As soon as he heard that there were more than a hundred ships, a thousand cannons, two thousand naval officers and soldiers, two thousand sailors, and one thousand guards, Zhu Cixiang's mood immediately improved.
"Are there still many soldiers and horses in the Tianjin Acropolis?" Zhu Cixiang asked again with a smile.
"My father has a thousand soldiers under his command, and Tianjin's commander-in-chief Cao Youyi has four thousand soldiers." Feng Kaizhang replied, "When I left Tianjin, my father was reorganizing the troops and sent an order to Dagu to mobilize Su Guansheng and Shen Tingyang. The navy followed the Wei River to Tianjin Acropolis."
"Well, Feng Yuanyang is indeed a loyal minister of the country." While praising Governor Feng, Zhu Cixi called to the East Palace guard Yingqian Commander Wang Qi to come up and help him dismount.
It seems that Prince Zhu still lacks training! I had just galloped for more than thirty miles, but now my legs were sore and my buttocks hurt, and I couldn't even dismount by myself.
"You three, come with me!" After finally getting off his horse, Zhu Cihong waved to Wei Zaode, Song Quan, and Feng Kaizhang, and then limped to the carriage where Emperor Chongzhen and Queen Zhou were riding.
Chongzhen and Zhou Hou rode an ordinary two-wheeled carriage with iron rings nailed on the wheels, which was very strong. However, the Gai Zhen sitting in the back of the carriage looked very shabby, without any trace of splendor. It was just an ordinary private carriage used to solicit tourists.
Using this carriage to pull Chongzhen and Zhou Hou was obviously something Wu Xiang had put his mind into - once in danger, this carriage would not only be able to run away, but also have a small target.
Standing beside the carriage were two beautiful women in their early thirties, wearing blue cloth. They are the maids of Qianqing Palace, one is named Wei Qinghui and the other is named Wu Wanrong. They were drafted into the palace together with Zhou Hou. It's just bad luck that I didn't choose a concubine, but just became a palace servant. However, he has also served Chongzhen for more than ten years. Not only does he know the warmth and warmth of Chongzhen, but he is also quite trustworthy.
They both followed Chongzhen all the way to escape, loyally guarding Chongzhen.
Seeing Zhu Cixiang coming, the two palace officials made blessings and then made an announcement. Queen Zhou's voice came from inside the carriage: "Lift up the curtain."
Hearing this, a palace official named Wei Qinghui opened the curtain, and Chongzhen and Empress Zhou, who were wearing commoners, sat inside side by side.
Chongzhen's face was ugly, his eyes were dull, and there were some tears on his face. Fortunately, Zhou Hou actually had a relaxed expression on her pretty face.
"I respectfully wish that my father and mother are in peace." Zhu Cixiang quickly saluted Chongzhen and the Queen of Zhou.
Song Quan's eyes swept across Emperor Chongzhen's face, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
This Emperor Chongzhen is real!
He was the governor of Shuntian, and he had been a censor in Beijing before, so he could often see the emperor. So he recognized it at a glance... Emperor Chongzhen was really rescued by the prince, and he was still the emperor!
This shows that the Crown Prince is a truly filial son... Then of course you will be a loyal minister if you listen to the Crown Prince!
“I, Shuntian, Governor Song Quan, respectfully wish the Emperor’s peace!”
"Your Majesty Wei Zaode respectfully wishes the Emperor's peace..."
Song Quan and Wei Zaode immediately kowtowed and greeted Emperor Chongzhen loudly.
This is telling the surrounding attachés and the officers and soldiers patrolling Shuntian that the emperor is still here!
Don’t underestimate the significance of Chongzhen’s presence! No matter how stupid he is, he is still an emperor, the king and father of his subjects, and a symbol of the great world. As long as he did not die and fell into the hands of Li Zicheng, even if Li Zicheng conquered Beijing, he could not be said to have destroyed the Ming Dynasty.
Because it has happened many times in history that the emperor was driven out of the capital by the enemy and then fought back. For example, several emperors of the Tang Dynasty were driven out of Chang'an...but no one regarded the emperor's escape as a sign of the end of the Tang Dynasty.
Therefore, Chongzhen left Beijing alive, which showed that the Ming Dynasty was not over yet!
For the vast majority of civil servants who came from the imperial examination, as long as Chongzhen was still there and they were not caught by Li Zicheng or the Qing Dynasty, they had to wear the brand of loyal ministers of the Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, it will definitely be despised by Shilin, and it will not be worth much.
Nowadays, the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty are different from the generals in charge of the army. The generals in charge of the army are basically warlords, and the servants who can fight are the ones who support the appearance. As long as you have soldiers in your hands, you can be popular and drink spicy food wherever you go.
But civilian officials do not directly control the army, so it is difficult to become a warlord. They rely on their prestige and reputation among scholars. If their reputation becomes bad, unless they are an outstanding person like Hong Chengchou, they will not have much value. Surrendering is just to save your life and make a living, don't expect any important use.
