Chapter 1053 Chongzhen’s final choice (2)

(1053)

"Wu Sangui...what's happening after the rebellion?"

Chen Xinjia asked with a gloomy face.

After all, he is the Minister of War and needs to bear direct responsibility for the military. If Wu Sangui rebelled and Chongzhen wanted to hold him accountable, he would definitely be the one who was held accountable first. However, now he is not worried about the issue of rebellion or the issue of being held accountable, but the issue of what actions Wu Sangui will do after the rebellion.

Wu Sangui and Wang Dou's army are just north of Xi'an Prefecture, and the cavalry is only one day away from Xi'an Prefecture and only five days away from infantry. What does this mean? This means that once the two legions meet and kill to Xi'an Prefecture, Xi'an Prefecture has no time to prepare to resist. Chen Xinjia instinctively felt that this possibility is very high.

Think about it, Wu Sangui finally surrendered to the Hu Ben Army. If he didn't bring any greeting gifts, how could Zhang Zhun give him a good look? How could he get a good position? With Wu Sangui's shrewdness, he would never forget this. And for Wu Sangui, what kind of greeting gift is the best? Of course, it is this big lump in Xi'an Prefecture.

Logically speaking, it was not so easy for Wu Sangui to sneak attack Xi'an City. After all, there were 20,000 or 30,000 soldiers in Xi'an City, all under Cao Huachun's admiral. But, can you believe the combat effectiveness of the three major camps of the capital? Regardless of whether others believe it or not, Chen Xinjia would not believe it anyway.

In the past, the strongest combat force in the court was Wu Sangui's 5,000 Liaodong cavalry. After Wu Sangui led them to surrender, the only combat-capable force was probably Hong Chengchou. They were all stationed near Tongguan. If they could return to the rescue quickly, Wu Sangui would not have a chance.

However, the problem lies here. Once Wu Sangui attacks, can Hong Chengchou return to the rescue quickly? Chen Xinjia has no confidence in this. On the front line of Tongguan, the Xuanwu Legion of the Tiger Army stared Hong Chengchou tightly. Chen Xinjia is already grateful for Hong Chengchou being able to defend the front line of Tongguan. He really dare not expect anything else.

The more Chen Xinjia thought about it, the more he felt scared, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that the situation was critical. Wu Sangui defected at this critical moment, and the time was indeed very good. It is estimated that Wu Sangui had been planning for a long time, and then finally implemented it today. Sure enough, with Wu Sangui's action, the entire court was immediately on the verge of collapse.

"Damn it!"

Fu Zonglong cursed in a low voice.

When he thought that Wu Sangui's iron cavalry might appear at the city of Xi'an Prefecture at any time, he was shuddered. With Wu Sangui leading the way, other troops of the Hu Ben Army would definitely come with their tails. This simply means that the days of the court were already a handful.

"What happened to Dongchang and Jinyiwei?"

Yang Sichang couldn't help but complain.

He wanted to put all the responsibility for Wu Sangui's defection on the factory guards. However, the factory guards do have a responsibility. It is really damn that they do not strengthen their control over officers at all levels even though they are in a stormy moment. Since its establishment, the factory guards have not done anything meaningful, which is really infuriating.

"Dear sirs, Tongguan urgently reported!"

While talking, suddenly, someone rushed over and sent an emergency information.

When everyone heard the word Tongguan, they trembled and subconsciously looked at the messenger who delivered the message. They prayed from the bottom of their hearts that it would be better not to be lost by Tongguan. If Wu Sangui rebelled and Tongguan was also lost, then their only choice was to immediately raise his hands and surrender, and open the city gate to the Hu Ben Army and Hu Ben Army.

Fortunately, they have not heard such bad news yet. The urgent report was sent by Hong Chengchou. The content is very simple. The Hu Ben Army acted as a large-scale attack on the front line of Tongguan. The Hu Ben Army dispatched two legions: Qinglong and Xuanwu. Hong Chengchou felt that he could not bear it and hoped that the court would transfer Wu Sangui's cavalry to him as reinforcements. Hong Chengchou didn't know that Wu Sangui had rebelled, and he still hoped that Wu Sangui would be reckless!

"The Qinglong Legion is coming up?"

Chen Xinjia's face was obviously a little stiff.

The other officials also looked very ugly. They didn't say anything they wanted to say, because no matter what they said, it was useless at this time. Since it was useless to say or not, then why waste your saliva?

The Qinglong Legion once defeated the Tartars and was the main force in destroying the Tartars, which is known to everyone in the court. Before, the Qinglong Legion was in a state of half rest and had not been transferred to the front line. Now, this machete has been raised by Zhang Zhun again. With the combat effectiveness of the Qinglong Legion, it is not difficult to conquer Tongguan.

