Wang Chengen really believed it!
Emperor Taizu Gao really entrusted him with a dream about the prince Qiansui Ye!
Otherwise, how old is the prince? How is it possible to find the key to reversing the general trend of the world just through fiscal revenue and expenditure?
Although both Chongzhen and Wang Chengen knew that moving south was a way to survive, they did not and could not regard the Ming Dynasty as a business, and they had no economic acumen. Otherwise, how could they be so poor? Therefore, it is impossible to see that only the Ming Dynasty moved southward and abandoned the two "markets" of the Central Plains and Liaodong that lost money, in order to overcome the financial crisis. Only when the financial crisis is overcome and the court has enough money can it rebuild the army and conquer the country again!
Otherwise, if you have empty pockets and no money to pay the army, how can you expect soldiers to go hungry and defend the Ming Dynasty?
Moreover, Zhu Cihong also compared the situation after moving to the south with the situation when Emperor Taizu Gao established the imperial foundation in Jiangnan in the past. They found that they were almost the same!
Because once Chuangni enters Beijing, it will be equivalent to taking over from Ming Dynasty to shoulder the heavy burden of resisting the Manchu captives, and will also have to solve the feeding problem of tens of millions of people in the Central Plains and Northwest.
There were so many rogue bandits in the Central Plains and Northwest China, not only because of corruption, annexation, and increased Liao taxation, but also partly because of natural disasters.
In recent years, the north has been dry and cold, and agricultural harvests have failed year after year. If the politics are clear, the four sides are stable, and the land is not overly concentrated, we may be able to cope with it, but life will not be easy!
If Ming Dynasty withdraws, it will be a reverse takeover. Natural disasters have to come! The Jianyi barbarians outside the customs won't stop joining the invaders just because Beijing has changed their masters. They may even enter the customs in large numbers to fight for the world!
Will Chuangni have a good life by then? The officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty asked for money, but the troops under Chuang Ni's army all brought their own rations and worked in vain? impossible! The hard days of rebellion are yet to come!
After the hardships of rebellion, the imperial court retreating to the south of the Yangtze River will naturally be stable. With an income of more than 10 million yuan a year, are you still afraid that you won't be able to train a strong army? Even if you can't make the northern expedition to the Central Plains, you can still live a good life guarding the Huanghuai and Dajiang Rivers... The seventeen years since the emperor ascended the throne have been really hard. Not to mention working hard all day long, his life is no better than that of an ordinary rich man.
So Wang Chengen is really suffocated by his dream of settling in Jiangnan!
But in Wang Chengen's dream, Zhu Cihong was still the prince, and Chongzhen was not the late emperor...
"Master Qiansui, please go to the Palace of Qianqing with the old slave to meet him, and tell the emperor the dream that our ancestors entrusted to you." Wang Cheng'en said, "Since Emperor Taizu Gao entrusted me with the dream, I think the courtiers will also praise Xiang's move to the south. Yes."
That's a good excuse!
Zhu Cixiang sighed in his heart: Emperor Chongzhen would have used Taizu's dream as an excuse earlier, and now he would be at ease in Nanjing - Zhu Yuanzhang would be the one to take the blame. Of course, the ministers would no longer stop Chongzhen from running away. . Otherwise, you are slandering Emperor Chongzhen and lying. This is deceiving the emperor and will be beheaded! Or he opposed the wise decision of Emperor Taizu Gao, which was to destroy the ancestors and destroy the family!
But Chongzhen didn't have such wit, so he knew how to pass the blame to his subordinates in order to preserve his reputation. It's a pity that the people below are not stupid!
But now, it is no longer time to discuss running away with the civil and military officials. Because the rebel army will soon surround Beijing!
Zhu Cixiang looked at Wang Chengen who was about to leave excitedly, and said coldly: "It's too late!"
"What's too late?" Wang Chengen stopped.
"It's too late to discuss the move south with the court officials!" Zhu Cixiang said word by word.
"How could it be too late?" Wang Chengen said, but his heart sank.
"Because Juyong Pass has been lost today!" Zhu Cixiang said through gritted teeth.
"How is it possible..." Wang Chengen's voice was trembling, "Tangtong had thousands of soldiers and horses, and there were originally some defenders at Juyong Pass. And Juyong is dangerous. As long as you work hard to hold on, the intruders can't break through."
Zhu Cixiang said: "Tang Tong and Du Zhizhi have turned on and off the thieves!" He paused, "It's already past midnight, it's fifteen... The report of the fall of Juyongguan should arrive tonight at the latest. Tomorrow The rebel army will march outside the capital, and within a few days, the capital will fall!"
"This, this, this..."
"This is what Taizu said in his dream!" Zhu Cixiang refused to do anything and continued to use Zhu Yuanzhang as an excuse.
Wang Chengen was trembling all over, "How is it possible? How is it possible?"
He said this, but he knew very well in his heart that it was definitely possible! Datong has surrendered, Xuanfu has surrendered, what else can Juyongguan not surrender to?
As for the defense of Beijing City... Wang Chengen knows it better than anyone else, because he himself is now also serving as the admiral and eunuch of the Beijing Camp, in charge of the defense of Beijing City. On March 13th, Wang Chengen was busy setting up defenses everywhere in and around Beijing. Of course he knew how weak Beijing's defenses were.
