The bitter cold at the border is first reflected in eating.

Even though the empire has spent twenty-eight years smoothly, in the border fortress far from the Beijing division, the border soldiers who silently guard the peace of the empire in the wind and snow can still only use the simplest food as dinner on this Chinese New Year's Eve.

Several cauldrons lined up.

There are a lot of pots, but the things in the pots are the same.

Half a pot is taken from the clean snow outside the fort.

The frozen beef and mutton that is always eaten on the side is closed.

The soldiers made their own old tofu from soybeans.

Beans are sprouts sprouted by soaking in water.

Paired with a few green vegetables that are dug out of the bottom of the snow and are in the most scarce at the border gate.

Put as many condiments as you want.

The big iron spoon stirred in the pot without hesitation, and the fragrance filled the entire fort.

The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is also done.

Given that the new flag officer was a man of noble birth.

In the fort, one more fat sheep was specially roasted this year, and a basket full of egg cakes was fried with enough oil and water pipes.

"Zongqi, this is the old man's fried eggs for you, please try it while it's hot."

A small flag officer brought a bowl to Zhu Yunwen, with a smile on his face.

Inside the bowl, there is also a fried golden egg.

No matter how hard the imperial court tried, the border gates were still short of food and clothing.

Those egg cakes are stained with a layer of pale yellow by the egg liquid.

Originally, these eggs began to accumulate slowly a month or two ago.

What I kept was for today's Chinese New Year's Eve dinner.

Zhu Yunwen took the dishes and chopsticks and looked at the soldiers gathered around.

He reached out and brought the bowl to an iron pot in front of him, slowly tilting the bowl in his hand.

The fried egg slipped from the bowl into the steaming pan.

"Give it to Xiaosi, he went out to patrol a few days ago, and he injured his tail vertebrae, eat something to make up for it."

In the crowd not far away, a young border officer and soldier with the shortest stature immediately turned red after being roasted by the heat in the fort.

Others, on the other hand, burst out laughing.

The red-faced Xiao Si roared and roared: "When the spring of next year begins, my Xiao Si will be the person who kills the most wolf cubs in our fort!" ”

The old man in charge of the food in the fort, holding a big iron spoon in his hand, turned around in the pot, and then put the fried egg and a spoonful full of meat into Xiao Si's bowl.

"Eat you! The fried eggs that the general flag rewarded you, after eating a good life, see how many wolf cubs you can kill next year. ”

There was another burst of laughter.

Xiao Si also came to the fort this year.

As a military household, after his father died in battle, he received a requisition order from the border army and rushed to the fort to replace his father to guard the border pass for the empire.

As the youngest in the fort, Xiao Si will always be teased by these eight uncles.

Xiao Si viciously stuffed the fried egg full of soup into his mouth.

Flushed, buzzing: "I must be the one who kills the most wolf cubs!" ”

These are the fearless sons and daughters who guard the border for the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yunwen slapped his big hand: "If you really kill the most enemies next year, I will ask for credit for you!" When the time comes, this knife will be given to you as well! ”

As he spoke, Zhu Yunwen's hand patted the saber on his waist.

The knife of the general flag!

Xiao Si's face showed anticipation.

The saber on Zhu Yunwen's waist is not a military standard, but a hundred refined steel war knives sent from Taiyuan City a few days ago.

There is no decoration and carving throughout the body, but it is the sharpest.

Xiao Sizhong nodded emphatically: "Don't lie to me." ”

Zhu Yunwen glared: "This general banner counts when he speaks!" ”

Xiao Si's eyes widened: "Then let's say okay, if I kill the most enemies next year, don't ask for credit for me, just this knife." ”

"Good!"

Zhu Yunwen was not stingy, and boldly agreed.

The old man with a big iron spoon in his hand, but he twisted the iron spoon and knocked it on Xiao Si's back.

"Bastard, the knife of the general banner wants it too!"

Xiao Si smiled and hid aside.

