[218] Li Zicheng became emperor

The Dashun army ran for 500 miles in two days and nights, and arrived west of Tongzhou on the morning of the 26th. Seeing the tower of Beijing, the army was suspended, and then some of the men and horses stayed outside the city to camp to resist the pursuing soldiers; Most of the people are from Dongzhi and Chaoyang Ermen City. Li Zicheng relied on Song Xiance for divination, led a small number of men and horses and personal generals, bypassed Dongzhi Gate and Anding Gate, and deliberately went to the city by Deshengmen. Niu Jinxing received a notice in advance and led the civil and military officials to kneel in Desheng Gate to greet him. But the etiquette is hasty.

Li Zicheng is still dressed when he left Beijing, and there is still a yellow umbrella in front of the horse, but his face is dark and his face is full of dirt. The oolong foal was obviously overly tired and skinny for days. Due to the heavy sweating, the yellow dust fell on the wet hair, making it completely lose its former look, the color of the hair was dull, and the corners of the eyes were also piled up with eye feces.

Li Zicheng asked Niu Jinxing: "How is the situation in the capital?" ”

Niu Jinxing replied with a stern expression: "People's hearts fluctuate, and there is anything to say. In the past few days, there have been all kinds of ministers, some of whom are waiting for the emperor to return to Beijing to ascend to the pole; There are also people who have torn off the official titles posted on the door, and today they know that the emperor has returned to Beijing, and they have pasted it again. Like Guang Shiheng, when he was persuaded to enter, he had been stamped twice and was very enthusiastic. The day before yesterday, he also tore off the door title and hid; Today, I heard that the emperor was going back to Beijing, so I hurried back home and re-attached my title. ”

Yuan Zongdi scolded: "Such a two-hearted minister, please ask the emperor to punish him severely." ”

Li Zicheng shook his head and said, "When is it now, don't worry about it." ”

Song Xiance said again: "I got a report from the sentry just now, Wu Sangui did not stay, but and Song Youliang and Song Youliang were marching towards Beijing day and night. I heard that there were also Mongols among the pursuers! Wu Sangui's Guan Ningbing walked ahead and would be in Beijing in about two days. Go or stay, Your Majesty must decide to ...... today"

As soon as his words came to this, Liu Zongmin came. Everyone stopped talking and waited for him to come in. When Liu Zongmin came in, he was supported by two people, and Liu Zongmin's front and back were covered with gauze, and he could no longer bow down. Li Zicheng said: "Jiexuan, there is no need to salute. Sit down quickly and discuss important matters. ”

Liu Zongmin sat down and said, "I heard that the enemy will chase him to Beijing within two or three days, how does the emperor decide?" I think Your Majesty should ascend the throne early. ”

Li Zicheng was silent, although he never forgot to ascend to the ceremony, but now he is about to withdraw from Beijing, and people are panicking. The civil and military officials have their own plans. The soldiers suffered heavy casualties, how could they be happy? Thinking of these situations, he couldn't help but hesitate. Immediately, he asked Song Xiance and others: "What do you claim?" ”

Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance both said that they should quickly ascend to the pole and not disappoint the world.

Li Zicheng asked Yuan Zongdi again, and Yuan Zongdi said: "The raw rice has been cooked and cooked, and if you don't reach the pole, you will disappoint the subjects of the world, and the brothers everywhere will be discouraged." What's more, it has been announced that it has ascended to the pole in Beijing. If you don't quit Beijing without ascending to the pole, wouldn't it be an empty trip, forcing Chongzhen to death in vain, destroying the Ming Dynasty, and doing a good thing for Wu Sangui, what kind of reputation did you lose? ”

Li Zicheng's heart was very heavy, and he said: "It's so urgent, can An take care of Dengji?" ”

Liu Zongmin couldn't help but say loudly: "If you don't ascend to the pole in Beijing and get a big position, even if you want to return to Guanzhong, you won't be able to get it." He didn't explain why, but everyone knew in their hearts and knew how heavy his simple words were.

