Kaifeng City is known as "Eight Provinces Tongheng", "Powerful as Two Beijings", which is extremely prosperous, so in the Ming Dynasty, Kaifeng City is full of palaces, it can be said that the city with the most kings of the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Jie, a native of the Ming Dynasty, once recorded in "Zhongzhou Miscellaneous": "In the Ming Dynasty, the Henan domains were the most horizontal, and there were seventy-two princes in Biancheng. ”

According to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty: the prince was named the prince, his eldest son inherited the title, and the rest of the heirs were demoted to the county king. The eldest son of the king of the county inherited the title, and the rest of the heirs were demoted to the rank of general of Zhenguo, and his grandson was an auxiliary general, and then he was demoted to the titles of general of Fengguo and lieutenant of Zhenguo.

It can be seen that the later Manchu Qing Dynasty criticized the Ming Dynasty for spending huge amounts of money and grain to support the Ming Dynasty royal family, which is actually suspected of smearing. The real cost of the Ming royal family is only the princes of various places, such as the king of Zhou in Kaifeng City. As for the rest of the royal heirs, the amount of money and food needed for support was gradually reduced, and in the end there was not much left.

Even at the end of the Ming Dynasty, in addition to the princes in various places, the rest of the royal heirs, such as county kings, generals, and captains, were often in arrears, or even cut off directly.

Compared with the later Manchu Qing Dynasty, which spent money and grain to distribute hardcore crops to the Manchus, in fact, the cost of supporting the royal family in the Ming Dynasty was lower.

At this time, Liu Yan and Henan governor Gao Mingheng and deputy general Chen Yongfu went to the palace of King Zhou, and Gao Mingheng chattered endlessly along the way, constantly introducing to Liu Yan the situation of the kings in Kaifeng City, especially the situation of King Zhou, for fear that Liu Yan and King Zhou would fall out.

Originally, Gao Mingheng and Chen Yongfu didn't want to come, but as soon as Liu Yan entered the city, the two made up their minds to "take a back seat", how could the two of them be willing to get involved in this kind of thing that offended the vassal king.

It's just that Liu Yan came to the door early in the morning, and after only saying a word, the two obediently followed: "Our army will win this battle, if you don't want such a merit, you can not go with me today." ”

On the battlefield of Henan, Lu Xiangsheng and Fu Zonglong, the two governors died in battle, and the war situation was so corrupt, with the style of Emperor Chongzhen, after the war, Gao Mingheng and Chen Yongfu were mostly dead, even if they held Kaifeng Mansion, the best result for the two was to lose their officials and go to prison, and they would take off their skin if they didn't die

Therefore, following Liu Yan to defeat Li Zicheng's army was the lifesaver for the two.

So Liu Yan turned around and left after speaking, and Gao Mingheng and Chen Yongfu hurriedly ordered people to prepare horses to follow.

"Now in Kaifeng City, there are the King of Runan, the King of Shunyang, the King of Xin'an, the King of Yongning, the King of Ruyang, the King of Zhenping, the King of Fengqiu and so on. In fact, many of these feudal kings are not in Kaifeng Fucheng, but all over Henan, just because Kaifeng Fucheng is prosperous, and everyone is the prince of Zhou, so the king of Zhou in all dynasties has asked the court for grace, and after getting permission, these Zhou kings have successively built mansions in Kaifeng City and moved into the city. ”

"According to the "Henan General Chronicle" written during the Chenghua period, there were 19 county kings, 177 generals and lieutenants, 22 county lords, and 78 county lords......

And now, there are 45 palaces of the Zhou domain in the city of Kaifeng, of which the king of Zhou is the prince, and the palace is the largest. In addition, there are 40 county king's mansions and four Yibin mansions. ”

"In addition to these palaces, the mansions of generals, lieutenants, and guests of honor in the city are all over the city, at most more than 4,000, but now most of these clansmen have nothing to support, and they are no different from the rich people."

Liu Yan quietly listened to Gao Mingheng's introduction, and said secretly in his heart: "I didn't expect that the clansmen of the Ming Dynasty would have such a population at this time, and it is no wonder that the Manchu Dynasty slaughtered the clansmen of the Ming Dynasty after entering the customs, and almost turned over the entire China, but there are still a large number of Ming Dynasty clans that have survived, after all, the base is too large." ”

Then Gao Mingheng pointed to a tall and gorgeous archway in front of him, and said: "Mr. Liu, please see, that is the archway of the Zhou Wangfu, although there are still many private houses and shops in front, in fact, as long as the archway is passed, all the houses and shops are the property of the Zhou Wangfu, and those people and merchants are just the tenants of the Zhou Wangfu." ”

The corners of Liu Yan's eyes jumped, and there was almost a whole street behind the archway, which was almost the most prosperous area in Kaifeng City, which showed the wealth of King Zhou.

