The Prosperous Era of Longwan

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

Although it is already afternoon, the place is still very busy, probably because those who go to the city to work in the morning have to leave the city and go home before the sun goes down.

Several gatekeepers were leaning against the city gate with big guns in their arms. Only here was it slightly warmer.

"Da da da"

A string of horse hoofbeats sounded, and a messenger in a red uniform with a command flag on his back rode up in the distance. After entering the city gate, he shouted to the gatekeeper: "Seal the city gate and the army enters the city."

After delivering the order, the messengers rode through the city and ran towards the city.

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

Soon, both sides of the street inside and outside Desheng Gate were crowded with people and vehicles who wanted to pass through the city gate. However, they knew what was good and did not completely block the road, leaving a passage in the middle.

"Da da da"

With the sound of intensive horse hoofbeats, the people blocking the city gate looked back and saw that the gate of the Beijing Camp in the distance was completely opened at this time, and countless cavalry were rushing out of the military camp and rushing towards Desheng Gate.

After hundreds of cavalry, infantry appeared in formation one after another, following with their spears raised forward.

The army entered the city.

The people who didn't know why their doors were suddenly closed before now understood.

In the city of Beijing, under the emperor's feet, the common people are more knowledgeable than people in other places. When they saw this scene, they knew that something was going on in the city, otherwise how could the soldiers from the Beijing camp enter the city.

Of course, there is another possibility, that is, there are foreign enemies, but there have been no rumors in the market that the Tatars from the north have invaded the Great Wall, so the movements of the Beijing camp are worth pondering.

When the Beijing camp started to move, the Jinyi Guards and the Forbidden Army had already been dispatched. Zhu Xixiao, the left governor, personally led the troops outside the Xiyuan Gate. However, the soldiers guarding inside stopped him. Even if they knew his identity, there were so many people behind him. Soldiers, the general guarding Xiyuan at this time was still frightened and summoned his team to block the gate.

As for the eunuchs, they 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 door cracks, and kept talking about whether someone had rebelled.

"I, the Commander-in-Chief on the Left, Zhu Xixiao, have been stationed in Xiyuan by the emperor's order. You will assemble your team and return to camp as soon as possible."

Naturally, Zhu Xixiao would not let the team set up a fighting formation. It was still in a marching formation. When facing the Xiyuan duty officer, he took out the Jiajing Emperor's golden sword from his arms.

"Captain, please wait a moment, 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, then returned and quickly gathered the team to move aside.

At this time, a eunuch in Xiyuan panted and ran out to talk to the officer on duty.

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

These eunuchs had not received Huang Jin's orders before, and it was certainly not because he had forgotten them.

The situation was urgent now. Emperor Jiajing was in coma. Huang Jin was worried that the news would be leaked to the outside world, so except for sending people to blockade the Yuxi Palace and send letters, 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 are still unable to carry out the emperor's orders, then their ability is worth considering.

The duty officer was about to execute his order after inspecting the golden sword in Zhu Xixiao's hand. Now that the news finally came out from the palace, he naturally no longer had any doubts. He led the team out of the Xiyuan gate and stepped aside to let Zhu Xixiao's troops enter. Xiyuan set up defenses, and then he led the team back to the Imperial Horse Prison.

"Sir, what happened in the palace? Why did the defense suddenly change?"

Just walking on the road, the deputy general said with some confusion.

"Who knows, Governor Zhu has the Emperor's Sword in his hand, and Eunuch Zhang also told us to act according to Governor Zhu's orders."

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

The situation in the Forbidden City is similar to that in Xiyuan. Zhu Xizhong took over the defense without much effort. He was executed immediately after taking out the Emperor's Golden Sword.

Such a big news spread instantly among the cabinet and various government offices in the imperial court.

Xu Jie was shocked when he heard that Xiyuan and the Forbidden City suddenly changed their defenses and that the two brothers Zhu Xizhong and Zhu Xixiao took over. He hurried into Yan Song's duty room before he could call Yuan Wei.