Zhu Yunwen looked around: "The first team is still patrolling outside, you eat first, according to the usual rule, each person is equipped with a pot of wine, you are not allowed to drink it all at once tonight, you have to stay until the seventh day of the new year." After eating, the second team went out to replace the first team and continued to patrol the sentry. ”

After that, Zhu Yunwen sat on a bench by the iron pot.

He sat like a golden knife, reached out and took the big iron spoon by the side of the pot, and filled himself a bowl of broth.

After a few bites of meat and soup, Zhu Yunwen nibbled on a large mouthful of egg pasta with his mouth, and finally stuffed a peeled garlic into it.

After chewing a few times, before the contents of his mouth were swallowed in his stomach, he raised his head and poured a sip of wine.

"Delicious!"

"Delicious!"

Zhu Yunwen acted heroically, and his face turned a little red because of that sip of wine.

Sun Cheng had been staying in the corner on the side, looking at Zhu Yunwen who was mingling with the border soldiers, and the worries of the previous days in his eyes gradually disappeared completely.

Three sips of wine.

The atmosphere of the New Year's Festival in the fort has also been completely born.

With military regulations, the wine can't be drunk anymore.

But the sons and daughters of the border gate took advantage of the smell of wine and began to sing indulgently.

The soldiers gathered together to eat meat and sing songs, and the lyrics were full of anticipation for the future.

Zhu Yunwen got together with the four small flag officers under his command.

"General Banner, when the Spring Festival opens, is the Imperial Court really going to use troops on a large scale at the border pass?"

A small flag officer glanced at the lively fort with a complicated face, and then looked at Zhu Yunwen suspiciously.

Another small flag officer on the side immediately said: "Yes, Chief Banner, originally some brothers were rotated back according to the rules, but the imperial court ordered a tentative rotation last month, this is to prepare for next year's big war, right?"

Among the four small flag officers, the little flag officer who stayed in the fort the most looked at Zhu Yunwen with a solemn gaze: "If you can let someone like the chief flag officer come here, I'm afraid the imperial court has decided to have a big battle." ”

They don't know why Zhu Yunwen came here, but the surname and middle character of the new chief flag officer are eye-catching.

And the man who hung the embroidered spring knife and stayed in the fort with the chief flag officer, which proves this even more.

Zhu Yunwen smiled.

Why he is here, only himself and Sun Cheng understand.

Merely.

"You're probably right." Zhu Yunwen said softly according to his own grasp: "If my guess is correct, when spring begins, the snow on the grassland melts and the roads become harder, and the imperial court will probably move troops." ”

"Hey......"

One of the four small flag officers let out a low sigh.

Zhu Yunwen immediately looked over.

The little flag officer suddenly shrank his eyes, and hurriedly lowered his head: "The imperial court wants to fight, so let's naturally rush up with a knife." It's just that...... I don't know how many of us here will be able to come back after that battle next year......"

"Fighting always involves death...... If we don't go up, do we want our wives and children at home? Our Ming Dynasty can't do such a thing! ”

The other man looked at him firmly and spoke in a deep voice.

Zhu Yunwen's face was calm.

When he found Liu Zongsheng on the Yellow River of Bingfeng, when he fired that shot, he had already put his life and death on the line.

However, he felt that he could not ignore the lives of these soldiers in front of him. However, if there are no these people, how can Daming be Daming?

Zhu Yunwen felt as if he was about to realize something, but he couldn't explain it.

He could only shake his head and whispered, "Seek his own government in his place." As soldiers, it is our duty to protect our families and defend our country. It's just that...... If there is a war next year, you will follow me, don't rush too fast......"

It's okay if you die, if the news of your death comes back to the sky, I'm afraid Qiu Niang won't have to worry about living in this life.

But if these people are dead, it will be an ordinary people's family gone.

When the time comes, if you really go to war, you can protect one person.

Zhu Yunwen thought silently in his heart.

"Eggs!"

A small flag officer, secretly pouring half a bag of allotment to himself into his stomach, patted his chest with red eyes, and said in a deep voice: "We are all military households, and what we were born to do is to defend the Ming Dynasty." How can there be anything to hide behind the general flag, I just hope that the general flag will not forget the merits of the brothers who died in the war, and the court pension will be able to fall into reality when the time comes. ”

The remaining three small flag officers also nodded silently.

