Chapter 22 Chapter 22 To show off his power, the King of the North was beaten

Dong Wang Yang Xiuqing lived in the vassal office for three days, then moved to the Jiangning General's Mansion, and the left vassal office was changed to the West Prince's Mansion.Hong Xuanjiao became the owner of more than 300 houses in this area.King Yi had nothing to do, and escorted Xuanjiao into the mansion with Princess Chun'e. After a general inspection of the front and back of the house, Xuanjiao was annoyed: "Fourth brother is so careless. I didn't give the house, but once I did, I would give it a few." Baijian, why do I need so many houses? No, no, I just need a small and exquisite courtyard.”

Da laughed and said: "Don't worry, once you come, the ostentation of the palace is indispensable, such as the guard hall, the Chengxuan hall, the listening office, the copy room, the office, the ceremonial room, the big and small living rooms, the sedan chair hall, and the men's and women's halls." People's housing takes up a lot of space. Now men and women usually live in separate halls, and they can also take over the female relatives from relatives, friends and acquaintances to live in the front yard. For example, the sisters-in-law of the clan in Cigu Village, the Shi family and Huang's family in that gang village Relatives, family members, and the families of the old brothers of the God Society, Hu Yihuang, Lin Fengxiang, Qin Rigang, Lai Hanying... Haha, this time, are you afraid that you won’t be able to stay? There are sisters and sisters-in-law who will talk to you when you are free. Son, don’t kill two birds with one stone.”

Xuan Jiao smiled and said, "Brother Seven has a good idea, let's do it this way." Chun'e also said: "Although my family does not have many houses, I plan to invite a few female relatives to live in it. If I have a big house in the future, I would like to set up an embroidery studio and recruit a group of skilled female embroiderers to embroider princely and royal crowns." , you won’t be bored anymore.” After Xuanjiao entered the mansion, according to Da Kai's idea, she invited many confidant female relatives to live in the mansion. The big house that was originally deserted and deserted was full of laughter and vitality from time to time.These family members settled down and no longer worried about being besieged and attacked by the Qing army, or lacking food and salt, dying of illness and fighting.However, I was not in a good mood, because except for the kings who can live with their concubines, no matter whether it is the emperor, the prime minister, or the generals who have made great achievements, they cannot get together as husband and wife. Wang himself has already accepted many concubines one after another.

During the two or three months after Tianwang entered the city, the city of Tianjing was lively and tense.It is said to be busy, one is busy moving and occupying houses, and the other is busy sending troops.Apart from a few royal mansions, whoever the prime minister or above would not want to occupy a mansion of different sizes in Tianjing City and enjoy the life in a small paradise.And all kinds of yamen, such as the edict office, the deletion office, the general holy library, the general holy food, the Diantian prison, the Dian oil and salt, the Dian comprador, the bronze cannon, the brocade weaver, the general medicine storehouse, the book printing workshop, etc. , All of them reached out for the house.I fell in love with a place, it was not suitable to live in for a few days, and I moved again.So Tianjing Street moved around, and it was busy, which is also a scene of the capital.After seeing each other for a long time, the old brother from Guangxi asked, "Have you got a house?" He replied, "Yes, somewhere." , I’ll move tomorrow!” At this time, many old brothers spent their minds on fighting the war on occupying the house and enjoying themselves.The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom implemented the system of the general sanctuary, and everything seized was returned to the public, and individuals were not allowed to own private property, and robbery, robbery, corruption and corruption were put an end to it. The only things that could be enjoyed by private individuals were houses, gardens and indoor furnishings.

