Nanming Engineer

Chapter 268 Emperor Yongli
Wang Huan said again: "People's thoughts will change with the environment. Just like us, if we hadn't worked hard in the difficult and dangerous situation of Kuizhou, we would not have achieved the situation of Kuizhou army today. The same is true for Li Chengdong. Maybe he has some guilt in his heart now. He feels that Jiang Qing was a stain in his life at the beginning, and he wants to change people's views on him and try his best to rule him. He must be as corrupt as other Ming generals, and his army will lose the vigor it had when it was a Tartar soldier, and it will be lifeless."

Li Dingguo nodded thoughtfully and said, "My lord, you mean that if a white cloth goes into a dye vat, no matter how good a person is, as long as he enters the circle of the imperial court, he will be assimilated by it, become one of them, and will never return after falling."

Wang Huan looked at the Zhaoqing city in the distance and sighed: "That's it. The current situation of the Ming Dynasty cannot be saved by anyone."

After listening for a long time, Ma Wannian seemed to understand, but at this moment he finally heard some clues, and hurriedly interrupted: "So, my lord, we can't jump into this dye vat!"

Wang Huan and Li Dingguo looked at him sideways, looked at each other, and chuckled at the same time, all without saying a word.

And Liu Yun at the back also had a flushed face. On the one hand, he felt embarrassed for his impulsive troubles. On the other hand, he clearly heard the meaning of the conversation between Wang Huan and Li Dingguo, and deeply felt the meaning of it. Deeply, I am extremely excited about the future.

While talking, Wang Yingxiong, who saw off the guests, came back. This old bureaucrat did not mean to blame Wang Huan's subordinates for his rash words just now. He said to Wang Huan with a happy face, "Mr. You can't let the emperor wait for us."

Wang Huan smiled slightly: "It's all up to the adults to arrange!"

……

Zhaoqing Mansion in Guangdong was the land of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, Longxing. It was originally just a small place without a city wall. After Huizong succeeded to the throne, it was promoted to a prefecture and a large-scale construction project was carried out. After construction and expansion in the past dynasties, by the end of the Ming Dynasty, it had become Guangdong. It is an important town with a tall city and a large population. The city wall has a circumference of nine miles and a height of two feet, five feet and five inches. It is covered with rammed loess and green bricks. Towering gates stand on all sides, making it look like a big city.

In a prominent place in the city, there is a tall building from the Song Dynasty, named Liqiao Tower. It was originally dedicated to the three-character plaque "Zhaoqing Mansion" written by Emperor Huizong. Because of its tall and grand style, it is wide and exquisite. The different plants competed for beauty, and Emperor Yongli took a fancy to him. After some repairs, he changed it into his own palace and renamed it Yongming Palace.

However, although this Yongming Palace is good, it is much smaller than the Nanjing Imperial Palace, so every time Emperor Yongli treats guests to hold a banquet, he does not put it in Yongming Palace, but chooses another place.

That is the Shuiyue Palace, which was built by a lake three miles outside the east gate of Zhaoqing City. The palace is surrounded by mountains and water, and it is very interesting. Hundreds of palace maids filled it, and Emperor Yongli always lingered in it. They were all green, fat, red, and thin, which really made people forget themselves.

Tonight's banquet is naturally placed here.

Wang Yingxiong led Wang Huan and others, rode their horses and came here, two miles away from Shuiyue Palace, when they arrived at the Jiandao archway, they got off their horses and walked along the wide stone road. There are several checkpoints for the forbidden army, and the last checkpoint is brought in by the guards in the palace.

Wang Huan frowned and said to Wang Yingxiong: "Why are these guard checkpoints so frequent? As usual, the guards in the palace should be in charge of middle officials. Why are the guards standing guard here, and the guards lead the way at the gate of the palace?"

Wang Yingxiong looked around and saw that the guards leading the way were far away, so he whispered to Wang Huan: "Mr. To take over, without the consent of his father and son, no one can face the saint, so the road is full of guards and strict interrogation."

Only then did Wang Huan feel relieved, nodded his head and thought to himself: "I didn't expect Li Chengdong to take the lead in the business of coercing the emperor to make the princes. Now that he is ahead, how should I deal with myself?"

While thinking about it, he moved his steps, and he didn't realize that he had arrived at the edge of a watery lake. When he looked up, it was really extraordinary.

But I saw a piece of yellow tile palace, with mountains on one side and water on the other side, the mountains and rivers intertwine, beautiful and magnificent.The green trees on the mountain are verdant, the water on the lake is rippling, and the palaces with yellow tiles and red walls and carved beams and jade buildings are next to each other, forming a circle around the lake. The water quality is clear, and the houses are reflected in the water. In the water, it is full of fantasy. It is the evening of midsummer, when the lights are on, the water on the shore is full of lights, and with the magnificent palace background, it is very magnificent.

