Zhu Houzhao began her free life in Nanjing.

Watching operas, listening to music, drinking and having fun made Zhu Houzhao forget his illness and singing every night.

However, for the generals in the military, life in Nanjing seemed extremely boring, and for them, this life was even considered a torment.

Zhu Houzhao did not care about military and political affairs, and Liu Xu, Wang Lingzhi and others could not go to the imperial court to volunteer. Their status was too low and they could not make any comments. The Nanjing Ministry of War had no advice to them, because they belonged to Chen Xi's direct troops, and the Nanjing local government did not want to interfere with Chen Xi's actions.

This time, Liu Xu and Wang Ling were sent to the emperor. When they could not accept the emperor's order, they could only obey Chen Xi's orders, but Chen Xi ignored them, and thus the entire team was in a state of no place.

After waiting for two days, the palace still did not send troops. Wang Lingzhi was anxious and complained at the military meeting after returning from outside.

"...If Lord Shen was there, the marching and fighting would definitely not be as slow as today... I have been to Nanjing for so long, so I would like to give you a word of justice if I don't send troops!"

Wang Lingzhi did not name his surname, but in fact, all of them were questioning Emperor Zhengde's whim about the fact that he was in charge of the emperor's personal expedition.

Liu Xu said: "Brother Wang, don't worry, have you sent someone to ask Lord Shen? Now the sea has been flat, and Lord Shen has nothing to do if he stays in the new city. Maybe he will come to Nanjing next... The only thing that is worrying is that some people don't want Lord Shen to continue leading the troops. Your Majesty and the former slander ministers are quite a lot."

Wang Lingzhi was always reckless, and Liu Xu was just thinking. Before they made great contributions with Chen Xi, they were just scrambling to live in the army.

They are very passionate about sending troops, which comes from the confidence that Chen Xi brought them. In fact, it is just that to let them escape from Chen Xi's command and go to the battlefield. The four words "be brave but not scheming" can be described.

Wang Lingzhidao: "I specifically inquired on the way back. Your Majesty doesn't want Lord Shen to follow you... Your Majesty wants to go on the battlefield and kill the enemy himself, for fear that Lord Shen will steal his limelight."

A chief clerk named Sun Qi next to him said cautiously: "The two generals are so good that they can say less. This is Nanjing, so I'm afraid there are ears for the walls."

Not only Wang Lingzhi, Liu Xu and Sun Qi were present, but also many middle and lower-level generals. Wang Lingzhi looked around and suddenly realized that it was indeed inappropriate to speak like this, so he no longer commented on what the emperor did.

Liu Xu said: "We have to find someone to ask clearly. Now the situation in Jiangxi is completely unknown. Did King Ning rebellion? Now whether we are sending troops or staying in Nanjing, we must have someone who keeps our word and explain it clearly to us, right?"

Wang Lingzhidao: "Why...we go to meet the people from Nanjing Ministry of War?"

Liu Xu and Wang Lingzhi had no opinion on this kind of thing. Finally, the two looked at Sun Qi together, preparing to listen to Sun Qi's opinions.

Sun Qi said: "For two adults, it is best to ask the garrison ministers and the garrison eunuchs... I wonder if the two generals can hand over the words to Duke of Wei or Duke Zhang?"

Wang Lingyi looked at Liu Xu with a blank expression.

Liu Xu said: "Or why don't you go and ask Duke Wei? I'm afraid that the threshold of the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion is too high and we can't get in. As for Eunuch Zhang, there is some friendship. After all, he has been our army for a long time... If not, send someone to send a letter to Eunuch Zhang to see if he can get a correct letter... But the most important thing at the moment is to ask Master Shen what he meant and send someone back to Xincheng to ask for instructions."

...

...

Wang Lingzhi and Liu Xu had low political awareness and did not avoid some sensitive matters and acted according to their own ideas.

When the emperor led the army, asking Chen Xi was a taboo, and asking for advice from the general to write to the eunuch of the garrison was also a violation.

After Zhang Yong received the letter, he felt that it was inappropriate, but when he knew that it was Chen Xi's direct general who came to inquire about the situation, he felt relieved.

"I don't ask when I should ask. Why didn't I wait for Lord Shen to come back before making a decision? In fact, Your Majesty has a precedent, and delay is the norm..."

Zhang Yong spoke with a helplessness because he had no say in sending troops.

The servant said, "Dad, the person who came to deliver the letter was General Xiao Wang. He was waiting outside the mansion."

Zhang Yong waved his hand and said, "You go and tell him that the ministers are unable to do anything... You have to listen to His Majesty. When will the troops be sent, and when will the troops be sent, it is only His Majesty's words... Our family cannot meet him, let him go back and wait for news."

