Chapter 405: Carrying the flag into the city [Many thanks

The next day,

Bianjing city was shrouded in thick fog,

The sky was even darker than a normal morning.

North of the city,

Outside Ansu Gate,

The surface of the Hugong River reflected the gray fog flowing in the air,

The bridge body above the river was reflected in the water as black, and one could vaguely see human figures moving by the bridge.

"Clap"

A wooden water bucket with a rope tied to the handle fell onto the river surface, shattering the reflection. The bucket swayed as it was pulled by the rope, tilted, and after being filled with river water, it was quickly pulled up.

After the bucket reached the bridge deck,

As it was carried forward by someone,

The sounds around them began to grow louder: human voices, the sound of horses snorting, the clashing of armor and weapons while walking, and so on.

The person carrying the bucket stopped,

"Splash~"

The water in the bucket was poured into a small leather bucket held by someone with both hands,

The leather bucket was brought to the horse's mouth,

Watching the Little Xiao Xiao Li Ju drinking water, Alan skillfully stroked its smooth and shiny horse neck and said: "There's important business this morning, and it's said you might even see His Majesty the Emperor! I dare not let you drink too much!"

The Little Xiao Xiao Li Ju, having drunk a few mouthfuls, stared at Alan with wide eyes.

"After the matter is over and we return to the Marquis Prefecture, I'll let you drink to your heart's content."

The Little Xiao Xiao Li Ju didn't know if it understood or not, just pawed the ground with its front hooves while bumping Alan with its head.

At this time,

Footsteps came: "Alan, didn't let it drink too much water, right?"

"Rest assured, Young Master! Only gave it one leather bucket of water."

Hearing the later voice, the Little Xiao Xiao Li Ju stopped pawing the ground, snorted, and stood straight there.

Xu Zaijing walked to the Little Xiao Xiao Li Ju's side and stroked the mud-shield (the cloth hanging from the saddle to the horse's belly, slightly longer than the stirrup, used to block mud) hanging outside the horse's belly.

Qingyun, who was following behind, said:

"Young Master, this mud-shield newly sent by the three young ladies Qingcao is really good-looking."

Hearing Qingyun's words, Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile.

After entering Bianjing city from Ansu Gate at the northeast corner of Bianjing's outer city, it was the north-south Ansu Gate Inner Street.

The first eye-catching building was the City God Temple on the side of the road.

Passing the City God Temple to the south, it was the intersection of Ansu Gate Inner Street and Tongle Street.

At this time, at the entrance of the City God Temple, Imperial Guard soldiers in bright armor were lined up here, and an Battalion Commander standing close to the roadside was checking the roll.

Around them were crowds of Bianjing commoners who had heard the news yesterday afternoon and had come to Ansu Gate early to watch the excitement.

The roll call ended,

This Battalion Commander, who was in charge of five hundred infantry, began to speak loudly about things his subordinates needed to pay attention to.

"See those holding children, you must exhort them a few more times to watch their children well!"

"See those who want to throw things, immediately shout to stop them, so as not to throw things and startle the horses!"

"Also! If you encounter unruly idlers or rascals who don't obey, let the Bianjing yamen runners to the side take action; you must not leave the position you are standing in!"

"..."

After a round of instructions,

"Is it clear?"

"Clear!"

The soldiers shouted in unison.

This Battalion Commander nodded and said again: "You five squad leaders, together with the team leaders, come over, I'll say a few more words..."

After a round of busyness, these five hundred Imperial Guard soldiers, led by the team leaders, walked to outside the Ansu Gate gate tunnel and began to maintain order according to the arrangement.

At the entrance of the City God Temple,

Among the crowd, a wealthy-looking squire who seemed to know this commander cupped his hands and said: "May I ask Commander Tu, what time does the Bai Gao surrendered king enter the city?"

That martial officer called Tu looked at the person who spoke and replied: "Squire Zhang, wait a bit longer! At the very least, we have to wait for the fog to disperse."

"Many thanks, many thanks..."

As he spoke, this Imperial Guard martial officer walked to the intersection of Ansu Gate Inner Street and Tongle Street, and said to the soldiers who were about to stand in position: "Let them move back! This intersection is not wide enough!"

"Yes!"

The Imperial Guard soldiers answered and began to shout, letting the commoners and wealthy families gathered at the street corner hurry and retreat a bit.

