After four years of peace and hundreds of battles, today, they finally reached the gates of Jinling City.
Now that the overall situation has been determined, the morale of the three armies is full, which is in sharp contrast to the panic and discouragement of the defenders at the top of the city.
Countless soldiers, with their backs bare, were busy under the scorching sun, marching excitedly to the gates of Jinling City. The siege equipment was built on the beams and large timbers abandoned by the Confederate army in panic. The sun shone on their dark skin, and their sweat glistened.
The banner with the Chinese character "Yan" stood straight under the scorching sun. King Yan's army set up a ten-mile camp at the foot of Jinling City. The flags and flags were fluttering, and the camp stretched to the sky. The majestic momentum made the defenders at the top of the city feel frightened.
Zhu Di took a bath and changed clothes, put on the grand robes of the feudal king, wore a Yishan crown on his head, a vermilion python dragon robe, a coiled collar and narrow sleeves, and a jade belt around his waist. Under the guard of dozens of fierce generals, he inspected the positions under the city, passing by
Here, the soldiers cheered like the roar of the sea.
Zhu Di rode his horse and raised his whip. Directly in front of him was the majestic Jinling of the Imperial Capital. Zhongshan Mountain in the east was winding around like a coiled dragon. Stone Mountain in the west was like a tiger standing on the bank of the river. The mighty Yangtze River flows from Jinchuan
The flow flows to the northeast under the gate. The dazzling golden towers and pavilions in the southeast corner of the city are the imperial city. As soon as he saw it, Zhu Di couldn't help but feel excited.
The flying snow on the fortress, the bright moon on the Baigou River, the fast horses under the Dezhou City, the chariots in front of the Jinan City, and the tragic defeat under the Dongchang City, all appeared before my eyes... Four years have passed, and the emperor has stepped forward step by step.
Forced to fight to the death, he is now confident of victory when he reaches the city. He has been to the target many times and narrowly escaped death many times. Now, he finally ushered in the moment of victory.
The 800,000-strong army did not stop him, and the natural barrier of the Yangtze River did not stop him. Can the city wall of Jinling stop his progress?
In Jinling City, countless princes, ministers, civil servants and generals are waiting in panic for their final fate. At this moment, no one believes that Jinling can be defended. Indeed, Jinling is stronger and more majestic than Jinan City, but time has changed.
The situation has changed. No matter how strong the city wall is, there will always be someone to defend it. Who has the courage to fight King Yan now? Not to mention Tie Xuan, the current emperor is in the city and cannot boost the morale of the three armies.
In the courtyard of Hanlin editor Wu Pu's house, under the thick shade of trees, there was a table of wine and food, and several friends were discussing the current situation anxiously.
Present here are the host Wu Pu, and guests Hu Jing, Wang Gen, and Li Guan. The other one who is the shortest and unattractive in appearance is the great talent they admire most - Xie Jin. Xie Jin, this one is the same as Yang Shen and Xu Wei.
Known as one of the "Three Great Talents of the Ming Dynasty", the famous scholar suffered in Lanzhou for more than three years. Later, through his good friend Dong Lun, the Minister of Rites, he continued to work for him. Finally, he was transferred back from Lanzhou at the beginning of this year.
, currently serving as a member of the Imperial Academy.
At the banquet, everyone was talking loudly about the current situation. Almost everyone agreed that they did not think Jinling City could be defended. Wang Gen shed tears and said to Hu Jing, Li Guan and Hu Pu: "In the second year of Jianwen, you
The four of us won the Jinshi together and ranked among the top four. I thought that you and I could serve the country from now on, but I didn’t expect that in just two years, the country would end up like this..."
Hu Jing thought to himself: "Serving the country has nothing to do with whether Jianwen or King Yan will be the emperor. They are both from the Zhu Ming royal family. When King Yan takes over the world, doesn't he need ministers to take care of the country for him? We are not making noises.
They are clamoring to cut down the feudal vassals. There are twenty-nine people on King Yan’s ‘treacherous list’, but there are no names like yours or mine. Why are you so sad?”