The servant was embarrassed: "Let General Xiao Wang go back empty-handed? Do you ask Lord Shen what he meant?"

Zhang Yong said angrily: "Do you think you can ask Lord Shen for instructions? If Lord Shen really cares, I am afraid that others will arrive in Nanjing early now... In fact, judging from His Majesty's status these few days, it is hard to say whether the war will be fought... Besides, has the troops that King Ning used to rebel to start to be mobilized? It's like acting, and today will be another tomorrow!"

Speaking of this, Zhang Yong seemed very tired and stood up: "Our family is going to see Duke Wei, so I'll leave it to you for the delivery. Try to be polite. General Xiao Wang is not simple. Following Lord Shen since he was a child, it will be of no benefit to our family if he angers him!"

"Yes, father-in-law."

The servants didn't know why Zhang Yong was so evasive, but he still obeyed the order to send a message to Wang Lingzhi.

...

...

Wang Lingzhi encountered a wall in Zhang Yong's mansion and was not very depressed. He went back and found Liu Xu.

However, Liu Xu was not in the camp, and it seemed that there was something important to do.

Sun Qi said: "General Xiao Wang doesn't need to look for him. It seems that Lord Shen sent someone to say hello... I heard that the envoy sent by Lord Shen will leave soon, just the aisle Nanjing."

Wang Lingzhi frowned: "Is it really sent by Lord Shen?"

"It should be."

Sun Qi said, "But I haven't seen anyone, but I don't know which general it is... The people below said it was Mr. Ma."

The "Ma Ye" mentioned by Sun Qi is Ma Jiu. When Chen Xi fought against Japanese pirates before, Ma Jiu did not participate, but went to Jiangxi, Huguang and other places to be responsible for raising materials and transporting them to Xincheng...

When Ma Jiu set out, no one thought that his purpose might be to investigate King Ning's rebellion.

However, some people realized that Chen Xi might have been prepared for this, so they prepared for the future. But this was always just a guess. Only Chen Xi and Ma Jiu themselves knew whether Ma Jiu had investigated the rebellion of King Ning.

Wang Lingzhi's Way: "I want to meet you too."

After saying that, Wang Lingzhi went straight out of the military camp despite Sun Qi's persuasion.

...

...

At the inn in the city, Liu Xu and Ma Jiu were talking about the matter. The servant came in to inform Wang Lingzhi that he had arrived. Liu Xu and Ma Jiu had to go downstairs to greet him.

When he returned to the room, Wang Lingzhi was very anxious: "Brother Jiu, what did Lord Shen say? Is the ground in Jiangxi peaceful? Can this battle start?"

Facing Wang Lingzhi's eager expression, Ma Jiu was helpless and shook his head and said, "I'm not sure yet. I just came from Wuchang and was about to go back to report to the adults. As for what is going on in Jiangxi, I don't know much about it."

Liu Xu said on the side: "Brother Wang, don't worry, Lao Ma did not receive the advice of the adults... What's the situation when you go to meet Eunuch Zhang?"

Wang Lingzhi said in annoyance: "Eunuch Zhang sent a servant to send me, saying that everything would have to be ordered by His Majesty... It seems that he can only wait like this."

Ma Jiu nodded: "Eunuch Zhang is not wrong. Now he is waiting for news from the palace... It is the intention of sending troops. Even if he changes his mind temporarily, who dares to question it? Lord Shen should not come to Nanjing for the time being. Obviously, he does not want to cause His Majesty to be unhappy... Of course, once His Majesty decides to send troops, you must assist with all your strength and cannot make any mistakes."

Liu Xu curled his lips: "We all understand these things, but the problem is that there is no news now. Just bringing us out of the new city... Lao Ma, when you go back to meet the adults, you must explain the situation here to him. If it doesn't work, I will advise Your Majesty not to fight this battle."

Wang Lingyi was anxious when he heard this: "All of them have come. If you return without success, wouldn't it be ridiculous to go back? You must fight. If there is a vassal king rebellion, we must help His Majesty to put down the rebels."

Wang Ling advocated force to solve problems, and Liu Xu was a little more restrained in this regard, and just smiled when he heard this.

Ma Jiu said: "I will return to Xincheng early tomorrow morning. If I rush to the horse, I should be able to arrive before nightfall. If the lord has something to say to me, I will send a quick horse to send a letter. You two, it is not the time for a long time to talk. If it is spread, there will inevitably be rumors. This is the capital city. It is important for you to go back to the camp quickly."

Liu Xu and Wang Lingzhi stood up and said goodbye. When they left the door, Wang Lingzhi seemed to be dissatisfied with Ma Jiu and muttered: "I didn't even leave overnight..."