At this time,

Someone upstairs smiled and cupped their hands: "Brother Tu Tu, you are truly majestic today!"

Tu Tu smiled and cupped his hands toward upstairs.

At this time,

A commotion came from not far away.

Commander Tu gripped his waist knife and walked toward that side, looking at the Bianjing commoners who were arguing:

"What's going on with you all?"

A young man in a green shirt cupped his hands:

"My lord, the second floor of his shop faces the street. Last night I paid a deposit of three hundred wen, but today when I want to go upstairs, this thief is raising the price!"

The shop steward widened his eyes and shouted: "My lord, this small one said, I will return the deposit to him! Besides, this mama offered one guan, this small one is selling to the highest bidder..."

Commander Tu looked up at the second floor: "Look at this second floor!"

"This lord, my family is female!"

A mama to the side spoke up.

"Does your shop have a screen?"

"Naturally there is." The shop steward said.

"Either set up a screen to separate them, this mama pays a little less silver, and you all go up to watch! Or I will close this shop, and no one will go up."

"This..."

"I'll count to five, one..."

Watching the few people who finally compromised, the Bianjing yamen runner who rushed over gave a thumbs up to this commander.

Looking east from the Tongle Street intersection,

Along the way, there were mostly Imperial Guard soldiers maintaining order,

Far away, one could also see Bianjing rascals being tied with iron chains and dragged away by yamen runners.

Walking east like this, the fourth intersection arrived at the Jinglong Gate Outer Street, which had a wider road, taller wooden buildings, and more people and more excitement.

Walking south from this intersection, one could reach the inner city Jinglong Gate, which was the location where the Great Zhou Emperor would accept the surrender today.

On the two sides of this Jinglong Gate Outer Street,

There were quite a few parked horses and carriages,

And looking at the clothing of the men and women preparing to go to the buildings by the road, one knew they were either rich or noble.

And the Imperial Guard soldiers standing there were not only more numerous than those on the Ansu Gate Inner Street and Tongle Street just now, but also looked even taller and more elite.

South of Jinglong Gate Outer Street,

Under a wooden building where one could vaguely see Jinglong Gate, several carriages hanging the characters 'Sheng' and 'Kang' stopped slowly.

After the servant woman placed the carriage stool beside the carriage,

Hualan lifted the carriage curtain and stepped off the carriage, then Hualan turned around and reached out to support her mother Wang Ruofu down.

Wang Ruofu, who got off the carriage, looked at the surrounding environment and smiled: "Hua-er, this position is really close enough!"

Hualan smiled and said: "Mother, this is the property of Marquis Tuoxi's family! Although there was a debate in the court before about which city gate to accept the surrender at, more than half a month ago, when the palace summoned Mother-in-law into the palace, Empress Niangniang told Mother-in-law that if the family had a need, they could come here to watch the ceremony."

Hearing this, Wang Ruofu smiled from ear to ear and nodded repeatedly: "Empress Niangniang is truly thoughtful, and your Mother-in-law is also thoughtful!"

When the mother and daughter were talking, Rulan stood on the carriage shaft and didn't get down, relying on standing high to look far, she looked around and said: "Wow, sister, there are so many people!"

She also pointed to a position closer to the south: "Mother, look, over there are the relatives of Wei Wei Yima's maiden home. Are there so many Feng family people!"

Behind the Sheng family carriage,

Kang Wang Shi supported Qi Mama and got off the carriage.

Hearing Rulan's voice, Kang Wang Shi glanced over there and said: "Hmph! A bunch of things!"

After speaking, she beckoned to her son Kang Jin who got off the carriage.

Wang Ruofu looked at Kang Wang Shi and said: "Big Sister, the Duke Cheng Prefecture population is large, and we are relatives by marriage, so it's really not easy to go and watch the ceremony with that big group of Feng family!"

Kang Wang Shi secretly rolled her eyes at her younger sister Wang Ruofu and said: "We are real relatives, if we don't ask the Feng family, don't the Feng family know to come and invite us? What kind of virtue!"

Wang Ruofu thought about the invitation sent by the Duke Cheng Feng family to the Sheng family, and opened her mouth to speak: "Big..."

Suddenly, she felt Hualan and Liu Mama on both sides of her body pulling her arms.

