There was heavy snowfall between the sky and the earth. It was the twelfth lunar month of winter, and the heavy snowfall was coming one after another. Naturally, people in and outside the city would not go out in this kind of weather.

Therefore, the gate of the capital city seemed quite deserted on this day. There was less flow of people coming and going in the past. Even if there were occasional people coming in and out, they would pass by in a hurry.

In such a cold weather, even the soldiers guarding the door hid in the doorway to keep warm.

However, at this moment, the city gate was under martial law by a group of Imperial City guards. A dozen gatekeepers were strictly ordered to stay in the gate and were not allowed to come out.

Teams of elite soldiers stood around, guarding the city gates tightly.

At this time, at the gate of the city, a figure was wrapped in thick fur clothes, standing there. Next to him, a man in eunuch clothes stood respectfully beside him.

If the ministers in the court saw it, they would definitely be very surprised, because the person standing at the door is none other than the emperor Zhu Houzhao.

Hearing the earthquake coming closer and closer, Zhu Houzhao's face was filled with joy, and he couldn't help but said to Gao Feng and Gu Da who were serving beside him: "It's Li Qing who's back."

Everyone's eyes were looking into the distance.

There is a vast expanse of white between the sky and the earth. Although the scouts had already reported that Li Huan led tens of thousands of troops to the capital, the snowflakes that were not that big not long ago suddenly became much larger, so much so that they are now floating.

It snowed heavily.

I thought that the marching speed of Li Huan and others might be affected to some extent, but unexpectedly, they were not greatly affected and arrived at the capital smoothly.

The figure Li Huan saw from a distance was naturally Zhu Houzhao.

Seeing Li Huan dismounting from his horse and bowing to him dozens of feet away, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but stride forward and walked towards Li Huan in the wind and snow.

When Gao Feng, Gu Dayong and others saw this, they couldn't help but exclaimed and quickly followed him with umbrellas, trying to shield the emperor from the falling snowflakes.

At the same time, Gu Dayong, Gao Feng and others couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, be careful of the dragon body."

It can be said that Zhu Houzhao has been practicing Xuanwu Breathing Technique with all his heart in the past two years. Coupled with the Longxiang Boruo Kung Fu and the royal family's sufficient resources, it can be said that Zhu Houzhao has made rapid progress. Now his body is so strong that even a person who has practiced other martial arts for more than ten years can

It may not be comparable to Zhu Houzhao.

Although it was freezing cold, Zhu Houzhao was not affected by the cold at all.

Striding forward, Zhu Houzhao helped Li Huan up and said happily: "Okay, I look forward to your return. Today, Li Qing, you are finally back."

At the same time, the tens of thousands of troops who followed him all bowed to Zhu Houzhao under the orders of generals at all levels.

"Greetings to your majesty, long live your majesty, long live, long live your majesty!"

The army shouted "Long Live the Mountain" with such force that the powerful shouts of tens of thousands of soldiers echoed within miles.

It can be said that these soldiers were all selected by Li Huan from the victims of the disaster. Li Huan gave these people fertile land, gold, silver, and food, which can be said to have saved their family. These people are absolutely important to the emperor and to Li Huan.

Unfailing loyalty.

In particular, these soldiers are originally from common people and have good natures. With a little training and training, they can become a powerful army that the emperor can rely on.

Li Huan, who was helped up by the emperor, was now wearing a large cloak. Although it was covered with snowflakes, it did not affect the heroic spirit of Li Huan at all.

Standing next to the emperor, Li Huan said to Zhu Houzhao, whose attention was attracted by the army: "Your Majesty, these are the 50,000 troops recruited by your Majesty in Shaanxi."

More than a month of marching is a training for anyone, and these soldiers have obviously integrated into their own roles and become qualified soldiers, so what is presented to Zhu Houzhao at this moment is naturally a mental outlook.

An eye-catching elite teacher.

At least the spirit displayed by these soldiers was much stronger than the spirit displayed by the soldiers and horses of the Beijing camp who had not been eliminated before.

Therefore, the more Zhu Houzhao looked at it, the happier he became. He couldn't help but bring luck to his Dantian, and shouted in a deep voice: "All the soldiers will be spared without courtesy!"

