong Metropolitan Division, who was present at the scene, actually said this to Zhang Zhiyuan.

However, Zhang Zhiyuan's face was even more ugly.

Shandong Yousi Yamen looks very obedient, but in fact, people don't contribute at all.

10,000 people seems to be a lot, but it is not too much in the entire Shandong Province, even if you eat and live in Shandong Road for a year, the political envoy Si Yamen can also afford it.

"That's it for today."

Zhang Zhiyuan waved his hand, and his originally gloomy face had calmed down: "I still have to work hard for you, continue to send military horse spies, and be sure to find out where the traitors are hiding as soon as possible." ”

"The last general commands."

The generals got up and bowed to Zhang Zhiyuan and hugged their fists.

Zhang Zhiyuan didn't speak, just watched these people disperse. I also know in my heart that the so-called order is just to show that they know and will send military horse spies, but whether they can find the traitor's hiding place can only depend on fate.

When all the people from the Yamen of the Shandong Metropolitan Division left, Zhang Zhiyuan looked at his colleagues from the Beiping Metropolitan Division who followed him south.

Zhang Zhiyuan arched his hand: "Everyone, the current situation is clear in our hearts, and it is probably impossible to rely on Shandong Dao." ”

The deputy general was already on fire in his heart, but now that the people of Shandong Dao are gone, he has no way to hide it, and his palm Peng slapped on the table with a murderous face: "The current situation is not what they want to see!" One by one, they want to raise us who can't ride horses and can't lift knives! General, in my opinion, they are up and down in the affairs of Shandong Province, even ......"

Tang Keke had already coughed his face red, which stopped the adjutant general's angry words.

The deputy general also reacted at this time, and most of the anger on his face disappeared in an instant, and his eyes glanced at Zhang Zhiyuan above carefully.

There are some words that everyone knows, but they still have to be carried in their stomachs, and they cannot be said in death.

Unless this matter has become a consensus in the court, and there is a clear attitude of the emperor.

Otherwise, it would be a more serious matter than the rebellion that occurred in Henan and Shandong provinces today.

Zhang Zhiyuan closed his eyes slightly, and said softly: "Go ahead, I still have to ask you to worry about everything in the army." ”

The deputy general and other generals of the Beiping Metropolitan Division looked at it, and also knew that Zhang Zhiyuan was holding back the fire in his heart at the moment, but the identity of the master would not allow him to vent it easily.

Everyone walked out together, holding hands.

Tang Keke fell last, and while walking outside, he frequently looked back inside.

Zhang Zhiyuan shook his head and said in a low voice: "If you want to say something, come and say." ”

Hey!

Tang Keke clapped his hands, and then turned around and came to Zhang Zhiyuan.

He looked at Zhang Zhiyuan, whose face was calm, but his eyes were bloodshot a few days ago, and said in a low voice: "You really can't do anything?" ”

Zhang Zhiyuan nodded, shook his head again, looked at Tang Keke and said, "What is the explanation for His Highness?" ”

Tang Keke shrugged: "Just last time." ”

"The saint is not wrong, but the fault is in the present?" Zhang Zhiyuan muttered in a low voice, but his eyes gradually became sharper.

Tang Keke didn't know what he was thinking, and thought of the current situation in Shandong Dao, but he still felt that he shouldn't say it when he opened his mouth several times.

"Say whatever you want, there are no outsiders here."

Zhang Zhiyuan's voice drilled into Tang Keke's ears, making him tremble when he thought about what he couldn't say.

Raising his head, Tang Keke saw Zhang Zhiyuan staring at him with deep eyes.

He waved his hand again and again and shook his head: "This is really not something we can do. ”

Zhang Zhiyuan snorted twice: "Then don't say it." ”

"Don't! I said it can't be done? ”

Tang Keke was suddenly anxious, and stood up after a rub, originally to hold his head high, but he let out a sigh of relief, looked at Zhang Zhiyuan, and confirmed again: "Do you really want to listen?" Don't betray me then. ”

Zhang Zhiyuan rolled his eyes helplessly: "Love to say it or not." ”

With that, he waved his robe and got up, making a gesture to leave.

