The snow that had been falling for more than ten days suddenly stopped, but the sky was still gray.

Dong Shan stood in front of the prayer hall, watched the backs of Yan Shenggong and Kong Qian disappear outside the palace gate, slowly turned around, and walked into the main hall.

Emperor Zhu Wucheng of Yong'an was sitting cross-legged on the futon, his eyes slightly closed, and his mouth was full of words.

Dong Shan walked in quickly and softly, glanced at the incense sticks behind the screen, and at the end of the hour, he walked quickly to the compartment, reached out and touched the medicine jar on the small stove, uncovered the lid on the jar, and picked up the medicine jar and carefully poured the medicine into the bowl.

Walking in front of Zhu Wucheng with the bowl of medicine, Dong Shan said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, it's time to take medicine." ”

Zhu Wucheng's eyes opened suddenly, and he leaned towards Dong Shan.

"It's just right, it's not cold or hot, Your Majesty hurry up and drink it."

Zhu Wucheng took the bowl and drank the medicine in one gulp.

After rinsing his mouth, taking the towel and wiping it, Zhu Wucheng suddenly asked, "Does Zhao Sheng have a letter?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, no."

Dong Shan put down the towel and subconsciously touched his sleeve.

Zhu Wucheng's eyes flashed: "Something?" ”

"Yes." Dong Shan took out a stack of paper notes from his sleeve and offered it.

"What's that?" Zhu Wucheng looked at the paper in his hand and asked.

Dong Shan lowered his head: "Back to Your Majesty, the file submitted by the Holy Father of Yan about the disappearance of the eunuch Qin Shun in the Gunzhou Mansion at the beginning of the year. ”

Zhu Wucheng frowned, took the note, reflected the candlelight, and looked at it carefully one by one.

Dong Shan stood there, cautiously looking at Zhu Wucheng.

Sure enough, Zhu Wucheng threw the pile of paper to the ground: "What a little brute!" It's the other way around! ”

Dong Shan fell to his knees: "Your Majesty, don't be angry, don't hurt your body." ”

Zhu Wucheng stared at him closely: "Who has been here in the past two days?" ”

Dong Shan: "Back to Your Majesty, after the news of His Majesty's Eucharistic illness came out yesterday, the cabinet sent people to inquire every other hour.....

Zhu Wucheng waved his hand, "That's not what I asked!" ”

Dong Shan didn't answer immediately, thought about it, and replied: "Wang Ge is weak, and the family sent bedding and medicine early in the morning. In addition, the Chungmu Marquis Mansion sent a box of dim sum to the Chungmu Marquis..... The old slave got some of it, it's really good, it's not worse than the one in the imperial dining room....."

Zhu Wucheng glanced at him deeply, picked up a piece of paper on the ground and looked at it again, and snorted coldly: "Don't even leave the scene!" ”

As he spoke, he threw away the letterhead in his hand and asked, "When will Liu Xianglian come back?" ”

Dong Shantou lowered, "Qufu is the territory of the Kong family after all, it is not easy to check, and it will definitely take some time." ”

Zhu Wucheng: "Don't check, let him come back." ”

Dong Shan was stunned for a moment, and had to reply, "Yes." He hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "Then, where is Nanzong?" ”

Zhu Wucheng only looked at him and didn't squeak.

Dong Shan stood there nervously with his head bowed.

Zhu Wucheng: "Dong Shan." ”

"The minions are here." Dong Shan hurriedly replied.

Zhu Wucheng: "Do you know why I approved Concubine Yuan's request to transfer Dai Quan to Fengzao Palace on an errand?" ”

Dong Shan: "Your Majesty is merciful, after all, he has served the Emperor Taishang for more than 40 years, so he ....."

"Guess again." Zhu Wucheng's voice was cold and hard.

Dong Shan pounced and knelt down: "The slave knows that he is wrong, and the slave should not talk too much." After speaking, he raised his hand and slapped himself, and then he wanted to hit again.

