Chapter 174: A Glimmer of Dawn (Pink Ticket 860 Additional Update)
Shen Mu Qing gently placed the tea cup in front of Wang Sheng Yun.
Wang Shengyun didn't even glance at the girl in front of him, dressed in a white silk blouse and blue-green jacket, made up as a maid. His face was full of worry: "... The Minister of the Board of War proposed to establish the King of Jin as Emperor, but the Emperor's life or death is unknown, what if... A country cannot have two rulers, at that time it will be feared that there will be endless troubles! But the ruler is light, and the altar of the earth is heavy... The country cannot be without a master for even one day."
Shen Zhen's expression was even more bitter than Wang Shengyun: "...... Must it be announced to the world that the Emperor has passed away?"
Wang Shengyun didn't say a word, but his expression had already said it all.
Shen Zhen closed his eyes, and there were tears at the corners of his eyes.
"Now, it can only be like this......" Wang Shengyun said softly, "Otherwise, things will not be decided well."
"Has the cabinet reached a decision?" Shen Jian gazed at Wang Shengyun.
Wang Shengyun hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "Establish Prince Jin!"
Shen Zhen did not utter a word.
"He's got a weak character... what's there for you to worry about? And yet you deliberately consulted me?" Shen Zhen said calmly.
Wang Shengyun smiled wryly: "I'd like to hear your opinion... You've always been wise and resourceful, the more difficult things get, the calmer you become..."
As an opponent, this is probably the highest praise!
Shen Zhen's mouth slightly curled up, and he sighed: "If it were me, I'm afraid I could only do the same!"
Having obtained his opponent's affirmation, Wang Shengyun's heart was at ease. He stood up and said: "Then I'll take my leave first. Tomorrow morning, the Minister of War Shi Jin will make a proposal..."
Shen Zhen stood up and saw Wang Shengyun off.
Wang Shengyun walked to the door and couldn't help but turn back.
Such a private matter, Shen Zhen actually didn't avoid that tea-serving maid.
A face as white as jade, eyes shining with intelligence... In the great chaos of Kyoto, some officials who stayed in the capital had sent their families back to their hometowns. In his memory, Shen Zhen's son seemed to have been sent to Jiangnan too... The Shen family's courtyard was clean and tidy, but it felt cold and empty, lacking vitality. At a glance, it was clear that there were not many servants in the household... Could this be Shen Zhen's daughter who had returned home after parting with the Liang family?
Thinking of this, Wang Shengyun couldn't help but take another look.
Shen Muqing was also sizing up Wang Shengyun.
Unexpectedly, Wang Shengyun, who had been fighting with Shen Zhen for a lifetime, was actually a tiger-backed bear-waisted person... The two of them were really, really different...
The two people's eyes met directly.
Shen Mu Qing's face was calm as he smiled slightly at Wang Sheng Yun.
Wang Shengyun's eyes also showed a smile.
Dare to look back at him like that, it must be Shen Zhen's daughter... Such a beautiful little girl, actually divorced...
Thinking of this, he revealed a few points of regret on his face.
Shen Zhen, who was standing beside him, also noticed Wang Shengyun's actions.
It's just a matter of being together or apart, what great mistake have I committed? What makes you look at me with such regret?
He was moved in his heart and said: "This is my daughter Shen Muqing."
Wang Shengyun was somewhat at a loss.
Not even a greeting, but instead staring rudely at someone's little girl...
He nodded slightly unnaturally towards Shen Muqing.
Shen Mu Qing smiled and knelt down to pay her respects to him.
******
After seeing off Wang Shengyun, Shen Zhen returned to the study with a heavy expression.
Shen Muqing was cleaning the tea cup, and upon seeing this, he poured him another cup of tea.
Shen Zhen gazed at Shen Mu and let out a clear sigh: "I hope Zeng Ju arrives on time within these two days. Otherwise... the capital is in imminent danger!"
Shen Muqing thought of the recent grain looting incidents in the city and felt a sense of fear and helplessness, involuntarily sighing as he told Shen Zhen: "No one is taking charge, if things continue like this, I'm afraid we'll be in chaos even before the Mongols arrive!"
