"The emperor has a decree, Xuanshun Tianfu Yin Jialian enters the palace!"

"Xuanshun Tianfu Yin Jialian enters the hall!"

“.....”

The paging eunuch passed down one by one, and in a moment, the dusty Jia Lian walked in from the forbidden door of the Heart Cultivation Hall and walked towards the Heart Cultivation Palace.

In the main hall, Emperor Zhu Wucheng of Yong'an sat on the top dragon chair, the ministers stood far away on both sides, and a simple rosewood chair with armrests was placed under the imperial eucalyptus, and Liu Wenbin, the new cabinet assistant, sat there expressionlessly.

Jia Lian from the moment he entered the palace, he was looking at the hall, he had been inspecting the disaster outside the city since the day before yesterday, and was summoned into the palace by the emperor in a daze.

Walking to the middle, Jia Lian saw Jia Zheng, Jia Zheng nodded to him slightly, his heart was relieved, and he glanced at Jia Zheng who was standing at the front, and then took a step forward and bowed to salute: "Chen Shun Tianfu Yin Jia Lian see Your Majesty, may the emperor live long!" ”

Seeing Jia Lian's somewhat embarrassed appearance, Zhu Wucheng waved his hand and smiled: "No courtesy!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"I heard that you've been outside the city to inspect the disaster these days?"

"Back to Your Majesty, the minister went to Daxing the day before yesterday, and rushed back to Wanping yesterday to distribute relief food."

"It's all in the hands of the victims?"

"The victims have all received relief food, and they are all grateful to the emperor for his grace and virtue."

Zhu Wucheng nodded: "What happened to the washed out embankment?" ”

Jia Lian paused: "Thanks to the emperor's blessings, the people affected by the disaster also sympathized with the imperial court, and many people spontaneously moved to high places. ”

Zhu Wucheng: "It's just that there is no stone to build the embankment, right?" ”

Jia Lian was silent.

As soon as these words came out, everyone was stunned.

Jia Zheng's face was also uncomfortable.

A hint of displeasure crossed Jia Jue's face.

Zhu Wucheng's eyes were blazing, and he saw everyone's reactions in his eyes, and said: "I know that because each family rushed to build the provincial villa, all the wood and stone were occupied. Well, the cabinet immediately drafted a decree, and the gardens of each family should not be repaired, but first let the stones out, and the river embankment that was washed away was repaired, and then rush to build the provincial villa. In addition, whoever donates more stones, who can start two hours earlier on the day of the province. ”

Everyone was shocked.

Jia Zheng couldn't help but be moved: "Your Majesty Shengming! ”

Zhu Wucheng nodded with satisfaction: "You have worked hard for this disaster relief!" I'll ask the officials to give you a credit. ”

Jia Lian hurriedly knelt down: "Thank the emperor for Longen!" ”

"These false gifts will be waived!"

Zhu Wucheng waved his hand, and then glanced at the officials silently: "Yesterday, I transferred the eucalyptus scroll of the Ministry of Industry to read, in the thirty-ninth year of God's blessing, the Ministry of Household allocated 500,000 taels to build the river embankment, and it was only three years, and it was washed away after a flood!" 500,000 taels to fix such a thing? Where did the money go? As he spoke, he looked at Han Huai, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry: "You are the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, you can come." ”

Han Huai immediately knelt down: "The minister has no way to deal with things, please ask the emperor to punish the crime!" With that, he took off the gauze hat from his head and put it on the ground.

"Got the yarn hat?"

Zhu Wucheng's tone became stern: "Don't use your resignation as an excuse!" As the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, isn't it clear who is guilty and who is not guilty?! ”

Liu Wenbin hurriedly took the lead and knelt down.

Jia Jue and several noble generals knelt down together.

The former Shoufu Wen dialect died, the former household secretary Song Qian died, and the former Ministry of Works' left attendant Wang Yaozu also died, since Han Huai, who was the secretary of the Ministry of Works, was not guilty, then who was guilty?

There was silence.

