There is controversy in later generations about whether Cao Huachun was in the capital in March of the 17th year of Chongzhen. This is because Cao Huachun was exposed by a group of officials during the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, saying that he was opening the door to welcome surrender. But he himself went to Shu

He made a false accusation and said that he was not in the capital.

However, Zhu Cihong saw Cao Huachun's name on the "list of escorts and escorts" provided to him by Wang Chengen!

He is indeed in the capital! However, he does not hold any important position, nor is he here for official duties, because he retired and returned to his hometown six years ago. The purpose of his coming to the capital is to sell his family's property.

Cao Huachun's family is rich! Because he is not the only one who became prominent through his hard work as a eunuch. Before he retired, he was the eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch of the ceremonial department, the admiral of the East Factory, and the general admiral of the military affairs of the capital. His second brother Cao Huachun was also a high-ranking official. He passed away.

The former official worshiped the Governor Zuo and served as an official for forty years, but made a lot of money!

Therefore, the Cao family is also a well-known family in Wuqing County, Tianjin Wei. They are the largest landowners in Tianjin Wei, and they also have many industries in Beijing.

Probably feeling that the capital was about to change hands and the Ming Dynasty was on the verge of collapse, Cao Huachun hurried into Beijing after handling the funeral of his second brother Cao Huayu, hoping to sell off a lot of the Cao family's property in Beijing.

.

However, the Cao family had too much property, and the real estate market in Beijing was not good. After months of struggling, the sale was not completed. As a result, Emperor Chongzhen, who was crazy about poverty, found out and had people find Eunuch Cao and force him to donate.

I bought 50,000 taels of silver, but it made Eunuch Cao very distressed...

When he learned that Prince Zhu Cihong actually came with the monk Fang Baojian, who had the imperial edict of "fussing the army and directing the governor to direct military affairs", Eunuch Cao subconsciously thought of the money!

So when Zhu Cixiang saw Eunuch Cao outside the door of Cao's Mansion with the slogan "For Sale" hanging on the wall, he was an old beggar with white hair, patched clothes and wrinkles...

"Are you Cao Huachun?" Zhu Cixiang looked at the old beggar kowtowing to him, and was a little bit dumbfounded.

Isn’t it just money? As for this?

"The old slave is Cao Huachun, young master, the old slave is suffering, the old slave is poor..." Cao Huachun knelt there and cried loudly. It was really pitiful! But after crying a few times, he heard someone laughing in his ears.

!

Who?

The old eunuch looked up and was immediately stunned, because the one who laughed was actually the prince Zhu Cihong!

What's going on? The old eunuch said to himself: He is so pitiful, a poor old man with no children and no daughter, crying loudly, but the prince is not sympathetic, but smiles so cheerfully, this is not the behavior of a benevolent king! No.

Is it said that the thousand-year-old prince is kind-hearted? How could this be the case?

Zhu Cihong was not happy when he saw the old man looking up at him, but patted him on the shoulder, "Don't pretend to be pitiful in front of me, I'm not here to ask for money!"

No money? Cao Huachun still felt something was wrong.

Zhu Cixiang pulled him and said, "Let's go inside and talk."

Cao Huachun is quite old, but because he has lived a very restrained life for a long time and has not been emptied by women, he is still quite strong. As soon as he was pulled by someone, he stood up, quickly led the way, and invited Zhu Cixiang in

He walked into a hall with only a few pieces of shabby firewood furniture. He said with an apologetic look: "Old slave, this place is really rough..."

"Stop, stop, stop..." Zhu Cixiang waved his hand, interrupting Eunuch Cao, "Time is tight, and I don't have time to say this. Please hurry up and get people to prepare the carriages and horses, pack up the gold and silver treasures, and leave Chaoyang Gate before dark.

Wuqing County, I have a mission for you!"

What's the meaning?

Cao Huachun was stunned.

Zhu Cixiang looked at the stunned Cao Huachun and said seriously: "Eunuch Cao, the mission I want to entrust to you is an important matter related to the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty... The reason why I let you do it is because I trust you the most."

Who trusts me the most? Cao Huachun didn't believe this! He and Zhu Cihong were not familiar with each other. Zhu Cihong was only twelve years old when he retired and returned to his hometown.

"Master Qiansui, what do you want me to do with you?" Cao Huachun asked hesitantly.

"Go to Wuqing to gather your servants, prepare mules, horses and carts, and prepare ten days' worth of dry food for ten thousand people... The more servants and mules, horses and carts the better, prepare as many swords, guns, bows and crossbows as possible. As for the women and children of the clan,

, you can go to Dagokou first and wait."

"My master wants to..."