The Taiping army occupied Zhenjiang on February 22. Yi Luo Dagang and Wu Ruxiao stayed behind. Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang crossed the river and occupied Yangzhou on the 23rd. Zeng Lichang and Chen Shi stayed behind to guard Yangzhou.Lin and Li Dajun led their troops back to Tianjing on the first day of April under the orders of the Eastern King. Together with Ji Wenyuan, the Deputy Prime Minister of Chunguan, they went to the Heavenly King's Mansion to kowtow to the Heavenly King for training.The Eastern King also attended the interview, and the Heavenly King ordered them to go to the Northern Expedition. The Eastern King gave specific instructions: "You lead nine armies with a total of more than 20,000 people. After reorganization, immediately cross the river and start the Northern Expedition from Pukou. The northern demon soldiers are empty, so don't stop along the way. Don't be greedy to attack the city and seize the land, seize the time to fight to Tianjin, send people south to report, I will send reinforcements to attack Beijing together. Tell the brothers, it is good to fight, and everyone who participates in the victory of Beijing will be rewarded to the prison Military robes and hats, to show honor and favor. More than 20,000 of you are the main force of our army, and there are not many old brothers from Guangxi. This time, you are allocated 3,000 people, which is the most old brothers in each army. Today There are six prime ministers in the Celestial Dynasty, and you have three in the Northern Expedition Army. My Eastern King places all my hopes on you, and I must not let you down."

Lin Fengxiang and others were moved and said: "After listening to the imperial edict of the Heavenly King and the order of the Eastern King, even with the last breath left, we must take the city of Beijing!" Dong Wang said again: "Although Lin Fengxiang is the deputy prime minister, he has a stable command and can take care of the overall situation. That is to say, with Lin Fengxiang as the commander of the Northern Expedition Army, Li Kaifang and Ji Wenyuan must be under his restraint and must not violate it!" Kaifang and Wenyuan bowed and said: "Follow the order"!

On April 27th, the Eastern King dispatched Hu Yihuang, Prime Minister of Chunguan, Lai Hanying, Deputy Prime Minister of Xiaguan, and Zeng Tianyang, a inspector of Dianzuo, to lead an army of more than 1,000 people to march westward by more than 1,000 ships. The first step was the goal. Take Anqing and Nanchang first, then continue to send reinforcements, and then go to recover Wuchang.Not only were the number of this group of Western Expeditionary troops small, but there were only 700 old brothers from Guangxi. It can be seen that the strength of the Taiping Army was stretched at this time.At that time, Pukou and Liuhe on the other side of Nanjing were under the occupation of the Qing army. With a lonely city of Nanjing and 100,000 soldiers, in order to fight all over the world, it was necessary to go north and west, and to deal with the Qing army near the suburbs. , the difficulty is obviously great.However, the Eastern King despises all these. He is planning to carry out the Northern Expedition and the Western Expedition at the same time. If the Western Expedition fails to occupy the big cities, he will capture a large amount of food to meet the needs of the soldiers and civilians in Tianjing.

After the vigorous departure of the two batches of expeditionary forces, the city of Nanjing could have been quiet for a period of time.Unexpectedly, in mid-May, Xiang Rong's "Jiangnan Camp" stationed in the Zijin Mountains took advantage of the opportunity of the Taiping Army mobilizing a large number of troops to go out and launched a fierce attack, and the soldiers and horses pressed down on Nanjing City.The sound of cannons was rumbling, and the shouts shook the heavens and earth. Xiaolingwei, which was only six or seven miles away from Chaoyang Gate (now Zhongshan Gate), was occupied in the north, and Qiqiao Urn was captured in the south, which was only seven or eight miles away from Tongji Gate. Strategically located at the Great Bend of the river from north to west.The Taiping Army had no danger to defend, and Nanjing City was in a very dangerous situation.Inside the Chaoyang Gate is the General's Mansion of the Ming Palace, and Dong Wang could not live comfortably in the mansion. The sound of cannons every day made him upset, as if the shells had already fallen into the General's Mansion.If the Qing army goes further, it is very likely that a single shot will kill him, and only then does he feel the fear of the Qing army outside the city.He had repeatedly uttered big words in front of King Yi, and despised Xiang Rong's monster soldiers. Now that the Qing army is approaching and the threat is so great, he has lost all face. This anger has nowhere to go. When he became angry, he vented it on King Bei on the head.Because the king of the north is in charge of city defense, he has braids to catch.He ordered the Proclamation Officer of the East Palace to summon the King of the North to the East Palace. Changhui knew that disaster was imminent, and today's test would be difficult.Seeing Xiuqing, she greeted An cautiously, and was about to ask why she was summoned, but Xiuqing wiped her face and shouted: "Sixth Brother, do you know your crime?"

