Qi Ning felt in his heart that these cliché etiquette were really annoying, but in his position, there was nothing he could do about it.
On New Year's Eve, most families in the capital gathered together to celebrate, but Jinyihou Mansion began to set up a ritual field under the leadership of Master Jingwu starting from noon. This time, the ritual field was set up. Although the time will not be too long, it will continue until noon the next day, which lasts for twelve hours.
During these twelve hours, Qi Ning could only stay in the execution ground without leaving home. Although Gu Qinghan was behind the scenes to direct all other affairs in the house, they could only be handled by Han Shou. Fortunately, his uncle Gu Wenwen hasn't moved out from the Hou Mansion yet, so he helps take care of it, and everything is in order.
For Qi Ning, these twelve hours were certainly not very comfortable. He listened to the chanting of the monks of Daguangming Temple and fell asleep from time to time.
Because there was a new position, people started coming to worship early in the morning on the first day of the new year.
Those who came to worship would light a stick of incense and offer their respects. The older ones with higher official positions would bow, while the younger ones and those with lower official positions would bow twice.
This time Zhongyi Hou came in person, but King Huainan sent his son. Wuxiang Hou Su Zhen also arrived early this time, Jin Daohou also sent people, and the six officials of the six departments also came. In order to save face, paying homage to the new throne was not actually a grand event, but there were actually more officials coming on this day than during Qi Jing's funeral.
Throughout the morning, there was an endless stream of people coming and going. It was rare that the Jinyihou Mansion was not so busy. Fortunately, there were many servants in the manor, so I could barely wait for them. Moreover, there was no need to prepare a banquet to pay homage to the new throne. He came here to pay homage and then left. There was almost no time between early morning and noon on the first day of the new year. Although Qining was in good health, he had to return the favor to everyone who came. After a morning, he was really dizzy and exhausted. .
Fortunately, after noon, all the people who were supposed to come had come, and when the religious ceremony came to an end, the mansion invited a certain kind of monk to have a fast meal, and Master Jingwu immediately led the monks to say goodbye and left.
In the next few days, there were many visitors to the Jinyi Hou Mansion. Qining received the imperial edict to rebuild the Black Scale Camp. Naturally, many officials were keenly aware that the young emperor wanted to reuse the Jinyi Qi family. Even though many officials had no friendship with Qining, even Most of them have never met, but they still come to see them carrying large and small bags.
Anyone who is in the officialdom knows that since the death of the late emperor, two major forces have clearly emerged in the Chu court.
When the late emperor was in charge of government, he had Sima Lan as a literary figure and Jin Yihou as a military official. Moreover, the late emperor's literary and military tactics were extremely prestigious, enough to intimidate the court officials, and the entire Chu State was running smoothly.
However, after the death of the late emperor, the situation in the court changed. The loyal and loyal Marquis Sima Lan played an important role in the succession of the new emperor, and his prestige and power expanded rapidly. Without the deterrence of the late emperor, although King Huainan did not succeed in the new emperor's succession, Jun took advantage of the matter and did not dare to act rashly, but his voice and tone were obviously louder. He already had many partisans in the government and the opposition, and now there are also many officials who have defected to his circle of influence.
The dispute between the Marquis of Zhongyi and the King of Huainan is no longer even a secret. The factions of both parties are clearly distinct. However, for most officials of the two factions, no matter which faction they are in, it does not affect their efforts to build a relationship with the Marquis of Jinyi.
Qi Jing passed away, and the situation in the court was unpredictable. Many people were secretly watching the Jinyi Hou Mansion's joke, but the next development was beyond most people's expectations. No one expected that Qi Ning, who was known as Jinyi's fool, would He actually walked step by step to the position of leader of the Black Scale Battalion.
Although the Marquis of Jinyi is one of the four hereditary marquises, with an honorable title, and officials of all sizes are respectful when they see him, a Marquis without real power is just a good-looking person, just like Qining who only inherited the title of Marquis of Jinyi before. Sir, officials naturally dare not be too negligent in terms of face, but in their hearts they only stop there.
But once he holds real power, the weight of this marquis is completely different.
What's more, since everyone knows that the young emperor wants to promote the Qi family, it is naturally indispensable to win over the Qi family before they get involved in the dispute between the two parties. In the officialdom, no one can I don’t know which cloud will cause rain. Before it rains, it’s human nature to lay some groundwork and leave more ways out for yourself.
Therefore, the Jinyihou Mansion was full of people coming and going for several days in a row, and it was very lively.
After the sixth day of the first lunar month, Qi Ning finally calmed down a bit. However, after that night, he had not spoken to Gu Qinghan for more than half a month, and Gu Qinghan almost never gave Qi Ning a chance to be alone. This made Qi Ning Mr. Ning felt a little uncomfortable.
On the morning of the seventh day of the lunar month, Duan Canghai finally returned to the Hou Mansion first. Qining got the news and immediately called over. This time not only Duan Canghai came back, but he also brought seven or eight people with him. When they saw Qining, they all knelt down. Falling to the ground to pay homage, Duan Canghai looked dusty, and his already rough skin was now much rougher. He smiled and said: "Master Marquis, these are all old brothers from the Black Scale Battalion. I have found them all for you. "
Qi Ning was stunned for a moment. It had been a long time since Duan Canghai and Zhao Wushang left the Hou Mansion. To rebuild the Black Scale Camp, the most important thing was to recruit manpower.