"If the princes everywhere are like this, it will be a huge gift package!"

Liu Yan suppressed the urge to "fight local tyrants" in his heart, and then pointed to a building in front of him and asked, "Where is the purpose, not a private house, not a shop?" ”

Gao Mingheng said: "Liu Zongbing looks at the plaque there, on this street, but wherever it is written: King Zhou offers four words, it is a place to serve the palace of King Zhou." In addition, there are ice cellars, charcoal factories, official factories, water shelters, Shizifu, Shisun Mansions, Zongshuoyuan, Incense Courtyard, etc., all of which serve the King of Zhou. ”

Liu Yan frowned slightly, the vassal king of the Ming Dynasty had money, food, and status, but he used his resources for pleasure. If such a huge amount of money and grain is used for state affairs, then on the battlefield of Liaodong, even if it is smashed with silver, it can smash the wild boar skin into a "pig-killing dish"!

"Mr. Liu, please take a look,"

Gao Mingheng interrupted Liu Yan's thoughts, pointed to a gorgeous palace in front of him, and said, "That's the Zhou Palace." ”

According to the introduction of Gao Mingheng, the Zhou Wangfu in Kaifeng City was built on the site of the imperial palace of the Song Dynasty, composed of two city walls inside and outside, the outer wall is also called Xiao Wall, two zhang high, centipede wood suppression, covered with glazed tiles, around nine miles and thirty steps, to the south is the noon gate, the east to open the Donghua gate, the west to open the Xihua gate, the north to open the Houzai gate, the whole is the scope of the Song Dynasty palace.

The inner city wall of the palace of the king of Zhou is five zhang high, there are battlements on it, there are trenches dug around, there are doors on all sides, the south is the Duanli gate, the north is the Chengzhi gate, the east is the Liren gate, and the west is the Zunyi gate. The circumference of the inner city is about five miles, and it is the largest and most well-defended palace among the princes' mansions in various places at this time.

The three of them came to the south gate of the outer city of the Zhou Palace, handed over their respective names, and after the porter reported, it took a long time before the three of them were allowed to enter, but they had to walk, and a person with a knife led the way in front.

Entering the Zhou Palace, Gao Mingheng was still whispering to Liu Yan, after all, Gao Mingheng had been to the Zhou Palace, and he was very familiar with the situation here.

There are seventy-two wells in the palace of King Zhou alone, known as the seventy-two gods...... On the layers of palace gates and temples, the bucket furniture is covered with copper wire mesh, called the windbreaker, and there is a white stone side under it, which is called the foot stone, and takes the meaning of abundant clothing and sufficient food.

In the palace of the king of Zhou, with the main gate, the main hall, the wing building, the dormitory, the dormitory, the back building as the central axis, the huge palace house, along this central axis layout, left and right symmetry, magnificent.

Liu Yan and the other three walked for a moment, meandering along the corridor in the palace, and only arrived at the main hall, which shows the scale of the Zhou Palace.

After another report, Liu Yan, Gao Mingheng, and Chen Yongfu entered the main hall, and saw Zhu Gongyao, the king of Zhou, wearing a python robe, with a jade belt on his waist very conspicuous, sitting upright and looking at a book.

"Hehe, it's Gao Futai and Vice General Chen, oh? Who is this? ”

Zhu Gongyu smiled and beckoned the three of them to sit down, looking very kind, but Gao Mingheng and Chen Yongfu did not dare to go over, first saluted respectfully, and then Gao Mingheng introduced: "Your Royal Highness Qiqi, this is the chief military officer of Qinglai Town, Dingyu Bo Liu Yan, the emperor ordered to lead tens of thousands of elite new troops to reinforce Kaifeng, he just entered the city last night, and he came to meet His Highness today!" ”

Liu Yan also clasped his fists and saluted, because he was wearing armor, so he did not bow.

Zhu Gongyu stood up in surprise when he heard this, and said, "Isn't it the battle of Julu and Jinan, Liu Yan, who hit the slaves and thieves hard?" ”

Liu Yan laughed in his heart, this Zhu Gongyu has seen too much of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and he has a flavor of the Three Kingdoms when he speaks.

"His Royal Highness, it is the last general!"

