Huangming

Chapter 340 A commoner enters the hall, unconventional and unrestrained (Bonus chapter for 800 monthly votes!)
Yang Lian did not stay in Cao County for long, not even for the time it takes to eat a meal.

It wasn't that he didn't want to reminisce with Zuo Guangdou; it was simply that Zuo Guangdou was too busy.

The pounding songs on the riverbank were still deafening, and the blueprints were spread out on a table in the shack. Several craftsmen were arguing with Zuo Guang. Even when they saw him off, this capable official in charge of river management kept glancing at the construction site. He was clearly concerned about the project and could not bear to leave it for a moment.

When Yang Lian boarded the boat and looked back, he saw that Zuo Guangdou had already turned around and disappeared into the crowd. His back was inconspicuous among the laborers ramming the earth, but he exuded a rock-solid steadiness.

The slight melancholy he felt from the long-awaited reunion and the hasty separation was gradually replaced by a feeling of warmth.

Former colleagues who worked together in the imperial court have now found their true home on the banks of the Yellow River. With light in their eyes and roots in their feet, that is enough.

As the boat slowly sailed away from the shore, Yang Lian stood by the railing, watching the outline of Cao County gradually disappear into the distance, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.

Back then, these fellow members of the Donglin Party joined Han Kuang in opposing His Majesty's issuance of the imperial edict. Their words were so vehement that they were almost irreconcilable enemies.

If they had encountered a narrow-minded and vindictive monarch, they would probably have lost their lives in prison long ago, and would not have had the opportunity to be sent out to do things today.
"His Majesty is wise after all."

Yang Lian muttered to himself.

Both he and Zuo Guangdou kept in mind this kindness and recognition.

Only by doing my utmost to fulfill my duties can I repay His Majesty for sparing my life and giving me such an important position.

With the heavy responsibility of inspecting the nine border regions on his shoulders, he dared not slacken in the slightest.

The official ship has already raised its sails and is ready to set sail at a moment's notice.

Yang Lian counted the entourage, his gaze sweeping across the deck, only to find that a key figure was missing.

He frowned slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Where is Li Hongji?"

Li Hongji, the young man who made great contributions in suppressing the Wenxiang Sect rebellion, was supposed to accompany His Majesty northwards according to His Majesty's decree, and it is said that His Majesty would even personally summon him.

This man had just been promoted from humble beginnings; he was wild and difficult to control. Yang Lian had been keeping a close eye on him the whole way, but unexpectedly, he disappeared on his own as soon as they arrived in Cao County.

The attendant beside him quickly replied, "Sir, Lieutenant General Li disembarked shortly after you went to see Lord Zuo. He said... he wanted to travel around and see how the people around Cao County are doing now."

"To see the common people?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Lian couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

Recalling Li Hongji's fierce fighting spirit in the chaos of battle, who would have thought that this former "rebel leader" would now care about the livelihood of ordinary people?

He gazed at the bustling village on the riverbank, pondered for a moment, and said, "Never mind, I'll just wait for him."

Yang Lian never expected that this wait would last until the sun set and dusk spread across the Yellow River.

Just as Yang Lian was about to send someone to search, a figure emerged from the twilight on the shore and stepped onto the boat with a "thump thump thump".

It was Li Hongji.

He looked up and met the gazes of everyone on the boat. A somewhat naive expression immediately appeared on his face. He scratched the back of his head and chuckled, "Sorry to keep you all waiting. I couldn't resist walking a bit further after getting off the boat..."

He rubbed his hands together, as if remembering something, and added, "Speaking of which, when the Incense-Wen Sect... oh no, those rebels were causing trouble in Cao County, it was also thrown into chaos. It was only thanks to Lord Zuo's presence here that things were brought under control and the situation was quickly quelled."

Today I visited several villages and saw that the people were busy repairing the dikes. They had also stocked up on sweet potatoes at home. Speaking of Zuo Zongtang, everyone gave him a thumbs up. This Zuo Zongtang was truly a good official who could serve the people.

