son-in-law

Chapter 677

Chapter 677

On February 14, 21th year of Jinghan, south of Taiyuan, Qi County, spring rain.

The sky was so dark it looked like it was about to fall.

The rain hit the body, and it was bone-chillingly cold.

The horse was running, panicked, Chen Yanshu's vision shook, and then fell off the horse with a bang, he rolled a few times, stood up, staggered, and was already covered in mud.

Several personal soldiers came over in a hurry, someone got off his horse to help him, and he was talking, but what caught his eyes was Chen Yanshu's numb eyes and slightly opened and closed lips.

"...Master Chen, Master Chen, what's wrong with you, are you okay..."

The sound of shouting seemed to come from a very far away place, and then swayed to a far away place.

Two hours ago, Wu Shengjun launched an attack on Shu Liesu's army.

Since the defeat outside Bianliang City, hundreds of thousands of troops collapsed and were called up again. The Wu Sheng Army under Chen Yanshu's command gathered more than 5 people, which is the largest number among many troops.

On this journey northward, Chen Yanshu was not only asking for help from the rear, but also summoning the surrounding Xiang army and rebel army in the name of the imperial court.When Zong Han stationed troops in Taiyuan, he raided and plundered the southern line of Taiyuan to a certain extent. Later, Zongwang's army crossed the border and disrupted the defense lines in these places. Respond and call.The result of this call was that in the south of Taiyuan City, when Chen Yanshu finally decided to launch an attack on Shuliesu, the size of the entire army had reached [-].

And the problem is quite serious.

Among the [-] troops brought from Bianliang, there were incidents of escaping from the camp every day. He had to use high-pressure methods to clean up military discipline. Although the rebels gathered from all directions were passionate, they were messy, with mixed formations, and uneven equipment.On the bright side, people came here every day, responding to the call, and wanted to break the siege of Taiyuan, but Wu Sheng's army was already in disarray.

But he didn't have much to do. As the orders from the rear became more determined, on the morning of the 21st, he still forced the army to launch an attack.

The army, which was as immovable as a mountain, disintegrated like sand in the rain in the subsequent spring rain.

The Jurchens swept up and came, so he could only run away. When he got here, he was really exhausted physically and mentally.

The guards shook his arm and shouted. They saw that the head of the army was covered with mud on half of his face, his eyes were empty in the air, and his lips opened and closed. , as if talking about something.

"...It's over...It's over...It's not like before..."

"My lord, what are you talking about!? My lord, wake up... the Jurchens are still behind—"

"...Regret at the beginning... It's over..." He waved his hand violently, and shouted "Ah--", which startled everyone, and then they saw Chen Yanshu drawing his sword and rushing forward, and a guard was about to come and snatch it. His sword was almost cut, Chen Yanshu swayed forward like this, he turned the long sword upside down, resting the blade on his neck, as if he was about to pull it, he staggered a few steps, and held it with both hands With the hilt of the sword, you need to stab your own heart with the blade.The surrounding area was gloomy, the rain fell, and in the end Chen Yanshu didn't dare to stab. He yelled hysterically, knelt on the ground, and shouted to the sky.

"Ah—I regret it—it's over—"

The cry was accompanied by heart-throbbing cries.

"It's over... the Wu Dynasty is about to end—"

He finally stabbed the long sword through his heart, blood foam gushed out, Chen Yanshu stared, and finally let out two cooing sounds, the cries echoed in the air like an ominous prophecy.

No one knew what Chen Yanshu said here at the end. Not long after, several personal guards beheaded him and surrendered to the Jurchens who were chasing him.

The battle outside the city of Taiyuan, in the spring rain, was tragic but calm.In Bianliang City, which is hundreds of miles away, no one knows the result of the Wu Shengjun who went north to rescue. In these days, the situation in the capital has been twists and turns, like a fire, is changing drastically.

The court has not yet made a decision to increase troops to Taiyuan. Although Wu Shengjun has been sent northward, the results of the battle outside Bianliang City are obvious to all.Ordinary people may not have a concept, but among many scholars and even officials, there are a lot of discussions every day.Taiyuan has not yet fallen, so such discussions have become more intense.

