In Changping City, there is a Qiao Tower, which is three stories high. The governor-general's residence, Lu Xiangsheng's office, is located in this Qiao Tower in Changping.
This Qiao Tower is the tallest building in Changping City. It can be climbed up high to see far away during the war, which is very convenient for commanding operations. Because the emperor has ordered Lu Xiangsheng to governor the troops of King Qin from all over the world. In the future, soldiers from all over the country who come to the capital will gather here, so he can do it. Here, with a high perspective, we can observe the formations of various armies and command and dispatch them.
Therefore, the governor Lu Xiangsheng set up his governor's headquarters here.
The governor's residence hall is located on the first floor of the Qiao Building. A huge desk is placed in the upper middle of the hall. Governor Lu Xiangsheng is sitting firmly in his seat with a solemn expression on his face.
Sitting at the bottom of the left corner are Yang Guozhu, the chief soldier of Xuanfu Town, Hu Dawei, the chief soldier of Shanxi Town, and Wang Pu, the chief soldier of Datong Town.
There are slightly more people on the right, and they are all close associates of the governor Lu Xiangsheng's shogunate.
Chen An, the general of Supervisor Lu Xiangsheng's Supervisor Biaoying, stood beside Lu Xiangsheng, holding in his hand the Shang Fang sword given by the current emperor.
"The three generals must restrain their subordinates and must not lose military morale or disrupt military discipline." Lu Xiangsheng said while sitting in his seat.
The three generals agreed loudly, and Lu Xiangsheng added: "The infantry will arrive in three days. We must prepare the camp. At the same time, we must not neglect the sentries to prevent Donglu's cavalry from disturbing our infantry."
Yang Guozhu stood up straight and replied: "Please rest assured, Governor, the general will definitely strengthen the sentinels in the future, and the Tartars will not be able to take advantage of them."
Hu Dawei and Wang Pu also stood up and said loudly: "Please rest assured, Governor."
Lu Xiangsheng sat there, nodded, and then said: "In addition to the sentinel soldiers in each town, you can take a short rest to relieve the fatigue of our sergeants and recharge their spirits before looking for the enemy to fight bloody battles."
Yang Guozhu and others stood up again to accept the order and thanked the governor for his concern for the soldiers.
At this time, a close aide of Lu Xiangsheng knew that the emperor would definitely summon him in the next two days, so he stood up and asked: "Supervisor, if Mr. Yangge and the emperor ask whether the governor is in peace or war with Donglu, What is your opinion, and what will the governor’s reply be?”
After hearing this, Lu Xiangsheng's face darkened. He stood up from his seat, gripped the handle of his sword tightly, and said, "I, Lu, have been deeply favored by the emperor, and I wish I could repay my country by giving my body to the country." The emperor's kindness is so great. Today the Donglu have invaded the territory, and they can only talk about war, not peace!"
After discussing some matters such as allowing the army officers to take a short rest, prepare to find the enemy for battle, and plan the campsite for other troops and horses that will arrive one after another, the generals and staff dispersed one after another.
…
In Xu, Beijing had begun to implement quiet streets, which is what we call martial law in modern times. Soldiers were stationed at all major street intersections to check the occasional passers-by. Without tokens, it was impossible to pass.
There is a red or white paper lantern hanging in front of the door of every house along the street. The light is slightly dim. It is swaying in the night wind under the eaves of each house. The already dim light is even brighter. The darkness flickers from time to time, as if to set off the suffering that the capital city of the Ming Dynasty is currently suffering.
Under the flickering dim lights, one could still vaguely see the martial law notices posted on the walls of various street intersections, which only added to the tense atmosphere in Beijing where the enemy was preparing for war.
On the wide streets and in the narrow alleys, from time to time there would be a watchman carrying a small red lantern and beating his clapper or gong feebly. Their shivering figures would appear once in a while, and then they would disappear quickly. Disappearing into the darkness, the sound of bangs or gongs also gradually fades away in the wind, like a death knell suggesting that the Ming Dynasty is not as good as one day.
Since the second year of Chongzhen's campaign, the Tartars have broken through our border walls more than once and invaded the important areas of the Ming Dynasty's capital. This is the third time that they have approached the city of Beijing. It is as if they are entering uninhabited territory. They can come and go as they please. Each time they went deeper than the last time, plundered a large amount of gold, silver, wealth, and people, and left in a show of force. The Ming Dynasty, which once had great martial arts, and the prosperous Beijing city could withstand several such hardships.
