Xiao Ruxun and Shen Yicheng arrived a few dozen meters from Zhao Zhigao. Xiao Ruxun jumped off his horse, took the reins from Shen Yicheng's hands, and then slowly led the prisoner offering troops forward.
"I Xiao Ruxun pays his respects to the Grand Secretary!"
When faced with this good person who bore the title of Grand Secretary, Xiao Ruxun didn't have the slightest temper. He knew that this elder treated him rather warmly, and three years ago, he had also helped him a bit. In a situation where he couldn't even protect himself, he was still able to give him some necessary support, allowing him to pass through difficult times. Xiao Ruxun was very grateful.
Along the way, Xiao Ruxun felt that he had also received help from quite a few people. If it weren't for these people's help, he clearly wouldn't have been able to reach his current state.
As a result, he understood that there were also loyal and good people within the civil official group. Pure and holy lotus flowers could also grow out of a dirty and smelly quagmire. The so-called growing out of the mud without being stained was probably the best portrayal of Zhao Zhigao.
Just like all white lotuses, they couldn't change the quagmire that raised them, even though they themselves were incompatible with the quagmire.
Zhao Zhigao didn't accomplish anything. He didn't have any contributions worth praising, or rather, it was impossible for him to have any contributions at all, because he didn't have that authority. In the quagmire, the darker and smellier one was, the more power one had, and the whiter one was, the more one would be marginalized.
But despite this, white lotuses were still beautiful.
Zhao Zhigao himself might not necessarily not have such feelings.
"Xiao Zhennan, please rise. This old one has come under His Majesty's orders to lead Xiao Zhennan's horse."
After saying this, Zhao Zhigao walked up shakily, wanting to lead Xiao Ruxun's horse. Xiao Ruxun hurriedly stopped Zhao Zhigao.
"The Grand Secretary is already old, and his hands and feet are inconvenient. It's better if you don't do this! How about we let I lead the horse and travel together with you? "
Zhao Zhigao still wanted to say something, but Xiao Ruxun simply said, "His Majesty is at the Meridian Gate. As an official, even though I have made great contributions, I don't dare to ride a horse in front of His Majesty. What does the Grand Secretary think?"
Zhao Zhigao thought about it and agreed. Seeing that Xiao Ruxun had already made up his mind, he didn't force it and said, "In that case, this old one is sorry, Xiao Zhennan.
"I don't dare, I don't dare."
Xiao Ruxun led the horse and asked Zhao Zhigao to walk in front. She was slightly behind Zhao Zhigao.
Seeing this, Zhao Zhigao didn't know what kind of feelings he had in his heart, but he could only walk forward silently.
As he walked, he suddenly asked Xiao Ruxun in a low voice, "Xiao Zhennan, what are your plans for the future?"
Xiao Ruxun found it strange, so she replied, "Naturally, I'll wait for His Majesty's arrangements. Whatever His Majesty orders this lowly general to do, this lowly general will do it. Naturally, this lowly general still hopes to gallop on the battlefield to resist foreign insults."
"A good general is hard to come by."
Zhao Zhigao laughed and said, "I didn't expect the Daming Dynasty to have such a good general. It's really rare. As long as Xiao Zhennan is here, we won't have to worry about the border. Xiao Zhennan's reputation is worth 100,000 soldiers!"
Xiao Ruxun hurriedly said, "Old Grand Secretary is overpraising me. I don't deserve it!"
"You deserve it, of course you deserve it. If you don't deserve it, who else can?"
Zhao Zhigao silently shook his head. "You must cherish yourself. Even if you don't do it for your family or your descendants, you must cherish yourself for the Daming. It's too difficult for the Daming to produce a good general."
Xiao Ruxun was stunned.
"Of course, I will take care of his body. On the battlefield, I is the main commander. Naturally, I will not charge into the enemy lines at will."
Zhao Zhigao looked at Xiao Ruxun and nodded slightly.
"How can there be no enemies in one's life? Whether it's on the battlefield or outside of it, you are different from me. I'm old and useless. I'll only cause trouble for others if I live. But you are different. You are still young and have the opportunity to contribute to the country. You must cherish yourself. "
Xiao Ruxun frowned and felt strange about Zhao Zhigao's words. However, Zhao Zhigao closed his mouth and walked forward without saying a word. This really confused Xiao Ruxun.
