"Your Majesty, according to my investigation, there is no expert behind His Highness the Crown Prince. Wu Xiang was only brought to the inner school grounds yesterday by Duke Wang to see His Highness the Crown Prince..."
The person who was reporting to Emperor Chongzhen was Luo Yangxing, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, who was also the elder brother of Luo Xiushen, who guarded the port. Although the two are brothers and look somewhat similar, they are much different in age, and Luo Xiu is good enough to be Luo Xiu's father.
As the commander of the Imperial Guard, it is your duty to supervise important ministers. Therefore, Luo Yangxing had spies around Zhu Cixiang and Wu Xiang. Zhu Cihong's abnormal behavior starting on the 15th was reported to Luo Yangxing on the morning of the 16th.
However, Luo Yangxing did not report the situation to Emperor Chongzhen immediately because the report was too bizarre - Zhu Cixiang seemed to be "inspired" by Emperor Taizu Gao in his dream, and he suddenly became enlightened and transformed from an honest child to a grown-up. He actually deceived people like Wang Chengen and Wu Xiang.
Just when Luo Yangxing asked the special agents to conduct a strict investigation, Emperor Chongzhen had already handed over all the power of the capital's defense to Zhu Cihong.
This change was beyond Luo Yangxing's expectation. If Li Zicheng's troops had not invaded the area, he would have thought there was a coup in the Forbidden City!
Of course, a coup is impossible. At least on March 16, Emperor Chongzhen still had sufficient authority. Even if he wanted to imprison Zhu Cixiang, it would only be a matter of one sentence.
But he can't be so reckless, because Wang Chengen, whom he trusts most, is too honest. He honestly frightened Emperor Chongzhen... Li Zicheng was about to invade Beijing, but Wang Laoshi was not ready to run away!
Fortunately, the prince Zhu Cixi responded promptly and worked efficiently enough, so he did not ruin Emperor Chongzhen's plan.
Therefore, after Emperor Chongzhen was annoyed with his son, he still followed the trend and handed over the defense of Beijing to his son - in fact, Chongzhen had no one left. To trust Wang Chengen again is to commit suicide! However, Zhang Jinyan, the Minister of War, was useless. Facing the pressure of Li Zicheng's troops, he was at his wits' end and had been dismissed from his post and investigated. As for Zuo Zhuguo, Taifu, Cheng Guogong, Governor Jingying Rongzheng Zhu Chunchen...
Emperor Chongzhen glanced at his most trusted nobleman and decided to forget it. This guy was reliable, but he didn't know how to fight, couldn't run an army, and couldn't come up with a strategy for war and defense.
And there is no one available around him, unlike Zhu Cixiang who hooked up with Wu Xiang. Wu Xiang was accompanied by a group of servants, including Wu Sanfu and Zu Zepu. After all, he has been fighting to death with Lu Chou in Liaodong for so many years, so he can be considered a veteran.
In addition, Zhu Cixiang does have a lot of clever ideas!
Just now, Luo Yangxing reported something that made Emperor Chongzhen dumbfounded. Zhu Cixiang actually raised a large amount of military expenses from Wang Zhixin and Cao Huachun by some means!
It is said that there are more than ten carts of silver...
Chongzhen sighed, how could his son be so good at making money?
If he had known earlier, he should have asked him to persuade people to donate. Maybe he would have raised several million... If Wu Xiang's daughter was allowed to enter the palace as a talent for the prince, most of Wu Sangui's army would have arrived in Beijing.
With millions of taels of military spending and Wu Sangui’s army, Beijing is completely safe!
How come he is such a wise emperor, but he is not as good as Ci Xing when it comes to making money?
Emperor Chongzhen sighed softly and thought: I am too upright and not as cunning as Ci Xun! There are too many treacherous ministers these days, so the father of the king must be more treacherous than the treacherous ministers! But why did Ci Xing become so cunning? Who did you learn it from?
"Zhu Chunchen," Emperor Chongzhen put his thoughts back and said to his most trusted nobleman, "Although the crown prince is directly responsible for military affairs, you are still the governor of the military affairs of the capital. Tomorrow, you will go to the inner school field to participate in military affairs... Look after me. Prince, do you know?"
"I understand..." Zhu Chunchen paused, "What your Majesty issued is a central decree. Will the cabinet be required to make up for the vote tomorrow?"
In addition, the prince had no intention of accepting Wu Sanmei as a talented person. It was for Wu Xiang to offer his daughter to him... I'm afraid he would be impeached by the censor! "
"Impeach Wu Xiang?" Emperor Chongzhen couldn't laugh or cry, "When did it happen? Those censors also pointed at his son Wu Sangui to save his life! As for recruiting talents, I will go back and issue a decree to the Ministry of Rites... Isn't that right? Are you a talented person? Just make a special case."