The Beijing camp has a lot of troops on its books, but in fact there are many vacancies. In addition, wars have been intense everywhere in the past few years, and fighting often occurs around Beijing. The troops in the Beijing camp who were fighting in the middle battle were either transferred to various places, or were gradually exhausted in the battle to resist the invasion of the captives. Last year, there was a great epidemic and many people died of illness. The number of troops that can be used for defense now is only a few thousand, and their morale is low. They will have no fighting spirit and no fighting spirit.
The most terrifying thing is that the imperial court cannot come up with enough silver to recruit soldiers and reward soldiers!
The military household system implemented in the early Ming Dynasty has long ceased to exist in name only. Where did the land in the guardhouse go? The upper class of military households became landlords and the lower class became tenant farmers, unable to afford military service.
Therefore, the imperial court had to spend money to raise troops. Without money, there would be no soldiers... Even if there were many strong men in Beijing, they would not be used by the imperial court!
Zhu Cixiang said: "Wang Banban, we will know today whether Juyong Pass will be surrendered. Once Juyong Pass is lost, Chuangni will surround the city of Beijing. You should know better than I do whether the city of Beijing can be defended."
"There are also Wu Sangui's soldiers!" Wang Chengen said, "As long as Guan Ning's cavalry arrives, the capital will be safe and sound."
Zhu Cixiang snorted: "You still expect Wu Sangui? What did my father say when he summoned his father Wu Xiang on February 12th? He needs a salary of one million! If my father can provide one million, Wu Sangui's 30,000 The army has arrived a long time ago. On March 6th, Emperor Father ordered to abandon the defense of Ningyuan and summoned Wu Sangui to lead his troops to defend. Today is already fifteen, where are Wu Sangui's soldiers? They haven't even passed Shanhaiguan yet! You still expect him? ?”
He stamped his feet and said angrily: "Since there is no money, don't expect Wu Sangui's 30,000 troops to fight against Chuang Ni! Even if he doesn't need money himself, the soldiers below him will have to use money to coax him!"
Zhu Cixiang suddenly shouted loudly and asked: "Wang Banban! Have you never made preparations for the capital to be attacked by the rebels?"
Wang Chengen was also confused when asked by Zhu Cixiang.
He indeed was not prepared for Beijing to be breached by Chuang Ni!
It's a bit unbelievable to say that the city of Beijing is now in danger. There are no decent defenders in the city, and reinforcements from outside can't arrive for a while. And Li Zicheng's army is about to attack the city!
At this time, everyone knew that something was wrong. Emperor Chongzhen and his most trusted eunuch were not ready to escape!
This is Emperor Chongzhen and the people he uses... Do you think you are in a hurry?
Even if you want to take the blame for moving south, you still have to make preparations for your escape!
Zhu Cixiang's young and handsome face was suddenly filled with anger. He gritted his teeth, pointed at Wang Chengen's nose and asked: "Wang Chengen! How did you become the eunuch who Bingbi, the eunuch who oversees the East Factory, who commands the internal and external military camps, and the nine gates? ? Do you really want to trap your father, queen mother and me to death?"
"Yes, but the emperor did not issue an edict..."
Zhu Cihong was very happy to see Wang Cheng'en at a loss and sweating profusely.
"What order do you want your father to give? You don't know how fierce my father is about saving face?" Zhu Cihong said, "Forget it, I am issuing an order from the crown prince, ordering you to immediately summon a thousand warriors to the inner school field and prepare enough Weapons, dry food, and 30,000 taels of silver from the inner treasury as backup!"
In fact, Zhu Cihong originally wanted Wang Chengen to send someone to take him to Tongzhou. There was Shuntian Governor Song Quan in Tongzhou City, and this person was considered reliable. As long as he protects him, he can go to Tianjin and seek refuge with Feng Yuanyang, the governor of Tianjin. The governor of Tianjin was also in charge of shipping, so he had sea ships available and could send Zhu Cihong to Dengzhou. Dengzhou has the Tianjin Navy Division controlled by Su Guansheng of the Denglai Coast Guard. With Su Guansheng, Feng Yuanyang, Song Quan and the Tianjin Guard Division, Zhu Cixiang can at least reach Nanjing safely.
However, during the conversation with Wang Chengen, Zhu Cixiang already knew that this guy was die-hardly loyal to Chongzhen. Most likely he would not let himself out of the city without Chongzhen's will... and Chongzhen was hesitant, which would definitely waste time.
Therefore, Prince Zhu had no choice but to settle for the next best thing. In the name of running away with Chongzhen, he could try to acquire some force, and then act on his own initiative.
Zhu Cixiang firmly believed that as long as he could run out, there would be no obstacles that he could not overcome. Even if there is, you have to run out first!
"Master Qiansui, isn't this appropriate?" Wang Chengen was startled by Zhu Cixiang's words.
"What's inappropriate now?" Zhu Cihong glared at Wang Chengen, "If my father wants to blame me, I will bear the responsibility! But you have to remember, this matter must not be known to my father now. , otherwise you, Wang Chengen, are the sinners responsible for the downfall of our Ming Dynasty! Your crime deserves death! You will also be infamy for thousands of years! Do you understand?"