Wang Ruofu looked at Hualan to the side. Hualan was turning her head sideways, frowning and glaring to warn Rulan who also wanted to speak and show off; looking at Liu Mama on the other side, Liu Mama shook her head at her.

Wang Ruofu pursed her lips and didn't continue speaking.

At this time, Hualan turned her head back and said with a smile: "Mother, Wei Wei Yima, let's go up quickly!"

Rulan got off the carriage and came to Hualan's side: "Sister, your face-changing is really fast!"

Hualan pointed at Rulan's forehead with her index finger, then beckoned to Seeing Mo Lan and Minglan: "Quick, follow!"

Seeing Mo Lan and Minglan brought the maidservants and walked a few steps quickly with a smile.

When everyone was about to reach the door, Cuichan beside Hualan walked to the front and said a few words to the steward at the door.

"So it's the noble relatives of the Marquis Prefecture, please go upstairs!"

Arriving at the second floor that had been arranged early,

Wang Ruofu and the others sat down one after another.

The Sheng family was together with the Kang family's carriage here. Kang Wang Shi didn't know that Changbai and Changfeng were not in the carriage.

Looking at her son Kang Jin who was a bit lonely, Kang Wang Shi said: "Sister, where did Changbai go? Don't just let him study to death, be careful of reading until he's stupid!"

"Also, where is the concubine-born son of that cheap woman in your family?"

Seeing Mo Lan had a straight face, her fingers tightly pinching her clothes.

Hualan pinched her handkerchief and said: "Wei Wei Yima, speak carefully!"

"Wei Wei Yima, how can you say that about my brother!"

Rulan looked at Kang Wang Shi and said.

"You two girls, how are you talking to your elder?"

Kang Wang Shi widened her eyes and reprimanded.

Hearing Kang Wang Shi say Changbai like this, and also reprimand Hualan and Rulan, Wang Ruofu's expression changed, she took a breath, straightened her body, looked at Kang Jin, and said: "Changbai is accompanying his brother-in-law and several fellow students, watching the ceremony under Jinglong Gate."

"Changfeng also followed his big brother to join in the fun."

"They are all children who are going to take the imperial examination; naturally, they can't compare to Jin-ge'er who is waiting for the hereditary title in Big Sister's family."

Kang Wang Shi: "You!"

After saying this,

Kang Jin was even more uncomfortable.

Kang Haifeng's father, Kang Old Master, was also a giant in the officialdom before, but now Kang Jin failed the imperial examination and could only wait for the hereditary title...

"Two Da Niangzis are blood relatives, both say a few less words!" Qi Mama hurriedly inserted and said.

"How can you say that about your own nephew!" After this sentence, Qi Mama looked at Wang Ruofu and said.

Liu Mama blocked in front of Wang Ruofu, looked at Qi Mama while pinching her handkerchief, and said: "Yes! Qi Mama is right, how can you say that about your own nephew, not hoping for anything good in your words!"

Qi Mama widened her eyes: "You!"

Liu Mama smiled, bowed politely, and stood beside Wang Ruofu.

"Relying on the power in the Marquis Prefecture, Liu Mama is really unforgiving!" Kang Wang Shi said.

"Big Sister, can we come here to watch Bai Gao surrender because of the Marquis Prefecture's relationship?" Minglan asked with a seemingly ignorant look.

"Yes!"

Hualan replied.

At the entrance of the second floor, Cuichan, Caihuan, and the Sheng family maidservants brought soup and tea.

After placing the tea cups, Cuichan said: "Young Lady, the time is almost up, you still need to prepare!"

"Mm, I know!"

"Mother, Wei Wei Yima, then this daughter will leave!"

Hualan said and curtsied.

Wang Ruofu said with a smile:

"Go quickly, don't delay your business."

"Da Niangzi, this servant will go see her off."

Liu Mama bowed and said.

Wang Ruofu waved her hand.

Hualan and Liu Mama went downstairs,

Arriving at the door on the first floor, Liu Mama looked at the second floor and said: "Eldest Young Lady, Da Niangzi's sister, sigh!"

As she spoke, Liu Mama shook her head.

Hualan smiled, patted Liu Mama's hand, and said: "It's fine, Liu Mama! I'll leave first."

Watching Hualan leave, Liu Mama bowed and turned to go upstairs.

