The sun had just set in the west, and Lu Xiangsheng and his guards had already entered the city of Changping. The city gate is a soldier who is strictly checking the pedestrians entering and leaving, and the order in the city is also stable, and all the ways to Jingqin Wang to help the division did not come, only the 10,000 cavalry he brought himself were stationed in the city and outside the city.

Entering the city, Lu Xiangsheng immediately ordered the Chinese army to summon all the generals and colonels of the whole army above 1,000 to the outside of the gate. Lu Xiangsheng was still dressed in a linen scarf, his unwashed face was solemn and firm, he drank wine in the sky, and loudly told his generals: "Brothers, everyone is used to seeing big battles with me, I won't say much nonsense, I think you all understand that the difficulties are so difficult, there are not many reinforcements, so I have to rely on the strength of the generals to destroy the arrogance of the East Prisoner first." If there is anyone who does not fight bravely to kill the enemy, don't blame me for Lu Jiandou's military law that will not forgive!"

Lu Xiangsheng's heart did not want him to be unmoved in the face of the current situation like his appearance, he thought that he had been robbed of his affection by strict orders, and the emperor urgently transferred his governor Tianxia Qinwang soldiers and horses, so that he was able to fulfill his ambitions, and served the country loyally to repay the emperor's kindness, and fought to the death with the Qing soldiers in the Gyeonggi area, so that the enemy did not dare to invade the Central Plains easily.

Lu Xiangsheng unexpectedly heard bad news as soon as he arrived in Changping, "It was rumored that it was Yang Sichang, the first assistant, and Gao Qiqian, the eunuch, who advocated peace with the eastern captives, and even did not hesitate to conclude an alliance under the city, and the whole capital was discussing this matter one after another." This made him very angry in his heart, and after he had stopped his men, he summoned his cronies and important generals to the hall of the governor's office.

At this time, the atmosphere in the hall was quite strange, and Lu Xiangsheng was ready to discuss with his generals how to make the troops rest for a while, and prepare to find an opportunity to engage the Tartars. However, after he finished deploying his combat policy, he saw that the generals in the hall bowed their heads and pondered, and no one came out to talk to him. There was a close aide of Lu Xiangsheng, who knew that the emperor was about to summon the marshal, so he asked cautiously at the instigation of the generals: "My lord, if Elder Yang Ge and the emperor ask what your lordship has on peace and war, I wonder how your lord will answer?"

Lu Xiangsheng stood up from the table without hesitation, he grasped the hilt of the saber with one hand and said angrily: "I, Lu, am deeply favored by the country, and I can't wait to fight and die with the Tartars! Today, when the enemy's army is unstable, I can only talk about war, how can I make peace!"

The atmosphere in the hall eased slightly, and the generals returned to their camps with uneasy hearts to prepare for the next battle. Lu Xiangsheng saw that everyone's faces were full of exhaustion, and he ordered his staff to disperse as soon as possible and seize the time to rest. At this moment, it was already the second watch weather, and Lu Xiangsheng's old servant Gu Xian, with his family member Li Qi, who took care of his daily life, came to serve him and let him go to bed well.

He rubbed his astringent eyes, slowly paced to the Taishi chair and sat down, Li Qi had already brought him warm foot washing water, and took off his boots and socks for Lu Xiangsheng, and soaked his feet in the wooden basin, Xiangsheng remembered that Li Qi's family had been with him for almost two years, and he had always served carefully, and had never been on a business trip. (The family of the Ming Dynasty scholar has always kept domestic slaves, especially in the south of the Yangtze River.) The offspring of a domestic slave is still a slave and is called a domestic child, unlike a slave who has been temporarily taken refuge or bought. ）

Thinking about the bloody battle that was about to break out, Lu Xiangsheng asked him, "Li Qi, I remember that your family lives in the eastern city of Jingshi?"

"Yes, sir. Li Qi lowered his head and replied in a low voice while drying the water droplets on Lu Xiangsheng's feet, and the old servant Gu Xian made up the bed cover for Lu Xiangsheng on the side.

