The Prosperous Era of Longwan

At night, it was already the second watch, the city gates around the capital had been closed, and it was now the time of the night ban.

The gates on the four walls of Beijing are still tall and majestic, but they have been tightly closed at this time, waiting for the sun to rise the next day before they can be reopened.

The weather in Beijing has begun to enter autumn. It is cold in the morning and evening and hot in the day. Therefore, the soldiers guarding the city at night are not willing to suffer the cold on the city wall and have gone down to rest under the city wall. They only take turns to watch on the tower.

At this time, on the tower of Zhimen Gate in the west of Beijing, two soldiers, an old man and a young man, were huddled together chatting casually to pass the time, and the topic of their chat was naturally the news from the Xuanfu.

There really are no secrets in Beijing. The news that the Tatars are about to attack Xuanfu has spread in the streets and alleys of Beijing. But because Xuanfu and the capital are separated by the Great Wall, the people in the capital don't take it seriously at this time. Something happened.

In Xuanfu and Datong, there is no year when such urgent reports are not received. Even Ji Town is harassed by Tatars from time to time.

Different from ten years ago, at that time, the Tatar troops swept directly to Tongzhou. How far is Tongzhou from Beijing? There are no dangerous passes in between.

That time, it really scared the people of the capital at the feet of the emperor.

Of course, more detailed information, such as the Xuanfu's report that the Anhui Department has assembled all the main forces this time and other key information, will naturally not be leaked to the public casually, and only the officials in the capital will know some.

At this time, it was pitch black all around, with only the full moon hanging high in the sky and the twinkling stars in the sky.

"Ta-ta-ta"

In the distance of the avenue, there was suddenly the sound of horse hooves. It was not clear at first, but it only took a moment. The two people who were chatting stopped their conversation and stood up at the same time, standing behind the city wall and looking out.

A cluster of torches in the distance was approaching quickly, and the sound of horse hooves became louder and faster.

"Who is he? He is running towards the capital at such a late hour. Doesn't he know that the night is forbidden and the city gate is closed?"

The young soldier sneered and said, at this time, no matter who comes, unless there is an imperial edict or a military order from the Governor's Mansion, it will be easy for anyone to come, even those high-ranking officials. This is a rule that has been followed for hundreds of years.

"Look again, this person wouldn't run here for no reason."

The veteran thought more, but because of the dazzling torch, he could not clearly see the costume of the knight on the horse.

The knight quickly approached the city gate, and the figure in his field of vision became clearer. Although he still could not see the dress, the stick-like thing carried on the back of the man still fell into the eyes of the veteran.

"No, you go down and ask General Li Qi to come up. It may be an urgent military report. Hurry up."

The veteran ordered the soldier.

"If you call Mr. Li now, he won't beat me up."

Xiaobing said immediately.

"No, this is business. If you delay it, you will lose your head."

The veteran spoke quickly, his eyes still fixed on the original figure in the distance, getting closer and closer, and the things on his back became clearer.

From a distance, it looked like a stick, like a weapon, but up close, the veteran felt that the thing was a flag, and he seemed to be able to see something fluttering and swaying on it.

The messenger didn't run away.

Holding the spear in his hand tightly, the veteran stared at the approaching horses while thinking about what else he had to send to the capital at such a late hour. It didn't look like an ordinary military report.

Could it be the news from Xuanfu?

Thinking of this, the veteran couldn't help but shudder.

Ten years ago, he was forced to stand on the wall of Beijing like this, and stayed here for more than ten days.

Just as he was thinking about it, the knight was almost at the bottom of the city. He raised his head and shouted to the tower: "Eight hundred miles, hurry up, release the basket quickly, eight hundred miles, hurry up."

While shouting loudly, the knight had already rushed to the city gate, turned over and dismounted, then walked a few steps quickly to tie the horse's reins to the hitching post next to the city gate, and ran towards the city wall.

During the night ban, all major city gates in the capital are closed and locked, and the keys will be taken away. However, the soldiers guarding the city gates do not have the keys to open the city gates. If you want to open the city gates, you can only apply to the Shuntian Prefecture official on duty that night. .

During the night ban, if you want to enter or exit Beijing, you must either rely on the emperor's imperial edict, or hold a special document or token, and be responsible for important military tasks or intelligence. You can apply to obtain the qualification to enter or exit, otherwise there is no chance. Enter and exit the city gate.

For the messengers, the urgent military situation is still eight hundred miles away, so they can naturally be accommodated.

In fact, many soldiers in the Beijing camp may never encounter such a situation in their lives. Urgent military reports are sent after the night curfew.

