Zhurou

Zhao Mingzhi deliberately asked his brother to let out the depression in his chest. He only stroked his back and let him cry loudly. After a full quarter of an hour, he waited for the others to calm down and then said softly: "Are you thirsty? ?Sister, can I give you a cup of tea to moisten your throat?"

As soon as Zhao Hong came back to his senses, a look of embarrassment appeared on his face, he just lowered his head and muttered two vague responses.

Zhao Mingzhi straightened up, took his brother's hand and walked to the table and chairs aside. After sitting down, he took a cup of boiled water, checked the heat and cold, poured half a cup for Zhao Hong and put it on the table, then went to look for it aside. Set up the basin and bring it over.

The water in the basin was cool and refreshing. She twisted a square wet handkerchief and put it on the edge of the basin.

Zhao Hong drank up the water in one breath, but it was not enough, so he poured another full cup. When he was halfway through the drink, he suddenly looked up and quickly moved a new cup to pour water. When Zhao Mingzhi came back, he held it with both hands. He handed it to her, raised his face and said, "Sister, I want to drink some water too."

There was no one else in the hall, and it was extremely quiet.

Zhao Mingzhi sat down next to his younger brother, took the tea cup and took a sip.

Zhao Hong didn't need to explain, he took the initiative to pick up the handkerchief and wiped the tears and nose stains on his face. After wiping, he didn't forget to get up and put his feet in the copper basin to wash the handkerchief clean. However, he did these actions very quickly, even while washing his face. At that time, there were several times when I secretly glanced at Zhao Mingzhi through the handkerchief, as if to confirm whether she was still there.

When he sat back on his seat, his right hand subconsciously grasped Zhao Mingzhi's sleeve. His red eyes became wet again, and he whispered: "I thought I would never see my sister again..."

As he spoke, his upper body was unconsciously leaning towards him, and he was halfway there. He didn't know what he thought of, but he slowly forced himself to sit upright again. However, when he wanted to let go of his hand, he struggled to do so, and his face was full of dissatisfaction. willing.

My younger brother is still very young and has been alone in Caizhou for a long time without any trustworthy relatives or friends. There are the covetous Di Bing in front of him and the unpredictable elders in the back. Not to mention the stubborn one in the north who constantly sends messengers back to ask for money and people. The emperor who is the king of seniority is the one who wants to surrender today.

Even adults may not be able to bear such a critical situation and the burden on their shoulders, let alone a child, who knows how much suffering he will endure.

Zhao Mingzhi simply moved his seat a little closer, leaned against each other, and held his brother's little hand in his. He didn't need to hesitate anymore and answered: "Sister, I am always thinking about you when I am away. I am afraid that you are too kind-hearted and too old. Xiao, I’m even more afraid that if you worry about me being outside, you will be picked on and bullied because of it.”

Zhao Hong hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said: "No one comes to bully me. It's just that I hear messy news from the front line every day. Although I don't understand it very well, I also know that there is no one good at all. I also think that my sister is here." It's dangerous outside, so I can't sleep well..."

Zhao Mingzhi lowered his head to take a closer look at Zhao Hong's face. He felt that although there was not much blood and there was not much flesh on his face, fortunately he was not in bad spirits. He asked softly: "Have you eaten at night? Is there any discomfort on your body?" ? How did Dr. Liu explain it? Do you want to take medicine today? "

So start asking questions one by one, starting with insignificant things.

Seeing that she didn't ask further questions, Zhao Hong seemed to be relieved and answered slowly, saying that he simply ate something to cushion himself, and he wasn't hungry at all. Two pills a day were very bitter and he didn't eat properly after taking them. , often use cakes to suppress nausea and so on.

He also talked about schoolwork, reporting on what book he was reading now, who taught the Sutra banquet, what was taught, whether he understood it or not, how well he learned, who taught him more, etc., etc., he reported everything one by one.

Zhao Mingzhi did not rush him and listened carefully to his detailed explanation. When he felt that his brother had calmed down, he asked: "You were fine in Caizhou, why did you suddenly return to Beijing? Who came up with this idea?" Did you encounter anything bad on the way?"

As soon as she finished asking, she noticed that her brother's hand was shaking.

Zhao Hong looked as if he was about to jump up, but he kept calm and remained silent for two breaths. As if he had made a big decision, he said: "Sister, don't blame others, I came here myself..."

Zhao Mingzhi was stunned.

She had already summoned several people to ask questions when she was in the back hall, and she knew generally what had happened. Only a few people in the eunuch palace knew and observed, but at the same time, her brother's answers were different.

Since Zhao Hong had confessed, he stopped hiding it and said: "A few days ago, Yang Zhongcheng and others said that the Di people were coming. They don't even know the number of soldiers and horses. They only know that there are tens of thousands or tens of thousands at least." Ten thousand……"

He reported two completely different numbers, even widely different.

