has been sticking to the tower of Chaoyangmen, guarding the only way to the outside world for Emperor Chongzhen, Wang Dehua has been on the city tower, and his emotions are like a kite in the hands of a naughty boy. One will take advantage of the east wind to soar into the sky, and the other will turn over and fall into the mud.

Originally, I thought that I had secretly discussed with Wang Chengen, Wu Liangfu and the envoys of the Nanyue Army that the plan to quietly transfer Chongzhen's family out of the capital was seamless, but who would have thought that in a close position, the emperor's car was intercepted by a group of crows.

In vain, the nobles who smeared oil on the soles of their feet, and with the big hat of supervising the war outside the city, jumped on the boat and fled all the way east. If it weren't for the desperate fighting of the new army outside the city, the Shun army that came from the west would be blocked south of Dongbianmen, but I am afraid that the last passage from the Beijing division to the outside world would also be cut off by the Dashun army.

However, now there are also soldiers and horses of the Dashun army in the inner city, flocking along the streets in the direction of Chaoyangmen, Lumi warehouse, and sea warehouse. Li Yan, Song Xiance, Niu Jinxing and others who had lived in the capital all told Li Zicheng that because this area is adjacent to the canal, there are a large number of warehouses, and there are countless grains, rice, and goods in it. Not for anything else, even if it is for the stability of the capital after Emperor Yongchang of Dashun enters the city, it is necessary to control this place as soon as possible.

What's more, at this time, these swarming Dashun soldiers and horses have another errand, that is, to seize Chaoyangmen, completely cut off Chongzhen's escape road, and cut off his idea!

However, at this time, Chongzhen is no longer the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, but a father who feels guilty and is like a mad tiger for his children to have a way to live!

As soon as he rushed out of Donghua Gate with hundreds of eunuchs, he ran into a cavalry team of three or four hundred people. It was slowly coming along the road outside the palace wall, and there was talk and laughter. In order to save horsepower, the cavalrymen dismounted and handed over their horses to the horses to lead, and most of them came in groups of three or five chatting and laughing.

"Gunners out! Fire! ”

Wang Chengen automatically took over the command of this small team at this time. And Wu Xiang was very aggrieved to command the stragglers who gathered halfway.

In desperation, the fast gunners did not form three columns, but only two. More than 200 fast guns hit head-on, and the trajectory of the projectile drawn in the morning light was extremely brilliant and magnificent, and under the reflection of the snow, it looked extremely moving.

The Shun army, who was caught off guard, was put down by the rain of bullets that hit the head, and even if sixty or seventy people were put down, the projectiles flying everywhere made the war horses scream in shock, and from time to time tried to break free from the hands of the horse stakes holding the reins.

The officer at the head was about to reorganize the team, taking advantage of the gap in the loading of the opponent's firearms to rush forward, and use the spears and sharp swords in his hands to teach this group of eggless guys a good lesson. Unexpectedly, he had just put the whole team in the team, and he was not a few steps away from rushing head-on, and the projectiles on the opposite side were once again densely killed. This time, because the distance was closer, the formation was denser, and the casualties of the Dashun army were more, and a projectile flew right head-on and hit the officer's face. When he landed, a stream of red and white arrows also flew out, splashing the sergeant next to him.

"The one who holds the plate is dead! The one who holds the plate is dead! In a hurry, the sergeant shouted out all the black words when he was pulling the pole in Henan, so the remaining 100 people scattered as birds and beasts.

"Wu Xiang, rush up! Don't leave your mouth alive! Grab the horse! Wang Chengen's voice was colder than the ice and snow on the ground.

After snatching a hundred and ten war horses, Chongzhen and his party suddenly became a lot more courageous, and the eunuch even stripped off the armor and helmets of the soldiers of the Dashun Army on the ground and put them on himself, compared the swords in his hands, and decisively picked up the swords of the Dashun Army on the ground.

Suddenly, there were eunuchs in this team, and there were also people wearing Dashun military uniforms.

However, such a team naturally attracted the attention of other Dashun army teams. One by one, the teams chased and intercepted Chongzhen and his party, who were galloping along Donghuamenwai Street to Shiwangfu Street.

"Father-in-law! Look! There seems to be movement in the city! ”

Wang Dehua, who was looking at the tower of Chaoyang Gate, raised the telescope in his hand with joy and sorrow under the prompting of the little eunuch and looked into the distance.

