As the saying goes, the winter solstice is as important as the New Year. Since it is as important as the New Year, it is natural that it is just like the New Year, with sacrifices, winter festivals, etc., and according to the rules, there is also a day off.

However, before the holiday, civil and military officials had to accompany the emperor to the Temple of Heaven on the east side of Zhengyang Gate to offer sacrifices to the sky.

The howling north wind was accompanied by solemn and dignified music.

Offering sacrifices to heaven is a physical task, and the weather is so cold. All officials are worried about Emperor Yongxing, wondering if he can complete the ceremony!
The Prince of Nan’an was leading troops in southern Xinjiang, Shui Rong had become a rebel, and the Princes of Dongping and Xining were too old and sick to come.

The Duke of Qi, the Duke of Zhi and the Duke of Shan were dead. Duke Xiu was fighting desperately with Agui in Mobei. The inheritors of the Duke of Ning, the Duke of Rong and the Duke of Li were all demoted. Li Hu then stood at the front of the queue of nobles together with the Duke of Zhenguo Niu Jizon and the three princes’ sons.

On normal days, this would be a great honor, but now it has become torment.

A cold wind blew in his face. Li Hu tightened his chest, rubbed his hands and exhaled, staring at the emperor who was performing the final rites on the altar in the cold wind. A light flashed in his eyes. The emperor must have taken medicine.

Li Hu had obtained the recipe from Doctor Wang a long time ago, and he asked someone to take the recipe to the south to look for some old Taoist priests who were proficient in alchemy. Those old Taoist priests said that the pill made with this recipe was non-toxic, and it could not only make people feel refreshed, but also improve their physical condition, but it was all overdrawing the body’s potential, and taking this pill for a long time would gradually hollow out the body.

Emperor Yongxing’s health was not good to begin with, and it wouldn’t be long before he was hollowed out like a coffin.

The Prince of Nan’an has no good intentions!
Thinking of this, Li Hu glanced at the Prince of Nan’an County. This little bastard has been dating Wang Ren recently. They are so close that they are almost the same. They often go to the Jiaofangsi to drink and have sex. If it weren’t for the Jiaofangsi’s prohibition of staying overnight, they would probably have sex together.

This little bastard seemed to have noticed something. Over the past ten days, those people seemed to have disappeared.

Since you can’t find it, then don’t look for it. Just solve the person who caused the problem!
Under the current circumstances, we would rather kill someone by mistake than let him go.

A cold light flashed in Li Hu’s eyes, and he turned his attention to Emperor Yongxing again.

Emperor Yongxing was performing the three kneeling and nine bowing ceremony to send off the emperor and the gods. The next step was the last procedure, the “Wang Liao”. The sacrifice was sent to the burning furnace, and the emperor went to the “Wang Liao” position to watch the burning of the sacrifice, and then drove back to the palace, and the ceremony officially ended.

At this moment, everyone’s eyes were on the emperor.

Finally, Emperor Yongxing slowly turned around and walked towards Wang Liaowei.

Emperor Yongxing’s ears and nose were also red from the cold wind, but his eyes were shining, and he was obviously in good spirits.

A faint but clear sigh sounded in Li Hu’s ears. It was the national guardian Niu Jizon.

Li Hu glanced at him without revealing any expression, and he looked at Emperor Yongxing with worry in his eyes. Did he know?

Suddenly, shouts of “Great Victory in Jinzhou” were heard amid the howling north wind.

The crowd immediately became commotion.

Li Hu saw a hint of pride in Emperor Yongxing’s eyes and realized that he had arranged it in advance. Yes, without the emperor’s order, who would dare to make a noise at the ceremony of offering sacrifice to heaven!
Amid a crowd of people with different looks, a postman ran over with a victory report in his hand, shouting, “Great victory at Jinzhou! Great victory at Jinzhou!”

Without any obstruction, the messenger ran to Emperor Yongxing and knelt down, holding the victory report high above his head and singing loudly: “Your Majesty, a great victory in Jinzhou, 100,000 killed in battle!”

All the officials were shocked and a riot broke out.

Li Hu was also shocked. Killing 100,000 soldiers in battle? Did the Shanhaiguan general kill everyone in Jinzhou? !
The cabinet chief spoke: “Silence!”

The crowd soon quieted down.

