Chapter 15 Seeing an old friend and giving a sword
Beijing, the governor Lu Xiangsheng's mansion, an old man came to pay his respects, and was invited by Lu Xiangsheng into the inner hall to talk in detail.
The visiting old man's real name is Yao Dongzhao, whose nickname is Dunchu. He should be in his sixties, but he is still tall and energetic, with a long white beard hanging on his chest. He is originally a giant deer.
He is a poor scholar in the county, but he is generous and kind-hearted and has a lot of integrity. He has a high prestige in Julu Township.
In the autumn of the second year of Chongzhen, the Tartars invaded the capital for the first time, approaching Chaoyang Gate in the east of Beijing. Lu Xiangsheng was still in office as the prefect of Damingfu. He spontaneously recruited more than 10,000 people from Damingfu township and went to Beijing to escort them to the king at starry night.
When passing by Julu, Mr. Yao Dongzhao led more than a thousand Julu children to join Lu Xiangsheng's Qin Wang Xiangyong team. He was praised by Lu Xiangsheng, and Lu Xiangsheng was moved and admired by him. The two also became friends.
From then on they became acquaintances.
Lu Xiangsheng even wanted to invite Mr. Yao Dongzhao to serve as an official several times, but he politely refused. Therefore, Lu Xiangsheng respected Yao Dongzhao even more.
Now that the old man suddenly came to visit, Lu Xiangsheng was both surprised and happy. Therefore, even though he had important matters to defend against the captives, he was willing to stay and have a chat with his old friend.
After the two came to the living room and sat down separately, they just exchanged greetings for a while. Yao Dongzhao explained his purpose straight to the point: "Old Master, you are going to Andingmen to discuss the war plan. Dongzhao really shouldn't come to disturb you at this time.
However, the state affairs of our dynasty have deteriorated to this point, and the disaster of the Southern Song Dynasty is imminent. Dongzhao really has to come to see Sir Lu. Sir, I went to discuss matters today. Did you know that the court is already preparing to secretly transfer money to the Tartars and negotiate for peace?
"
"Xiang Sheng also heard about the peace talks, but he really didn't know about the money loss." After hearing what Yao Dongzhao just said, Lu Xiangsheng felt a little surprised in his heart.
Yao Dongzhao didn't care what Lu Xiangsheng's reaction was, and just continued: "I heard that the imperial court is willing to send 600,000 taels of silver to Donglu every year, and will give up large tracts of land in the Liaodong region of our country to seek peace and security for the imperial court.
Isn't this just a repeat of the Song Dynasty's attempt to make peace with the Liao Dynasty? It's like seeking the skin of a tiger!"
After Lu Xiangsheng heard what Yao Dongzhao said, he suddenly jumped up from his chair. His whole body was shaking with anger, his beard was trembling, and he stared at Yao Dongzhao with round eyes and asked sharply: "Is this true?"
"The reports are indeed credible. The Tartars refused to agree only because the intermediary, Zhou Yuanzhong, was a blind man who sold divination on the street. They had to send officials from the imperial court to negotiate peace, and then they were willing to negotiate and agree. Now. Now
In such a situation, if we enter into an alliance with the Tartars under the city, proposals for ceding land and opening up a mutual market by losing annual coins will definitely follow. Today, my father-in-law is already involved in the safety and security of the country, so he must discuss the war and defense during the war.
He clearly stated the stakes involved so that one or two powerful officials in the court, including Gui Yu, would not dare to ask the current emperor to pay for peace. Then he could encourage the soldiers of the three armies to gather troops to fight to the death with the captives and severely inflict heavy losses on the captives at Jifu.
This is an important place, so that the Tartars will know that there are still people in the Ming Dynasty, and they will not dare to have any intention of cannibalizing them. In this way, the country will be very lucky, the people will be very lucky, and the name of my father-in-law will be immortal!" Yao Dongzhao said firmly.
Lu Xiangsheng stretched out his hands to hold Yao Dongzhao's hand tightly, and said resolutely: "Old sir, there is no need to say more. The students have already planned it in their hearts, and they are not afraid of death. But with Xiangsheng here, we will not let Ming Dynasty repeat the Song Dynasty.
What a mistake!"
Yao Dongzhao held Lu Xiangsheng's hand tightly and said with an excited expression on his face: "Dongzhao, I know that you are my dynasty's Yue Shaobao. With your words, I feel at ease, and I will take my leave."