Sure enough, the Dashun Army, which was originally guarding the grain and rice warehouses in the area of Lumicang, rushed westward one after another. To the west, a small team was rushing eastward, surrounded by a large group of men.

Wang Dehua's eyes almost burst into tears of joy! At a glance, he recognized from the camera that the person who was riding on a white horse and being closely guarded by several eunuchs was Chongzhen himself!

"Quick! Passing on the order of our family, the new army outside the city transferred a battalion of cavalry and a battalion of infantry to rush into the city to meet the emperor out of the city to go out of the city! ”

Chongzhen rushed out of the palace, and rushed along Shiwangfu Street to the area of Lumicang and Dengshikou, and was about to rush to the area of Yanle Hutong and Bensi Hutong. This latest military situation and Wang Dehua's order to enter the city to receive the order were sent to Luo Mingzu as soon as possible.

Because he often comes and goes, Luo Mingzu, who is very familiar with the terrain near Chaoyangmen, where the Teaching Workshop Division is located, naturally knows what it means for Chongzhen to rush to the front line of the Dengshikou. Without hesitation at the moment, he immediately jumped up, "Order!" The soldiers and horses stationed at the Temple of the Sun retreated westward, and the two infantry battalions stationed at Nanshui Pass, and the cavalry sentry entered the city first to pick up! ”

As long as Chongzhen is rescued, they will be the ones who have saved the hero. Moreover, being able to rescue the emperor in Li Chuang's million-strong army, this military merit and this combat power are bound to be admired by the world!

This sudden change made the negotiation between Luo Hu and Tan Chery suddenly fall into an embarrassing situation again.

Outside the Chaoyang Gate, it was originally built in the ninth year of Jiajing, used as a place for the emperor to worship the sun of the god of light, and the place where the emperor sacrificed to the sun was in the first year of Ming Longqing (1567), and before that, the sun was sacrificed outside the Temple of Heaven mound. According to the rules of etiquette, the god of the Ming Dynasty is sacrificed on the day of the spring equinox. "Tianfu Guangji" contains: "The sacrifice is made with three offerings, three offerings of the Taigao, three jade rites, seven music, and eight dances." In the year of A, C, Xu, and Ren, the emperor sacrificed himself".

On the square platform made of white stone, red glass symbolizes the sun. The negotiations between Luo Hu and Tan Chery were carried out in this extremely sacred and solemn place.

"Talking about big brother, our own brothers, Ming people don't say dark words. We had beaten ten barrels together, chased and suppressed the bandit Wang Ke together, drank wine in a wine jug, stirred thin in a pot, and many brothers in the two also gambled together and went to Yihong Courtyard together. Isn't this friendship much thicker than Chongzhen's old horse? Now that my Dashun troops are coming to Beijing, I don't think there is any need for us to fight. In this way, I ask Your Majesty for a decree to open an opening, you go to Nanzhili, and I will stay to fight Beijing, and the two will not interfere. ”

"That's good! Brother inherits brotherly love! Then I will send someone into the city to pick it up. Then leave the capital division! ”

"This, the two elder brothers and the brothers from Jingying are going to stay for themselves, but Chongzhen is going to stay!"

"Brother, this can't be done, Jingying is all children of the family, loyal and patriotic."

"In this way, after your department arrives in Tianjin to meet with the Tianjin Governor Feng's department, you can hand over all the useless mules, horses, artillery and other things to the younger brother, and the younger brother will give 500,000 silver dollars."

"Brother, you are embarrassing your old brother. The elder brother has received the grace of the country and has enjoyed the emperor's grace and rain for generations, and at this juncture, I can't be sorry for the emperor! ”

"Six hundred thousand silver dollars. As long as the brothers hurry up, don't embarrass the younger brothers. ”

"Brother, you also know that there are too many big heads in the Chaoyangmen area now. In the capital, all the guys with seniority and titles higher than your elder brother, the old men who think that they can shake their majesty and swing their old qualifications in front of your two elder brothers are now here to supervise the battle. The official flags are almost more than my military flags! ”

"Eight hundred thousand silver dollars."

"Brother, I'll discuss with your big brother Luo to see how to send these old men away first, and then let's talk about our business. However, it may not be possible! ”

"I just hope that my brother can make a decision as soon as possible."

While the two sides were bargaining, Luo Mingzu's order to transfer troops arrived.

When they learned that Chongzhen had broken through and rushed to Chaoyangmen, the faces of both sides of the negotiation changed.

This negotiation will not be able to continue.

