The sun was high up in the sky, and the pedestrians on the streets were gradually burning. Suddenly, a strange team appeared at the north gate. Sixteen Ming Imperial Army soldiers dressed in military attire and carrying sabers on their waists were escorting a brightly painted carriage into the city.
All of them were tall and handsome white horses with gorgeous saddles. The armor worn by the guards on the horses was many times more exquisite than the clothes worn by the border guards. The carriage entered the city without stopping, and the guard of honor headed straight for the post office.
In the post office, Yang Ling, Liu Biao, and Yang Yiqing were chatting and drinking tea, trying to find out as much information about the capital and the Embroidered Uniform Guards as possible from them. At this moment, a courier rushed in and said,"" Milord, a passing official has sent a letter to stop the carriage. The convoy will be arriving soon."
Yang Ling found it strange. Even though the post station had the responsibility of receiving passing officials, the territory of the Tartars was not far from the crowing of the rooster, and no high-ranking officials of the imperial court had ever come. If an official had sent a letter to stop the carriage, then the size of the convoy must not be small. Who had come?
Liu Biao and Yang Yiqing followed behind him and hurriedly went out to welcome him. They saw a carriage slowly coming along the road. There were eight handsome warhorses on both sides, and the knights sitting on them were wearing armor. They looked very mighty.
Seeing the yellow flag on the carriage, Liu Biao quickly caught up and whispered into Yang Ling's ear,""Milord, these are people from the capital.”
Yang Ling nodded slightly and stood solemnly in front of the door. The carriage stopped in front of him, and the curtain of the palanquin was lifted. A person walked out from the carriage. He was in his fifties, had a thin face, and was dressed like a eunuch in the palace.
"Eunuch Liu?" Yang Ling exclaimed. That person was Eunuch Liu, the supervisor of the army. He got off the carriage and said to Yang Ling with a smile," Yang Yicheng, we're really fated to meet. It's only been a month, and we've met again."
Yang Ling let Eunuch Liu into the main hall, but he still couldn't figure out his intentions. He had been promoted to the Jinyiwei, and as a fifth-grade Tongzhi, there was no need for the eunuchs in the palace to come forward. When eunuchs left the palace, they were usually ordered to supervise the army, collect taxes, and buy palace supplies. They rarely summoned officials below the third grade and needed eunuchs to bring the imperial edict.
The 16 warriors entered the hall and stood on both sides, their hands on their swords as they looked straight ahead. Eunuch Liu walked to the center of the hall, turned around, cleared his throat, and said loudly,""Jiming County Courier Station Deputy Yang Ling receives the decree!"
Yang Ling didn't know what to do, and he was at a loss. When he heard that the Emperor had given him an imperial edict, he was already shocked. As for whether he would receive the imperial edict like in the movies, he was even more uncertain. Fortunately, Eunuch Liu had seen many such officials. The imperial edict was not a newspaper. How many officials had actually received the imperial edict? Even the officials in the court had made a fool of themselves when they received the imperial edict for the first time. He smiled slightly and held the yellow handkerchief with both hands."Deputy Yang, kneel down and listen to the announcement!”
Yang Ling looked at him gratefully and quickly knelt on the ground, saying,""Your subject, Yang Ling, is listening." This was the first time Yang Ling knelt before someone, and he felt a little uncomfortable. When in Rome, do as the locals do. At the very least, he did not have the courage to resist.
Eunuch Liu slowly unfolded the yellow silk and said loudly,""The Emperor of Heaven decreed: The reason why the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties got the world was to get the people. Therefore, the people are the foundation of the country. The ancient sages once said,"The path of the Great Way is for the world to be for all."
