The Red Mansions

The night is already dark, and lanterns have been lit under the eaves of the palace halls. The vermilion lanterns sway in the wind, complementing the vermillion lacquered door frames, and casting circles of light and shadow on the jade steps.

  In Kunning Palace——

  Emperor Chongping also had dinner with Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong.

  "Dai Quan, has Duke Wei gone on an expedition?" Emperor Chongping put down a pair of bowls and chopsticks and asked suddenly.

  "Your Majesty, the Beijing camp is still preparing food, fodder and baggage. It is said that the expedition will be tomorrow." Dai Quan bowed and said cautiously.

  Emperor Chongping said doubtfully: "The military situation is as urgent as a spark. When there was chaos in Henan last time, Ziyu led the troops there. There seemed to be no delay in the process and he immediately sent out troops."

  Dai Quan paused slightly and said cautiously: "Duke Wei said that the [-] cavalry troops in the Beijing camp should at least prepare food and fodder this time, and mentioned that this time is different from the one in Henan."

  Empress Song's beautiful face was serene and bright. She pursed her lips and said softly: "Your Majesty, the soldiers and horses must go ahead before the food and grass are moved. With so many soldiers and horses feeding the horses, it is necessary to prepare some dry food."

  Emperor Chongping nodded and said: "What Zitong said is true. There were differences between the previous chaos in Henan and now. At that time, the chaos rose sharply. Now the Han army is powerful in all directions, and the center is as secure as a rock."

  At that time, the big man was extremely weak. He was like a flame that had to be extinguished quickly.

  Empress Song said softly: "Your Majesty, please rest assured that Ziyu's military skills are rare."

  That little fox is not only capable of using soldiers, which few can match, but also has other abilities...

  Thinking of this, the beauty's face turned as red as drunk, and she felt her heart skip a beat. She secretly spat at her own hooves, why were she thinking about this in front of His Majesty?

  In fact, during this period of time when she was alone and unable to sleep, the beauty kept recalling the unforgettable and infatuating experiences in Luoyang and Jiangnan over and over again.

  At this moment, under the beauty's curved eyebrows, there was a bit of worry in her beautiful eyes. Although she didn't know if the delay in her monthly letter was due to her happy pulse, she still needed to find a way to cover it up.

  Otherwise, if there is a happy pulse, there is no record of sleeping in the harem, and if we investigate at that time, it will really be a disaster.

  But getting drunk is not very practical, so you can only use some coma drugs. As for aphrodisiacs, if nothing else, His Majesty's body may not be able to bear it.

  It can be said that the beauty originally did not want to harm Emperor Chongping, the person she sleeps with. What she did today was just to protect herself.

  Emperor Chongping nodded slightly and said in a low voice: "What Zitong said is true, but I am concerned about the chaos. Now the chaos in Shandong originated from the garrison. I am afraid that Beijing will take the opportunity to criticize and rectify military affairs, and even cause chaos in other places." Wei Suo followed suit."

  Ziyu never let him down. In the entire sixteen years of Chongping, almost every time there was a war, whether it was from the northern Xinjiang to the northwest, or to the sea, all battles were invincible and all attacks were invincible.

  In fact, this is also the reason why the emperor is subconsciously afraid of it every time he thinks about it.

  Queen Song's beautiful eyes were as full as water, and she said softly: "Your Majesty, it's getting late, please rest."

  Emperor Chongping nodded and said, "I am a little tired now."

  With that said, Empress Song supported Emperor Chongping and walked towards the sleeping hall.

  In the bedroom, the lights were as orange as water, reflecting on a splendid screen, with a large group of hibiscus petals on it, alluring and plump.

  At this moment, Emperor Chongping drank a cup of ginseng tea as usual, sat on the bed and said, "Zi Tong, could you please bring me the latest Three Kingdoms dialect book written by Zi Yu?"

  In his spare time, the emperor also read the Three Kingdoms dialect book to relieve his boredom, or he was fascinated by the strategies in it.

  Empress Song pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. Reading any more will make your eyes look bad."

  Emperor Chongping whispered: "No problem, just watch for a while."

  Empress Song couldn't persuade her anymore, so she picked up a blue-covered book and flipped through it.

