Forty years of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty, late June.

Huguang Province, outside Wuchang Mansion, inside the Ming army camp.

Outside the Chinese army tent, Shi Bangxian and other Ming army generals were wearing helmets and armor, standing on both sides of the Chinese army tent.

Near the camp, there were heavily armed armor soldiers everywhere, and an atmosphere of solemnity gradually spread in the camp.

After the imperial court delivered the last batch of heavy grain and grass and new weapons to Huguang Province, Feng Yue, the governor of Huguang, began to gather his generals and troops.

'Da Da Da-'

I only heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance, and in a short time, a group of cavalry was already coming towards the Chinese camp.

Among them, the most conspicuous is a war horse under Feng Yue, the hair on the war horse's body is chestnut as a whole, in addition, on the horse's head, there is a small handful of white hair.

Today's Feng Yue has taken off the civilian robe he wore in the past, but put on armor and is fully armed.

At this moment, the literati temperament on his body has long disappeared, and has been replaced by a solemn atmosphere.

After all, the civil officials of the Ming Dynasty have never lacked the courage to go into battle to kill the enemy!

The many Ming army generals waiting on both sides of the Chinese army's tent, as well as those armor soldiers around them, saw Feng Yue's arrival, and immediately bowed their heads and said in a deep voice.

"I've seen the Governor!"

"Hmm."

Then, I saw Feng Yue get off the horse, holding a whip in one hand and pressing a sword in the other, and responded imperceptibly, and then walked into the Chinese military camp tent.

After Feng Yue walked into the camp tent of the Chinese army, the generals of the Ming army who were waiting on the side earlier entered the camp tent in batches according to their rank and rank.

In the tent of the Chinese military camp, there is a huge map, on which the mountains and rivers in Banzhou are clearly marked, as well as every city.

After Feng Yue sat on the main seat, the generals who later entered the camp of the Chinese army also stood on both sides.

Feng Yue looked around, and after seeing that everyone had arrived, he nodded and asked instead.

"At present, is there any news from the third road of Sichuan Division and the second road of Qianshi?"

As soon as Feng Yue's words fell, he saw a general stand up and said in a deep voice.

"Your Excellency, three days ago, on two of the three roads of the Sichuan Division, the chief soldier Chen Lan and the deputy general Cao Xibin have commanded 25,000 soldiers and horses and set off according to the established route!"

"In addition, there is also news from the general soldier Wu Guang that the army's grain and grass are heavy, and there is still a little shortage, and only after the fundraising is completed, can it be set off!"

"As for the Qianshi Division, the 30,000 soldiers and horses commanded by the general Li Yingxiang and the general Tan Jian have also officially set off and marched in the direction of Xinglong."

Feng Yue, who was sitting on the main seat, couldn't help frowning after listening to the general's report, and commanded in a cold voice.

"Bastard, you dare to use raising food and grass as an excuse to delay time, you immediately send someone to send a message to the chief soldier Wu Guang, telling him that if the fighter plane is delayed, this official will definitely go to the court and remove him from his post for investigation!"

When the general heard Feng Yue's words, his expression immediately turned grim and he said in a deep voice.

"Yes, Governor!"

After that, I saw Feng Yue turn around, glance at the many generals present, and then speak.

"Not long ago, the imperial court has officially announced the document for asking for thieves, and it has been sent to the whole country through the post station, and someone will come and bring it up!"

"Yes, Governor!"

The voice fell, and soon a soldier stepped forward and carefully took out the thief's inscription.

Feng Yue looked at the words written on the thief's letter, and couldn't help but feel a burst of excitement, and then, he saw him pick up the thief's document and read it in a deep voice to the many generals in the Chinese army's tent.

"Since ancient times, emperors have ruled the world, all of which have been in China to control Yidi, and Yidi has lived outside to serve China, and I have not heard of Yidi living in China and controlling the world!"

"Banzhou Yang's family, respect the remnants of thieves, credit traitors, kill loyalty, exploit the people, gain weight and collect, and even the people cry out in the market, the dead are exposed, the living are scattered, orphaned women, and exiled!"