Eunuch Liu shook his head as he read, his voice rising and falling. Yang Ling listened to Eunuch Liu recite the classical Chinese language. Even though he understood the meaning behind it, it was still rather strenuous for him to listen. After a long while, Eunuch Liu finally got to the main topic."Therefore, the people are the masters of the country. The Son of Heaven takes over the world on behalf of the people. The current prince is intelligent and studious. I heard that Yang Ling, a scholar in Xuanfu, is both wise and capable. He is very good. My intention is to summon Yang Ling to the capital and appoint him as the prince's attendant. When he hears the edict, he will immediately enter the capital without delay. I admire this. Hongzhi 18th year, February."
Yang Ling was baffled. The Crown Prince's attendant? Isn't he the Tongzhi of the Embroidered Uniform Guards? He suddenly thought of what Ma Lian 'er had said that night. There's a saying that official career is dangerous. With that 'meritorious service' you've made, there's no reason for you to be promoted three levels straight to the center. It's even more impossible for someone in the capital to be so kind as to promote you for no reason. We have to think carefully, we can't let others cheat us."
Yang Ling immediately understood. No wonder the Embroidered Uniform Guards had rushed over to promote him. It turned out that they had heard that the Emperor wanted him to be the Crown Prince's attendant, so they had come to make things even better. Although the Crown Prince's attendant was a sixth-grade official, he was actually the Crown Prince's classmate. Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, how could these people who were closest to the Crown Prince not be put in an important position?
He was originally just a small official in the Jinyiwei. Now that he had been promoted to an official, he had become a member of the Jinyiwei's central staff. With a single appointment, he had pulled the future emperor's confidant into his camp. Of course, he would not suffer a loss.
Eunuch Liu saw that he was still kneeling there in a daze and said in a low voice,"Deputy Yang, why aren't you thanking me?”
Yang Ling came to his senses and shouted,"" I accept the imperial edict to thank you." He took the imperial edict from Eunuch Liu's hands with both hands and stole a glance. Seeing that Eunuch Liu had no intention of making him kneel three or nine times, he stood up.
Eunuch Liu handed over the imperial edict, and he immediately put away his lofty and condescending attitude. He said to Yang Ling with a pleasant expression,""Mr. Yang, our Liu Jin is the Crown Prince's servant. In the future, Mr. Yang will be the Crown Prince's attendant, so we should get closer to him.”
Yang Ling quivered when he heard that, and he cried out involuntarily,""Liu Jin? Are you Liu Jin?"
Eunuch Liu blinked and asked curiously,""What, Mr. Yang has heard of our family's name?”
Yang Ling nodded, then shook his head, not knowing what to say.
Liu Jin, the original model of the eunuch in the New Dragon Inn, the legendary eunuch who killed without batting an eyelid, was this old eunuch in front of him?
Thanks to novels and television shows, Yang Ling was familiar with Wang Zhi, Wang Zhen, Liu Jin, and Wei Zhongxian. The eunuchs in those novels all had strange martial arts skills. They had white hair and a youthful face, and they were eccentric. Now that Yang Ling saw the real Liu Jin with his own eyes, he thought that he had the same name.
Liu Jin said happily," I serve the Crown Prince and rarely come out of the capital. There aren't many people who know my name, but I didn't expect Mr. Yang to have heard of me. Hehe, as expected of a scholar who knows everything about the world without going out."
"Mr. Yang, since we have already received the imperial edict, I think we should set off immediately. The current Crown Prince is a martial artist. It's best to use guns and sticks and march. I'll bring the post that Mr. Yang presented to General He back to the capital. The Crown Prince is very happy to see it. He wants to use your method to train the Divine Arms Battalion. Don't make the Crown Prince anxious.”
Liu Jin was still very careful and serious when he was on duty. He was now in charge of the Bell and Drum Department, which had the least authority among the twenty-four yamens. Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao was willful and good at martial arts. His temper was unpredictable, and Lord Wansui doted on his precious son very much. Liu Jin did not dare to neglect him.
Yang Ling had no choice but to call the young lady over and start packing. Liu and Yang said to the outside world that they were servants of the Yang family. Although the people of the local post office found it strange, Eunuch Liu didn't know about the Yang family's family background, so he didn't mind. After Yang Ling had settled everything, Ma Lian 'er had yet to return. He told the young lady that he had asked her big brother to leave the city to deliver a message, lest she thought that he had left without saying goodbye.