  A moment later, while Empress Song was waiting, Emperor Chongping sighed and said, "How can the heaven be so inferior to me?"

  Just when the New Deal was in full swing, such chaos occurred in Shandong, which undoubtedly cast a thick shadow on the New Deal.

  Empress Song sat close to him, took Emperor Chongping's arm, and said softly: "Your Majesty, please rest."

  After all, they have been an old couple for nearly twenty years. Emperor Chongping was stunned for a long time, and then he knew what Empress Song meant. He waved his hand and said, "I am a little tired today."

  Empress Song's beautiful face was filled with embarrassment, and she said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, I am worried about Your Majesty working on state affairs, so I just thought..."

  But a moment later, resentment arose in the beauty's heart. She was only less than forty years old, but she was as if she had been left a widow. Was she wrong?

  "I will read a book. Zitong should go to bed early." Emperor Chongping picked up a book with a blue cover and sounded impatient.

  How long has it been since the Shandong Army was so anxious that it still had romantic interests?
  Emperor Chongping held the book like this. After a while, he felt sleepy and tired.

  At this moment, I could only smell the fragrant aroma floating under my nose, and the familiar call: "Your Majesty."

  The conversation between Empress Song and Emperor Chongping just now undoubtedly contained a hint of ambush.

  Queen Song turned her eyes to look at the middle-aged emperor who had fallen asleep, and sighed deeply in her heart.

  After a while, I heard a rustling sound in my ears...

  I don't know how long it took, but Empress Song's snow-skinned face was already as red as drunk. She looked at the middle-aged emperor who was sleeping, with a hint of guilt in her charming silky eyes.

  Just now, in order to be more realistic, the beauty naturally wanted to fill the curtains with a charming atmosphere.

  Therefore, it was inevitable that he had thought of someone in front of Emperor Chongping just now.

  Empress Song sighed quietly. Now tiredness came over her, and she fell asleep under the brocade quilt.

  ……

  ……

  The next day, in the early morning, a fiery red sun rose in the eastern sky, illuminating the entire sky with an orange halo.

  Emperor Chongping got up very early and rubbed his slightly sore neck. For a moment, he felt a soreness in his waist and back, and he couldn't lift himself up. He turned his eyes to look at the sleeping beauty lying next to her with a blushing face.

  Emperor Chongping frowned and sighed.

  I fell asleep for some reason last night, maybe it was Zitong...

  He has been somewhat neglecting Zitong in the past two years.

  Emperor Chongping couldn't help but look dazed for a moment. He didn't bother to blame Empress Song. Instead, he stood up and stood up with his clothes on. His nose moved as if he caught the familiar yet unfamiliar breath, and he frowned. Out of Queen Song's bedroom.

  After Emperor Chongping left, the beauty who was sleeping on the bed slowly opened her beautiful eyes with curved eyelashes, and then lifted a brocade quilt embroidered with hibiscus flowers, and her fragrant shoulders as white as snow were exposed in the air.

  The golden morning sun shines on the swords and guns, reflecting the dazzling light, while the Beijing cavalry is holding fiery red flags, hunting in the morning wind, and is ready to go.

  Under the attention of the civil and military ministers in Beijing, Jia Heng led a group of cavalry troops from the Beijing camp out of the city gate and headed straight for Shandong. The subsequent food and supplies were supplied by the Military Aircraft Department in Shanxi, Henan, and Hebei.

  "The army obeys the order and marches out!" Jia Heng looked back at the capital city. His eyes seemed to have passed through the heavy smoke and fell on the sweet and bright smiles of Ning and Rong's two houses, and then he turned his eyes and took a look. Chen Xiao beside him said in a deep voice.

  Accompanied by bursts of desolate and distant horn sounds, the cavalry kicked up billows of dust on the official road and headed toward the place where the sun rises in the east.

  In late April of the seventeenth year of Chongping, not long after Jia Heng, the Duke of Wei, was staying in Beijing, he led his troops to Shandong due to a rebellion at the Shandong Guard Station.

  Time flies, and unknowingly it has been half a month since the rebellion broke out in Jining Prefecture.

