Hua Bushi said: "Brother Sichang said this, and I also heard another friend say that if the two of you meet, maybe we can become close friends."
Yang Sichang said: "Oh, who is that person? Sichang would like to get to know him."
Hua Bushi said: "Brother Sichang should have known that person long ago. He is Cao Muyun."
Yang Sichang looked stunned for a long time before nodding and saying: "So it's him."
Cao Muyun is an important figure in the "eunuch party" in the court, and Yang Sichang certainly knows that, but he is a member of the "Five Kings Party". The two parties have always been enemies, so it is difficult for them to become close friends.
Hua Bushi smiled slightly and said: "In fact, there are no eternal enemies in this world. If you have the same like-minded brother, why should you care about partisanship?"
Yang Sichang could hear something in the young master's words and asked, "What do you mean, Mr. Hua?"
Hua Bushi said: "Brother Sichang, what do you think is the biggest crisis in the Ming Dynasty today?"
Yang Sichang was originally a man of outstanding intelligence and was in the officialdom. He had already thought deeply about the worries of the current court several times and then said: "The crisis of the current court is first of all. Bandits are emerging from all over the world. Now Zhang Xianzhong, Li Zicheng, etc. have become the climate. There are more than ten other stocks." The rogue bandits with hundreds of thousands of troops are really a serious problem for the country. In addition, the Manchu and Qing Tatars in the north are also a big threat."[
But Hua Bushi shook his head and said: "Of course bandits and aliens are a great threat, but from my point of view, the biggest crisis for the Ming Dynasty is not here. On that day, at the Yang family mansion in Kaifeng City, Henan Province, I talked with me about the general trend of the world. Brother Sichang. He is knowledgeable and has great ideas on how to deal with the rebels and the Manchu Tatars. Hua Bushi sincerely admires him. But why has it not been implemented at all after so many years?"
Yang Sichang was startled when he heard this and said: "I feel ashamed that Brother Yu has been unemployed in the past few years since he was dismissed from office. His parents have died one after another. He can only stay at home to observe filial piety and does not hold any actual position in the court. Although I have some foundation in the 'Five Kings Party', with the power of one party After all, those ideas that cannot control the overall situation of the DPRK and China will naturally be implemented with all our strength."
Hua Bushi clapped his hands and said: "This is it. In my opinion, the primary problem of the Ming Dynasty today is not the military troubles but the party troubles. Imagine that all the civil and military officials in the court put the personal interests of the party above the country. How can we work together to deal with other crises if we are fighting for power and profit?”
Yang Sichang sighed: "Cliques of officials in the DPRK and the Central Government have been in power since ancient times. It has been indispensable since the Ming Dynasty. It was even more serious when the eunuch Wei Zhongxian of the previous dynasty took power. Although the emperor of the present era has eradicated the Wei eunuchs after he succeeded to the throne, the factions of various parties have been fighting for more than ten years. On the contrary, it is more intense than in the previous dynasty, almost to the point where it is impossible to protect officials and lives without forming a party. This is a serious problem for the court. How can you not understand that it is just a matter of force to change?"
Hua Bushi thought for a while and suddenly said: "If there was no danger of party strife, if Brother Sichang had the support of most civil and military officials in the court and could mobilize all the existing financial and military resources of the Ming Dynasty, would he be able to deal with the current internal and external military dangers?"
Yang Sichang frowned and said: "If that day comes, Sichang cannot say that he is absolutely sure, but he should be able to create a new situation and maintain the peace of the Ming Dynasty for several years."
When they were in Henan that day, Hua Bushi and Yang Sichang had given advice and discussed state affairs together. Although it was already late at night, they were sleepy at the table, drinking tea and talking for two hours until the eastern sky turned. "It was only at twilight that I gave up.
On the other hand, although the general Yu Jue was well versed in the art of war and had a mediocre knowledge of political affairs, he just sat aside and had nothing to say.
During the conversation, Hua Bushi learned that although Yang Sichang had been idle in recent years, he had traveled around and had a very good understanding of the current development situation of the rebel armies in various places. He had also gained the trust and respect of the vassals in various places, and he had become the leader of the "Five Kings Party". figure
Most people in the world have no loyalty to the Ming Dynasty. The same is true for Hua Bushi. The scene of the government massacring the refugees that he saw when he was in Henan Province is still vivid in his mind, and he will not remember that Xiao Ningning's family is Died in the hands of the army and cavalry
Hua Bushi once believed that Li Zicheng was a great hero with the ambition to save the world, and he had wholeheartedly helped the rebels, but the result was a huge disappointment to him. In the eyes of this young master, Emperor Zhu Youjian was as much like Chuang Wang Li Zicheng as they were of the same mind. All they want to fight for is the country and the imperial power, so it’s not worth surrendering.
Of course, the successive years of war have brought utter havoc to the common people, which is not what Hua Bushi expected. If he could create a new pattern as Yang Sichang said, he would be able to calm down the troubles and preserve the country of the Ming Dynasty, and he would not be unwilling to contribute.
During the conversation with Yang Sichang, a thought flashed through the young master's mind, but he did not say it out loud.