Changhui hurriedly knelt down and said, "Little brother has a tender belly and is not doing well. I hope fourth brother will give me some advice." Xiuqing said: "I entrusted you with the power of city defense, but you let it go, so that the demon soldiers occupied the Xiaoling Guard and the Qiqiao Urn, and the shells hit my East Palace. If I was shot and ascended to heaven, Father Can Brother Tian forgive your sins?" Knowing that the cannonballs never entered the city, Changhui knew that it was the Eastern King who was having trouble with him, so he was just looking for an excuse, so he could only say in a low voice: "Damn it, brother, I must strengthen the city defense when I go back, and take back the Qiqiao urn and Xiaoling Guard"!

Xiuqing sneered and said: "This is not the only fault of yours. Your subordinate, Zhang Zipeng, the proclaimer of the North Palace, was sent to follow Hu Yihuang to the west to march up the river, but in order to fight for the ships, he relied on your power to beat the water camp. There are many soldiers, and Tang Zhengcai, the commander of the water battalion, has reported to me for many days. Zhang Zipeng violated military discipline and bullied others, are you guilty?" "Yes, the younger brother is not strictly restrained, and he must be disciplined after returning home."

Changhui admitted his mistake softly, but he was actually dissatisfied in his heart. Zhang Zipeng had violated the military regulations for a long time. Dong Wang sneered and said: "You are so light! Brother Yu is in charge of the military law. You can't just cover up because you are sworn brothers. The two crimes are concurrent. You should be punished with two hundred sticks. Come here! Drag the Northern King down and beat him!" "Wait a minute!" Chang Hui shouted: "Although my younger brother has made mistakes, he is not to the point where he deserves to be punished. I hope that fourth brother understands the righteousness of the alliance and Wang Jue's decency, so you can avoid the fight. The younger brother must change his ways!" Dong Wang haughtily cast a sideways glance at Chang Hui, he felt that this person usually humbled and had no backbone in front of him, and was not as strong and unyielding as King Yi.He didn't dare to humiliate Dakai easily, for he was afraid that if he resisted with all his strength, the matter would become a big mess and it would not end well, but Changhui would not be able to resist if he beat him and teased him, so he sneered again and said sharply: " Brother Yu is enforcing the law for the Celestial Dynasty, and his relatives do not recognize him, so he must be beaten! Come on, hurry up and drag him down!" Four Dongdian staff came over, and they pressed Changhui to the ground, took off their clothes, and took red and black military sticks, and beat Changhui's white and tender buttocks alternately. The hundred sticks, in fact, yelled quickly and beat less. For King Bei's sake, he was merciful, but he beat him thirty or fifty times.Changhui's buttocks were already red and purple, his skin was ripped apart, his pain was unbearable, and he could not bear the humiliation. He silently swore in his heart: "Yang Xiuqing, Yang Xiuqing, what happened today will be revenged in the future!" After the stick was finished, the staff guard helped him up and put on his upper and lower clothes for him. Changhui held back his embarrassment and pain, and still knelt down to the East King to thank Dongwang, "Thank you for the fourth brother's staff. I will definitely correct my mistakes when I go back." Xiuqing deliberately blamed Changhui, firstly to find a scapegoat for the Qing army's forced city, and secondly to establish her own supreme authority.After the stick was done, he helped Changhui up and said, "Don't blame Brother Yu for being ruthless, my brother. He has to be strict in governing the country and leading the army." "Yes, yes, the fourth brother is doing it for the younger brother's benefit, and the younger brother understands it." Changhui held back the pain and turned back to the mansion. Xiuqing summoned Qin Rigang, who had already been named Dingtianhou, and blamed his subordinates for not guarding the defense line outside the city. Regardless of his being an old brother in Guangxi, he had made countless contributions and ordered He beat him with a hundred army sticks, and said to him sternly: "If