Therefore, most of the ministers from various places who have not been caught by Li Zicheng or the Qing soldiers will be loyal to Emperor Chongzhen, which is equivalent to being loyal to Zhu Cixiang, the prince of Fujun. After all, Zhu Cixiang's surname is Zhu, and he is the legal heir to the throne, but he cannot be the same as Cao Cao. Compared to a warlord who threatens the emperor and orders the princes...
Looking at Song Quan who was bowing to him, Emperor Chongzhen just said two words "Ping Shen" and then had no chance to speak again.
Because Zhu Cixiang has already hurriedly interrupted: "The bandit pursuers are twenty miles away. How many soldiers and horses are there in Tongzhou? Have dry food been prepared? When can we set off? In addition, are there any water ships available in Tongzhou?"
When Song Quan heard this, he didn't want to say anything more to Emperor Chongzhen. He quickly said to Zhu Cixiang: "Your Highness, I have 1,000 bidders and tens of thousands of kilograms of dry food. They are all baked flour cakes. In addition, there are also Meals were prepared for the emperor, empress, queen mother and prince.
As for the canal ships, they are not prepared..."
In fact, there were originally many water boats in Tongzhou, but on the 17th and 18th, they were all hired away by noble and royal officials who ran out of Beijing. So when it was Zhu Cihong's turn to leave the city, there were no ships available.
"Then there is no need to provide meals," Zhu Cihong said, "The car will go around the city without stopping... Huang Dabao! Take Governor Song to get ten thousand taels of silver. This is a reward for Fubiao soldiers, twelve taels per person. , and I’ll give you another ten taels after arriving in Tianjin.”
Song Quan was stunned and couldn't help but glance at Emperor Chongzhen, thinking: Your son has such big hands! Is this a reward of 20,000 taels?
While he was in a daze, several loud-voiced guards around Zhu Cihong shouted: "The Crown Prince has decreed that the officers and soldiers of Fubiao who obey the command of Tianjin will be rewarded with ten taels of silver for their meritorious service. They will be rewarded with another ten taels when they arrive in Tianjin!"
Hearing these people shouting, Song Quan's brows tightened. Zhu Cixiang doesn't believe in himself? Worried about being embezzled?
At this time, Zhu Cixiang stepped forward and took Song Quan's right hand. While walking towards his horse, he explained: "I don't believe in the governor, but I use extraordinary methods at extraordinary times just to inspire the troops."
After listening to Zhu Cixiang's explanation, Song Quan hurriedly replied: "With the reward from the prince, Shuntian Fubiao and his subordinates will definitely serve loyally."
Zhu Cixiang nodded and said: "Don't talk to anyone about the emperor and empress' affairs when you see them!"
"I obey the order."
After Zhu Cixiang finished explaining, he got on his horse with the help of Wang Qi, and then did not enter the city. Instead, he went directly along the moat, bypassing the south of Tongzhou City, and then along the canal, heading south without stopping.
…
Chen Yongfu stood on Xisanlihe Street in the outer city of Beijing, which is a street parallel to the southern city wall of the inner city of Beijing. The street is very wide, with shops on both sides. The buildings are relatively tall, which can just cover the arrows and bullets fired from the inner city walls. As for the solid bullets fired by the red cannon, they cannot be stopped. However, the red cannons placed on the top of the city of Beijing do not have mounts that can adjust the high and low shooting angles. In addition, they are all mounted behind crenels and cannot fire downwards. Therefore, it can only hit far, not close, and poses no threat to targets close to the city wall.
Chen Yongfu, who was ordered to attack the city, was a general from the Beijing camp. He had fought many city defense battles and was very aware of the shortcomings of the cannon's firing angle. Therefore, after receiving Li Zicheng's military order, he took advantage of the fact that it was still dark and moved the troops to the East and West Sanlihe Street near the city wall.
His troops are a combination of half-new and half-old, with the backbone being veterans who followed him when he served as the deputy general of Kaifeng City Guards. At the same time, he also recruited many new soldiers in Henan. Now both veterans and new recruits are eager to give it a try.
Their target today is Zhengyangmen! Zhengyangmen in the inner city of Beijing! If you break in, you can capture the city of Beijing, capture the emperor of the Zhu family alive, destroy the Ming Dynasty, and create the Dashun Dynasty at the same time!
All of them are founding heroes!
Passing by the soldiers with high morale, Chen Yongfu arrived at the junction of Xisanlihe Street and Zhengyangmen Street with a somewhat complicated mood. He leaned against the wall and took another look at the Zhengyangmen Archery Tower.
The yellow dragon flag symbolizing the Ming Emperor is still flying high on the archery tower... Theoretically, Emperor Chongzhen should be supervising the battle at Zhengyang Gate at this moment!
