The battle at Xizhimen is still raging. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

The Tatars attacked Zhengyangmen during the day without success, and overnight they launched a night attack on the Xizhimen of the capital with the Wuliang Habu and several small tribes, dispatching nearly 30,000 soldiers and horses, while the Ming army initially garrisoned less than 4,000 troops, and then successively transferred troops, and the total number of defenders was still only 20,000.

After Zhu Houzhao left the palace, he took a carriage to Xizhimen, and before he arrived at Guangji Temple, he saw a large number of officers and soldiers retreating from the front line, Zhu Houzhao pulled Zhang Yuan and asked: "What's the matter, has Xizhimen been broken by the Tartars?" ”

Zhang Yuan complained bitterly, thinking: "On this big night, the capital is in chaos, where do I know the situation in Xizhimen?" At that moment, he said: "His Royal Highness the Prince, you can rest assured...... Xizhimen will be safe and sound! ”

Zhu Houzhao muttered: "It's okay to be safe, go quickly, if you can't get to the city before the city is broken, it will be difficult to boost the morale of my officers and soldiers, and this palace will become a sinner of the Ming Dynasty!" Hurry up! ”

The carriage continued to move forward under the escort of the guards of the Jinyi guard and the avant-garde of the government army, and did not go far, a general rode over, and the black light blinded the fire and could not see who it was, but the prince's chariot was too conspicuous, and when people approached, he heard the old man's voice shouting: "Who allowed the prince to come?" Back to the palace! Go back to the palace directly from Xi'an Gate! ”

Zhu Houzhao heard the voice, with a touch of excitement on his face, he poked his head out of the car window directly, and the torches gathered outside, and he suddenly saw everything clearly.

Zhu Houzhao smiled: "Old man Zhang, it's me, what's going on in Xizhimen?" ”

The person who came was Zhang Mao, who was riding in military uniform, and he rode directly to the carriage, urging urgently: "His Royal Highness the Prince, it is not appropriate to stay here for a long time, you should return to the palace quickly!" ”

Zhu Houzhao said: "The palace was ordered by the emperor to go to Xizhimen to comfort the soldiers, how could Old Master Zhang send me back to the palace because of his personal abolition?" ”

Zhang Mao was full of doubts, what is wrong with the emperor, although you say that your body has recovered, but you always send your son to the most dangerous place on the front line, aren't you afraid that your country will have no heir?

Zhu Houzhao asked: "Old man Zhang, you haven't said yet, what's wrong with Xizhimen now, why is there chaos everywhere?" ”

Zhang Mao was still riding on a horse, and he didn't have time to enter the palace to verify whether what the prince said was true, but he was very clear about the emperor sending the prince to Zhengyangmen to work in the army, but he didn't know that this time it was Zhu Houzhao who insisted on going his own way, so he had to say: "Your Royal Highness the prince, I just got the news that the soldiers and horses of Beikou attacked the city wall of Beijing from the direction of Zhihua Temple in the south of Chaoyangmen, and the old minister led three thousand soldiers and horses to reinforce it!" ”

Zhu Houzhao was taken aback: "The Tartars are so cunning, now they not only launch night attacks, but also learn to attack the east and the west, the Tatars over there in Chaoyang Gate must be indispensable, is it enough for Old Man Zhang to bring 3,000 soldiers and horses?" Forget it, this palace will go to Chaoyang Gate with you! ”

Zhang Mao said: "His Royal Highness the Prince, you can't go!" ”

"Why not? Since my father arranged for me to work in the army, where is there a need, I should appear there, Old Master Zhang, don't say anything else, this capital is so big, there is always a place for emptiness, the Tartars have coveted the Beijing division for a long time, if there is no big man like this palace to inspire the army, why should the soldiers fight to the end? Zhu Houzhao argued on the basis of reason.

Zhang Mao was anxious at this time, and he didn't know if the prince was really appointed by the emperor, but he expected that if there was no emperor's edict, the prince would not be able to leave the palace, so he said helplessly: "Since the prince wants to go together, the old minister will escort the prince there, even if he dies, he will return to protect the prince!" ”

Zhu Houzhao smiled and said: "There is no need to fight to the death, there is this palace, I expect those Tatars to flee when they hear the wind, this palace will fight side by side with Old Master Zhang, and finally celebrate the victory!" ”

……

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“…… Ge Lao, I just received the news that the prince went to Chaoyangmen, and he went with the British duke! ”

After Xie Qian left the palace gate, he chased Zhu Houzhao in a carriage, who knew that Zhu Houzhao's car was very fast, Xie Qian had just arrived at Mingyufang Guangji Temple, preparing to go to Fuchengmen and Xizhimen, but suddenly learned that Zhu Houzhao went to Chaoyangmen, Xie Qian suddenly felt powerless.

"Hey, it is worthy of being a disciple cultivated by Shen Xi'er, and he is doing things in a hurry...... No wonder the prince is always worried about Shen Xi Xiao'er, if Shen Xi Xiao'er returns to the capital in the future, and the prince ascends the throne again, wouldn't Shen Xi'er's future be smooth sailing? ”

Xie Qian was in a bad mood at first, but he knew that Shen Xi had entered Juyong Pass safe and sound, and he unconsciously relaxed. After old age and decay, Xie Qian always wanted someone to inherit his mantle, and he felt that Shen Xi was the most suitable, in the past, he always wanted to marry Xie Hengnu to Shen Xi, but now he felt that this marriage was too wonderful.