As he spoke, he suddenly slapped his thigh, as if he had remembered something, and called to the guards who had followed him: "Quick, bring the things here!"

The guards quickly handed over several oil paper packages. When they opened them, they found glistening roast chickens, and the aroma immediately filled the deck.

Li Hongji picked one up and handed it to Yang Lian: "I bought this in town as an apology to everyone. Have a taste?"

Looking at his unruly manner, Yang Lian swallowed back the reprimand that was on the tip of her tongue.

The man before me was neither a civil official who had passed the imperial examinations nor a military general from a military family. He was originally a commoner who gained fame and fortune through his bravery in suppressing rebellions.

This way of doing things was completely different from the well-behaved officials in the court; it was as rough as an unpolished stone.

Yet, this very person has won His Majesty's favor and was even summoned by him personally?
Yang Lian was secretly surprised.

His Majesty's judgment in choosing people is often beyond expectation.

However, His Majesty has given them quite a few "surprises" these days, and he has gradually gotten used to it.

"Now that Lieutenant General Li has boarded the ship, let's set sail." Yang Lian waved his hand, his tone calm and even.

"Hey! Good!"

Li Hongji grinned, shoved the roast chicken into the arms of his personal guard, and nimbly stepped aside.

Soon, the boatmen's chants rang out from the deck.

Because it was going upstream, the boat moved slowly when it first left the port. The boatmen who had been waiting on the shore bent down and pulled on the thick hemp ropes. Their shouts of "Heave-ho, heave-ho" rose and fell, like a string of heavy stones being thrown into the twilight river.

The official boat, pulled by the boatmen, slowly turned its bow, breaking through the deepening night, and headed north.

The lanterns at the stern swayed in the wind, reflecting the murky river water and the lights on both banks that were gradually receding into the distance.

Yang Lian stood at the bow of the boat, gazing at the increasingly dark river surface, the sounds of the boatmen's chants mingling with the water's roar in his ears.

As the night breeze grew cooler, he wrapped his coat tighter around himself and gazed at the stars in the north.

The road ahead is long, but it also holds a glimmer of hope.

When traveling south from Beijing, the waters of the canal can carry them to Shandong in less than ten days.

But now, going against the current northwards, they have to contend with the current, which has taken nearly a month.

Although Yang Lian urged the boatmen to speed up the journey, it still took twenty-five days to reach the capital.

It was already late September, and the chill of autumn had seeped into the very bones. Even the last few withered leaves on the branches were swept away by the cold wind, as if even the tail end of autumn was about to slip away.

During the more than twenty days of traveling north, the temperature got colder day by day. When we first left Shandong, it was only chilly in the mornings and evenings, but the further north we went, the colder the wind became.

When the ship reached Beijing territory, a light snowflake began to fall from the sky.

The snowflakes were as small as salt, melting instantly on my sleeves, yet clearly proclaiming:

Winter is coming.

Everyone on the boat had already changed into thick cotton-padded clothes, and even the boatmen at the bow were wrapped up tightly in cotton-padded coats, their breath condensing into wisps of white mist in the cold air.

When the official ship docked at Tongzhou Wharf, Yang Lian did not rush to disembark. Instead, he summoned the Liaodong Military Commander who was waiting there and inquired in detail about the recent situation of the Nine Garrisons:
"Are the military pay in Liaodong being distributed on time? Have there been any unusual movements from the Jurchen tribes recently?"

His brows were furrowed as he listened and took notes on paper, his mind clearly already wandering to the border thousands of miles away.

Unlike him, Li Hongji seemed rather excited.

Several eunuchs who had been waiting at the dock for a long time stepped forward to lead the way, and he followed them, changing into a mule cart, which sped towards the capital city.

This was Li Hongji's first time setting foot in Beijing.