"Just wait, we've already found someone."

The person is now under the city. The veteran can clearly see what the person is wearing. He is dressed like a messenger in the border town. He is wearing a blue waist-length armor with the word "order" embroidered on the chest, and there is also a "order" on his back. word flag.

"Where are you from?"

While waiting for others, the veteran asked loudly on the tower.

"Xuanfu."

The city messenger's answer was also very direct.

"what's the situation?"

At this moment, a questioning voice came from behind the veteran.

"Mr. Li Qi, there is an urgent call from the Xuanfu at 800 miles below the city."

The veteran turned back to the visitor and replied.

"Put down the hanging basket and check the token."

The person who came was wearing the general's flag. Although it was a bit old, it looked like a military uniform of some age.

"Hey, okay."

The veteran agreed, then picked up the hanging basket from the side and put it down directly.

The hanging basket fell slowly. The messenger was very skilled in this process, especially for people from border towns, who should often encounter such a situation.

There is more military information in the border town, and from time to time it is necessary to deliver news to some military forts. When we arrive, it is too late, so we can only use the hanging basket.

The messenger took out a sign from his waist and placed it in the hanging basket. He pulled the rope on the hanging basket downwards and then the hanging basket slowly rose up and soon disappeared at the top of the city.

General Li Qi took the hanging basket from the veteran's hand and walked back into the city tower with the token. There was still an oil lamp on in the city tower. He got closer and used the firelight to carefully examine the inscriptions and cloud patterns on the waist badge. These are all exquisite. of.

For the soldier's waist badge, just find a wooden sign with military status engraved on it and that's it. However, the messenger's waist badge does have something else to pay attention to, that is, there are some mysteries in the moiré and engraving to prevent forgery.

However, these skills are only known to the city gate officer who is on duty at night, and that is what he is doing now, confirming the authenticity of the belt badges of the messengers below.

Don't think that you can open the city gate with a quick shout from 800 miles away. That's impossible.

After verifying the authenticity, people can enter the city, but the horses can only stay outside and be brought in again the next day, because the city gate will never be opened.

"Go, call a few people and hang them up."

After confirming the waist badge, General Li Qi gave instructions to the veteran who followed him, and handed him the waist badge at the same time.

There is no reason for the commander-in-chief of the Beijing camp to pick up a messenger from a border town.

At this time, he felt sleepy again and walked down the city, cursing.

The capital city is very big, but horses are not allowed to ride in the market in the middle of the night. However, the messengers can use their badges to not be affected by the night ban and walk freely among the neighborhoods.

Although the wooden fence between the streets and the city is also locked, the lock is not as tight as the big iron lock at the city gate. The key is in the hands of the night guard.

The Ministry of War yamen also has night-time officials at night, so the messengers after entering the city can only run to the Ministry of War to deliver official documents.

It was already the fourth watch when the ordering soldier gasped and called to open the gate of the Military Department Yamen, and then the quiet Military Department Yamen became lively.

As the night watch officer read the urgent military information sent by Xuanfu, he immediately became uneasy.

"Prepare the sedan chair and go to Yang Shangshu's residence."

After giving instructions to the outside, the man simply tidied up, put on his official hat and left the duty room. He couldn't sleep tonight. I thought Master Yang Boyang would crawl to Xiyuan after reading this military report. Send the letter.

After leaving the gate of the Ministry of War, the official thought for a while and then ordered the clerk who was following him: "Go back, take out the token, and send a message to those adults."

"yes."

The man who looked like a scribe respectfully agreed and then watched the sedan go away.

When the sky was slightly bright, several military camps in Datong City suddenly became lively. The military camps lit up countless torches at almost the same time to illuminate the entire camp. The soldiers were called out of the barracks by the team officers to form a team.

The Huotou Army had already arrived pushing a cart and carrying a large bucket to distribute breakfast to each army.

There wasn't much, just rice porridge, steamed buns and some pickles, but this was a rare meal for these frontline soldiers.

For a moment, the entire military camp seemed like a steamer that had just been opened. From a distance, the military camp seemed to be filled with smoke.

"Have a good time with this hot meal. We're going to leave soon."

The team officer had received the order yesterday and knew that he was going to set off today. Although he didn't know where he was going, the news from the Xuan Mansion had spread all over the place through the mouths of the merchants.

Although the soldiers had little contact with the outside world, many of them were transferred from other military forts, but they were not stupid. When they saw such a good meal prepared, they knew that something was wrong.

While eating, I glanced around, and sure enough I soon saw someone pushing a cart toward the horse camp, with bags piled on it.

