prosperous age

Chapter 454 Chapter 453
Inside and outside Deshengmen in the north of Beijing, there is a lot of traffic and people.

Although it was already afternoon, it was still very lively here, probably because those who went to work in the city in the morning had to leave the city to go home before the sun went down.

A few gatekeepers were leaning against the city gate with big guns in their arms, and it was only here that it was a little warmer.

"Da da da"

A series of horseshoes sounded, and in the distance, a messenger wearing a red uniform and carrying a flag on his back galloped on horseback. After entering the city gate, he shouted at the gatekeeper: "Close the city gate, and the army enters the city."

After passing the order, the orderly steered his horse through the city and ran towards the city.

After receiving the order, the previously lazy gatekeeper changed his fatigue, got up and dragged his soldiers out, blocking both ends of the city gate to prevent pedestrians from passing through.

Soon, inside and outside Desheng Gate, both sides of the street were crowded with people and vehicles who wanted to pass through the city gate, but they also knew what was going on, and they didn't completely block the main road, leaving a passage in the middle.

"Da da da"

With the sound of intensive horseshoes, the people blocked outside the city gate looked back, and the gate of the Beijing camp in the distance had been fully opened at this time, and countless cavalry were rushing out of the barracks, rushing towards the Desheng Gate.

After hundreds of cavalry passed by, another line of infantry appeared, following with their spears raised obliquely forward.

The army entered the city.

The people who didn't know why the door was suddenly closed before now also understand.

In Beijing City, at the foot of the Son of Heaven, the common people are more knowledgeable than people in other places. One look at this scene and they know that something has happened in the city, otherwise how could the soldiers of the Beijing camp enter the city.

Of course, there is another possibility, that is, there are foreign enemies, but there were no rumors in the market that the northern Tartars had invaded the Great Wall, and the movement of the Beijing camp is worth pondering.

When the Beijing camp started to move, Jinyiwei and the imperial army had already been dispatched. The left governor Zhu Xixiao personally led the team outside the gate of Xiyuan, but the soldiers guarding here stopped him. Even though he knew his identity, there were so many people behind him. Soldiers, at this time the guards guarding Xiyuan are still frightened and summoned a team to block the gate.

And those eunuchs were so frightened that they hid in the houses on both sides of the gate and did not dare to come out. They could only peek out through the windows and cracks in the door, and they kept talking about whether someone had rebelled.

"I am the governor of the left, Zhu Xixiao, who is stationed in Xiyuan by the emperor's order. You will return to the camp as soon as possible."

Naturally, Zhu Xixiao would not allow the troops to set up a battle formation, and he was still in a marching formation. When facing the guard on duty in Xiyuan, he took out the golden sword of Emperor Jiajing from his arms.

"Please wait a moment, Commander, the general has not received the order."

The officer on duty stepped forward, took the golden sword from Zhu Xixiao's hand, and looked at it with both hands. After confirming the authenticity, he returned it with both hands, and retreated to quickly gather the team to move aside.

At this time, only the eunuch in Xiyuan ran out panting to talk to the officer on duty.

This eunuch is the leader of this group of eunuchs guarding the gate. He saw that something was wrong just now, so he asked his subordinates to stop him here, and ran in to report by himself.

These eunuchs didn't receive Huang Jin's order before, of course it wasn't because he forgot.

The situation was urgent now, Emperor Jiajing was in a coma, Huang Jin was worried that the news would be leaked, so apart from sending people to block Yuxi Palace and deliver the letter, he did not reveal anything to the outside world.

What's more, with Emperor Jiajing's golden sword in hand, if Zhu Xixiao and the others can't carry out the emperor's order, then their ability is worth considering.

After inspecting the golden sword in Zhu Xixiao's hand, the officer on duty was about to carry out his order. Now that the news finally came out from the palace, there was no doubt about it. He led the team out of the gate of Xiyuan and let Zhu Xixiao's men enter. Xiyuan set up his defenses, and then he led the team back to the Yumajian.

"My lord, what happened in the palace, why did you suddenly switch defenses?"

Just walking on the road, the lieutenant said with some puzzlement.

"Who knows, Dudu Zhu has the Son of Heaven sword in his hand, and Eunuch Zhang also said, let us act according to Dudu Zhu's order."

The guard said angrily. In fact, he was also very curious. The change of defense this time was very inexplicable.

The situation in the Forbidden City is similar to that of Xiyuan. It didn't take much effort for Zhu Xizhong to take over the defense. He was executed immediately after he took out the emperor's golden sword.

Such a big movement spread in the cabinet and all the yamen of the court in an instant.

Xu Jie was shocked when he heard that Xiyuan and the Forbidden City suddenly changed defenses, and Zhu Xizhong and Zhu Xixiao took over. He rushed into Yan Song's room before calling Yuan Wei.

