The 34th Group of British Volunteers (4)

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  I suddenly developed an eye condition over the past two days, so I'll barely manage one update for now.

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  Zhu Ciyan and others were in a place that was directly opposite Chaoyangmen.

  This place is close to the city center and is where the nobles and wealthy families live in the highest concentration, so if Duan Baizhang and his men take action, eight or nine out of ten times they will choose a target from among the various wards of the city center.

  In this case, Li Gong stayed behind and could quickly handle the situation. Whether Lao Duan's men succeeded or failed, he could help resolve it as soon as possible.

  This place is also close to Chaoyangmen. Once on the city wall, the area is wide and open, with no houses in the way, making it an ideal location for a leisurely stay.

  Of course, Zhu Ciyan had long planned to come and take a look at the defense situation in Beijing. He still remembered that when Li Zicheng arrived at Juyongguan, Beijing was already under martial law, and at that time there were several city gates that could have allowed Chongzhen to escape. When disaster loomed, Chongzhen did not wait for death in the palace, but instead took Wang Chengen and a few hundred imperial guards out of the palace. His first choice was Zhengyangmen, but the gatekeepers refused to open the door. Later, he went to Chaoyangmen, guarded by Minister of War Zhang Jinyan, trying to sneak out of the city, but Zhang also chose not to open the door. Finally, Chongzhen and Wang Chengen arrived at Andingmen, where they saw soldiers approaching from a distance and immediately sounded the alarm and shot arrows, driving Chongzhen and the imperial guards away.

  Things had come to this, Chongzhen lost heart and dispersed the remaining inner guards on Chang'an Street, he and Wang Cheng'en returned to the inner court, went straight to Coal Hill, wrote a bloody letter with his hair, then hanged himself.

  It was the situation at that time, and there was still a chance to escape from the city. Li Zicheng's troops were not many, and his cavalry was not strong either. Chongzhen left from the Chaoyang Gate, which was specifically for transporting grain to the north, and headed straight for Tianjin. As long as he could shake off the pursuing troops, it seemed that life and death were still uncertain.

  Of course, this opportunity is really too slim...

  The sky was getting colder and colder, the north wind was blowing incessantly, making a mournful sound, everyone's clothes were blown to make a crackling sound, after a while, the little warmth on their bodies was all blown away by the wind.

  Following behind several Jin Yiwei, the crowd also didn't dare to get too close. Most people didn't even dare to bring their hands, let alone Zhu Ciyan. The ones in front were professionals after all. If they made a big noise or followed too closely, they might be discovered.

  Although the sky was dark early, the time was actually still early. The old burglar had a personal guard and was carrying a lantern, wandering around in the middle of the city. After following for half a time, even Zhu Ciyu and others became impatient. The Jin Yiwei in front suddenly stopped... Apparently, those burglars had already arrived at their destination.

  "Where is this place? Is some big shot living here?"

  Zhu Ciwen is not familiar with the Beijing of this dynasty, the names of streets and alleys, some of which are still used in later generations, but their locations may be different. Take Zhengyangmen for example, that majestic city gate tower of later generations is now in a completely different format, fundamentally different...

  It's better to ask Wang Yuan and Ren Shang, Wang Xiao and others around him, who are all Beijing locals. They know the streets and alleys like the back of their hand, so it's best to ask them.

  "Return to Young Master, this is Gongde Fang... I think there's a big shot around here... Oh, it seems to be the Prime Minister Chen Xiangguo, right nearby."

  "What about him?"

  "My goodness! I really didn't expect it, but Lord Chen is actually in cahoots with the bandits!"

  "He's a heartless old scoundrel, completely devoid of conscience."

  Several military officers whispered among themselves, and Zhu Ciyan's eyes also sparkled with excitement... The bandits are really awesome!

  I don't know who gave them the idea, nor do I know how they got connected, but somehow they managed to swagger their way into the capital and even into the home of the Grand Chancellor of the Great Ming!

  The Ming dynasty has been a bureaucratic politics and the struggle between imperial power since ancient times. Chongzhen was a more powerful emperor than Wanli and Tianqi, after all, he was "firm and resolute". However, even Chongzhen could not change some established conventions, he could kill people but couldn't break the deadlock.

  Taking the Grand Secretary system as an example, it can only be a product of compromise and struggle within the civil officials, rather than an appendage of imperial power. Chongzhen had intervened in the cabinet several times, such as the cases of Qian Yifu and Huang Daozhou, but more often, he could only accept with a pinch of salt or was manipulated by the ministers without realizing it.

  After all, the emperor is hereditary, and those who can make it to the cabinet and serve as the prime minister are the first among tens of millions of people in this country, among tens of thousands of scholars, and among tens of thousands of bureaucrats.

  How high an IQ, how strong a luck, plus a body that can endure hardship, to be able to reach the position of Premier...

  At this moment, although the surrounding military officers were shocked and didn't know what to say, Zhu Ciyan didn't have any anger or surprise. What he really wanted to know was what identity that old man had entered Chen's mansion with, and what he was talking about with Chen Yan, the university scholar.

  ……

  ……

  It's unclear whether the Imperial Guards' surveillance skills were exceptionally good or if rumors of a coup spread rapidly, but people in the capital felt that the day of regime change was approaching. From ordinary citizens to officials and even imperial relatives, it seemed no one had any strong faith left in the Ming dynasty.

  Under the influence of this emotional infection, tonight, wearing a silk cotton gown and a warm hat adorned with top-quality jade, holding an awkwardly-shaped folding fan in his hand, Old Wang is particularly cheerful. Tonight's biting cold wind has not affected his good mood... As for walking along the street, he hasn't seen many people at all, and with strong self-confidence supporting him, except for Hui Mei, who was dressed as a man and glanced back once, Old Wang and another Han man didn't turn their heads even once.