Lu Xiangsheng hurriedly tightened Yao Dongzhao's hand and said: "Mr. Tunchu! Can you please submit to the army of King Qin of Changping and help the students praise and paint military affairs? Xiangsheng can ask for advice day and night. Will the old gentleman agree?"
"Dongzhao has been favored by his husband for a long time, how can he not respect his advice? But he is afraid that the barbarians will drive deep into the land of Jinan like the previous one, so Dongzhao has decided to return to his hometown at night, summon his children to help defend the city, and deal with the Tartars.
, to protect my hometown. I have received so much love, so I have no choice but to seek repayment in the future and beg my father-in-law to forgive me."
"Okay! If the old gentleman has such an idea, how dare the student force him to stay?" Lu Xiangsheng thought that Yao Dongzhao was a poor scholar and was not rich, so Sichuan capital might not be well-off, so he asked his servant Gu Xian to bring him ten taels of silver as a gift.
he.
But the old gentleman refused to accept it no matter what. Lu Xiangsheng was well aware of his upright nature and did not force him at the moment.
Then he turned around and called Gu Xian, and ordered him to fetch the precious sword that he always wore on his body. He held it in front of the old man with both hands and said in a loud voice: "Sir, when you return to your hometown this time, call on the children of Jinan to hold the sword to defend Sangzi."
, The student has no other help, so I will give him a sword to show his conduct."
Yao Dongzhao saw that Lu Xiangsheng was determined, so he no longer refused, took the sword with both hands, and said generously and loudly: "Thank you, sir! If the Qinqi resolutely invade Jinan, Dongzhao swears to use this sword to fight the Tartars to the end, even if they are invincible, they will not win."
You should cut yourself with this knife!"
Lu Xiangsheng sighed and continued to Yao Dongzhao: "Maybe the two of us will meet again."
…………
After sending Yao Dongzhao away, Lu Xiangsheng rode towards the Anding Gate in the north of the city with his entourage and escort.
Lu Xiangsheng rode his Wumingji on the road to Andingmen, followed by ten soldiers, but he only felt that his heart was constantly ups and downs. On the one hand, he was thinking about Mr. Yao Dongzhao's visit.
On the other hand, he could not get rid of the ominous premonition in his own heart.
In fact, Mr. Yao Dongzhao was not the only one who compared Lu Xiangsheng to Yue Fei and Yue Shaobao. He himself often compared himself to Yue Shaobao. However, Yue Shaobao eventually died of injustice and failed to realize his wish and try to turn the tide of collapse!
He couldn't help but look up at the sky. There were white clouds floating in the blue sky, but he felt that there seemed to be endless dark clouds covering the entire sky of Beijing, even the endless sky of the entire Ming Dynasty, and even the dazzling sun.
Became dim and dull.
Unknowingly, we arrived in front of Anding Gate.
Anding Gate is located at the east gate of the north wall of the inner city of Beijing. It was meant to send out troops to defeat the bandits and return in triumph, thus achieving the stability of the dynasty and the country. When returning troops to the city, they must enter the city through Anding Gate.
Among the nine gates in the city of Beijing, the other seven gated urn cities all have related emperor temples. Only the two gated urn city in Beiyuan has the Zhenwu Temple. Emperor Zhenwu of Anding Gate is called "Anding Zhenwu".
Unique. Zhenwu is Xuanwu or Yuanwu (the name was changed to Zhenwu in the Song Dynasty to avoid the imperial ancestral taboo). It is the god who guards the north. In order to ensure peace, Emperor Zhenwu naturally guarded the north gate of the capital, which symbolizes peace in the world and persuading people with virtue.
Like the other eight gates in the capital, Anding Gate has a city tower, an arrow tower and a gate tower. The arrow tower is located in the Wengcheng, the gate tower is located on the moon wall on the east side of the Weng City, and the city tower is on the Anding Gate.
The Andingmen Gate Tower is divided into two floors. The lower floor is seven bays wide and the upper floor is five bays wide. There are horse roads built inside the city walls on both sides of the tower for the city guards to walk or ride up and down the city walls.
Lu Xiangsheng rode his horse onto the horse track. At this moment, he felt as if a huge boulder was weighing on his chest, which made him feel particularly depressed. In the blink of an eye, he climbed up the Anding Gate and entered the city tower.