Zhu Houzhao's shout was so loud and clear that tens of thousands of troops, at least tens of thousands of people in the front line, clearly heard the emperor's voice.

When these soldiers heard the emperor's voice, they felt infinite excitement in their hearts and couldn't help but shout loudly.

Listening to the shouts of tens of thousands of troops, Zhu Houzhao's blood boiled and he burst out laughing.

After a while, Zhu Houzhao calmed down the turmoil in his heart. He looked at the army in front of him with great satisfaction and said to Li Huan: "Li Qing, I have ordered people to prepare the camp in the suburbs of Beijing. It is snowing today and the army will have to march all the way. It will be hard for the soldiers.

It’s time to go back to camp and have a good rest.”

Li Huan bowed to Zhu Houzhao and said, "I would like to thank your Majesty on behalf of all the officers and men."

Li Huan said to Ren Ping and several other lieutenant generals: "Commander Ren, you take all the soldiers to the camp on the outskirts of Beijing. You must place all the soldiers properly."

Ren Pingping and others solemnly accepted the order, and soon tens of thousands of troops, led by tens of thousands of cavalry, turned around and headed towards the camp on the outskirts of the capital outside the capital.

Zhu Houzhao stood there, watching from a distance as the black army gradually disappeared into the vast wind and snow.

Li Huan coughed lightly and said to Zhu Houzhao: "Your Majesty, the wind and snow are very serious. The army has gone far. It's time for Your Majesty to return to the palace."

Zhu Houzhao, who came back to his senses, nodded slightly and said, "Today I ordered a small banquet to be held in the palace for you, Li Qing, to wash away the dust."

Li Huan said with a grateful look on his face: "How virtuous and capable I am, that I am so favored by Your Majesty."

Zhu Houzhao grabbed Li Huan and said with a smile: "Li Qing inspected Shaanxi for me, eradicated corrupt officials, provided relief to the victims, and went out to strangle the Tatars. One by one, what is it if it is not merit?"

The emperor did not have any chariot when traveling, but he did have a rather spacious carriage with four horses riding side by side. The carriage headed steadily towards the imperial city.

The carriage was obviously a bit warmer, but both Zhu Houzhao and Li Huan were accomplished practitioners and were not afraid of the wind and cold, but they seemed quite comfortable in the carriage.

Almost half an hour later, the carriage entered the palace gate and stopped in front of Qianqing Palace.

Li Huandang walked out of the carriage first, then helped Zhu Houzhao to get off the carriage, half a step behind Zhu Houzhao, and walked into the Qianqing Palace.

A side hall of the Qianqing Palace was as warm as spring. The emperor and his ministers were seated, and more than a dozen dishes carefully prepared by the imperial kitchen were served. Just looking at them made people want to eat.

Because he knew Zhu Houzhao's temperament, Li Huan did not hold back and told Zhu Houzhao about his specific experiences in Shaanxi while eating and drinking.

After all, the letter was not so direct. In addition, Zhu Houzhao asked questions from time to time. Li Huan was clear and eloquent, especially when it came to the seriousness of corruption among Shaanxi officials. Even if Zhu Houzhao had already learned from Li Huan

I know a thing or two about the secret memorial above, but now I can't help but feel annoyed when I listen to Li Huan's narration.

After a while, Zhu Houzhao calmed down his anger and said: "Li Qing, did you and Yang Yiqing, the governor of the three sides, lead the army to massacre the two Tatar tribes of Huli tribe and Heihe tribe with tens of thousands of people?"

A cold light flashed in Li Huan's eyes, and a biting evil aura flashed away. Gu Dayong, Qiu Ju, Gao Feng and others standing aside all trembled, shocked by the heavy evil aura on Li Huan's body.

Li Huan could only be heard saying slowly: "Back to your majesty, the Huli tribe colluded with the Tang family and robbed the imperial court of food relief. As a result, tens of thousands of people in Yulin Road starved to death. The scene was extremely miserable. Huli

If I don't get rid of it, how can I have the face to meet His Majesty?"

