The Red Mansions

palace garden
  As the Jingyang bell rang, the news of the death of the Supreme Emperor spread quickly throughout Shenjing City, and the people in Shenjing City also began to raise white flags under the shouts of the soldiers of Jingzhao Mansion.

  The death of the Supreme Emperor was a national mourning, so every household stopped marriage and marriage for about twenty-seven days, and no drinking or entertainment was allowed for three months.

  Emperor Chongping ordered the chief minister of the cabinet, the Minister of Rites, Han Huang, and the cabinet ministers to mobilize the Ministry of Rites to organize the funeral.

  The cabinet and the Hanlin Academy began to decide on the temple name and posthumous title of the Supreme Emperor Longzhi based on his merits and virtues. According to the temple name of Taizu Taizong of the Chen Han Dynasty, plus the long reign of Emperor Longzhi, there were both merits and demerits. Overall, the merits outweighed the faults. Longzhi The emperor will probably be designated as Gaozong, and then he will be given a bunch of beautiful posthumous titles.

  Similarly, due to the funeral of the Supreme Emperor Longzhi, members of the clan, such as Chen Rong, the deposed loyal and submissive king, and the eldest princess of Jinyang, who was far away in Jinling and was on her way back at this moment, would all attend the funeral for the Supreme Emperor.

  The King of Chu in Henan and the King of Liang in Jinling came on horseback to attend the funeral for Emperor Longzhi.

  Qi Wangfu

  The boy in front of the door, under the instructions of the housekeeper, hung white flags and spiritual cloth on the lintel and couplets on both sides.

  At this time, he heard the "dah-dah" sound of horse hooves trampling on the bluestone slabs from the street. The boy looked up and saw a group of military horses approaching quickly and approaching the gate.

  "Xi Lv Lv..."

  The knights on the cavalry reined in their horses, and the leader surrounded by the guards was none other than the fat-headed and big-eared King of Qi.

  King Qi was summoned by Emperor Chongping to return to the capital the day before yesterday. He rushed all the way to the capital without any delay. On the way, he heard that the Supreme Emperor had passed away, so he accelerated even more.

  At this moment, King Qi was already wearing sackcloth and mourning, and he met Jia Yucun and Xu Shaozhen head-on.

  "Your Majesty, the prince of the county is already waiting in the hall." Xu Shaozhen, the guest of the Prince of Qi's Mansion, had a suppressed excitement on his face and welcomed Prince Qi into the ceremony gate.

  King Qi nodded and said: "Mr. Xu, go into the study to talk. I will go to the palace to cry in a while."

  So, surrounded by several close friends and confidants, Qi King Chen Cheng passed through the green-barred corridor and the moon door, all the way into the inner study, opened the cabinet, and entered the secret room where business was usually discussed.

  At this moment, Chen Hong, Chen Rui and Palace Chief Shi Dourong had been waiting for a while, and got up to greet King Qi.

  King Qi nodded and said: "To make a long story short, I will go to the palace to cry in mourning later."

  Although the emperor's death had long been expected, King Qi had grown up under the favor of the Supreme Emperor Longzhi when he was a child, and he felt somewhat sad.

  Along the way, I could only comfort myself secretly in my heart. The Supreme Emperor had lived for more than seventy years. Even if he died at this moment, it would be a joyous loss.

  Everyone sat down. Chen Hong's eyes were as cold as lightning under his sharp eyebrows. He lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, the Beijing camp is now under the command of Xie Zaiyi. It will be inconvenient for us to do anything. We need to get rid of this person!"

  Although the Beijing camp has been reorganized several times, it has not yet been completely replaced. For example, in the early years, there were still some veterans of the Beijing camp and some middle and low-level generals. They cooperated in every reorganization and went to the northern Xinjiang and northwest capitals. If you can work conscientiously and obey orders, you will be promoted accordingly.

  These people were already hiding quite deeply.

