So, is he going to sneak like this, like a rat that has only escaped from the sewers, and leave the Qing court alone in the chaos?

No, it can't be done.

If he was alone, like a mouse that slipped away, and escaped from the Qing Dynasty in the chaos, even if he finally escaped to Li Xiao's place, Hong Chengchou estimated that he would be as poor as a lost dog, and in the end it would be difficult to enter Li Xiao's eyes, but he would probably be despised by him.

If this is the case, this is absolutely unacceptable to the former Ming Dynasty Jiliao Governor and the current Qing Dynasty scholar Hong Chengchou.

This self-regarded celebrity, resourcefulness and ability were first-class historical celebrities in the late Ming Dynasty, if he could only go to Li Xiao in such a gloomy way, I am afraid that it would be more uncomfortable than killing him.

And if you want to get Li Xiao's attention, you may have to provide a handy meeting gift, so that it is enough to show your talent and make Li Xiao pay more attention to herself.

And this meeting gift, after a sleepless night of thinking, Hong Chengchou finally decided what kind of weighty gift he wanted to give Li Xiao.

That is, Hong Chengchou not only wanted to escape by himself, but he also wanted to encourage Zu Dashou, who was forced to surrender to the Qing Dynasty, with the Ming troops who were forced to surrender to the Qing Dynasty during the Songjin War, and absconded from the border anyway, and finally went to Li Xiao.

Hong Chengchou knew that in the past few months, although Zu Dashou had surrendered to the Qing court, he had always missed the Ming Dynasty in his heart, and he had been remorseful for his forced surrender to the Qing Dynasty, but he was an object that was very easy to say.

You must know that in the official history, since the surrender of the Qing Dynasty, Zu Dashou has been in a state of eating and waiting for death to do nothing, and the only deeds recorded in the annals of history are that a few months after the surrender of the Qing Dynasty, he wrote a letter that was not salty or light, to his nephew Wu Sangui, the general soldier of Ningyuan, asking him to lead his troops to return to the Qing Dynasty, but Wu Sangui replied to the letter and refused. In the end, the ancestor who was named the chief soldier of the Zhenghuang Banner, after more than ten years of muddy nightmares, died in obscurity in Beijing in the thirteenth year of Shunzhi.

Of course, for the Ming Dynasty, the state of Zu Dashou can be regarded as the final return to the Ming Dynasty. At least this state of inaction did the least harm to the Ming Dynasty, and it was much stronger than the shameful behavior of Wu Sangui, Hong Chengchou and others who took the initiative to serve the Qing court and were willing to be the eagle dogs of the Qing court. Perhaps, this is also Zu Dashou's unspeakable guilt and compensation for his betrayal.

Hong Chengchou was sure that after receiving the news that the emperor was either dead or seriously injured, this ancestor Dashou would definitely regret the surrender of the Qing Dynasty that day, just like himself, and he must also hope in his heart that he would seize the opportunity to change at this moment when the situation was confused.

After all, good birds roost on trees, and no one stipulates that they must be hanged on the rotten tree of the Qing Dynasty. When the turmoil in the Qing Dynasty was about to break out and a big war was about to start, just not a fool, he would definitely start to make more prudent and long-term plans for his own future prospects.

If he escaped from the Qing Dynasty, Hong Chengchou returned to the Ming Dynasty without face, and Zu Dashou, who surrendered to the Qing Dynasty twice, of course, had no face to see Emperor Chongzhen again. Stayed, this Ming Dynasty will have no face to go back, Hong Chengchou can be sure, then this ancestor Dashou will naturally be the same as himself, and he can only throw himself into Li Xiao's camp in the end.

And once Zu Dashou is moved, with his influence, it should not be difficult to encourage those former Ming military troops who surrendered to the Qing Dynasty but were reluctant in their hearts.

Hong Chengchou was even thinking that if the plan went well, he could even let Zu Dashou encourage him, as early as more than ten years ago, the sons and nephews of the Qing Dynasty, such as Zu Zerun, Zu Zepu, Zu Zehong and other powerful factions with soldiers and horses, if they could be pulled over, in this way, the soldiers and horses who threw themselves into Li Xiao would be even more magnificent, and their own initiative would be even more dazzling.

It can be said that what Hong Chengchou planned was an extremely bold but extremely valuable plan, of course, how many soldiers and horses could be taken away, Hong Chengchou could only do his best to obey the destiny of heaven.