The Black Scale Battalion is different from ordinary teams. In Qining's view, it is a special forces force of this era. Of course, excellence must be sought when selecting personnel. If the conditions are loose, at most it will only be able to train an ordinary troop of soldiers and horses, and it is impossible to achieve this goal. The Blackscale Battalion was so high back then, so this first step of recruiting manpower was the most important.
Duan Canghai had said that he would recall all the remaining members of the Black Scale Battalion, but Qi Ning did not take it seriously.
After all, he couldn't believe that everyone else in the Black Scale Battalion had always looked forward to the reconstruction of the Black Scale Battalion like Duan Canghai, and that the dozens of people left in the Black Scale Battalion were later promoted and appointed by the imperial court and assigned to various departments. After all, he became a military attache and brought him back to the Black Scale Camp. Everything started from scratch. As the saying goes, water flows to the lower place, but people have to go to the higher place.
"Mo Fukuan, the Lieutenant General of the Military Guard, has resigned and is willing to come back to follow the Marquis." Duan Canghai raised his finger and pointed to a person to introduce him. The man immediately knelt down and said loudly: "Mo Fukuan pays homage to the Marquis."
"Chen Dayou, Lieutenant Colonel Jian, has resigned."
"Lu Kang, Captain of Changshui, has resigned."
"Zhou Yunbin, General Lingjiang, is willing to serve under the Marquis!"
Every time Duan Canghai named someone, that person would kneel down on one knee and worship in front of Qi Ning. The youngest of these people was already thirty-six or seventeen years old, and the oldest was nearly fifty years old, but his waist was weak. They were all straight. When Qi Ning saw them, he felt that these people were completely different from the temperament exuded by ordinary soldiers. They appeared to be tougher, and there was a fierce aura in their eyes that could not be concealed.
Qi Ning realized at this time that he had never seen the Black Scale Battalion charging into battle with his own eyes. Although Duan Canghai and Zhao Wushang came from the Black Scale Battalion, due to their status, they were used to being respectful and obedient to him, so maybe in his bones He really underestimated the Black Scale Battalion, but when he saw these soldiers who exuded a unique aura, he knew that the Black Scale Battalion might be much more tyrannical than he thought.
The aura of these people can only come from the experience of blood and fire. Without the test of life and death, without the baptism of blood and fire, it is impossible to exude such a fierce or even barbaric aura.
"Master Marquis, these guys have all been assigned to serve as military attachés outside Beijing." Duan Canghai said: "I ran around a lot and found these guys. There are also some who are busy with official business, and their resignations have been handed in. Go up there, and when the handover of military affairs is completed and the Ministry of War approves the resignation, they will rush over to report it immediately."
Qi Ning personally helped several people up one by one, and said with a smile: "You all have official status, and you are all capable, with a bright future. Has Duan Canghai made it clear to you that if you return to the Black Scale Camp, everything will be done?" If you start over, I can't guarantee that you will be promoted and make a fortune."
"Master Marquis, in that battle with the Blood Orchid Army, we were all supposed to be dead." Among the people, Mo Fukuan had the highest status before resigning. "To survive, the third general asked us to leave even one person behind." People have to wait until the day when the Blackscale Camp is rebuilt. We have been waiting, and... the blood feud of that year must be avenged."
Lu Kang solemnly said: "Master Hou, the general is a rough man. I only want to ask Master Hou for one thing."
"You speak!"
"After the Black Scale Battalion has been trained, I hope that one day, Lord Marquis can lead us into battle again. I have been asking around these years and heard that the Blood Orchid Army of the Northern Han Dynasty has always been there." Lu Kang said, "If there is a chance, When we meet with the Blood Orchid Army again, the Marquis will definitely lead us to kill all those bastards, and apart from that, I have no other demands."
Qi Ning said with a smile: "I want to rebuild the Black Scale Army. Of course, I don't want this army to patrol the streets and catch thieves. If it is a dragon, it will fly in the nine heavens. If it is a tiger, it will roar proudly in the mountains. Since it is the Black Scale Camp, the final battlefield, Of course it's the front line. Things that other teams can't do, the Black Scale Battalion can do. For cities that other armies can't attack, the Black Scale Battalion can do it...!" He paused and looked like a knife: "Those who can't be killed by others, the Black Scale Battalion can do it. Come and kill us!"
Qi Ning's voice was actually not high-pitched, even a little calm and low-pitched, but these words made everyone's eyes light up, and they all clasped their fists and said, "I swear to be loyal to the imperial court and to the Marquis to the death!"
"You all have just arrived in the capital. It just so happens that I haven't had a good drink these days." Qi Ning smiled and said, "You just happened to be here. Let's drink as much as we can today." Then he smiled and said: "You are all seniors. , Don’t bully me at the wine table because I’m young, I’m a person who will avenge myself publicly.”
Everyone was startled, and then burst into laughter. They all felt that the young marquis was really funny, quite different from the serious and old-fashioned Qi family.