  Dou Rong explained: "This Xie Zaiyi was originally going to Huguang to supervise the military affairs of the guard station. He could have been transferred out, but something happened in Shandong, so Jia Heng's son kept Xie Zaiyi in the capital to be wary of the situation in the capital. The changes are obviously prepared for."

  "It may not be that he is prepared. The Duke of Wei has always been cautious. This is because he is worried about the emptiness of the capital, so he is prepared." Under Chen Hongying's angry eyebrows, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and he secretly thought, this is a wise man.

  No matter how much he hated Duke Wei, Chen Hong was still inexplicably impressed by the unparalleled strategy of an important military official.

  "Then it's mainly Jia Heng's manpower this time?" King Qi Mung Dou asked with a cold look in his eyes.

  "They are almost the soldiers and horses of the Beijing camp under Duke Wei." Chen Hong paused slightly and said in a low voice: "There are about two of the four guards of Longxiang. They may be used by the prince at a critical moment, as well as the people from the five houses in Jinyi Mansion. , In a critical moment, you may not be able to switch sides and attack."

  After Jia Heng took charge of the Jinyi Mansion Guards, in order not to arouse Emperor Chongping's suspicion, he did not inspect or replace the generals and commanders of the five thousand households in the palace.

  But it happened that most of the people in the Inner Five Thousand Households Institute were old people from the reign of King Yong. King Qi also contributed a lot in the process of King Yong's seizure of the throne and had a deep friendship with the generals in the Inner Five Thousand Household Institute.

  When the Emperor's funeral was held, the main defense force was the guards from the Nei Qian Hu Office who served as guards of honor and security.

  The Supreme Emperor's funeral was held. As the "most filial son in the world", Emperor Chongping would definitely send the Supreme Emperor to his last journey unless his body could not move that day.

  And this was the opportunity for King Qi, and it was also the Chen-Han version of the Gongling Incident.

  The flesh on King Qi's face was as heavy as frost. He jumped as if he had made up his mind. Mung Bean's small eyes seemed to be filled with cold light, and he murmured: "Now that everything is ready, let's do it for Grandpa Huang." Revenge and force my father to abdicate."

  He couldn't commit patricide, but he could still force his father to abdicate and, most importantly, honor him in a palace.

  At this moment, King Qi didn't know that Chen Hong also had other plans in his heart.

  After reaching an agreement with several people, King Qi put on his filial piety, got on a sedan, and left the palace under the escort of the palace guards. Not long after, he headed to the palace garden.

  At this moment, the flagpoles on the palace wall have been replaced with white flags and spiritual cloths. The guards who were originally holding swords and warning also wore mourning cloths on their heads. The Supreme Emperor Longzhi and the Daxing Emperor also had their souls resting south of the Hanyuan Hall. Fengtian Hall accepts the condolences of hundreds of officials and the crying souls of the clan.

  Along the way, the maids and eunuchs on both sides of the palace road looked solemn and sad, and the entire palace garden was filled with an atmosphere of sadness and sadness.

  As soon as King Qi arrived at the Fengtian Hall, he raised his eyes to look at the coffin parked in the main hall, walked away quickly, and knelt down with a "pop", the fat around him shaking in place, and walked on his knees, crying loudly. , with runny nose running across his face, he said: "Grandpa Huang, Grandpa Huang, why did you leave your grandson behind?"

  At this moment, when the officials of the Han Dynasty who came to pay their respects heard the "pop" sound, they had different expressions on their faces.

  However, when I think of the Supreme Emperor's love for King Qi, I can also feel the unspeakable sadness.

  "Grandpa Huang, Grandpa Huang..." King Qi walked quickly and came all the way to the coffin, crying bitterly.

  Emperor Chongping, who was also wearing heavy mourning, was kneeling beside him. He looked at King Qi who was crying bitterly, frowned, and there was a trace of disgust in his eyes, but he didn't say anything else.

  However, after a while, an old cry was heard: "Father, I'm late. I'm late. I didn't see you for the last time."