"Banzhou Yang's family, ignoring Gangchang, deliberately rebelling, and doing such perverse things, has long been the anger of heaven and resentment!"

"I take the responsibility of defending the land, with the heart of loving the people, raise the army of benevolence and righteousness, punish the unruly, break the enemy, and send this document to recruit it!"

"Whoever is the head of Yang Lie, the consolation envoy of Banzhou, will be rewarded with 5,000 gold and promoted by two levels, and those who are the head of Yang Lie's sons will be rewarded with 3,000 gold and promoted to one level!"

When the many generals in the camp tent heard that as long as they could win the head of Yang Lie, the envoy of Banzhou, they would be rewarded with five thousand gold, and after being promoted by two levels, their breathing couldn't help but become short.

As for the crimes committed by the Banzhou Yang clan, they didn't care, at this moment, they only knew one thing, as long as they won the head of Yang Lie, the Banzhou Propaganda Envoy, from now on, they would be able to soar and prosper!

After Feng Yue finished reading out the text of the thief, the faces of the generals present were already full of eagerness, and at this moment, they were eager to immediately lead the army and rush to Banzhou.

"This official has finished reading out the document issued by the imperial court to fight against thieves, and I hope that you will be able to fight bravely in the next step to save the local people of Dawn in Banzhou, in the midst of fire and water!"

When Feng Yue's words fell, the generals in the camp tent of the Chinese army all bowed their heads and answered in a deep voice.

"Yes, Governor!"

"Hmm."

When Feng Yue heard this, he replied imperceptibly, and after looking around, he immediately commanded.

"Okay, now pass on the order of the official, Shi Bangxian will lead 20,000 soldiers and horses as the vanguard, this officer will lead 30,000 soldiers and horses as the middle army, and the remaining 10,000 soldiers and horses will be used as the rear army, and immediately march to Sangmu Pass!"

"Yes, Governor!"

When many of the generals in the Chinese military camp tent heard Feng Yue's words, they did not stop for the slightest, and all of them took orders to leave.

At this moment, their mood is extremely excited, because the next flat broadcast battle will be used as their stepping step.

Soon, the order of Feng Yue, the governor of Huguang, was passed down by word of mouth among officers at all levels.

After that, the army personally commanded by Feng Yue, the governor of Huguang, marched towards the destination through the official road.

The sound of horses' hooves resounded endlessly on the official road, and when viewed from mid-air, it was a black torrent with no end in sight, sweeping away into the distance.

I saw Shi Bangxian withdraw his gaze from the endless road in the distance, and then tightened the reins of the war horse under him, and instructed the officers on the side.

"General Chuanben's order, immediately send scouts to the front to find out the news!"

"Yes, General!"

……

Just as the army commanded by Feng Yue was marching towards the destination, the capital on the other side was not very calm.

Although the imperial court's essay on thieves has been released for a while, the popularity has not diminished, and it seems to have become the hottest topic in the capital at the moment.

Prior to this, except for the cabinet and the officials responsible for transporting baggage, grain and grass, there were not many officials in the DPRK and China who knew about this matter at all, so when the imperial court officially issued a document begging for thieves, it caused countless officials to be shocked.

After all, in this battle, the number of troops dispatched reached as many as 130,000!

Even when the imperial court was exterminating the Japanese in the southeast coastal area, it did not dispatch so many troops.

Despite this, some officials in the DPRK and China still complained about this, believing that this move would be a waste of national funds and that the previous policy should be followed, with appeasement as the main thing.

Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

At this moment, Jiajing was sitting on the dragon chair, listening to the report from Lu Fang.

"Your Majesty, not long ago, there was news from the Ordnance Division that they had opened several workshops near the capital and recruited enough craftsmen, and right now, they are making flintlock pistols with all their might!"

"Well, I know!"

After listening to Lu Fang's report, Jiajing nodded, and turned to command.