  It's laughable, at this point, who dares to intervene?

  Moreover, the family they came to visit this time was not some "Servant Lang's Mansion" or "Prime Minister's Residence", but the unadulterated First Scholar of the Ming Dynasty, the Chief Assistant of the Grand Secretariat Chen Yanruo... A household like this, let alone the Shuntian Prefecture or the Capital Garrison, who in the entire city of Beijing would dare to stake out and capture people here?

  Moreover, Chen Ge Lao had already met with Luo Yang Xing and instructed the Embroidered Uniform Guard not to interfere in other cases. All personnel were required to investigate and handle the major case of impersonating and plundering the military camp. The Embroidered Uniform Guard was originally very weak, and now that manpower was being diverted, Lao Wang's gang would be even more unassailable!

  "Go in for a while, you two wait outside, don't talk or move around!"

  Although it's not his first time, Old Wang still feels a bit nervous while waiting to be summoned after posting the name card. After all, this is also a "Master", and Old Wang was from the Qin military border army, more than ten years ago, he would kneel down and call an official of the ninth rank "Old Master". These high-ranking officials in Beijing are like gods, now although he has been a bandit for over ten years and has eaten the flesh of vassal princes, but the habits accumulated over decades cannot be changed overnight. Thinking that he will soon meet the Master and Grand Councilor, he can't help but feel nervous.

  "Hmph, it's just a bigger dog owner, what's the big deal."

  Huì Méi indeed said those words, she is a person from Xinyang Prefecture in Henan Province. She suffered from successive disasters and the government continued to press for taxes without stopping. Her father and brother were arrested by the county magistrate's men and during the hottest days of summer, they were forced to kneel while wearing cangues in front of the county yamen. After several days, their skin was peeled off and they died a slow death from sun exposure. Her mother jumped into the river, her sister-in-law remarried, originally a harmonious and peaceful family, but in the blink of an eye, it became a case of people going to different paths between life and death.

  This girl was also a fierce and violent one, just as the army arrived, she joined Hong Niangzi's female warrior camp. When they broke into the county town, she was the first to stab the county magistrate in the chest with her sword...

  This time, Xiaoliu Camp sent people over and also borrowed some from Jianfu Camp. Huimei had been practicing hard for several years and her skills were excellent, so she was selected to come over.

  Everything is fine, it's just that this Qian Guan hates the Fu's emotions too strongly, and if you're not careful for a moment, it will go wild and make Lao Wang head ache endlessly.

  Originally thought of as a delicate and charming young lady, now I realize that this person is full of thorns, being careful will still get you pricked, let alone being careless...

  "Alright, just don't stir up trouble, major things are important."

  Lao Wang used official business to suppress, the military emphasized discipline, so Hui Mei shut her mouth and didn't make a sound, and another man followed Lao Wang honestly, waiting to be summoned.

  Before long, a steward-like man rushed out, holding his hat and sizing up Old Wang for a moment before smiling and nodding: "Mr. Wang, I suppose? It's really strange, there are over a dozen guests waiting outside, but Master wants me to bring you in personally. Now that I've taken a look, I don't see anything unusual about you!"

  "There's nothing extraordinary about it, just helping someone deliver a letter, probably Master Xiang is eager to read the letter."

  Lao Wang was very familiar with the rules of these official families in Beijing, and he took a step forward, stuffing a silver ingot into the man's sleeve.

  "You're too polite, sir... please, come in quickly!" The other person weighed the weight and smiled warmly on his face, chatting while leading the way hastily. The Chen Mansion was extremely large, entering from the side door, one courtyard after another, if it weren't for this steward leading the way, they would likely get lost for a while.

  It was a bright and lively scene, in stark contrast to the dark and gloomy atmosphere outside. When they arrived at Chen Yan's residence, the large hall on the outer courtyard was indeed filled with over a dozen officials dressed in green and blue, waiting for an audience with Chen Yan. As the most powerful official in the imperial court, even in his private residence, such scenes were probably unavoidable every day.

  "There are fewer people tonight, it's too cold." Looking at the situation in the hall, the leading steward just smiled and urged Old Wang: "We've arrived... Sir, please hurry up."

  Lao Wang felt the majesty of such power for the first time, and added to the magnificent momentum, elegant tone, not comparable to the ancestral halls and rich merchant mansions, the former like an ancient temple, the latter too luxurious, without a bit of noble air.

  Only in the mansion of a cabinet minister who is fond of reading, every blade of grass and every tree shows great care, even the lowest servants in the house address each other as "Mr.", extremely elegant.

  Everyone says that scholars who have been favored by the Emperor are just like the literary star descending to the world, and being appointed as a Hanlin scholar or a Grand Councilor is probably not really the Star Lord in the world?

  With this nervous psychology, Old Wang entered the inner study room. As soon as the door opened, an old man with a dignified demeanor was sitting in front of the official hat chair, with white hair and beard, a solemn expression, wearing a square scarf and a Taoist robe, exuding an extraordinary air even in his leisure time.

  "You can withdraw." said Chen Yan, the Grand Preceptor, glancing at his own servants as he gave the casual order.

  "Yes!"

  The housekeeper retreated at the sound and slowly closed the door, fully understanding the rules.

  Old Wang was at a loss for words, but saw Chen Yan slowly walking forward, his demeanor still very calm and composed. However, as he approached closer, he suddenly unfolded his robes and knelt down. Old Wang was like in a dream, seeing this white-haired elder knock his head on the ground, saying: "Your Excellency has arrived, I'm ashamed for not welcoming you from afar. This humble minister is extremely frightened, please forgive my great crimes..."