At this moment, the three carriages were already on the winding mountain road. The mountain road was narrow, and sixteen guards stood guard at the front and back. In front was Eunuch Liu's vermilion carriage, and the two carriages at the back were sent from the post office. In front of the carriage was a tall pole with the word " post " written on it. Behind it were Liu Biao and Yang Yiqing sitting on the luggage cart.
Han Youniang looked out of the window silently. She had never been separated from her family since she was a child. She had traveled so far alone. A few days ago, she had thought about going to the capital and was as excited as a child. Now that she had really left, her heart was empty. Sigh, her father had become a courier and had been traveling everywhere. She had not seen him this time. She did not know how long it would take for her to see her family again.
Yang Ling knew that she was reluctant to part with him, so he comforted her gently," Don't worry. After we settle down, I'll think of a way to bring father-in-law and the others to the capital."
The young lady hummed in acknowledgment and lay in Yang Ling's embrace. Her large eyes were sparkling, and no one knew what she was thinking. Yang Ling gently stroked her back, his mind filled with thoughts.
What was the role of the Crown Prince's attendant? He did not retain the memories of Yang Ling, the original scholar of the Xuan Manor. If he really wanted to take the Four Books, Five Classics, and Eight Legged Essay, he could say that he was completely clueless. He hoped that the name of the servant reading was true and that he was just accompanying the Crown Prince to read.
The history he remembered was too simple. Other than Zhu Hongwu, Chengzu, and the last Chongzhen Emperor, he knew little about the other emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Now that he was inexplicably pushed to the center of this historical stage, he would be surrounded by the most powerful people of this era. Could he handle it?
Yang Ling had always been muddle-headed. He only wanted his wife and children to warm up the bed and live happily for two years. Now that he was being chased, it was often said that accompanying a ruler was like accompanying a tiger. For the sake of his own safety, he had no choice but to become serious and take the initiative to understand and understand this era.
Yang Ling sorted out his thoughts, and the information regarding this era slowly flowed through his mind.
It was now the 18th year of Hongzhi. The emperor was Emperor Hongzhi, surnamed Zhu. Due to limited knowledge, he could not associate his name with the year title, so it was unknown. His life was also unknown. The Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao was a romantic, lecherous, fatuous, and handsome man. Playing with dragons and phoenixes, he seemed to have died quite early. Liu Jin, a treacherous official. When did he rise? Unknown. How did he die? Unknown. Anyway, he didn't die a good death.
Trash! Absolute trash! Yang Ling could only give himself such an evaluation in shame. Could he use this little bit of information to gain the upper hand, avoid danger, and grasp history? Yang Ling was discouraged for a while, but he suddenly became spirited again. He straightened his back and said," Why bother? What Emperor Zheng De, what treacherous official Liu Jin, my life is as short as a plant, that is not something I should worry about. My goal is to go to the capital, become a high-ranking official, and mingle in Beijing!
The ignorant were fearless, and Yang Ling, who was prepared to charge into the capital with his eyes closed, began to be blindly optimistic.
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Ma Lian 'er was like a gust of wind as she arrived at the post office. She turned around and rode her horse straight to the north city. The sound of the bowl-sized horse hooves stomping on the bluestone floor was as rapid as rain. The horse galloped out of the city. There was no sign of the carriage in the wilderness. Ma Lian 'er held the reins and lingered at the city gate for a moment. She did not step on the winding mountain road. Instead, she went straight through the uncultivated fields and took a shortcut to the front.
Her dark green cloak fluttered in the air. Her heart was very anxious. The cruel Brother Yang didn't even have time to wait for me to meet him. Why did he leave in such a hurry? It would be three years before they could meet again.