Go back separately, reorganize your troops and prepare for a big fight!

After meeting with Liu Zongmin, Luo Hu was ashamed to tell him about the negotiation process. Liu Zongmin, who was sitting on top of a pile of silver boxes, didn't say anything. just slapped the lid of the box with his hand: "Little Huzi, to be honest, I have already expected your Uncle Jiexuan." ”

"Huh!? Uncle Jiexuan, why do you want to talk to them? ”

"That's what you don't understand. Most teams that can fight have a sense of spirit. Some are arrogant, some are domineering. The Beijing camp in front of me is also a team with such arrogance! It's amazing that you've been able to negotiate like this! If it weren't for the news that Chongzhen Xiao'er was trying to break through, I was afraid," Liu Zongmin slapped the silver box under his ass hard, "These things can buy this Chaoyang Gate!" ”

For an army like the Dashun Army, it is not uncommon to spill a lot of money when necessary to achieve the goal of killing and wounding many horses on the battlefield. This kind of thing has happened between the officials and soldiers of all dynasties and rebels and gangs. When there is a big disparity between the enemy and us, or when we don't want to suffer too many casualties, we will invite Marshal Zhao Gong, a common friend of everyone, to talk about it and take what they need.

At the moment, Liu Zongmin and Luo Hu were briefly assigned a job, Liu Zongmin was still in charge, Luo Hu led the Zhenshan camp to storm the Chaoyang Gate, and strive to capture the city gate, even if it could not be taken, the Beijing camp must be driven away. At the same time, Liu Zongmin, in his capacity as the commander of the battalion, ordered the Dashun army, which had conquered Chongwenmen, to rush over along the city wall to the area of Dongbianmen and Chaoyangmen, completely cutting off the communication between inside and outside the city.

A battle around the Chaoyang Gate Tower, divided into several battlefields inside the city, outside the city, and on the city wall, kicked off.

In the city, Wu Xiang led Wang Chengen and Chongzhen to shuttle back and forth in the alleys with the help of large buildings such as warehouses and granaries in this area, sometimes hiding in the alleys to avoid the large Dashun army, and sometimes using short and dense firearms to kill the small Dashun army.

I have seen the east exit of Yanle Hutong in front of me, out of this Hutong mouth, and then go not far forward is Nanshuiguan Hutong, when you arrive at Nanshuiguan Hutong, you can meet with the new army of Beijing Camp stationed at Chaoyangmen, and everyone can escape!

Outside the city, the cavalry of the Zhenshan battalion and the cavalry of the Beijing camp lined up in the same cavalry formation, and along the tall city wall, the two cavalry streams from the north and south collided fiercely together, and the flesh and blood splashed on the city bricks, and the screams were endless. The muffled sound of the dull horses hitting one place, accompanied by the popping sound of the horses' hooves trampling on people, made Liu Zongmin, a general who was accustomed to seeing mountains of corpses and blood on the battlefield, a little dizzy.

"Mother's good! Just rushed up and crashed into the other team! "Three or four consecutive columns of the cavalry of the Zhenshan Battalion rushed north in a dense formation, but the Beijing battalion did not hesitate to meet them in the same dense formation!

Although the tactics and training level of the two families were basically the same, there were two invisible and intangible factors in the Dashun Army that seriously affected the display of combat effectiveness. The first one, the direction of the wind! It was snowing at this time, and the not very strong but absolutely obvious northwest wind blew the snowflakes into the faces of the cavalry of the Earthquake Mountain Battalion, making it impossible to open people's eyes. The second is that people no longer have the desire to survive. Seeing that Beijing City is about to be taken down, who doesn't want to live a good life with the emperor for a few days? How can you throw your life away from the city of Beijing? Jingying, on the other hand, is the opposite. Shunfeng didn't say it, and the generals said it very bluntly: "It's like we're in a coffin now, and we're about to close the lid!" If you don't want to die, follow Lao Tzu and rush forward! As Erle Dengbao, who commanded the Qing army to pacify the White Lotus Sect during the Jiaqing period, summed it up, "There is a dead end everywhere, but there is a way forward to die!" "It's possible to live forward, but 100% backward is death! Listening to the sound of shouting and killing and firecrackers in the city, Luo Mingzu encouraged his subordinate officers and soldiers from time to time: "Did you hear that?" The sound of the gun is so real, the emperor has rushed to the city! As long as we accept the emperor to kill out of the capital, it will be a great achievement! Endless for children and grandchildren! ”

