The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 492 Delivering the Order Late at Night
In mid-December, Zhu Xiu married Shi Lingyan very low-key.

Although Shi Lingyan was nominally Fu Yanqing's adopted daughter and Fu Jinhuan's dowry, and her title was a concubine, Zhu Xiu still gave her the treatment of a real wife, but did not invite guests to the banquet in a big way, and only invited Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Yongde and Mr. and Mrs. Li Chongjin. , Zhao Kuangyin, Shi Shouxin, Wei Renpu, Fan Zhi and other close friends, everyone can also find opportunities to get together.

Lao Shi saw his daughter off, pretending to be strong on the surface, but secretly crying and red-eyed.

Three days later, after the return ceremony, Shi Kuangwei entered the palace to meet the officials, and then rushed to Xuzhou with his soldiers to take office.

Originally, he wanted to take Shi Xiangwen with him, but after careful consideration, Lao Shi decided to let him stay in Kaifeng. After all, Zhu Xiu needed more protection.

From then on, a pair of children had someone to rely on, and Lao Shi had no regrets. He felt free and relaxed when he left Beijing.

The end of the second year of Guangshun was about to be spent in peace. Since Chai Rong left Beijing, all kinds of suspicions between the government and the public came to an abrupt end. Everything seemed to have returned to calm, and all provinces, ministries, supervision and temples were operating step by step.

Except for the frequent reports sent to Beijing from Jingxiang, everything seemed to be stable in the whole country of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

But Zhu Xiu smelled an undercurrent under this extreme calmness.

It's just that he has no position and power now. He goes to Sinong Temple every now and then to talk to the minister of Sinong Temple, who looks familiar to him. Then he goes home to fall in love with two newlyweds, Fu Jinhuan and Shi Lingyan. Life was going pretty well.

Anyway, Zhu Xiu finally figured it out. It was not his turn to fuss over some things. Instead of worrying about them, he might as well enjoy his little life.

The sky is falling and there are tall people standing there, but now there are many tall people in the court, and Zhu Xiu is just a short mule, so he is not qualified to be the top.

To understand this, Zhu Xiu should eat and drink, and live a newlywed life without fighting against the world.

The first month of the third year of Guangshun came quietly in such leisurely and comfortable days.

It stands to reason that Zhu Xiu was qualified to participate in the Yuan Dynasty meeting. He could stand in the corner of the square near Daqing Gate, overlooking the magnificent Daqing Hall, and listen to the eunuchs relaying the speeches of the officials in the hall over and over again.

Zhu Xiu felt that it was too cold to stand in the square and was too lazy to go. He took a message to several chief officials of Sinong Temple, took leave of absence and stayed at home, holding Fu Jinhuan and sleeping until he woke up naturally.

After returning to leisure, Zhu Xiu did not forget to keep the Hou Mansion in a confusing state of tightness inside and looseness at the outside. The number of open posts and secret sentries in the mansion more than doubled, and all the manpower from Kaifeng Chengsheng and Dishe were transferred to the mansion to secretly strengthen the alert.

When Chai Rong left Beijing that day, his meaning was already quite obvious.

The fact that he left Beijing in a hurry before his wedding was not due to some quarrel between father and son spread among the government and the public, but a conspiracy between him and Guo Wei.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, the only people who need to be dealt with carefully by Guo Wei and Chai Rong are the two kings of the north and the south.

No one knows how many Wang Jun's gang members are hidden in Kaifeng City. Once the window paper is pierced, the movement will not be small, and protecting the Hou Mansion is completely top priority.

Zhu Xiu had discussed these powerful relationships with Bi Zhenhai, Ma Qing, Hu Guangyue and others in advance, and also kept in touch with Li Chongjin, Zhang Yongde and Zhao Kuangyin at any time.

The fourteenth day of the first lunar month, tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, and the Hou Mansion started to be busy early in the morning.

Fu Jinhuan took Ma Qing to take inventory of the treasury and prepare the holiday gifts to be sent from house to house tomorrow. The gifts sent to each house are different and must be clearly marked in advance.

It's different when there is a mistress in the house. The female family members take care of these matters of welcoming and sending off, so Zhu Xiu doesn't have to worry about it at all.