  At this moment, the ministers who were crying softly in the hall turned their heads to follow the sound and looked at the entrance of the hall, mostly with strange thoughts.

  I saw a middle-aged man wearing heavy mourning clothes and a white mourning hat. His deeply furrowed face was full of tears. He came quickly. After crossing the threshold, he knelt down and walked all the way to the mourning hall, crying. Said: "Father, father, why did you leave?"

  Also wailing and sobbing.

  It was Chen Rong, the former loyal and shun king, who also came from Gongling to attend the funeral of the Supreme Emperor.

  Emperor Chongping glanced at Chen Rong, feeling extremely annoyed, but this was more of a filial piety, and no one could say anything.

  Then, Chen Hong, Prince of Zhongshun County, other clan members, and consorts of Emperor Longzhi's daughters came one after another and went to the mourning hall to cry.

  On the other side, Princess Jinyang's carriage also arrived in the capital quickly and slowly, heading towards the harem in the palace garden.

  At this moment, the eldest princess of Jinyang wore a high bun and a white linen mourning dress. Her originally graceful and gorgeous jade face was full of sadness. Accompanied by Xia Houying and other guards, she entered the palace in a carriage.

  Just arrived at the palace and met Princess Xianning and Li Chanyue who were greeting them.

  "Auntie." Princess Xianning called in a hoarse voice.

  Li Chanyue also came closer and looked at the plump beauty. A look of attachment appeared on her bright face, and she called softly: "Mother."

  Under the slender eyebrows of Liu Ye, the eldest princess of Jinyang, her beautiful eyes were shining and charming, and she said softly: "Xianning, Chanyue."

  Princess Xianning said: "The Queen Mother and the Queen Mother are in the side hall of Fengtian Palace. Auntie, come with me."

  The eldest princess of Jinyang gave a soft "hmm" and followed Princess Xianning and Li Chanyue to the side hall of Fengtian Palace to meet Empress Dowager Feng.

  At this moment, in the side hall, the female family members were already crying.

  And among the concubines, Wu Guiren lowered his head, held the handkerchief, and kept thinking in his mind.

  Empress Dowager Feng raised her eyes and looked at her daughter. Under her gray hair, her face, which was originally elegant but old in appearance, became haggard and pale. Gradually she burst into tears. She reached out and took Princess Jinyang's bare hand and said: "Li'er, come back. ”

  The eldest princess of Jinyang had a white complexion, and there was sadness in her beautiful eyes, and she said mournfully: "Queen, my condolences."

  Empress Dowager Feng sighed softly, and Empress Song and Concubine Duanrong on the side quickly supported the older woman.

  Then, a group of female relatives cried in the side hall again. Being in such a sad environment, it is inevitable that people will feel a sore nose and shed tears.

  The eldest princess of Jinyang comforted Empress Dowager Feng and said, "Where is your royal brother?"

  "Your imperial brother is in the main hall." Empress Dowager Feng sighed softly and said, "You should also go and see your father." Princess Jinyang nodded without saying much, and then went to the main hall.

  When he came to the main hall, he knelt down on the side of Emperor Chongping, kowtowed several times to the coffin of the Supreme Emperor, and then he kept sobbing and said plaintively: "Father, my son is unfilial and I didn't have time to see you for the last time."

  When Emperor Chongping saw the eldest princess of Jinyang, he sighed softly and said, "Jinyang."

  Jinyang would not have gone to Jinling if he had not helped him with the errands of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

  ……

  ……

  Let’s not mention the uproar in Beijing due to the death of the Supreme Emperor, but say that after Jia Heng led a heavy army to encircle Yanzhou Prefecture, he organized heavy troops to attack and defend Yanzhou Prefecture. From the first battle, things did not go well.

  In this way, time flies by, and before we know it, the seventeenth year of Chongping has entered the midsummer season.

  There have been several rounds of offensive and defensive battles in front of Yanzhou Fucheng, which lasted for five days. Except for throwing away one or two thousand corpses in Yanzhou Fucheng, the Han army made almost no progress.

