I'm watching the gate in the jail

In the first month of the 14th year of Chenghua, Wanda led 12-year-old Wan Lan into the palace to greet Wan Zhener.

At this time, the prince Zhu Youtang was already nine years old, and he no longer lived in Anxi Palace, but moved into the Prince's East Palace.

Wan Zhen'er, who is now the imperial concubine, was afraid that Zhu Youtang would not get used to the sudden change of his environment and the absence of the servants who were used to serving him, so he assigned many eunuchs and maids to serve past.

Seeing A Lan who rarely entered the palace, Zhu Youtang was naturally overjoyed, and dragged Wan Lan to play in his East Palace.

"I heard that you entered the palace this time because you wanted to take Ah Zhi out of the palace?"

The children are gone, Wan Zhen'er can finally talk to Wanda for a while.She backed away from the left and right, took Wanda's hand, and asked in a low voice.

"Yes, Ah Zhi is eighteen years old, and he can't stay in the palace any longer."

Wanda nodded, "I made an agreement with His Majesty back then. It was just a stopgap measure for Ah Zhi to enter the palace pretending to be a servant. Look at the incident in Xichang last year... I'm afraid that if he stays in the palace again, if someone Discovering his identity as a fake eunuch will cause an uproar."

After the West Factory reopened last year, Wang Zhi has handled many cases one after another.Now there are only a few people who hate him in Chaoli, and he himself is not invulnerable.

Wanda thought and thought, and after discussing with Yang Xiuxian, he decided that Wang Zhi's departure from the palace should be done sooner rather than later.He was afraid that someone would really catch him, and if the title of "confusing the harem" was removed, then even Wanda might not be able to keep him.It may even implicate Wan Zhen'er, who herself had no reputation in the previous dynasty.

"What you said is true, but His Majesty..."

Wan Zhen'er had long regarded Wang Zhi as her own, so she naturally understood Wanda's thoughts, but before she could get to the point, she coughed violently.

Wanda hurriedly got up and went outside, and ordered the maid to serve tea.

He put down the thick curtain to block the wind and came back, ran his hand along Wan Zhen'er's back, and said worriedly, "Sister, what's the matter? Could it be that the cold in the twelfth lunar month still hasn't healed? I heard my sister coughing when I came back last time." , Hasn’t it been all right?”

Wan Zhen'er coughed for a long time, and finally calmed down, waved her hands and said, "It's not a cold. It's been like this since last year. There is always phlegm in her throat, her body feels heavy, and she can't lift her spirits up. "

After finishing speaking, he smiled wryly, "Maybe he's old, after all, he's approaching fifty."

"My sister is talking nonsense. Don't say that you are too early to be 50 years old. With my sister's appearance and figure, you are out of the palace. Who would say that you are only in your early thirties. But I have been in the wind every day for the past two years in order to handle the case." I got sunburned, my face was wrinkled, and my face was darkened a lot. Maybe someone saw us and said you are my sister."

Wanda spoke nonsense with her eyes open, and amused the court lady standing behind Wan Zhen'er holding a teacup.

"Oh, you little cunning. You actually ate my sister's 'tofu'..."

Wan Zhen'er also laughed until her belly ached, pointing at him and laughing.

"But always coughing, it still hurts the lungs. Ask Chen Sishan to hang pears in a small pot in the small kitchen, don't put sugar, and eat a pear soup when the pear meat is melted, which is the best way to relieve cough and asthma. "

"I'm drinking. I'm drinking bird's nest and Sydney loquat paste. Don't worry."

Wan Zhener looked at him in relief.

In the warm, joyful and peaceful atmosphere in Anxi Palace, a little servant hurried in and said to Wanda and Wan Zhen'er, "Ma'am, it's not good, over there in the East Palace, the Crown Prince and Xiaowan Your lord is fighting."

"Bear boy, you are so courageous, you dare to hit your brother!"

When Wanda heard that it was okay, she immediately got up, clacked her hands together, and followed the little servant towards the East Palace.