"Lu Fang, the weather is good today, let's go out with me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After Lu Fang responded, he immediately followed Jiajing's steps and walked out of the Qianqing Palace, followed by a large number of eunuchs and palace maids who served them.

At this moment, the sun is shining outside, and the sun is shining on people, making people feel a little hot.

"Well, it looks like it's going to heat up soon!"

I saw Jiajing retract his gaze from a distance, stroked his forehead, and said with emotion.

"Your Majesty doesn't have to worry, last winter, the slave maid had already ordered someone to transport a large amount of ice cubes and store them in the ice cellar, it shouldn't be a problem to spend this summer, and in addition, the imperial dining room is also preparing iced sour plum soup!"

"Well, Lu Fang, it's still thoughtful!"

Hearing this, Jiajing glanced at Lu Fang and said with emotion.

"Your Majesty is serious, these are what slaves and maids should do!"

When Lu Fang, who was on the side, heard Jiajing's words, a look of humility suddenly appeared on his face, and he said respectfully.

Afterwards, Jiajing and Lu Fang followed the path paved with stone slabs and came to a garden.

Unlike the previous green appearance, at this moment, there are many unnamed flowers in the garden, which are already in bloom, and you don't need to smell it carefully to smell a refreshing fragrance of flowers.

"Let's rest here for a while, I'm a little tired!"

Then, I saw Jiajing pointing to the stone table not far away and commanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After Lu Fang responded, he immediately followed Jiajing's steps and came to the stone table, and then saw Jiajing sitting down on the stone bench next to the stone table.

Seeing this, the eunuchs and palace maids behind them immediately stepped forward and placed the jade-like cyan teapot on the stone table with the teacup, in addition to a few plates of extraordinarily delicate snacks.

Immediately, I saw Jiajing pick up the teapot on the stone table and pour a cup of hot tea for himself and Lu Fang.

After doing this, I saw Jiajing glancing at Lu Fang and commanded.

"Sit down, drink tea with me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Regarding Jiajing's request, Lu Fang did not have the slightest intention of refusing, and sat down directly opposite Jiajing.

After Jiajing took a sip from the teacup, he picked up a piece of mung bean cake and put it in his mouth.

"Well, this mung bean cake tastes pretty good, it seems that there has been growth over there in the imperial dining room, Lu Fang, you can taste it!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Jiajing's words fell, and Lu Fang also picked up a piece of mung bean cake and put it in his mouth, and then couldn't help but praise.

"Your Majesty, that's right, it seems that the imperial dining room has indeed grown!"

When Jiajing heard Lu Fang's words, he sneered and immediately spoke.

"This is natural, if there is no further growth in the imperial dining room, I will have to consider changing a new batch of imperial chefs!"

After that, I saw Jiajing turn his gaze to Lu Fang, and then asked.

"By the way, Lu Fang, have the officials who have complained a lot about my dispatch of troops recently?"

"Your Majesty, as far as the slave maid knows, those officials have been rectified by Yan Ge Lao, and now they are all obedient, and they don't dare to talk about this matter anymore!"

As soon as Jiajing's words fell, Lu Fang on the side responded without thinking.

After listening to Lu Fang's report, Jiajing nodded imperceptibly, and then sighed with emotion.

"Yan Song is good at this, there are some things, I don't need to tell me, he did it for me himself!"

After finishing his emotion, I saw Jiajing withdraw his gaze from Lu Fang's body, look at the flowers in the garden that were competing to open, and then pretended to inadvertently mention it in front of Lu Fang.

"Summer is just around the corner, and the rainy season is coming, so I'm a little worried about whether the dams I built earlier will survive the rainy season."

Lu Fang, who was on the side, heard Jiajing's words, and after hesitating for a long time, he spoke cautiously.

"Your Majesty, it's not a secret, the slave has found out some news in recent days!"

"Oh, Lu Fang, what did you find?"

When Jiajing heard this, a look of curiosity suddenly appeared on his face, he looked at Lu Fang, and asked in a hurry.

Lu Fang gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice after sensing Jiajing's gaze falling on him.