However, Hong Chengchou is sure that if this plan can succeed, he, the mastermind of the plan, will definitely leave a deep impression on Li Xiao, and in Li Xiao's eyes, he will also be highly valued, and perhaps in the near future, he will become an indispensable minister of the country under Li Xiao, just like in the Ming Dynasty......

Thinking of this, the corners of Hong Chengchou's mouth suddenly flashed with a strange smile.

"Come on, let's eat."

Hong Chengchou, who was thinking about it, began to feel hungry in his belly, and turned his head to call out the door.

Hearing the summons of the master, Chen Tai, the housekeeper and servant, hurried over, holding the freshly warmed meal in his hand, and served it lightly in front of Hong Chengchou.

Hong Chengchou ate it in a big gulp, and a bright light flashed in his eyes from time to time.

After taking a few bites, he stopped his chopsticks and whispered to Chen Tai: "Chen Tai, you can go and do something for me tonight." ”

Chen Tai was stunned for a moment, and replied softly: "Okay, but I don't know, what does Dong Weng command?" ”

Hong Chengchou glanced at him and said lightly; "In the name of buying wine and food, you sneak out of the room tonight, go to Zu Dashou's place, and tell him that I have something important to visit him tomorrow."

Chen Tai answered, and was about to retreat, but Hong Chengchou stopped him again.

"Chen Tai, you tell Zu Dashou that the matter I want to talk to him about tomorrow is very urgent and urgent, I hope he will not go out then, and withdraw all the guests who want to see him, set aside time, and talk to me alone, remember to remember."

Chen Tai was stunned for a moment, feeling very surprised by Hong Chengchou's strange attitude in his heart.

Since surrendering to the Qing court, Hong Chengchou has rarely seen such an eager appearance, and Chen Tai has rarely seen it. In his impression, this old master, who has followed him for many years, looks like he is in a trance every day, as if he is always thinking about problems, but he seems to be thinking about nothing.

His eagerness today was really beyond Chen Tai's expectations.

Although Chen Tai felt very strange that Hong Chengchou suddenly wanted to see the ancestor Dashou, who was also almost idle, otherwise, as an old servant who had been with him for many years, of course he knew that what Hong Chengchou decided, as a subordinate, there was no need to think too much at all, just do what he was told.

So, he replied respectfully: "Okay, master, don't worry, I'll go later, and be sure to help you convey it to General Zu." “

After the waiter Hong Chengchou finished eating, Chen Tai put on the food basket and hurriedly went out, those guards at the door all got the bad news of the emperor, and they were all numb and sluggish, looking listless and lazy. Seeing Chen Tai come out, he just asked a few words casually, and then let him go.

Chen Tai, who left the house, took advantage of the moonlight to twist through the streets and alleys on the silent street, and came to the courtyard where Zu Dashou lived. Then, he informed the doorman, and after a short time, he was received by Zu Dashou.

"Chen Tai, you came here late at night, but what is the matter?" In the dim candlelight, Zu Dashou asked softly.

Chen Tai noticed that the former Ming Dynasty Liaodong Forward Battalion Commander, the current Zhenghuang Banner Commander Zu Dashou, was not at all as majestic and full of aura as when he was the chief soldier in Jinzhou before, and now he looked haggard and worried, his eyes were even more cloudy, and even his wrinkled clothes were splashed with a little vegetable stains, looking very sloppy and obscene.

Obviously, the sudden collapse of the Qing Dynasty emperor and the brutal civil war that will occur next made Zu Dashou, who was already depressed and waiting for death, even more worried in his heart, so he had no intention of paying attention to his appearance.

Chen Tai sighed lightly and replied respectfully: "Your Excellency, my lord said that I hope to come to the mansion early tomorrow morning to ask for a meeting, and I hope that you can talk about it." “

"Oh, that's it, then let Heng Jiu come tomorrow morning, anyway, now that the emperor has an accident, those guards have loosened their surveillance, let him come, I will wait for him at home." Zu Dashou replied lightly.

Chen Tai hesitated for a moment, and then said: "My lord said that this meeting is very important and urgent, and I hope that the adults will not see other guests tomorrow and meet my lord specifically." “

"Oh, really?" Zu Dashou blinked, but in his seemingly cloudy eyes, a bright light flashed, and he said in a deep voice: "Okay, this soldier knows, you tell Hong Hengjiu that tomorrow morning, no one will be seen in this soldier, and he will wait for him in the inner hall, and whatever he wants to talk about, it will only come out of his mouth and into my ears, and no third party will know." “

After receiving Zu Dashou's affirmative reply, Chen Tai was overjoyed, and he hurriedly promised to leave.

