Dashun Yongchang first year, March 27th.
Heavy rain also fell on Beijing. Luo Xiu, who had been serving as a second minister for several days, was wearing a blue robe, a scarf, and an umbrella. He walked from his home to Zuo Chang'an Gate. He surrendered as a second minister along with his brother Luo Yangxing who had a "certificate of loyalty", so he also benefited from it and was treated as a loyal second minister. After the surrender, he was immediately given the official position of school captain, responsible for guarding the gates of the imperial city. The two gates of Dashunmen (original Daming Gate) and Chengtianmen, as well as the two side gates of Chang'an Left Gate and Chang'an Right Gate (the two city gates on Chang'an Street outside Chengtian Gate), are all under his guarding school. The lieutenant is in charge.
As for the Meridian Gate, it is guarded by Li Zicheng's imperial soldiers, and Luo Xiu Shen, a second minister, cannot control it.
However, Luo Xiushen, who became the gatekeeper of the imperial city as soon as he surrendered, was still the envy of all the surrenders in Beijing who wanted to serve the new dynasty... Not everyone can become this second minister!
And when you become a second minister, you still don't lose your loyalty, which is even more admirable! This is the best among the two ministers!
There was a lot of rain falling in Beijing today. It fell from the sky and formed a wall of rain, making the scenery on both sides of Chang'an Street blurry.
The general trend of the world seems to be like this world in the rain. It is difficult to see clearly from a little distance... I wonder if God is deliberately trying to embarrass the Ming Dynasty? Before Emperor Chongzhen was defeated in Beijing, there had been severe droughts for many years. It has not rained much since the beginning of spring this year. But as soon as he left, it started to rain heavily! The drought in Beizhili seems to be greatly alleviated!
At this time, Luo Xiushen thought of Prince Zhu Cihong and the special mission that Zhu Cihong had entrusted to him.
The young prince Zhu Cixi seemed to be able to see the distant future clearly, at least Luo Xiushen thought so. In the future trend that Zhu Cixiang described for him, the Dashun Dynasty, which was at its peak, was just a flash in the pan. It would abandon the city of Beijing by the beginning of May at the latest and escape in disgrace. The city of Beijing was surrendered to Donglu, and he became a street rat that everyone shouted to beat.
In the short period of more than a month in Beijing, the Dashun Dynasty also committed an evil act that offended the scholar-bureaucrats all over the world - torturing military pay!
All Ming officials, nobles, and officials who stayed in Beijing, or who did not run away for various reasons, would inevitably be tortured and pursued by the Dashun Dynasty. Most of the merchants and relatively wealthy people in Beijing would be plundered by the officers and soldiers of the Dashun Dynasty...
The evil deeds of abandoning the city, taking prisoners, and torturing officials and merchants will make the Dashun Dynasty lose their hearts and lose their qualifications to compete for orthodox status.
Therefore, in the future, the world will be dominated by the Northern and Southern Dynasties, with the Northern Qing Dynasty fighting against the Southern Ming Dynasty.
Luo Xiushen's duty is to buy more time for Nan Ming and collect more intelligence...
"But Commander Luo?"
Luo Xiushen suddenly heard a voice calling him and quickly turned his head to look over, then he was startled. It turned out that he was not the only one on Chang'an Street, but there was a long line of officials lining up on the roadside in the rain. The line stretched from outside the left gate of Chang'an to Xuanwumen Street. There were probably no less than 2,000 people!
Oh, they are officials from the former dynasty who came from a prestigious position and are waiting to be seen in court!
There are so many!
Luo Xiu Shen followed the sound and saw a civil servant wearing a bright red python robe from the Ming Dynasty holding a somewhat damaged oil-paper umbrella. The python robe on his body was mostly wet, and he was shivering from the cold. It was really pitiful. But when Luo Xiushen took another closer look, he was stunned.
"Aren't you Mr. Chen Ge?" Luo Xiushen exclaimed.
"No, it's not the elder, but the guilty official of the previous dynasty..." The person who spoke was none other than Chen Yan, the former chief minister of the Ming Dynasty.
He was deposed in February of the 17th year of Chongzhen. He could have fled justifiably, but because his family property was relatively large, he had no time to deal with it, so he missed his trip.
Luo Xiushen stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Mr. Chen Ge, I remember that the Crown Prince of the Zhu family asked you to take you away. Why are you still in Beijing?"
Luo Xiu said physically and mentally: The prince seems to have mentioned that if Li Jiantai can't be found, he will let you become a bachelor again... Why did you stay?
"Hmph, who wants to follow?" Chen Yan had a look of disgust on his face. His face was already thin and mean, but now it was annoying.
Of course he didn't know Zhu Cixiang's thoughts, and even if he knew, he wouldn't dare to follow him. Because when he was appointed as the first assistant, he first blocked the move to the south, and then blocked the transfer of Wu Sangui to aid Beijing, which delayed a lot of time. Later, when Chongzhen kicked him out of the cabinet, he said angrily: You deserve to die!
How could he, the chief minister who deserved his death, dare to run away with Zhu Cihong?