"That's it!" Zhu Wucheng drank him: "Although Dai Quan has also done some things that are not on the table, he always understands that he will always be a minion!" I don't want a second time. ”

Dong Shan immediately kowtowed on the ground: "The slave knew that it was wrong, so this made people send back the gift of Nanzong." ”

Zhu Wucheng's face looked better: "Just leave the things." Otherwise, they should be distracted. As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and pointed to the notes scattered all over the place, "Send these to Jia Jue, and tell him that I need to give an explanation to my subjects about the Gyeonggi snow disaster." Also, I don't need him to serve here, and my life is more comfortable than mine. Hmph, pass the decree. ”

Dong Shan: "Yes." He stumbled, crawled to the emperor's side, picked up the notes, got up and withdrew.

At this moment, Liu Wenbin, Ding Yuanzhu, Han Jun, Chen Ruiwen, the secretary of the military department, and Niu Jizong, all gathered in the cabinet of Wenyuan Pavilion at this time.

Although there were two large pots of charcoal fire, but several people still felt cold, one by one sat there with their hands in their hands, since yesterday the emperor was sick news, they have been waiting here, did not wait for the news of the emperor's illness, but received the military report of Tai'an Hou Shenyi, Zhao Sheng was defeated, and it was a fiasco, except for more than 12,000 rear troops fled into Changping County, the rest were all buried in the fire.

Tai'an Hou's military newspaper and Zhao Sheng's identity waist card were quietly placed on the book.

Liu Wenbin did not sit on the chair in front of the book as usual, but sat on a Taishi circle chair in front of the brazier, and Chen Ruiwen sat on the chairs on both sides.

"Old man." Liu Wenbin looked at the brazier blankly, reflecting two points of fine light!

"Huh?"

Chen Ruiwen raised his head.

Han Jun couldn't help it and looked at Chen Ruiwen: "Mobilize troops!" If Li Wenzhong captures Changping, we can only ask Your Majesty for guilt. ”

Niu Jizong: "Don't worry, Li Wenzhong will not fight Changping's idea, the reason why he uses fire attack is that he is unwilling to consume the troops in his hands." That was the bargaining chip for his life. ”

Han Jun looked at him: "He wants to negotiate?" Impossible, the Ming Dynasty will never be able to negotiate with the rebels! ”

Niu Jizong did not talk.

Han Jun was silent for a while, and looked at Chen Ruiwen: "Old man, how are you old?" ”

Chen Ruiwen had to speak: "Let the Guoyong battalion of Bogaoping in Nanyang go to reinforce the Marquis of Tai'an, and requisition 20,000 people to build a camp in front of Juyong Pass, and continue to besiege Li Wenzhong." ”

"Good!" Liu Wenbin patted the armrest of the circle chair, "It's right if you don't fight!" The military department immediately sent a letter to Tai'an Hou. Also, Pegasus Express Xuanfu, just let them hold Baoanzhou, don't fall for Li Wenzhong's scheme. ”

Chen Ruiwen: "Don't worry, I have already instructed them." ”

Ding Yuanzhu thought for a while and said very seriously: "Second assistant, now, the most important thing is Your Majesty!" ”

Everyone was silent again.

Liu Wenbin seemed to have made a final decision: "Your Majesty, I will go in person, as for how Your Majesty decides, let it be fate." ”

At this moment, the cotton curtain lifted a corner, and Lu Wenliang, the left attendant of the ministry, came in through the crack.

Everyone was stunned and looked at him suspiciously.

Lu Wenliang: "The Marquis of Zhongwu came back and hung Zhou Kun at the gate of the Ministry of Officials, this time he was being tortured, and I heard that the Criminal Division had surrounded the Zhou family. ”

Ding Yuanzhu stood up abruptly and asked sharply, "What's the matter?" ”

Lu Wenliang: "Zhou Kun intercepted and killed the eunuch who passed the decree, and the Kong family has found evidence. Speaking of this, he swallowed his saliva, and continued: "Marquis Zhongwu suspects that Zhou Kun colluded with Li Wenzhong and used the power of the Zhou family to provide information and convenience for Li Wenzhong. ”

Everyone was stunned and felt that the situation was serious, so they all stood up, and Liu Wenbin looked at Chen Ruiwen.

