In the spring of the eighteenth year of Yongzhi, after the apricot blossom rain in February, it came quietly. On both sides of the road, willows sprout buds, and the branches are green.

Time has diluted everything. The magnificent and thrilling political storm is gone. Who remembers the former heroes?

In the early morning, the crisp sound of children selling newspapers resounded in the streets and alleys of the capital. "Sell newspapers, sell newspapers... Beijing Daily, Dazhou Times, Mingli Daily. 2 corners per serving. ”

"In the Great War of the Western Regions, the Beijing camp was defeated, and the officers and soldiers suffered tens of thousands of casualties. The barbarian leader Baye Gu Xiaode led a large army to attack Qiuzi..."

"The chaos was completely pacified. Scholar of Wenhua Palace..."

Jia Tanhua's new work "Peach Blossom Fan" is sung all over the country. Thousands of empty alleys, unprecedented..."

The shouts of the newsboys, large and small, spread in the early morning light, and floated in the long shadows of the tall buildings and walls of the slightly shady streets, with a unique charm of Beijing. The breath of change of the times, like spring rain moisturizing things, is quietly changing.

At 06:45, the flow of people gradually became dense in the chessboard street. Restaurants have opened all over the street, selling: tofu brain, sweet rice wine, soy milk, broth. The aroma wafts through the morning breeze.

Deep-fried fritters, noodles, and pancakes are stabbed when they are put into the pan. Lao Huang, a middle-aged boss wearing an apron, was a little fat, standing in the shop, looking at the pedestrians on the street, showing a kind smile.

Lao Wang, the neighbor of the food stall next door, sells buns, steamed buns, xiaolongbao, and steamed dumplings. There are various fillings. Meat bun triangle one. The heat was steaming, accompanied by the singing of "Come on". There are three or five square wooden tables outside the shop. Full of diners.

The defeat of the Western Regions, the changes in the court, the Kunqu opera in Jiangnan, and the news in the newspapers have nothing to do with their lives?

There is a relationship between firewood, rice, oil and salt: the price of rice in Beijing has risen to 9 yuan a stone. After the beginning of spring, the price of coal began to fall back to 2 jiao a catty. Salt prices remain high. The past two years have become more and more difficult!

"The small people don't know the hatred of the country!"

Zhang Shiyuan, the editor of Mingli Daily, looked at the happy diners, the boss, and snorted dissatisfiedly. If the Western Regions are lost, not to mention the four or five years of hard work of the national dynasty, how to fill the big hole in military spending and pensions? If the barbarians are powerful, how to deal with the border passes? None of these people want to think about it!

Zhang Shiyuan paid angrily, walked out of the alley, and came to the Chengfeng Teahouse in the street of Qipan Street. As soon as I entered, the noise was heard.

"Even if the barbarians have occasional victories, they will not be able to plunder the troops of the country."

"Yes."

"The good will rule the whole country. Zuodu Governor Niu Jizong can't do it. ”

Zhang Shiyuan had a smile on his face, this was the world he was familiar with. This is a gathering place for news from Kyochu.

The little second in the teahouse came over with a white towel on his shoulder and smiled diligently. Zhang Shiyuan commanded familiarly: "A pot of high foam." Immediately, he raised his voice and said: "In my opinion, it is not a good strategy to change generals before the battle." Instead, they should quickly move their troops into the Western Regions. ”

The newspaper editors and scribes in the teahouse all looked at it. Zhang Shiyuan, a regular visitor here, began his speech.

…

…

The morning sun gradually rose. The picture scroll of Beijing is slowly unfolding. The West Garden is bathed in clear light. In the imperial study, the Emperor of Yongzhi was convening three scholars and Wei Qihou, Cheng Guogong, King Beijing, and Shi Guangzhu to discuss.

The fiasco in the Western Regions did not react strongly among the people. But in the newspapers, in Shilin, there was already a lot of excitement, and they demanded another battle and severe punishment for the barbarians. In decades, there has never been such a big defeat!

In the imperial study, the atmosphere is extremely solemn.