Of course, Wei Zaode, who succeeded him as the first assistant, was actually not a good person either. If we really want to pursue him, he will die just like him!
But Zhu Cihong would definitely not touch Wei Zaode, because Wei Zaode took the lead in drafting the imperial edict that asked Zhu Cihong to leave the palace to oversee the army and direct military affairs. In other words, Wei Zaode could prove the legitimacy of Zhu Cihong's command of the army. Wouldn't killing him be a murder?
In addition, during the Huangjimen Incident, Wei Zaode took the lead in persuading them to join because he was afraid of death - political struggle is about taking sides, and taking the right side is the greatest correctness!
Therefore, Zhu Cihong would never kill Wei Zaode. At least until his power is completely consolidated, Wei Zaode has to continue to be a rubber-stamp bachelor... Therefore, Wei Zaode follows Zhu Cihong closely and has no worries about Prince Zhu settling his past sins.
But Chen Yan was different. He did not vote for the imperial edict authorizing Zhu Cihong to command the army, and he did not persuade him to advance during the Huangji Gate incident. If he follows Zhu Cixiang, he may be able to be a bachelor for a few more days, but after using him, he may become the chicken that kills the chicken to scare the monkeys.
In addition, because Chen Yan left the stage a little early, he did not have the opportunity to witness Zhu Cixiang's wonderful performance up close. I wonder how powerful this prince is. Therefore, I was completely discouraged about the future of Ming Dynasty. How could I follow Zhu Cihong?
"Commander Luo," Chen Yan put on a flattering expression again, "You are now Emperor Dashun's confidant... Do you want to know something about the new dynasty?"
"Oh," Luo Xiushen nodded, "I know a little bit."
Chen Yan smiled and said, "What have you been busy with the emperor these past two days? Can you tell me something?"
"It's okay to talk to Mr. Ge," Luo Xiu Shen smiled. "As far as I know, the emperor is busy with two things. One is to hunt down the emperor and the prince who are the red thieves; the other is to ascend to the throne."
"Ascended to the pole?" Chen Yan was stunned, "Didn't the Emperor ascend to the pole once in Xi'an?"
Luo Xiushen shook his head and said: "I don't know what the emperor is thinking, but I don't know. However, Prime Minister Niu and Military Advisor Song discussed with my brother yesterday the security inside and outside Beijing during the summit. I think there will be another summit."
Luo Yangxing, a loyal minister, was of course highly valued by Li Zicheng. He became the governor of Shuntian, and he was in charge of the public security inside and outside Beijing.
"Oh..." Chen Yan nodded and said to Luo Xiushen in a flattering manner, "Conductor, could you be accommodating and lend me a place to write a memorial?"
"Memorial? What memorial?"
"This is a memorial to persuade people to come in."
Luo Xiushen nodded, "It's Mr. Zhou Zhou... Okay, please come with me."
…
"Damn Zheng Yiguan, he doesn't know what is good or bad, and dares to be my enemy, I will take his head sooner or later!"
In the Wuying Palace, Li Zicheng was cursing Zheng Chenggong and his father Zheng Zhilong... It turned out that Li Guo sent someone to send Tangbao, reporting that Zheng Zhilong sent a fleet to Tianjin Wei to deliver food.
There is still nearly 100 miles from Tianjin Wei to Dagukou, and there is flat land along the way. If there is no boat, it is very dangerous to go on foot and carry a lot of luggage and family members. Li Guo had two to three thousand cavalry at his disposal, which were most suitable for chasing such a fleeing group.
Even with the cover of Wu Sangui's Yiding cavalry, the fleeing team of the Emperor and Prince Zhu would have suffered heavy losses.
But now with more than 100 ships provided by the Zheng family, 20,000 to 30,000 people can take the ship to Dagukou.
Can Li Zicheng not be angry? Today, I originally wanted to discuss the second ascension to the throne first and see my two ministers again. Now I'm not in the mood at all, I feel angry just thinking about it.
"Your Majesty, Zheng Yiguan is nothing at all," General Quan Liu Zongmin shouted. "When we raise the flag of righteousness, raise the righteous army, and attack the Zhu thieves, he knows that he has been recruited and becomes the Zhu thieves' lackey. It's so hateful." .”
"Hmph!" Li Zicheng gritted his teeth, "I'll settle the score with him later... Suo Tianyao, if you urge a tiger and Li Guo again, tell them to attack as soon as the weather clears. We must not let the Zhu thieves and his son escape!"
"I obey the order!" Tian Jianxiu bowed respectfully and accepted the order.
"Huang Hu!" Li Zicheng called Liu Zongmin's name again, "Go to the Meridian Gate to meet those officials... Remember, talk to them well and don't let those old foxes figure out the clues. For junior officials below the sixth rank, I won’t ask. Anyone above the sixth rank must have money. Be sure to find out where they live so that we can arrange for their arrest! As for those who have been in the cabinet, served as ministers, or were ministers above count or above, or the chief ceremonial supervisor and the royal horse supervisor All the eunuchs stayed to treat them to dinner!"
Liu Zongmin was overjoyed when he heard this. He smiled and saluted, "I obey your order!"