However, they all studied moral articles, so naturally they couldn't say such words, so Busy also echoed a few words, looking loyal and courageous. If he really wanted to say such beautiful words, he would say them better than Wang Gen.
Be nice. Xie Jin looked on with cold eyes, half-smiling but not smiling, but it was difficult for people to see his state of mind.
He didn't have a good impression of Emperor Jianwen. It was Emperor Jianwen who asked him to go to Lanzhou to eat dirt. Now, he entrusted his friends with activities and finally returned to Nanjing. He didn't want to encounter the change of ownership just after he came back.
Son, he didn't care. He was full of talents and knowledge, and could not be put to use in the hands of Emperor Jianwen. This Hanlin had been waiting for an imperial edict for two months. He had no chance to draft an imperial edict for the emperor. That work
They were all taken care of by Bachelor Fang.
Is the sky going to change? What does it have to do with the sun rising and setting?
At the end of the song, the people dispersed. The few literati were helpless about the current predicament, so they could only express some emotion and then went back. Wu Pu's youngest son was already nine years old. He listened to several uncles who were either impassioned or impassioned.
He quoted from many sources, and even those who were half-informed could vaguely understand something. After several uncles left, he snuggled into his father's arms and said: "Dad, Uncle Hu just said that he will leave with Emperor Jianwen on the day the city is broken.
, Those words were impassioned and made people’s blood boil. He really deserves to be the champion."
Wu Pu shook his head silently. His wife was clearing the table. She was afraid that after hearing this, her husband would follow the example of the stupid scholar and commit suicide, so he quickly pulled away from his son and slapped him hard on the buttocks.
He said angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about? Go back to your room and study." Then he said to Wu Pu uneasily: "My lord, this is the emperor's family matter. You must not have any foolish thoughts. If you have something wrong, leave it alone."
We who are orphans and widowed..."
Speaking of this, Mrs. Wu couldn't help but shed tears.
Wu Pu smiled bitterly and said, "Madam, what nonsense are you talking about? I won't die for my husband."
He was silent for a moment, and then slowly said: "Wang Gen, Hu Jing, and Li Guan have been on the same imperial examination list for the past two years. Based on my understanding of them, I am afraid that Wang Gen is the only one who is willing to die to serve the king..."
That’s just stubbornness.”
As soon as Wu Pu finished speaking, he heard Hu Jing's voice coming from his neighbor on the left: "Madam, there is a war and chaos outside, how can you still be so leisurely and at ease? Hurry up and pack up the valuable things at home and hide them under the rice cupboard!"
Wu Pu, Hu Jing, and Wang Gen passed the same examination, ranking first, second, third, and fourth respectively. After becoming officials, except for Li Guan, whose family was relatively wealthy and bought a house alone in a prosperous downtown area, the other three all lived in the same area.
In the house purchased in the alley, Wu Pu’s neighbor on the left is the Hu Jing family, and the right neighbor is the Wang Gen family.
After hearing what Hu Jing said, Wu Pu and his wife looked embarrassed. After a moment of pause, Wu Pu smiled bitterly and said: "Madam, what do you think? I still worry about the valuable things at home that were not destroyed by the war.
How could he seek death?"
Mrs. Wu broke into laughter, tapped his forehead coquettishly, and said: "Master Hu, you are a smart man. It is none of our business who will be the emperor, uncle or nephew of the Zhu family. Don't be stupid. Don't be cruel and throw it away."
My slave family and children, learn from Hu Zhuangyuan!"
At Wang Gen's house, Wang Gen said to his wife solemnly: "Madam, if I live on Emperor Jianwen's salary, I must be worthy of Emperor Jianwen. Now that King Yan's troops are approaching the city, it is impossible to hold it. When the city is destroyed, the emperor must
Wang Gen is willing to die for his country. As a minister, Wang Gen can neither share your worries nor let your father die on the head of a minister like me. I will go first, under the Nine Springs, and then serve the emperor in front of you!"
"Husband..."
