Those who came out to support the false prince were all those low-ranking officials and even ordinary people. They were deceived by rumors, and they always believed that the boy who was imprisoned in the prison was the crown prince of Emperor Chongzhen, and it was Emperor Hongguang who didn't want to give up the throne so that he said that the prince was fake. But the high-ranking officials knew that the young man was only the nephew of the late Captain Horse, and of course they were not interested in him.

Therefore, with the benefit of Zhao Zhilong, the Beijing battalion soldiers dispatched to disperse these people who did not know the truth, or just found a spiritual sustenance, and re-detained Wang Zhiming, so as to end this farce.

But without an emperor, Nanjing must be defended. Otherwise, Li Zicheng came in and another roast and plundered, not only would their family property not be guaranteed, but even their lives might be lost.

However, some of the people in Jingying were taken out by Ma Shiying, and there were only more than 20,000 people who could be used to defend the city. Moreover, these soldiers in the Beijing camp have been absent from the battle formation for a long time, and it is really unreassuring whether they can hold on. And the relatives in charge of the soldiers in the city, from Xincheng Bo Zhao Zhilong, to Zhu Guobi, Duke of Baoguo, Xu Jiujue, Duke of Wei, Zhang Gongri, Marquis of Longping, etc., all won the title by virtue of their ancestors' military exploits.

There was no way, Zhao Zhilong gathered Qian Qianyi, Cai Yichen, Li Zhan and other civil and military personnel to gather together to discuss, so they could only spend a lot of money and recruit warriors. At the same time, he sent people to Zhenjiang immediately and invited Li Yan's troops to hurry across the river to receive the city of Nanjing.

Both ends at the same time. The people who went to contact Li Yan were already out of the city, but the matter of recruiting Jianyong in the city was in trouble - the household department had no money. In such a big city as Nanjing, there are not 60,000 or 70,000 people, and even the battlements at the head of the city are not satisfied, and there is a shortage of 40,000 soldiers, but the household department only has 1,000 taels of silver.

What followed was the old-fashioned situation, but none of the ministers and officials with huge family assets were generous, but they were all worried. What's more, some complained that Emperor Hongguang didn't know how to save, overhauled the palace, drafted women, and squandered the household finances, and now the emperor fled alone, and he didn't even leave the money to recruit soldiers for them.

These big people, for decades and hundreds of years, have always been holding silver in their hands, and when have they taken it out, it has formed a habit. Therefore, even when Li Zicheng's army was pressing, no one was willing to give up some money to save their family business and life.

Han Zanzhou, the eunuch of the Nanjing garrison, couldn't stand it anymore, and spoke directly: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is all burning eyebrows, are you still playing tricks here?!" Who is Li Chuang, he doesn't want to die?! How many relatives died in the city of Beijing? How many families are left? Isn't it true that each of you has a lot of money in his pocket, and everyone takes out some money, and then everything is solved? ”

After Han Zanzhou's words were finished, the civil and military relatives in the hall all shut up. Everyone knows the truth, but how much does each person take? That's a big problem. Everyone is a grasshopper on a rope, why do I produce more and you produce less?

"The contemptible man will be out for two months." Qian Qianyi was the first to speak.

Then there were civil officials who were ready to follow suit, and they were about to start donating a small amount of money.

At this time, Zhao Zhilong immediately interrupted and said jokingly: "Mr. Mu Zhai (Qian Qianyi), you are a giant room in Changzhou, and the Qianyun Tower and Red Bean Pavilion built for Hedong Jun (Liu Ruyi) alone cost 10,000 gold. When this life and death are at stake, I only want to take out a mere hundred and ten taels? Mr. thinks that Li broke into the city, and Mr. and Hedongjun can be alone? I've heard that those thieves love beautiful women, Chen Yuanyuan has become Liu Zongmin's lady in the room at this time, I wonder if the famous Hedongjun can be let go? ”

When Zhao Zhilong said this, he caught Qian Qianyi. Liu Ru is Qian Qianyi's forbidden belly, and when she married Liu Ru, she used the etiquette of a hired lady, but it caused a lot of sensation in Shilin. At this time, he was said by Zhao Zhilong, and when he thought of his wife being ravaged by thieves, he was really angry.

He gritted his teeth for a while, and finally put on his official uniform, and said loudly: "What Uncle Xin Cheng said is reasonable, and he is stingy." The contemptible person gave 10,000 silver! ”

"Good! Readily! Zhao Zhilong applauded loudly: "I will also give 10,000!" ”

However, the others barely reacted, and most of them still stood a little indifferent.

Han Zanzhou immediately spoke, preventing the officials from reporting freely. Because he knew that everyone in this Wuying Hall was a human spirit, and after a few people were needed, they would return to the level of one hundred and ten taels, and they would not be able to make up a penny at that time.

He hurriedly said: "Ladies and gentlemen, let's make a charter according to this standard. Ladies and gentlemen, compared with Uncle Xincheng, also out of 10,000 taels, and the uncle is second-class, out of 8,000. The viscount and the baron waited again, out of five thousand. The scholars and the officials of the various ministries were lowered by one rank according to Mr. Mu Zhai, out of 8,000, all of them were sent out of 5,000, the Ministry of Science and Dao and the Ministry of Officials were 3,000, and Hanlin was out of 1 or 2,000, how about it? ”

Everyone looked at Han Zanzhou silently, feeling that this dead eunuch was not a thing, and he dared to say such a bad move. Isn't this the trick Li Zicheng used when he was chasing stolen goods and asking for wages in Beijing? This is to treat them all as criminals!

Han Zanzhou immediately said: "You are all wealthy families in Jiangnan, and everyone knows how much wealth you have, so you don't have to think about any reason to prevaricate." Although the contemptible person is crippled and lowly, he has also received the favor of the emperor, and he can't watch the prosperous southern capital fall into the hands of thieves. Fifteen thousand! ”

This is a high-sounding statement, and things are also done beautifully, and the money is more than anyone else's, which makes everyone unable to refute.

Qian Qianyi immediately helped: "If you don't want to, then no one will come out." Let's take a gamble to see if Li Zicheng, who was driven out of Shaanxi by Li Yan, will not commit any offence against us officials and rich eunuchs after entering the city. ”

Just when everyone was hesitating, a small school ran in and reported in a panic: "Uncle Yu, a thief has been found in the east of the city." ”

Zhao Zhilong hurriedly ordered: "Quickly block the city gate!" A recruitment order was issued to the city, saying that the thieves were coming, the city was broken and the city was slaughtered, and the chickens and dogs were not left. Hereby recruit heroes and heroes to protect the homeland. Those who ascend to the city to help the war will be given ten taels of silver and two buckets of rice. Behead a thief and reward 50 taels of silver, kill a thief and reward 30 taels, and wound a thief 10 taels. ”

"Honor, obey." The little school agreed with trepidation and excitement.

At this time, all the civil and military forces fried the pot, and asked Zhao Zhilong, why didn't they discuss it, and the reward was given?

Zhao Zhilong roared angrily: "Everyone, the thief is already close at hand, why is it so indiscriminate?!" Today, if you spend one or two, you can save our lives and most of our family business. If you are stingy with these thousands of gold today, and the thieves enter the city tomorrow, there will be a lot of people who will be ruined and killed! How to choose, you should know for yourself! ”

Han Zanzhou also glared angrily, and said loudly: "You all go back to raise money, I will send officers and soldiers to protect you, and bring the money back by the way tomorrow morning." You have chosen three trustworthy people to oversee the use of the money, and everyone can rest assured. ”

Then everyone stopped complaining and went home helplessly.

...