Sun Xiang, the right deputy of the capital censor guarding Zijin Pass, and Zuo Neng, the commander of the capital, stood on the city wall and stared blankly at the sudden appearance of the Ming army.
This strange army did not come close to the city wall, but set up camp two miles away from the city gate.
Not long after, thousands of people followed, carrying baggage supplies, cattle and sheep, and entered the newly built camp.
Sun Xiang and Zuo Neng looked at each other, speechless.
There is a problem here at Zijingguan. Sun Xiang's right deputy, the censor of the capital, is a third-grade civil servant, and the commander-in-chief of the left Neng is a third-grade military attaché.
At this time, the status of civil servants was not higher than that of generals. Both of them were of the third rank, so who should command whom?
So the two had to discuss it. Sun Xiang hoped to concentrate on dealing with the Wala army in the front. The Ming army behind him could do whatever they liked, as long as they didn't cause trouble.
Zuo Neng was close to the Supreme Emperor, and he was eager to open the city gate quickly and let in the Wala army. As for the Ming army outside the city, it would be best to drive them away.
In the end, the two of them adopted a compromise strategy and first sent out a few capable sentinels to inquire outside the city.
Half an hour later, the sentry returned. Zuo Neng asked hurriedly: "Which Ming army is under the city?"
The leading sentinel looked back: "General, we are the vanguard of Yingzhou."
Hearing this, Zuo Neng hurriedly scolded: "Nonsense, the garrison in front of Yingzhou is located in Xianghe County to the west of Tongzhou. How could it come here inexplicably?"
The sentry retorted innocently: "General, those under the city are not the Yingzhou front guards stationed in Xianghe, but the Yingzhou forward guards reorganized by Daning Dusi. The person leading this army is the commander of Daning Dusi. I also know Gu Cong."
Hearing this, Zuo Neng and Sun Xiang looked at each other, even more surprised. The commander-in-chief, Tongzhi, is a second-grade military general and has a higher rank than the two of them. How could he come to Zijingguan inexplicably?
Sun Xiang asked several times to confirm that the detective was not mistaken. Then he said to Zuo Neng: "General Zuo, please guard the pass strictly. I will go down and see for myself."
Zuo Neng got what he asked for and immediately nodded his head. It just so happened that after Sun Xiang came out of the seclusion, he could contact his subordinates and discuss how to let the Supreme Emperor enter the seclusion.
But it was said that Sun Xiang took several followers and went down to the outside of the city in a hanging basket to the camp of Yingzhou Guards.
Gu Cong came out with a smile and enthusiastically let Sun Xiang into the Chinese army's tent.
Sun Xiang just sat down in the tent and asked eagerly: "May I ask General Gu why he led his army here?"
Gu Cong smiled and explained: "I am here on His Majesty's secret order to do three things."
After saying that, Gu Cong took out a document from the case and handed it to Sun Xiang: "Sun Yushi, please read this. This is the transfer order from the Ministry of War. I led the army to be stationed at Zijin Pass legally."
After Sun Xiang confirmed that the transfer order was correct, Gu Cong continued: "I have three purposes here. One is to deliver some cattle, sheep, wine and food to the Wala army, so that they can save them the trouble of robbing the people and quickly reach the city of Beijing.
Second, I brought a group of well-educated people from the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial College, as well as the best painters in the capital. They want to go to the top of the city to watch the battle.
Third, I came to rescue Sun Yushi and the loyal and brave soldiers in the city on the emperor's order. Your Majesty knows that Bauhinia Pass cannot be defended, and has no intention of defending Bauhinia Pass.
However, His Majesty did not want the soldiers who were loyal to their duties to sacrifice in vain, so he asked me to bring His Majesty's secret decree and the order of the Ministry of War. If you resist symbolically for two days, you can follow me to retreat to Baoding Prefecture. "
After that, Gu Cong took out the secret edict and the documents from the Ministry of War from his pocket and handed them to Sun Xiang.
After Sun Xiang saw it, he still refused to give up easily: "General Gu, Zijin Pass is so dangerous and easy to defend but difficult to attack. Why did your Majesty abandon the pass so easily?"
Gu Cong said with a smile: "Sun Yushi wants to defend, but the soldiers in the city don't want to defend. Most of them are loyal to the Supreme Emperor. If they can't defend for a few days, these people will take the initiative to abandon the pass. By then, the Wala army will definitely break through. Sun The censor's life is bound to be at risk.