"Brothers, the gang of eggless people in the city have come over, and we can still lose to them? Touch your crotch to see if the eggs and birds are still there! When I escorted him to Nanjing, I won't talk about the money and food rewards, everyone can trust Liang Guogong and his old man. However, if his old man starts a fire, it will be very scary, I will put the words here first, if you don't fight to the death, if the King of Liao Yan comes up with some damage tricks in the future to make your life worse than death, don't blame me for not reminding you in advance. ”

On the city tower, Wang Dehua also saw very clearly, a team of cavalry rushed up, collided head-on with the thief's fine horse, and each was hit by a person on his back and broke his bones, and then another team of cavalry rushed up and continued to collide with the thief's fine horse. The cavalry, which had only hit the thieves, did not dare to move again, but instead lined up with firearms, and the two sides fired at each other less than sixty paces apart in the wind and snow!

Inside the city, two battalions of infantry stationed near Nanshui Pass also rushed westward. They have already seen the small team hidden in Yanle Hutong and Bensi Hutong, judging from the actions and uniforms, there is no doubt that it must be the emperor!

"Rush! Rush to the rescue! ”

"Quick! Rush, rush over, and we'll escort you out of the encirclement! In the middle of the two teams, the shouts of their respective leaders rang out in unison.

Between Yanle Hutong and Nanshuiguan Hutong, there is a small alley, which is called Zhupole Hutong. The two courtyards at the entrance of this alley, like all the courtyards in the city, were closed, and the gates were blocked with jars filled with earth and stones to prevent the rebels from entering, looting, and burning. When Wang Chengen commanded this small team to rush to the mouth of Zhugang Hutong, someone on the roofs and walls of the two courtyards at the entrance of the street suddenly fired dense projectiles at the small team. At the same time, someone shouted: "Chongzhen is here!" Chongzhen is here! ”

"Don't let Chongzhen run away!"

was caught off guard by the sudden dense side-fire fire, and Wang Chengen's hundreds of people fell on the spot. It was a blow to the head and immediately halted their momentum. However, what is even worse is that the people who blocked Chongzhen's advance issued a warning to the surrounding Dashun army stragglers, Emperor Chongzhen is here! How to prevent the soldiers of the Dashun Army who were fighting nearby from rushing to the bamboo pole alley with excitement?

Visually, there were about 1,000 people rushing to this side nearby, and Wang Chengen was not afraid of rejoicing. He jumped off his horse and ordered the rest of the men to dismount with him. The street in front of you was too narrow to accommodate so many horses, and the target of the horses was too large to be a living target.

Everyone whipped or stabbed the horse's buttocks, and some of the ruthless ones even cut the horse's legs, so as not to fall into the hands of the Dashun army. Hundreds of horses scattered in all directions, and suddenly the swarming people dodged to the side, and the formation was chaotic.

Taking advantage of the other party's efforts to grab the horse, Wang Chengen ordered someone to check their respective ammunition, "Little ones, although we don't have eggs, we escorted Your Majesty and rushed here." So many eggs in front of us have died under our fire, can this little thief stop us? ”

Everyone shouted in unison: "No! ”

"Good! Sure enough, I didn't embarrass the emperor! Wang Chengen pulled out the iron and steel sword at his waist, "In front of him is the last pass, rush out, the emperor is the dragon into the sea, and when the saint arrives in Nanjing, all those who survive will be promoted and issued a plaque of loyalty to the country!" If you are dead, our family will ask Liang Guogong to send the money to your relatives. If our family can return to Beijing alive in the future, there will also be a tablet for the dead brothers in our cemetery. Our nephews will make incense offerings to the big guy every year! ”

"Blessed by the gods and Buddhas! Bless the prince to be able to protect the emperor and break out of the siege! Our family is willing to preach to the monks in the second half of their lives, burn incense in the temple, and worship the Buddha in the temple! In this life, I will be a vegetarian and chant Buddha! ”

On the tower of the city, Wang Dehua saw that the city was blocked by a group of Dashun army stragglers who did not know where to come from with fire, and his heart was as anxious as a fire. I couldn't stop praying to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, hoping to bless Chongzhen and break out of the encirclement.

"Father-in-law, look!"

The little eunuch beside him exclaimed in surprise and pointed to the city wall in the south to signal Wang Dehua.

Along the broad rampart, a contingent almost as wide as the rampart, seemingly slow, but unstoppable, pounced!

couldn't help but shudder! (To be continued.) )