Liu Jin, who had been waiting on the side, coughed lightly and said: "Your memorial the previous time, Tai Tu, shocked all the officials. Many officials shouted that they would punish Tai Tu, because you are provoking and destroying our country, the Ming Dynasty and the Tatars."

The crime of friendship..."

After hearing Liu Jin's words, Li Huan showed a bit of disdain on his lips, but looked at Zhu Houzhao and said, "What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Hearing this, Zhu Houzhao smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth, and a trace of evil flashed in his eyes: "Li Qing is right, the Tatars deserve to be killed."

Zhu Houzhao said with disdain: "Many ministers in the court are timid and afraid of getting into trouble. How can I, the great Ming Dynasty, still be afraid of a mere Tatar?"

Liu Jin chuckled and said: "That's what I say, but I haven't set foot on the grassland for many years in the Ming Dynasty, so many people have forgotten how Taizu and Taizong expelled the barbarians and made the Hu people on the grassland hear the name of my Ming Dynasty.

He was so frightened by the news that he fled thousands of miles away."

Looking at Li Huan, Liu Jin said: "These days, there has been a steady stream of memorials to impeach you, Taifu. They are all to impeach Taifu for killing too much in Shaanxi."

Hearing this, Li Huan sneered and said: "I think they saw that Li was strictly investigating corruption in Shaanxi and ransacking homes and annihilating clans. They felt like a rabbit died and a fox was saddened by its own kind. What killing is too much? In the end, wasn't it just to see me kill him?

Too many officials?”

Zhu Houzhao chuckled and said: "Li Qing, you don't have to worry about it. I have left these impeachments unpunished. And I have already issued an order to reprimand these officials."

Li Huan cupped his hands at Zhu Houzhao and said, "I thank your Majesty."

Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said: "Everything Li Qing does is for the country and the people, but he has to bear the reputation of killing for this. If I don't even have this responsibility, how can I be worthy of being the emperor of tomorrow?"

With a thought in his heart, Li Huan said to Zhu Houzhao: "Your Majesty, I wonder if the imperial court has come up with a regulation for the rewards of meritorious soldiers?"

It has been almost two months since he submitted the request for merit. It should be said that the court should have already produced the charter.

If there had been a charter, the soldiers who went with him to the prairie might have been rewarded by the court years ago.

Zhu Houzhao raised his eyebrows and said: "The cabinet has been sending people to Shaanxi to verify military merits for some time. There should be results."

As he spoke, Zhu Houzhao's eyes fell on Liu Jin and said: "Liu Daban, you are in charge of the Chief Ceremony Supervisor. Will there be any results from the cabinet?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Jin hurriedly bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the Chief of Ceremonies has not received the memorial from the cabinet. If your Majesty wants to know the specific situation, I will order someone to go to the cabinet and ask several ministers.

old."

Li Huan couldn't help but frown. Normally, after such a long time, even if the court needs to send personnel to verify military merit, there should be a result.

Not only Li Huan frowned, but Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but frowned and said to Liu Jin: "Send someone to inform the cabinet and say that I want to know how this matter was handled!"

Zhu Houzhao also knew that a result of this kind of matter could not be obtained in a day or two, but if there was no result for such a long time, something fishy might have happened, so Zhu Houzhao just wanted the cabinet to give him an explanation.

Although there is no explicit urging, as long as the cabinet and officials are not fools, they will definitely understand that the emperor is angry.

After giving these instructions, Zhu Houzhao looked at Li Huan and said, "Don't worry, Li Qing. The imperial court will never weaken the soldiers' dedication to serving the country, and the rewards they deserve will definitely not be less."

Li Huan bowed to Zhu Houzhao and said, "I thank your Majesty on behalf of the soldiers."

Beijing, Maoyan Alley

At the gate of Li's Mansion, a servant would look toward the entrance of the alley from time to time, as if he was waiting for something.

Tread, tap

There was a sound of horse hoofbeats, and a group of more than ten horses were seen coming into the wind and snow, braving the wind and snow.

When the servant saw the group of people, especially the leader, his eyes lit up and he cheered: "He's back, the master is back!"
To be continued...