Zhu Cixiang looked at Cao Huachun and said in a low voice: "My father, my mother and I are about to go south, and they will take the sea route from Tianjin... I ordered my father-in-law and his family members to pick them up in Wuqing and escort them all the way. When they arrived in Nanjing, my father-in-law and the Cao family

Everyone from top to bottom is my hero in overcoming the difficulties of the Ming Dynasty! And your Cao family is the whole family escorting Nanxing. When you get to Jiangnan, you will be reused. You are undoubtedly a first-class famous family!"

Cao Huachun's hometown, Wuqing, is located just between Beijing and Dagu, 150 miles away from Beijing, so it is very suitable to serve as a transit point for escape.

If you travel day and night, you can complete the one hundred and fifty-mile journey in one day at the earliest. However, it is very dangerous to be outnumbered and without a safe place to rest. You might encounter a small group of enemies and blow up the camp!

Therefore, Eunuch Cao, the number one figure in Wuqing County, is very important!

As long as the Wuqing Cao family can mobilize, they can provide a safe place for the troops who come in panic.

Moreover, brothers Cao Huachun and Cao Huayu have always been in charge of the military. There must be many of the clan members who practice martial arts and serve in the army. There must also be a group of servants (referring to the strong men who look after the family and the courtyard) who can drive them. Pull out one or two thousand people.

It is possible.

This move of the whole family to the south is also a rare opportunity for the Wuqing Cao family!

Not only can the Cao family leave the increasingly dangerous North Zhili region, but they can also become the largest family protecting Nanxing! When they arrive in Jiangnan, are they afraid that they will not be reused?

Of course Cao Huachun wanted to leave, but the gates of the capital were closed on the 12th, and no one could get out without an order. However, he was still a little suspicious of the news about Emperor Nan Xing.

"My lord, is it true that the emperor is leaving? Has the cabinet agreed? Has a guard been arranged?"

Zhu Cixiang said: "I will accept Wu Xiang's youngest daughter as my concubine! Wu Xiang has already written a personal letter to Wu Sangui, and Guan Ning's army is coming to the capital day and night. As for the cabinet, there will be votes drawn up by then."

"Wu Sangui is here? Thank God..."

"Eunuch Cao, it's not too late!" Seeing that Cao Huachun was still fussing, Zhu Cixiang urged, "The thieves are coming. If it's too late, it will be too late to clean them up! Why don't you ask your family to pack their things first? I will give you a detailed strategy."

I’ll let you know in detail.”

Cao Huachun knew that this matter was extremely important, and if it fell on him, there would be no reason to refuse, otherwise he would be disloyal to the Ming Dynasty... The big bodyguard (Wang Qi) next to the prince seemed to be holding a sword of Shangfang!

So he no longer hesitated and accepted the assignment immediately. Moreover, he was sensible enough and did not want the silver stored in the family hoard. After receiving Zhu Cixiang's order, he immediately took his nephew and servant, accompanied by Zhu Cixiang's lecturer Li Shichun,

They rode out of Chaoyang Gate together and flew towards Wuqing, Tianjin. They left the city half an hour earlier than Wang Zhixin.

And Zhu Cixiang got 50,000 taels of silver from Cao Huachun's house! It was really a fruitful harvest!

It seems that what the history books said about Cao Huachun opening the door to welcome the surrender was also a slander. Eunuch Cao, like Wang Zhixin, was a good and trustworthy eunuch!

Just when he was about to go to the house of Bingbi Wang Yongzuo, who was ranked third in the ceremonial department, to ask for money, Zhu Chunjie, who had been sent to find Zhu Chunchen before, flew over and brought a piece of news that made Zhu Cixiang want to "swear his father."

Zhu Chunchen, Duke of Chengguo, was summoned to the palace by Chongzhen!

Why is Chongzhen so unreliable in his work? Zhu Chunchen's family is rich, and they can dig out three hundred thousand taels... But now this rich man has been summoned to the palace, and he is probably still planning some dirty tricks against himself! It's really

It’s hard to be a filial son!

"Let's go back to the inner campus!" Zhu Cixi said to the left and right, "then send people to the various city gates to deliver the order and tell them that I have been ordered to leave the palace to appease the army. The Governor-General directs military affairs and asks the guards of all gates to come to the inner campus to see them.

, and receive military pay...5,000 taels of silver for each city gate!"

"That much?" Zhu Chunjie was shocked when he heard the amount. Isn't the prince's style too great?

Zhu Cixiang breathed out: "I have to give it! Tomorrow is probably the first battle, and the first battle must be successful! If you don't need a heavy reward, what else can you use?

Also, send someone to check how the blocking of the six gates in the inner city is going? Report right away."
Chapter completed!