"Are you going to fight?"

Seeing what was prepared in the military camp, almost everyone realized that they were about to leave Datong City and go to Xuanfu to fight.

For veterans like them, it was very clear what was in the cloth bag. Dry food cakes, horse feed cakes, and water bags were all items that would only be distributed after a long march.

And their things were soon delivered on small carts. Although they knew that they would be sent to the battlefield by Shangguan soon, they had no choice.

Once you enter a military household, you have to join the army for generations and keep fighting.

When the soldiers had eaten and drank enough, they began to form their teams. The gate of the horse camp had been opened, and groups of cavalry had already driven their horses out and ran through the military camp toward the city gate.

After the cavalry passed by, they left only smoke and dust, which made many people wonder, why did they leave?

They are infantry, and the cavalry can run so fast that they can catch up with them.

The gate of Datong City has been fully opened. As groups of cavalry rushed out and lined up outside the city, it was time for Yu Dayou, who was wearing white mountain armor on the gate tower, to say goodbye to Li Wenjin and Liu Han.

"Two adults, I will take the first step."

Yu Dayou bowed his hands to them.

"Go ahead and be careful on the road."

Li Wenjin glanced at the three thousand cavalry outside the city, nodded to Yu Dayou and said.

"According to plan, I will wait for your return on the Gray River."

Liu Han on the side also said loudly. Like Yu Dayou, he also wore white mountain armor and looked much more powerful than before.

"Don't worry, my lords, my subordinates have given detailed consideration to this decision."

Yu Dayou replied loudly.

"As for the White Lotus cult bandits, I thought about it for a night. It would be troublesome to bring back those ordinary cultists. We can directly execute them. Just bring back those few people and their families."

Just when Yu Dayou turned around to move forward, Datong Governor Li Wenjin suddenly spoke again and gave instructions.

"yes."

Yu Dayou agreed without hesitation.

From the generals to the soldiers, the Ming army had no favorable impressions of the White Lotus believers. These people were responsible for the harassment of the Tatars in recent years. In the eyes of the Ming army, these people were traitors who betrayed their ancestors and deserved to be killed.

As Yu Dayou descended from the city gate, he quickly met up with three thousand Datong cavalry outside the city, and then ran towards the north.

Li Wenjin and Liu Han stood on the tower and watched the army go away, speechless for a long time.

"Suddenly it felt a bit risky."

After the army disappeared, Liu Han suddenly said something.

"It's just as dangerous to go to Xuanfu. We're still fighting the main Tatar force there, but it's much safer to attack Bansheng City."

Li Wenjin shook his head and said, then looked at Liu Han and said, "You are ready, let's set off together."

Liu Han nodded. In addition to his personal soldiers, he was going to lead elite soldiers selected from the Datong Army, while Li Wenjin was leading the governor's Biao Battalion, including the more than a thousand troops that Yu Dayou had trained.

Wei Guangde entered the Hanlin Academy early in the morning, but soon realized that something was wrong with the atmosphere. Many scribes gathered together in twos and threes and whispered something.

Although Wei Guangde felt strange, he didn't take it seriously and walked directly to his courtyard. When he saw the entrance of the courtyard, he saw Lu Bu talking quietly with several scribes like him at the entrance of the courtyard.

When several people saw Wei Guangde approaching, they immediately ended the conversation and saluted Wei Guangde with a smile on their faces. Then they watched Wei Guangde walk into the yard, Lu Bu followed quickly, and then the remaining people started talking again.

"What's going on today?"

Wei Guangde walked in front and asked softly.

"I heard that the Ministry of War was kept quiet all night last night. Many officers from the Ministry of War rushed back to the Yamen to do errands."

At this point, Lu Bu had stopped because Wei Guangde, who was walking in front, was already standing there motionless.

So Lu Bu took another half step forward and whispered to Wei Guangde: "I heard this morning. Yesterday, a military report came from the Xuanfu. It seems that a fight started. It happened about three days ago."

Outside the gate of the Ministry of War, an eight-carrying sedan fell down. The bearer opened the sedan curtain, and Yang Bo slowly got out of the sedan.

When he saw the official approaching him, he asked directly: "Have all the documents been sent out?"

"My lord, we all left overnight."

The man hurriedly took two steps forward and answered in a low voice.

The two walked through the crowd and walked into the Ministry of War Yamen one after another. When they went up the steps, Yang Bo stood still and said again: "You handle the matters in the Yamen today first. There is no need to send them to me except for battle reports."

"Yes, sir, you have worked hard all night, so you should take care of yourself."

The man immediately bowed and replied.