Amid such discussions, the petitions of the scholars in the daily are also continuing, either asking for troops to be sent, or for the country to revive, change the military system, and eliminate traitors.Behind these speeches, I do not know how many forces are manipulating them, and some fierce demands are also brewing and fermenting. For example, Chen Dong, one of the leaders of folk speeches who has always dared to speak out, petitioned outside the imperial city, begging for punishment The "Seven Tigers" in North Korea.

The "Seven Tigers" include: Cai Jing, Liang Shicheng, Li Yan, Zhu Mian, Wang Fu, Tong Guan, and Qin Yuyuan.

"In today's events, there is Cai Jing's chaos in the front, and Liang Shicheng's conspiracy behind. Li Yan has a grudge in the northwest, Zhu Xi has a grudge in the southeast, Wang Fu, Tong Guan, and Qin Yuyuan have a grudge against Liao and Jin, creating a border gap. It is appropriate to punish These seven tigers are passed on to all directions, in order to thank the world!"

This is probably what the Seven Tigers said.

Qin Yuyuan was a new addition to these treacherous ministers. Since assisting Li Gang, most of Qin Yuyuan's implementations were harsh policies, and he actually offended many people.During the Battle of Shoubianliang, the imperial court called for the defense of the city. Every family and every household sent out people and stalls, all of which were operated by the Right Prime Minister's Mansion. During this period, there were also many incidents of bullying others with power. A lot of people's power to go to the battlefield, prostitution of wives and daughters was later exposed.After the sacrifices of the city guards, Qin Yuyuan ordered that all the corpses be burned. This was also a big problem, and during the negotiations with the Jurchens later, the delivery of food and herbs was all dominated by the Right Prime Minister's Office.

In the past, Qin Yuyuan's reputation among the people was at best a cruel official. With the deliberate brewing during the recent period, even if there is a bamboo record to excuse him, the negative comments about Qin Yuyuan are still rampant. There are more reasons for this: Good words, ordinary people prefer to scold, not to mention that Qin Yuyuan has indeed done a lot of things that violate the wish of his hometown.

Among the three heroes of the Bianliang City War, Li Gang, Zhong Shidao, and Qin Yuyuan, if people had to find a villain, Qin Yuyuan was undoubtedly the most qualified.

Following the clues, there are various forces manipulating these remarks behind the scenes, and it is also related to the daily changes in the court situation: a few days ago, Qin Yuyuan had already claimed his illness, but with him, more and more people came. The excerpts of criticizing and impeaching Qin Yuyuan were initially speculative. For example, Qin Yuyuan delivered food and grass to the Jurchens, causing public dissatisfaction.After the first few people were imprisoned, the later excerpts became more and more authentic.

For example, Qin Yuyuan's expedient measures when he was appointed as the right minister, or he once opened the back door for the military salary of Wu Ruiying, or it was like a black hand against so and so.Zhou Zhe tried his best to protect Qin Yuyuan, and threw these people into the prison one by one. He didn't stop until there were more and more people, and changed to reprimanding him. But at the same time, he regarded Qin Yuyuan's claim of illness as an expedient measure to avoid suspicion, saying: "I absolutely believe in the right minister, you don't have to worry about it, I will return your innocence!" Qin Siyuan's request was rejected again.

Then Qin Hui took the lead in writing a letter, arguing that although the right minister was innocent and selfless, according to the usual practice, with so many people participating in the impeachment, the three divisions should still be tried at the same time, so as to return the right minister's innocence.Zhou Zhe refuted again: "Just after the Jurchen left, the Prime Minister on the right was a hero who defended the city. I have not yet been rewarded for my merits, so I have to do this. Doesn't it make people think that I am a person who has exhausted the bow and hidden the bow? If you trust the right minister, don't mention this matter again!"

These superficial cutscenes can't hide the thunder that is brewing secretly. On Ning Yi's side, some merchants related to Zhuji have also begun to come to ask or test, and all kinds of rumors are going on in the dark.Since handing over the things at hand to Qin Yuyuan, Ning Yi's attention has returned to Zhuji, and he has made a lot of adjustments internally.Just as he and Hong Ti said, if the right minister loses power, Zhu Ji and the secret investigation department must immediately separate and cut off their tails to survive. Otherwise, once the official forces take over, this little thing in hand will inevitably become someone else's wedding clothes .

The core of Zhuji, he has been in business for a long time, so naturally he still needs it.