"Your Majesty, the old Yan Shifan of the small pavilion has been sending people to secretly strengthen and repair the embankment near the Yellow River, its project is so large that it costs as much as two silver, it is far from what is presented in the report!"

"According to the slave's estimate, the manpower spent in the whole process, as well as the silver taels spent, are enough to tear down all the embankments that were originally built near the Yellow River!"

After listening to Lu Fang's report, Jiajing couldn't help but be interested, only to see him raise his eyebrows and continue to ask.

"Oh, who was in charge of building the near the Yellow River in the first place?"

"Your Majesty, the people who were responsible for presiding over the construction of the embankment near the Yellow River were Zhao Wenhua, Yan Maoqing, and Li Xuan, the river supervisor!"

Regarding Jiajing's inquiry, Lu Fang didn't dare to hide it in the slightest, so she had to tell everything she knew.

After saying this, Lu Fang seemed to be quite nervous, and her body began to tremble slightly uncontrollably, and fine sweat oozed from her forehead.

"Zhao Wenhua, Yan Maoqing, Li Xuan!"

Jiajing silently recited the names of these three people in his heart, and immediately came back to his senses, looked at Lu Fang on the side, and said with a smile.

"Zhao Wenhua and Yan Maoqing are Yan Song's people, Li Xuan is Yang Jinshui's godson, and Yang Jinshui is your Lu Fang's godson, if you say this to me, aren't you afraid that I will be angry with you?"

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, a trace of panic suddenly flashed on his face, and he knelt on the ground tremblingly, and said in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, it is true that Yang Jinshui is the godson of the slave, and the crimes he committed are also too numerous to mention!"

"The slave and maid can have today, all depend on Your Majesty, even if Yang Jinshui is the godson of the slave and maid, the slave and maid have no ...... to cover up"

Before Lu Fang's words were finished, I saw a warm smile on Jiajing's face, and I saw him lean down and personally help Lu Fang up from the ground.

"Okay, Lu Fang, don't say it anymore, I understand what you mean!"

After lifting Lu Fang up from the ground, Jiajing looked Lu Fang up and down for a while, and said slowly.

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, an expression of the rest of his life suddenly appeared on his face.

Then, Jiajing's slightly relieved voice sounded in Lu Fang's ears again.

"Lu Fang, I am very pleased that you can take the risk and tell me this!"

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, a look of gratitude suddenly appeared on his face, and he said respectfully.

"Your Majesty...... Your Majesty, slave maid ......"

Jiajing seemed to have guessed what Lu Fang was going to say next, and waved his hand, signaling that he didn't have to continue.

Seeing this, Lu Fang paused for a moment before he stepped forward and cautiously asked Jiajing.

"Your Majesty...... Your Majesty, how do you plan to handle this matter? ”

When Jiajing heard Lu Fang's words, he glanced at him quite indifferently, and then spoke.

"Now that they've started to make amends, I'll turn a blind eye and act as if nothing happened!"

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

Seeing that Jiajing had already made a decision, Lu Fang on the side immediately looked grim and replied in a deep voice.

Lu Fang knew very well in her heart that the reason why Jiajing chose to turn a blind eye to this matter was because Jiajing still needed Yan Song's father and son at the moment, and needed them to deter hundreds of officials for him and complete those things that were inconvenient to complete.

"Your Majesty's scheming methods are really perfect, everyone is firmly under His Majesty's control, obediently doing things for him, and then implementing his will!"

Lu Fang thought so, and looked at Jiajing with more and more reverence.

Just as Lu Fang's thoughts were flying, Jiajing's voice without a trace of emotion sounded in his ears.

"Let's go, Lu Fang, accompany me for another good walk!"

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, he suddenly came back to his senses, immediately bowed his head and bowed, and responded respectfully.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

……

On the other side, the capital, Yanfu.

After the duty, Yan Song, Yan Shifan, father and son, did not stop at all, and went straight to the sedan chair and returned to Yan's mansion.

At the gate of the Yan Mansion, as usual, there were many officials and scholars who came to visit, as well as scholars who thought that they had no talent and wanted to be introduced by the old court.