The horse was as fast as the wind. Under her superb riding skills, the date red horse's hooves flew like an arrow leaving the bow. At the end of the hunting ground was a small river. The date red horse flew past, splashing jade pieces. From afar, she saw the carriage slowly moving along the mountain road. Ma Lian 'er was ecstatic. She turned her head and chased the horse along the river, one halfway up the mountain, the other at the foot of the mountain.
The terrain of the mountain changed. In front of them was a semi-circular valley. The horse carriage made a half-turn, and on one side was a cliff facing the abyss. The armored soldiers on the winding mountain road, as well as Liu Biao and Yang Yiqing who were sitting on the shaft of the carriage, had become red horses that were chasing at full speed at the foot of the mountain. Liu Biao couldn't help but stand up and look down the mountain, shouting,"There's a young lady chasing after us at the foot of the mountain.”
Hearing this, Yang Ling and the young lady hurriedly got out of the carriage. They saw a red horse and a green cloud slowly approaching from the foot of the mountain. Young Madam Han couldn't help but cry out,"It's Sister Lian 'er! Husband, Sister Lian' er is here!"
Yang Lian quickly called the coachman to stop the carriage and stood on the shaft of the carriage, looking down the mountain. Ma Lian 'er also stopped her horse, and the two of them stood there quietly. The two of them could only look at each other from a distance due to the unclimbable cliff.
Ma Lian 'er stared at him in a daze for a long time. She saw Yang Ling wave his hand at her and signal for the carriage to continue moving forward, but he still stood at the front of the carriage and looked at her. Ma Lian 'er's heart was in turmoil. She suddenly pulled out the small scimitar at her waist, cut off a strand of her hair, and hurriedly tied it to the shaft of an arrow.
The carriage moved slowly. As long as it turned out of this valley road, it would disappear from her sight. Ma Lian 'er suddenly lifted the reins and pressed her legs against the horse's belly. A neigh echoed throughout the valley.
Yang Ling and the group of warriors who were halfway up the mountain looked toward the valley. They saw the red horse standing up, and after a moment of stillness, it moved its hooves and charged forward at an extremely fast speed. In front of it was the cliff of the Death Valley, which was only about three hundred feet away.
The horse galloped at full speed, covering the distance of twenty zhang in a flash. If they continued to charge forward at such a speed, they would probably be killed by the rock wall. The people on the mountain couldn't help but exclaim. However, Ma Lian 'er's fast horse suddenly made a 90-degree turn. She abandoned the reins, took off her bow, twisted her body, and pulled out her arrow. Her movements were smooth and elegant, making people shake their heads.
Liu Biao, Yang Yiqing, and a few soldiers couldn't help but cheer. The families of the high-ranking officials and dignitaries in the capital had raised some Tartar officials. They were Mongolian warriors who were admired. They had seen those people perform the riding and archery skills of the Dayuan cavalry that dominated the world in the past.
The Mongolian riding and archery skills were the best in the world. Ma Lian 'er's riding and archery skills were exactly the same as those of the Tartar warriors who were good at riding and archery. It was an indescribable beauty when it was performed by a young girl.
Yang Ling's carriage was about to turn around the stone cliff in front of him. The moment it left Ma Lian 'er's line of sight, she heard the sound of three arrows striking the flagpole an arm's length away from Yang Ling. The tails of the arrows were still buzzing, and the coachman sitting under the pole was so frightened that he trembled and almost fell off the carriage.
The carriage moved slowly. There was a patch of green grass in front of the cliff, and Lian 'er could no longer be seen at the foot of the mountain. Three sharp arrows were shot in a straight line on the shaft. The arrow in the middle had a strand of black hair tied to its tail, which was still flying in the wind.
Young Lady Han stroked her black hair and said sourly," Husband, Sister Lian 'er is shaving her hair to show her ambition."
Yang Ling scratched her nose and turned to look at the three sharp arrows and a strand of hair nailed to the flagpole. He could not help but smile bitterly as he thought,""Qingsi, Qingsi, three arrows, three years, this girl won't be as stubborn as a young mother, right?”
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This book comes from：m.funovel.com。