Mrs. Wang mourned and cried to the ground, but Wang Gen was very strict in running the family, and Mrs. Wang never disobeyed her husband. Seeing that her husband was already determined to die, she did not dare to dissuade him.
Wang Gen smiled miserably, secretly opened the cap of the small bottle of poisonous wine he bought with his thumb from his sleeve, and said: "If you raise your child well, you are fulfilling your righteousness for me. Go to Jiuquan to welcome your husband first."
Emperor!"
After saying that, he raised his head and poured the poisonous wine into his mouth...
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Luo Kedi was ushered into the Zhengxin Palace with a solemn expression. He didn't know what important matters the emperor would have to give when he summoned him at this time.
The Yan army was about to enter the city. He really didn't expect that the imperial court would be defeated so miserably and so quickly.
In the past few days, Yang Xu's figure has been lingering in his mind.
He lost, he completely lost. That boy Yang Xu had such accurate vision and could see so far!
"Lord Luo!" Upon seeing Luo Kedi's arrival, the young eunuch Wang Yue hurriedly came up to greet him.
Luo Kedi asked quietly: "Where is the emperor?"
Wang Yue said: "The emperor is waiting for you inside. Go quickly."
Luo Kedi nodded and walked in. Wang Yue also followed. With a wave of his hand, all the chamberlains and maids bowed their backs and slowly retreated.
When Luo Kedi saw this situation, he couldn't help but feel a little moved: "The emperor actually dismissed everyone around him. What top-secret matters are you telling me? Could it be... that you want me to find a way to assassinate King Yan? If King Yan dies suddenly,
It’s a good way to resolve this crisis, but...it’s so difficult to assassinate King Yan.”
Luo Kedi walked around the screen in random thoughts and was pacing back and forth. When Zhu Yunwen saw Luo Kedi with an anxious face, he immediately came up to him. Before Luo Kedi could bow and salute, he grabbed his arm and said eagerly:
"Luo Aiqing, at this time of national survival, at a critical moment of life and death, I can only entrust you with this important matter."
Luo Kedi felt a sore nose and almost shed tears after hearing this. What he had been dreaming about was to gain the emperor's trust and to restore the glory of Jinyiwei. This moment he had finally waited for. The emperor finally thought of him, finally thought of him.
Jinyiwei, although it was already too late, Luo Kedi was still excited: "Even if the emperor lets me sneak into the Yan army camp to assassinate King Yan, I will go, I will go in person. Since the emperor treated me as a national soldier, I will be shattered to pieces.
And die without regrets!”
Luo Kedi's eyes lit up. He had kept his power hidden for many years. At this moment, he was like a sword that had been hidden in its sheath for a long time. Suddenly, when it was unsheathed, it was still radiating cold light. Luo Kedi said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, please give me your instructions.
, I will not disappoint the emperor’s expectations even if my body is shattered to pieces!”
"Okay! Okay! I know that Luo Aiqing will always be loyal to me. She is a thousand times or ten thousand times better than those losers who usually talk too much but abandon me when things get tough!"
Zhu Yunwen said excitedly: "I am really not sure whether Jinling City can be defended, so I have to take precautions. I want you to make arrangements for me, and send me out of the palace once the city is broken!"
Luo Kedi was stunned for a moment, and the light in his eyes gradually dimmed. Zhu Yunwen said in fear: "Why, even you can't do it?"
Luo Kedi's heart moved, and he suddenly thought: "Could it be that the emperor wants to escape somewhere else and make a comeback?"
His eyes lit up again, and he asked hurriedly: "Where do you want to go, Your Majesty? To the King of Shu in Sichuan, or to the King of Mu in Yunnan? According to this, there is still a chance to seize the land and call on the world..."
Zhu Yunwen quickly waved his hand and said: "I think the whole world is still no match for King Yan, so what's the use of escaping there, it's just a moment of late death! My dear, please make arrangements so that I can escape as far away as possible. Don’t let anyone named King Yan find me!”
Luo Kedi was silent for a moment, slowly fell to the ground, knocked his head deeply on the ground, and said in a low voice: "I...obey your order..."