While Zhu Cixiang was deep in thought, a young eunuch came in to report that Jiang Dejing and Wang Jiayan were outside seeking an audience.
Zhu Cixiang hesitated for a while, then asked the young eunuch to bring them in.
After Jiang and Wang saluted, they looked at each other again, and then Jiang Dejing said: "Your Highness, are you going to personally lead the army to attack the Jurchens and the rebels?"
Zhu Cihong had seen Jiang Derjing's expression in Hongde Hall before and suspected that the other party had guessed his thoughts.
Seeing Jiang Dejing's direct inquiry at this moment, and remembering that Wang Jiayan's assistance was still needed for the expedition, he no longer concealed it, and said in a deep voice: "I do have this plan, because the Jurchens and rebels are now coming fiercely, and Mr. Shen has been defeated one after another."
"If we can't win a decent victory again, I'm worried that the morale of the army will be unstable. If Zhang Jinyan's surrender happens again, I'm afraid the capital will also fall."
When Jiang Dejing heard this, he sighed and said: "Your Highness is a great talent, I admire you very much!"
"It's just that there are no elite soldiers in the city now, and both Hauge and Liu Fangliang are brave men. Your Highness has never been on the battlefield. If you attack rashly, if something goes wrong, the capital will fall. Your Highness, please think twice!"
Zhu Cixiang shook his head and said: "Jiang Qing, you don't need to worry!"
"Although I have never been on the battlefield, I have been following my father to handle military affairs in the past few days, and I have also learned a few things. Moreover, there are still three thousand soldiers under the command of Brother Yang in the capital. In addition, I deliberately showed weakness before. I think this matter will happen soon. It will spread.”
"At that time, Hauge and Liu Fangliang will definitely feel contempt. In addition, Dai Mingshuo and Zhang Canran are flatterers. If they come to lobby, the other party will despise me even more. They never expected that I would suddenly attack... ..."
Jiang Dejing listened to Zhu Cixiang's story and quite agreed with it.
But he thought that if this trip failed, Zhu Cixiang would be in danger for his life, so he advised again: "Your Highness, you are a rich man, and you cannot venture into dangerous places lightly. You might as well send a general there, and you can mediate!"
Zhu Cixiang smiled bitterly and said: "Qing Jiang, it's not that I'm overjoyed to achieve great success. I really don't have a suitable candidate. Moreover, this battle is of great importance. If I don't go there in person, I'm afraid all the soldiers may not be willing to fight to the death!"
"And if this battle cannot succeed, we will have no choice but to wait for reinforcements. But now that the world is in panic, how can we get reinforcements?"
Wang Jiayan heard this and hurriedly said: "Your Highness, although I am a little old, I can still ride a horse and draw a bow. Please let me lead the army..."
"Wang Qing, this must not be done!"
Zhu Cihong didn't wait for Wang Jiayan to finish his words before interrupting him: "Although I have a high chance of winning this trip, it is not foolproof."
"Secondly, you are very familiar with the generals in the capital. If I fail, I will go south to seek help from my father. At that time, the safety of the capital will only depend on you."
Wang Jiayan shook his head and said: "Your Highness, although you have calculated everything, the battlefield is ever-changing, and you are in the comfort of the country. If something goes wrong, the impact will be no less than the fall of the capital, so I ask you to allow your ministers to fight on your behalf."
"As for the matter of defending the city you mentioned, Jin Xuan, the doctor in the Ministry of War, is also very familiar with the generals in the capital. He has also participated in the battle of defending the city. He can take care of His Highness's worries..."
Zhu Cihong was very moved when he saw Wang Jiayan's sincerity.
He pondered for a while and said: "Wang Qing, do you know that during the Three Kingdoms Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao had so many powerful generals, why did he still lead his army to attack Wuchao himself?"
Wang Jiayan was stunned when he heard this, and then said with some embarrassment: "I know that my talents are mediocre, so it is really difficult for me to take on this position. It's just that this trip is dangerous, so please think twice!"
Seeing this, Zhu Cixiang shook his head and said: "Wang Qing, you have misunderstood what I mean. I feel that the reason why Cao Cao wants to conquer it himself is not because he does not believe in the abilities of the generals, but because he knows that the battle of Wuchao is too difficult. If If he doesn't come in person, the soldiers will not risk their lives."
"And once the battle of Wuchao is lost, Cao Cao's army will definitely be defeated, so he just broke the cauldron. Now our situation is roughly the same as Cao Cao's. If I still cherish my life at this moment, how can I expect my soldiers to use their lives."
After listening to Zhu Cixiang's story, Wang Jiayan knew that what he said was reasonable, and his expression gradually softened, and he said with a worried expression: "Your Highness, if you really want to go, please allow me to accompany you!"
Zhu Cixiang said thoughtfully: "I would be happy if Wang Qing accompanied me, but there is not peace inside and outside the capital now, so I need you to be in charge."
"Furthermore, no one can know about my personal conquest. You are also required to assist me in this matter..."
Wang and Jiang knew that Zhu Cihong had made up his mind, and that this method was indeed the best method at the moment. They no longer tried to persuade him, but just helped him improve the plan, and decided to secretly send people to follow him so that they could ensure Zhu Cihong's safety if the war went against him. Safety.
The three of them deliberated for more than an hour before agreeing on everything, and then Wang and Jiang split up to act.
Zhu Cixiang took out the strategic minutes that Zhu Yuanzhang took the time to write for him and read them carefully.
Just as Zhu Cixiang was reading in ecstasy, a young eunuch came in and reported that Zhou Hou had recruited him to Kunning Palace.
When Zhu Cihong heard the report, a look of anger flashed across his face.
Because Hou Zhou was seriously ill, he was worried that his condition would get worse after Zhou Hou learned about Kuan Lu. He had strictly ordered everyone not to leak the matter. Unexpectedly, Hou Zhou found out about it soon, which showed that there was no peace in the palace.
However, although he was angry in his heart, he knew that this was not the time to have an attack, so he hurried over immediately.
When he arrived at Kunning Palace, he found that the palace was very deserted. Even Princess Zhaoren, who was always noisy on weekdays, was nowhere to be seen, and he couldn't help feeling a little sad.
Zhu Cixiang came back to his senses after being distracted for a moment, then gathered his energy and followed a maid to Hou Zhou's house.
When he walked into the house, he was slightly surprised when he found that Queen Yi'an Zhang Yan was also there, with an angry look on her face.
Later, when he saw Princess Kunxing serving Zhou Hou's decoction, she felt uncomfortable again.
Just when he was about to step forward to salute, he suddenly heard Zhou Hou's cold voice saying: "Beast, you still... no... no... kneel down!"
Zhu Cixiang saw that Queen Zhou's voice was still very loud at the beginning, but after saying two words, she was out of breath, and her heart was unbearable. He hurriedly knelt down to apologize and said: "Queen mother, calm down, the child knows that she is wrong. Don't be angry because of the child." I lost my body..."
Empress Zhou pointed at him tremblingly and reprimanded: "You... you evil... evil beast... you are so majestic... ...What a big...big...decision...how...could it be wrong..."
Seeing that Queen Zhou's face was red and her body was shaking violently, Zhu Cihong almost fainted several times when she reprimanded him, and was so frightened that she kowtowed to admit her mistake.
Some people died, but not completely...
