From Xiao'an Demen back to Yingtian Outer City, on the way to the northeast of the Qinhuai River.

Sun Cheng never understood one thing.

That is, with the help of whom, this group of Japanese people infiltrated Yingtian, and how they would evade the pursuit of Jinyiwei.

Even Sun Cheng had empathy.

If he was the leader of that group of Japanese people, if he wanted to sabotage the Chan Rang Grand Ceremony and intended to assassinate the entire Ming court's high-level people, then he would never kill three people in the first month, and then kill all the thirty-seven people in the mansion opposite the yamen of the Ying Tian Governor's Mansion.

This is illogical.

If what the Japanese people are trying to do is a Zen ceremony, it is impossible to surprise the snake before that.

But the Japanese did it anyway.

Under the noses of millions of Yingtian's subjects, he committed an earth-shattering murder.

All of a sudden, they exposed themselves to the eyes of Jinyiwei.

I'm afraid these wouldn't want to expose their existence until then.

Sun Cheng keenly felt that this matter must have been requested by those behind the scenes who helped the Japanese infiltrate the Jingshi.

But why do these people do it?

Regardless of the Japanese people being exposed in front of the Jinyi Guard, let them kill?

Ying Tiancheng in the dark night looked a little cold.

In order to ensure the event, the brocade guards did not wear too thick clothes, but because of the long running, everyone was red-faced.

The night hid Sun Cheng's activity route well.

And Yingtian Outer City is not the same densely populated as the Inner City.

The outer city area is more of a village house and a field area.

This was considered during the expansion of Ying Tian City.

When Ying Tiancheng was besieged by foreign enemies, Ying Tiancheng could also guarantee a certain amount of food supply.

However, at present, this arrangement seems to be a bit outdated.

It can be seen with the naked eye that the land of the capital of the Ming Dynasty is unlikely to be invaded by foreign enemies, let alone besieged by enemies.

That's why.

During this time, the Yamen of the Governor of Zhili and Ying Tianfu were discussing whether to use the outer city of Ying Tiancheng as a pilot to try a new attempt to combine the economy between urban and rural areas.

In fact, there is already some foundation for this matter.

In recent years, many of Yingtianfu's government-run and private factories have been built in the outer city area of Yingtianfu.

Let's go back to Sun Cheng and their team.

Wait until the end of the hour.

Sun Cheng and the others finally rushed to the south bank of the Qinhuai River in the outer city.

On the west side of the south bank of the outer city is Zhengyangmen Outer Street.

On the east side of Zhengyangmenwai Street, there is the Beijing Military University Yard, where soldiers and horses drill or point troops to go out on weekdays.

But in normal times, there is a huge open space on this side of the school field, and there are not many soldiers and horses stationed, only a few teams of officers and soldiers are responsible for daily maintenance.

After the big school field, it is Zhonghe Bridge Street.

Across the street, there is a wasteland near the Qinhuai River.

On the opposite side of the wasteland, to the west is the mountain and river altar outside the Zhengyang Gate, and to the east is the Temple of Heaven.

In the middle of the two locations is Kagura Sento, one of the most beautiful places in Jinling.

And Kagura Sento is famous for the optimism of the gods here.

The gods are optimistic about the worship of the fields, the gods and the high sect, the society is happy and dancing, and there are officials such as mentioning points and knowing the view in the view. It is set up in the eleventh year of Hongwu and belongs to the jurisdiction of Taichang Temple.

To the west, near the altar of the mountains and rivers, is the cattle storehouse, which is dedicated to raising all the animals for the royal sacrifices.

Qianhu Guan lay on the bank of the river, looking at the north bank of the Qinhuai River, where there were only sporadic lights on the opposite side.

"Zhenfu, if those Japanese people are going to do it at the Zen ceremony, then the other side is their final foothold."

Yingtiancheng, as a capital teacher, even the vegetation is protected to a certain extent on weekdays, and the people in the city used to go out of the city to cut firewood.

In recent years, with the development and application of coal, the vegetation in Yingtian City has become more and more lush.

On both sides of the Qinhuai River, the vegetation is dense and the trees are slim.

Sun Cheng squinted his eyes: "You say, do those Japanese people cross the river by taking the Zhonghe Bridge in the west, or cross the river by taking the upper bridge in the east?" Or is it to cross the river from the upper reaches of this river? ”

This is critical.

Where the Japanese crossed the Qinhuai River from, then it is very likely that they will lie in ambush in which direction, waiting for the day Zen Rang ceremony to begin, and then carry out their final blow.

Qianhu official said in a low voice: "During the day, Your Majesty held a Zen ceremony, and after leaving the city, he first went to the mountain and river altar to lead the civil and military officials to worship the mountains and rivers. Then enter the Temple of Heaven along the Avenue of the Temple of Heaven, and in front of the princes, ministers and the people at the Temple of Heaven, the emperor's position will be ceded to the crown prince. The crown prince needed three resignations, and then took over the emperor's seal. At that time, the new monarch will lead the civil and military officials again, comfort the temple, sacrifice to the heaven and earth, and finally return to the city to enter the palace. ”

"So the focus is on the Temple of Heaven."