At this time, there was one of Yan Song's clerks in the duty room, and he obviously realized that something was wrong and came to report.

The two gathered together to discuss.

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

Zhu Xizhong and Zhu Xixiao could easily control the ban, which they would not have been able to do without Emperor Jiajing's order, but how long had it been since they left Yuxi Palace?

Half an hour ago.

"When I saw Your Majesty today, I felt that his face was a little paler than usual. Tell me."

Xu Jie carefully guessed at this time.

"I also found out from this, but you and I were present at that time. Did your Majesty feel any discomfort?"

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

"Then do you and I want to go to 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 entered the cabinet and it was normal for him not to know the news. He thought that Yan Song and Xu Jie had just returned from Xiyuan and should know something more or less. When he entered the door, he asked: "Master Chief Assistant, Xu Cifu, what is going on today? "

In Prince Yu's Mansion, the news was naturally spread immediately.

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

When Wei Guangde heard the news, he stood up suddenly. This was not a good sign.

Under siege and confinement, is this a rebellion?

"Cheng Guo Gong Zhu Xizhong has also taken control of the imperial city, and now he can't contact him inside. I wonder what happened in the palace?"

The chamberlain who delivered the news said with some fear.

The news he brought back today was so scary that even he was shocked when he saw the scene.

"Eunuch Li, is there anyone coming from the palace?"

At this time, Zhang Juzheng suddenly asked.

"No."

When Zhang Juzheng asked, all the eyes of the people in the room turned to Li Fang. Li Fang hurriedly stepped forward and answered.

"No?"

Zhang Juzheng also frowned at this moment, the situation was really unusual.

"Gentlemen, tell me what is going on and what should I do?"

King Yu spoke a little impatiently at this moment.

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

Yin Shizhen said.

Gao Gong is the one with the highest official position among the people who have gone out to Prince Yu's Mansion. To find out what happened today, naturally he can only ask him to find out.

"I'm afraid Mr. Gao doesn't have any news. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to not inform us of such a big matter in advance."

Wei Guangde shook his head and said.

Although he didn’t know whether there was a coup in the Ming Dynasty during the Jiajing period, his impression seemed to be that Duke Cheng Guo was still there when he arrived in Chongzhen. It was probably not a rebellion, otherwise the old Zhu family would never be able to retain his family’s title. .

"Then what should we do?"

Prince Yu looked at Wei Guangde anxiously. He knew that Wei Guangde had a solution quickly. In the past, it was Wei Guangde who took action to solve difficult problems. Moreover, when Gao Gong was still in the palace, he had wanted to drag him into Prince Yu's palace to talk. Officials value him for being able to come up with ideas.

Wei Guangde stood up and first said to King Yu: "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 next to him: "I leave all matters in the palace's backyard 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 young people sneaking into the palace."

Having said this, Wei Guangde looked around the room before continuing: "As for the palace guards, they are all gathered in the front yard. Except for the side door, other doors are strictly prohibited from being opened."

"Well, that's the only way."

Yin Shizhen nodded in agreement.

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

In the final analysis, these officials of the royal palace also serve as the think tank of Prince Yu.

The current situation is special. If you still clock in and out according to the office hours, if there is an emergency, you may not have time to recruit someone to consult.

"That's how it should be."

Tang Ruji also nodded at this time and said.

Regardless of whether he was popular in the palace or not, at least he was still an official in the palace and a member of Prince Yu's palace. At this time, Tang Ruji could only advance and retreat with Yin Shizhen, Wei Guangde and others.

Moreover, after entering Prince Yu's palace, Prince Yu still respected him very much. Although others occasionally showed wariness, they did a good job on the surface and everyone still talked happily.

"Your Highness, sit down for a moment. I'll go away for a while to make arrangements for the family."

Wei Guangde did not sit back down at this time, but cupped his fists at King Yu.

"good."

King Yu nodded and smiled.

With these words, Yin Shizhen and others also stood up and walked out.