In addition to being happy, Xie Qian's face was full of gloom.

This time he was worried about the tense situation in the capital, although Shen Xi was safe, but the capital was very dangerous, and now he was shocked three times a day, if there was really a mistake, he couldn't even protect himself, let alone inherit the mantle.

At this time, the guards belonging to the avant-garde of the government army came over to inquire: "Pavilion Elder, you are old...... Are you still going to Xizhimen? ”

Xie Qian said angrily: "The prince is no longer in Xizhimen, what are you going to do?" Turn the road to Chaoyangmen, this time from the side of Jiaozhongfang! ”

Then the convoy set off, Xie Qian rested in the carriage, and after a while, the carriage jolted violently a few times, and he complained again and again: "The old man's body is going to fall apart!" ”

Finally arrived at Chaoyangmen Street, Xie Qian just got off the carriage, before the person stood firmly, he heard the sound of "clang" at the city gate, and only after careful inquiry did he know that it was the Tatars who were hitting the city gate.

Xie Qianzheng was worried, and when he learned that it was only the gate of the urn city, his heart was a little lighter, he glanced around, and asked, "Where is the prince?" ”

The guards grabbed a general, and the general looked confused...... He didn't know Xie Qian, he only knew that this was a senior official of the imperial court. The general said: "Prince? His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has never come, this lord, which yamen are you from? ”

Xie Qian felt bad, obviously heard that the prince had come to Chaoyangmen, why didn't anyone arrive?

Just as he was about to go to Dongzhimen to take a look, Xie Qian patted his head sharply and said, "Why are you so careless, the prince is walking in Jiangmi Lane, where is he coming so quickly?" Come on, escort the old man to the city! ”

Originally, there are two roads from Xizhimen to Chaoyangmen, one is from the north of the imperial city, take Gulou Street, Andingmen Street to Chaoyangmen, and the other is from Jiangmi Lane in the south of Daming Gate, turning Chongwenmen Street, Pailou Street to Chaoyangmen, the two roads are relatively speaking, the road in the south is easier to walk but will detour far away, although the road in the north is close but very bumpy, Xie Qian in order to catch up with the prince, so he chose to go north, and the result came to the front.

Although Xie Qian was a little dizzy, it was a matter of city defense, Xie Qianxin said that this kind of battle supervision still had to come by himself, and quickly asked the guards to escort him to the city.

The tower of Chaoyangmen is not as high as Zhengyangmen, only three floors, and this section of the city wall of Chaoyangmen is in disrepair for a long time, and there are many damages, and there are many places where the rammed earth in the bricks is exposed, Xie Qian doesn't see it very really, but he knows one thing, Chaoyangmen is not easy to defend.

Xie Qian asked Hu Luo, the deputy chief soldier on duty at the city gate: "How many troops are stationed at Chaoyangmen?" Why do you see the light of the fire and hear the sound, but you don't see the figure of Di Yi's soldiers and horses? ”

Hu Luo said: "Back to Xie Ge Lao, the Tartar soldiers and horses have just evacuated!" ”

"Withdrawn?"

Xie Qian was shocked, "Where did you go?" ”

Hu Luo said: "Elder Ge, the last general is not clear...... Why don't you send someone to the surrounding city gates to ask? ”

Although Xie Qian had a good temper, he also couldn't help but have the urge to scold his mother at this moment, and thought: "Beikou's torturous siege method is really terrible, doesn't it make my garrisons and horses from all walks of life tighten the strings, and I can't even sleep peacefully?" It seems that what the prince said is right, if you don't take the initiative to attack, the defenders of the capital will not be able to bear it in a few days! ”

Xie Qian was pondering, and a guard rushed to Xie Qian out of breath and reported: "Pavilion Elder, I just got the message that the prince is going in the direction of Andingmen!" ”

"Andingmen?"

Xie Qian felt deflated.

Anding Gate is the east of the two city gates in the north gate of Jingshi, very close to the Shuntian Mansion Ya, Guozijian and Confucian Temple, Xie Qian just passed by there, thinking that he was going to be tossed again, and suddenly felt powerless.

Xie Qian waved his hand: "Let's go, go to Andingmen, alas!" It's really going to torture a person to death! Help the old man to go down to the city...... Find someone to hold a torch to light it up! ”

Climbing the city in the middle of the night, Xie Qian was very afraid that he would step on the air, after all, his body was not young and strong, and the guards also knew Xie Qian's situation, and even knew that this was the "Duke Xie" praised by everyone in the court.

As soon as Xie Qian left the city, the news of Andingmen's attack by Tartars had spread throughout the capital.

Xie Qian went to Andingmen non-stop, and finally arrived in the nearly fourth watch, when Xie Qian had already slept in the carriage.

……

……

The Tatars took turns to attack the city, and the nine gates of the Beijing division were not spared, and there were actual attacks and feints at night, in short, to make the Ming army tired of coping.

Xie Qian finally found Zhu Houzhao at Andingmen, and then stayed with the prince on the tower of Andingmen, where the prince was sullen because he insisted that his father should send troops and horses out of the city to fight the Tatars head-on.

"If you don't send troops out of the city, in three or five days, when all the officers and soldiers are exhausted, it is estimated that the Beijing Division will be lost!"

At dawn, Zhu Houzhao sat on the battlements and said to himself, "Mr. Shen said that he would lead the troops back to Beijing, but if there are no soldiers and horses, what is the point of returning to Beijing with the few men and horses under his command?" No, this palace will lead its troops out of the city today and fight the Tartars! ”