At the end of the first month of the year, the city of Beijing is still filled with joy, and the breath of the New Year is still hanging on the faces of the people in the city, as if the crisis of hundreds of thousands of Qing troops pressing down on the border not long ago has become a very distant legend.
On the 29th of the first lunar month, Liu Yan led the new army's guard battalion, cavalry battalion, and artillery battalion to arrive outside Dongzhimen. Chen Xinjia, Minister of War, welcomed the army outside the city gate.
"Haha, Mr. Lu Guo has been working hard all the way, hard work!"
Chen Xinjia looked at the New Army soldiers standing tall in the cold wind, and a stone fell in his heart. As long as Liu Yan was willing to lead the army to fight against Li Zicheng, he, the Minister of War, would be safe. At present, the Lin Party officials in the East were being After "killing" most of them, many positions in the DPRK are vacant, and only Jiang Dejing is struggling to support the cabinet. This is a golden opportunity for Chen Xinjia to join the cabinet, or even serve as the chief minister of the cabinet!
Therefore, Chen Xinjia was particularly cordial when he saw Liu Yan. After some greetings, he got on the carriage and entered Beijing from Dongzhimen with the army.
As more than 30,000 soldiers from the three battalions of the New Army marched into the city, people along the way gathered on both sides of the street to watch. Shuntian government officials and soldiers from the Beijing camp had been deployed along the way and were doing their best to maintain order.
Liu Yan was riding on a war horse, followed by Miao Shao and Xu Ming. He waved to the people along the way from time to time. Many people were even more enthusiastic and cheered for the new army officers and soldiers.
After walking for a while, the army came to Qiansanmen Street, which leads to the Meridian Gate. According to the procedures established by the Ministry of War, General Liu Yan led his army from here to the Meridian Gate, accepted the review of Emperor Chongzhen, and then led his army directly from Leaving the city from Xizhimen
, went to Zijingguan to join the other battalions of the New Army and the garrison.
Chen Xinjia also got off the carriage at this time, then came to Liu Yan, and said with a smile: "The Duke of Lu will change the route from here. From here to the Meridian Gate, it is only less than half an hour's journey. Your Majesty should be there soon." Let’s set off, let’s not delay the review.”
Liu Yan looked at the people gathered around him and ignored Chen Xinjia. Instead, he said to Xu Ming: "Act as planned. Remember not to collide with the people and minimize casualties."
"Got the order!"
Chen Xinjia looked at Liu Yan who was giving orders on his own, and felt a chill rushing to the top of his head. He said tremblingly: "Gong Lu? What are you going to do!"
At this time, Xu Ming had already rushed to the front. A large number of soldiers from the New Army Cavalry Battalion began to rush towards various parts of Beijing along the roads extending in all directions on Qiansanmen Street. When the people along the way saw this, they thought it was an arrangement by the imperial court, and Instead of panicking, he cheered loudly towards the heroic cavalry soldiers.
Liu Yan then looked at Chen Xinjia and said with a smile: "I want to see Your Majesty now, please lead the way!"
Chen Xinjia gritted his teeth and said angrily: "Duke Lu is really going to do that thing that will be infamy for thousands of years!"
Liu Yan said coldly: "I will not be so naive as to think that by removing some Donglin Party officials in the DPRK, the Ming Dynasty will be able to regain its prosperity, right? Now the Ming Dynasty is like a terminally ill strong man, with ordinary warmth and tonic The decoction has no effect, so we can only use strong medicine to get a chance of survival!"
Chen Xinjia looked at the soldiers of the New Army cavalry battalion who were heading to various places around him, as well as the New Army soldiers who were heading to various places in the city.
The soldiers of the Guards Battalion said in an almost pleading tone: "Duke Lu, please don't mess around. The Ming Dynasty can no longer bear such turmoil. Go to the Meridian Gate for inspection, and then leave the city as soon as possible. The situation is not out of control yet!”
Liu Yan stared at Chen Xinjia for a while, and then said: "Let me control the situation!"
After saying that, Liu Yan rode his horse forward and said at the same time: "Let my soldiers mount their horses and follow us!"
"yes!"
