As the spring rains fell in the north, large swaths of snow melted, and the white color that lasted for a winter gradually lost its dominance. In the upper reaches of the Yellow River, as the rumble of melting ice began to enter the riverbed, the water level of this mother river began to After a significant growth, the roaring river water rushed down with the dirt that spread on both sides of the riverbed in winter, and the rain curtain on both sides of the Yellow River was sluggish.
Descending from the Yellow River and crossing the rolling Yangtze River, the heaven and earth to the south had awakened earlier, and after the second day of the second month, spring ploughing began one after another. On the vast land, farmers drove their oxen to start the new year's work in the farmland of Qianmo. On the Yangtze River, the merchant ships came and went against the wind and waves, and they had already become busy. Large and small cities, large and small workshops, and caravans constantly provide strength for this prosperous era. If you don’t look at the millions of troops that have moved in layers on the north side of the Yangtze River, people will be sincerely To sigh, this is really a good year for prosperous times.
In a sense, it was indeed a good year.
In Lin'an City, the gathered beggars peddled their poor stories to passers-by. The knights went to the border in three or five groups, drawing their swords to the side. At this time, the scholars could finally find their own impassioned enthusiasm. Most of the girls were sold in. The songs of the Qing courtiers often carried a lot of sadness or tragic colors. Business travel came and went, the court was busy with official business, and the officials often worked overtime and busy. Got overwhelmed. In this spring, everyone has found their right place.
The war in the north and the tragic and solemn nature of Tian Shi are causing heated discussions in the city at this time. The participation of the black flag is negligible here. With the army of Zong Han and Xi Yin, Jin is about to face an extinction. disaster. At the same time, the war in Xuzhou has begun. Prince Junwu led an army of one million to sit on the northern defense line, which was the focus of the scholars' eyes.
At the same time, people of insight are still paying attention to the situation in the southwest. With the truce of the Huaxia Army and the call for a joint fight against gold, a scandal related to the southwest was unexpectedly revealed in the capital. .
This scandal is related to Long Qifei.
Since the Black Banner Army invaded the Shu land last summer, Ning Liheng, a former monarchist madman, has once again entered the eyes of the people of Nanwu. At this time, although the threat of Jurchen was imminent, when the situation suddenly turned into a three-legged confrontation, the huge threat from the side and rear of the Black Flag Army became an important focus of even surpassing the Jurchen side in many scenes.
After all, whether from the point of view of chatting or showing off, talking to people about how strong Jurchen is, no doubt seems outdated and clichéd. And let everyone pay attention to the blind spot on the side and rear, which can show the difference of people's thinking. The black flag threat theory has risen for a period of time. In October and November, the great scholar Long Qifei who arrived in the capital brought first-hand information from the southwest and became an upstart in Lin'an social circles.
It was mentioned before that in order to save the situation, Long Qifei, who had just arrived in Lin'an, was playing up his efforts to mend the sky with only one hand, and at the same time he was also lobbying the powerful everywhere, hoping to make people aware of the power of the black flag and the ambition of the wolf. The middle of course also includes the importance of the Chengdu Plain occupied by the black flag to the Wu Dynasty.
However, the situation is stronger than people, and there are not many people who can pick up a hot potato like the Black Flag Army. Even Qin Hui, who once advocated the crusade against the southwest, could only swallow the bitter fruit silently after being put together by the emperor and his colleagues. It is not that he did not want to attack the southwest, but if he continued to advocate sending troops, he would be put on the table by the emperor. How to do it together
Due to this reason, Long Qifei's appeal hit a wall. In his anger and anger, he went under the door of Zhao Ding, the left minister. Don't care about the ugly state of the southwest's future troubles.
During the New Year's Eve, Qin Hui was attacked by the enemy, and he pretended to be countless grandsons before he was forgiven by Emperor Zhou Yong. At this point, it was February.
During this February, in order to cope with the upcoming war in the north, Qin Hui was so busy in the Privy Council that it was difficult to return home every day, and it seemed that he had no time to take care of such a small person as Long Qifei.
As for Long Qifei, he was already on the stage, so naturally he couldn't go down easily. For several months, Long Qifei was very worried about the affairs of the Southwest, and he seemed to be a leader among scholars. Occasionally leading Taixue students to kneel on the street in the city. At this time, the world is in turmoil. It is a good story for students to worry about patriotism. Zhou Yong has also passed the stage when he was an emperor who wanted to play with women every day and was caught. He had people beat up Chen Dong, who liked to chew his tongue. Now, for these students and scholars, he is invisible in the harem. Instead, he occasionally opens his mouth to praise. The students won awards and praised the emperor Shengming. It is convenient and happy. Everyone is happy .
The first thing that happened beside Long Qifei was Lu Guoer, the top brand of the brothel who had followed him. This female woman drugged Long Qifei at a critical juncture, and then accompanied him to escape from Zizhou, which was in danger under the threat of the black flag, and ran to the capital. After Long Qifei became famous, as a confidante around Long Qifei, Lu Guoer also began to become famous. In a few months, even though he showed his commitment to Long Qifei and didn't go out much, he gradually became famous. a small social circle.