Was Zhao Zhigao hinting at something?
Xiao Ruxun still didn't understand, but the Meridian Gate was already in front of him.
At this time, other than Shi Xing and the officials from the Ministry of War, the other officials all bid farewell to Xiao Ruxun. They either went to line up at the bottom of the city wall or went to the top of the city gate.
The ceremony of offering prisoners of war in the Great Ming Dynasty had its own set of rules and regulations. The civil officials were first-class experts in setting up rules and breaking rules. Without many scenes of the ceremony of offering prisoners of war in the Song Dynasty, they rehearsed their own set of etiquette.
In front of the Meridian Gate, the ministers and civil and military officials stood solemnly and solemnly. The Emperor wore a dragon robe and rode out of the inner palace. When he set off, the bell rang at the Meridian Gate. When he arrived at the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the golden drum was sounded and the song was played.
When the Emperor arrived at the Meridian Gate, he walked along the horse path and ascended to his seat in the Imperial Tower. At the bottom of the Meridian Gate, the officials from the Ministry of War led the captives to kneel. Then, the Minister of War reported that the captives had been offered. Drums and cannons were fired. All the officials stood solemnly to celebrate the victory.
The ceremonial officer saluted again and brought the captive over to kneel on the ground. The officials from the Ministry of War reported, "We have been ordered to pacify a certain place. The captives we have captured are presented to the Imperial Palace."
At this time, the Emperor issued an edict. The captives were either handed over to the Ministry of Justice, released with mercy, or killed.
So what appeared in front of Xiao Ruxun was a grand scene. Banners fluttered in the wind. Not to mention the sea of people, sabers and spears stood in great numbers above and below the city walls. There was a sense of desolation. Looking at the Meridian Gate tower from afar, Xiao Ruxun knew that Zhu Yijun had arrived at the Meridian Gate tower.
The high-ranking officials and nobles accompanied the Emperor on the tower. The low-ranking civil and military officials stood on both sides of the tower. Accompanying them were a large number of soldiers in bright armor. It was the scene of a flourishing empire.
Now that the first procedures had been completed, the next step was for the Ministry of War and Xiao Ruxun to do. Under Shi Xing's order, the soldiers untied the 116 captives of the Northern Barbarians from the prison wagons. Then, they were escorted to line up and get ready.
Then, Shi Xing, Xiao Daheng, and a group of officials from the Ministry of War walked forward. They came in front of Xiao Ruxun. Xiao Ruxun nodded and looked at the military officials behind him. He gave them a look and the group of military officials followed Xiao Ruxun and walked forward.
The officials from the Ministry of War walked on the left. The military officials walked on the right. Behind them were two rows of well-behaved prisoners of war.
When they reached a certain position, Shi Xing and Xiao Ruxun stopped and knelt together.
Shi Xing cleared his throat.
"Official! Minister of War, Shi Xing! Offering the prisoners of war! "
After a loud shout, the soldiers in charge of the ceremony immediately began to chant loudly —
"Offering the prisoners of war!"
"Offering the prisoners of war!"
"Offering the prisoners of war!"
They went all the way to the bottom of the Meridian Gate. Then, suddenly, the drums and cannons rang out. All the officials stood solemnly to celebrate the hard-won victory.
After the cannons stopped, the drums and music also stopped. Xiao Ruxun heard a voice coming from the tower of the Meridian Gate —
"Salute!"
"Salute!"
"Salute!"
The voice grew louder and louder. This meant that the next process was about to begin.
So, Xiao Ruxun stood up and waved his hand. He led the soldiers to escort the prisoners of war forward until they reached the bottom of the city gate. When they raised their heads and saw Zhu Yijun, Xiao Ruxun ordered the soldiers to make the prisoners kneel.
More than a hundred prisoners knelt obediently and did not say a word.
Then, Xiao Ruxun bowed to the Emperor on the top of the city gate and shouted loudly, "Subject Xiao Ruxun has received the imperial edict to pacify the Northern Barbarians who invaded Shanxi and Datong. All the prisoners I have captured are respectfully presented to the Imperial Palace. Please give me the imperial edict!"
This step could have been done by the assistant minister of the Ministry of War. However, in order to give Xiao Ruxun more glory, Zhu Yijun ordered Xiao Ruxun to personally present the prisoners.
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