The Tartar general Dorgon was ordered to destroy the wall at Qingshan Pass in Jizhen and join the invaders. General Yangwu Yuetuo destroyed the wall from Miyunqiangziling and joined the invaders. Two armies of 100,000 Tatars were already in force in the eastern suburbs of Beijing for more than 40 years. Tongzhou joins forces inside and outside.
Not long after two groups of Tatar soldiers broke through the border wall and invaded, Wu Aheng, the governor of Jiliao in the Ming Dynasty, and Lu Zongwen, the commander-in-chief, were killed in battle one after another. The guarding eunuch Zheng Xizhao even left his job and fled without permission. The Qing army then marched straight in. At this moment, they were at the Tongzhou section of the Grand Canal. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait are raging, smoke is everywhere, and life is in ruins.
Since the two armies led by the Tartars Dorgon and Yue Tuosu have joined forces in Tongzhou not far from Beijing, which seriously threatens the security of the capital, the fighting is now the most intense in the east of Beijing in the direction of Dongzhimen and Chaoyangmen. The lanterns here are also more densely packed than elsewhere, and there are also many bonfires set up outside the city, with the light extending far and wide.
More than 100,000 landless refugees outside Beijing fled into the city, and the government had no place to take them in. Many people huddled in the corners of various streets and alleys in the lee of the wind. Many of them were crowded together without distinction. Men, women, old and weak, all wanted to keep each other warm and rely on their body heat to survive the cold nights together. Even so, many people would still die of cold and hunger every night.
…………
On the evening of the third day of October in the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, in the Wenhua Hall of the Ming Dynasty Palace in Beijing, the current Emperor Chongzhen first summoned Eunuch Gao Qiqian, the internal eunuch who was in charge of the troops of King Qin of the World, and now he also summoned the Minister of the Ministry of War and the Assistant to the Cabinet of the current dynasty. The minister Yang Sichang came to see him.
Wenhua Hall, a palace building built in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1420), is located to the east of the Meridian Gate of the Outer Chao Dynasty, opposite Wuying Hall in the east and west. In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, it was once "the place where the prince of the dynasty looked after affairs". According to the "Five Elements Theory", the east belongs to wood and the color is green, which means growth. Therefore, the roof of the palace used by the prince was covered with green glazed tiles. Later, because most of the princes of the Ming Dynasty were young and could not directly participate in political affairs, it was changed to the emperor's banquet hall after the 15th year of Jiajing (1536). The building was subsequently changed to a yellow glazed tile roof, and the famous sutra banquet ceremony was also held here. Held here.
At this moment, in the Dongnuan Pavilion in the back hall of Wenhua, the two monarchs and ministers who decided the future fate of the Ming Dynasty were sitting and asking questions, while the other was standing and answering. The contents of what they talked about were all important matters that could be classified as secrets of the country.
Emperor Chongzhen was lying on a dragon-carved armchair covered with yellow cushions. His face looked slightly haggard. He asked his cabinet minister Yang Sichang warmly: "Is Lu Xiangsheng sure to come tonight?"
Yang Sichang stood with his hands down, his face as calm as a pool of stagnant water, without any expression. When he heard Chongzhen's question, he replied in a calm and respectful tone: "Lu Xiangsheng, the governor of Xuan, Da, and Shanxi King Qin, arrived in Changping at noon. Tonight, We can definitely make it to the capital."
Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly, already looking a little tired. Years of hard work had made his physical condition worse and worse. He seemed to be thinking quietly about something at this time.
Seeing that the emperor was not asking questions, Yang Sichang could only stand respectfully with his hands down, but he did not dare to take the initiative to say anything to the emperor.
"How are the various departments in the Beijing camp assigned?" Chongzhen asked suddenly.
Yang Sichang did not dare to reply directly. He briefly thought about the recent deployment and arrangements in his mind, organized his words, and then replied softly: "Each battalion in Beijing was originally divided into three parts, one is responsible for defending the city, and the other is stationed in the city. Guard against prisoners outside Dongzhimen and Chaoyangmen. Originally, there was a troop stationed outside Deshengmen to prepare for Changping. Now that King Qin’s troops and horses from all over the country have arrived one after another, Changping should have nothing to worry about. This troop is , has now been transferred to garrison outside Chaoyang Gate."