The Hu Ben Army's attack methods have always been very powerful. Even if it is natural danger in Tongguan, it is probably impossible to stop the Hu Ben Army's attack. Hong Chengchou was so worried that he requested to transfer Wu Sangui's cavalry over for the sake of strengthening his troops. However, Wu Sangui had already rebelled and the court had no troops to draw.

It's over, it's completely over.

"what to do?"

Yang Sichang looked at several colleagues helplessly.

As a result, several colleagues also looked at him helplessly.

"Let's go see the emperor!"

"Together, let us ask the Sacred Heart to make arbitrary decision."

Yang Sichang could only say helplessly and bitterly.

...

Xi'an Prefecture, Qin's Mansion, Zichen Palace.

As if there was some emotion, Emperor Chongzhen felt that his time had not been long. Standing in the Zichen Hall, he looked very haggard, as if he had grown older in just one night. The white hair on his head was already very obvious. In fact, in terms of age, he was less than thirty years old.

Zhang Yixian, Cao Huachun, Wu Mengming and others were kneeling in front of him, slacking their heads, raised their butts high, and did not dare to move. Wang Chengen stood behind Chongzhen, as if he had entered a state of meditation, as if everything in front of him had nothing to do with him. However, judging from his face, he should be quite distressed.

Chongzhen already knew the news of Wu Sangui's rebellion. After all, the eyes and ears of the factory guards were still a little useful. The factory guards were not sure why Wu Sangui rebelled. However, when the fact that Wu Sangui rebelled happened, they learned the news as soon as possible.

Even if he is proficient in deceiving his superiors and concealing his subordinates, Zhang Yixian, the eunuch of the East Factory, and Wu Mengming, commander of the Jinyiwei, dare not hide the matter at all. Because Wu Sangui might attack the city of Xi'an at any time. If he concealed it, if Wu Sangui didn't enter the city, they would lose their heads first.

"waste!"

"It's all waste!"

Chongzhen's convention began to lose his temper.

However, he lost his temper for a short time this time, and it ended after a few words of cursing. The main reason is not that he has become kind or that his personality has changed, but that he is in poor health and does not have so much energy to support him to lose his temper. After all, cursing people also takes physical energy, right?

Wu Sangui's rebellion was indeed a big blow to Emperor Chongzhen. He had always had high hopes for Wu Sangui. Since Wu Sangui bravely saved Wu Xiang and passed on the filial piety to the Nine Borders, Emperor Chongzhen has constantly given Wu Sangui honors and power. It can be said that he has absolute trust in Wu Sangui.

However, it was the person he absolutely trusted. At this critical moment, he betrayed him without hesitation and was preparing to fight back and attack Xi'an Prefecture. In the past, Lu Xiangsheng rebelled and Sun Chuanting rebelled, there was still a bottom line, that is, he would not directly oppose the court. Only Wu Sangui not only rebelled without hesitation, but also took the initiative to attack Xi'an Prefecture, arrest him Chongzhen and present him to the Hu Ben Army! Whenever he thought of his trust in Wu Sangui, Chongzhen felt that his heart would be broken.

"Are the three camps really so unbearable?"

Chongzhen said bitterly.

"I am guilty..."

Cao Huachun lay on the ground, not daring to move.

The three major camps in the capital were known to the court early in the morning, what could he do? When he was in Beijing, the three major camps were already full of waste, and after they arrived in Xi'an Prefecture, they were even worse than waste. Perhaps, this was just a group of manure-making machines. Apart from manure, they really couldn't do anything else.

"Will Wu Sangui really go south?"

After pondering for a moment, Emperor Chongzhen asked slowly again.

He knew very well about the combat effectiveness of the three camps in the capital. They were all places where the ministers and powerful men took advantage of the vacancy. Before the Jiajing Dynasty, it might have been a little better. After the Jiajing Dynasty, the three camps were completely ruined. In his hands, Chongzhen never expected the three camps to play a role at critical moments.

Before, when the Ministry of War delivered a report, it always said that the combat effectiveness of the three battalions was so strong, how 200,000 to 300,000 people could be taken on heavy responsibilities. In fact, Chongzhen himself knew that the three battalions had only about 50,000 or 60,000 people, and they were all old, weak, sick and disabled. I am afraid that the combat effectiveness was all blown out.

"Wu Sangui does show signs of going south."

Zhang Yixian said carefully.

"Where is the Jinyiwei?"

Chongzhen asked with a frown.

"Will go south."

Wu Mengming said arduously.

Chongzhen could only sigh helplessly.