Yan Shifan has long been accustomed to this situation, and at this moment, he has been able to look at these people with a normal heart like his father Yan Song.

I saw Yan Shifan retract his gaze, put down the sedan curtain, and said to the sedan chair driver.

"It's still the old rule, go through the side door!"

"Yes, Little Pavilion Elder!"

Soon, the sedan chair that Yan Song, Yan Shifan and his son were riding entered Yan's mansion through the side door.

After Yan Song's sedan chair stopped, Yan Shifan still stepped forward as usual and carefully supported Yan Song.

"Father, slow down and pay more attention to your step!"

"Hmm."

Yan Song responded, and did not refuse Yan Shifan's support, and the father and son slowly marched towards Yan's study.

On the way to the study, I saw Yan Song pause suddenly, turned around, looked at Yan Shifan on the side, and admonished.

"Yan Shifan, then you keep a good eye on those people for me, if they dare to chew their tongues behind their backs, you can watch it!"

After listening to Yan Song's advice, Yan Shifan immediately responded without thinking.

"Yes, father, the child knows what to do next!"

Yan Shifan still seemed to be a little indignant when he said this, and then added.

"Hmph, now that the treasury is abundant, what is the cost of a few million taels of silver?"

"Your Majesty's move can be described as far-sighted, and it kills multiple birds with one stone!"

"The imperial court sent troops to broadcast flat, not only can greatly deter those Tusi who have evil intentions, but also can carry the power of victory to implement the reform of the land in the southwest, and appoint the flow of officials to rule, at that time, the taxes that the imperial court can collect will also be significantly increased!"

When Yan Song heard this, he also followed Yan Shifan's words and expressed his agreement.

"In any case, it is much better to leave the local area to us civil officials to govern than those toasts!"

After this, I saw Yan Song turn his words, withdraw his gaze from Yan Shifan's body, and ask instead.

"By the way, Yan Shifan, it looks like it's going to be summer, how is the work of repairing and reinforcing the dikes near the Yellow River going?"

"Father, everything is going well at the moment, before the rainy season comes, the embankments near the Yellow River should be able to be fully reinforced!"

When Yan Shifan heard this, after thinking for a while, he immediately responded without thinking.

After listening to Yan Shifan's report, Yan Song couldn't help but have a trace of worry on his face, and immediately admonished.

"Well, you must be cautious, you must not let the news leak out, understand?"

"Yes, father, the child understands!"

At this moment, I saw the housekeeper come to Yan Song, Yan Shifan's father and son, lean down, and report respectfully.

"Elder Yan Ge, here is a handwritten letter sent to you by your student Hu Zongxian!"

After the butler finished speaking, he carefully took the letter out of his sleeve and handed it to Yan Song.

"Oh, Hu Ruzhen's letter?"

After listening to the butler's report, Yan Song immediately came to his senses, only to see him stretch out his thin hand and take the envelope from the butler's hand.

After this, Yan Song couldn't help but speed up the pace of his feet and entered the study of Yan Mansion.

After entering the study, I saw Yan Song sitting directly behind the bookcase, and couldn't wait to open the envelope and begin to carefully browse the contents on it.

Seeing this, Yan Shifan on the side had a worried look on his face, and then, after Yan Song finished reading the contents of the letter, he mustered up his courage and stepped forward to ask.

"Father, is there something wrong with Hu Zongxian writing to you?"

Yan Song seemed to be in a good mood at the moment, and saw him put aside the letter in his hand, looked in the direction where Yan Shifan was, and explained.

"Actually, it's not a big deal, Hu Zongxian mentioned in the letter that the local mulberry seedlings in Zhejiang are already approaching maturity!"

"In addition, he also said in the letter that when he arrives in the capital, he will come to the door in person and come to visit my teacher!"

When Yan Song said this, his face was full of relief, but Yan Shifan on the side saw this situation, but there was an inexplicable emotion in his heart.

After all, right now, the expression on Yan Song's face was something he rarely saw on weekdays.

(End of chapter)