At the end of December of the first year of Hongguang, when King Yu inexplicably began to clean up the mess in Shaanxi, the entire southeast was already in chaos.
Shi Kefa, who had lasted only ten days and had no experience in leading troops, buried himself in the city, which earned him countless posthumous reputations.
Yangzhou City, a city prospered by canals and salt merchants, ushered in its bloody moment.
The greedy Manchu soldiers rushed into the city, robbed, raped and committed all kinds of evil, and almost ransacked the entire city of Yangzhou.
The huge wealth allows almost everyone to return home with full pockets.
The Manchu nobles headed by Azig were even more smiling and overjoyed.
He even specially sent thirty beauties to Beijing to present them to Emperor Shunzhi and the regent, showing that he never forgot his roots.
After a good meal in Yangzhou, the military was very happy, and everyone couldn't wait to go west, wanting to see the splendor of Nanjing.
However, Azige is not as casual as Yangzhou when it comes to the city of Nanjing. This giant city that dominates the south has an influence beyond imagination.
Nanjing must not be destroyed.
This is what Dorgon repeatedly emphasized, and it has far-reaching political significance.
Azig was extremely afraid of his younger brother and did not dare to disobey him.
However, the next trip will not be as smooth as before.
Huang Degong set out from Taiping Mansion, and more than 100,000 troops obeyed Emperor Hongguang's orders. After collecting enough silver, they quickly came to the outside of Nanjing to guard the capital of the Ming Dynasty.
Nanjing at this time was very different from Beijing two years ago.
At least, the huge Nanjing still has his last army to protect it.
Now, the cabinet headed by Ma Shiying no longer held back, but kept asking questions, which surprised Huang Degong.
Emperor Hongguang, for the sake of his family's life, had to grit his teeth and inspect the army in person, and took out 100,000 taels of silver from the inner treasury to reward the soldiers.
"Long live, long live——"
The continuous rewards reassured the soldiers and boosted their morale.
Ever since the recruitment system was introduced during the Jiajing period, the army has always had breasts and mothers, and the desire for silver has been deeply rooted in the bones.
Even the emperor has to pay his salary.
"The Qing family is very confident about establishing a slave."
Ma Shiying and others accompanied the emperor. Hongguang dragged his heavy body and asked Huang Degong intimately.
"His Majesty!"
Huang Degong was so excited that he glanced at the waiting ministers. He calmed down instantly and said seriously:
"There are 30,000 forbidden troops in Nanjing City, but the last general only has 100,000 in his hands. It looks extremely large, but the real elite only has 20,000 to 30,000."
Hearing this, everyone, including the emperor, was disappointed.
However, they still stared at this remaining loyal general, hoping to get some good news from him.
Huang Degong sighed in his heart. Faced with the imperial court's optimistic and extremely pessimistic thoughts, he really couldn't understand:
"Nanjing City now has sufficient food and salary reserves. As long as most of the people in the city are persuaded to retreat, it will be enough to support the army for several months."
"If you just defend the city, you will never have confidence."
Gritting his teeth, Huang Degong made a promise.
The emperor's face was no longer so ugly, he just nodded and said no more words.
Ma Shiying took a few steps closer, glanced at everyone, and said: "The current plan is to order the loyal people in the world to be diligent, and the second is to prepare for war while negotiating peace with Jiannu, hoping to get good news."
At this time, the Donglin Party no longer clamored for opposition.
Although they hate Emperor Hongguang, there are only a few who are truly determined to surrender.
As for those nobles, although their bodies were shaky and hollowed out by the wine and sex, their pale faces still showed deep thoughts.
They have retired from the country and have long since lost the blood of their ancestors. They are just thinking about how to continue their family's prosperity for hundreds of years.
Of course, the most positive person at this time is none other than Ma Shiying.
As the chief minister of the cabinet, he could never escape.
"Jingnan Marquis, your majesty and the imperial court are determined to make you the Duke of Jingguo. It will be hereditary and will not be replaced."
The emperor's figure gradually left, and for some reason, in Huang Degong's eyes, the former bulky body became much lighter now.
On the side, Ruan Dacheng specially stayed and looked at the thoughtful Huang Degong, and he couldn't help but whisper.
Huang Degong was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed his hands in bows: "How dare you, the general, ask for credit?"
"Under the emperor's order, only the noble army comes to attack, and the court will naturally reward you."
Ruan Dacheng pressed his hands down and whispered: "To speak from the bottom of my heart, the lives of the entire city of Nanjing, including His Majesty and myself, are entrusted to the Duke."
Huang Degong nodded solemnly: "I will live up to the trust of His Majesty and the imperial court. Unless Jiannu steps over my corpse, he will never enter Nanjing."
Ruan Dacheng was somewhat satisfied, nodded, and then left slowly.
And Huang Degong supported the female wall. The towering Nanjing City can be said to be a strong city, but how many people can hold it since ancient times?
In the second year of Hongguang, that is, the third year of Shunzhi, after the people of Nanjing had lived a miserable life, on the eighth day of the first lunar month, 200,000 Qing troops arrived at the gates of Nanjing.
There was panic in the city, but thanks to Huang Degong's brutal suppression, nothing happened.
Immediately, the Manchu Qing sent envoys and proposed conditions, and they would never agree to peace:
Emperor Hongguang surrendered without losing a throne.
All officials in the Nanjing imperial court were appointed according to their talents.
The presence of these two conditions equals the absence of them.
There are few firm promises.
This made Wenwu, who was full of hope, completely disappointed.
Huang Degong could only grit his teeth and continue to defend the city. He didn't care about the political twists and turns.
The Qing army's camp stretched for dozens of miles, with endless carriages and horses, and a constant flow of people. It can be said to be extremely huge.
Azige was so high-spirited that the battle of Zhenjiang was almost effortless. Nanjing's barrier was completely lost, and he was determined to win.
By this time, no one thought Nanjing could be held, it was just a matter of time.
Azig naturally didn't want to delay it until spring. The rainy winter had already caused epidemics in the army and caused heavy losses to the cavalry.
"The south is really not something that Manchu warriors can come to."
Azig sighed, looking at the majestic city wall that was far taller than Beijing, he couldn't help but sigh:
"Such a majestic city wall, it is a pity that it will no longer be perfect."
"Maybe Nanjing will surrender in a few days." Shang Kexi said softly.
"Nanjing City should be no match for the red artillery!"
Azig turned around and asked.
Geng Zhongming, Kong Youde and others on the side were busy patting their chests in assurance.
Wu Sangui also had other thoughts about this.
Along the way, he swept across the south of the Yangtze River, made great achievements with artillery, and more and more troops were recruited to surrender. His importance as well as that of Guan Ning's army was greatly reduced.
For him, this can be said to be a rapid decline in political status, and it is difficult to know whether he will be good or bad.
"However, the territory of Huguang, King Yu, will be mine sooner or later!"
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