With Fu Jinhuan's family background, she is very good at these things and enjoys them, quickly completing her identity transformation as the hostess of the Hou Mansion.

Seeing that the Hou Mansion was becoming more and more orderly, Zhu Xiu was very pleased that this wife was not married in vain.

"Aren't you going to Sinong Temple to attend the ceremony today?"

Fu Jinhuan had been busy all morning and was about to go back to his house to rest. When he passed by the inner study, he saw Zhu Xiu lying on the couch reading a book.

Zhu Xiu glanced at her: "It's cold and several experimental fields are frozen, so I can't do anything. I'll just take leave and go home. I'll wait until the Lantern Festival is over and the weather warms up and the ground thaws."

"Oh~" Fu Jinhuan poured himself a cup of hot tea. Zhu Xiu made some experimental plots at Sinong Temple and said he wanted to try out some new crops. In the past few days, when he came home every afternoon, he was covered in dirt.

She doesn't know much about farming. She grew up in a military family and has used swords, guns and sticks, but she has never held a hoe handle.

Fu Jinhuan didn't leave in a hurry and wandered around slowly in the inner study.

Zhu Xiu put down the book: "What, is there something wrong?"

Fu Jinhuan sat on the edge of the couch, pursed his lips and chuckled, "Why haven't you seen Madam Zhou these days?"

Zhu Xiu coughed dryly and pretended to flip through the book: "I don't know, maybe I live in Guanyinyuan"

"A nunnery is deserted and deserted. What's there to live in?"

Zhu Xiu glanced at her and was a little confused about the girl's true intention, and said vaguely: "Maybe the vegetarian food in the nunnery is delicious."

Fu Jinhuan hit him: "Stop pretending to me! Go and tell Mrs. Zhou to let her come back home so that we can take care of each other."

Zhu Xiu blinked: "Do you really think so?"

"Hmph~ As a big woman, you must be tolerant of others! Could it be that in your heart, I am the kind of jealous woman who cannot tolerate others?" Fu Jinhuan said angrily.

Zhu Xiu hurriedly grabbed her jade hands and said, "Madam, she has a large capacity and a belly that can accommodate the rivers and seas!"

Fu Jinhuan broke away and sneered: "You have been thinking this for a long time. You wish I would take the initiative to help you take all those women home!"

"No way! If I have a wife, my life will be complete. Others are just the icing on the cake!" Zhu Xiu vowed.

Fu Jinhuan muttered dissatisfiedly: "I don't believe you! I feel that Kaifeng City is not peaceful recently, and I'm afraid something will happen. I'm worried that Mrs. Zhou will have no one to take care of her outside, so I asked you to bring her back."

Zhu Xiu asked strangely: "Where did you hear that?"

"Since the beginning of the first lunar month, there have been twice as many patrol soldiers and Sixth Street patrols in the city as before. The inspections in and out of the major city gates are stricter than before. Yesterday I went to the Princess Mansion to deliver some fine goods. "I heard from Princess Shou'an that a curfew will be implemented from Haishi to Yinshi from tonight, I don't know if it is true or not."

Fu Jinhuan frowned slightly, a little worried.

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "Don't think so much. There will indeed be some changes in the court. The impact will not be big and it will not cause chaos."

Fu Jinhuan said: "You have been a ninth-grade farming magistrate since you were a child. The major events in the court have nothing to do with you, right?"

Zhu Xiu pinched her cheek gently: "It's possible that I, a military commander, may one day become a third-grade official."

Fu Jinhuan bit his lip: "In short, no matter what you do, your own safety is the most important thing! Nothing is as important as life!"

Zhu Xiu was deeply moved and gently stroked the delicate and tight face of his newlywed wife: "Don't worry, Huan'er, as my husband, I can't bear to let you be a widow."

Fu Jinhuan knocked off his hand and said coquettishly: "I will not be a widow for you! If you lose your life, at worst, I will find someone to remarry!"

Zhu Xiu was furious and pulled her into his arms, turned over and pressed her on the couch: "Bold lady, you still want to remarry? I've turned against you!~"

"Kekeke~ Let me go~" Fu Jinhuan struggled and gasped.