you don't take back the Seven Bridge Urn, you will come to see me with your head up!" Qin Rigang also limped away with hatred in his heart.After returning home, he didn't dare to recuperate at home, so he hurried out of the city to supervise the battle.He had pain in his buttocks and could not ride a horse. He squatted in a sedan chair and carried him out of the Tongji Gate in the southeast of the city. The governor led his troops, Li Xiucheng and Chen Yucheng, and after a burst of intensive artillery fire, they rushed to kill him bravely.The teenager Chen Yucheng was the first to rush into the Qiqiao urn, followed by Li Xiucheng.Although the enemy general Zhang Guoliang was fierce, he couldn't resist the desperate courage of the Taiping Army, so he withdrew to the position east of the Qinhuai River.The Taiping Army recaptured the strategically important Qiqiaoweng. Although they wanted to drive the Qing Army back to Zijin Mountain, they met with tenacious resistance from Zhang Guoliang. After two days of fierce fighting, they made no progress, so they had to confront the Qing Army across the Qinhuai River. .Even Xiaolingwei could not take it back.If this situation persists, it will pose a great threat to Tianjing. Changhui endured the stick injury and went back to the mansion. While asking for a doctor to apply medicine, he ordered people to build a five-foot-high watchtower opposite the Beiwang Mansion. The upper part was a platform and the surroundings were surrounded by red guardrails. Five soldiers were sent to guard and watch day and night. If the Qing army attacked, they would wave flags or blow horns during the day, and hang lights to warn at night. A watchtower was erected, and the whole city was like facing an enemy. As for Zhang Zipeng, who caused trouble, he was punished with a thousand sticks by the East King, and almost died under the stick, even if the North King did not strictly control him.The East King's Mansion became the Palace of the King of Hades, and all the soldiers who were called into the mansion were apprehensive, afraid of being blamed. Even if they were as noble as King Yi, they would sweat in fear every time they heard the heavenly father descending to earth, lest the East King would use the false pretense again. In the name of the Father, embarrassing. After receiving the cane, Changhui went home and rested for a few days. The pain improved a little, and he still couldn't sit or lie down. The king's rod is responsible, and he is recuperating at home." Dakai was shocked and indignant, so he came to Beiwang Mansion in a sedan chair to express his condolences.Changhui couldn't get up, so please meet King Yi in the inner room, only to see Changhui lying prone on the bed, moaning: "My dear brother, to humiliate Sharen, forgive me for not being able to get up, I'm rude." Da Kai asked in surprise: "What's going on, you beat Brother Six into such a mess?" Changhui told the story of the stick blame, and said angrily: "The fourth brother bullied others, it is too unreasonable. Qin Rigang was under his direct command, and he was defeated, but he blamed me. As for Zhang Zipeng's beating, it is just an ordinary incident, but he will be taught a lesson. It’s all down to one level at most, but it’s my fault to make a big fuss. In his eyes, we allied brothers are regarded as ordinary soldiers. He beats and scolds when he wants to fight. Can he survive this day? So he made an appointment with you Come and give me an idea to avoid disaster, or I will be beaten to death by him one day." At this time, the Northern Princess Wu Shi Wang Niang turned out from behind the bed, met with King Yi, and said angrily: "Our Northern King donated his family's wealth and rebelled in rebellion. There are twelve stoves, and they wholeheartedly follow the king of heaven to raise troops to fight against the country. After the matter is completed, he does not want to be a king and a marquis, but hopes to live a carefree and peaceful life. The king was beaten like this. How many times has he suffered like this since he was born? He is still a 6,000-year-old king, and this eastern king is simply lawless! I advise the northern king to leave Tianjing and find an ancient temple deep in the mountains Let's live in seclusion and practice, so as not to worry every day. Your Highness King Yi, you are sworn brothers, so quickly think of a way to