Wan Zhen'er was also angry and impatient. Although Alan was his own, Zhu Youtang was his heart's desire.He hurriedly took the maid, and hurriedly followed.

As soon as he entered the East Palace and walked past the screen wall, Wanda was immediately happy.

He was still a step late, and the two brats had already been subdued.

At this moment, both of them were standing in the courtyard, the front curtain of their robes was lifted and tied around their waists, and they were striding their horses with bitter faces.

In the first month of the lunar year, Beijing was still very cold, the north wind was blowing, and the snowflakes were blowing on the faces of the two bear children one after another.

Wan Lan is fine, she has not practiced in vain with Gao Hui in the past two years, and she has a good look at the horse.

Zhu Youtang, on the other hand, has no foundation at all, and his squatting legs are already shaking like a sieve.

But when he saw Wan Lan squatting unmoved, he also held his breath, his little face turned purple, and he still refused to admit defeat.

"Okay. Ah Zhi, you are the best."

Wanda stepped forward, patted Wang Zhi's shoulder with his back turned to him, and extended his thumb in admiration.

"The empress said, you can't beat the children in the first month, let them torment themselves."

As soon as Wang Zhi finished speaking, he saw Wan Zhen'er who had hurriedly arrived and Zhu Jianshen who had just returned from the previous dynasty and came to visit the prince in the East Palace, and hurriedly knelt down to salute.

"Father..."

"Uncle Emperor..."

The two children couldn't bear it any longer, and looked at Zhu Jianshen, who was sitting in front of him, holding a stove in his hand and watching them striding forward.

The half-squat position is uncomfortable, and the two of them are not as simple as leg numb now.

When the emperor arrived, he actually asked them to raise the hand that had been clenched and placed at the side until it was level with the ground.

Now the two children were trembling all over, almost crying.

"Tell me, why did you fight?"

Zhu Jianshen threw the stove to Wanda who was standing behind him, and stood up with his waist in his arms.

"You're my brother, you talk first."

He pointed at Wan Lan and said.

"I... I said that I want to be a general, and go outside the customs to fight bad people. Immediately raised my whip, and fought bloody battles. Opened up the territory for Ming... Then my brother said that he also wanted to be a general. I said no, you are the prince, I can't be a general. Then, I got into a fight with my younger brother."

As Wan Lan spoke, big teardrops fell down. She looked up at Wanda who was suppressing a smile, and said with aggrieved face, "Woo, Dad, I thought about it and I was right."

"Father, can't you be a general when you are a crown prince?"

While shaking his legs, Zhu Youtang raised his head and asked, "I also want to make meritorious deeds, go into battle and kill the enemy. How mighty it is to be a general."

It is much more prestigious than studying in the Wenhua Palace every day.

Zhu Jianshen stared at him fiercely, scaring the child so much that he couldn't hold on any longer, and fell to the ground with a "plop".

Wan Zhen'er hurriedly asked the maids and servants to go up and help him up.

Seeing that the prince no longer persisted, Wan Lan was about to let go of her hand.

Zhu Jianshen turned his head and pouted at him.

Wan Lan had no choice but to continue gaiting, her eyes kept dropping golden beans.

Bean-sized teardrops hit the snow, creating small snow holes.

Wanda thought that these two brothers were really amazing, but Zhu Qizhen's genes were too strong, and one or two of the old Zhu's children wanted to run outside the pass.

He vaguely remembered that there seemed to be this absurd emperor who really went outside to fight.He also gave himself the title of a great general, and he didn't know whether it was Zhu Youtang's son or grandson.

Dare to feel that being a general is more majestic than being an emperor, which is a problem handed down from their ancestors.

"Who taught you? Say."

Finally, Zhu Jianshen decided not to torment the two children outside in the freezing weather, and a group of people made their way to the main hall of the East Palace.

Zhu Jianshen sat on the silver chair, looking at the two brats who were receiving the ginger tea from the maid.