Chen Ruiwen was also looking at him at this time.

Liu Wenbin: "Let's go, go to the ministry!" ”

Before Liu Wenbin and others arrived, the officials were already in chaos.....

The crowd is like a blockage.

A pile of firewood burned brightly.

A personal soldier brought a real Taishi circle chair and placed it in front of the fire, and Jia Jue was wearing a thick fur coat at this time, holding a soup woman and sitting there to roast the fire.

Jia Zheng, who got the news, also rushed over, first stunned, and then shook his head and smiled bitterly.

Zhou Kun was ordered by Jia Jue to tie his hands with a rope and hang under the door beam of the gate of the ministry, his feet hanging in the air, and he was in great pain.

Jia Yucun, the secretary of the ministry, accompanied the sacrifice at the Temple of Heaven and Earth, and He Jian, the new right attendant of the ministry, was Zhu Wucheng's confidant, and at this time he stood with his head held high in the gate of the ministry, and the officials of the ministry, stood on both sides of him with their heads bowed.

There was a dead silence, save for the crackling of firewood in the cold wind.

One after another, some officials came, but no one spoke, just stood silently.

Jia Zheng walked to Jia Jue, who was sitting there with his eyes closed: "What's the matter?" ”

Jia Jue didn't talk, still closing his eyes.

A sound of footsteps shattered the silence, Jia Zheng's eyes followed the sound, and saw Jia Gui leading two personal soldiers to come, each carrying two small bags in their hands, looking at the direction, it should have gone to the household department.

Jia Jue opened his eyes: "Add two bags to him first." ”

"Yes!" Jia Gui stepped forward with a bag of rice and personally hung a bag on Zhou Kun's feet.

This is the torture method in the army, where can Zhou Kun stand it, he immediately screamed like a pig.

Everyone looked at Jia Jue, but Jia Jue was silent, and he didn't know what he was waiting for.

Zhou Kun trembled slightly at this time, and the beads of sweat on his head flowed down like rain.

Jia Jue took the tea bowl in the hands of his own soldiers, took a sip, and said, "Add two more bags." ”

The two pro-soldiers hurriedly stepped forward to add two rice bags to him, which was really immediate, and Zhou Kun fainted with a muffled snort.

Jia Jue: "Wake him up." ”

A personal soldier stepped forward with the cold water that had been prepared a long time ago, and splashed his head at Zhou Kun.

Zhou Kun trembled all over, woke up from the darkness again, and stared at Jia Jue fiercely.

At this time, Jia Jue stood up, glanced at the officials silently, and spoke: "Listen, the court has a rebellion!" ”

All the people were astonished and looked at him.

Jia Jue: "A minister colluded with rebellion to intercept and kill angels, burned the holy decree, and instigated the Cao gang to rebel, causing immeasurable losses to the court and the people of Lianghuai. The first emperor once sent people to track down this eucalyptus, but unfortunately this thief was very cunning and never found this eucalyptus. Fortunately, the sky has eyes, and in the end, Yan Shenggong got the evidence. Presumably many people have already guessed, yes, this person is the great filial son in your eyes, the model of scholars, and Zhou Kun, the head of the Zhou family in Jiangnan. ”

All the people almost couldn't believe their eyes, how could this Zhou Kun be rebellious? How could he collude with the Cao gang of rebels? It's incredible!

Jia Jue continued: "You should have heard the news that Your Majesty is in poor health, do you know what the reason is?" ”

"What is the reason?" Jia Zheng asked very cooperatively.

Jia Jue couldn't help but glance at Jia Zheng and raised his voice: "Yan Shenggong said that the Gyeonggi Snow Disaster was a traitor in the court, and this traitor is Zhou Kun!" Your Majesty also suffered a backlash in the prayer to the heavens because of him. ”

Everyone was stunned.

