Qi Ning and Tian Xuerong spent the whole night together, and it was inevitable that they would feel nostalgic. Instead, they thought about spending the whole day with Tian Xuerong in the post house.
But he also knew in his heart that important things were important at the moment, and the lover here could only go back and enjoy it later. Tian Xuerong was also a considerate woman. Since he knew that Qining was going to attend Tantai Zhilin's funeral today, naturally he would not He pestered Qining to stay.
The biggest difference between a woman and a girl is knowing when to let go. Although she was exhausted by Qin Ning's torment, she still dragged her limp body to serve Qin Ning and dressed neatly. Qin Ning also asked someone to bring breakfast. After breakfast, I had to hold Tian Xuerong for a while, and the beautiful woman who had been teasing her was breathless, and then she went out.
Today's burial at sea of Tantai Zhilin, although it has not spread to everyone in the streets and alleys, but all the officials of the Ministry of Punishment in the post house also know the news. Although this funeral of Tantai Zhilin is not planned to be carried out with much fanfare, even Even many officials, big and small, from all over the East China Sea were not notified, but Qining and his party came from the capital, so naturally they could not turn a blind eye. All the officials were prepared early in the morning and were all waiting in the main courtyard.
After Qi Ning came over, he arranged for five guards to stay at the post house, while the others were all ready to go to the navy camp.
The remains of Tantai Zhilin and his wife had been transported to the camp last night. The sea burial would naturally be held at sea. Although Qining did not know the specific ceremony of the sea burial, the place where the ceremony was held was naturally above the East China Sea.
Without any delay, everyone left the post house and went straight to the east. After leaving the city, they worked hard and arrived at the navy camp in more than half an hour. Looking from a distance, the navy camp did not change much. It was the same as in the past. There is not much difference. Qining knows that Tantai Zhilin's death has not spread, and the navy camp is trying to keep a low profile. After all, as long as the camp is hung in plain white, everyone will know that something big has happened to the navy.
When Jin Yiwai arrived, naturally someone had already entered the camp to report, and soon he saw a group of civil servants and military generals coming to greet them.
Shen Liangqiu walked in the front, Xin Ci followed beside him, and Chen Ting, the governor of Donghai, was also beside Shen Liangqiu, followed by many generals of Donghai Navy and Donghai officials under Chen Ting, totaling twenty or thirty people. the crowd.
Everyone's expressions were very solemn and solemn. When Qi Ning stepped forward, everyone had already bowed their hands to Qi Ning. Qi Ning also applied for solemnity and asked: "General Shen, are everything ready?"
Shen Liangqiu said: "Reporting to the Marquis, the coffins of the Governor and his wife have been sent to the blessing boat. At noon, they can go out to sea to see off the Governor." He looked up at the sun in the sky and said, "There are also We can set off in about an hour."
"The great governor-general was a hero and made countless meritorious deeds for the country. Is this funeral a little simple?" Qining asked in a low voice.
Shen Liangqiu said solemnly: "I wanted all the gentry from East China Sea to come to attend the funeral of the Governor. After all, the gentry of East China Sea represents the people of East China Sea. The Governor has worked hard in East China Sea for many years to protect the peace here. Now the Governor is gone." , it’s natural for them to come to see me off. But after discussing with General Xin, everything is still about safety, so we didn’t ask anyone to come over.”
Xin Ci cupped his hands at the side and said: "Master Marquis, if the Governor knows something, he probably doesn't want to start a war. The old Marquis said that stability is the most important thing. When everything returns to normal on the East China Sea, the court will definitely ask for the gift."
"Since you two have discussed it, then naturally everything will go according to what you two discussed." Qi Ning said: "Yes, General Shen, although I have heard about this burial at sea, I have never seen it. Can you tell me about it? How to proceed?”
"Master Marquis, if ordinary people are buried at sea, they will build a bamboo raft, place the body on the bamboo raft, then put the body into the sea, and then light it on fire." Shen Liangqiu said: "But the sea burial of the governor cannot be the same as ordinary people. We are here A blessing boat was prepared and the bodies of the Governor and his wife were placed on it and sent thirty nautical miles away. Then the vessel could be burned and the body of the Governor could be completely integrated with the sea."
"I see." Qining said, "How many ships are you preparing to send over?"
"Two warships." Shen Liangqiu said: "Everything has been arranged." He raised his hand and said: "Master Marquis, please check in and have a cup of tea first. There is still an hour to board the ship."
Qi Ning nodded, and everyone gathered around Qi Ning to the navy tent. After he sat down, someone brought tea to him.
Qi Ning was present, so everyone present naturally did not dare to say anything. Qin Ning glanced at everyone present and saw Chen Ting thoughtfully, while Xin Ci was sitting upright. Although he was not young, his body was upright. He didn't squint, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking from the expression on his face.
After all, today is Tantai Zhilin's funeral, so naturally there can be no talking and laughing. Qining didn't speak, and everyone present didn't speak either. The atmosphere was quite depressing for a while.
Everyone sat like this for a long time. Shen Liangqiu finally came in from outside the tent and said with cupped hands: "Master Marquis, it's almost noon. Everything is ready. Please, Master Marquis and all of you, board the ship and go to sea to see off the Governor."
