Chapter 321: The emperor is destined to be transported by heaven, the edict says

The branch points of various Shanxi merchants were located in the counties under the jurisdiction of several guard posts along the Great Wall Pass, which were very close to the guard posts. They also noticed the movements of the Royal Army at the guard posts.

The gathering of troops often means big moves, so most of the Shanxi merchants who have ulterior motives are not as big-hearted as Kang Jinwan. Instead, they start to pay close attention to it. If anything goes wrong, they will run away.

Kang Jinwan sent a servant to look for the supervisor, but he failed to complete the task the next afternoon because the person he was looking for disappeared again.

That morning, the governor of Datong, the county magistrate, the county magistrate, the chief registrar, the garrison, and the supervisor of the guard station were all present.

More than a dozen officials and minor officials, large and small, were invited to attend the banquet at the Royal Army Camp that night, and the dinner food dishes (buffet leaflet) were also given.

He also bluntly stated that this was initiated by their regimental commander (General Soldier), who allowed them to experience the meals of the Royal Army together. They also arranged accommodation and had to party all night long to express their gratitude for supporting their work.

This behavior made the officials in the county and the businessmen with connections feel happy. The noble Royal Army is finally starting to become more down-to-earth. As long as they can get in touch with their commanders, can they still have an unbreakable fortress?

A cautious part of the people naturally didn't believe it. They felt something was wrong and simply claimed they were sick. The Royal Army did not force this group of people. If it were forced to do so, it would look shady.

The remaining people did not dare to neglect because the Royal Army had a large number of people and took over the city defense garrison, either because they had a clear conscience or because they were attracted to the delicacies on the menu that they had never seen before.

In short, the magistrates and soldiers in each county and district who had left behind them made some arrangements and got on the welcoming motorcycles to attend the banquet.

At the banquet, there was an abundance of meat, wine, pizza, various fruits, and various cakes and desserts. All officials were shocked by the richness and luxury of the Royal Army's military supplies.

I finally felt relieved, there was no need to have such a sumptuous Hongmen Banquet, right?

Some people have even begun to develop the idea of ​​​​Royal Army swill, asking the regiment leader whether they can be contracted to recycle swill, and are preparing to release the army pot in advance and make it a Shanxi specialty.

The whole banquet started with great joy.

At first, this was just an ordinary troop transfer operation, a grand invitation from the Royal Army, and a banquet that made all the county magistrates and hundreds of households left behind happy.

Until this action spread to the 17th Guards Station of Qizhou County in Datong, all the county magistrates and the 100 households left behind in the guardhouse entered the camp with as few as 200 people and as many as thousands of people, as if they were entering a devil's cave.

"Brother, come and drink. You said you made such delicious wine, but you don't drink it. Isn't it a waste?"

"Fan Baihu, forgive me for my military duties. It is the commander's order to entertain you, but we are not on vacation now and cannot drink."

The hundred hereditary families left behind by Zuo Yunwei, who were very drunk, were hugging a squad leader of the Royal Army and trying hard to drink.

"Hey, this is wrong. You don't say anything. I don't say anything. Who in the world knows about this?

He also said that if two ounces of wine go into your stomach, who will know that you have drank?

Come, brother, I’ll give you a toast, and I’ll cover all your expenses in Datong from now on.”

"I'm really sorry. Look at those two white sleeves. If they remember me, there will be more than just punishment. I'm sorry."

Hearing what the squad leader said, Baihu looked around, and sure enough he saw a few people with "evil eyebrows and rat eyes", holding something in their hands and pointing at them.

"What the hell, what do you think of you as soldiers? You can't drink this wine, you can't leave the camp, and women can't get it.

Wait for a chance in two days, and my brother will take you to go shopping and have some fun. There are many foreign women in Datong, hehehehe."

"No, I have military duties. It is our mission to be loyal to His Majesty, obey orders, and observe discipline!"