  And just half a month later, Jinan Fucheng——

  A flag with the Chinese character embroidered on the top of the city was flapping in the wind. A team was wearing fiery red uniforms, and soldiers in armor outside were standing guard on the top of the city wall.

  Zhao Qi, the governor of Shandong, looked at the rebellious soldiers gathered outside the city. A trace of panic appeared on his elegant and fair face, and he asked worriedly: "What should we do?"

  It turned out that a few days ago, Shandong Governor Zhao Qi received an urgent delivery of six hundred miles from Chu King Chen Qin, mentioning the rebellion of Jining Guards. Then just a few days later, reports came from Taichang Prefecture and Wuding Prefecture one after another. There is news that the guards army will attack Fucheng.

  At this moment, Shandong Chief Envoy Peng Bingyu approached, with a look of panic on his face as well, and said: "Master Zhongcheng, the fast horse has already gone to Shenjing City. I think the reinforcements will arrive soon."

  Zhao Qi composed himself and asked: "What is the situation in Taichang Mansion and Wuding Mansion?"

  Peng Bingyu frowned and said, "Mr. Zhao, the situation may not be good. King Chu's expedition horse came over and mentioned Taichang Prefecture and Wuding Prefecture. After the two places' defenses merged, they occupied two cities. Taichang and Wuding have fallen into the hands of bandits."

  Zhao Qi sighed and said: "How come a Shandong Guards Station has become a place where rebels are entrenched? Are there rebels everywhere?"

  Chief envoy Peng Bingyu said: "I heard that the banner of these guards generals is that the imperial court tortures the soldiers in the fields, checks the fields, and does not give the generals a way to live." Zhao Qi looked angrily and said: "That's nonsense! They are greedy for grain. The fields are used to support private soldiers, but now the court is investigating, and they dare to fight against the heavenly army, and they are beaten down, it is really hateful!"

  At this moment, Sun Keli, the general of the Fubiao camp, approached. He was a tall man with a Chinese character face. He cupped his fists and said: "Zhongcheng, it should be the White Lotus demon who has bewitched the guards and generals. These demons have infiltrated into the local guards. , as soon as the incident happened, there were rebel troops everywhere."

  Zhao Qi frowned and whispered: "Is there a White Lotus demon in the city? General Sun, go and lead people to carefully investigate the spies in the city."

  Sun Keli clasped his fists in response, but when he lowered his eyes, there seemed to be a cunning light in his eyes.

  At this moment, the soldiers below were surrounding Jinan Fucheng. Hauge and Chen Yuan were walking side by side, looking coldly at Jinan Fucheng in the distance.

  Although Hauge had one arm, his majestic and resolute face once again showed a high-spirited attitude. He said to Chen Yuan on the side: "Is there an internal response in Jinan City?"

  The beginning of the past few days can be described as extremely dreamy. Many generals and soldiers in the guard station have raised troops to respond to Hauge.

  Chen Yuan said: "Jinan Prefecture has been operating for a long time and has a lot of internal support. Your Majesty, just wait."

  This piece of land in Shandong was the place where his father left him to start his life.

  Not far away, there is a group of cavalry whose armor is obviously different from the uniforms of the soldiers in Chen Yuan's guard. The formation is quite orderly, and they are even faintly visible above the soldiers and horses of the official guard.

  The leader was riding on a horse. It was Li Yanqing who was looking at a few people and frowning secretly. The short-bearded and horse-faced man on the side was Li Yanqing's brother Xiang Jinan and said, "Brother, why is this Jurchen? Did you get involved?"

  When the Jurchens crossed the border and plundered, the local people in Shandong also experienced the looting, burning and killing of the Donglu, and they were quite hostile to the Jurchens.

  Li Yanqing pondered for a moment and said: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Now the Han Dynasty is unruly. Even the Jurchens, as long as they can help overthrow the Han court, we will join forces with them."

  Since the Henan Rebellion, two years have passed so quickly, and time seems to have left no trace on Li Yanqing's face.

  After Li Yanqing finished speaking, he looked at Jinan Fucheng under the setting sun and said, "Let brothers prepare. After breaking the city, we first occupy the official treasury."

  Just as a few people were talking, the sky was gradually getting dark, and the officers and soldiers in Jinan City were on guard back and forth on the top of the city.

