Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

In the past two months, Ma Lingqi followed Zhang Shikang and experienced things she had never experienced before.

She knew Zhang Shikang's skills. If she was compared to Laozi, then Zhang Shikang's skills were the ash in Laozi's alchemy furnace.

But what surprised her most was Zhang Shikang's knowledge. According to her father, he was an outstanding military expert and a brilliant internal affairs expert.

But what Ma Xianglin didn't know was that Zhang Shikang actually had achievements in various fields such as medicine, science and engineering, and even agronomy.

This is incredible.

"Of course you have to. Your man is so strong!" Zhang Shikang said arrogantly.

After a short rest, the army set out again the next day.

After entering Henan, the road all the way to the capital was flat, so Zhang Shikang did not stay any longer.

On the morning of the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, the army arrived at the outskirts of the capital. The Embroidered Uniform Guard reported that Emperor Chongzhen and all the officials were already welcoming them outside Anding Gate.

When going to war, one would pass through Deshengmen, which meant noble character and a victorious return; when returning in triumph, one would pass through Andingmen, which meant peace and tranquility in all directions.

Zhang Shikang looked at the nearby Beijing City and ordered most of his troops to return to the Xishan camp, while he himself took the main generals and a thousand personal guards to Andingmen.

The number of troops of more than 60,000 is really too large. If they all enter the capital, it would actually cause disturbance to the people.

……

The winter sun is not strong, and because there is little wind, it actually feels warm when it shines on people.

Emperor Chongzhen looks quite good. Compared with the anxious and troubled state he was in three years ago, he is now full of energy and vigor.

After more than ten years, the bandits were finally completely wiped out. This was a very important and great thing for both the imperial court and him.

Although Wuji was a lazy guy, he didn't do anything on the ground. He was sure that the bandits would be truly wiped out this time.

For this reason, Emperor Chongzhen was somewhat uninterested in the morning court meeting, as he was looking forward to the boy's return.

Speaking of which, I haven’t seen this kid for half a year. Oh, it’s really a headache.

The ministers behind Emperor Chongzhen had different expressions, but most of them were happy, except for the Minister of Revenue Hai Zhongqi.

This guy always has a sullen face, and I don’t know if it’s because the army expenses are too high or because of something else.

However, the court officials around them were used to it. After all, the ideas were not theirs. As long as they did their jobs well, they could not be blamed if something big went wrong.

Both sides of the street were filled with people. It was the winter fallow season and the end of the year, so most people had relatively nothing to do.

The news of the imperial court's suppression of the bandits had already spread through the East Factory's "Da Ming Monthly" half a month ago.

The bandits had been plaguing the imperial court for more than ten years, and the people were terrified at the mention of them. Now that the bandits have been annihilated and the land has been divided up, all the people are delighted.

More than two quarters of an hour later, Zhang Shikang led the main generals and finally arrived at Andingmen.

From a distance, Zhang Shikang smiled and waved to Brother Chongzhen. Emperor Chongzhen hesitated for a moment, then subconsciously raised his hand with a very natural smile on his face.

When the king and his ministers meet, both sides seem to have something to say, but everything is left unsaid.

"The Ming Dynasty will be victorious!"

"Long live His Majesty! Long live the Grand Marshal!"

……

I don’t know where it started, but the people on the street spontaneously prostrated themselves one after another and shouted "Long live the emperor".

The noises rose and fell and could not be calmed down for a long time.

Peace in the world is a common thing, but it is so rare for ordinary people who have suffered so much.

Precisely because it is so rare, the people’s cheers come from the heart.

This peace was brought by Your Majesty and the Grand Marshal.

Their fields were also brought by Your Majesty and the Grand Marshal.

Everyone has seen the tremendous changes in the past two years. Who would care about the slander against the Marshal by that group of scholars?

Fuck those corrupt scholars!

Your Majesty and the Grand Marshal are the ones who truly care about ordinary people like them!

Zhang Shikang walked up to Emperor Chongzhen and took the lead in saluting. Emperor Chongzhen looked around at the entourage, his eyes fell on Ma Lingqi and he frowned.

But he soon recovered and said to the generals with a smile:

"All the generals have worked hard on this trip. Now that the bandits have been eliminated, I have said that as long as you have military merit, I will reward you generously.

Wang Daban, announce the decree!"

Zhang Shikang had already sent several battle reports against the bandits to the palace through the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so the decrees for rewards were also prepared in advance.

Wang Chengen quickly took out the imperial edict from the wooden box held by his men and read it out in public:

"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:

I rule the world, working day and night with utmost caution, and only wish for peace and prosperity for the people.

However, traitors harbored evil intentions and defied the will of Heaven, causing the country to be torn apart and farmlands to become barren.

The bandits have been wreaking havoc for more than ten years. I have lost my appetite and cannot sleep at night, hoping for peace in the world.

At this critical moment, You Zi Wu Ji showed extraordinary courage and perseverance, outstanding wisdom and made great contributions.

With his strategy, he protects our government; with his loyalty and bravery, he protects our people.

In less than three years, our Great Ming Dynasty will have a new look, and the scoundrels will know that China has its people.

His achievements, benefits to the people and help to me are unmatched in the 270-plus years of the Ming Dynasty.

The imperial decree granted the Marshal of the Army and the Duke of Zhenguo the nine gifts, the right to enter the palace with a sword and shoes, and they were not required to kneel when entering the court, and were not required to name their names when praising or bowing.

"Give him a python robe, a reward of 1,000 taels of gold and 10,000 taels of silver."

Except for a few ministers in the cabinet, no other court officials had ever seen this decree.

So much so that when the imperial edict was read out to this point, many court officials looked surprised.

The current emperor's doting on Zhang Shikang is as well known to everyone as Sima Zhao's intentions. One can tell by the string of titles attached to Zhang Shikang's head.

But even so, the gift of the nine gifts still surprised everyone.

The Nine Gifts are the red door, the music county, the hubei soldiers, the axe and the halberd, the glutinous rice wine, the bow and arrow, the carriage and horse, the clothes and hats, and the steps to the throne, which are nine kinds of ceremonial objects.

The Ceremony of Nine Gifts was the highest honor bestowed by the emperor on his meritorious officials. Not to mention that it had never happened in the history of the Ming Dynasty, even if one traces back a thousand years, there were only a few people who could receive the Ceremony of Nine Gifts.

Wearing sword and shoes when entering the palace, not bowing when entering the court, and not naming when praising or bowing, all these further demonstrate the privilege, prestige, and trust of the emperor.

But since all the cabinet ministers knew about this matter and had approved the decree, although other court officials were shocked, they were also very honest and did not speak out against it in front of Emperor Chongzhen, Zhang Shikang, and the people on the street.

It doesn't matter to them anyway, as long as they are happy.

However, Zhang Shikang frowned and expressed his objection on the spot.

Even though Zhang Shikang was previously said to be lazy because of his achievements, the series of rewards such as the Nine Gifts still made those four words emerge in Zhang Shikang's mind.

And this time, it is a conscious emergence and is no longer an excuse for laziness.

This reward was so huge that it set off alarm bells and made Zhang Shikang think of those guys who had been awarded the Nine Gifts.

It seems... no one has a good ending.

So scary!

He did not dare to speak loudly for fear of losing face for his elder brother Chongzhen, so he walked up to Emperor Chongzhen and whispered:

"Your Majesty, this is a bit too much. Isn't this bad?"