Of course, such a split has not yet come, and the people in the court have already shown an aggressive posture, but Qin Yuyuan's retreat and silence may not be a strategy. Maybe the emperor found out that he really did not fight back after fighting for a while. Not selfish.On the other hand, the old man also locked Qin Shaoqian in the mansion, preventing him from manipulating Wu Ruiying, and only waiting for the emperor to find someone to take over—this is also impossible.

However, Taiyuan was cooked in a real fire, and Qin Ershao, who was blind in one eye, was anxious in the courtyard every day, practicing boxing all day long, and his hands were covered with blood.He is not a young man anymore, he understands what happened, and because he understands, the torment in his heart is even worse.One day Ning Yi went over and talked to Qin Shaoqian. Qin Shaoqian's hands were bloody and he didn't bandage them. He spoke calmly and chatted with Ning Yi for a while, and then Ning Yi saw him fall silent, clenched his hands into fists, and his teeth clicked rattle.

"Li Heng, Taiyuan is still fighting!" He saw Qin Shaoqian raised his head, his eyes were bloodshot and red, and veins were running on his forehead, "Brother is still in the city, Taiyuan is still fighting. I am not reconciled..."

Ning Yi was silent for a moment, and said: "I have sent someone to rescue."

Qin Shaoqian gritted his teeth and trembled all over, and it took him a long time to stop.

Coming out of the Prime Minister's Mansion, he had nothing else to do on the surface, except for communication with some big merchants. In the past few days, another relative came over, and that was Song Yongping.

The brother-in-law, who was born in an official family, won the Juren before, and later with the help of Ning Yi, he was assigned a good county as the county magistrate.When the Jurchens came to the south, a Jurchen cavalry unit once harassed the county where he was located. Song Yongping had carefully surveyed the surrounding terrain before. Later, newborn calves were not afraid of tigers, so they took advantage of the terrain near the county to repel the Jurchens and killed several people. Ten people, and some horses were also robbed.At the beginning of the war, when the meritorious service was determined, the Right Prime Minister held the real power and reported him a great contribution. Ning Yi naturally didn't know about it. At this time, Song Yongping was promoted in Beijing. Who knew that once he entered the city, he would It is discovered that the situation in Beijing is changing, and the mountains and rains are about to come.

At this time, Song Yongping was more or less mature. Although he heard some bad rumors, he still came to Zhuji, visited Ning Yi, and then lived in Zhuji.

After all, he doesn't know much about the whole situation. He chatted with Ning Yi in the past few days, and talked more with Su Wenfang.Previously, Song Yongping was the phoenix son of the Song family. Compared with the incompetent children of the Su family, Su Wenfang, he was not known how many times smarter, but after meeting this time, he discovered that this cousin of the Su family has also become mature and stable. , Even he, who is a county magistrate, can't understand it.He occasionally asked about the size of the problem, and when he talked about the way to solve the siege in the officialdom, Su Wenfang only smiled modestly.

"Things can be big or small... Brother-in-law should have a solution."

"It's useless for me to worry about it."

Every time Su Wenfang said this, Song Yongping felt a little anxious. He was also a high-spirited scholar, and his ultimate goal was to become a prime minister and emperor in the temple.The past few days have been brewing hard, and at noon at the end of February, when I met Ning Yi and Su Wenfang for dinner, I began to inquire about the key points again.

"As the saying goes, one person counts the short, and two count the long. My brother was born in an official family since he was a child, and he has been exposed to it every day. He also knows a thing or two about the affairs of the court. This time I came here and heard what is going on. I am really worried. This specific situation I don't know how serious it is, but I hope my brother-in-law will tell me that although my brother is not talented, my father still has some connections in the court. Although I can't get involved in the affairs of the prime minister, if my brother-in-law wants to get out of these businesses, there may be a way..."

He was enthusiastic, and Ning Yi couldn't refuse. He nodded and thought about it, and then picked up some things that could be said. During the period, Song Yongping asked a few words, and Ning Yi also answered.He wanted to reassure Song Yongping, but it was impossible to tell him all about the situation, such as the game between the emperor and the prime minister, the involvement of Cai Jing and Tong Guan, and so on.After only talking for a while, there was a sound of commotion in front of Zhuji, and the three got up and walked out, and then someone came to report that there was trouble ahead.