Liu Wenbin lay there: "As the head of the cabinet, the minister has an unshirkable responsibility, please ask the emperor to punish the crime." ”

Zhu Wucheng sighed, and then said, "Check it slowly." Now, the most important thing is disaster relief! ”

"Yes. The ministers must find out! Liu Wenbin replied loudly: "Never let those silverfish who mislead the country and the people go unpunished!" ”

Zhu Wucheng waved his hand: "This matter is not in a hurry, I can wait." As he spoke, he looked at Chen Zurong: "You have to arrange the matter of the North Korean mission entering Beijing carefully, understand?" ”

Chen Zurong: "Obey the order!" ”

Zhu Wucheng nodded: "Let's all step down." ”

"Yes."

Liu Wenbin bowed and retreated, and everyone slowly retreated.

The sky was clear, the sun was so dazzling, everyone walked out of the forbidden door of the Heart Cultivation Palace, Jia Jue and Jia Lian said goodbye to Jia Zheng, and were preparing to leave the palace directly.

At this time, Erwuzai Chen Zurong came over, after the Shangyuan Festival, Yan Sheng Gong died of illness, Kong Qian officially resigned from the Ministry of Rites, inherited the title of Yan Sheng Gong, Chen Zurong was promoted by the emperor as the new Ministry of Rites, "Zhongwu Marquis, today the Korean envoy entered Beijing, I guess it is related to the Jurchens." ”

Jia Jue was stunned for a moment and asked, "When did the North Korean envoy come, and why didn't the imperial court receive the report in advance?" ”

"They arrived at the port of Tianjin by boat from Dagukou, and the Ministry of Rites only got the news yesterday."

"Crossing the sea?"

Jia Jue smiled, "It seems that the Jurchens have harmed them a lot." ”

Chen Zurong nodded: "It is estimated that most of the places close to the Daming side have fallen into the hands of the Jurchens." ”

Jia Lian next to him asked curiously, "Jurchen?" Didn't the Liaodong Dusi say that the Jurchens had been exterminated? ”

Chen Zurong smiled: "The Liaodong Metropolitan Division said that the Jurchens in the jurisdiction were exterminated, and as for them who crossed the border and fled to North Korea, it has nothing to do with them. ”

"This, this ....."

Jia Lian couldn't help but glance at Jia Jue, understanding that this matter must have something to do with a few of them.

Chen Zurong smiled again: "In fact, the imperial court has never taken the vassal state of Korea into account, after all, it is too poor and has no great value. Maybe the old man is right, you can use it to cross the sea to conquer the Japanese and solve the Japanese trouble once and for all. It's just that the imperial court hasn't sent officials into Korea for more than a hundred years, let alone the far south, and we don't know anything about what the situation is there. Inquiries from the North Korean mission are the quickest way. If you feel the need for it, then I can arrange it. ”

Jia Jue did not immediately answer Chen Zurong's words, his words reminded Jia Jue that the military's understanding of North Korea is through the archives transferred from Jinling, these are all donated by the Korean mission during the Hongwu period, it has been two hundred years since now, no one knows how much error there will be, the best way is to send someone to the field to investigate, as for the mouth of the North Korean mission, it is also a good way, they are very well-behaved in the face of the suzerain.

Jia Jue thought for a moment and said, "I will discuss this matter with my husband, and I am not in a hurry anyway." ”

Chen Zurong smiled and said: "We are not in a hurry, I'm afraid that North Korea will not be able to withstand it!" The Jurchens who entered Korea were estimated to be about 30,000, except for a small number of children, the rest could directly participate in the battle, and it was estimated that the soldiers in North Korea could not even defend the city. I don't know if the North Korean royal family is already on the way to Daming for refuge. ”

"That's not a good thing." Jia Jue replied calmly: "Da Ming has the endless glory and wealth they have enjoyed all their lives, and here, they will not have any troubles, which no number of people can ask for." ”

Chen Zurong and Jia Lian glanced at each other and said: "We are all from the military, I am in favor of this kind of thing that benefits the country and the people, but you should also be considerate of me, after all, it is your duty.....

"It's okay, you can report this matter to Your Majesty now."