"Knowing that the thieves are coming, there are noisy noises in the court every day. Even the frogs in the August pond in our house can't compare with them. They say they can't fight against the Di people. They are all clamoring to escape to the south. He said that he wanted to move the capital, and a lot of documents were taken out. Yang Zhongcheng and the others even came to ask me to choose a place. They only said that I was running too slow, and not only my life was at stake, but also the country was at stake."

"I refused to leave, so they knelt down and refused to leave. Later, the concubine came and cried every day, telling me to surrender quickly..."

"I'm stupid too..." Zhao Hong paused, "There are a bunch of them around, and they always talk about the people, the country, and the country. They also say that if I don't go, everyone will die with me. I believe it." I just thought that my sister had told me before and had read the memorials of several privy councilors and officials in the past. They all said that as long as we retreat to the south, not only the north will not be able to be defended, but people will lose their hearts and there is no other way. Maybe we can do it again. I tried for a few days, but in the end there was still no good results, so I refused to agree."

"They are all unhappy. The officials came to 'admonish' me, and some wanted to 'beat the pillars.' I heard that the ordinary people in the palace, Huang Men, all cried in private, and the people outside also scolded me..."

Speaking of this, Zhao Hong seemed to recall the scene that day, shuddered slightly, and his voice became a little lower.

Zhao Mingzhi held his hands tightly.

Zhao Hong shook his head, as if he wanted to put the scene of that day away from his mind, and said: "Fortunately, Wang Shu and Mo Xiang came in from outside to find out the news, and then they found out that Sister A had gone to the capital long ago and had been trapped in the city. But the letters they sent were all piled up in the Banking Department, and I didn't receive any of them. They also coaxed me by saying that my sister had persuaded Pei Jiedu and told him to watch the north. In a short time, you would go south. Meet me..."

"At that time, the capital city had been besieged for a long time, and everyone said that it would be impossible to defend it this time. I knew that if I told them that I was coming to the capital, none of them would agree, and if I told them that I had no troops, what would I say? 'A moth flies into the flame', 'A mantis' arm acts as a chariot'..." Zhao Mingzhi said: "There are not many soldiers in Caizhou, and a few officials want to play it safe."

Zhao Hong said in a low voice: "I know, but I just want to come to see my sister. That day I thought, I don't want to be the emperor. I can't make my own decisions wherever I go. The worst I can do is take off my clothes and hats. Whoever wants to wear them can wear them." Go, I came to the capital from Caizhou, and I died together with my sister."

Zhao Mingzhi slapped him on the head in punishment, but he was reluctant to use it hard. He wanted to scold him a few times, but he didn't know how to scold him.

Zhao Hong didn't even hide. He even put his head against Zhao Mingzhi's hand and said angrily: "I'm just talking. My parents have always taught me, and my sister has repeatedly told me that I should take responsibility as a person, especially if I sit on this chair again." , even though I didn’t choose it myself, I still have my backbone left when I die, so it can’t be the same as the one in the north, right? It’s just that I was spat on in the back, if my father, mother and sister are affected..."

"I really couldn't hold myself back. I told Sun Pingzhang and others about coming to the capital, but they all knelt down and tried to remonstrate with me. I couldn't do anything to them, and they couldn't do anything to me. I didn't want to. After all, I couldn't force someone to do it. Can the emperor leave?"

"Later I received urgent reports one after another, saying that they were letters from Pei Jiedu urging reinforcements. Several officials in the court told me to ignore it, and we gathered around to discuss it seven or eight times. I just turned over and over again, quoted scriptures, and then said that he 'His heart is to be punished', and sometimes he is said to be 'ambitious', and he is just noisy and noisy, and no one can think of a useful solution. In the end, he just leaves the matter open, as if he is waiting for a thief to come."

"After a few days of turmoil, Sun Pingzhang and others came to urge me to move the capital to the south first. I asked what to do in the north, what to do with the thieves, and what to do in the capital. They just used words to prevaricate, saying that we would discuss other matters on the way, and also said that Pei Jiedu The report contains "inaccuracies and untruths," and someone needs to go check it out..."

"It turned out that only two days after the courier was sent, the urgent report came again."

"This time Zhongshu was in a quarrel. Later someone told me that Pei Jiedu's report said that 'the situation is serious' and that the emperor should be invited to go north to visit in person to encourage the soldiers."

"Fan Sheren and Sun Pingzhang were so angry that they sat together and scolded each other for a long time. Finally, Zhongshu drafted a text and asked people to hold him in his arms to rebuke him. He also asked me if I wanted to send an envoy to deliver the oral rebuke. "

"I originally wanted to come to the capital, but it was rare to find someone to help me, so I hurriedly asked for the booklet and came over to take a closer look."