The news in the newspapers is all abridged. The actual situation is more serious and critical! The Great Zhou had a total of about 100,000 troops in the Western Regions, including 40,000 Beijing battalions. It is distributed in the four towns of Qiuzi, Xiaye, Khotan and Shule at the same time.

Now Qiuzi is threatened by the barbarian army. To the east of Qiuzi is Gaochang and Dunhuang. Gaochang is famous for its wine, and Dunhuang is the meeting point of the Silk Road. It is located in the Hexi Corridor. If Qiuzi is lost, the western border of the Great Zhou will be shaken, and the land will be lost for thousands of miles.

Yongzhi Tianzi had a calm face, "Shameful!" When did Da Zhou lose his teacher and humiliate the country so much? Niu Jizong is hateful! Shameful. ”

The seven important ministers stood in front of the Son of Heaven, and they all bowed their heads. Listen to the Son of Heaven venting his anger. This battle was indeed too bad. The sharp soldiers of the Israeli dynasty were defeated by the barbarians, losing 20,000 of the Beijing camp. The Son of Heaven is furious, and it is understandable.

Wei Qihou played: "Your Majesty, Niu Jizong used the Hu people in vain. The ministers thought that they would select and send virtuous ministers to preside over the overall situation of the Western Regions. and transferred elite troops into the Western Regions. The Western Regions cannot be lost. Otherwise, it will be difficult for Longyou and Guanzhong to be peaceful. ”

Due to the lack of troops, Niu Jizong used 20,000 cavalry of the Tiele tribe when he fought with the ancient tribe of Baye. As a result, when the battle was fierce, the always tame Tiele cavalry suddenly defected. Impulsed the camp of the camp. Otherwise, how can it be justified to defeat the cavalry with firearms?

Hua Mo said: "The minister thinks so." ”

Wei Hong said: "If it is not my race, its heart will be different!" At that time, Gao Xianzhi of the Tang Dynasty had the defeat of Heng Rus, which was to reuse Hu Qi. Otherwise, with the benefit of the Tang Mo knife and the courage of the Tang horse, how could he be defeated by the Great Food? He supported the severe punishment of Niu Jizong.

Song Pu added: "The Western Regions and the Beijing Division are separated by thousands of miles, and the sudden change of capital will be unfavorable. At that moment, he ordered to encourage Niu Jizong, and after the important ministers arrived in the Western Regions, they would change generals. ”

The three scholars all expressed their positions one after another, and the matter was settled.

King Beijing and Shi Guangzhu had the intention to help Niu Jizong defend themselves, but they couldn't speak. Although Niu Jizong is not a famous general, he is a person who was born in Jiangmen and fought an old battle. How could it be possible to make such a low mistake: to reuse the Hu cavalry for a decisive battle?

The reason is that the imperial court allocated less and less money and grain to the Western Regions. The army of the ancient tribe of Baye was approaching, and he could not mobilize the army to fight at all. An army of 100,000 was mobilized, people ate and chewed, and his money and food were insufficient. Servant armies had to be conscripted into battle. No matter how sharp the firearms are, cavalry is necessary to win all victories on the grassland.

I don't want to, sure enough...

The Son of Yongzhi nodded slightly, "This old man is a move to seek the country." Who can go to the Western Regions? ”

…

…

Three or two peach blossoms outside the bamboo, the prophet of the plumbing duck in the spring river.

Because Jia Zheng took the family to help the coffin return to Jinling in the south, it was a little lonely in the Grand View Garden. Jiafu has a population of more than 1,000, and it is impossible to follow them all back to Jinling. Jia Zheng and the others only brought about 100 people with their personal entourage.

Leave Jia Rong, Jia Qiang, Jia Yun, and Lin Zhixiao to take care of the outside affairs. You Shi, Lin Zhixiao's family, is in charge of the internal affairs of Jiafu.

In March, spring is bright. The wind blows through the treetops, and the falling flowers are colorful.

Shi Xiangyun was in the bench of the Concave Crystal Pavilion in the Grand View Garden, looking at the flocks of ducks playing in the river in the river, and the loneliness came to his heart.