Emperor Yongxing also finished reading the victory report, glanced at all the officials, and said loudly: “A great victory in Jinzhou!” After that, he threw the victory report into the incense burner.

With both paint and feathers, a cloud of black smoke immediately came out of the stove!
Burnt?!
Li Hu Guocui blurted out, the Cabinet and the Ministry of War haven’t seen it yet!

All the officials were stunned.

Zhao Tong raised his hand, and a super deluxe band of 180 people played “Youping Chapter” and began to burn the sacrifice. Looking at the blazing flames, Li Hu’s eyes flashed. Could it be that there was something shameful in the victory report?

The emperor’s carriage drove into the Zhengyang Gate. The officials were looking for carriages and calling for horses. There was chaos!
Li Hu shook his head. No wonder Emperor Yongchang always looked down on him. After taking Jinzhou City, the defense line of Daling River would be much easier. I wonder if Qian Xiaosi would regret it! I guess he didn’t expect to meet such an emperor who didn’t play by the rules.

Forget it, don’t worry about it. Go home and eat dumplings with Lin Daiyu, yes, and glutinous rice balls. In the evening, drink the winter wine brewed by Lin Daiyu herself. This is the custom of Suzhou. Drink winter wine on the night of the winter solstice. It is brewed with glutinous rice or yellow rice and sweet osmanthus.

At this time, the Minister of War, Duke of Zhenguo, Niu Jizong, came over and said, “Duke of Lu…”

Li Hu saw that he looked worried: “What’s wrong?”

Niu Jizong was silent for a moment, then said, “The first batch of young men recruited by the Ministry of War from the south will arrive in Beijing in two days. They will be given priority in replenishing the Sharp Soldiers Battalion.”

After a pause, he said, “Fill it up.”

Li Hu looked at him and asked, “Are we going to fight?”

Niu Jizong sighed: “It’s better to be prepared.”

Li Hu frowned: “Did something happen?!”

Niu Jizong hesitated for a moment, and seeing that there was no one around, he whispered, “There is something I just learned these days. The cavalry in Jizhou Town have been transferred to Shanhaiguan by the emperor.”

“Oh?!” Li Hu was startled.

Niu Jizong smiled bitterly and said, “The emperor obviously still wants to take over the Liaohe River defense line. The victory report on approaching Shengjing City should have included the Shanhaiguan general’s military strategy. He didn’t discuss such a big matter with the cabinet and the Ministry of War. It’s not good for the country!”

Li Hu smiled and said, “Shanhai Pass has strong soldiers and horses, and with the help of Jizhou’s elite cavalry, it will be like a tiger with wings. We will definitely kill the Jurchen Tartars and let them know the power of our Dashun.”

Niu Jizong’s expression immediately straightened up: “I’m not kidding you. If something goes wrong in Liaodong, you’ll have to clean up the mess.”

Li Hu wanted to reply, “I’m not his father.” Unfortunately, he couldn’t. He was not a keyboard warrior in later generations, who boasted with his mouth. If you dare to say it, the emperor will give you the Nine Clans Candy Cake.

Niu Jizong: “You and I just need to keep this in mind, and don’t tell anyone. I’ll go to the palace now to see if I can save the situation. If that doesn’t work, I’ll go and ask the Queen Mother for help.”

Li Hu interrupted him: “Don’t do that! Our emperor is a man who values ​​his reputation very much. If you ask the queen mother for help, it will only add fuel to the fire!”

Niu Jizong was stunned when he heard this.

Someone exclaimed, “It’s snowing!”

Li Hu felt a chill on the tip of his nose and when he looked up, he saw goose-feather-like snowflakes falling from the sky.

“This snow is falling at a really bad time.” Li Hu and Niu Jizong said almost at the same time.

Li Hu and Niu Jizong looked at each other.

Niu Jizong understood that Li Hu meant that Lin Ruhai was still on his way to Beijing.

Li Hu also understood that Niu Jizong was talking about the heavy snow that would delay the transportation of military supplies and food.

After a moment of silence, Niu Jizong said, “I hope my old face can still be of some use.” After that, he bowed to Li Hu, turned around and left.

Li Hu looked at Niu Jizong’s back gradually disappearing in the heavy snow, shook his head, stretched out his hand to catch the falling snowflakes, his eyes shining: It’s snowing, such a snowy night is the best time to kill people. Let’s go to the Yongwei Camp and talk to Bai Wu first. (End of this chapter)