Sun Cheng was leaning over, his hands pressed against the cold ground on the riverbank, so as to dissipate the warmth in his body.

Qianhu Guan nodded: "Most of the time will be in the Temple of Heaven." But ......"

Qianhu Guan was a little hesitant.

Since the establishment of the Zen Rang Ceremony.

The Ministry of Rites and the Yamen of the Arishi began to prepare all the itineraries for the Zen Rang Ceremony.

The Metropolitan Governor's Mansion was the same as the direct relatives of the military guards, and surrounded the Temple of Heaven and the Altar of Mountains and Rivers a year ago, prohibiting all idle people from approaching.

If the Japanese want to create chaos and take the opportunity to assassinate the high-level of the Ming Dynasty, they can only succeed by entering the Temple of Heaven or the Altar of Mountains and Rivers.

Qianhu Guan thought about it again and again, and finally hesitated to speak: "Maybe the Japanese people will do it on the Temple of Heaven Street." ”

At this time, there is also a great possibility.

Although it is said that when the time comes, there will be a large number of forbidden guards around the emperor and civil and military officials.

But on the Temple of Heaven Street, people are allowed to watch.

On both sides of the street, it was only guarded by the soldiers and horses of the Terracotta Division and the officers and soldiers of Beijing to prevent people from blocking the Temple of Heaven Street.

And if you do it on the Temple of Heaven Street, it is also easiest to distinguish the location of the emperor and the crown prince.

Although it is said that the casualties that may be caused will be much smaller, the princes and ministers who can be by the emperor's side and the crown prince are all high-grade people.

Killing ten magistrates is not as cost-effective as killing one Shangshu directly.

Sun Cheng squinted his eyes and whispered: "If something really happens during the Zen ceremony, no matter where the Japanese want to do it, they will definitely leave a secret whistle around here, secretly watching the movements of the imperial court." ”

Qianhu Guan immediately answered: "Therefore, we can't cross the river by the bridges on both sides now." ”

"If there are really Japanese people here, neither the Zhonghe Bridge nor the upper bridge can be walked."

Qianhu Guan's eyes sank, his eyelids shrunk, and he raised his head and quickly glanced at both sides of the north bank of the Qinhuai River.

"Then we'll have to wade across the river from here now."

Sun Cheng nodded: "Take off your outer robe, wrap it in a leather cloth, and change it after crossing the river, be quick." ”

There were only a few hours left until dawn.

After dawn, the ceremonies in the palace will begin, and the royal family and the princes and ministers in the court will leave the city a little later.

As soon as Sun Cheng gave an order, the brocade guards beside him began to take off their robes one after another and put them into the waterproof cowhide packages they were carrying.

The night was dark.

There is a faint starlight rippling on the Qinhuai River, and in the distance to the west is the waters of Dongshuiguan Wharf, which are busy day and night.

At this time, many ships have begun to sail from the Yangtze River into the vicinity of the Dongshuiguan waters, waiting to unload the goods on board, so that they can retreat to the surface of the Yangtze River before the waterway is congested during the day.

Sun Cheng and others pushed the package and marched silently in the icy river.

The aquatic plants on the north shore of the water are a good cover for them.

A flock of awakened teals quacked and glided across the water, breaking the ripples they had created on the water.

The last trace also disappeared from the surface of the Qinhuai River.

In the water meadow on the shore, Sun Cheng and the others quickly changed their dry clothes, and then began to approach the shore.

Perhaps because the Zen Rang Ceremony is approaching, God's optimism and the livestock shelter have been lit up with lights that illuminate a large area on the shore.

Water droplets drip from the forehead.

Sun Cheng brushed his scattered hair to the side and stared at the street construction outside the woods on the shore.

"Pacify!"

"There's a situation here!"

A deep voice came into Sun Cheng's ears from the east.

Sun Cheng's eyes jumped, and he quickly looked over.

It was the brocade guard who was in charge of scouting in the east.

Sun Chengcheng took a few steps back to the shore with a thousand household officials, and then he walked to the east.

After passing through a bush and seeing the situation clearly, Sun Cheng and Qianhu Guan's eyes couldn't help but shrink violently.

I saw a corpse lying on the grass in the middle of the bushes, which had been wet by the river.

Two brocade guards were rummaging through the corpse.

"It's a Japanese people."

A brocade guard raised his head and ripped the black clothes off the corpse, revealing the clothes inside.

It's the makeup of the Japanese people.

And on this person's waist, there are two knives, one long and one short.

This was also a common piece of equipment for Japanese samurai.

The corpse of the Japanese people!

It's still on the north bank of the Qinhuai River near the Shanchuan Temple and the Temple of Heaven!

