The turmoil of the cabinet in the Imperial Court had no effect on the people at the bottom of society. Even those noble scholars and lords, those high officials who were preparing to participate in the examination, had not been able to see the slightest secret in this turmoil.
But the news that everyone in the capital knew quickly affected them.
"Did you hear? Taiyuan has fallen! Governor Wang has been dismissed by His Majesty and will be sent to prison! "
"I also heard that Xiao Zhennan has obtained the position of governor of four borders!"
"Xiao Zhennan is a general, but how could a general obtain the position of governor of four borders? That's against the rules! "
"Rules are dead, but people are alive. If Xiao Zhennan isn't the governor, who else can he get?"
"But this is the first time in the dynasty's more than one hundred years that a general has become a governor! Those Qiu Ba guards outside have been holding their heads high these past few days. Those who don't know might think that he's the one who has become governor! "
"It should be said, but Xiao Zhennan is a proper general. There's not the slightest bit of exaggeration in him. With him becoming governor, all the generals of the world will be able to hold their heads high!"
"Who says it isn't!"
… … …
Ever since restaurants and restaurants had appeared in the land of China, these restaurants and teahouses had become little societies. Although they were small, they were a mix of good and bad. Some boasted while others had real sources of information. In short, people loved to chat after a meal.
Those below could not come into contact with information from above, so they had an unconcealable yearning and pursuit for information from above. They always wanted to know something to soothe and soothe their hearts, but that was all.
Xu Guangqi and his friend Li Zhizao, who were preparing for the examination, were sitting at a table in the corner, facing each other as they drank wine and ate some appetizers. As they chatted, they listened to the people around them.
It had to be said that the number of well-informed people in this tavern had truly increased.
"Zixian, recently, Xiao Zhennan's reputation in the capital is getting bigger and bigger. He's the number one military governor in more than a hundred years. This title sounds really amazing. Compared to Li Shaobao's title as the number one military officer, his position as the number one general in the history of Wanli has been stabilized.
But I also heard that the reason why Xiao Zhennan could get this position this time is inseparable from the recommendation of the cabinet ministers. At this time, no one is willing to clean up the mess in Shanxi. There are tens of thousands of Northern Barbarians. If they fail and end up like Wang Shiyang, how can they enter the cabinet? After thinking about it, I can only let Xiao Zhennan do it. "
Li Zhizao drank a mouthful of wine and said with some interest.
Xu Guangqi looked at Li Zhizao and asked, "Are you interested in Xiao Zhennan?"
Li Zhizao laughed.
"You know, I'm very interested in firearms. Xiao Zhennan is a famous general in Daming who is best at using firearms. I heard that he used 20,000 kilograms of gunpowder to overturn the city wall of Ningxia. In Korea, he used hundreds of cannons to bombard the Japanese pirates. The Japanese pirates were blown to pieces and their corpses piled up like a mountain.
Putting aside the fact that he has avenged the blood feud of several decades for my elders in the southeast, I'm very interested in his use of firearms. I heard that when he came to the capital last year, he brought with him a cannon, the newest model of Franco's cannon, called the Red Barbarian Cannon. I heard that this cannon was more than one zhang long, so just how big is it! "
Looking at Li Zhizao's excited face, Xu Guangqi couldn't help but remember that Xiao Ruxun had sent people to contact him before the New Year. Thinking of that exquisitely made flintlock, Xu Guangqi felt that the seed that had been planted long ago had already begun to grow and break through the soil.
"I also heard that the musketeers under Xiao Zhennan are the most elite musketeers in the Great Ming Dynasty. They are very skilled in combat and can fire their muskets very quickly. They are much stronger than the useless soldiers in the capital who use their muskets as fire sticks. The army should be like Xiao Zhennan's. Only then can they be called elite troops and win battles!"
The more Li Zhizao spoke, the more excited he became. Then he began to criticize the corruption of the Ming Dynasty Army in recent years and the plummeting fighting power. This was the main danger that led to the Battle of Datong in Shanxi. In the end, not only did they lose Datong, they also lost Taiyuan.
As Xu Guangqi gazed at Li Zhizao, he didn't know what to feel, but a certain thought involuntarily appeared in his mind and grew more and more intense.
On the 23rd day of the first month of the 26th year of the Wanli calendar, there was still half a month before the start of this year's examination. This was also when Xiao Ruxun officially received the Emperor's decree. Xiao Ruxun was appointed as the Governor of the Datong, Taiyuan, and Yulin, with full authority over the soldiers of the four towns and the responsibility for the Battle of Datong in Shanxi.
The capital once again received good news. The number one military governor in the past hundred years, Xiao Ruxun, had defeated ten thousand Northern Barbarians in Qi County, beheaded one thousand seven hundred, and seized countless warhorses and supplies. The Northern Barbarians fled in defeat, and Xiao Zhennan led his army in hot pursuit.
This good news was like a shot of adrenaline to the capital, which was still in the midst of a cold and gloomy atmosphere. People began to discuss the Battle of Shanxi and Xiao Ruxun with even more fervently. The scholars who were preparing for the examination were unavoidably influenced by this enthusiasm.
If this was all, then the attention would not be so great. However, there were rumors that the policy discussions of this year's examination and the Palace Examination might have something to do with the Battle of the Nine Borders.
The scholars immediately thought of the political topics discussed in the imperial examinations during the reign of Jiajing and Longqing. They suddenly felt that this was very likely and immediately began to cram for the Buddha's feet.
Before the start of the Spring Examination in the 26th year of the Wanli calendar, military affairs were a topic that the examinees could not avoid.
On the third day of the second month of the 26th year of the Wanli calendar, there was another piece of good news.
After the victory in Qi County, the Northern Barbarians were chased everywhere by Xiao Ruxun. Then, they were caught up by Xiao Ruxun twice in Wenshui and Fen Zhou. After another two great victories, the Northern Barbarians were killed in Wenshui and 800 were killed. The Northern Barbarians were killed in Fen Zhou and 10,000 were killed in Fen Zhou and 1,600 were killed. The remaining Northern Barbarians continued to flee south, but their morale was low and their defeat was inevitable.
In just half a month, they had three great victories. They had killed twenty-five thousand Northern Barbarians and killed over four thousand. Such a glorious record shocked the capital and the officials.
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