After returning home, Chen Tai immediately reported to Hong Chengchou about meeting his ancestor's birthday.

After listening to Chen Tai's report, Hong Chengchou had a faint smile on his face again.

He knew that Zu Dashou should have guessed what he wanted to say to him. In other words, Zu Dashou is willing to meet with him alone tomorrow, which shows that he should have a preliminary plan in his heart.

In the dim candlelight, Hong Chengchou had a weird smile on his face, and at the same time, he secretly clenched his fists.

The next day, after breakfast, Hong Chengchou changed into civilian clothes, and gave the guards who were guarding the door a bribe of one dollar and one silver each, and after letting them open their eyes and close their eyes, Shi Shiran went out alone.

Hong Chengchou walked cautiously all the way, while keeping a close eye on whether someone was following him. Fortunately, there is a great chaos in the city now, and there is a panicked atmosphere in the streets and alleys, and no one notices him in plain clothes at all.

After a short time, he came to the outside of the small courtyard where Zu Dashou lived, and the doorman immediately led him into the inner hall. And here, Zu Dashou has long been waiting in it.

The two sat down separately, and after reading the tea, the servant withdrew, and closed the door tightly.

Hong Chengchou and Zu Dashou looked at each other, and for a while, they seemed to have infinite words to say to each other, but they couldn't say anything for a while.

For a while, the faces of these two important ministers of the Ming Dynasty who surrendered to the Qing Dynasty were very complicated, and both of them seemed to have a sense of being separated from the world, and the atmosphere in this room was also very embarrassing.

In the end, it was Hong Chengchou who coughed lightly and took the lead in speaking: "Fuyu (Da Shou Zi), I came here today, but I have an important matter and want to discuss with you." “

The muscles on Zu Dashou's face trembled slightly, he sighed lightly, and said slowly: "Hengjiu, we are also old colleagues who have worked together for many years, so we don't need to fight anymore." I also said it bluntly, you came to our place this time, but you came to persuade me to leave the Qing Dynasty quickly and go elsewhere. ”

Hong Chengchou couldn't help but be a little surprised when he saw that Zu Dashou had suddenly broken the true purpose of his coming, but he still reacted quickly, smiled slightly, and said in a deep voice: "Fu Yuguo is a refreshing person, and Hong is not secret, I came to your place this time, which is exactly what I mean." ”

Zu Dashou glanced at him, and sighed again: "Hengjiu, don't you just want to persuade me, take advantage of the current civil strife in the Qing Dynasty, take care of us ministers, let me join you, sneak away again, and then join the Ming Dynasty to serve?" It's just that my ancestor is not as good as you, I am a person who has surrendered to the Qing Dynasty twice, and my sons and nephews are also serving the Qing Dynasty. It's a pity that the emperor used to trust my ancestors so much, but in the end, it was difficult for me to fulfill my minister's festival, and I was ashamed to survive here and bend to the captivity, which was really ashamed of the emperor, my ancestors, and my hundreds of millions of people! ”

Hearing Zu Dashou's words, Hong Chengchou's face was also panicked, Zu Dashou was deeply ashamed, how could he, Hong Chengchou, not regret and feel guilty.

Thinking that he got a jinshi in the forty-fourth year of Wanli, he was promoted all the way to the political envoy of Shaanxi Province, and then promoted to the governor of the three sides, in charge of the suppression of bandits in Shaanxi, Gansu and Jin provinces.

What's even more ironic is that after hearing that he was captured, he died without food for many days, and Emperor Chongzhen was even more moved to cry and personally held a grand altar for him to pray.

In order to commemorate Hong Chengchou, a great hero who died for the country, Chongzhen gave him the most solemn sacrificial treatment, the altar set up a total of nine altars, and when it came to the ninth altar, the whole sacrifice was almost completed, only to suddenly get the news that Hong Chengchou had surrendered to the Qing Dynasty and did not die of hunger strike, Chongzhen stopped this ridiculous sacrificial activity in extreme embarrassment and humiliation.

However, Rao is like this, Chongzhen, who has always been suspicious of widowhood, is still open to Hong Chengchou's family and friends, and has not taken cruel measures from the nine clans.

Hong Chengchou sighed for a long time, and then slowly replied: "Fuyu, I want to tell you that I am here to persuade you to escape from the Qing Realm with me, but what I want to take refuge in is not the Ming Dynasty, but Li Xiao, the king of Pingliao." ”

"What? Vote for Li Xiao?! ”

Zu Dashou's face changed, and he stood up suddenly.