  Even if a large number of soldiers from the army occasionally attacked the city, they were quickly driven off the city by Hauge and Li Yanqing, and there was no atmosphere at all.

  Then came the torrential rain that lasted for nearly ten days, which temporarily interrupted the army's advance.

  Because it was mid-to-late May, there were many thunderstorms, dark clouds gathered, and the summer rain fell heavily on the land of Qilu. After the rain, the vegetation was lush and green.

  At this moment, in the capital of Yanzhou——

  In the lobby of the original government office, the five tile-roofed rooms were spacious, and a group of burly generals were drinking and drinking, and the atmosphere was quite noisy, celebrating the cessation of the Han army's offensive in the past few days.

  The Han army had been attacking the city continuously, firing thunder and artillery fire. The soldiers defending the city also suffered many casualties, mainly because they were unable to defend themselves against the thunder.

  The heavy rain in the past few days has undoubtedly delayed the Han army's offensive, allowing the generals in the city to live in peace for a few days.

  In the back office hall, Chen Yuan, Haoge and Li Yanqing sat behind the desk and started talking.

  Chen Yuan looked grim and said in a deep voice: "The offensive of the army has been frustrated in the past few days. It rained heavily this time. It should be impossible to board the city."

  Hauge said: "This rain can last for a while, but after the rain stops, the officers and soldiers will inevitably increase their offensive. How long can the food in the city last?"

  Chen Yuan flew sideways under the sword-shaped eyebrows on his temples, his eyes condensed, and he said: "If we consume rice at the current rate, it should be able to last for three months."

  Hauge couldn't help but show a thoughtful look on his majestic face, and said: "The war warning situation in the north should only be in the past few days."

  Chen Yuan said: "Being trapped in such a desperate situation is not a long-term solution."

  At this time, Pei Yuan, the elder of the White Lotus Sect, came from outside, holding a short piece of paper in his hand, and said loudly: "Sir, the flying pigeon in Shenjing passed the message."

  Chen Yuan put down the wine cup in his hand, raised his eyebrows, his eyes flickered, and asked: "What's the latest news in Shenjing?"

  Elder Pei's ravaged face could not conceal his joy as he said, "The Supreme Emperor of Chonghua Palace has passed away."

  As soon as these words came out, Chen Yuan was shocked and stood up suddenly, saying: "What did you say?"

  Elder Pei said: "Sir, the Supreme Emperor has passed away."

  Hauge, who was on the other side, was picking up the wine cup and savoring it. Under his thick eyebrows, his tiger-wolf eyes flickered, and there seemed to be a hint of ferocity flickering.

  "The Supreme Emperor has passed away." Hauge said in surprise.

  In his mind, as long as he could remember, the Supreme Emperor was often mentioned by his grandma. Unexpectedly, he had lived for such a long time.

  Chen Yuan's heart was agitated and he muttered: "The plan is already being implemented."

  I remember that the original plan was to wait for the funeral of the Supreme Emperor to work together to make a big plan. First, let the King of Qi ascend the throne to rectify the names of the deposed prince and the former King of Zhao. After that, Chen Yuan would be named King of Zhao and come to Beijing to assist in the government and jointly fight against Jia Heng.

  Of course, several of them have their own ideas, and Chen Hong also has other ideas.

  As for why Emperor Chongping was not assassinated, it was because Emperor Chongping secretly had masters of bodyguards to protect his personal safety.

  Chen Yuan said loudly: "The troops and horses in the capital are empty. It is the time to start an uprising. When the king of Qi succeeds, he will first seize the Jia family, and then take the military power of Jia Heng's son, and our siege will be lifted." .”

  Hauge pondered for a moment and said: "At that time, will King Qi make the mistake and wipe us out here?"

  Chen Yuan said in a clear voice: "That little Jia Heng won't obey him at all. If he commanded King Jing Qin, he wouldn't be able to leave us."