"Who is it?"

"Some gangsters, it seems that the Taiwei's House is behind the scenes."

At this time, the members of Zhuji who stayed in Beijing have also been tested for a long time. When they came to report, they had already figured out the situation. Ning Yi and Su Wenfang looked at each other and went out from the side door. It got smashed up.

Song Yongping frowned: "Taiwei's mansion dares to make trouble on the stage, it is not afraid of tearing the face, has the matter become so serious?"

Ning Yi looked around, but saw Gao Muen in the upstairs room across the street.

"Boss, what should we do?" the Zhuji member asked.

"Don't touch head-on." Song Yongping said from the side, and then lowered his voice, "Taiwei Gao has the post of commander in front of the palace. If he meets head-on in Bianliang, it will only hit him in the arms. Since the other party called a gangster, I might as well report it." The officer is."

The Zhuji buddy was waiting for Ning Yi's statement, and Ning Yi nodded: "Let them smash it, but there is no need to report to the official, let them go."

Song Yongping was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said: "Indeed, if you report to the official, the other party's claim may be groundless, and it may be troublesome..."

He is a smart man, he understands as soon as he speaks, and Ning Yi nodded slightly in approval.Looking at the Zhuji restaurant, he whispered to the clerk: "Go and let everyone come out, avoid a little, so as not to be injured."

Being bullied to such an extent in Beijing, Song Yongping and Su Wenfang couldn't help but feel depressed. Looking at the restaurant not far away, in Song Yongping's view, Ning Yi must be in the same mood.At this moment, a team of yamen servants came over from the other side of the road, and rushed towards the Zhuji Building.

Song Yongping only thought it was the opponent's backhand, and frowned even more, only to hear someone shouting: "Catch the troublemaker!" The troublemaker seemed to want to defend himself, and then he was beaten up , When someone was dragged out, Song Yongping found out that these yamen servants were actually attacking the troublemakers. Then he saw some other people rushing across the street and went upstairs to arrest them.A voice came from the building: "What are you doing! My father is Gao Qiu—who are you—" It was Gao Muen who was taken down.

Song Yongping and others were confused. On the other side of the road, a middle-aged man in a black robe came over, first bowed his hands to Ning Yi, and then bowed his hands to Song Yongping and Su Wenfang as a gesture.Ning Yi bowed his hands in a salute, and the other party took another step closer and said something softly.

"Your Majesty, Cai Qi, who is in charge of the Grand Master's Mansion, Grand Master Cai invited Mr. to visit the mansion."

He didn't speak very loudly, Song Yongping couldn't hear it very clearly, Ning Yi said: "Now?"

The other party nodded and stretched out his hand to signal that there was a carriage coming from the other side of the road.Ning Yi nodded, looked at Song Yongping and Su Wenfang, and said, "You guys eat first. I'll go out for a while." After speaking, he walked over there.

Su Wenfang frowned, but Song Yongping was a little excited, and pulled at the corner of Su Wenfang's clothes: "Grand Master Cai, it seems that Grand Master Cai also values ​​brother-in-law's talent and learning. Now there is a turning point. Even if there is something wrong, you can get both ways..."

Su Wenfang didn't speak, and at this moment, a galloping horse rushed past, and the knight's clothes seemed to be Zhuji's clothes.

The galloping horse was strangled by the knight forcefully beside Ning Yi, which startled everyone, and then they saw the knight turn over immediately and gave Ning Yi a small paper tube.Ning Yi pulled out the letter inside, opened it and took a look.

The long street was chaotic, the gangsters who were escorted out were still struggling and walking forward, Gao Muen was yelling there, and the onlookers were pointing, buzzing, buzzing, buzzing... …

Buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz -

The long sky light is closed.

Ning Yi stood by the carriage and looked at the message in his hand. After a long time, he raised his head.

"...Mr. Ning, Mr. Ning?"

The middle-aged man in the black robe was talking next to him, Ning Yi turned his face slowly, and looked at him, as deep as the deep sea, trying to swallow people in, the next moment, he said unconsciously: "Um?"

Then he said, "...um."

He rolled up the mail and stepped into the carriage.

When the curtain was opened, the wind blew past.

An era has passed...

On February 25, Taiyuan fell.

(End of this chapter)