Chen Zurong was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly asked, "Aren't you worried that Your Majesty will oppose this matter?" ”

Jia Jue is still as calm as water: "After a big battle in the southeast, the military salary was as high as three million taels, and everyone knows how to calculate this account. Besides, we are recovering the lost territory for the vassal state, and as for the future, who can say. I wonder if some people are also eyeing the barren land of North Korea. ”

Chen Zurong and Jia Lian asked in unison, "Who is it?" ”

Jia Jue raised his head and looked into the distance: "I'll go back tonight and ask God, and I'll tell you tomorrow." After speaking, he strode towards the outside of the palace.

Chen Zurong was stunned, and Jia Lian was also stunned.

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

Shui Rong paced back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back, and said to the butler and the chief guard: "I'm not afraid! Why are you in a hurry? ”

Butler: "That's not what the old slave meant. If it weren't for the fact that the king of Yizhong County voluntarily stayed in the imperial tomb to guard the spirit of the first emperor, he would have made the prince leave Shenjing City even if he committed a taboo....."

Shui Rong: "Then what are you in a hurry?!" ”

Chief of the guard: "The minions are worried about Zhou Kun, that kid is in the dark." If you can't keep it, you will tell Li Yi about it. If Your Majesty knows about this, you can ......"

Hearing this, Shui Rong couldn't help but be a little anxious, although he understood that the military would save his life, but he would definitely be imprisoned, so it was better to die vigorously and go back and forth more urgently.

The housekeeper spoke again: "There is news from the Chamber of Commerce, Zhang Fu's concubine Zhang Yansheng has indeed gone to sea, and I heard that the nursing home arranged by Zhang Fu has occupied a large island in Nanyang, and the natives on it are not vulnerable at all. As he spoke, he took out a nautical chart from his sleeve, handed it to Shui Rong, and then said: "Since last year, Zhang Yansheng has sent people to recruit displaced people from all over the country to go to sea, and the place in Nanyang is big.

With our strength, we can occupy a larger island, and then find a way to recruit Han people from the Ming Dynasty, and even the prince can establish a country in the future. When the Central Plains is in turmoil, we can go straight to Huanglong by sea. ”

Shui Rong was a little moved when he heard this, and looked at the navigation chart in his hand, maybe it was a good choice to go to sea.

The chief of the guard continued: "The ships of the emperor and the Jia family at the Jinling Shipyard are almost finished. ”

Shui raised his head in dissolution, and his eyes shone brightly: "Yes! That's it! ”

After a pause, "We can't just leave in disgrace, no matter what, we have to leave a big gift for the emperor!" ”

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

Towards the end of the Shen time, a not very long line entered the Yongding Gate, because this is the first vassal state to come to the Hajj after the Ming Dynasty changed the Yuan, the imperial court still attaches great importance to it, therefore, the official who went to meet the Korean mission is also of higher status, it is Li Nan, the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites appointed by Zhu Wucheng Jianba.

The chief envoy of the North Korean mission is called Kim Zhixiu, who is the left politician of North Korea, equivalent to the cabinet scholar of the Ming Dynasty, this person has a gentle appearance, can speak fluent Daming official dialect, and has a very high quality, and he is very modest in the face of Li Nan, the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, who came to greet him, and has the attitude of a small people to meet high-ranking officials, which makes Li Nan very satisfied and has a good impression of him.

"Lord Li, the last time Xia Guan came to Shenjing was twenty-five years ago, after paying homage to the holy face of His Majesty the Great Emperor, in Lord Shoufu, oh, at that time, Lord Shoufu was only edited by the Hanlin Academy, under the guidance of Lord Shoufu, Xia Guan appreciated the prosperity of Shenjing City, especially the lantern exhibition of the Shangyuan Festival, which is really unforgettable."

Jin Zhixiu looked at the bustling flow of people on Yongdingmen Street, his thoughts flickered, and he couldn't help but think of the events of the past, and muttered: "The fairyland on earth is nothing more than that!" ”

Li Nan said with a smile: "It would be good if the gold envoy came a month earlier, this year's Shangyuan Lantern Festival, and the change of the yuan, Yongdingmen Street to Zhengyangmen Street held a grand lantern exhibition, which is much more wonderful than 25 years ago, but unfortunately no one painted this scene." ”

Kim Ji-so: "Oh? That's a shame....."

