"Your Majesty, according to my investigation, there is no expert behind His Highness the Crown Prince. Wu Xiang was only brought to the inner school grounds yesterday by Duke Wang to see His Highness the Crown Prince..."

The person who was reporting to Emperor Chongzhen was Luo Yangxing, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, who was also the elder brother of Luo Xiushen, who guarded the port as a gatekeeper. Although the two were brothers and looked somewhat similar, they were much different in age. Luo

If you have nourished your character enough, you can become Luo Xiushen's father.

As the commander of Jinyi Guards, it is his duty to supervise important ministers. Therefore, Luo Yangxing had spies around Zhu Cihong and Wu Xiang. Zhu Cihong's abnormal behavior starting on the 15th was revealed on the morning of the 16th.

The report was given to Luo Yangxing.

However, Luo Yangxing did not report the situation to Emperor Chongzhen immediately because the report was too bizarre - Zhu Cixi seemed to be "inspired" by Emperor Taizu Gao in his dream, and he suddenly became enlightened and transformed from an honest child to a grown-up.

He actually deceived people like Wang Chengen and Wu Xiang.

Just when Luo Yangxing asked the special agents to conduct a strict investigation, Emperor Chongzhen had already handed over all the power of the capital's defense to Zhu Cihong.

This change was beyond Luo Yangxing's expectation. If Li Zicheng's troops had not invaded the area, he would have thought there was a coup in the Forbidden City!

Of course, a coup is impossible. At least on March 16, Emperor Chongzhen still had enough authority. Even if he wanted to imprison Zhu Cixiang, it would only be a matter of one sentence.

But he couldn't be so reckless, because Wang Cheng'en, whom he trusted the most, was so honest that he frightened Emperor Chongzhen... Li Zicheng was about to invade Beijing, but Wang Cheng'en was not ready to run away!

Fortunately, Prince Zhu Cixi responded promptly and worked efficiently enough, so that Emperor Chongzhen's plan was not ruined.

Therefore, after Emperor Chongzhen was annoyed with his son, he still followed the trend and handed over the defense of Beijing to his son - in fact, Chongzhen had no one left. To trust Wang Chengen anymore would be suicide! And Zhang Jinyan, the Minister of War, was useless.

Faced with Li Zicheng's troops pressing down on the country, he was at his wits' end and had already been dismissed from his post for investigation. As for Zuo Zhuguo, Taifu, Cheng Guogong, and Governor Zhu Chunchen...

Emperor Chongzhen glanced at his most trusted nobleman and decided to forget it. This guy was reliable, but he didn't know how to fight or run an army, let alone come up with a strategy for war and defense.

Moreover, there was no one available around him, unlike Zhu Cixi who hooked up with Wu Xiang. Wu Xiang also had a group of servants around him, as well as Wu Sanfu and Zu Zepu. After all, they had been fighting and killing Lu Chou in Liaodong for so many years.

He is considered a veteran.

In addition, Zhu Cixiang does have a lot of clever ideas!

Just now, Luo Yangxing reported something that made Emperor Chongzhen dumbfounded. Zhu Cihong used some method to raise a large sum of military expenses from Wang Zhixin and Cao Huachun!

It is said that there are more than ten carts of silver...

Chongzhen sighed, how could his son be so good at making money?

If I had known earlier, I should have asked him to persuade donations. Maybe several million would have been raised... If Wu Xiang's daughter was allowed to enter the palace as a talent for the prince, most of Wu Sangui's army would have arrived in Beijing.

With millions of taels of military spending and Wu Sangui’s army, Beijing would be foolproof!

How could such a wise emperor like him be so inferior to a child named Cixi when it came to making money?

Emperor Chongzhen sighed softly and thought: I am too upright to be as treacherous as Cixi! There are too many treacherous ministers these days, and the father of the emperor must be more treacherous than the treacherous ministers! But why did Cixi become so

So treacherous? Who did you learn this from?

"Zhu Chunchen," Emperor Chongzhen put his thoughts back and said to his most trusted nobleman, "Although the prince-general is directly responsible for military affairs, you are still the governor-general of the military affairs of the capital. Tomorrow you will go to the inner school field to participate in military affairs... Look out for me.

Prince, do you know?"

"I understand..." Zhu Chunchen paused, "What your Majesty issued is a central decree. Do you want the cabinet to make up for the vote tomorrow?"

In addition, the prince has no intention of accepting Wu Sanmei as a talented person. It is for Wu Xiang to offer his daughter to him... I am afraid that he will be impeached by the imperial censor!"