Just as she reached the second floor, she heard Kang Wang Shi's voice: "She didn't even say to take you to the place where Marquis Yongyi Xu family is! You still say people treat you as real relatives? Really!"

Not far from the position of Jinglong Gate,

A two-story elegant wooden building,

Hanging on the door of the wooden building was a plaque with the three characters 'A Pot of Tea'.

Under the plaque,

Outside the threshold stood four men with indifferent expressions,

From the threshold to the stairs, stood six sturdy mamas at a short distance.

On the second floor,

Hanging between the corridors facing the street was thin gauze, and inside the thin gauze room were several chairs with rag dolls placed on them.

In front of the thin gauze,

Miss Yun Mu lifted a small gap.

Chai Zhengzheng, wearing a silver-white embroidered red peony light green pair-breasted jacket and a butterfly jade head ornament, stood behind the gap, looking at the opposite side shrouded in fog, and after looking for a while, said: "It's Hualan sister, why did she arrive at this time?"

Miss Yun Mu looked at the empty chairs behind: "Young Lady, the Xu family's second Da Niangzi arrived quite early!"

Fuyi on the other side nodded.

"I don't know when this fog will disperse!"

"Young Lady, when we returned to the city yesterday afternoon, this servant saw there was an evening glow, today must be a good day!"

Chai Zhengzheng nodded, this action made another golden hair ornament on her head tremble slightly.

"Young Lady, you should sit down and rest for a while!"

"Mm!"

Chai Zhengzheng nodded, looked at the opposite side again, and sat on the chair.

"Are there any dishonest rascals causing trouble nearby?"

A man's voice came from downstairs.

"If there's anything, go there and call me, I will definitely make them have no return!"

Hearing the voice, Ziteng walked a few steps quickly to the railing outside the thin gauze, looked outside, and walked over:

"Young Lady, it's the son of the Marquis Hou Fu Chang family who serves in the Imperial Guard, Feiyan young lady's brother."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded and said: "After letting Mama thank him, give this..."

"Xian-ge, why are you here?"

"I... I have military duties today! Oh my, someone is calling me over there, farewell."

Listening to the dialogue downstairs, Chai Zhengzheng stopped her words.

Ziteng walked quickly to the railing facing the street again.

When she walked back, Chai Zhengzheng, Miss Yun Mu, and Fuyi all looked at her.

"Young Lady, it's the two young ladies of the Dou family..."

Miss Yun Mu said: "Ziteng, why are you pressing your voice so low?"

"I'm afraid downstairs will hear..."

"Zhengzheng! I'm here to find you!" Zhang family's Fifth Lady's voice came.

Chai Zhengzheng stood up and looked back, just seeing Fifth Lady following Fan Mama and several maidservants, covering her mouth with her hand and yawning as she went upstairs, her yawn making her eyes squint.

"I was dragged by Mother to wash up early, and I still haven't woken up yet!"

"!!!"

"Zhengzheng?"

Fifth Lady looked at Chai Zhengzheng in front of her, her eyes widened and she instantly woke up, ran quickly to the front with small steps and said: "Zhengzheng, why are you so beautiful today! I haven't seen you wear this set of clothes!"

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and spun around, showing her clothes: "Really?"

"Mm mm mm! I want a set too."

"No problem!"

As she spoke, Fifth Lady had already come to Chai Zhengzheng's side, held Chai Zhengzheng's arm, and said: "Zhengzheng, you are so good to me!"

After another while,

The sun rose from outside the fog,

Making the entire Jinglong Gate Outer Street much brighter,

And the Bianjing commoners by the street also became more and more numerous, and the sound of noisy talking came from time to time.

In the 'A Pot of Tea' tea house's second floor, there were a few more noble girls from the capital.

After all, it was a matter of watching the excitement, so there had to be more people for the atmosphere to be good.

Gu Tingyi leaned on the chair, said to the maidservant on one side to add two more pieces of sugar, then turned to Chai Zhengzheng and said: "Right, just now I saw the Rong family brother downstairs, he is truly very responsible! When I came up, I saw him turning around in the surroundings!"

Zheng Ni to the side said: "Maybe he's worried about his sister."

As she spoke, Zheng Ni looked at Rong Feiyan beside her teasingly.

The sun rose slowly,

The fog in Bianjing gradually dissipated.