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

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

Li Fang also hurried out of the house with a fist in her arms. When she saw Wei Guangde and others grabbing a young chamberlain and giving orders, he smiled at a few people and was about to go out of the yard to the back, but Wei Guangde grabbed his arm.

Li Fang was suspicious, looked back and was about to ask, when she saw Wei Guangde winking 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 chamberlain to go out and call his groom in, and told him what to bring. He finished the instructions in a few words. The little chamberlain naturally followed the order and went out. Then he pulled Li Fang's sleeve and walked forward.

After leaving the courtyard of the study, he walked not far before he said to Li Fang in a secluded place: "Eunuch Li, I guess I won't be able to find out the news in the palace, so we have to prepare for the worst. You go and arrange the backyard. At that time, we secretly arranged for capable people to hide some horses in the palace and in several places in the city, just in case."

"Ready the horses? Oh, I see, okay."

When Li Fang heard that Wei Guang pulled him over and said this, she immediately realized it and nodded.

This is to leave a backup, so as not to be in a hurry and unable to find enough horses.

They don't know that the Beijing camp has blocked all the city gates in Beijing. Although it is not a complete blockade of the city and severing contact between the inside and outside of the capital, if you want to fly out of the city on horseback, you must first have luck to protect people and horses. Can pass through the hail of guns and arrows without any damage.

After talking to Li Fang, Wei Guangde returned to their yard. Not long after, the groom Li San and the waiter came in carrying a long box.

Before he had time to open the box, Wei Guangde ordered Li San: "You drive home immediately to report the news, saying that I won't be back for the next two days, so that the servants can cheer up and protect the house.

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

"Yes, sir."

Li San agreed, turned around, left Prince Yu's Mansion, and drove his carriage back to Wei Mansion to report the news.

By this time, Prince Yu's Mansion had not yet figured out what happened, but had already begun to take some precautions.

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

Seeing the contents inside, King Yu, who was still sitting in his seat, suddenly became uneasy. He stood up and walked to the box. He also followed Wei Guangde's example and squatted there, and even reached out to touch the contents of the box.

"Shaloan, you are such a thing"

Zhang Juzheng and Yin Shizhen also told them to come back to the house early. When they saw the contents of the box, Zhang Juzheng spoke.

"The ones from Xuanfu were used."

Wei Guangde just smiled and replied.

Inside the box was a complete set of mountain armor and a standard Ming army mandarin duck battle coat, as well as a very long bird gun and matching medicine pot.

Firearms, crossbows, armor, and banners are actually items that are strictly forbidden to be kept privately by the imperial court. Even in Prince Yu's palace, Prince Yu himself does not have armor, and the armors worn by the guards of the palace are just fake and are actually made of cloth. Armor, similar to a mandarin duck war jacket.

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

Wei Guangde had no intention of putting on armor now. After all, the situation was unknown. He opened the box just to check the musket and pack the arrows.

Seeing how interested King Yu was, Wei Guangde did not close the box after taking out the gun, but let King Yu take a look.

However, when King Yu began to inspect the gun and prepare to apply medicine, King Yu's attention was attracted by the gun in Wei Guangde's hand, and he stared directly at the gun in Wei Guangde's hand.

At this time, in the room, besides Zhang Juzheng, Yin Shizhen and Tang Ruji also had similar expressions to Prince Yu.

Zhang Juzheng's lack of curiosity is naturally related to his origin.

The old Zhang family had long been separated, and the first house he belonged to did not inherit the hereditary military position. However, Zhang Juzheng was still very famous in Jiangling. After all, he was a member of the Imperial Academy, so he had seen blunderbuss when he came into contact with the guards, but now he is not so famous. curious.

Wei Guangde explained to Wang Yu and the others while doing it, that in fact, today's firearms are really simple. After just looking at them, Wang Yu figured out how to use them.

"Wow."

There was a sudden sound at the door of the house, the curtain was opened, and Li Fang walked in quickly.

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