Zhu Yunwen could only nod his head.

The imperial court has a very complete pension system, no one dares to violate this, if it is less than half a point, and the main owner's family does not make trouble, those military households can be smashed by the government.

Moreover, this is what the emperor allowed them to do.

At this moment, there was the sound of footsteps outside.

The first to come in was the small flag officer of the first squad of the fort.

Saw the first squad of the patrol return.

The small flag officer of the second squad in front of Zhu Yunwen immediately stood up: "General flag, I went out with someone." ”

Zhu Yunwen still nodded.

The discussion stopped.

Outside, the people of the first team walked into the fort one by one, and the doors that were frequently opened gave an opportunity to the raging wind and snow outside.

……

Ying Tian Cheng.

Fireworks, from the beginning of nightfall, have been until now.

The emperor's decree, starting from the 23rd day of the 28th month of Hongwu, until the 15th Lantern Festival of the first month of the 29th year of Hongwu, should be Tiancheng Jinwu for the people to play.

At this time, it was almost time to come, and on the streets and alleys of the city, there were still groups of people who had eaten Chinese New Year's Eve at home to go out to play.

It is lively, stretching from the roots of the imperial city all the way to the streets where the Gentiles live in the western city.

It seems that everyone is immersed in the atmosphere of the New Year's Festival.

However, there are always secluded places in the great Jingshi.

There are always some people who are away from the excitement of the New Year, and are doing things silently.

For example, Jin Yiwei commanded Jiang Xuan, and today it was not too late to let the family have a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner.

After eating early and distributing the New Year's red envelopes to his family, he put on his official uniform and went out.

As the commander of the Jinyi Guard, who is the emperor's minions, Jiang Zhen is only an excuse today because of the Jingshi Jinwu, and he wants to return to the government to prepare for the unexpected.

However, at this moment, he appeared in a secluded and dark alley in the city with a team of people.

Jiang Xuan's eyes were pressed under the brim hat.

Under a courtyard gate in the alley ahead, there was already a small group of brocade guards guarding both sides.

On the snow-covered courtyard wall, there is a small blank space.

Less and.

The closed courtyard door was silently opened.

"Kill!"

Jiang Xuan ordered in a low voice, and pressed his palm forward gently.

The officers and soldiers rushed into the courtyard in a swren, killing them from the backyard all the way to the front yard.

It took less than a quarter of an hour.

Jiang Zhen was already standing in the antechamber of this mansion.

There were several tables in the front hall, and the melons, fruits, wine, and dishes on the tables had already been used.

It's just that with the arrival of Jinyiwei, it has become a mess.

A man in regular clothes, tied up by the officers and soldiers, was pushed in front of Jiang Xuan.

The man's face was full of alcohol, and when he saw Jiang Zhen appear, he trembled, and his eyes showed a little fear.

But probably through the smell of wine, he has a bit of courage that he shouldn't have.

"Jiang Xuan! What are you doing! ”

"Now that the court is sealed, what are you going to do!"

Jiang Xuan's face was indifferent: "The imperial court seals, so I can't do things and kill people?" ”

His eyes looked faintly at the corpses lying aside.

There was some panic in the man's eyes.

"This official is the Qing official of the household department, this official is law-abiding and fair, and he has never been greedy and derelict in his duties, what do you Jiang Zhen want to do!"

This was the third time he had asked Jiang Zheng what he was going to do.

Jiang Xuan sneered and shook his head: "You don't have to think too much, in addition to you tonight, there are also Shilangzhong, the Qing officials of Shaanxi Province, and Shi Langzhong, the Qing officials of Beiping Province, all of whom are on the list." ”

"What the hell are you going to do?"

"This official has not broken the law!"

Shi Langzhong, the official of the Shanxi Provincial Household Department, raised his head, his eyes full of anger.