  At this moment, in the governor's Yamen, in the official hall——

  Zhao Qi, the governor of Shandong, was sitting behind the bill, summoning the soldiers and generals in the government office to talk. At this moment, the hall was dark and crowded.

  In addition to the officials from the Shandong Governor's Yamen, officials from the Jinan Prefecture's Prefecture, the Inspector's Department, and the Chief's Department were also present.

  This is obviously a high-level military meeting.

  At this time, Qi Yingfu, the commander of the Jinan Guard, was a taller, dark-skinned young man. He cupped his hands and said, "Master Zhongcheng, all the soldiers and horses in the city have been ordered to the city and are guarding with weapons."

  As the provincial capital, Jinan Prefecture has many garrison troops stationed in it.

  Zhao Qi put on a serious face and said in a deep voice: "Be more careful and beware of bad guys attacking the city."

  Now there are no generals in Jinan Prefecture who can entrust important matters, so these unknown generals can only be used to guard the city.

  How long will it take for the troops of the imperial court to arrive?
  Duke Wei has always used his troops like a god, but now he can't be seen at all. What should he do?

  The city of Jinan was destroyed. As the governor, he had the responsibility to protect the land and bring peace to the people, so he would probably die for his country.

  "Everyone, we have arrived at the siege. According to the report from the scouts, there are about [-] to [-] people besieging Jinan City. We only have more than [-] soldiers and horses in Jinan City, and including the young men, there are only [-]." Zhao Qi said.

  At this time, a general behind the Jinan Guard, who was about twenty-six or seventeen years old, with a purple face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, cupped his hands and said: "Master Zhongcheng, the young prince of Dongping County is in Denglai Mansion. If he leads troops to rush for reinforcements, , as long as we persist for two more days, we should be able to arrive."

  Zhao Qiwen was slightly shocked when he heard this and asked: "Why does this general say so confidently?"

  The young general said: "Five days ago, I had already found the Jinyi Mansion Guard Station in Jinan and asked him to deliver the military information to the Denglai Navy. Even though it would take time for the Navy to abandon the boat and land, After such a long time, there should be soldiers and horses galloping over."

  At this time, seeing Zhao Qi's face as if he was thinking, Sun Keli, the general of the Fubiao camp, became anxious and said, "You are only a fifth-grade fellow, yet you dare to talk so shamelessly in the government hall!"

  When Zhao Qi heard this, he frowned and shouted: "General Sun, please don't be rude."

  As he spoke, he looked at the young general expectantly and asked, "What position does this general hold now?"

  "Returning to Master Zhongcheng, I will send you the Jinan Prefecture Guard to Zhang Dai." The general said, handing over his hand.

  Although Yi Wei Qian Shi was also a prominent figure in the guard office, he really did not have the qualifications to be remembered by the governor Zhao Qi in Jinan Mansion where third-grade officials were everywhere.

  Zhao Qi's eyes showed a look of satisfaction, and he nodded and said: "Zhang Qianshi, in your opinion, how should we defend this city of Jinan? Is it more secure? Now that the army is pressing down on the border, you and I are in the same boat, can Zhang Qianshi speak freely?"

  This young man speaks clearly and clearly, and he is presumably a resourceful man. Now that he is in danger of being destroyed, he might as well ask for advice.

  "Sir, he is just a small commander. What good ideas can he have?" At this time, Sun Keli, the general of Zhao Qi's Fubiao camp, said with a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

  After tonight, the soldiers and horses outside the city will be escorted into the city. Everyone in front of them will be dead! Don't get carried away with this!

  Zhao Qi felt disgusted, his face gradually turned cold, and he said sternly: "I am asking questions, how can you interrupt? Come here!"

  "Yes." The soldiers on guard with swords from all directions agreed enthusiastically, shouted loudly, came out from the crowd, surrounded Sun Keli, and immediately held down his shoulders.

  Zhao Qi looked solemn and said in a deep voice: "Whoever comes, pull Sun Keli down immediately, hit him with twenty boards, and put him in jail!"

  The so-called feudal official, who had accumulated authority for a long time, was furious at this moment, and all the officials in the hall were suddenly frightened.