"It's boring, it's boring. Well, if you don't drink, then I won't drink with you. Li Zhixian, let me toast you."

After hearing the squad leader's words, Baihu's eyes became obviously fierce, and a look of ignorance flashed across his face, and he no longer wanted to talk to this company commander of the same level.

The time for drinking and having fun is always long but short. As the sun sets and everyone is still eating happily, a few soldiers bring huge trumpets.

"Attention everyone! The Ming Royal Army Radio News is about to begin!"

"Eh? Captain Wang, what kind of broadcast is this?"

"It's the kind of loudspeaker you often see during disaster relief. This one comes from the capital. It's just for the internal news of the Royal Army. It will talk about things that are not propaganda."

Liu Menggui and group leader Wang Dazhu were sitting together. After asking questions, they were about to continue asking questions. When they saw that Wang Dazhu had already stood up and started to arrange his clothes.

The other officials thought it was over, so they also stood up, mainly because the host family had also stood up, and it seemed rude for others to sit down.

"Captain Wang? What are you doing?"

"Have Commander Wang eaten?"

Wang Dazhu waved his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and then walked to the open space in the center of the banquet hall. Others noticed that except for a few soldiers lighting lamps, even several army battalion commanders who were eating stood up and walked over to line up.

The few people who were unsure of the situation could only silently gather around and watch Wang Dazhu assemble the people neatly.

"It's capital time now, 6:25 in the afternoon. Please note that there are still five minutes left for the news broadcast."

"Salute to His Majesty the Great Emperor of Ming Dynasty! Be loyal to His Majesty and loyal to Ming Dynasty..."

Wang Dazhu suddenly shouted, which startled Liu Menggui and other officials. The county magistrate carefully approached Liu Menggui.

"Governor Liu, I heard someone say that these people often do this. They shout slogans every night during disaster relief. They always shout about loyalty to His Majesty, but they never mention Governor Sun Chuanting."

"I have also heard people mention it. It's terrible. How did your Majesty manage to unite these sergeants? If the soldiers don't know the generals, won't there be problems?"

[This is the Ming Dynasty Royal Army Radio News Station. This is the Ming Dynasty Royal Army Radio News Station. Next, our station will broadcast today’s news for everyone.

His Majesty the Great Emperor of the Ming Dynasty met with Ezhe, the former king of Chahar County today, and appointed Ezhe as the Minister of National Defense of the Ming Dynasty, in charge of clearing up the rebellion of the Ming Dynasty...

Regarding the corruption of local official Huang Bailao during the disaster relief period, His Majesty was furious and ordered him to be expelled from his position and have his or her home confiscated and imprisoned. Any corrupt officials who obstructed the disaster relief and undermined the peace of the Ming Dynasty...

Regarding the outstanding performance of the brothers of the Royal Army in disaster relief, His Majesty...

…

His Majesty has said that there is no end to learning. In the future Ming Dynasty, everyone must be literate, and the Royal Army must be a pioneer in the Ming Dynasty.

The Royal Army has always followed His Majesty's teachings. As of this month, the literacy rate of the first phase of the Royal Army reached an astonishing 90%.

As of this month, the Royal Army has been transferred to two sixth-rank state magistrates, eight seventh-rank county magistrates, 29 eighth-rank county magistrates, and 118 ninth-rank chief registrars.

The highest official position among them is platoon leader, and the youngest ones are ordinary non-commissioned officers. So as long as they are loyal to His Majesty, as long as they study hard, and as long as they obey His Majesty's command, the future of the Royal Army will be bright!

This news broadcast is over. I would like to pay tribute to the great Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Long live His Majesty! Long live the Ming Dynasty!]

"Long live your Majesty! Long live the Ming Dynasty!"

"Long live your Majesty!"

Wave after wave of voices came, and the invited officials also noticed that the battalion commander's shouts outside were even louder. They usually couldn't enter the camp, so they didn't realize that the Royal Army was so powerful.