Niu Jinxing added: "You must climb to the pole, and the name is justified." As for the ceremony can be simpler, it is said that in order to reduce the burden of the people, Emperor Dashun kept everything simple.

At this time, Li Zicheng no longer hesitated, and said: "It's good to climb tomorrow, and you can prepare quickly." ”

Niu Jinxing said: "The emperor's ascension to the pole is a very important ceremony. According to the practice of the Victory Dynasty, the new emperor ascended to the pole, and the Yuan Day was congratulated, all of which were held in the Huangji Palace. If it is held tomorrow in the Huangji Palace, from the Huangji Gate to the Wuying Palace, at least 300 people need to be sent to clean it overnight. Not only the ground, but also the doors, windows, and pillars had to be cleaned. Since our army besieged Beijing on March 17, the eunuchs in charge of this matter have run out. So now not only is there yellow sand and dust piling up everywhere, but grass is also growing in many places in the yard and in the brick cracks. Before going to Shanhaiguan, although I also practiced here twice, I was in a hurry and did not clean it seriously. ”

Liu Zongmin said: "Troops will be sent to clean up overnight tonight. 300 people is not enough, but 400 or 500 people can be sent. ”

Li Zicheng did not speak for the time being. His heart was filled with the depression of the aftermath of the defeat. Now the discussion of how to ascend to the pole did not inspire his cheerful and uplifting mood. What he considered was how to withdraw from Beijing, how to deal with the Manchurians and Wu Sangui's pursuit, and how to make it possible for all localities to avoid rebellion.

Seeing that he was silent, Niu Jinxing said again: "Please Your Majesty, don't delay." ”

Li Zicheng had no choice but to say: "You don't have to change places, let's go to the pole in Wuying Palace." As for the ceremony, don't do it according to the original preparations, everything is as simple as possible. ”

Niu Venus immediately kowtowed and resigned in preparation for the ascension.

Early the next morning, the civil and military officials were already waiting in the court room outside the noon gate. Suddenly, the bells and drums sounded three times at the noon gate, and they solemnly walked into the Forbidden City from the right gate, and came to His Excellency Wu De to stand solemnly. The bell outside the Wuying Gate rang three times, they followed the special regulations of the founding of the Dashun Dynasty, Wu Zuowen Right, came in two lines, crossed the Jinshui Bridge, entered the Wuying Gate, passed through the Jinyi Banner School and the Jinyi Lux, avoided the royal road in the middle, boarded the Danbu from the east and west, and waited in the Danqi step by step.

More than half of the 100 officials were newly appointed officials in Xi'an and Beijing, and about 80 percent of the civil servants were surrendered officials from Beijing. This group of Beijing ministers didn't want to come, but since they couldn't escape from the city gate and had nowhere to hide, they had to come. They didn't plan to flee to Xi'an, and they knew that Wu Sangui would fall into a catastrophe as soon as he arrived, so while waiting, they were all pale and frightened, peeking at each other and exchanging glances. The ministers from Xi'an, who thought that they were from the "dragon" first, their home was in Chang'an, and they returned to Guanzhong, and the wealth was still there, although they were worried about the war in their hearts, they looked relatively calm, and some people were still excited and proud because of the "bowing to the founding ceremony".

A eunuch walked to the corner of the Danqi and waved the long whip three times, that is, the static whip. After the three silent whips, the civil and military officials became even more silent. Wang Changshun was wearing the six-grade civil official court uniform of the Yuma Temple, standing in the civil official team, and suddenly thought that when he drove the livestock, he could also pull the whip so loudly in the wilderness. Just as he was thinking wildly, suddenly three firecrackers rang out from the south side of the Jinshui Bridge outside Wuying Gate, followed by firecrackers, which was very lively. It stands to reason that after the whip sounds, before the emperor comes out, there should be no more sound. However, this special situation was already settled when Li Zicheng studied the imperial rites of the great ceremony before Li Zicheng's Eastern Expedition.