The two of them had just changed out of their muddy and snow-stained clothes, and they were very well behaved now.

"What did you say."

Alan lowered his head guiltily.

"'Immediately raise the whip, bloody battle on the battlefield', who taught you this?"

Zhu Jian asked sharply.

At this moment, Wanda was surprised to see Wang kneeling on the ground as if sticking a candle, lowering his head and saying, "It's a slave..."

Wan Zhen'er, who was sitting beside Zhu Jianshen, shook her head helplessly.

"It was you who taught Ah Lan and the prince to 'immediately raise the whip and fight bloodily on the battlefield'?"

Zhu Jian stared deeply and asked, "Do you know your own identity? Do you know what happened to Wang Zhen, the eunuch who encouraged Emperor Daxing to go out to 'conquer the battlefield'? What happened to Ming after the 'Bei Shou'? If it wasn't for Yu Shangshu and Empress Dowager Sun's efforts to turn the tide, Daming would have almost perished! Wang Zhi, Wang Zhi, you are so courageous!"

"Wang knew he was wrong."

Wang Zhi prostrated himself on the ground, not even daring to raise his head.

Seeing that it was not good, Wanda hurriedly stood up from the chair, and knelt down beside Wang Zhi.

"Your Majesty, Ah Zhi is still a child, and these are just words he casually said. Don't take it seriously, Your Majesty."

What was the result of Wang Zhen's rebellion?

It was the "Civil Fortress Change", Emperor Jingtai came to power, and then the "Seize the Gate Change"—these are the scars carved on the emperor's heart, and they were drawn out because of the scuffle between A Lan and the prince .

Wanda turned her head and looked at Wang Zhi who was also full of remorse. She thought to herself that you are a very smart kid, why are you talking about this to the two princes?

"Child? Well, it's not a child anymore..."

Zhu Jianshen sneered.

A-lan saw his father and brother Azhi kneeling on the ground, but he didn't dare to sit still.With red eyes, she walked over to Wanda and knelt down with a "plop".

This kneeling, the crown prince Zhu Youtang couldn't stand up any longer, and he knelt down in aggrieved manner.

"Your Majesty, it's Chinese New Year, what are you doing?"

Wan Zhen'er looked at the children kneeling in the room, and complained to Zhu Jianshen distressedly, "Don't you know what kind of children they are?"

In a hurry, he coughed heavily again.

Zhu Jianshen saw that the beating was almost done, and worried about Wan Zhen'er's health, so he asked them all to get up.

"Place in the Wenhua Palace."

Zhu Jianshen didn't want to delay the children's rare time together, so he simply dragged Wanda and Wang Zhi to Wenhua Hall to talk.

Wanda dawdled for a long time, and told Wan Lan not to mess up again, and if he dared to bully his brother again, regardless of whether it was the first month or not, he would be punished when he returned to the baron's mansion.

Holding an umbrella, facing the heavy snow, Wanda walked behind Zhu Jianshen's Luanjia, and complained in a low voice, "I just look forward to a few days of rest for the New Year all year round. Who would have thought that taking the children away from relatives and going to work, hey..."

He looked at Wang Zhi, who was also holding an oil-paper umbrella, facing the wind and snow, with a calm expression on his face.

Since the second half of last year, Ah Zhi, who was not considered top-notch among his peers, has suddenly grown in stature.

Looking from the side now, he is already a handsome young man.

The young man's face was like jade, his eyes were like lacquer, his bright red mouth was tightly pursed, and there was a hint of confusion in his stubbornness.Even though she was wearing eunuch clothes, she was still stunningly beautiful.If you take off this eunuch's clothes and go out of the palace, you don't know how many girls you can make sad.

Recalling the half-way conversation with Wan Zhen'er in Anxi Palace, Wanda took a deep breath.

The cold air poured into the lung lobes, making people more awake.

In any case, Ah Zhi must be taken out of the palace!

"You take Ah Zhi out of the palace and go to Liaodong."