Soon, the winter sun outside was warm, and the spring light was revealed early inside the house.
An hour later, Zhu Xiu, refreshed and refreshed, took a carriage to Guanyin Temple to pick Zhou Xian home.

Although Zhou Xian was a little reluctant, she originally planned to stay there until the Lantern Festival and then go back to visit Wu Youdi.

Zhu Xiu persuaded her to go back home with him after some hard talking.In the evening, the whole family sat around the stove and ate mutton-boiled meat. Then Zhu Xiu, Fu Jinhuan, Shi Lingyan, and Zhou Xian went back to the back house and played mahjong for a while. They didn't rest until the banging of the clappers at the second watch in the house.

Shi Lingyan felt inconvenient and went back to the bedroom to rest.

The newlywed couple Zhu Xiu and Fu Jinhuan naturally spent the whole night having fun.

It was almost midnight, and it was still dark. Ma Qing and Bi Zhenhai suddenly led a group of guards and poured into the back yard holding torches.

There was a loud knock on the master bedroom door, and Zhu Xiu woke up from her sleep.

"What's the matter?"

Looking sleepily at the flames lit up outside the house, Zhu Xiu was also startled and lost sleepiness at all.

"Master Hou, get up quickly, there is an official order coming!" Ma Qing's anxious voice came into the room.

"Official decree?!" Zhu Xiu ignored the panic, quickly opened the quilt and got out of bed, and hurriedly put on his clothes.

The weather was still very cold, and when I left the heated kang, I was shivering all over.

Fu Jinhuan was also awakened: "What happened?"

"I've got an official order, I'll go take a look! You stay asleep for a while, don't get up, or you may freeze your body." Zhu Xiu spoke quickly, put on her robe, shoes and socks, and put on a cloak.

"Be careful!" Fu Jinhuan curled up in the quilt, eyes full of worry, watching Zhu Xiu leave the bedroom, Ma Qing and others surrounded him and left, the fire outside the courtyard gradually disappeared and returned to darkness.

In the front hall, Zhu Xiu saw the person who came to deliver the order late at night. It was Wang Shenqi!

"Please ask Dingyuan Marquis Zhu Xiu to accept the official order!"

Wang Shenqi, who was wearing armor, was not polite at all and handed a brocade box to Zhu Xiu as soon as they met.

His face was solemn, his cheeks were red from the cold, and there was frost and snow on his helmet.

Zhu Xiu did not dare to delay, so he bowed down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, Zhu Xiu, accepts the order!"

"Edict: Grant Dingyuan Marquis Zhu Xiu the Tiger Wing Army Commanding Envoy, hold the military talisman and seal the letter, and have full control over the troops and horses of the headquarters. Lead the army into the inner city before Sizheng time, take over Yiqiu Gate, Xishui Gate, and Changhe Gate, and garrison the West City. , use all our strength to hunt down Wang Jun for betraying the party, and kill him if he encounters resistance!"

Wang Shenqi finished reciting the decree in a fast voice and thrust it into Zhu Xiu's hand along with the brocade box containing the military talisman and seal letter.

Zhu Xiu trembled all over, and raised his hands to take it: "My minister, Zhu Xiu, takes the decree!"

This murderous decree was sent in the middle of the night, naming Wang Jun as a traitor to the party. Needless to say, this was Guo Wei's decision to attack Wang Jun and his party!
Zhu Xiu stood up and checked the military talisman seal letter. He and Li Chongjin planned the establishment of the Tiger Wing Army. They were very familiar with the military talisman seal letter and could not fake it.

"I dare to ask General Wang, if I lead the Tiger Wing Army to garrison the West City, who will take over the South City and East City? How can the inner palace of the palace be safe?"

Zhu Xiu ignored the pleasantries and directly asked the key point.

Wang Shenqi said solemnly: "The Chongming Gate, Mingde Gate, and Baokang Gate in the south city are guarded by the Prince Consort Zhang Yongde, who leads the Hujie Army's left wing commander, Han Tong, and others. In the east city, there are Lijing Gate, Cao Gate, and Dongshui Gate. The deputy commander of the Long Jiejun made the old general Zhao Hongyin take over.