The Shi family was impeached and dismissed because of the Bowling Marquis Shi Nai, and he was cut to the first rank, and his momentum was not as good as before. It's getting harder. She didn't love the atmosphere in the house, so she came to live in the Grand View Garden for a few days. It's just that Sister Lin of the couplet poem is not here.

Sister Bao, who hurts like an eldest sister and can say anything considerately, is not here. They all went to Jinling with Brother Huan.

The second sister and the fourth sister got married. Baoqin, who likes to play with her, also married Bao's second brother and went to Jinling together. The three sisters are the same as keeping filial piety in Jinling. Who is there in this garden? All the flowers are scattered.

Xiangyun sat reclining, wearing a dark red long skirt and combing a girl's long braids. The slender figure and the curves that show off are wonderful. I felt something in my heart, and chanted: "Lin Hua thanked Chunhong, it was too hurried. Helplessly, the cold rain came in the morning and the wind came in the evening. Rouge tears, leaving people drunk, when is it heavy? Since people grow and hate water, they grow up. ”

Outside the corridor, someone asked softly, "Who is chanting poetry where?" ”

Xiangyun looked over, but saw Qin Keqing, who was dressed in a plain robe, passing by with a maid orb. Xiangyun recognized Qin Keqing, got up to salute, and said, "Master Qin!" She thought it was Miaoyu. The Concave Crystal Pavilion is not far from the temple.

Qin Keqing's posture is delicate and delicate, and her expression is gentle. The coquettish pretty face is not powdered, but it is already a national color. She's the kind of beauty who wants to sin when she sees her. returned the salute and said softly: "Miss Shi..."

Feel free to talk a few words. Qin Keqing couldn't help but ask, "Does Miss Shi have any news from Jiangnan?" Jia Huan left with his wife and concubines, and her information was relatively closed.

Xiangyun shook his head and said, "There is no letter from Jiangnan. Only the newspaper said that the peach blossom fan was written by Brother Huan. ”

Qin Keqing's coquettish jade face could not hide her disappointment. News in the newspapers, she also saw. Politely took the jewel and left, walked on the steps of the Dharma Nunnery, and sighed in his heart: It's been five months, I want to ask you how you are doing?

…

…

In the middle of March, it is the beginning of summer. In the middle of spring and the beginning of summer, Jiangnan is the time when the scenery is beautiful. The smoke suppresses the wind and is thin and slanting, the small window does not need to be covered by the curtain, and the dragonfly stands over the flowers.

On the second day of the fourth lunar month, a three-story giant ship sailed down the Yangtze River and arrived outside Jinling City.

In the cabins, the floor is covered with precious Persian carpets. The utensils are either gold or silver. Annanbo and the governor of Yungui put down the brush and instructed the servants who knelt at the door to report, "Stop in Jinling for three days!" ”

After the news came out, the generals who accompanied the ship into Beijing were jubilant. After a while, the owner of the luxury giant ship, Hu Chi, the king of southwest money, came in, he was dressed in a cyan robe, his yellow beard was flattened, and he said worriedly: "My lord, the generals are spreading joy in Jinling City, I am afraid that your lord will be impeached by the imperial history." The Son of Heaven is urgently called..."

Officers and soldiers in the army, although they are brave in battle, but when they go to the gentle township of Jinling, they have to buy drunk and have fun. Drinking alcohol is bound to cause trouble. These are all trivial matters, for fear of reaching the ears of the Son of Heaven. The Son of Heaven ordered the governor of Qi to arrive in the capital by mid-April.

Qi Chi sat in front of the bookcase, smiled casually, and said, "If you don't break the law, let them go." He got up and walked around, sighed softly, and said, "Xingzhai, the Son of Heaven intends to let me go to the Western Regions to quell the rebellion." Do you think I have what it takes? ”

Without waiting for Hu Chi to answer, Qi Chi continued: "I was originally a minister of government and civil affairs, and I didn't know how to fight. In the southwest, relying on the lives of the soldiers of the three armies and the sharp firearms of the Great Zhou, it has the merit of expanding the territory for 3,000 miles. I don't want my reputation ruined in the Western Regions. I'm going to meet someone in Jinling and invite him to go to the Western Regions with me!" ”