The British Duke came to Donghua Gate with his troops.
As soon as they arrived, they found that many people had gathered at Donghua Gate, and they were all nobles in the capital.
"The British Duke has arrived." Someone in the crowd said.
Many people looked towards the British Duke and his party, and some of them even took a few steps forward to greet them.
After approaching on horseback, the British Duke got off his horse and handed the reins to the soldiers who were following him.
"Why are you here?" British Duke Zhang Weixian looked at the familiar faces in front of him, his face became a little ugly.
Deng Wenming, Marquis of Dingyuan, came over, first bowed his hand to the British Duke, and then said: "Duke, don't you also come to Donghua Gate?"
"You shouldn't come, you should stay at home at this time." British Duke Zhang Weixian sighed.
Dingyuan Hou Deng Wenming said with a smile: "Everyone came voluntarily, no one was forced."
"You shouldn't have come. Go back while you have nothing to do now. Go back!" British Duke Zhang Weixian drove the lords in front of him away.
It's a pity that no one left.
Deng Wenming, Marquis of Dingyuan, said: "There is no need to persuade the Duke. Now that we are here, we have no intention of leaving."
"Why are you bothering? The road has been arranged for you. You can live a good life even if you go to the south. The Ming Dynasty will not be destroyed." said the British Duke Zhang Weixian.
Deng Wenming, Marquis of Dingyuan, said: "Someone has to stay and do something. Not everyone of us is willing to live in this world to receive the emperor's favor in this world."
"Well, since you are willing to stay, then stay!" British Duke Zhang Weixian didn't want to persuade him anymore. At the same time, he also knew that those who chose to come to Donghua Gate had no intention of leaving the capital alive.
There seem to be a lot of people here at Donghua Gate, but there are not too many people with titles. There are two marquises, and the others are earls. The rest are servants brought by these people.
But none of the other two princes in the capital were present.
The British father didn't know whether to be happy or sad at this time.
At this time, the Donghua Gate suddenly opened, and a great eunuch wearing a python robe walked out. At the same time, many Jin Yiwei in flying fish uniforms rushed to the Donghua Gate from outside.
"My lord, you brought so many people to the East Ring Gate. What are you going to do?" The great eunuch Cao Huachun went directly to the British Duke Zhang Weixian.
Among the lords outside Donghua Gate, the British Duke has the highest status and the most power.
"Tiger thieves are attacking the city, and we are here to defend the imperial city." British Duke Zhang Weixian replied.
As the head of the lords, the British Duke also had the military power of the Beijing camp. He didn't even look down on Wei Zhongxian, who was so powerful back then, let alone Cao Huachun.
"My lord, please stop kidding me. The capital camp is of course responsible for defending the city, and there are imperial guards at the palace. My lord, you'd better go back to the palace to rest. If you really need it, your majesty will summon you." Cao Huachun persuaded the British. Leave for business.
In his opinion, with so many lords gathering here at Donghua Gate, it is inevitable that the British Duke will take the lead. As long as the British Duke leaves, the other lords will naturally leave with them.
The British Duke Zhang Weixian looked at Cao Huachun and said: "I know what you are worried about. Don't worry, I and the marquis and earls present will not enter the palace. They will stay here at Donghua Gate. When the tiger thieves are defeated, we will naturally leave. .”
"Mr. Guo, you didn't mean to embarrass our family!" Cao Huachun put on a bitter face, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as nobles like the British Duke didn't come to force their way into the Donghua Gate, it would make him feel at ease.
British Duke Zhang Weixian said: "Okay, Eunuch Cao, please go back and report your orders to Your Majesty. We will stay here to guard. We will not retreat for one day, and we will not leave for one day."
"Yes, I can't wait to leave."
Dingyuan Hou Deng Wenming and others echoed from the side.
Cao Huachun hesitated for a moment and said: "Our family needs to report to Your Majesty the thoughts of the Duke of Guo and several other nobles. As for what arrangements His Majesty will make, our family will only listen to His Majesty's instructions. If Your Majesty does not agree, we still hope Mr. Guo, don’t embarrass our family.”
"Go back and report to His Majesty!" British Duke Zhang Weixian did not embarrass Cao Huachun on this matter, or it is not important at this time whether he was embarrassed or not.
Cao Huachun quickly entered the palace city through Donghua Gate, but Donghua Gate was closed again.
With so many lords gathered here at Donghua Gate, the palace was naturally on alert. Cao Huachun was more likely to open the Donghua Gate just because it was the lord outside Donghua Gate.
Cao Huachun rushed all the way from Donghua Gate to Qianqing Palace.
Chongzhen usually handled official business in Qianqing Palace, especially after the tiger-character banner army appeared near the capital, he never left Qianqing Palace.
As the great eunuch in the palace, Cao Huachun would naturally not be blocked by the guards when entering and leaving the palace.
When he arrived at the Qianqing Palace, he first saluted Chongzhen, and then told Chongzhen that the British Duke and others wanted to guard the palace for the emperor.
"I didn't expect that these lords would be the most loyal in the end." Chongzhen said with emotion after listening to Cao Huachun's words.
For the imperial power, it both suppresses and uses the Lord.
The military officers who control Wuli with civility are those generals, not the nobles in the court.
Since the defeat of the Ming army in Tumubao, the lords in the court have suffered heavy casualties, and even the Beijing camp has suffered greater losses. Some military powers have also slowly been transferred to the Ministry of War.
The military power that the nobles can control is getting less and less. Most of the noble families have become nobles who only make money, and only a few of the noble families still hold real power in the Beijing camp.
With the gradual decline of the Beijing camp and the deliberate indulgence of some people, although most of the children of the Lord's family have the rank of military attaché, not many can go to the battlefield to kill the enemy.
Wang Chengen on the side reminded: "The British Duke is getting old after all. If the British Duke is kept guarding the Donghua Gate all the time, it will be okay for a short time, but over time, my body may not be able to bear it."
The British Duke is the head of the lords, and he also controls the soldiers and horses of the Beijing camp. If something happens to the British Duke's health at this time, it will be very detrimental to the Ming Dynasty.
After listening, Chongzhen nodded and turned to Cao Huachun below and said: "The British Lord is loyal to the monarch and the country, but after all, he is old and it is not suitable to stay here at Donghua Gate for a long time. Please go back!"
"I have talked with the British Duke. Judging from his intentions, it will be difficult to persuade him to leave." Cao Huachun said frankly that he was not optimistic about persuading the British Duke to return to his house.
Chongzhen frowned slightly and said: "We must not let the British Duke stay in Donghua Gate forever. Let's go and invite the British Duke to Qianqing Palace, and I will talk to the British Duke personally."
"This slave will go to Donghua Gate to deliver a message for the Emperor." Cao Huachun bowed and took a few steps back. After exiting a door, he straightened up and turned around and walked out.