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
Early the next morning, everyone broke out of camp and set off [
The rest of the journey went quite smoothly. The large group of people traveled westward along the Hushi Mountain without encountering any obstruction from the local Jurchen tribe, nor did they find the troops of the "Black Wind Banner" and the "Huhantu Tribe". Thinking about the traces, they knew they could not defeat the Pili camp and had already fled far away.
We arrived at Baima Pass just after noon.
Among the many passes on the Great Wall in the north, Baima Pass can only be regarded as a small pass. It is about two hundred miles away from the capital. There are only more than a hundred officers and soldiers stationed here. The guard is a seventh-grade guard. His general name is Yu Tiancheng, and he is also a member of the "Five Kings Party"
As early as a few days ago, Yang Sichang had sent someone to pass the news to Yu Tiancheng. When the team approached the pass, they saw twenty or thirty uniformed soldiers lining up outside the pass to greet the driver.
Seeing the team approaching, a bearded and stocky officer at the head came forward to pay homage to Yang Sichang and said: "General Yu Tiancheng, the last general of the White Horse Pass, has seen Mr. Yang."
In his early years, Yang Sichang lived in Henan as an inspector. Although his official position is now high in the "Five Kings Party", Yu Tiancheng still calls him Mr. Yang. Yang Sichang looked at the sturdy officer, waved his hand and said, "Yu Ba You don’t have to be polite. I told you in my secret letter not to reveal the whereabouts of the prince and princess. Did you follow it?"
Yu Tiancheng said: "The general will obey the instructions and keep the secret strictly. Even the soldiers guarding the gate don't know that the person arriving today is the prince and princess's chariot."
Yang Sichang nodded and said: "Okay, you lead the soldiers to open the way in front and we will enter the pass immediately."
Yu Tiancheng responded: "Yes" and then added: "It's already late noon. I will order people to prepare meals. Will the prince and princess take a short rest in the pass and have lunch before leaving?"
Yang Sichang said: "No need. We will go straight to the capital without stopping here. After entering the customs, you must carefully guard the pass and return to the capital. I will mark your merits."
Yu Tiancheng said: "I will obey the order and thank you Master Yang for your cultivation."
He turned around and gave a few orders to the dozens of soldiers who were lined up outside the gate. They then moved aside to welcome the waiting vehicles to enter the customs.
The order of the march of the group of people: Yang Sichang and Yu Jue led the army cavalry at the front, guarding Zhu Huichan and Zhu Cixiang's car. Behind them were the two men and horses of the "Evil Dog Gate" and the disciples of "Bai Longxing" who escorted the king's father. Hua Bushi, Sima Rulan and others were also walking in the rear group.
The people in front quickly entered the White Horse Pass. The prince and princess's chariots also entered the gate surrounded by a group of cavalry. Hua Bushi walked close to the gate and looked at the wall above the gate. His face suddenly changed and said: " This level seems a little weird.”
A yellow dragon flag hangs high on the barrier wall that is more than three feet high. Standing under it are dozens of soldiers in uniform, all with longbows and quivers on their waists. They all look solemn. There are also several repeating crossbows and trebuchets on the crenels. All the equipment used to defend the city is manned by someone.
If they were just waiting for the friendly troops to enter the customs, there would be no need for these soldiers to be in such a tight formation to wait. Hua Bushi's eyesight was very good and he immediately felt something was wrong in the atmosphere.
Before Hua Bushi could finish his words, a horse had already jumped out from the young master's side like an arrow. The horse he was riding was Li Hu. Compared to Hua Bushi, Li Hu had a keener sense of danger as soon as he got close. Already aware of the murderous aura around him, he galloped forward and shouted: "Be careful, they are all 'Tianchu' people"
But I only heard a "click" sound, and an iron gate fell straight down in the middle of the doorway in front of me.
At this time, Zhu Huichan was sitting gloomily in the carriage. His younger brother Zhu Cixiang was beside him, and the carriage had already entered the gate.
The person who made the princess feel depressed for a thousand years was none other than Li Hu
Last night, Li Hu came to Zhu Huichan's tent and chatted for a few words. He then mentioned that after driving back to the capital, he was going to track down Shi Qingzhu and Ge Li. He could not go to the palace as a guard for the time being because of the previous incident of begging Li Hu for a sword. Zhu Huichan was worried. He was already a little dissatisfied when he heard this and said with a sullen face: "Who cares if you don't become a bodyguard?"
What she said was just a moment of anger, thinking that Li Hu would humbly say some nice words to make her happy, but unexpectedly, Li Hu laughed a few times and left next to him.
Zhu Huichan grew up in the palace like a bird in a cage. Although the process of being robbed out of the capital was quite thrilling, she experienced things that she had never thought of before and tasted the kind of love that may be... The taste of love makes me feel happy inside
Thinking that after entering Baima Pass, he would have to return to the capital in two days and have to go back to the boring life of the past. Zhu Huichan felt quite reluctant and just wanted to play outside for a few more days. Fortunately, Li Hu entered the palace as a guard. In the future, staying with her and teaching her martial arts can also relieve her loneliness. But I didn't expect that he would change his mind at this time.