He knew a little bit about Wu Sangui's ability. This traitor was indeed able to fight. Now, the court is in a difficult position. Once Wu Sangui attacks, there is indeed no solution. The only hope is that Wu Sangui is a cavalry and cannot directly attack the city. I hope he does not come with infantry and siege equipment.

Chongzhen pondered for a moment, and was about to say something, a little eunuch came to report that the four ministers from the cabinet had arrived. They said there was something important and negotiated with him.

"Let them come in."

Emperor Chongzhen said coldly.

He knew that Yang Sichang and others must have come to rebel for Wu Sangui. I guess these guys who usually boast about themselves now have no way. When they arrive, they must consider Zhang Zhun's suggestions and avoid continuing to use force to solve the problem. Alas, this group of waste. I really don't know why Zhang Zhun's subordinates have so many talents, and his subordinates specialize in producing waste?

"I am guilty!"

Sure enough, soon, Yang Sichang and others came, first knelt on the ground, crying bitterly, saying that they were incompetent and unable to solve the problems of the court. Then, their words turned to the suggestions sent by King Xiang. They unanimously agreed that only by accepting Zhang Zhun's suggestions was the only way out.

"I see."

Emperor Chongzhen said bitterly.

The atmosphere in Zichen Hall seemed to have condensed.

Finally it was time to make the final decision. Emperor Chongzhen was silent for a long time. He would rather be a mute. If he were a mute, he would not need to speak such a heartbroken language. However, he was not a mute, he was also an emperor. As the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he had to make a decision that his ancestors had never made before.

"You contact the Hu Ben Army and ask them to stop the attack for the time being. I am willing to go to Luoyang and meet Zhang Zhun in person. I am willing to accept the conditions he offered."

Emperor Chongzhen seemed to squeeze out word by word, with a pale face and difficulty breathing. For a 95th Lord or a 95th Lord with a strong sense of self-esteem, it was really too difficult to make such a decision. Fortunately, he finally made a wise choice to avoid further deterioration of the situation.

All the ministers finally breathed a sigh of relief. Emperor Chongzhen finally decided to accept the conditions offered by Zhang Zhun. The final killing between the Hu Ben Army and the court finally avoided. Everything ended silently.

...

Shaanxi, Guyuanzhou.

Guyuan Prefecture turned out to be a military town, which was located in Shaanxi township one of the nine borders. Usually, there were only garrison troops and their families. When Shaanxi was in the prime of Shaanxi, the population of Guyuan Prefecture was constantly decreasing. When the population was the smallest, there were only 40,000 to 50,000 people, with a scattered population and no sense of a town at all.

It was not until Li Zicheng led a large army and stationed here for a long time and accepted refugees from all over the country for a long time that the population of Guyuan Prefecture gradually increased to about 200,000. Due to the increase in population, the streets in the city gradually flourished.

In the northwest corner of the city, there is a magnificent courtyard with red walls and green tiles, and at the door are solemn sentinels of the rebel army. In front of the door, there is a high mast, with a dark red flag flying above it, with a big "四" written on it. As long as you are from Shaanxi, you will not know who his master is when you see this flag.

This magnificent house is Li Zicheng's residence. Since he came to Guyuanzhou, Li Zicheng has lived here and has never moved. If you carefully calculate, Li Zicheng has been here for more than three years. Such quiet days were simply unimaginable in the past.

Since the Hu Ben Army arrived in Luoyang, the Shaanxi Uprising Army has become very quiet. The imperial army did not continue to attack them, nor did they continue to attack the imperial army. Both sides were basically in peace. Some of the rebel officers and soldiers with poor memory have even forgotten the previous killings and began to enjoy a rare quiet life.

However, such quietness always made Li Zicheng feel that he seemed to be missing something. How could he say it was just like he was not able to do anything. In his subconscious, it seemed that he still had to fight, fight everywhere, and loot everywhere to meet his psychological needs. It seemed like he was a little bored to stay in the same place all day.

However, no matter how bored he is, no matter how hard he is, he will stay in Guyuanzhou obediently. There is no other reason, but no other place is better. Most of China has been occupied by the Hu Ben Army, where can he go?

That afternoon, Li Zicheng was in the yard, holding a stone lock in nothing. The current rebel army is basically in a state of putting horses in the south mountain and swords and guns into the warehouse. Only Li Zicheng himself insists on exercising his body every day. Well, to be precise, exercise is a coincidental, and the main purpose is to vent his excess energy through exercise.

Suddenly, a rapid footsteps came, and he followed his godson Li Guo in. Li came to Li Zicheng and handed him a piece of information, and said, "King of Chuang, this is the emergency information transferred from Xi'an Prefecture!"

Li Zicheng casually said: "What's the content?"

Li Guo said briefly: "Wu Sangui defected to the Hu Ben Army."
To be continued...