However, on Long Qifei's side, the original "tell story" actually had a different story. Long Qifei had a ghost in his heart, and he was rather grumpy about the women around him. He promised Lu Guo'er a concubine status, and then ran away from the woman in Vanity Fair. In February, Long Qifei only realized that something was wrong with the woman beside him during the occasional interval between getting along with him.
He was also a great man at first, but he did not move at the moment and investigated privately, only to find out that this woman from the southwestern border had already been immersed in the flowery world of the capital and couldn't extricate herself, and the most troublesome thing was that the other party also had a young scholar's concubine.
On February 17th, there was a war in the north, and there was a lot of noise in the capital. Long Qifei killed Lu Guoer in the newly purchased mansion at midnight. The new officer who reported the case to the new friend rushed into the house and arrested him and put him in jail. This Lu Guoer's new acquaintance, a young scholar who was worried about the country and the people, stepped forward and reported Long Qifei's ugliness to the government. Later, the official found Lu Guoer's handwriting in the house. It records the development of things in the southwest and the ugly truth that Long Qifei let himself collude when he fled.
On the third day of his imprisonment, Long Qifei explained all the things one by one under the iron evidence, including the ins and outs that he was afraid that things would be revealed and killed Lu Guoer. This incident shook the capital for a while, and at the same time, the official sent to the southwest to pick up another man of merit, Li Xiannong, was already on his way.
After you sing, I will appear on the stage. When Li Xiannong comes to the capital after his grievance and Zhaoxue, we don't know what kind of situation will be in Lin'an. During this period, Qin Hui, who has always been busy in the Privy Council, has never made any noise. Before he was arrested by Long Qi When Fei attacked, there was no movement, and at this time, when people thought about this matter and said it, they couldn't help but give a thumbs up, saying that this is a selfless man who is not afraid of humiliation and is dedicated to the country.
During the spring rain in February, some people who knew the inside story heard the development of the situation, and most of them laughed it off.
Zhou Pei heard that what happened to Long Qifei was on the carriage to the palace, and the people around her probably recounted what happened. She just sighed and left it behind. At this time, the outline of the war has become obvious, and the pervading smoke of gunpowder is almost in front of people's eyes. The publicity, internal affairs, and the search for Jurchen scouts in charge of the Princess Palace are already extremely busy. On this day, she is going outside the city. , suddenly received his father's call, and I don't know what new ideas this father, who has been worried about since the beginning of the year, has any new ideas.
Entering the palace, Zhou Yong, with his hands on his back, was pacing under the eaves in front of the imperial study. He didn't know what he was thinking about. Zhou Peikou said that after the meeting, the emperor came to help her with a smile on his face: "Dear daughter, you are here, you don't need to be too polite. Don't be too polite..." He said, "Come here, it's cold outside, come inside first."
Zhou Pei entered the imperial study and stood in front of the chair. Zhou Yong, who was smiling, pressed his hands on her shoulders: "Have you eaten?"
"What's the matter with the royal father, but said..."
"It's nothing, nothing major, I just miss you, haha, so I called you in to have a look, haha, what's the matter? Is there something on your side?"
Zhou Pei stared at the unreliable father, and then out of respect, he lowered his eyes first: "No big deal."
"Looks thin." Zhou Yong said sincerely.
"My father cares about my daughter's body, and my daughter is very moved." Zhou Pei smiled and behaved mildly, "It's just that what is the matter of calling my daughter into the palace, the father is better to say it directly."
"Cough, it's not a big deal, it's just..." Zhou Yong was a little embarrassed, "It's just something, I've been thinking about it for the past few days, but I haven't figured it out yet, I just want to... come to you for more details, After all daughter you are resourceful, of course, uh…”
"… "
Zhou Yong "uh" for a while: "It's... Southwest things..."
"What's wrong with Southwest?"
"The surnamed Ning said, beg for peace..." Zhou Yong stared at his daughter, "What do you think, Huang'er, about this matter?"
Zhou Pei understood. Since the shadow of Jurchen struck, this unreliable father didn't say it on the face, but he was actually worried every day. His wisdom is limited, and he indulges and enjoys himself on weekdays. When he wants to use his brain again at this time, he is a little reluctant. After Jindi Tianshi died, the southwest immediately issued an order to stop the attack on Zizhou, and called on the Wu Dynasty to stop the confrontation with the southwest and fight against the Jurchen with the greatest strength.
The black flag has occupied most of the Chengdu Plain, and stopped in Zizhou. The word of the word spread to Lin'an, and there was a lot of discussion. However, at the high level of the imperial court, negotiating with a monarch murderer was still a completely unbreakable bottom line. I don't want to step on the line either.
From Wu Chao's standpoint, this kind of narration seems righteous, but in fact it is giving Wu Chao eye medicine, giving two options that he can't choose, and pretending to be open-minded. These days, Zhou Pei has been fighting against the black flag spies who secretly promoted the matter, trying to erase the influence of the letter as much as possible. Who knows, the ministers in the DPRK and China did not take the bait, and his father took the bait in one bite.