Chen Yongfu took the opportunity to say: "Your Highness doesn't know that General Liu led his troops to withdraw from the front line of Jinzhou in eastern Liaodong to reinforce Kaifeng. When General Liu was on the front line in Jinzhou, he made great achievements and beheaded more than 9,000 slaves and thieves, so he was named Dingyubo by His Majesty! ”

Zhu Gongyu was even more shocked when he heard this, and he walked quickly down the platform on the main hall in excitement, came to Liu Yan, looked Liu Yan up and down, and said: "The general is really a god!" Today I am fortunate to get acquainted with the general, this king is very fortunate, if he does not give up in the future, this king is willing to tide over the difficulties with the general, and protect the city together! ”

Liu Yan felt a few black lines floating over his head at this time, the book that King Zhou read just now must be the Romance of the Three Kingdoms!

"Hehe, Your Highness understands the righteousness, and the last general will definitely protect the city and fight with Li Chuang and the thief to the end!"

"Good!"

Zhu Gongyu laughed, and ordered the wine banquet to be prepared left and right, leaving Liu Yan, Gao Mingheng, and Chen Yongfu to eat in the mansion.

At this time, Liu Yan said with a smile: "The banquet is not in a hurry for the time being, since His Highness mentioned the matter of defending Kaifeng Mansion City, the last general also happens to have important matters to discuss with His Highness." ”

"Hehe, General Liu, Gao Futai, and Vice General Chen are all pillars ......of the imperial court, there are three of them, Kaifeng City is solid, this king and the people of the city, it is really a blessing for three lives"

When Liu Yan saw that Zhu Gongyu was starting to do Tai Chi, he put away the smile on his face and said, "Your Highness! ”

This sound made Gao Mingheng and Chen Yongfu secretly scream badly, and desperately gave Liu Yan a look. And Zhu Gongqi looked displeased, returned to the throne with a sneer, and said: "I didn't see it, Liu Zongbing's temper is quite rushed. ”

Liu Yan clenched his fists and said: "Since the last general has been ordered to fight against Li Chuang's thief, he must do his best, and please understand." ”

Later, Liu Yan explained the rationing system and other regulations formulated by himself, hoping that Zhu Gongfang, the king of Zhou, would abide by it and contribute money and food to support the war. As long as Zhu Gongfang, the king of Zhou, takes the lead, all the Zhou clan relatives in Kaifeng Mansion will follow with the money and grain, and the people in the city will have hope of life.

"Humph!"

Zhu Gong's face was blue, and he said: "General Liu can ask Gao Futai and Deputy General Chen, whether this king has already taken out a large amount of money and grain to reward the army, and even the young and strong people in the city who defend the city are recruited from this king!" The treasury of my Zhou Wangfu is already empty, and General Liu is still struggling with each other, if this reaches the Beijing Division, I am afraid that it will cause an uproar in the government and the opposition, and even His Majesty will look sideways! ”

After speaking, Zhu Gongfang got up and was about to leave, but at this moment, under the stunned gaze of Gao Mingheng and Chen Yongfu, Liu Yan strode forward, rushed to Zhu Gongfang's body in three steps and two steps, grabbed his left hand, and grabbed it hard, Zhu Gongqiao suddenly felt pain.

"Mr. Liu, don't be rude!"

Gao Mingheng was so frightened that he almost sat on the ground, that is the prince of today, how dare Liu Yan?

Chen Yongfu also let out an "oops", and hurriedly ran over to grab Liu Yan, but was glared at by Liu Yan, and he couldn't take a step at that time, neither advancing nor retreating, and he was extremely embarrassed.

Zhu Gongyu sweated on his forehead in pain, only felt that his left hand was almost broken, and said loudly: "I am the prince today, how dare you ...... a general military officer?"

"Why wouldn't I dare!"

Liu Yan said sharply: "Now this town is ordered by the emperor to rush to Henan, and now this town is the supreme general of Henan, and all wars in Henan are decided by this town!" Now Henan is in a wartime state, everything is to win the Liukou army as the first priority, any interference in the war, do not listen to orders, are regarded as collaborators, the town can implement military law on it, even the prince is no exception! ”

"Today's matter, this town is informing, not requesting, and please ask Your Highness to do it yourself!"

Zhu Gongqi was completely dumbfounded, he didn't expect Liu Yan to dare to do this, and turned his face directly with himself: "You dare to touch me?" I am not afraid of the emperor's condemnation! ”

Liu Yan said coldly: "This town is very sure that it can defeat Li Zicheng and recover the lost territory in Henan. When the time comes, on the day of the triumph of the army, I, Liu Yan, have made outstanding achievements, and the soldiers and horses under my command are invincible in the world, do you guess the emperor believes in me or you? ”

Some people died, but not completely......