  In fact, Zhao Qi had never suspected that Sun Keli was a spy at all, but just because the dignity of the Jiang minister was repeatedly offended, he faintly sensed that something was wrong, and without any explanation, he took him down in court.

  "Yes." Several officers came forward and held down Sun Keli's arms.

  Sun Keli was anxious, struggling fiercely, and said urgently: "Master Zhongcheng, I am sincere to Zhongcheng, I can learn from the sun and the moon..."

  "If you are unruly, add twenty more boards!" Zhao Qi said coldly with an indifferent expression.

  Not long after, Sun Keli, who was still struggling, was escorted out of the government hall by several big and round guards. Not long after, the sound of hitting a wooden board was heard.

  At this moment, Zhang Dai, the commander who stood up in the Yamen Hall, raised his head, with an aggressive gaze in his tiger eyes under his thick eyebrows, and said with cupped hands: "Zhongcheng, although Jinan Fucheng has few soldiers, they may not have none, but there are also many in the city. A few people are bewitched by the White Lotus Sect, and there are even relevant generals in Fubiao Camp who are secretly communicating with the White Lotus Sect."

  Zhao Qi seemed to be a very thoughtful person, and combined with Sun Keli being forked out just now, he asked: "What does Zhang Qianshi mean? Just now..."

  As he said this, he was startled, and the look on his face suddenly became gloomy and uncertain.

  "Lord Zhongcheng, it may not be impossible." Zhang Dai paused slightly and said.

  Zhao Qi frowned, thinking on his face. He looked at Zhang Dai suspiciously and said, "Zhang Qian, how do you detect spies in the city?"

  In fact, since there is a spy in the city, the person in front of him may also be a spy.

  Zhang Dai cupped his hands and said: "The general believes that the main force for defense in the city should be divided into three groups: Fubiao Camp, Jinan Mansion Guards, and Admiral Yamen soldiers and horses, so that they can monitor each other so that the soldiers do not know the generals and the generals do not know the soldiers. , In addition, the Jinyi Mansion is commanding Jinan Mansion officers and men to patrol, and any police station will provide immediate support. At this moment, in case there is a change, the Fubiao Battalion must be moved away from the city gate."

  At this moment, all the soldiers and horses in Jinan City are roughly this, about ten or twenty thousand people. It is obviously a wise man who can improvise such a check and balance strategy.

  When Zhao Qi heard this, his eyes lit up, he thought about his plan, and said in a deep voice: "What Zhang Qianshi said is right. If anyone comes, just follow his words."

  Other Shandong officials in the hall, such as Shandong Chief Minister Peng Bingyu and Inspector Xiang Heng, also had some surprises on their faces.

  He secretly thought, what a good strategy, multiple parties mix and spy on each other, so that the soldiers don't know the generals, and the generals don't know the soldiers. Even if they want to open the city gate secretly, because the soldiers under his command may not be familiar with it, and there are still soldiers watching, it is difficult to distinguish them for a while.

  After three to five days, the navy from Denglai Guards rushed over to help.

  Zhang Dai said: "Mr. Zhao is not only the servant of the lords in the city, but also the city team and assists in the defense of the city. In addition, the general advises the governor to open the two treasuries of the feudal government to report those who report the White Lotus Demon, regardless of the city servants of Jinan Prefecture." If you strengthen the people and kill the bandits, you will be rewarded with five taels of silver."

  Zhao Qi nodded and said in a deep voice: "Under heavy rewards, there must be brave men. What Zhang Qian said is true. Once the city is defeated, these will become assets for the enemy."

  Until this moment, Zhao Qi suddenly understood.

  In other words, the governor, who was a civil servant, had never experienced the siege of a large army and had not reacted before. Now that he had received advice, he seemed to have gained the backbone.

  He turned to look at the chief envoy Peng Bingyu on the side and said in a deep voice: "Master Peng, just follow what Zhang Qianshi said."

  Peng Bingyu couldn't help but feel refreshed at this moment, and whispered: "Yes, Lord Zhongcheng."

  At this moment, with a strategy to deal with the enemy, the enthusiasm of the officials was mobilized.

  (End of this chapter)