Li Shouzhong, who had just arrived, couldn't help but speak first: "Marquis Zhongwu, how can you compare Your Majesty's dragon body with the celestial phenomena?!" ”

Jia Zheng's face immediately changed.

Jia Jue was calm, coughed, and said to Li Shouzhong slowly: "The Gyeonggi snow disaster, Your Majesty's fasting and prayer have no effect, you must give an explanation to your subjects, and you must not let Your Majesty's reputation be damaged!" ”

Li Shouzhong was stunned for a moment, raised his eyes and looked at Zhou Kun: "It's not enough to kill people...... Is this too much? ”

"Scholarly anger!" Liu Wenbin's breathless voice came.

Everyone looked back, and sure enough, it was Liu Wenbin, Chen Ruiwen and others who came.

The officials saluted and moved out of the way.

Liu Wenbin walked towards Zhou Kun with Lu Wenliang's support, grabbed his leg and shook it.

Zhou Kun opened his eyes with difficulty at this time.

Liu Wenbin didn't look at him, and slowly glanced at the officials in front of the gate of the ministry: "The cabinet has just received a military report from the Marquis of Tai'an, Zhao Sheng's department was raided by Li Wenzhong, the main general Zhao Sheng was killed in battle, the army was defeated, and only more than 12,000 people retreated to Changping. ”

Like a thunderclap, everyone was stunned, and there was a dead silence.

Liu Wenbin took a deep breath and said loudly: "It was this thief who colluded with rebellion and betrayed the secrets of the imperial court, which led to the defeat of the army. ”

Zhou Kun took a breath, opened his mouth and spit out to Liu Wenbin: "Phew! ”

The spit only fell in front of Liu Wenbin's feet.

Liu Wenbin: "Hang all these bags on him!" ”

Zhou Kun couldn't breathe anymore, and squeezed out two words: "water-soluble ....." and passed out again.

Liu Wenbin's eyes straightened, his face immediately turned pale, he couldn't breathe, he covered his chest with his hands, and slowly bent down.

"Jifu!" Lu Wenliang hurriedly gave him a gentle slap on the back.

Liu Wenbin gasped and said, "No, leave me alone..... Shut him up! Shut up! Holding Han Jun with one hand and Ding Yuanzhu with the other, he said in a trembling voice: "I will report this matter to the emperor, you should not have heard it, you know?" ”

............

It was already Shen Shi, Jia Jue's carriage slowly left the entrance of the vegetable market and drove towards Ningrong Street, in the carriage, in addition to Jia Jue, there was also Zhang Qianyan, who was specially here to send Zhou Kun, a "disciple", on his last journey, and watched him being cut by a thousand knives.

Zhang Qianyan leaned calmly on the carriage, his eyes slightly closed, and his body swayed slightly with the rolling of the wheels.

"Does the military really plan to protect the hundreds of thousands of Imperial Forest Army?"

"Sir, I want these 100,000 Imperial Forest troops to go south to attack Annan, what do you think?"

Zhang Qianyan slowly opened his eyes, although it was a discussion, but there was an irresistible force in Jia Jue's tone, he understood that this was already a decision, perhaps, the military had already formulated a plan, just waiting for the emperor and Li Wenzhong to enter the court.

Thinking of this, he smiled and said, "Annan is a good place..... With it, there will be no famine in Daming! ”

Jia Jue immediately nodded and said: "Not only can it solve the problem of famine, but it can also provide grain and grass for the army to conquer Lingbei, where the land is fertile and water resources are abundant, which is not only suitable for grazing and hunting, but also more suitable for farming, and has a greater role." ”

Zhang Qianyan's eyes flashed: "The military plans to go west?!" ”

Jia Jue didn't answer, opened the lid of the food box, took out a pot of wine and two wine glasses and put them on the table, poured Zhang Qianyan full of wine, and poured himself full of wine and held it with both hands.

Zhang Qianyan also raised his wine glass: "The kindness of the Hou Ye, the humble position is unforgettable, the grass ring in the next life, and the whip and stirrup." With that, he took a sip of the wine in his glass.

Jia Jue silently drank the wine.