The palace city was inspected by the imperial capital Li Chongjin and led the imperial guards to garrison in front of the palace. The officials have made complete arrangements. All the generals can do as they are told! "

Zhu Xiu said hurriedly: "Thank you, General Wang, for telling me!"

Wang Shenqi added: "Remind Mr. Zhu that you only have one and a half hours to take over the Tiger Wing Army. No matter what method you use, you must lead the army into the city and garrison it in place before Zhengzheng. Otherwise, military law will be enforced without mercy!" "

"General Wang, please go back and report to the officials. I will definitely live up to the trust of the officials!"

Wang Shenqi looked at him deeply: "It's getting late, Mr. Zhu Hou, hurry up and get ready!"

After saying that, Wang Shenqi said goodbye and strode away.

Zhu Xiu stood outside the hall, it was already dawn, and the morning fog still shrouded the entire capital.

"Send someone to find Pan Mei and ask him to rush to the Tiger Wing Army camp in Luocheng! From now on, I will recruit him as the deputy commander of the right wing of the Tiger Wing Army. He will be added after the transfer order and confession documents!"

"Ma Qing and Hu Guangyue will stay at the Hou Mansion, while Bi Zhenhai will follow me to the military camp! Call my brother and Shi Xiangwen!"

"From now on, all matters in the house will be subject to Madam's disposal. Remember to send someone to exchange news with me every three hours!"

Zhu Xiu issued a series of orders, and everyone around him took action.

After a while, Zhu Xiu took Bi Zhenhai, Zhu Wu, and Shi Xiangwen and galloped to the Huyi Army station in West Jiaofang, Luocheng.

When Zhu Xiu and his party arrived at the camp, Pan Mei also happened to arrive.

This guy was also woken up from his sleep. He didn't even bother to tie his hair. He put on a helmet and picked up a long-handled flower knife and ran over.

Pan Mei was so anxious that she was sweating profusely. When they met, she yelled: "I said you sent someone to recruit me into the Tiger Wing Army. Is it true or false?"

Zhu Xiu took out the letter of the military talisman and showed it to him: "The official personally gave the talisman the seal, how can it be fake?"

Pan Mei swallowed her saliva and said, "You have to be reliable, I, Old Pan, have always known that it was not easy for me to become the outer palace, but don't draw water from the bamboo basket empty-handed!"

"Don't worry, I can't trick you! You're still messing with me in the future!" Zhu Xiu laughed, Bi Zhenhai called to open the camp gate, and a group of people rushed into the camp on horseback.

At that time, the deputy commander of the Tiger Wing Army and the commander of the right wing was Cao Bin. He heard the commotion and went out to inspect.

"General Cao, I took over the command of the Tiger Wing Army by official order. This is the imperial seal. Please check it."

Zhu Xiu turned over and dismounted, and Bi Zhenhai handed the decree seal to Cao Bin.

Initially, Zhu Xiu was worried that Cao Bin would be unconvinced and would have objections. Unexpectedly, after checking the imperial seal, he decisively knelt down and bowed: "General Cao Bin will obey Zhu Jun's orders in all matters!"

Zhu Xiushe sighed and hurriedly helped him stand up: "General Cao, there is no need to be polite. Please order the entire army to assemble and follow me into the city!"

Without saying a word, Cao Bin ordered the sergeants to beat the military drum and invited Zhu Xiu to come to the general point platform for review.

The entire army of more than 2 people assembled very quickly, with less than two sticks of incense. The fourteen commanders of the six armies on the left and right sides were neatly arranged according to the order of each army.

"General Cao manages the army well!" Zhu Xiu praised.

Cao Bin smiled lightly and said: "The general does not dare to take credit. He just follows the rules set by Zhu Jun before and strictly organizes military affairs. He does not dare to slack off at all."

Zhu Xiu smiled. It had been more than a year since he left the Tiger Wing Army. During this period, Cao Bin was the de facto supreme commander of the entire army. If he had the intention to overthrow the military regulations and training methods previously established, the Tiger Wing Army would never remain the same. .

From this point of view, Cao Bin is really a magnanimous person.

After the army was reorganized, the military commander waved flags repeatedly, and all the soldiers set off lightly and marched into the inner city in an orderly manner.

(End of this chapter)