Only then did Qi Ning get up, and everyone also got up one after another, walked out of the tent, and walked to the beach. They saw a boat decorated with flowers parked on the beach. The boat was not big, but the decoration was extremely gorgeous. There was a flag flying on the mast with a golden sword embroidered on it, which was the symbol of the Tantai family. The boatmen on the boat all wore white belts around their waists. Qining knew that this was where the coffins of Tantai Zhilin and his wife were parked. Fortune ship.
To the left and right of the Fu Ship were two large warships. On both sides of the ship stood elite sailors, holding spears and holding the hilts of sabers on their waists with one hand, looking solemn.
Shen Liangqiu invited everyone to board the left warship. When they boarded the ship, someone on the side handed out white belts. Everyone took the belts and tied them around their waists to show respect for Tantai Zhilin.
The Donghai Marine Camp had obviously made arrangements in advance, and the officers and soldiers in each battalion did not rush to the coast to see him off. It looked no different from usual times.
After everyone boarded the ship, only a short moment later, the horn sounded. Another warship had already moved first, and then the Fu ship followed that warship, while Qining's warship followed at the end. square.
Two warships escorted the Fu Ship in front and back, slowly heading towards the deep sea.
Qi Ning and others were standing on the bow of the ship. The warship was much larger than the Fortune Ship. At this time, the Fortune Ship was looking down from a high position. When they saw two coffins parked in the center of the Fortune Ship, everyone was silent.
Qining glanced at Xin Ci, and Xin Ci was also glancing at him. The two looked at each other, but they both nodded slightly and said nothing.
"The Governor is traveling far today. When he was leaving, the old Marquis didn't even take a glance at him. Alas...!" A sigh suddenly came from the side. Qining turned his head and looked over, and it was none other than Chen Ting, the governor of the East China Sea.
"The Grand Governor passed away, and the old Marquis was deeply saddened. If he saw the Grand Governor now...!" Qin Ning also sighed softly: "It would only add to the pain, it would be better not to see him."
Chen Ting was startled, but immediately raised his hands and said, "What the Marquis said is absolutely true."
In fact, Chen Ting's words were also what the other officials present were thinking.
The pain of losing a son is naturally heart-breaking. Jin Dao Hou has always placed the future of the Tantai family on Tantai Zhilin and placed great hopes on him. Now the white-haired man is giving away the black-haired man, and the old Hou Ye has been We didn't get to see Tantai Zhilin for the last time, which was naturally disappointing.
It's a calm day today, the sun is shining on the sea, and the waves are sparkling.
It was reported that many of the officials who came out to mourn Tantai Zhilin had never been to the sea. Especially the officials from the Ministry of Justice who followed Qining from the capital. Several of them had signs of discomfort on their faces due to the bumps of the ship. Wei Yujiang's body was strong, but he didn't react much.
Thirty nautical miles is not that far, and it is going with the wind, very smoothly. After the front warship stopped, the two ships behind also stopped.
Shen Liangqiu came over quickly at this time and said to Qining: "Master Marquis, this is the chosen place for burial at sea, and the burial ceremony at sea will be held here!"
Qi Ning nodded and sighed: "General Shen, Governor Chen said something just now. He said that the old Marquis did not even see the Governor for the last time. It was a pity. I thought about it and found that this is true." After a pause, he said: "When the Governor was laid to rest, I didn't see the face of the Governor...!" He raised his finger and pointed at Xin Ci and said: "General Xin came from the capital and never saw the face of the Governor. He was buried at sea today. , General Xin is here to replace the old Marquis, I mean, when the general is leaving, can General Xin take a look at him instead of the old Marquis?"
Shen Liangqiu was startled and looked at Xin Ci, but Xin Ci nodded slightly and said: "Although the general has been buried, it would be disrespectful to open the coffin to pay homage to the governor's remains, but what the Marquis said is not unreasonable. If I When I returned to Beijing, the old Marquis asked me if I had seen the Governor for the last time, but how should I answer?" He sighed and said, "Liangqiu, please do your best. I want to board the lucky boat and see the Governor for the last time. "
Shen Liangqiu immediately said: "General Xin, Lord Marquis, and the Governor's sea burial ceremony have been carefully prepared, and the time has been checked beforehand. If the coffin is opened at this time, it will definitely delay the time. I am only worried about the inauspiciousness." He paused. After a pause, he added: "Furthermore, opening the coffin after the burial is really against the customs and etiquette. If spread, people will certainly criticize us for being disrespectful to the governor, and I'm afraid that General Xin's reputation will also be damaged."
"Don't worry about my reputation." Xin Ci said: "I am just a slave of the Jindao Tantai family. As long as I can explain to the old marquis, my reputation is not worth anything."
Chen Ting, the governor of the East China Sea, and other officials immediately looked at each other, thinking that it would be very unlucky to open the coffin after the body was buried. Qining was young, so for making such a request, it could be said that he was unconventional, but Xin Ci was a well-informed veteran. How could you agree to Qining's proposal? Even ordinary people would never open the coffin after being buried, let alone the coffin of the majestic Governor of the East China Sea
Qi Ning's request was very unexpected, and Xin Ci's agreement was also very unexpected. Everyone present was a little dazed. After all, they were all involved in official circles. Their thoughts were racing, and they felt that things seemed not simple.