Jiang Zhen was a little bored, and snorted: "Da Ming wants to use soldiers on the grassland." ”

After finishing speaking, Jiang Zhen glanced at the family that had been taken down, sighed again, and walked towards the front door.

And Na Langzhong's eyes widened violently.

Before he could speak again, a flash of light flashed before his eyes.

Jiang Xuan, who had just walked past the shadow wall, slowed down a little.

A faint smile smiled at the corner of his mouth.

"The Ming Dynasty is going to lay down a prosperous era, and this time there can't be a laggard."

The killing was going on throughout Yingtian City.

Not only the civil officials above the court, but also the Houjun Governor's Mansion, which was in charge of the military affairs of the Nine Sides, was completely purged.

Anything that is slightly lawless.

In the past, all forgivable sins were strictly dealt with on the Chinese New Year's Eve of the 28th year of Hongwu.

All the officials and generals who might affect the next large-scale use of troops outside the Guanxi by the Ming Dynasty did not have the opportunity to see the sunrise in the 29th year of Hongwu.

Wenyuan Pavilion.

Tonight is also brightly lit.

All the cabinet ministers in Beijing were present.

One by one, news was constantly sent into the cabinet from outside the palace.

Ren Hengtai's face was already screwed together, but he didn't say a word.

The news is temporarily received by Xie Jin and Xu Huizu.

"Your Majesty will not allow the slightest mistake in this northern expedition, this is the right intention."

Xie Jin finished reading the latest news, and looked sideways at Shousuke with a solemn face.

Xu Huizu, who was beside him, also turned his head and said: "It's all more or less unclean things with hands and feet, if you kill them, you will kill them, and replace them with a group of honest officials." ”

Ren Hengtai snorted coldly: "The old man is not annoyed by this, but His Majesty is acting now, and even the will is not clear!" When I did things in the Ming Dynasty, did I directly use the knife in secret? ”

"This is a nationwide attack, and there is no room for error!"

Xie Jin explained in a deep voice.

Ren Hengtai's face was gloomy, and he sighed and said: "Decree the Political Envoy Department and the Pedestrian Division, tomorrow morning, the old man wants everyone in the capital to know about the crimes of these people!" ”

Xie Jin smiled: "It's already being done, it's already being done, you're not angry." ”

Ren Hengtai was angry, stood up and waved his hand: "Tired, old man sleep, you should be on duty." ”

With that, he walked into the cabinet room.

There are beds and futons that can be used by cabinet ministers to stay overnight.

Xie Jin smiled, didn't say anything, and then turned his head to look at Xu Huizu: "I still have to work hard for the Duke of the Kingdom, and issue a few military orders to be sent to all parts of the Nine Sides." There is also the Southern Guard Station that will take turns to enter Beijing to fill the Beijing Army in the next year, and it will be opened immediately after the New Year. ”

The Jing army marched north.

It may even be possible to use the direct relatives of the army to go north to participate in the upcoming northern expedition of the Ming Dynasty.

As for Yingtiancheng, which is vacant, it needs officers and soldiers from all over the south of the Yangtze River and the south to enter Beijing to form a new Beijing army and continue to defend the safety of the Beijing division.

This is the established plan and steps.

Xu Huizu nodded and said, "The military order has been made, and it will be sent to various places from the Dadu Governor's Mansion early tomorrow morning." ”

Xie Jin nodded and stood up: "Then I'll go and rest for a while, Guogong is young, and I've done a lot of work." ”

Xu Huizu showed helplessness on his face, so he could only let go of Jinye and hide inside to rest.

He turned his head to look at the remaining Zhai Shan and Mu Ying in the class room.

Mu Ying spread her legs, took out a wooden box from under the stool, and placed it between the three of them.

"The mahjong that Taisun made before, and then call a Hanlin bachelor who was waiting outside to come in, and stay all night."

Zhai Shan shook his head: "Where did Hanlin get the money, let's change it for the merits of the Governor's Mansion." ”

Xu Huizu smiled: "This is a great word. ”

That's it.

He shouted outside the class room: "Let Huixian Bosang Jing come in!" ”

………………

Recommended commuter passes

(End of chapter)