At this time, Yan Song's clerk was still in the duty room, and he obviously came to report when he found out that something was wrong.

The two got together and discussed.

They are all old foxes who have been officials for many years, but this is the first time I have seen such a situation.

Zhu Xizhong and Zhu Xixiao were able to easily control the ban. Without the order of Emperor Jiajing, they would not have been able to do so anyway. But how long have they been away from Yuxi Palace?

Half an hour ago.

"Seeing His Majesty today, I feel that his face is paler than usual, you say"

Xu Jie guessed carefully at this time.

"I also found out from this, but you and I were present at the time, so what's wrong with His Majesty?"

Yan Song also frowned, "At that time, I thought it was because I was frightened that day, and it will be fine after a few days."

"Then, do you and I want to enter Xiyuan again?"

Xu Jie said again.

At this time, Yuan Wei also heard the news and ran to Yan Song's room to inquire about the news.

He had just joined the cabinet, so it was normal to not know the news, he thought that Yan Song and Xu Jie had just returned from Xiyuan, so they should know something more or less, and when they entered the door, they asked: "Master Chief Assistant, Xu Cifu, what's going on today? "

And in Prince Yu's Mansion, the news was naturally spread in the first time.

"What, you said that Zhu Xixiao led troops to surround Xiyuan?"

When Wei Guangde heard the news, he suddenly got up, this is not a good omen.

During the siege, is this a rebellion?
"Cheng Guogong Zhu Xizhong has also controlled the imperial city, and now he can't get in touch with it. I don't know what happened in the palace?"

The servant who delivered the news said with some trepidation at this time.

The news brought back today was too scary. Even he was shocked when he saw that scene.

"Eunuch Li, is there anyone in the palace?"

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng asked suddenly.

"No."

When Zhang Juzheng asked, all the people in the room looked at Li Fang, and Li Fang hurriedly stepped forward to answer.

"No?"

Zhang Juzheng is also frowning at this moment, the situation is really unusual.

"Gentlemen, what are you talking about, and what should I do?"

King Yu spoke impatiently at the moment.

"Let someone contact Su Qing first, and see if there is any news from him?"

Yin Shizheng said.

Gao Gong was the one with the highest official position among the people who went out of Prince Yu's mansion, so if he wanted to find out what happened today, he had to ask him to find out.

"Master Gao probably doesn't have any news, otherwise, it's impossible for him not to inform us of such a big event."

Wei Guangde shook his head and said.

Although I don't know if there was a coup in the Ming Dynasty during the Jiajing period, but he seems to have the impression that Cheng Guogong was still there when he arrived in Chongzhen. It shouldn't be a rebellion, otherwise the old Zhu family would definitely not be able to retain his title. .

"Then what should we do?"

King Yu looked at Wei Guangde anxiously. He knew that Wei Guangde had a way to come quickly. In the past, Wei Guangde used his tricks to solve difficult problems. Moreover, when Gao Gong was still in the palace, he wanted to drag him into the palace of Yuwang to make excuses. Officer, because he valued his ability to come up with ideas.

Wei Guangde stood up, and first said to Yu Wang: "What happened in the palace, it's better to try to find out the situation."

When King Yu nodded, Wei Guangde said to Li Fang beside him: "All the affairs of the backyard of the palace are left to Eunuch Li. From now on, all the eunuchs and servants in the palace will gather to guard the backyard and patrol around. Be on guard against the younger generation sneaking into the palace."

Speaking of this, Wei Guangde looked around at the people in the house and continued: "As for the guards of the palace, they all gather in the front yard. Except for the side door, other doors are strictly forbidden to open."

"Well, that's the only way to go."

Yin Shizhen nodded in agreement.

And Zhang Juzheng also nodded slightly, and then said: "Until the situation is clarified, we'd better stay in this small courtyard temporarily, so don't go home, and let each of us tell our families."

In the final analysis, these officials of the royal family are also the role of King Yu's think tank.

The situation is special now. If you still clock in and out according to the time you sit in the office, you may not have time to recruit someone for consultation if you are really in a hurry.

"As it should be."

Tang Ruji also nodded at this time and said.

Regardless of whether he is welcomed or not in the palace, at least he is still a lecturer in the palace and a member of Prince Yu's palace. Tang Ruji can only advance and retreat with Yin Shizhen, Wei Guangde and others at this time.

Moreover, after entering King Yu's mansion, King Yu still respected him very much, and although the others occasionally expressed their precautions, they did their job well on the surface, and everyone still seemed to have a good chat on weekdays.

"Your Highness, sit down for a while. I'll go there for a while and make arrangements for my family."

Wei Guangde didn't sit back in his seat at this time, but clasped his fist at King Yu.

"it is good."

King Yu nodded and smiled.

