Chongzhen Chat Group

Soon, word spread in the capital that the emperor wanted to personally conduct the expedition. Even the content of the previous two days' court meeting was spread in the streets. This was a matter of great importance to the Ming Dynasty. Almost everyone, adhering to the political tradition of the imperial capital, expressed their opinions on this matter.

In the restaurant, an old Confucian scholar with a weathered face took a sip of white wine. After putting down his glass, he said with emotion: "I heard such big news when I just arrived in the capital. I really didn't expect that the emperor would actually want to conquer it himself! The emperor is really not afraid of the dangers of war!"

His deskmate, who was younger than him, heard this and immediately smiled and said in the official dialect of the capital: "That's it! I think back then, when a hundred thousand soldiers were besieging the city, the emperor was standing on the top of the city, arrows whizzing. The ground was flying around, but the emperor didn't even blink an eyelid. Do you think the emperor would be afraid when he leads the army on an expedition?"

After hearing this, the old Confucian scholar said with disbelief: "Impossible, how could the emperor go to the top of the city? It would be too dangerous!"

"Haha, what's impossible!" After hearing this, the young Confucian scholar said with a hint of pride: "The heroism of our men from the north of the Ming Dynasty is not what you in the south of the Yangtze River can imagine. The emperor was still on top of the city, and he angrily rebuked the slave chief. , stating that one day he will definitely go on a personal expedition, pay blood debts with blood, and regain Liaodong. No, the emperor is ready to lead the army to go on an expedition!"

"Don't forget, the emperor's golden words are true. It's a sure thing. How can it change? Not long ago, the emperor reiterated this matter again in front of the Zhonglie Hall." There was also a person with a capital accent at the table next to him. The diners turned to the old Confucian scholar and said loudly: "So, no one from the capital will be surprised that the emperor wants to lead a personal expedition! You people from the south of the Yangtze River know that Fenghuaxueyue will be like this. It’s not surprising to be surprised!”

After hearing this, the old Confucian scholar was slightly in a trance, seeming to be thinking about this. But when his deskmate heard that others seemed to despise his friend, he became a little angry and quickly defended: "Brother, you can't say that. My brother Xiake is not like the average Jiangnan people. He has a bad habit. He has been hiking in the Ming Dynasty since he was young, from east to west, from south to north, leaving his footprints in countless places..."

"Haha, just brag, how is that possible!" The man listened with a look of disbelief, even a bit of contempt, as if he was saying that he didn't even know how to lie, so he was just making it up.

Indeed, in this era, transportation was far less developed than later generations. The scope of activities of an average person in his or her lifetime is limited to the county seat and then to the prefectural city. Those who can travel beyond the province are even rarer. But just now this young man said that his friends traveled all over the country on foot during the Ming Dynasty. This is simply unimaginable to others.

After hearing the man's sarcastic and contemptuous words, the young man saw that other diners around him seemed to have the same intention. He immediately became anxious and quickly said to the old Confucian scholar: "Brother Xiake, where are your travel notes? Show them to them." Look. These people with little knowledge don’t believe what happened to Brother Xiake. It’s really unreasonable!”

The old Confucian scholar came back to his senses when he called him like this. He immediately smiled and shook his head and said: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. I was thinking that if the emperor can really regain Liaodong, he can also go to Liaodong in his lifetime! Take a look! The legendary white mountains and black waters!”

When he said this, he looked calm, neither arrogant nor humble, which made people feel a certain way when they saw him. What the young man said just now is indeed true, but he doesn't want to show off, he is very magnanimous, and doesn't care about other people's misunderstandings.

After hearing this, the young man glared at the diner who had spoken before, then turned back and comforted his companions: "The emperor's personal expedition will definitely regain Liaodong! Brother Xiake will definitely be able to achieve his wish, and maybe he can set foot there next year. The mountains and rivers in Liaodong are amazing!”

"Haha, that's not necessarily the case!" The diner who was glared at just now sang a counter-argument, "Although my Ming Dynasty has indeed won several battles in a row, this time we are attacking Jianlu's lair, and they will definitely resist to the death. In this battle It’s really hard to say that we can win with absolute certainty! Thinking back to the Tumu Fort Incident, everyone felt that..."

Before he finished speaking, he immediately attracted a group of people nearby to yell at him, which seemed to arouse public outrage.