The ground dragon in Wenhua Palace is warm, and it is also smoked with spices with pine, cypress and citrus flavors.

Wanda sat on his exclusive little chair as usual, looked up at Zhu Jianshen, and then looked down at Wang Zhi who was standing below, with his head lowered seemingly calmly, but excitedly clenched his fists.He thought to himself which bodhisattva is so spiritual, who actually responds to requests?

"Wait, go to Liaodong?"

Wanda blinked twice.

That corner in the Northeast?

"Yes. You are ready to go. When spring starts, the ice and snow on the road will melt before leaving."

Zhu Jianshen pointed to Wanda, then pointed to Wang Zhi, and continued, "It's the same as before when you and Yang Xiuxian went to Guangxi in low clothes, but this time, you take him with you."

Is it another private interview on Weibo?

After the "micro-service" last time, the imperial court directly sent troops to Dayengxia.

Is His Majesty going to repeat the old trick this time?

"Are you going to investigate the military situation again?"

Not to mention Wang Zhi, Wanda also began to look forward to it.

Since becoming the commander of Jinyiwei, Wanda has been in pain every day—not to mention all kinds of entertainment and complicated things in the yamen after the official university.

The most unbearable thing is that every day before dawn, he has to line up at the gate of the palace and wait for the court!

Everyone in Lao Zhu's family is a workaholic. They don't rest or let their courtiers rest.

And his brother-in-law of the emperor, since the day he ascended the throne, except for the few days of New Year's Day, there has not been a day in the past ten years that he has not been on time to listen to the government.

The start time of the morning court every day is about Jae Yin time, which is almost five o'clock in the morning.

But an hour ago, all the officials had to gather at the Meridian Gate.

what does this mean?

This means that officials who live far away may have to go out from home in the middle of the night, so be good to me...

Although Wanda's Baron's Mansion is in the east of the city, if you take a walk on horseback, you can reach the Meridian Gate in less than half an hour.However, he still needs to get up at Chou Hour every day, that is, at two o'clock in the morning to wash up.Put on the official uniform and rush to the Meridian Gate to join the queue before three o'clock in the morning...

No matter the severe cold or the scorching heat, the wind and the rain, the wind and frost, as long as the Ming Dynasty does not explode, Zhu Jianshen will go to the morning court.

When he was on duty at Jinyiwei in the past, Wanda often complained that it was too inhuman to clock in at seven o'clock in the morning.

Until he became the commander of Jinyiwei, he got up earlier than chickens and went to bed later than dogs every day.Only then did he realize that his definition of "human nature" was still too high...

Therefore, as long as those civil servants and military generals disagreed with the emperor's opinion, they would ask for leave and stay at home with guilt, or even beg for bones to return to their hometown.

I'm afraid it's the same thing to take Joe and be disappointed. There is also a big reason for wanting to escape this endless morning court...

Although "business trip" means eating and sleeping, and may even encounter various dangers, it can free him from daily tedious affairs and hellish early morning hours!

"Okay! Okay! I'll go home and get ready."

Wanda nodded hurriedly, wishing that the ice and snow would melt tomorrow so that he could go north on horseback.

"Damn things!"

Zhu Jianshen stretched out his long legs and kicked his ass, "You don't know what to do, where are you going?"

Wanda said "hey", smiled and sat down.

"Governor of Liaodong and Deputy Chief of the Right Censor Chen Yue, at the end of last year, he published a letter urging me to send troops to Liaodong."

Zhu Jian said deeply.

Hearing this, Wang Zhi couldn't help clenching his fists, breathing faster, and the two big dark eyes burst out with excitement.

The reason why he said those things to the two princes before.On the one hand, it is because he has been particularly envious of soldiers and generals since he was a child, who can stand in the clouds and fight hundreds of battles.

Among the generals in the entire Ming Dynasty, the three generals he admired the most were Han Yong, Xiang Zhong and Wang Yue.I hope to follow them one day, expand the territory for the Ming Dynasty, recover the lost land, and even shroud the corpse in horse leather.