"Your Majesty is wise." Zhu Chunchen already understood Emperor Chongzhen's thoughts.
Although he is not good at fighting and running an army, he is better than anyone else at figuring out the Holy Will. Chongzhen only said that he would give Zhu Cihong a concubine, but he did not mention the cabinet's proposal to allow Zhu Cihong to command the army.
This means that Zhu Cihong's Fujun and Governor-General Zhili's military dispatches are all false and cannot be recognized by the cabinet and the six ministries. The Governor of Shuntian, the Governor of Tianjin, and the Governor of Jiliao may not obey their orders.
After Wu Sangui's army arrived, as long as the courtiers raised objections, Chongzhen could take advantage of the situation and bring the prince back to the palace... Of course, you can't be deposed. The prince has great merits after all. If the emperor wants to change the throne, he will definitely meet the unanimous opposition of the ministers. The country cannot bear the disputes.
But it’s hard to say what illness the prince had and died young...
Just when Emperor Chongzhen wanted to end the conversation between the emperor and his ministers, and then went to Kunning Palace to discuss Nan Xing's matter with Zhou Hou, the voice of Gao Yushun, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, suddenly came from outside Dongnuan Pavilion: "Your Majesty, outside Fucheng Gate Fires are shooting into the sky, and soldiers are coming..."
Fucheng Gate is one of the two city gates opening to the west in the inner city of Beijing. It is only more than three miles away from the west wall of the Imperial City.
Once Fucheng Gate is lost, Emperor Chongzhen will have to go to Meishan to hang himself tonight.
When Chongzhen heard the news, he was startled, with a look of horror in his eyes, and turned his gaze to Zhu Chunchen: "Dong Cheng, go to the inner school field immediately to help the prince arrange the defense! Don't let Chuangni break into the capital. !”
…
"Huang Dabao, I am a little tired, so I will sleep in Jiale Hall tonight. You can go and make arrangements, and also arrange accommodation in Yuxi Palace for several gentlemen, Admiral Wu and Commander Li."
When Zhu Cixiang learned that the vanguard of Li Zicheng's army had appeared outside Fucheng Gate and set fire to a temple outside the city, setting off a fire that reached the sky, he seemed unusually calm. He just ordered Luo Xiushen to return to Fuchengmen immediately to stabilize the morale of the army, and asked Zhu Chunjie and Li Ruolian, who had just inspected the "gate blocking project", to take turns on duty at night. Then he announced the end of the military meeting and planned to go to sleep. Just after leaving the Leopard Room, Wu Xiang followed quickly. Zhu Cixiang knew that Wu Xiang wanted to have a secret conversation with him, so he backed away and walked behind a pillar. Wu Xiang also walked over.
"Your Highness, are you really not leaving tonight?" Wu Xiang seemed a little nervous and his voice was very low.
"If my father, the emperor, and my mother are not leaving, how can I leave alone?" Zhu Cixiang said firmly, but he was very nervous in his heart.
Of course I wanted to leave, but leaving Chongzhen, Zhou Hou and all the ministers behind, and only taking a few followers to escape with Wu Xiang, then I would really have to go to Wu Sangui's army... If Sun Chuanting and Zhou Yuji were stationed at Shanhaiguan, Even Hong Chengchou, who was the governor of the Ming Dynasty, would consider seeking refuge alone.
But Wu Sangui...it's not reliable even if you think about it!
But Wu Xiang couldn't see this idea, Zhu Cixiang had to take advantage of him!
"Old Taishan," Zhu Cixiang affectionately called Wu Xiang "Old Taishan," "If we don't leave tonight and wait until the city is broken, how sure are we of being able to escape?"
"This..." Wu Xiang took a breath, "Your Highness, if you let me make the arrangements, you will be quite sure, but..."
"Just what?"
"It's just that it's difficult for the whole army to leave," Wu Xiang looked at Zhu Cixiang, "Your Highness has to make a choice. In addition, we still don't have enough manpower and it's difficult to disperse."
"I understand," Zhu Cixiang nodded, "Go and fight well in the first battle tomorrow, and don't let the thieves look down on you. Regarding money, I have many ways. If you have money, you will have people."
While the two were talking, Zhu Chunjie's voice suddenly came from not far away: "Master Qiansui, Duke Cheng Guo has arrived. He said he was here to assist His Highness in setting up the battle defense."
When Zhu Cihong heard this, he suddenly lost all sleepiness. Lord Zhu Chunchen! The richest man among the nobles is looking for him! He was unexpectedly sent to his door by Chongzhen... It turns out that Chongzhen, the father, is also reliable sometimes.