Wang Huan and others have all seen big scenes. Wang Huan comes from later generations. Li Dingguo was once a prince. Even Liu Yun and Ma Wannian are not ordinary warriors, so they didn't feel anything when they saw this gorgeous scene. .On the contrary, the old man Wang Yingxiong kept praising the place. He couldn't help praising the luxury and nobility of this place. He was so envious in his words that he wished that a similar place could be built in Zunyi.

"The country is about to perish. The emperor is still so extravagant. How much does this palace cost? How many soldiers and horses can be recruited and how many weapons can be made?" Liu Yun's upright temper was violated again. He saw an exquisite pavilion on the lake. , several palace maids in thin shirts were dancing, and they couldn't help frowning and said softly: "The general will hear that the merchant girls don't know the hatred for the country's subjugation, but they still sing the flowers in the backyard across the river. How is this situation different from the Southern Dynasties?"

Li Dingguo glared at him, and said calmly: "Don't talk too much, just follow the adults."

Before they knew it, everyone came to an open space by the lake. The ground had already been covered with brocade and satin, covering the original slate floor. There were dozens of short tables on both sides of the silk and satin. There is Xiu Dun in the back, which should be the scene of the dinner party.

The guards leading the way brought several people to the right, and designated two seats for Wang Yingxiong and Wang Huan respectively. The two were brought to the rearmost corner and arranged two positions.

Wang Huan sat down and looked around, only to see other high-ranking officials and dignitaries coming one by one, led by the guards, and took their seats one by one. Many of them who were familiar with Wang Yingxiong came to greet them one after another, and they all said congratulations and military exploits. Biao Bing meant that Wang Yingxiong was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth, he grinned and agreed for a while, but Wang Huan was unknown, but no one responded.

Wang was so happy that he sat cross-legged on Xiudun and looked at the main seat. There was a table that was much higher than where everyone was sitting. There was a large low table covered with red Shu brocade. There is an armchair with a backrest covered with five-claw golden dragon silk, and behind the chair is a jade screen with yellow nine-dragon opera beads.

Obviously, this is the seat of Emperor Yongli, sitting on it, looking down on the civil and military officials from a high position, with a dignified atmosphere.

Wang Yingxiong finally finished chatting with the dignitaries, and then turned around, seeing Wang Huan staring blankly at the seat of honor, he couldn't help smiling apologetically, and whispered to Wang Huan: "General Wang has never been to the capital, and he is not familiar with all the adults in the court. It's cold, but it's okay, come on, let me guide you first."

He raised his hand and said to the thin civil official who was the first member in the first row on the left seat surrounded by many civil officials: "This is Qu Shisi, the head shop of the current dynasty. Shi, the governor of Guangxi, was on the way to take office when the Tatars invaded the south. Qu Dali captured the king of Jingjiang, who was acting as a mischief and took charge of the country without authorization. It was No.1 in that dynasty."

Wang Huan shook his head, and was about to take a serious look at this important figure in Nanming, but when he heard the announcement, a middle official with a whisk in his hand stood on the edge of the high platform, and shouted sharply and loudly: " Huang~~up~~drive~~arrive!"

With a "boom", like ducks being driven away by bamboo poles, they were happily hesitating. A group of officials gathered around to talk to each other immediately dispersed, returned to their respective positions, knelt down respectfully on the ground, kowtowed to the ground with their heads, and spoke. Long live Zhongshan.

Wang Huan had no choice but to follow suit, put his forehead on the ground, and muttered something, but his voice was very low, and he didn't know what he said.

After waiting for a long time, Wang Huan's neck was sore, and he heard a lazy voice from above.

"Your honor is free."

Once again, the officials shouted "Thank you, Your Majesty, Long Live Your Majesty!" in a disciplined manner!

Then they all stood up and sat down.

Wang Huan raised his somewhat numb waist, and sat down on Xiudun with difficulty, only then was he able to look up.

I saw a young man with swollen skin and pale face, leaning weakly on the armchair. He was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, with a group of golden dragons vividly embroidered on his chest, and a nine-pointed crown on his head. But there is no youthful vigor, the whole person is lifeless, decadent and powerless.

"This is the Emperor of Ming Dynasty, the last Emperor Yongli." Wang Huan looked at the emperor who was only 24 years old at the time and sighed: "The Ming Dynasty will completely disappear in his hands."

(End of this chapter)