When he was assigned to the Imperial Horse Prison, he fantasized that one day he would be able to fight the enemy and become a hero and a good man.

On the other hand, it was because he had heard that His Majesty had been studying this invitation letter for a while.

In recent years, the country and North Korea have been stable, and there have been few large-scale wars.

The most recent victory was in the ninth year of Chenghua.

Prince Shaobao and Zuodu Censor Wang Yue won the "Red Salt Pond Victory" in the Hetao area.After this time, the Tatars no longer dared to enter the Hetao area to live for a long time, which greatly boosted the national prestige of Ming Dynasty.

Compared with Han Yong, who has been in Guangdong and Guangxi all year round, Wang Yue is now in charge of the Inspectorate in the capital, admiral of the [-]th Regiment Battalion, who happens to work with Wang Zhi.

Unlike Xiang Zhong who despises eunuchs, Mr. Wang likes Wang Zhi very much.Formed a year-end friendship with him.

During the normal communication between the two, Wang Yue often explained to Wang Zhi his military tactics and strategies, and analyzed in detail the main points of many battles in the Ming Dynasty and the way of deploying troops.

Every time he heard something important and intense, Wang Zhi would slap his thigh and applaud loudly, and then imagined the scene when he could leave the capital one day and conquer the Quartet for His Majesty and Empress.

The Ming Dynasty has always had the tradition of sending eunuchs to the barracks to guard and supervise the army.In addition, he served in the Imperial Horse Supervisor.Going to the battlefield is not an unattainable dream for him.

It's just a pity, firstly, he is young, and secondly, rather than fighting, His Majesty seems to want him to contribute to the country in the investigation and suppression of bandits.

Wang Zhi only wanted to serve his wife and repay Jun's kindness. Although he didn't like it in his heart, he still did his best to fulfill the duties of intelligence and inspection.

So even if the West Factory opened and closed, there was not much fluctuation in his heart.

Since the end of last year, after hearing that His Majesty might use troops against Liaodong, Wang Zhina's "military spirit" that had been hidden in his heart began to burn fiercely again.

The last time His Majesty used large-scale troops against Liaodong was in Chenghua three years ago.

Zhu Jianshen dispatched a brigade of [-] troops consisting of the famous general Zhao Fu and the North Korean troops to conquer the Jianzhou Jurchen Ministry in three directions.Defeated Li Manzhu and Dong Shan, and won the great victory of Jianzhou known as the "Battle of Ding Hai".

At the end of October of that year, General Zhao returned to the court with his troops and held a grand dedication ceremony for prisoners of war at the Meridian Gate.

Wang Zhi, who had just entered the palace and was still a young child, stood at a corner of the tower, watching the emperor ascend the tower with bated breath, and accept the worship of all the officials.

The sound of "long live" from the mountains and the tsunami shocked Wang Zhi's young heart.

He watched the whole capital fall into carnival, and looked at General Zhao who was riding on a tall horse and was named Wu Jinghou by His Majesty, and his inner admiration was beyond words.

The colorful flags, firecrackers, mountain calls, and the smiling faces of the people on that day are firmly nailed in Wang Zhi's childhood mind.

He wants to be like Master Zhao!

He also wanted to offer captives at the Meridian Gate, to become a light of Ming Dynasty, and to be recorded in the annals of history forever!

Now, knowing that His Majesty may use troops against Liaodong again, how could Wang Zhi not be moved?

"This booklet says that since the defeat of the Jurchen Sanwei in Jianzhou ten years ago, although they have surrendered on the surface, they are willing to be the vassals of the Ming Dynasty. However, they are capricious, often harassing the border towns, burning, killing and looting in Liaodong, causing the common people to live. What's more. It's colluding with the Haixi Jurchen to covet our Daming territory again..."

Zhu Jianshen picked up the booklet, lowered his head and said to Wanda.