  This is the plan of Chen Yuan, King Qi, Chen Hong and others, which is to use the Shandong rebel army to contain Jia Heng. King Qi, as the eldest son of the emperor, will create a fait accompli after he ascends the throne in the capital, and then gather the military power of the capital camp, and in turn An imperial edict granted Jia Heng military power.

  ……

  ……

  Yanzhou Fucheng, two miles outside the city, is a well-built camp. The military tents are quite embarrassed in the summer rain that locks the sky and the earth.

  Jia Heng stood on a hanging map of mountains, rivers, and cities and villages. His face was dazed, as if he was in a trance, and the rain was ticking in his ears. He was worried that the tent was open, and the heavy rain seemed to be falling non-stop.

  "Still thinking of ways to defeat the enemy?" Chen Xiao handed the brewed tea cup to the young man and said softly.

  Jia Heng turned around and muttered: "The city of Yanzhou Prefecture is well-equipped with soldiers and food. If we besiege the city, we will not be able to break it within two months." "

  Chen Yuanying regarded Yanzhou Fucheng as his final stronghold, so he stationed a lot of troops, horses, and grain.

  Chen Xiaoqing said: "If you want to reduce some casualties, just bring the Hongyi cannon and some more gunpowder."

  Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said, "The recent heavy rain has given Yanzhou Prefecture's troops some more time. We don't know what's going on in the north at the moment."

  Chen Xiao said: "It is estimated that police information will be delivered in the next few days."

  Jia Heng was silent for a moment, with a cold look in his eyes, and said: "Then wait until the sky clears to attack the city..."

  "Looking at this heavy rain, it seems that I can't stop watching it for a while. If I want the sky to clear up, I'm afraid I'll have to wait." Chen Xiaoqing's eyes were filled with worry, and he said softly.

  When Jia Heng heard this, a bright light suddenly flashed in his heart, but it only flickered and disappeared. He asked, "What did you just say?"

  "I said this heavy rain won't stop for a while." Chen Xiao added.

  When Jia Heng heard this, his eyes sparkled, he turned to look at the map, and his eyes fell on the Si River east of Yanzhou Prefecture. It was just a curved line on the map.

  Chen Xiao's eyebrows were arched in thought, his eyes moved slightly, and he asked, "Have you come up with a plan?"

  "Yanzhou is flooded." Jia Heng turned around, his eyes flickered, and he said in a clear voice: "Recent heavy rains have caused floods, so it is better to capture the city by flooding."

  In the siege of the city, the first step was to dig tunnels and the second step was to attack with water. Now that the heavy rains in summer have not stopped, the method of attacking with water can be used.

  Chen Xiao said softly: "The water level of the Si River has surged right now."

  Jia Heng pointed to the map and said in a deep voice: "When the Jinkou Dam is dug, the Yanzhou Fucheng originally has a lower terrain. With the Si River rushing by, the Yanzhou Fucheng can be submerged. The rebels and White Lotus Cult bandits in the city will definitely be in chaos. "

  Anyway, the city is currently full of rebels from the Shandong Guards and the White Lotus Cult bandits. There is nothing wrong with turning the Yanzhou capital into a marshland on the water.

  Chen Xiao's eyes flashed, but he felt that this plan was feasible, and said softly: "Then we must prepare boats in advance and move the camp to high ground."

  Flooded siege is not that simple. Boats need to be prepared in advance. In addition, the camp must be moved to high ground. Otherwise, water and fire will be merciless and there will be no distinction between ourselves and the enemy.

  Jia Heng said with enthusiasm: "Let's make preparations in these two days. After half a month of confrontation, it's time to defeat the enemy!"

  After five days of siege, it rained for another ten days, which was almost over, and the supply of food and fodder was also inconvenient.

  It is worth mentioning that after Shenggong Kong Yan met Jia Heng previously, his attitude was quite respectful and he promised to give [-] shi of grain to the imperial army to serve as military supplies and destroy the rebels.

  Then, Jia Heng ordered Li Shu to bring a group of generals to the camp.