Tang Keke could only hold Zhang Zhiyuan with a sad face, and hurriedly whispered: "Capture the thief and capture the king first!" Where is the king of Shandong Province? Let's take people there, let's not believe it, can they really not panic when the army is pressing? ”

When Zhang Zhiyuan heard this, his heart trembled, he looked back at Tang Keke, and said in surprise: "You want to surround the Qufu Kong family?" ”

"I didn't say that!"

Tang Keke let go of his hands holding Zhang Zhiyuan, and jumped out with a bang, showing Zhang Zhiyuan an expression that no one should approach, and I have no melon in the rain.

He even couldn't wait to make up for it: "You said this, but I didn't say it, and it has nothing to do with me if something happens." ”

Zhang Zhiyuan sneered again and again, and the irritability that had been suppressed in his heart for several days seemed to be swept away at this moment, and he stepped forward lightly and reached out to climb Tang Keke, who was already stiff: "Brother Tang's strategy is really powerful, throw a mouse bogey!" Lure the snake out of the hole! Brother Wei will definitely write down the merits of Brother Tang in detail, and present it in front of His Royal Highness at that time, and never let Brother Tang shed blood and tears in front of this battle! ”

Tang Keke's head had already shaken into a rattle, and the whole person was up and down, and his whole face was full of rejection.

However, Zhang Zhiyuan doesn't care about this.

Even if he had thought of such a method in his heart, but no one had taken the initiative to find out, and now that Tang Keke was bold enough to jump out, how could he refuse.

Don't wait for Tang Coco to get out of the panic.

Zhang Zhiyuan has already stepped outward.

When Tang Keke's shoulders were released and his eyes became empty, Zhang Zhiyuan's heroic shouts of excitement were already heard in his ears.

"Command the whole army to start immediately."

"Soldiers march into Qufu!"

"I'm going to take a look, can we really have a thousand-year-old immortal family in the Ming Dynasty?"

The military order came out of Zhang Zhiyuan's mouth and blew towards the whole army like a gust of wind.

The order to open was passed down layer by layer to every gang, to every small flag officer, and finally to every officer and soldier.

In just two quarters of an hour, more than 10,000 cavalrymen from the Sima Military Camp in Beiping were already ready to set off and assembled outside the camp.

The southbound border army had been kept in captivity for half a month in Shandong Province, and suddenly the whole battalion moved, which immediately attracted the attention and interrogation of the yamen of various divisions.

However, officials up and down the Shandong Road did not get any useful information from anyone.

When Tang Keke was reluctantly put in front of the assembled army by Zhang Zhiyuan, the whole person was about to collapse, if it weren't for the fear that his description in the army would be affected, he felt that he would not be able to move his legs.

Zhang Zhiyuan is full of pride.

What about a thousand-year-old family?

What about the people who are the masters of the court?

The sword in his hand is not recognized.

Zhang Zhiyuan picked up his gun and mounted his horse, and his eyes were set in the southwest direction.

The officials of the Yamen of the Third Division of Shandong Province have all arrived at this time. Even since Zhang Zhiyuan led his troops south to Shandong Province, he has been saying that he is sick at home, and he has always commanded the envoy of Shandong Province, and he rarely appeared in front of Zhang Zhiyuan.

"General Zhang suddenly mobilized the army today, where is he going? But General Zhang has already found out where the rebels are? ”

On horseback, Zhang Zhiyuan obliquely coveted the commander of Shandong Province, who had not appeared for a long time.

He chuckled, and then spoke loudly in front of the Shandong Provincial officials.

"Ben will receive a report that there are traitors intending to attack Qufu, and the saint family will be frightened, and Ben will personally lead the troops to protect it."

After a word, Zhang Zhiyuan did not give these Shandong Provincial officials, who had long been separated from the imperial court, a chance to come forward to interrogate, and with a wave of his spear, the flag-bearer behind him was already waving the flag and pressing forward.

"All the troops are leaving!"

………………

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