"In two days, you will follow me into Beijing, and after you arrive in Beijing, you can go home to see your parents and serve them at home for some time," Lu Xiangsheng said with emotion, "I'm afraid your parents miss you too." ”

After speaking, Lu Xiangsheng turned to the old servant who was arranging the bedding for him and said, "Gu Xian, after you arrive in Beijing, you will take twenty taels of silver to Li Qi, and let him take it home to honor his parents." ”

"Thank you, sir!" Li Qi, who was standing up with a bow, quickly knelt down and kowtowed, and said in a choked voice.

Lu Xiangsheng was about to go to bed to rest, when suddenly a report from the door official came from outside, saying that Yang Ge sent an official to meet the adult. When Xiang Sheng heard this, he immediately ordered his family to serve tea and let the people wait in the living room.

The guest and the host entered the main topic after a little greeting in the living room, and it turned out that the messenger who came to meet was sent by Yang Sichang to urge him to enter Beijing overnight.

The man said, "...... The emperor will summon Duke Lu on the platform early tomorrow morning!"

Lu Xiangsheng sent away the people who had come to pay his respects, and he decided to doze off on horseback tonight, and immediately set off into Beijing with his standard camp guards. Thinking of the emperor's importance to himself, Lu Xiangsheng's emotions were very excited, and he ordered left and right: "Hurry up and prepare the horse ......"

On the way to Deshengmen with his troops, Lu Xiangsheng planned in his heart how to fight the enemy, and he thought about how he would tell the detailed battle plan when the emperor saw him tomorrow.

When his Wuming Ji galloped past the ruins of the capital city known as the Jimen Smoke Tree, he only heard the hoarse cry of a family from a thatched hut on the side of the road; this scene suddenly reminded him of his deceased father, Lu Xiangsheng's heart was filled with unspeakable sourness, and his eyes were almost about to roll out of tears.

The group hurried into Beijing at night, and when Lu Xiangsheng returned to his mansion, it was nearly four watches. As soon as he got off the horse outside the palace, some family members came to report, saying that there were many old people in Beijing who were waiting for him in the master's study, and people hoped that when Lu Xiangsheng had not yet gone to meet the emperor, he could tell him what he was saying in his heart and the public opinion of the people in Beijing.

These people all deeply hated Yang Sichang and Gao Qiqian for betraying the country and seeking peace, and asked Lu Xiangsheng to resolutely lead the battle in front of the emperor.

In the same year as Lu Xiangsheng, Yang Tinglin, a native of Qingjiang in the south of the Yangtze River who was the imperial historian in the Inspectorate, said to Lu Xiangsheng with great anger: "Ninth Elder, please forgive the younger brother for speaking bluntly. At present, your whole body is the hope of the subjects of the world, if you do not fight to the death on this matter, how will the people of the capital view you? How will future generations comment on you? Do not disappoint the hearts of loyal and righteous men in the world!"

"Please rest assured," Lu Xiangsheng replied quickly, his voice was a little choked, "Xiangsheng went to the king of Jingqin with an ominous body, he was able to die on the battlefield, and his remaining wishes in his life were satisfied, and he would never be greedy for life and afraid of death, and he would not dare to fight, so as to disappoint the hopes of the people of Beijing, and be despised by thousands of generations!"

Everyone knew that Lu Xiangsheng had been running around day and night for a few days, and they were extremely hard, and they were afraid that if they talked for too long, they would be known by the investigators of Dongchang, which was very bad for the host and guests, so everyone had to talk for a while, and then resigned one after another.

When everyone said goodbye and left, Lu Xiangsheng suddenly felt dizzy, at this time he was physically and mentally exhausted and was about to go back to his room to rest, suddenly Li Qi, a family member who had been with him for two years, walked quickly towards him, he stood respectfully in front of Lu Xiangsheng, with a smile on his lips.