There is no need for Yushi Sun to blame himself, he can just do what he is told. Even if something goes wrong, no one will blame you since His Majesty will shoulder the responsibility. "
Sun Xiang could only nod helplessly when he saw that Gu Cong had spoken for this reason, and then asked: "I am still confused, so what is the purpose of Your Majesty sending some scholars and painters here?"
Gu Cong explained with a smile: "Your Majesty wants painters to draw the fierce war scenes, and literati to write articles, and then spread them throughout the country, so that people all over the world know the hardships of the defense of Beijing."
Sun Xiang was speechless after hearing this. The emperor even asked to abandon the customs. Where did the fierce war scenes come from? Isn't this a child's comfort?
Gu Cong sent Sun Xiang out of the camp enthusiastically, no matter how Sun Xiang complained.
Sun Xiang had only a few followers when he came out, but when he returned to the city, he had dozens of literati and painters.
The leader among these literati and painters was none other than the emperor's Zhongshu Sheren Lian Gang.
Under the Bauhinia Pass, the emperor calls the door. This is one of the most important scenes in the battle to defend Beijing.
Although Zhu Qizhen also protested under the city walls of Beijing, he did not break the city and was not convincing enough.
Zijin Pass was the only important city pass that was breached during the entire civil war and the battle to defend the capital.
Therefore, we must make a special statement here and publicize it widely so that everyone in the world knows about it.
When Sun Xiang returned to Guanzhong, Zuo Neng also discussed with his confidants about abandoning the city.
On this day, the Wala army was also setting up camp, resting and preparing for war. So the entire battlefield was very peaceful.
Early the next morning, Sun Xiang was still asleep, so Zuo Neng came over and woke Sun Xiang up.
Sun Xiang asked quickly: "Is Wala starting to attack?"
Zuo Neng shook his head: "No, no, it's another Ming delegation coming from outside the city."
"The Ming Dynasty's envoy? The war is about to begin. Why is Your Majesty still sending the envoy? Did the envoy say what they are here for? Hurry up and hoist them up in a hanging basket."
Zuo Neng replied helplessly: "They said they came to present the emperor's guard of honor to the Supreme Emperor. And they must open the city gate to allow the emperor's guard of honor to pass through Zijingguan and go to the Wala camp."
"Ridiculous, who came up with this idea? Okay, what kind of imperial guard of honor are you sending!"
"Sun Yushi, be careful what you say, be careful what you say. This is His Majesty's personal decree. If you don't believe me, just take a look."
With that said, Zuo Neng handed Sun Xiang the edict that had just been hung from the city.
Sun Xiang read the imperial edict and had no choice but to switch and let go.
So when Zhu Qizhen just woke up from his sleep in the felt tent, Yang Shan's envoy rushed to the Wala camp with the emperor's guard of honor.
After resting, Zhu Qizhen's health has improved greatly. Because both Zhu Qizhen and Ye Xian believed that it would take at least three or four days to capture Zijingguan, they got off the chariot and lived in the felt tent again. At this time, Ma Liang's four concubines also started again. He slept with Zhu Qizhen.
When Yang Shan entered the felt tent, Zhu Qizhen was having fun hiding in the brocade quilt with his arms around the beautiful lady.
Yang Shan had no choice but to salute Zhu Qizhen through the curtain.
Zhu Qizhen asked: "Why did Aiqing come, and what does the emperor need to explain?"
Yang Shan replied: "The new monarch has sent a full set of imperial honors to His Majesty, and sent ministers as special envoys to welcome His Majesty back to the capital."
When Zhu Qizhen heard this, he poked his head out of the curtain curiously and asked in confusion: "Does my brother sincerely welcome me back to the capital?"
Yang Shan shook his head: "Wei Chen is not sure either."
"Then what can you be sure of?"
"I can confirm that the new monarch definitely does not want to return to His Majesty's throne."
Zhu Qizhen sighed and asked: "How do you evaluate Xinjun's behavior?"
Although Yang Shan was loyal to Zhu Qizhen, he still replied fairly: "I want to welcome His Majesty to return to the throne, but I can also understand the difficulties of the new monarch. If His Majesty is restored to the throne, the new monarch's family will not be able to survive no matter what." .
Therefore, the new king is still riding a tiger and it is difficult to get off. It cannot be entirely blamed on him being greedy for the throne. "