Sun Cheng's eyes narrowed silently.

Qianhu Guan was full of surprise: "How can there be a corpse of a Japanese here?" ”

He stepped forward to the corpse and used the embroidered spring knife in his hand to collapse the clothes that had been ripped off on the ground outside.

Qianhu Guan looked at the corpse carefully.

"There is no wound on the front, turn it over and take a look."

The brocade guard who was squatting on the side immediately turned the body over.

and also stripped off all the black clothes on the corpse.

"Still no wounds!"

Qianhu Guan's eyes shrank, and his eyes were a little colder.

And the Jin Yiwei, who was squatting next to the corpse, turned the corpse over again, facing up.

The brocade guard began to crack open the corpse's mouth and used a stick to dig it into its mouth.

"There are no foreign objects, it doesn't look like drowned."

It wasn't he who killed, and there was no sign of drowning!

Qianhuguan's eyes were in a trance, and he looked back at Sun Cheng, who was silent and frowned.

Sun Cheng squinted his eyes and muttered for a long time before he whispered: "Look at the limbs, as well as the neck, if there are no injuries, take off all your clothes." ”

The two brocade-clothed guards immediately complied.

Begin to look at the limbs and neck of the corpse.

There are no abnormalities in the limbs.

There are also no strangulation marks on the neck.

The two brocade guards took a breath before they began to tear off the clothes on the corpses one by one.

Although the body was soaked in the river, it was not white or swollen.

This suggests that the body was not dragged from the water to shore.

The two brocade guards examined the corpses one by one.

Suddenly, a brocade-clothed guard snorted in his mouth, his brows furrowed, and his fingers pressed on the corpse's heart.

Followed by under several pairs of eyes.

I saw a drop of blood oozing from the heart of the corpse.

"Is it the eye of a needle?"

Jin Yiwei, who held down the position of his heart, muttered in his mouth, and then pressed down more firmly on his hand.

Drops of blood began to seep out of the heart.

As Jin Yiwei pressed both hands to his heart.

The drops of blood began to form a small stream of blood.

"Pacification?"

Qianhuguan's tone changed slightly.

Sun Cheng stepped forward lightly, his brows furrowed, and his face was like frost.

Qianhu Guan gave up his position: "My subordinates really can't understand it now, why is there a Japanese corpse here?" ”

Sun Cheng said in a low voice: "He killed? ”

Qianhu Guan glanced at the location of the blood oozing from his heart and shook his head: "I'm not sure, it's hard to say." But this position, it is impossible to do it yourself. ”

Sun Cheng snorted and fell into thought.

Qianhu Guan was not sure whether this widow was killed by him, but he said that the needle eye in the heart could not have been done by himself.

That is to say, it is also possible that this widow took the initiative to let people do it before his death.

Or is it the one who is asked to do so.

Things got complicated again in an instant.

"But now we can be sure of one thing!"

After Sun Cheng was half-loud, he said something with a faint look.

Qianhu Guan nodded: "The Japanese people are indeed around here. ”

But where are the Japanese people hiding?

The Qianhu official looked up and looked at the shining lights on the shore.

Under the forest on the shore, the shadows are swaying.

Sun Cheng stood up, glanced at the corpse on the ground, and frowned a little gloomily: "Cover up!" You take people to the Altar of Mountains and Rivers and the Temple of Heaven, and let the forbidden army over there check together to see if there is anything hidden in the Altar of Mountains and Rivers and the Temple of Heaven. ”

He didn't dare to say whether it was possible for the Shanchuan Altar and the Temple of Heaven to be hidden by the Japanese people a large amount of gunpowder, waiting for the Chan Rang to ignite after the ceremony began, and blow up the entire Ming Dynasty to the sky.

But the Qianhu official understood the meaning.

Nod your head.

Qianhu Guan looked at Sun Cheng again: "Then ...... to calm you"

"The rest of the people are with me, and they are also hiding."

Sun Cheng squinted his eyes, making people wonder what was going on in his heart.

Qianhu Guan thought about it, but he couldn't think of any better way.

Unless it is a Zen ceremony after a few hours of tentative scheduling by the imperial court.

But such a request is certainly impossible to agree to.

Not to mention that this is a day set by the emperor himself, which is supported by the theory of Qin Tianjian.

It is said that once the Zen ceremony is suspended or postponed, there is a possibility that countless gossips may breed in the court and the people.

Some people even feel that this is because the imperial court sensed that God was likely to disagree with this Zen concession, so the imperial court had to suspend the Zen concession ceremony.

At that time, the prince will be in a dilemma.

So no matter what.

Even if the sky is going to fall after a few hours, this Zen ceremony must be held as scheduled.

Qianhu Guan took a deep breath, and for a while he only felt that his shoulders were as heavy as ten thousand pounds.

The man quickly disappeared into the riverbank.

And Sun Cheng also took the rest of the people and began to grope on the shore, and gradually disappeared without a trace. (End of chapter)