Then Chen Xinjia was forced onto his horse by several New Army soldiers, and followed the soldiers of the New Army Guards Battalion to the Meridian Gate.
At this time, the soldiers in the Beijing camp along the way also noticed something unusual. However, facing the invincible new army soldiers and horses, facing the Duke of Lu Liu Yan who rushed in front, and the Minister of War Chen Xinjia who followed behind, these people in Beijing city The soldiers in the Beijing camp who were used to messing around didn't dare to stop them at all. Instead, they continued to block the people along the way and maintained order.
Soon, Liu Yan led the left and middle parts of the guard battalion to arrive outside the Meridian Gate. Miao Shao rode his horse to Liu Yan's side and said, "My lord, the cavalry battalion is responsible for seizing the gates of Beijing. Qian Qian led the The artillery battalion officers have gone to various arsenals and treasuries in the city, and the right wing of the Guards Battalion has also gone to the Beijing Camp, as well as the Fusi Department of Beizhen, the Wucheng Army and Horses Department, etc. The ministries will work all night to deliver the news in a timely manner."
Liu Yan nodded, and then said: "After entering the palace, you immediately lead the soldiers on the left side of the guard battalion to control the gates of the palace. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"
"yes!"
What is Liu Yan doing? Naturally, he controlled the city of Beijing and the Ming Dynasty!
When Liu Yan proposed to go to the city for review, it was already decided
This plan. When Xu Ming, Miao Shao, and Qian Qian learned the news, they were almost trembling with excitement.
As for Xun Jingyun and Wu Guojin, it wasn't that Liu Yan didn't believe them, but this operation had to be a surprise. They were temporarily out of commission, so Liu Yan arranged for them to be behind the scenes to pack the army's baggage.
At this time, Liu Yan ordered people to bring Chen Xinjia to his side and said, "Please call the door."
Chen Xinjia said angrily: "I will never associate with rebellion. If you want me to open the palace gate, don't even think about it!"
Liu Yan sighed and said: "I want to be a loyal minister who follows the rules, and then watch the Ming Dynasty fall, and then watch the world be turned into a wasteland by Li Zicheng, and finally take advantage of the Manchus outside the Pass. I still want to fight with my governor. , maybe we can create another prosperous era?”
Chen Xinjia hesitated at this moment, but still said: "No matter how strong the new army is, can it still allow you to reach the sky in one step?"
"I have never thought about ascending to heaven, I just want to stabilize the world. It doesn't matter who sits on the throne."
Liu Yan said coldly: "If my soldiers help to open the palace gate, my governor will naturally agree with His Majesty. Ming Dynasty will be Ming Dynasty. If my soldiers don't care, then my governor will mobilize the artillery battalion. After the fierce battle, that I can’t guarantee who is sitting on the seat!”
Chen Xinjia's eyes widened and he said: "You only have the world in your heart, where is the Ming Dynasty!"
"The Ming Dynasty is also the Ming Dynasty of China. If China dies, what will the Ming Dynasty do?"
Liu Yan said in a deep voice: "The Ming Dynasty expelled the Mongolian Tatars and rebuilt China, which was a great contribution to China. Therefore, I hope that the Ming Dynasty can be brought back to life and prosperous times can come again.
. But the premise is that Your Majesty can accept this governor's new policy plan and this governor can control the situation of the government, otherwise everything will be empty talk! "
Seeing Chen Xinjia lowering his head and struggling, Liu Yan immediately said: "Okay, I've said it all. Since I still can't make up my mind, come here and order the artillery battalion to come immediately to help!"
"Wait!"
When Chen Xinjia saw that Liu Yan dared to come for real, he immediately said, "I'll call the door!"
A moment later, amidst Chen Xinjia's roar, the Han generals and guards guarding the Meridian Gate panicked. Then they opened the palace door honestly and were disarmed by the new army soldiers and placed aside.
"Enter the palace!"
Following Liu Yan's order, thousands of soldiers from the left and middle parts of the guard camp swarmed into the palace. Liu Yan, Xu Ming, and Chen Xinjia rode their horses and followed the large group of soldiers and horses, rushing towards the palace.