"There is some truth in what Sun Pingzhang and the others said, but after I read it carefully, I felt that what was said in the excerpt was more reasonable. So I took the excerpt to discuss with the two governments and tried many ways, but none of them worked. The officials could always say There were many concerns that I could not explain or deal with. At that time, the sky was really not responding to me, and the earth was not functioning properly. I was coming in and out, and everyone had their own ideas, but no one was willing to listen to me..."

"I was so angry that I had no choice but to show them to them without eating or drinking. After holding on for a whole day, I really couldn't stand it anymore. Who knows..."

Zhao Hong's tone had always been dull, but when he said the words "who knows", his tone suddenly rose, and he couldn't tell what kind of expression he had on his face, it seemed like excitement or pride.

"Sister, guess what?"

He couldn't wait for Zhao Mingzhi to speak, and already asked and answered himself, loudly saying: "Who knew that Jiedushi Pei Yong actually came to Caizhou on his own!"

"He said that after receiving a letter from Zhongshu and receiving my oral instructions, he should face the Holy Spirit and defend himself face to face..."

"I have heard that my sister praised Pei Jiedu a lot, and said that he is trustworthy and usable. I just asked the envoy to test it out that day. Who knew... who knew that he was really here!"

At this moment, Zhao Hong was almost elated.

"As soon as Pei Jiedu came, the two houses were like a firecracker. They shouted at him to kill him. He had a very good temper. He didn't get angry no matter how much he was scolded. But he was very powerful, no matter who he was. No matter what nonsense you make, I can answer it all."

"There was also a general who came with me. He was very good at crying. He cried from the beginning of the court to the day he retreated. He talked about the suffering of the people on the front line and the devastation of life in the north. He said that if the emperor came in person, there would still be a way to survive in the north. If even I... I have fled south, half of my country is gone, half of my people are gone, how can I have the face to meet my ancestors, the civil and military officials of the dynasty, how can I have the face to face my father, fellow villagers, parents, brothers and sisters..."

"When I saw someone helping me, I agreed in person that I would go north to help defend the city and protect the soil. Several censors were surprised and kowtowed on the spot to hit the pillars. The general and the partial general did not kowtow, but they were the first to hit the pillars. , he was bleeding from the collision, but he could still stand upright, even though many people were pulling him, he couldn't pull him away. He even yelled, "You are the only ones who know how to hit the pillars. The people who died in the north are lucky because they can't see your majesty. They can't hit the pillars." When they get to the pillars, I'll break them for them. If I can knock His Majesty into the capital, breaking a hundred pillars won't be enough for me alone. Even if I'm a ghost, I'll have to break them all before I'm willing to go down to the eighteenth floor of the underground!'"

The general's name was unknown, and his actions that day clearly left a deep impression on Zhao Hong. Now he recited what he said, and it was so vivid that he couldn't help but stand up later.

"He hit the ground with blood all over the floor. He was still holding on to the pillar and trying to hit it. The others were so frightened that they didn't dare to let go. The other people who wanted to hit the pillar saw that he was grinning and they didn't dare to get close."

"Fan Sheren asked Pei Jiedu to take good care of his subordinates. If he behaves badly before the emperor, he will be punished in the future. Pei Jiedu asked him, "Does the person in Fan Shi think that only the censor on the stage can sacrifice his life to make a death remonstrance, and I will cherish my life?" You can't hit the pillar by guarding your body?'"

"Sister, you don't know what Fan Sheren looked like at that time! What Sun Pingzhang and the others looked like! Those who made the most noise in the court were all as mute!"

Zhao Hong sneered and said: "I didn't know why at that time, but I got enlightened all of a sudden, so I followed the call and told me to set off immediately. Several censors knelt on the ground and kowtowed until their heads were broken, so I asked again Of them, can it be that only ministers can knock against pillars, but not the emperor?"

"I didn't care about them anymore. I told Pei Yong that we were going to leave at this moment. He actually agreed and opened the way with the general, and I followed him out of the palace."

"As soon as I set off, the Fanshe people chased me, and the rest of the people also followed. The Imperial Guard Huangmen also came, and then the honor guard slowly arrived. When I went all the way north, the front army opened the way, and there were many small and large soldiers. After more than ten battles, we fought all the way. As long as I drove to the place, although the victory was sometimes very difficult, every soldier and the people saw me and they were happy and encouraged. There was also a soldier who told me, I heard that The emperor arrived in person, and he wielded the sword with more force..."

When Zhao Hong said this, his voice was a little choked: "Sister, they said that the defense of the capital today was all thanks to me. Although there are many exaggerations, it is actually all thanks to the efforts of the soldiers, but I came here today, Doesn’t that count as something wrong?”