"Your Majesty, how can you bear it? You must send troops to attack it. Otherwise, it will cause a catastrophe and lead to continuous military disasters, which will not be good for our people in Liaodong and the people of Ming Dynasty."

Wang Zhi couldn't help but said.

"Tsk!"

Wanda glanced at him hastily, then turned to face Zhu Jian who looked worried and smiled deeply, "Little brat knows nothing, Your Majesty, don't be offended."

Zhu Jianshen put the booklet back on the table, tapped it twice with his fingers, and shook his head.

"I read this scripture. Although the words are sincere, at first glance, it is true that we have reached the stage where we have to use troops. But I always feel that something is wrong. Liaodong, which has been peaceful for ten years, why is the situation suddenly tense... You Jinyiwei have the responsibility to spy on the military situation. The north is cold, especially in Kyoto. After the spring, you take the Jinyiwei's troops, Wang Zhi, Qiu Zijin, Mei Qianzhang, and go to Fushun together to find out what happened there. .”

Zhu Jianshen paused when he said this, "At that time, I will decide whether to really use troops against Jianzhou again."

"The minister obeys the order."

Wanda walked to the bottom of the steps, knelt down to receive the order.

"But Your Majesty...Mei Qianzhang is going to Liaodong with me, what about us Alan?"

He suddenly thought.

"Let A-lan stay in the palace for a while. Minister Wan is not in good health recently, so let him spend more time with his wife. And..."

Zhu Jian said with a deep smile, "Ah Zong is a bit older now, it's time for fun. I want them to be close and close together as brothers."

What Zhu Jianshen was talking about was the fourth son born to Concubine Shao, who is now more than one year old. It is said that because he looks especially like His Majesty, he is very much loved by Concubine Wan.

I heard that Zhu Youtang was jealous of this before, and lost his temper for a while.

As a father, you wish you could trample your younger brother to death.

But he also hoped that his son would be harmonious and beautiful, and brothers and sisters respectful... I don't know what I was thinking.

Wanda cursed.

After talking about the business, Wanda and Wang Zhi withdrew from the Wenhua Palace.

He looked at Wang Zhi who was quite excited just now, but now he lost the interest just now, and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

"It's... about the prince."

Wang Zhi's face was stiff, as if he didn't know how to speak at once.

"What's wrong with the prince? Wasn't he still fine just now?"

Wanda was taken aback.

"I heard Eunuch Tan say... Your Majesty, he intends to change the reserve."

"what?"

Wanda looked around, pulled Wang Zhi aside, and said in a low voice, "How can this matter be nonsense, it is to shake the foundation of the country."

"It is said that the current crown prince was established as the crown prince in those days. It was because the crown prince's fault was mourned not long ago, and His Majesty's knees were empty. There was only one son who was raised in Xi Nei, so the crown prince was established in a hurry. The purpose is to stabilize the hearts of the people and block the long-term struggle of all officials. mouth."

Wang Zhi lowered his head and said in a low voice, "The child born to Mrs. Shao has grown up now, and she looks exactly like the eldest son of the emperor and His Majesty. So Your Majesty... Besides, it is said that Mrs. Concubine Shao is showing signs of pregnancy again. I am ashamed as last time." The symptoms are exactly the same, it seems to be a boy again."

Wang Zhi said in embarrassment, "Your Majesty now...he has no shortage of sons. You also know that the prince's biological mother died young, and His Majesty does not like him at all."

Not only that, but she is also a daughter of a foreign country, and she only had Zhu Youtang after a night of dew.There is no such thing as the value of a son according to his mother, or any family assistance.

The only thing Ah Tang can rely on is Wan Zhen'er's two years of nurturing love... Besides, he refused to accept this "love" at the beginning.

"Hey... this is the distress of having the throne to inherit..."

Wanda shook her head emotionally.

The author has something to say: According to the history books, the Yi Chu incident should have happened in the 21st year of Chenghua. In order to increase the dramatic conflict, I moved it forward