"The Emperor is wise and mighty, he will definitely win!"

"You have a crow's mouth, do you believe it tore your stinking mouth to pieces?"

"My Ming Dynasty has so many capable ministers and generals, the emperor will definitely be able to triumph!"

"..."

Although these people scolded them, no one mentioned what happened to the government. Probably because of the culture of the Ming Dynasty, you can chat and post big-character posters, even if you post them to the imperial city, there is no problem, but one thing is that you are not allowed to be anonymous, otherwise, you will be strictly investigated. This is completely different from the Manchu Qing Dynasty in later generations.

The man immediately felt that he had said the wrong thing, and quickly made up for it with a smile on his face: "Everyone, please calm down, everyone, please calm down, I said the wrong thing, I'm here to have a drink with you, let's do it first as a token of respect!"

After he finished speaking, he immediately stood up and drank a small glass of white wine in one gulp. His face suddenly turned red, but at least he didn't choke. His behavior calmed the dissatisfaction of the surrounding diners and spared him.

After the man sat back in his seat, he said with a smile on his face: "Actually, the emperor's personal expedition will definitely have a tough battle, but it will definitely be won in the end. Otherwise, have you heard about the court meeting two days ago? Those Everyone is clamoring to accompany him, not because they want to take credit. If they lose the battle, they will take all the credit. Those people can't be the shrewdest..."

The old Confucian scholar, Xu Xiake, was not drinking or eating, but was listening carefully. For him, his only hobby in this life is to travel through the mountains and rivers of Ming Dynasty. In the past, it was a pity that Liaodong was occupied by Jianlu. But now that Liaodong seemed to be in sight, his interest suddenly spiked. He pricked his ears, hoping to hear the exact news. Otherwise, he didn't want to stay in the capital, but in the end he couldn't wait for the news of Liaodong's recovery and wasted his time.

Everyone in the restaurant couldn't help but interrupt when they heard the man change the subject and talk about the matter that was attracting the most attention in the capital.

"No! That so-and-so Marquis is just relying on the shadow of his ancestors. He has some shitty skills. He goes into battle to kill the enemy. Haha, being killed by Jianlu is not the same!"

"Yes, which of these hereditary princes in the capital has ever led troops in a war? Did they perform well when the Jianlu troops besieged the capital last time? Didn't they see the emperor personally marching and know that they would win, so they cried and shouted that they must go!"

"..."

After these contemptuous words, someone suddenly sighed: "The emperor is also very kind to these people. He led the new army to fight in tough battles like Liaoyang and Shenyang, but these people who took the credit had to arrange to go there." It’s such a privilege to be on the Yalu River!”

"You think, if Jianlu can't defeat the emperor, will he run to North Korea? Then these people deserve what they deserve!" Someone asked with gloating after hearing this.

"Impossible!" Almost several people said this at the same time. Then, they looked at each other, and the older one explained, "Not to mention that there is a Yalu River over there. It would be difficult for Jianlu to run across it. Even if they ran over, if the pursuers followed, they would be blocked in Korea. , Jianlu would only run to North Korea if he was stupid!"

"Otherwise, do you think those military officers and nobles are fools? How can they do dangerous things? They will also pat their chests in front of the emperor!" Someone immediately echoed, "They are very smart!"

When Xu Xiake's deskmate heard this, he couldn't help but interrupt, and said a little unfairly: "In fact, the emperor knows the incompetence of these people, otherwise, how could he let them bring their servants into battle. Speaking of which, it is really the emperor's wish. The credit of their ancestors has given them such an opportunity, which is really a big deal for them!"

"Yes, the emperor is too talkative. If you ask me, if these people dare to go to Liaodong, they should be sent directly to attack Liaoyang!" After hearing this, other diners said angrily.

"You don't know, these days they are all preparing to go on an expedition. There is a lot of excitement over at Fengyue Tower. They say they are going to the battlefield one by one, but I heard that they are already calculating how much they should get from each other. Kudos to you! A few of them are shameless and are still looking for storytellers to make up stories about their expedition to Liaodong!"

"..."

When Xu Xiake heard this, he was basically certain that Liaodong would be able to be recovered this time by the imperial commander's personal expedition. With such a decision, his heart suddenly became hot. He should make some preparations and go to Liaodong!