With these words, Yin Shizhen and the others got up and walked out one after another.

"Li Fang, you also go down and make arrangements for the backyard."

At this moment, King Yu spoke to Li Fang beside him.

Li Fang also clasped his fists and hurried out of the house, seeing Wei Guangde and the others arresting a small servant and ordering them, he smiled at them and was about to leave the yard, but Wei Guangde grabbed his arm when he didn't want to.

Li Fang was suspicious, turned around and was about to ask, when Wei Guangde winked at him.

Of course Li Fang didn't understand the meaning of Wei Guangde's action, but she also understood that Wei Guangde seemed to have something to say to him, so she simply stood aside.

Wei Guangde just asked the servant to go out and call his groom to come in, and said to bring something, and he finished the order in a few words, the little servant naturally took the order to go out, so he took Li Fang's sleeve and walked forward.

After leaving the yard of the study room, I said to Li Fang in a secluded place after walking not too far: "Eunuch Li, I don't think I can find out the news in the palace, so we have to plan for the worst, you go to arrange the backyard. When the time comes, we will quietly arrange competent people to hide some horses in the palace and several places in the city, just in case."

"Horses ready? Oh, I see, good."

When Li Fang heard that Wei Guang pulled him to talk about it, she realized it instantly and nodded.

This is to stay behind, so as not to be in a hurry and not find the horse to lead the foot.

They don't know that the Beijing camp has sealed off the gates of all the city gates in Beijing. Although it is not a complete closure of the city and the severing of the connection between the inside and outside of the capital, but if you want to rush out of the city with a flying horse, you must first have luck and bless people and horses. It can pass through the rain of guns and arrows without damage.

After talking with Li Fang, Wei Guangde returned to their yard, and not long after, the groom Li San and the little servant came in carrying a long box.

Before he had time to open the box, Wei Guangde told Li Sandao: "You drive home immediately and report that I won't go back for the next two days, so that the servants can cheer up and take good care of the house.

In addition, your name is Zhang Ji, choose a few people to bring all the equipment to the palace. "

"Yes, sir."

With a promise, Li San turned around and left Prince Yu's Mansion, driving his carriage back to Wei Mansion to report.

By this time, Prince Yu's Mansion hadn't figured out what happened, but it had already started to take some precautions.

Wei Guangde asked someone to carry the box into the house. Under Yu Wang's amazed eyes, Wei Guangde squatted in front of the box, unlocked it with the key he had with him, and opened the lid.

Seeing the contents inside, Yu Wang, who was still sitting on the seat, suddenly became uneasy, got up and walked to the side of the box, squatting there like Wei Guangde, and reached out to touch the things in the box.

"Shandai, you thing"

Zhang Juzheng and Yin Shizheng also ordered good things and came back to the house early. At this time, Zhang Juzheng opened his mouth when he saw the things in the box.

"The Xuan Mansion used it."

Wei Guangde just replied with a smile.

Inside the box are a complete set of Shan Wenjia, a standard mandarin duck battle jacket of the Ming army, a very long bird gun and matching medicine pot.

Firearms, crossbows, armour, and large banners are actually things that are strictly forbidden to be kept privately by the imperial court. Even in King Yu’s mansion, King Yu himself does not have any armor, and the armor on the guards of the palace is also fake, but it is actually a cloth cover. Armor, similar to the mandarin duck battle jacket.

This was the first time that King Yu had come into close contact with the iron armor, so he was very interested and kept touching the armor up and down.

Wei Guangde didn't intend to put on the armor now, after all, the situation is unknown, he just opened the box to check the blunderbuss, and put the arrows in place by the way.

Seeing that King Yu was so interested, Wei Guangde didn't close the box after taking out the blunderbuss, but let King Yu look at it.

However, when King Yu started to check the blunderbuss and was about to apply medicine, King Yu's attention was attracted to the blunderbuss in Wei Guangde's hand again, and he just stared straight at the blunderbuss in Wei Guangde's hand.

And in the room at this time, apart from Zhang Juzheng, Yin Shizhen and Tang Ruji also had expressions similar to those of King Yu.

Zhang Juzheng was not curious, and naturally it had something to do with his background.

Zhang Juzheng's family had been separated long ago, and the first house he belonged to did not inherit the hereditary military position. However, in Jiangling, Zhang Juzheng still had a great reputation. After all, he was an Hanlin, so he had seen bird guns when he came into contact with the guards, but not so much now. curious.

Wei Guangde explained to King Yu and the others while working on it. In fact, the current firearms are really simple. After just looking at them, King Yu figured out how to use them.

"Whoa."

There was a sudden sound at the door, and the curtain was pulled open, and Li Fang walked in quickly.

"The Beijing army has entered the city and has blocked the city gate."

(End of this chapter)