Not far away under Jinglong Gate, there was a sharp shout of 'Approved!' from a eunuch.

"Approved~"

There were Imperial Guard soldiers with full energy shouting in relay.

Hearing this movement, Chai Zhengzheng stood up at once, walked toward the thin gauze while saying:

"It's about to start!"

The noble girls on the second floor hurriedly gathered behind the thin gauze, listening to the shout of the word 'Approved' spreading to the northwest.

Outside Ansu Gate,

The fog hadn't dispersed,

Marquis Ying's eldest son Zhang Fangyan looked at the personal soldier holding the 'Zhou' flag not far in front of him, and then turned his head to look at Xu Zaijing... who was talking to his comrades behind him. Little Xiao Xiao Li Ju.

Zhang Fangyan turned around and said: "Five-lang, come up!"

Xu Zaijing, who was turning his head to talk, shouted: "Yes!"

A moment later, Xu Zaijing walked forward.

"Go, stand next to the flag, let me see!"

Xu Zaijing acted accordingly.

The Little Xiao Xiao Li Ju stood next to the cavalry, snorting constantly, making the personal soldier holding the flag move from time to time.

Zhang Fangyan looked at the comparison between the person and the horse and said: "Finally deep! Finally deep!"

The personal soldier holding the flag in front turned his head and looked over: "Ah? General?"

"Give the flag to Five-lang, let him walk at the very front."

"Yes!"

After a while,

There was wind blowing outside the city,

The wind plus the sun made the fog disperse quickly.

"Approved~"

From far away, the sound came from far to near, from small to large.

The sound reached outside Ansu Gate, and the Imperial Guard closest to everyone shouted:

"Approved!"

Xu Zaijing held the Great Zhou flag,

And didn't see him say any words,

Relying on the heart-to-heart connection with his mount, the Little Xiao Xiao Li Ju began to move its steps.

Xu Zaijing was in front,

Followed by some of the most elite cavalry of Great Zhou, and began to enter the city.

The Great Zhou flag made of extremely thin material fluttered violently in the wind,

Lining the flag, Xu Zaijing and the Little Xiao Xiao Li Ju in cavalry armor were exceptionally handsome!

At the first intersection after entering Ansu Gate Inner Street,

Looking at the majestic cavalry, among the watching commoners, I don't know who shouted loudly first: "Great Zhou Wansheng!"

One shout stirred up ten thousand layers of waves!

The watching commoners, regardless of men, women, old, or young, shouted one after another.

After all, Great Zhou hadn't had such a great victory of destroying a nation for a long time.

And the previous two months were the cultivation of constant good news,

It wasn't Marquis Tuoxi capturing cities and seizing strongholds, it was Marquis Yongyi capturing Houqu, and there was also capturing Keyi Gate, and Bai Gao surrendering.

One by one, they were all the accumulation of Great Zhou commoners' pride.

Under such accumulation, today finally had a place to vent.

And the Bai Gao surrendered officials following behind the cavalry, listening to the mountain-shaking shouts around them, felt empty in their hearts.

But among them, Zuejue Zhongding and Zhao Taifeng felt unprecedentedly good!

Outside Jinglong Gate,

Listening to the rumbling shouts in the distance,

Although it sounded far away, Zhang family's Fifth Lady had already excitedly held Chai Zhengzheng and Gu Tingyi's hands tightly.

Chai Zhengzheng was to the side, and could still hear Fifth Lady shouting Great Zhou Wansheng in a low voice.

Soon,

"Great Zhou Wansheng!"

The shouts in unison were getting closer and closer,

Rong Feiyan stood on Chai Zhengzheng's left hand side, leaning her head and looking toward the north.

Listening to the shouts reaching the street corner in the north,

Rong Feiyan lifted the thin gauze directly and rushed to the railing, looked at it, and said: "Coming! Coming!"

Chai Zhengzheng, Gu Tingyi, Zhang family's Fifth Lady, etc., also rushed to the railing outside the thin gauze like Rong Feiyan.

"Big Brother! That's my Big Brother!"

Fifth Lady pointed at the general behind Xu Zaijing and shouted.

Half a quarter of an hour later,

A cavalryman riding a black horse, holding a flag, arrived nearby.

Zhang family's Fifth Lady no longer needed to control herself, and like the commoners around her, shouted loudly with all her strength.

Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan were the same.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 406 =====