Chapter 343

Liu Rushi personally helped Su Qiao straighten his clothes and saw him out the door.

Su Qiao boarded the carriage sent by the Gongli Sect and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

The Grand Secretaries were all present; Hong Chengchou, Sun Chuanting, Du Yinxi, and He Tengjiao had been waiting long ago.

"Good morning, esteemed seniors!"

"Good morning, Mr. Su as well."

"I see Mr. Su has a peach-blossom hue on his face and a spring glint in his eyes; it seems you have a peach-blossom fortune!"

Du Yinxi was in a good mood and rarely joked with Su Qiao.

Su Qiao awkwardly waved his hand. "Your eyes are sharp as fire; I, your junior, shall not conceal it."

In fact, almost everyone who paid attention to Su Qiao himself knew about the matter between Su Qiao and Liu Rushi.

Even those who originally did not know who Su Qiao was, but were merely curious about Liu Rushi or inquiring about Liu Rushi, would come to know Su Qiao.

Moreover, the day before yesterday, the Embroidered Uniform Guard went directly to Yi Hong Lou and took away Liu Rushi's contract of servitude.

It was delivered to Su Fu!

Now, Su Qiao's reputation for loving beauty is inescapable.

The four Grand Secretaries present also knew the situation.

What is there left to guess!

"Your Majesty arrives!"

At Wang Chengen's shout, the group, who had been about to continue joking with Su Qiao, quickly fell silent and stood.

Zhu Youjian strode over and sat on the Dragon Throne.

His face bore an eager excitement.

"Your subjects bow and pay respects to Your Majesty!"

"Everyone, please rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"During the morning court, nothing useful was discussed at all. Dorgon will hold the surrender ceremony at noon today. What do the Grand Secretaries think I should do?"

Zhu Youjian did not wait for everyone to stand straight before he impatiently began to ask.

Su Qiao was not at the morning court; the arguments in the court hall had been quite fierce.

Zhu Youjian's view was to humiliate them severely and then kill them all.

Some were unwilling, thinking that since the "Order to Kill the Hu" had already been issued, the remaining Jurchen Tatars could no longer stir up trouble.

As the Celestial Empire, since the enemy has surrendered, even if only for appearances, one should show the magnanimous spirit of a monarch to others.

On the other side, they explicitly opposed it, saying directly: what ceremony? Just chop them off and be done with it.

Wasting the people's labor and the state's wealth!

The court hall was in endless debate; Zhu Youjian's head ached from the noise.

The Grand Secretaries were also somewhat hesitant. With little time left, Zhu Youjian decided to summon the Grand Secretaries and Su Qiao directly.

To ask what should be done?

Su Qiao did not attend the morning court and did not know the situation there.

But he also felt it was not that complicated.

"Your Majesty, I believe there is no need for such trouble. Dorgon can perform the surrender, but it must not be accepted. Accepting it would be killing prisoners of war; as an emperor, you cannot let your reputation be ruined. Not accepting it allows you to kill them at will, and you can also ask the people of Great Ming for their opinion, conduct a public trial, and let the people of Great Ming see the Tatars having their heads chopped off!"

"Uh... is that good?"

He Tengjiao was somewhat stunned.

Zhu Youjian and Sun Chuanting, however, their eyes lit up.

"That makes sense! Avoid everything that can be avoided! It can also bring Your Majesty immense prestige. Impressive!"

198, Liaodong fully recovered!

"What do all of you think?"

Zhu Youjian asked the other Grand Secretaries with great interest.

The Grand Secretaries exchanged glances and bowed together, saying: "This method is naturally the best; we, your subjects, cannot agree more!"

"Good. Since that is the case, make the arrangements. First, let Dorgon enter the city!"

"Yes!"

At this moment, Dorgon stood outside the main tent, looking at the capital city walls not far away, his heart filled with deep emotion.

He still held the head of Huang Taiji in his hands.

"Brother Huang, the clan must have fled by now. My mission is nearly complete; I will come to find you very soon..."

The other Banner people looked at Dorgon standing not far away, their hearts filled with infinite sorrow and fear.

Whether life or death depends on today!

"By order of His Majesty, the surrendering subject Dorgon shall enter the city at noon!"

Dorgon kowtowed on the ground. "The guilty subject obeys the decree!"

The Eunuch attendant, with a cold face, said to Dorgon: "Enough. Hurry up and bathe and change your clothes; do not delay the time!"

Boom!

The bathing tub was carried into the tent, filled with hot water; the rest was up to Dorgon himself.

No one was there to serve him!

If it were up to the thoughts in the hearts of some soldiers, why bother bathing? Just chop the head off with a crack and be done with it.

However, since it was Zhu Youjian's decree, no one dared to oppose it.

Some soldiers even discussed matters right in front of the Tatars guarding them.

"I wonder if Your Majesty will directly chop them down."

"The key is that they surrendered; otherwise, given Your Majesty's fury, they would have been killed long ago. How could they still be alive?"

"In a moment, we will enter the city to beg for surrender. Will Your Majesty and those ministers in the court all let Dorgon off the hook?"

"That's possible."

"Then didn't our Liaodong soldiers and civilians die in vain? It would be better if we went up and chopped them down right now!"

The Liaodong soldiers and generals hated the Tatars with a torrent of fury, wishing to chop them down immediately.

The Tatars trembled in fear.

Only Dorgon seemed not to hear, doing whatever he needed to do.

After bathing, he changed into simple clothes.

It was getting late.

Cao Bianjiao, who was responsible for escorting the Tatars back, gave the order: "Alright, take the Tatars into the city!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers under his command herded the Tatars together as if driving pigs.

Because they were to meet the Emperor, they had also changed into new armor.

The weather today was somewhat changeable.

Just a moment ago, the sun had been shining everywhere.

Yet in less than a quarter of an hour, a heavy cloud drifted over, blocking the sun.

Instantly, heaven and earth turned gloomy.

Cao Bianjiao mounted a high-stepping horse and led the Liaodong army slowly into the city.

Behind Cao Bianjiao was Dorgon, pale-faced and wearing a plain green robe, carrying a brocade box.

Behind them followed a group of Captains, and at the very rear were the Tatars, driven into the city in a state of panic.

"By order of the Emperor, open the city gates!"

Creak!

The East Gate was pushed open.

"Liaodong soldiers, enter!"

Cao Bianjiao led the soldiers slowly into the city.