At that time, the military generals from Shaanxi hoped to set off three-eyed guns and firecrackers when the emperor ascended to the pole. They said, "When you do a happy event in the countryside, you must have a three-eyed gun and firecrackers." The emperor ascended to the pole, it should be more powerful and lively, how can he not let off three-eyed guns and firecrackers? ”

Of course, this is not in line with the court. Gong Yan had no choice but to ask Prime Minister Niu Jinxing to decide. Niu Jinxing did not approve of setting off three-eyed guns and firecrackers, but he did not dare to go against the will of the Shaanxi generals. Once he entered the palace with Liu Zongmin to discuss matters and asked Li Zicheng for instructions in person. Li Zicheng smiled but did not answer, looking at Liu Zongmin.

Liu Zongmin said: "What was not available in the previous dynasty, let's have a new one." Now it is still fighting the world right away, which should be different from the peaceful times. This time, we have to put three eyes and firecrackers, and we have to put big firecrackers with a '10,000-word head', so it's better to take it as an example. ”

Li Zicheng smiled and nodded. As a result, today's Dengda ceremony has a three-eyed gun and a firecracker with a "10,000-digit head", which makes the officials lively all of a sudden. After the firecrackers went off, some officials of Honglu Temple entered the Wuying Hall and turned to the Dongnuan Pavilion, but did not enter. There was a palace maid who opened the yellow satin embroidered dragon door curtain, knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times, and said: "Respectfully ask the emperor to take off!" ”

Li Zicheng wears a crown of flat heaven, and there are twelve rows of jewels in front of the crown that hang down to the top of his eyebrows. Wearing a yellow satin embroidered dragon robe, the "tide" before and after is all blue, indicating that the Dashun Dynasty is the "King of Water". The waist is tied with a jade belt, and the feet wear straight satin foundation and gold thread embroidered dragon inlaid beaded cloud toe boots. He was sitting upright on his throne, restless. For a long time, he had been looking forward to the day when he would ascend to the pole; Now the day has come, but it is not what he had hoped for. He didn't expect such a heavy defeat at Shanhaiguan. Shuangxi, Li You, Li Qiang and other dozens of favorite generals, 20,000 or 30,000 generals, captains and soldiers who have followed him for many years, died on the west bank of the Shihe River and on the way to retreat. Last night he received two reports of 100,000 urgent military intelligence. One reported that Wu Sangui and the Hu people's infantry army was heading towards Beijing. The other is Liu Fangliang's secret music, saying that Henan and Shandong rebelled everywhere, and they killed the state and county officials of the Dashun Dynasty one after another, or drove them away, or captured and sent them to the newly established Ming Dynasty in the south.

He was scared and didn't know what to do next. Hearing the sound of firecrackers outside Wuying's gate just now, although it was so lively, his heart felt extremely empty. And for the Battle of Shanhaiguan, he felt infinite remorse......

"Wu Yingdian, I will come back again. Beijing, I will come back again. Li Zicheng straightened the felt hat on his head and shouted loudly: "Move to Xiangjing." ”

Wu Sangui chased him to Beijing non-stop, and the first thing he did was to look for Chen Yuanyuan all over Beijing.

At this time, Cao Rong, the former Ming Dynasty imperial historian, in order to please Wu Sangui, after he found Chen Yuanyuan, he sent her back to Wu Sangui's original mansion, and found the best doctor in the capital to treat Yuanyuan. Hearing that Wu Sangui had entered the city of Beijing, he hurriedly sent someone to deliver news to Wu Sangui

After listening to Cao Rong's servant's narration, Wu Sangui let out a long sigh unconsciously, and said secretly: I thought that Yuanyuan had been captured by Liu Zongmin's thief, and I was afraid that I would never see Yuanyuan again in this life, and I didn't want to reunite with her today. I just don't know how much Yuanyuan has been wronged, I will definitely make up for it in the future, and I will not be separated from Yuanyuan by half a step.

Wu Sangui changed into a white shirt and soft fur, looking more handsome and majestic, and led a large team of people to greet Chen Yuanyuan

Chen Yuanyuan's small sedan chair was walking slowly, and suddenly heard the drums in front of her, Yuanyuan lightly lifted the sedan curtain, but saw that Wu Sangui and the generals had already greeted her on the street.