In the past, when he was in Yinchuan Garrison, the largest city he had ever seen was the prefectural city. He had never seen such a magnificent sight.

As the car passed Deshengmen, he couldn't help but lift the curtain and look out.

The towering city wall stretches out like a giant black dragon, and the mottled marks on the bricks reveal the weight of time.

The streets were bustling with traffic, and the shouts of merchants were constant. Pedestrians dressed in all sorts of clothes thronged the streets. Even the sugar paintings and windmills carried by roadside vendors seemed novel to him.

His bewildered, "Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden" demeanor couldn't help but elicit a hint of scorn from the eunuch beside him.

The eunuch pursed his lips, but because he was "the person His Majesty wanted to see," he didn't dare say anything more, and only urged the mule cart to leave quickly.

When we arrived at the outskirts of the imperial city, it was noon. Although the sun was blazing, it could not stop the cold wind.

However, Li Hongji did not immediately get the opportunity to meet the emperor.

According to the rules, he first needed to learn the etiquette for meeting the emperor under the tutelage of officials from the Ministry of Rites.

From the angle of kneeling to the tone of voice in response, from the attire of the robes to the placement of the gaze, everything is meticulously observed. "General Li, when meeting His Majesty, you must remove your hat and kowtow, touching your head three-tenths of an inch to the ground, and you must not look directly at His Majesty's face..."

The Ministry of Rites official held a copy of the "Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty" and patiently explained it sentence by sentence. Li Hongji, dressed in a brand-new military officer's robe, clumsily followed along and practiced, even breaking out in a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

He knew in his heart that these rules were the first hurdle for him to overcome in his journey from humble beginnings to the imperial court.

Only by crossing over can we truly see His Majesty.

Fortunately, although Li Hongji came from humble beginnings, he was literate and had read a few miscellaneous books.

If he hadn't been quick-witted, how could he have risen from an ordinary soldier to a leader in the chaos of the Fragrance Sect?

He mastered the etiquette for meeting the emperor taught by the Ministry of Rites in just one day, from the arc of the kowtow to the tone of the voice in response. Even the head of the Ministry of Rites nodded in approval, thinking that although this man looked rough and rough, he had some understanding.

The next day.

Before dawn, Li Hongji was woken up by a eunuch and made to change into a well-fitting military officer's robe.

As he followed the eunuch through the palace gates, he couldn't help but steal a glance.

The walls of the Forbidden City gleamed with a cold, bluish-gray light in the morning glow, and the auspicious beasts on the eaves stood tall and proud, as if looking down on the ants-like beings.

As he walked into the long corridor, the towering palace walls on both sides seemed to squeeze the sky into a narrow strip of light. Li Hongji felt as insignificant as an ant that had strayed into the palace, and even his breathing became lighter.

The leading eunuch stopped in front of the Qianqing Palace, his high-pitched voice breaking the silence: "Wait here."

Li Hongji was led into the Nine Ministers' office next door, and he broke out in a light sweat as soon as he stood up.

Most of the officials sitting in the duty room had white hair and beards, wore scarlet official robes, and had jade belts around their waists that gleamed.

He had just learned about it yesterday; it was the dress code for officials of the third rank and above, each of whom was a figure whose mere stomp of the foot could shake the court.

Li Hongji quickly shrank into a corner, his back ramrod straight, but he didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

After an unknown amount of time, the sun outside the window reached its zenith before an unfamiliar eunuch entered. His gaze swept across the duty room before finally settling on Li, the military officer: "General Li, His Majesty summons you."

Li Hongji suddenly stood up, his legs feeling somewhat stiff.

He followed the eunuch through the corridors of the Qianqing Palace like a puppet on a string.

Upon reaching the outside of the East Warm Pavilion, the eunuch stopped and gestured with his lips towards the inside: "Go in."

Faint voices drifted from inside the hall, mingling with the crackling of burning charcoal, causing Li Hongji's heart to race.

He took a deep breath, his fingertips clenching secretly under his sleeves, and stepped over the threshold.