He was thinking about his tablemate sitting on a stool on the side, having a lively discussion with the diners next to him. No, just listen to him saying with a little bit of resentment: "But fortunately, the emperor is not infinitely kind to them. For this expedition, those people raised their own food and supplies and did not affect the main army. Otherwise, the DPRK and China The loyal ministers will definitely report their objections!"

"Yes, the emperor is so wise, he can definitely distinguish the important from the important. It is one thing to treat them with kindness and kindness, but it is not a joke for the emperor to go on a personal expedition, and it is also true that he cannot influence us. We have the emperor in the Ming Dynasty. I can guarantee that he will The power of the Ming Dynasty is definitely not comparable to that of the previous dynasties!"

"..."

Although the discussion in the restaurant was lively, there were three tables in the corner that did not participate in the discussion. At the table near the back, there was a young man in his twenties, drinking a small drink and listening to their conversation with a smile on his face.

After a while, when no more flowers could be heard, he ordered the person sitting on one side: "Invite him over and talk about it."

After hearing this, the man turned around and looked a little puzzled, but since he had already given the order, he did not dare to neglect, and immediately agreed, then stood up, walked to Xu Xiake and said, "Brother, my master has Please, please move a little bit!"

Xu Xiake was listening to the chat when suddenly a tall man stood beside him and spoke to him. When he looked up, he was slightly startled. To be honest, he has traveled a lot and met many different kinds of people. Just by looking at him, he could tell that this tall man was no ordinary person. The aura he carried vaguely, including the tone of his words, unintentionally carried a hint of refusal.

Xu Xiake was surprised, and turned around to look, only to see a young man inside looking at him with a smile, full of sunshine and confidence. This was his first feeling.

"Who is your master? Why don't you come here in person..." Xu Xiake's deskmate was talking happily when he suddenly saw someone coming to invite Xu Xiake without paying any attention to him. He was a little unhappy and wanted to tell him.

But Xu Xiake had already stood up, stopped him from talking, and nodded with a smile.

When you go out, try your best not to offend others. What's more, the other party is not an ordinary person and has no ill intentions. At the same time, he was also a little curious. He didn't know why the young man invited him over.

The young man did not stand up and sat there naturally. After letting Xu Xiake sit down, he asked with a smile: "I heard just now that you traveled all over the Ming Dynasty and wrote travel notes. Is this really true? "

Several diners who were talking noticed the movement here. They stopped talking out of curiosity and listened. Upon hearing the young man's question, everyone couldn't help but focus on Xu Xiake.

Most of them have always been doubtful, and they just want to understand.

Xu Xiake was stunned for a moment after hearing this, but then he thought about it and realized that he really had no other reason to be noticed, so he nodded and said: "My lifelong hobby is to see mountains, water, and the Ming Dynasty. After traveling, , I did write something.”

Having said this, he lowered his head and reached into his sleeves. Suddenly, he was slightly stunned, because he felt that the tall man who had been standing by the side after inviting him just now seemed a little nervous, his skin was tight, as if he was about to take action at any time.

From the corner of Xu Xiake's eyes, he saw the young man shaking his head slightly, and then the tall man returned to normal.

Who is this young man? Xu Xiake's mind suddenly came up with this idea again, and his desire to find out became stronger and stronger.

Thinking like this, Xu Xiake had already taken out a volume of book, unfolded it, flipped through it, then put it on the table, pushed it towards the young man and said: "This is the book I have visited in the past two years when I visited Songshan, Wutai, You can take a look at the travel notes written after visiting Huashan, Hengshan and other places."

When the young man saw it, he reached out and picked it up. The expression on his face became focused and he looked at it seriously.

The other diners couldn't help but be a little surprised when they saw this. They didn't expect that the man who had traveled a lot just now was actually true!

They whispered words of surprise to each other. Suddenly, someone whispered to his companion: "Why do I look at it? That young man seems a bit familiar!"

"Really? It should be the young master of that house, right?" The companion responded, but also frowned and said, "I think the tall man standing there seems a bit familiar!"

But they thought about it for a while, but they didn't remember seeing it there. At this time, after reading the first few pages of the travel notes, the young man briefly flipped through the back pages and then put down the travel notes.

Thanks to Xuanyuan Sword Yuwen Tuo for the reward!