The dozen or so officials present listened to the news and instantly understood why the Royal Army was so passionate.

Co-author joined the Royal Army and had the opportunity to become an official directly without taking the imperial examination. This attraction was immediately overwhelming.

But what followed was the heartfelt anger in the hearts of Liu Menggui and other civil servants. Why, why did they study hard for ten years in a cold window, and the Royal Army could do it directly?

However, a few generals in the guard station had an idea. If they could change the rank of generals and advance to the civil service system, even if they were a small seventh-grade official, that would be the best.

After the broadcast was completed, Wang Dazhu asked everyone to return to their seats and continue eating and drinking. However, at this time, no one was in the mood to enjoy the food anymore, and those who should be full were also full.

Seeing that it was getting dark, the magistrate asked the group leader for permission to leave. The reason was that the child in his family was still sick and he wanted to go back for a visit. Someone had been arranged to pick him up.

This is human nature, but the real purpose is to test whether they are safe today. After all, they have no intention of actually spending the night here.

The group leader glanced at him, nodded, and let one go out first to stabilize the others. He didn't want to be violent unless necessary.

After receiving permission, the magistrate stood up, greeted the governor and his magistrates, and then turned around and walked outside the tent wall.

As soon as he left the tent, the magistrate had a cloth ball stuffed into his mouth, and then he was dragged aside and held down.

Woohoo?!???

At this time, the magistrate discovered that at least twenty Royal Army soldiers, holding flintlock guns in their hands, had surrounded the tent.

In the tent, watching the magistrate leave, other officials couldn't sit still. No one wanted to stay in the army barracks for a night. The smell of recruitment was too strong and they couldn't stand it.

"Captain Wang, I suddenly remembered that I have something to do when I go home today. Let's stop here tonight. There is no need to cause trouble to the soldiers."

"Yes, yes, please ask Commander Wang to ask the young general to send the generals back. Just use the same motorcycle that summoned the generals today. That one will go back faster."

"Everyone, His Majesty has ordered you to stay overnight until the official order is issued tomorrow before you can go back. Do you want to resist the order?"

"Resist the edict? Where is the imperial edict? There is no imperial edict, why should I listen to you?

You are soldiers and we are officials, we are not in the same department. I am here just to give you face, so you still want to force me to stay?"

The Datong County Magistrate touched his beard, said something very disdainful, and glanced at Liu Menggui standing aside to see what he thought.

Liu Menggui, on the other hand, was relatively calm. Judging from the passion of Wang Dazhu and others, he believed that this group of people was not trying to launch a mutiny, but that Chongzhen might really be summoning them.

"Captain Wang, please explain that if there is an imperial edict, please show it to me. If it is serious, I will let everyone stay."

"Governor Liu, please cooperate with our work. According to His Majesty's order, all officials in Datong must be under the supervision of the Royal Army tonight. I will tell you why tomorrow.

Everyone, listen, we are only ordered to watch over you. Hundreds of officials from top to bottom of Datong Mansion are all under supervision today.

Please understand our work. We are only acting under orders. If you feel aggrieved and want to complain, His Majesty will give you an explanation tomorrow after the ban is lifted.

Well, Governor Liu wants an imperial edict, and I have a copy here, but it’s just His Majesty’s order. If you want to see it, guard, ask the instructor to bring it over.”

"yes!"

The guard quickly ran to the general ledger of the regiment and found the instructor. After explaining the situation, he got a paper order.

Liu Menggui took the paper. On it was a printed notification order. Each action group had a copy, stamped with the jade seal, the cabinet seal, and the six ministry seals.

"My colleagues and several generals, the letter is true. Your Majesty has issued an order. Something big will happen in Datong tomorrow. Let us cooperate with the Royal Army and stay in camp tonight."

After Liu Menggui finished speaking, he took stock of the people present and found that almost all of them were officials with real power. Thinking back to the news he heard today, he suddenly felt a thump in his heart.
To be continued...