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen's Luan Jia was rushing from the imperial study to the Meridian Gate. Suddenly he heard a burst of cannon fire. Emperor Chongzhen ordered to stop in surprise, then stepped off the Luan Jia and looked towards the south where the sound came from.
Wang Chengen also rushed to the side and said: "Your Majesty, my old servant has sent someone to inquire. It seemed like the sound of cannons just now?"
Emperor Chongzhen frowned and said, "By this time, Liu Yan should have led his army into the city, right?"
Wang Chengen's face suddenly became very ugly, and he said: "What your Majesty means is that Liu Yan..."
At this moment, a young eunuch ran over in a panic, stumbled in front and fell to the ground, then got up on his hands and feet and continued running towards Emperor Chongzhen.
When Emperor Chongzhen and Wang Chengen saw this, their faces instantly turned pale. They even felt that their hands and feet were cold, and almost all the blood in their bodies was
Almost frozen.
"Your Majesty! Liu Yan has led his army to seize the city. Thousands of troops from the new army have entered the palace through the Meridian Gate!"
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, his eyes suddenly darkened and he fainted.
When Wang Chengen saw this, he screamed: "Escort me! Go back to the imperial study!"
A group of eunuchs and guards hurriedly carried Emperor Chongzhen onto the Luanjia, and then everyone rushed towards the royal study.
At the same time, Wang Chengen continued to send people to mobilize the eunuchs and guards in the palace, and they all gathered in the direction of the imperial study room to prepare for the escort.
However, when everyone was guarding Emperor Chongzhen and were about to rush to the imperial study, they were blocked by a group of cavalry. It turned out that it was the brigade of the New Army's personal guard battalion that stayed away all night.
"According to the military order of the Duke of Lu, we are here to wait for His Majesty to come. Please rest in the imperial study for the time being!"
Wang Chengen bravely stood in front of Luan Jia and scolded him sternly: "How dare you! You dare to block His Majesty's Luan Jia. You will risk your life if you don't get out of the way!"
The leader of the guard camp, who did not collect the flag all night, said in a cold voice: "Once again, your majesty, please go to the imperial study to rest!"
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen had already woken up. He raised the curtain of the carriage and saw the large group of cavalry outside. His face turned pale. He stopped Wang Chengen and said, "Don't force yourself, just go to the imperial study!"
"yes!"
Then Emperor Chongzhen got off the Luan Jia and took Wang Chengen into the imperial study. A large number of accompanying eunuchs, maids and guards were stopped by the new army at night, and then a large group of new army officers sealed the imperial study.
"Supervisor!"
At this time, Liu Yan was in the Qianqing Palace, looking at the huge palace. The furnishings inside were very different from the Forbidden City visited by later generations. The biggest difference was that there were no words on the plaques everywhere.
There is the ugly tadpole script of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, but only vigorous Chinese characters.
Liu Yan looked back and saw Miao Shao striding over and said, "Master Governor, all the gates of the palace have been taken down, and all the harem have been sealed off."
"Is anyone dead?"
"Some guards took action, and the soldiers killed more than thirty people. There were no casualties among the soldiers."
Liu Yan said: "We must ensure the safety of His Majesty and everyone in the harem. No one can die!"
"yes!"
"The governor just heard the sound of cannons and sent someone to ask what the situation was like?"
Miao Shao said: "Qian Qian has sent someone to report that when the artillery battalion occupied the Beijing Camp, the soldiers of the Beijing Camp resisted and killed several artillery battalion soldiers. Qian Qian used artillery to bombard the barracks and directly killed them. We went in and occupied the Beijing camp."
Liu Yan frowned slightly and asked, "How many people died?"
"Thirteen soldiers of the artillery battalion were killed and 28 wounded, and more than 560 soldiers of the Beijing camp were killed and wounded."
"Deploy a sentry from the right side of the Guards Battalion to support them. Disarm all the soldiers from the Beijing Battalion and keep them under strict supervision."
"yes."
"Any news from the cavalry camp?"
"Yes, now all the city gates in Beijing have been occupied by cavalry battalions, and all the city gates have been closed."
Liu Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Come on, let's go to the imperial study. Today, I will also be a Cao Cao, holding the emperor and the princes under his arm!"