"Impeach Wu Xiang?" Emperor Chongzhen couldn't laugh or cry, "When did it happen? Those imperial censors also pointed to his son Wu Sangui to save his life! As for recruiting talents, I will go back and issue a decree to the Ministry of Rites... Isn't that right?

Are you a talented person? Just make a special case."

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhu Chunchen already understood Emperor Chongzhen's thoughts.

Although he was not good at fighting and running the army, he was better than anyone else in trying to figure out the holy will. Chongzhen only said that he would give Zhu Cihong a concubine, but he did not mention that the cabinet should make up the vote for Zhu Cihong to command the army.

This means that Zhu Cihong's Fujun and Governor-General Zhili's military dispatches are all false and cannot be recognized by the cabinet and the six ministries. The Governor of Shuntian, the Governor of Tianjin, and the Governor of Jiliao may not obey the orders.

After Wu Sangui's army arrived, as long as the courtiers raised objections, Chongzhen could take advantage of the situation and bring the prince back to the palace... Of course, you can't be deposed. The prince has great merits no matter what. If the emperor wants to save it easily,

, will definitely be unanimously opposed by the ministers, and it will be unbearable for the country to have its own disputes.

But it’s hard to say what illness the prince had and died young...

Just when Emperor Chongzhen wanted to end the conversation between the emperor and his ministers, and then went to Kunning Palace to discuss Nan Xing's matter with Zhou Hou, the voice of Gao Yushun, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, suddenly came from outside Dongnuan Pavilion: "Your Majesty, outside Fucheng Gate

The fire is soaring into the sky, and soldiers are coming..."

Fucheng Gate is one of the two city gates opening to the west in the inner city of Beijing. It is only more than three miles away from the west wall of the Imperial City.

Once Fucheng Gate is lost, Emperor Chongzhen will have to hang himself at Meishan tonight.

After hearing the news, Chongzhen was startled, with a look of horror in his eyes, and turned his gaze to Zhu Chunchen: "Dong Cheng, go to the inner school field immediately to help the prince arrange the battle! Don't let Chuangni break into the capital.

!”

…

"Huang Dabao, I am a little tired, so I will sleep in Jiale Hall tonight. You can go and make arrangements, and also arrange accommodation for a few gentlemen, Admiral Wu and Commander Li in Yuxi Palace."

When Zhu Cixiang learned that the vanguard of Li Zicheng's army had appeared outside Fuchengmen and set fire to a temple outside the city, setting off a huge fire, he seemed unusually calm. He just ordered Luo Xiushen to return to Fuchengmen immediately to stabilize the situation.

In order to improve the morale of the military, he asked Zhu Chunjie and Li Ruolian, who had just inspected the "door blocking project", to take turns on duty at night. Then he announced the end of the military meeting and planned to go to sleep. As soon as he left the leopard room, Wu Xiang followed quickly. Zhu Cixiang knew

Wu Xiang wanted to have a secret conversation with him, so he backed away and walked behind a pillar. Wu Xiang also walked over.

"Your Highness, are you really not leaving tonight?" Wu Xiang seemed a little nervous and his voice was very low.

"If your father, the emperor, and your mother are not leaving, how can I leave alone?" Zhu Cixiang said firmly, but he was very nervous in his heart.

Of course I wanted to leave, but leaving Chongzhen, Zhou Hou and all the ministers, and only taking a few followers to escape with Wu Xiang, they would really have to go to Wu Sangui's army... If Sun Chuanting was stationed at Shanhaiguan, Zhou Yuji,

Even Hong Chengchou, who was the governor of the Ming Dynasty, would consider seeking refuge alone.

But Wu Sangui...it’s not reliable even if you think about it!

But Wu Xiang couldn't let Wu Xiang see this idea, Zhu Cixiang had to take advantage of him!

"Old Taishan," Zhu Cixiang affectionately called Wu Xiang "Old Taishan," "If we don't leave tonight and wait until the city is broken, how sure are we of being able to escape?"

"This..." Wu Xiang took a breath, "Your Highness, if you let me make the arrangements, you will be quite sure, but..."

"Just what?"

"It's just that it's difficult for the whole army to leave," Wu Xiang looked at Zhu Cixiang, "Your Highness has to make some choices. In addition, we still don't have enough manpower and it's difficult to disperse."

"I understand," Zhu Cixiang nodded, "Go and fight well in the first battle tomorrow, and don't let the thieves look down on you. I have many ways to deal with money. If you have money, you will have people."

While the two were talking, Zhu Chunjie's voice suddenly came from not far away: "Master Qiansui, Duke Cheng Guo has arrived. He said he was here to assist His Highness in setting up the battle defense."
Chapter completed!