Chapter 454 453 The Army Enters the City

Inside and outside Deshengmen in the north of Beijing, there was a constant flow of traffic and people.

Although it was already afternoon, it was still very lively here, probably because those who came to the city to work in the morning had to leave the city and go home before the sun went down.

Several soldiers guarding the gate leaned against the city gate with their rifles in their arms. Only here was it slightly warmer.

"Da Da Da"

A series of horse hoof sounds rang out, and a messenger in red uniform and with a flag on his back rode in from a distance. After entering the city gate, he shouted to the gatekeeper: "Close the city gate, and the army will enter the city."

After delivering the order, the messenger turned his horse through the city and ran into the city.

After receiving the order, the previously lazy gatekeeper changed his tired state, stood up and dragged his soldiers out to block the two ends of the city gate and prevent pedestrians from passing.

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

"Da Da Da"

As a burst of dense horse hoof sounds sounded, the people blocking the city gate looked back and saw that the gate of the Beijing camp in the distance had been completely opened. Countless cavalrymen were rushing out of the camp and rushing towards Desheng Gate.

After hundreds of cavalrymen, another line of infantry appeared, with long spears in their hands raised forward and followed.

The army entered the city.

The people who didn't know why the gate was suddenly closed before also understood it at this time.

Beijing City, under the feet of the emperor, the people are more knowledgeable than people in other places. As soon as they saw this scene, they knew that something might have happened in the city, otherwise why would the soldiers of the Beijing camp enter the city.

Of course, there is another possibility, that is, there is an external enemy, but there was no rumor in the market that the Tartars in the north had entered the Great Wall before, so the movement of the Beijing camp is very interesting.

When the Beijing camp was in motion, the Jinyiwei and the imperial guards had already been dispatched. The left general Zhu Xixiao personally led the team to the gate of the Western Garden, but the soldiers guarding the gate stopped him. Even though he knew his identity, there were so many soldiers behind him. The guards guarding the Western Garden were still trembling with fear and gathered the team to block the gate.

And the eunuchs were so scared that they hid in the houses on both sides of the gate and dared not come out. They could only peek out through the windows and cracks in the door, and kept talking about whether someone had rebelled.

"I am the left general Zhu Xixiao, and I am stationed in the Western Garden by the order of the emperor. You should quickly organize your troops and return to the camp."

Zhu Xixiao naturally would not let the team form a battle formation, but still marched in formation. When facing the guard on duty at the Western Garden, he took out the golden sword of Emperor Jiajing from his arms.

"Please wait a moment, Governor. I have not received the order."

The officer on duty stepped forward, took the golden sword from Zhu Xixiao with both hands, looked at it, and returned it with both hands after confirming its authenticity. He then went back and quickly gathered the team to move aside.

At this time, a eunuch in the West Garden ran out panting to find the officer on duty to talk.

This eunuch was the leader of the eunuchs guarding the gate. Just now, he saw that the situation was not right, so he asked his men to stop people here and ran in to report.

These eunuchs had not received Huang Jin's order before, of course not because he forgot.

The situation is urgent now. Emperor Jiajing has been in a coma. Huang Jin is worried that the news will be leaked if it is conveyed to the outside, so apart from sending people to seal Yuxi Palace and send letters, he has not revealed anything to the outside world.

What's more, with Emperor Jiajing's golden sword in hand, if Zhu Xixiao and others cannot execute the emperor's order, then their ability is worth considering.

After checking the golden sword in Zhu Xixiao's hand, the officer on duty was about to execute his order. Now that the news had finally spread in the palace, he naturally had no doubts. He led the team out of the gate of the Western Garden and stepped aside to let Zhu Xixiao's men enter the Western Garden to set up defenses. Then he led the team back to the Imperial Horse Administration.

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

The deputy general said puzzledly while walking on the road.

"Who knows? Governor Zhu has the Emperor's Sword in his hand, and Eunuch Zhang also said that we should act according to Governor Zhu's orders."

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

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

Such a big commotion instantly spread in the cabinet and various government offices of the court.

Xu Jie was shocked when he heard that the Western Garden and the Forbidden City suddenly changed guards and were taken over by the brothers Zhu Xizhong and Zhu Xixiao. He hurried into Yan Song's duty room without calling Yuan Wei.

At this time, there was another clerk in Yan Song's duty room, who obviously found something wrong and came to report it.

The two gathered together to discuss.

They were all old foxes who had been officials for many years, but this was the first time they had seen such a situation.

Zhu Xizhong and Zhu Xixiao could easily control the Forbidden City. Without the order of Emperor Jiajing, they could not do it anyway, but how long had they left Yuxi Palace?

Half an hour ago.

"When I saw His Majesty today, I felt that his face was a little pale compared to usual. What do you think?"

Xu Jie guessed carefully at this time.

"I also discovered this, but you and I were there at the time. Where was His Majesty feeling unwell?"

Yan Song also frowned, "At that time, I thought it was because of the shock that day, and it would be fine after a few days."

"Then should you and I go to the Western Garden again?"

Xu Jie said again.

At this time, Yuan Wei also heard the news and ran to Yan Song's duty 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 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 was the one with the highest official position among the people who went out to Prince Yu's Mansion. To find out what happened today, naturally he had to 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. Beware of 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 all it can do."

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 welcomed 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, please 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. He also told him what to bring, and 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." "

"Ready the horses? Oh, I understand, 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 gaze, 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 war jacket, 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. They 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 still had a great reputation in Jiangling. He was a member of the Imperial Academy after all, 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 room, the curtain was opened, and Li Fang walked in quickly.

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