Shen Zhen's expression was melancholic: "Wang Shengyun is also helpless, it's like trying to pick sesame seeds out of a fire, there's no other way!"
******
On the matter of whether to establish the King of Jin, the ministers discussed for four days and still could not come to a decision. On the fifth day, the Yuan Mong people once broke through the Chaoyang Gate, but under the leadership of Dai Gui's troops, they fought back and recaptured the Chaoyang Gate. When the news arrived, the ministers were frightened, and the ministers who opposed the establishment of the King of Jin finally gave in and agreed to establish the King of Jin as Emperor.
When King Jin was pushed by Wang Shengyun onto the dragon chair in Taihe Hall, he still shouted: "...... I don't want to be a king of a dead country!"
Wang Shengyun ignored the expression of the King of Jin and stood on the Danzhong platform, bowing his head to Yuan Yu, the Minister of Rites.
Yuan Yu began to read out the ritual procedures for the coronation ceremony.
The officials followed Yuan Yu's instructions and paid their respects with a bow.
The King of Jin tried several times to get up from his dragon throne, but was pressed down each time by Shi Jin, the Minister of War standing beside him.
After the grand ceremony of ascending to the throne, Wang Shengyun immediately memorialized and promoted Dai Shenghui as Minister of War, fully responsible for planning the defense of the capital. He personally supervised the battle at Zhengyang Gate.
The new emperor looked at the ministers below the dragon chair and saw that everyone was staring at him with piercing eyes, so he nodded slightly.
******
Mr. Min sat on the large kang by the window in Shen Zhen's study, finished his last mouthful of noodles and comfortably put down the red porcelain bowl: "I didn't expect Mu Qing's craftsmanship to be so good... just a bowl of Yangchun noodles, it leaves a fragrant aftertaste."
Ying hurriedly gathered up the bowls and chopsticks on the kang table, while Shen Muqing smiled and poured tea: "Sir must be hungry, that's why it tastes so good!"
Mr. Min took over the tea and smiled: "I haven't eaten anything for a whole day and night..."
Shen Zhen asked, "What is the current situation of the war?"
Mr. Min smiled and said, "Director Wang had everyone elect nine people to be in charge of the nine gates, and they made a pact to live or die together. If the city falls, they will all perish. He also had the Ministry of Rites people go around the alleys of the capital to tell stories of heroic deeds during battles that bring tears to one's eyes, stirring up everyone's morale. This morning, De Sheng Gate sent out an urgent message, and young men from nearby Jin Tai Fang, Ling Chui Fang, and Ri Zhong Fang spontaneously formed a support team to go to De Sheng Gate to provide aid... Although the situation is still not optimistic, everyone's momentum has increased tenfold compared to before."
Shen Zhen nodded: "So it's good..."
Mr. Min sighed, "What's good about it! Everyone is fighting to the death on the front line, but the Emperor is shouting to move the capital south to avoid the enemy... Ah! I don't know what Wang Gong thinks... It's better to establish the King of Qin. At least the King of Qin is pro-war."
Shen Zhen picked up his tea cup and took a light sip, saying in a low voice: "The King of Qin is hot-tempered, naturally he's not as easy to control as the King of Jin."
Mr. Min listened, his mouth twitching, but ultimately remained silent.
Shen Mu Qing saw the atmosphere was a bit heavy, smiled and just about to speak, when Fang Wan quickly walked back: "Master, Master Min's Long Gui wants to see Master Min!" Her voice was very urgent.
"Found me here, must be an urgent matter... You go back first!"
"Let Zhang Gui come in!" Mr. Min ordered Ying Fen, then smiled at Shen Zhen and said: "I am now following the Minister of War, Shi Daren, to defend the An Ding Gate. Shi Daren is a tiger general, and the Mongols have repeatedly attacked and failed. Seeing that the Mongols are somewhat discouraged these days, Shi Daren specially gave me a day off to let me return home to rest. I'm afraid you're worried about the safety of the capital, so I came here first - Zhang Gui might be following my wife's instructions to see me, couldn't find me, and found his way here..."
He was speaking when Ying Fen led Chang Gui in.
Changgui is a fourteen-year-old boy with a clear and handsome face, who is in the midst of puberty.