Zhang Qianyan picked up the wine jug and poured it for Jia Jue first, then filled it for himself, and held it up with both hands: "This glass of wine wishes the Hou Ye a bright future and realize his ambitions as soon as possible!" "One sip and another drink.

Jia Jue still silently drank the wine with him.

Zhang Qianyan didn't pour any more wine, and looked directly at Jia Jue: "How long will this farce last?" ”

Jia Jue: "The Xuanfu has sent a letter, and the pioneer battalion has taken Baoan Prefecture first, and successfully ambushed Li Wenzhong's cronies, and captured the first three thousand. After speaking, he took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it over.

Zhang Qianyan took it, looked at it carefully, thought about it, and said with a smile: "Even if Li Wenzhong kills horses to satisfy hunger, he can only hold out until mid-January at most..... No, they lasted less than a month. ”

Jia: "They don't have enough coal and dry firewood. ”

The two looked at each other and smiled, whether Li Wenzhong would send troops to rob and forcibly demolish the houses of the people, surely, but as long as he did this, the army would not be far from falling apart, and at this time, as long as a letter of persuasion to surrender, everything would be solved.

Many of the soldiers of the Imperial Forest Army were children of good families in Gyeonggi, Shandong, and Shanxi, and as long as they were told to obediently go south to fight for the country, the imperial court would pardon them, and their families would not be sent to Mobei, and they would completely obey the military orders of the military department, and burst out with combat power far beyond ordinary people, because they were fighting for their families.

............

In the bitter cold wind, the gate of Juyongguan was wide open, and the former deputy general of Juyongguan led more than 300 officers of all sizes to kneel on the snow outside the valley road.

In the distance, the sun and moon banner of the Ming army appeared in the snow and mist, and Tai'an Hou Shenyi led 10,000 Yaowu battalion soldiers to officially collect Juyong Pass.

The team stopped in front of the general, and Deputy General Juyongguan held up the big seal high and said, "Guilty ministers, please surrender!" ”

Shen Yi turned over and dismounted, helped him up and said with a smile: "Your Majesty is merciful and has forgiven your sins, and I hope that you can bravely kill the enemy in southern Xinjiang, open up territory for the Ming Dynasty, and take the country of Annan, so that our children and grandchildren will have no famine." The old man said, as long as you take Annan, the military department will reward you for your merits according to your normal military merits, and no one can be greedy for ink and share your military exploits! ”

The deputy general hurriedly knelt on the ground, kowtowed in the direction of the imperial city, and then got up and said: "Please ask the old man to say goodbye to the old man on my behalf, I don't have the face to see him, go first." After speaking, he turned around and walked towards Changping.

Shen Yi sighed, turned over his horse, and ordered loudly: "The army enters the city!" ”

The 10,000 troops of the Yaowu Battalion marched into the Juyong Pass, and on December 30, the 41st year of the Heavenly Blessing, the rebels who seized the Juyong Pass officially surrendered, and this day was the New Year of the Ming Dynasty.

Li Wenzhong was killed by the Imperial Forest Army in the night rebellion two days ago, and the rebellious Juyong guards knew that they were guilty and killed themselves, and after more than a month of siege of the city, nearly 10,000 soldiers died in hunger and cold, and nearly 10,000 people died in the melee that night, plus several major battles under Baoanzhou, only less than 90,000 soldiers walked out of Juyong Pass alive, and they were all demoted to the criminal army, they will rest in the Changping camp for half a month, and after saying goodbye to their families, they will go directly south to fight in southern Xinjiang thousands of miles away, and accumulate military merits to atone for their crimes!

............

"Winter! Winter! Winter! ”

The dull drum sounded, and the criminal army walked out of the camp under the leadership of the officer, and as the army walked out of the barracks, the people on both sides of the official road were in an uproar, and the people behind continued to rush to the front, and the officers and soldiers who maintained order desperately resisted the surging crowd with their spears crossed.

"Son!" This was the cry of several people at the same time.

Tears flowed down everyone's faces, and they all knew that it would be difficult to come back, but they had no choice.