...

...

The army was in chaos.

Not only was Liu Xu and Wang Ling confused about the war, but Zhang Yong, Xu Qi and Wang Zuo from the Nanjing Garage Office and the Ministry of War were also confused.

They were eager to know what the next plan was, but Zhu Houzhao just didn't mention it and continued to say that he couldn't come out of illness. This was not a capital city, and no one dared to ask what Zhu Houzhao had made. The emperor had a barrier in communicating with his subordinates. When he was in the capital city, the minister could not see the emperor. When he arrived in Nanjing, it was even more difficult for the minister to see the emperor.

Zhang Yong could not ask the emperor for advice, so he could only ask Xiaotiaozi for help, but it was also difficult to meet Xiaotiaozi.

About two days later, Xiao Guozi finally showed up. When they met, they did not tell Zhang Yong about the military service. They came up and wanted to eat, drink and have fun with Zhang Yong.

"Your Majesty is quite satisfied with what you have presented during this period, but Your Majesty's condition has not improved now, so many things need to be delayed." Xiao Tiaozi said.

Zhang Yongdao: "That means, don't be in a hurry to fight?"

Xiao Zhuozi said angrily: "King Ning's rebellion is just a hearsay. Is there any further news coming now? I heard that Your Majesty sent someone to Jiangxi, probably because he wanted to take down King Ning and ask for punishment based on the imperial edict. Of course, it was more of a temptation. If King Ning did something wrong, he would definitely raise an army to rebel. On the contrary, if King Ning surrendered, wouldn't it be just right to save His Majesty's steps to lead troops to fight?"

Zhang Yong looked confused: "I don't know who is going to the sect?"

Xiao Guozi shook his head: "I don't know. It may be Jiang Bin's person, or even Jiang Bin himself. He hasn't seen anyone else in the past two days. Maybe he just went to work, otherwise it would be even more dangerous. I don't know what conspiracy he was hiding behind his back."

...

...

Zhu Houzhao was not busy with the battle because of his laziness and perfunctoryness, or just a moment of impulse, and when he calmed down, he was less urgent to lead the troops to quell the rebellion.

Nanjing is very concerned about the situation in Jiangxi, but unfortunately there is little knowledge. It is also related to the fact that King Ning sent people to blockade the news and the beginning of pre-war preparations.

King Ning never expected that he was convicted of a serious crime of treason by the court before he had formally rebelled, and even the emperor led his troops to come in person. However, King Ning and his think tank were prepared for this battle, and it was even very much expected to fight with Zhu Houzhao, hoping that the world would be decided by one battle.

After all, Zhu Houzhao's leadership of troops means that King Ning can directly fight the king, which is much better than fighting against the invincible Chen Xi.

Xincheng, Chen Xi was in a state of rest after returning, and did not cause any interference to Zhu Houzhao's troops.

However, he is still investigating the information in Jiangxi. With Ma Jiu's return and Yunliu's investigation, Chen Xi knows a lot.

The backyard of the government office.

Yunliu brought the latest information, and the content was very detailed about the tense atmosphere on the ground in Jiangxi, King Ning began to mobilize troops, and the reactions of local gentry and people.

"...In the past two years, King Ning has secretly made firearms and hoarded a large number of gunpowder. Many of the Japanese pirates were sold by Jiangxi. The Ning Prince's Mansion even sent people to act as pirates to cooperate with the Japanese pirates to accumulate a large number of wealth. The Folang Ji people were also behind the scenes..."

After the end of the Battle of the Sea, the vital forces of the Japanese pirates and pirates were annihilated, allowing Chen Xi to obtain more information about the Japanese pirates, pirates and the forces behind them, including the private contact and business of the two brothers Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, and other basic knowledge.

Yunliu's investigation gradually deepened, and soon explained the rebellion that King Ning had made in Jiangxi in the past few years, and explained it to Chen Xi one by one.

Chen Xi heard Yun Liu's story and couldn't help but shake his head: "King Ning was young and energetic. In Jiangxi, he thought that the emperor was far away. He was determined to plot against others but did not have the sense of confidentiality. Many of the people he had won had rebelled and reported the situation to the court... Look, before he could rebel, it was already known to everyone. It can be seen that he was also a guy with a low eye."

Yun Liu said: "Sir, with the number of troops, weapons, etc. of Your Majesty personally led, it may not be much stronger than that of King Ning. What if His Majesty is unpredictable..."

Chen Xi shook his head: "This is not a problem you should worry about. Your Majesty should be well prepared after careful consideration... Do I have to arrange everything myself?"
To be continued...