He couldn't even give Mr. Min and Shen a salute, his face pale with fear, he hastily said: "Sir, something's happened! Stone told me to come here and find you. He wants you to attend the imperial court meeting immediately."
Changgui's words were jumbled and confusing, and everyone listened with less than complete understanding. But the phrase "something has happened" was heard loud and clear, causing everyone to tremble with fear.
"Hey, don't be in a hurry, speak slowly, what's going on?" Mr. Min said busily.
Chang Gui took a deep breath before slowly speaking up.
It turned out that Zhang Gui had been ordered by Madame Min to go to the An Ding Gate to see if Mr. Min was injured, and as soon as Zhang Gui arrived at the An Ding Gate, he met Shi Jin. Shi Jin recognized him and immediately pulled him along, saying: "Quickly go to the Shen family's house in Songshu Hutong, Shihua Bridge, to find your master. Tell him that Yuan Mengu Khan has taken the Emperor hostage at Zhengyang Gate and wants Commander Dai to open the city gate. Wang Ge and Commander Dai had no choice but to avoid seeing him... All civil officials directing the battle must return to the Taihe Hall for a meeting!
The people in the house looked at each other in dismay.
Shen Zhen and Mr. Min asked in unison: "Have you asked clearly, is the emperor true or false?"
Chang Gui shrank under the sharp gaze of the two and said: "I, I don't know... As soon as I heard, I immediately ran over..."
Shen Zhen looked at Mr. Min and said: "You quickly go to the Taihe Hall... see what's going on... as soon as there is news, come and tell me immediately."
Mr. Min's face was heavy with emotion as he nodded and quickly followed Long Gui away.
Shen Muqing stood there with a mixture of sadness and joy, gazing at Shen Zhen: "The Emperor has been found, that Xiao Sa... should also be with him, right?"
Who knows what happened in the end?
Shen Zhen's eyes flashed with some sympathy, and he smiled: "We should be together! When Mr. Min arrives, we'll know!"
Shen Mu nodded slightly.
******
Mr. Min didn't appear at the Shen's until noon the next day.
Shen Mu Qing had been waiting in the study's anteroom since Shen Jian left and hadn't slept a wink.
She heard that Mr. Min had arrived and rushed to the study.
Mr. Min is talking to Shen Zhen: "... everyone has been questioning the authenticity of the emperor, but also being captured with the emperor are Liang Yu's eldest son Liang Bo-gong and Gansu Tongzhi Xiao Saosuo and other low-ranking military officers... now everyone doesn't know what to do?"
Shen Mu Qing's legs suddenly went limp and she sat down on the ground with a thud.
Shen Zhen and Mr. Min both looked over at the noise, and upon seeing the situation, Shen Zhen explained to Mr. Min while helping Mu Qing up from the kang: "Mu Qing has been frightened and worried for some time..."
Shen Muqing forced a smile at Shen Jian, then limped back to Tingyu Xuan with an uneven gait, and burst into loud sobs as soon as she lay down on the bed.
******
On June 24, Zeng Ju led five thousand soldiers to suddenly appear in Xuanzhou, annihilating all ten thousand Mongolian bandits who were burning, killing and looting everywhere in Xuanzhou, and temporarily recruiting soldiers in Xuanzhou, recruiting fifty thousand people within three days.
On July 1, Zeng Ju led an army of 30,000 to annihilate the remaining 10,000 Mongolians who were lingering in Huaiyuan, leaving corpses scattered all over the fields... cutting off their unfruitful retreat.
On July 4th, Weiguo led the imperial army to stand on the city wall of Zijinguan to fight against Zeng Ju.
Zeng Ju retreated without a fight.
On July 6th, the Emperor was taken out of the Forbidden City through the Zijing Gate and headed north, accompanied by his personal eunuch Gu Dabao and Shaanxi-Gansu Governor Xiao Sa.
On July 26, the new emperor changed the era to Tianxun. He promoted Zeng Ju, who had made great contributions in repelling the Mongols, as the commander-in-chief of Xuan Tong, and Dai Gui, who had defended the city with merit, as the commander-in-chief of Liaodong.
(Tomorrow afternoon update! (*^__^*) Hehe......)
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