avoid disaster for King Bei." Da Kai said angrily: "I don't want the Eastern King to be so rude and rude! We are both kings in the same dynasty, and we are all ministers of His Majesty the Heavenly King. Since ancient times, the emperor has honored important ministers, and any Daoist ruler has never used a stick in the court to beat a minister, let alone It's the same king! This wind can't last long, he slipped his hand, thought that we could be deceived, and always find trouble to beat people, can he still have a good life? Sixth brother and six sisters-in-law don't worry, sixth brother can't get up at this time, but he can act , and it is inconvenient to go out for activities, so as to avoid the suspicion of the fourth brother. Tell the younger brother to see the second brother and discuss a way to restrain the fourth brother. From now on, he is not allowed to punish the allied kings, he has no such right!" Changhui groaned again, shook his head and said, "Brother, don't you understand the situation of the second brother? Whatever he promised, the fourth brother will definitely overthrow it. The second brother said east, but he wanted the west; it is the second brother who sympathizes with me." What's the use of me? In my opinion, it's better for the two of us to unite, and Qin Rigang, who was also beaten, must also hate the fourth brother. The three of us have far more troops than the subordinates of the East Palace. Why don't you suddenly surround the East Prince's Mansion, put the fourth brother under house arrest, remove all his powers, and let you and I share the military and political power of the Celestial Dynasty? Brother, this is the only way to go!" Da Kai was taken aback. Although he hated Xiuqing's domineering power, he never thought of launching a mutiny to get rid of him. After pondering and deliberating carefully, he said: "For the sake of the overall situation of the Celestial Dynasty, it is not impossible to get rid of the scourge of the Eastern King. But there is no The Heavenly King's edict, the name is not correct, and the words are not in order. If the Eastern King's subordinates refuse to accept and raise their troops to resist, brothers will kill each other, their vitality will be greatly damaged, and they will be in vain for their loved ones. Secondly, he did not get permission from the Heavenly King in advance. Although he would be grateful that we removed the threat of the Eastern King for him, he might also be worried about us launching a mutiny without authorization, and worried that we would be the second Yang Xiuqing. At that time, if he turned over He pretended not to admit it, and issued a secret edict to remove the two of us, just like two peaches killed three scholars in the Spring and Autumn Period of Qi State. Not only did the three kings of us die together, but the revolutionary cause of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was also over. Therefore, if you want to get rid of Yang, you must obtain The secret edict of the king of heaven. The second brother is a man of great capacity. He is used to enjoying things behind closed doors, leaving all affairs in the world to the king of the east. It's not time yet. Sixth brother, please bear with me for a while. I think fourth brother's ambition is boundless, and he will never be willing to be under the king of heaven for a long time. One day, he wants to climb to the head of the king of heaven in name. Brother couldn't bear it, so he took the initiative to come to us to rescue him, then it's the best time for the monarch and ministers to unite to eliminate Yang, and now is not the time!" Changhui sighed: "Seventh brother, what you said is very reasonable, I didn't think it through so thoroughly. You know that I was hit hard, but you didn't, so you can calm down and think, but I live like a year, I wish I could Tomorrow, I will kill Yang Xiuqing. My God, I have no choice but to wait patiently. I don’t know when another big stick will come. Seventh brother, you have to be careful when serving that demon king. If you are also hit by a big stick, You will feel that the shame and humiliation must be reported, and you can’t wait for a day.” Da Kai glared like a torch, clenched his teeth and clenched his fist, as if he was going to punch somewhere, but sighed again, gradually let go of his hand helplessly, and silently resigned from Beiwangfu.