According to the rules taught by the Ministry of Rites, he kept his eyes straight ahead and his spine ramrod straight until he reached the center of the hall before slowly kneeling down.

As his knees touched the cold ground, he held his breath, pressed his forehead firmly against the gold brick, his voice trembling slightly with tension, yet his words were clear:
"Your Majesty, I, Li Hongji, the Assistant Commander of the Capital Garrison, respectfully wish Your Majesty good health!"

The East Warm Pavilion was warm and inviting. A thick, bright yellow brocade cushion covered the sandalwood throne, and Zhu Youxiao sat upright in the main seat.

His gaze calmly fell on the kneeling figure below the steps, a subtle, unfathomable ripple passing through his eyes.

Who would have thought?
The trembling, timid general before us, who dared not even raise his head, would, in another chapter of history buried by time, lead a mighty peasant army to conquer the Forbidden City and cause the Ming Dynasty's dragon flag to fall on Coal Hill.

But now, thanks to his own decree, he has been promoted to a military officer, and he is deeply grateful to the emperor who promoted him.

The threads of fate are truly mysterious.

Zhu Youxiao stopped tapping his fingers, and after a moment of silence, he finally spoke: "Get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Hongji's voice still trembled slightly as he slowly rose to his feet, supporting himself with his hands on the ground, following the rules set by the Ministry of Rites.

As he stood up, he couldn't help but quickly glance at the throne.

The young emperor sat upright on it, his face handsome, his brows showing the youthful charm of a boy, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, as if they could see through people's hearts.

This fleeting glimpse made Li Hongji's heart skip a beat, and he quickly lowered his head, straightening his neck, not daring to overstep his bounds in the slightest.

"Li Hongji".

Zhu Youxiao's voice rang out again, tinged with amusement.

"You rendered great service in suppressing the rebellion of the Fragrance Sect. Tell me, how do you wish to be rewarded by me?"

Li Hongji was taken aback, seemingly not expecting the emperor to be so direct.

He swallowed hard and replied honestly, "Your Majesty, I have already been granted the honor of being appointed as a military officer in the capital garrison. This is already a great favor, and I dare not ask for any more rewards."

"Oh?"

Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow.

"You really don't want anything?"

Li Hongji pondered for a moment, then shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction: "I lack nothing now."

From a dismissed postman in Yinchuan Garrison to a military officer, his salary is enough to support his family, and he has also secured a residence.

He's just waiting to marry a few wives and live a peaceful life.

Such a life was something I never dared to dream of when I was eating cold steamed buns in the post station.

He was truly satisfied.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the earnestness on his face and suddenly smiled.

This shows that if one couldn't survive, who would want to rebel?
To solve the problems of the Ming Dynasty, the most crucial thing is to ensure that the people can afford to eat.

This is the bottom line for maintaining a dynasty.

But soon, Zhu Youxiao's smile faded.

“You don’t need anything, but I have a task for you.”

Such talent should be utilized; otherwise, it would be a waste.

Upon hearing this, Li Hongji's eyes lit up.

He suddenly looked up, then remembered the rules and quickly lowered his head again, his voice filled with barely concealed excitement: "Your Majesty, I will obey your every command, even at the cost of my life!"

Li Hongji was indeed satisfied with becoming a deputy commander.

But who wouldn't want to take it a step further?
After all, human ambition is boundless.

Zhu You was very satisfied with Li Hongji's reaction.

"If you do this job well, I will bestow upon you a new name."

Li Hongji?
The name sounds a bit awkward.

It's easier to pronounce Li Zicheng.

Although Li Hongji, sitting on the throne, was unaware of the emperor's plans, he could sense the expectations in his words.

His heart warmed, and he knelt on one knee again, proclaiming loudly:

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty, and I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust!"

PS:

I updated 14,000 words today, writing until I was exhausted and my mind was worn out.

It burned out~
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(End of this chapter)