Zhou Pei held back his anger: "My father knows that negotiating with those who kill the king, it is impossible for the martial law to survive. Ning Yi is just rhetoric and eloquent. He knows that the Wu Dynasty has no choice... "
"Hey, why didn't my father know the embarrassment of this matter? Once I said it, the old pedants in the court were afraid to point at my father's nose... But my daughter, the situation is better than others, and sometimes it can be arrogant, Sometimes if you can't pass, you have to admit defeat, Jurchen kills you, your brother, he's in front..."
When Zhou Yong said this, he sighed: "Being the emperor for my father, at first, I wanted to be a good emperor and have a good reputation, but after all, I have no clue, but the Jurchen killed him that year. I still remember the situation as a father. During the half year of floating at sea, Jiangnan was killed in vain, and many people died. I am sorry for them as a father, and the most sorry for your brother is your brother. You left him and left. He was almost overtaken by the Jurchen…”
"Jun Wu has a strong temperament, uprightness, and intelligence. As his father can tell, he will be a good emperor in the future, but our Wu Dynasty is still in a mess. Jurchen smashed all these belongings, and we have nothing left. , these days, my father has asked the ministers in the court carefully, and I am afraid that I still cannot stop it.
Zhou Yong's words were sincere and low-pitched, and Zhou Pei listened quietly, feeling a little moved in his heart. In fact, when Zhou Yong became the emperor these years, although Zhou Yong had a lot of connivance with his children, he was actually a person who liked to put on airs. He was usually considered lonely. At this time, he could discuss with himself in such a low voice. It's a heartbreaker, and it's for the sake of my younger brother.
But even if I was moved in my heart, this matter, after all, would not go through on the stage. Zhou Pei sat upright and clenched his fists on his knees: "Father..."
"So, I thought about it for a while, I just thought about it, I don't know if it makes any sense, just listen to my daughter..." Zhou Yong interrupted her and said cautiously and carefully, "It depends on the ministers in the court. There is no way, but daughter, you can do it, can you contact that side first..."
"Father!" Zhou Pei's anger rose at that time.
But Zhou Yong didn't stop, he said: "Being a father doesn't mean just contacting him, but being a father means that you two had friendship back then. The last time Jun Wu came over, he also said that you actually admire him quite a bit. Father suddenly thought for the past two days, "Okay, extraordinary things must be done in extraordinary ways. The biggest thing that Ning committed back then was to kill Zhou Zhe, but today's emperor is our family, if your daughter is with him... Let's be strong, as long as we become a family, what are those old guys... Daughter, there is no one around you now, so Qu Zonghui should kill... To be honest, you have been feeling guilty for your father's marriage all these years... "
The emperor lowered her voice and gestured with dance, which made the scene in front of her very dramatic. Zhou Pei didn't understand it at first, until at a certain point, a "hum" sounded in her head, as if the blood all over her body was drenched. She rushed to her forehead, and there was also the incomparable embarrassment after being seen in the deepest part of her heart. She wanted to stand up but failed to do so. She raised her arm, not knowing where it was.
The emperor in the dragon robe was still talking, only to hear a bang on the coffee table, the princess' left hand smashed the teacup abruptly, the fragments scattered, and then blood flowed out, scarlet and sticky, shocking. The next moment, Zhou Pei seemed to realize something and knelt down abruptly, but he didn't notice the blood on his hands. Zhou Yong rushed over and shouted towards the outside of the hall...
The little episode in the palace finally ended with the eldest princess with a bandage on her left hand returning to the palace in despair. The emperor dismissed this whimsical idea that no third person knew about it for the time being. This is the end of February in the tenth year of Jianshuo, and many things in the south still seem calm.
The tragic battles in Daming Mansion and Xuzhou have already begun. At the same time, the division of Jin has been substantially completed. Although Lou Shuwan has made a lot of achievements due to the victory of the Huaxia Army, but with the help of the victory of the Huaxia Army The Jurchen came out of the camp, and the huge coercion came here substantially.
After arriving, Lou Shuwan, Yu Yulin, Lin Zongwu, Ji Qingli and other forces occupied some large and small cities to the west and south of Wasion, while the capitulation faction headed by Liao Yiren separated the east and north facing the Jurchen pressure. Many areas, in essence, turned nearly half of Jindi into occupied areas.
At the same time as the Jurchen surrender was announced, Liao Yiren and other families mobilized and gathered their troops under the guidance of the Jurchen, and began to march toward the west and south, starting the first round of siege. At the same time, the Black Flag Army, which had won Linzhou's victory, rushed to the east, and Wang Juyun led the Ming King Army to start the journey south.
Against such a background, with the cooperation of Lou Shuwan and others, Lin Zongwu, the leader of the Great Brightness, and a group of cult members obtained the right to rule over three cities in the east and south of Gaizhou, as well as a large number of material armament.
In March, the army headed to Weisheng, and Yu Yulin and Lou Shuwan held the city to defend it. No one could have imagined that Weisheng had not yet been broken, Xiyin's ambush had been launched, and Gaizhou defender Chen Wei had defected. In an overnight conflict, Yinshu can immediately lead the cavalry to the south, making the Daguang Sect led by Lin Zongwu become the first team to be eliminated among the anti-gold forces in Jin...