Li Nan smiled again: "Actually, there is no pity, Daming is getting stronger and stronger now, Shenjing will be more and more prosperous, and next year's lantern exhibition will only be more colorful and dazzling." It's a pity that the gold envoy can't see it again. ”

Jin Zhixiu laughed dryly twice and said: "If it weren't for the drag of the family, Xia Guan would have resigned from this position, settled in the Celestial Empire, appreciated the customs of the suzerain, and enjoyed this prosperous world." After speaking, he sighed, shook his head and said, "It's a pity that God didn't give me this fate." ”

“.....”

Li Nan looked at him for a while, and said: "It's been hard all the way, please make the gold master!" ”

"Master Li, please!"

The North Korean mission continued to move forward and went straight to the protocol house, where the Ministry of Rites had already arranged a room, a set of small courtyards with two entrances, knowing that they were tired all the way, and the room had specially prepared hot water.

Kim Ji-so had just settled down and didn't even have time to eat, so he rushed to the Ministry of Rites with a letter of help from the king of Joseon.

Looking at Jin Zhixiu, who was dressed as a civilian, the officials discussed for a while.

The Messenger Office walked out: "Please! ”

"Thank you!"

Kim Ji-so held the letter from the king of Joseon high above the top and walked towards the hall of the Ministry of Rites.

"Under the order of the king of the county, Jin Zhixiu brought a letter written by the king of the county to ask for help, asking His Majesty the Emperor to send heavenly soldiers to rescue His Majesty's people. Long live His Majesty the Great Emperor, long live! ”

Kim Ji-so held up the letter box and fell to his knees.

The corners of Chen Zurong's mouth twitched, so he had to get up and take the letter box from Jin Zhixiu's hand, glanced at it, and gently put it on the eucalyptus, stroked his beard and smiled: "Lord Jin, please get up quickly!" ”

"Xiaguan Jin Zhixiu meets Lord Shangshu!" Kim Zhixiu bowed respectfully, and then got up.

Chen Zurong nodded with satisfaction: "Please take a seat." Then he said to the secretary next to him: "Tea!" ”

The secretary brought hot tea to Kim Ji-so.

Jin Zhixiu bowed: "Lord Shangshu, the military situation is like fire, please submit the letter of request for help from the king of the county to His Majesty the Emperor as soon as possible." ”

Chen Zurong took a sip of the tea bowl on the coffee table next to him, put it down, and then spoke, "Don't worry, the letter from the king of the county will definitely be presented to His Majesty's royal eucalyptus." ”

Kim Zhixiu was surprised at first, his face was a little ugly, and he said urgently: "The people of North Korea are in dire straits, and I ask Lord Shangshu to show mercy!" ”

"I understand your heart." Chen Zurong thought for a while, and then began to answer him: "But you also have to be sympathetic to the imperial court." ”

The little light that had just appeared in Kim Zhixiu's eyes was immediately dimmed by his last words.

Chen Zurong: "I'll give you some answers." The southern frontier of the Ming Dynasty was on fire, and the country of Annan was ready to move, and the year ago it brazenly invaded the territory of the Ming Dynasty, although the 20,000 people and horses of the country of Annan who entered the Ming Dynasty were all annihilated, but the country of Annan was still not dead, and was still looking for an opportunity to retaliate against the Ming Dynasty. The imperial court is mobilizing troops and horses to prepare for the provocation of the Annam Kingdom, which will be a big war of hundreds of thousands of people. ”

Jin Zhixiu's unhappiness disappeared, and then he was a little curious: "A small Annan country, why does the Celestial Empire want to mobilize people?" ”

Chen Zurong said with a smile: "This is a battle to destroy the country, and the Ming Dynasty will re-collect the political envoy of Jiaozhi Chengxuan and get back the gift of the year." ”

Jin Zhixiu was a little surprised, these words were so grandiose, and Chen Zurong said it so decisively, understanding that Daming had made up his mind to destroy Annan, and he was stunned for a while.

Seeing that Jin Zhixiu was suppressed, Chen Zurong said warmly: "You are all the people of the Ming Dynasty, and the imperial court will not care, you should go back and prepare the materials as soon as possible, waiting for Your Majesty and the Ministry of War to inquire." ”

Kim Ji-so had no choice but to stand up slowly: "Okay! The lower official will go back and prepare the materials, and this side will trouble Lord Shangshu. ”