At the beginning of the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, the ominous omen of the end of the world was already coming, at the end of February and the beginning of March, the heavy snow had just stopped, and a demonic wind and yellow sand were swept out from the northwest grassland.

This kind of weather also happened during the last change of Yingzong's civil fort, and according to the warlock's words, such a scene is a disaster with swords.

It's just that the Ming Dynasty at this time has long lost the atmosphere of the hundred officials united as one, bravely shouldered heavy burdens, and fought to the end when Yingzong was gone. The sergeant guarding the gate wrapped the shabby cotton jacket and wrapped it, and at the head of the city, the soldiers of the Beijing battalion sat crookedly and slumped behind the battlements, smoking cigarettes and smoulding wine, no different from the ruffians and lazy men on the ground, and the city head was majestically placed with those cannons, and when you looked closely, the rust in the barrel of the guns blocked the caliber, and no one paid attention to it at all, and the city defense of the Beijing division was like a huge embroidered pillow.

Before Wara attacked the Beijing Division, the entire people outside Beijing were moved into the capital by the scholar Yu Qian, and a large number of Ming troops were ambushed in it, and the Wara people who rushed to the outskirts of Beijing were once here by the Ming Firearms Army A painful lesson, but now, no one thinks about these at all, outside the city is still a group of poor people struggling in the slums, the army is also lazy, and the people are also lazy, so you can't see the atmosphere before the war.

It seems that the only one in the entire Jingshi who is in a hurry is Emperor Chongzhen himself.

"The thief has already usurped the throne in Xi'an! This thief, who doesn't know whether he is alive or dead, also sent a crusade to the imperial court! Ladies and gentlemen, don't you want to say something? ”

is only in his early thirties, and he should be in the prime of life, but Emperor Chongzhen has gray hair, and his wrinkles can't even hide the powder he smears, especially yesterday, when the military department also received the news that Li Zicheng was proclaimed emperor and asked for a clear article, which made him more than ten years old, and no one would not believe him if he looked like an old man of fifty or sixty years old at this time.

Thinking that Li Zicheng was also like him at this time, accepting the worship of hundreds of officials, his heart was like a knife.

It's a pity, let him roar like thunder, the entire court is still silent like stagnant water, Chongzhen has not been a loyal minister like Yu Qian for seventeen years, but he was killed directly or indirectly, so many political turmoil can survive, which one is not an old fritter?

What's more, now is not the time for Yingzong to be captured, at that time the Ming Empire was the first overlord in the East, and the ministers were all full of pride, even if they encountered a disaster, they were all working together, eager to repay the country with death, and losing the identity of the Ming Dynasty was simply more uncomfortable for them than death.

But now, it has been seventeen years since Chongzhen ascended the throne, and every year is in the war, every war! Fail! War! Fail! I don't know how many times I have settled accounts after the autumn, how many times I have been scared, the old officials who have been more than a few years old are physically and mentally exhausted, and there are not a few people who are holding broken jars and breaking them.

The days when someone took the initiative to come out and take the blame were gone, and facing the court with his head down and his butt up lasted for a minute or two, and Emperor Chongzhen, who had been forced to have no way out, had to force down his anger and roll him out.

"The book of the military department! The thieves are about to attack, what can the military department do to defend against the enemy? ”

was named, and he couldn't pretend to be a turtle if he wanted to, and Zhang Jinyan, the new secretary of the military department who was forced into the first fire pit in Chongzhen, kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, the Beijing camp has not been paid silver for two months, Jizhen is in arrears for half a year, and there is no silver left in the military department's salary treasury, Your Majesty, if you guard against an army of one million, there will be at least 300,000 horses to defend Baoding, Jizhen, Tongzhou, each other is a horn, at least three million taels of silver, 900,000 stone of grain, the ministers are brave, please pay Your Majesty!"

But before Zhang Jinyan could finish speaking, Fang Yuegong, the head of the household department, had already jumped out and slammed his head on the ground with a bang.

"Your Majesty, there is no silver in the household!"

"The Central Plains have fallen! Shaanxi and Jin taxes have not arrived for three years, and the taxes in Sichuan have been cut off for four years, Huguang taxes to raise Zuo Liangyu's 300,000 troops, not to mention, but also have to support the imperial court to support the military salary, the only support for the imperial court is the tax in Jiangsu and Zhejiang plus the salt tax in Yangzhou, in addition to the court use, and then issue the salary of the Guanning army, even the Beijing division of the hundred officials can not be made up, Your Majesty, where did the household get the silver! ”

Come on, the court's self-help plan hasn't started yet, the two bigwigs ask for money on the left, and there is no money on the right, which directly makes Chongzhen full of enthusiasm stillborn, and the court once again resumes dead silence, looking at the top elites of the Ming Dynasty with their heads on the ground and their butts facing the sky, they were silent for more than five minutes, and Chongzhen finally waved his hand tiredly.

"Retreat!"

"The emperor has a decree! Retreat !!"

Wang Chengen raised the dust, and in a sharp and uncomfortable voice, a group of ministers kowtowed respectfully as if they had been amnestied.

"Long live the emperor, long live, long live!"

…………

Don't look at Chongzhen's diligence, but if he had encountered such a thorny problem before, he was likely to put it aside and boil the courtiers first, once the courtiers couldn't hold back and jumped out, someone would take the blame, but this time, he had really felt the breath of the country, and the fear in his heart made him breathless, and he was stuffy in the palace for a whole afternoon, and in the evening, another holy decree came out.

"Summoning Wu Xiang to meet you!"

Maybe he has failed too many times on the platform, and he also feels the bad luck here, maybe it is to express some cordiality, Chongzhen's summoning position this time is directly set in the imperial study in front of the palace, Daming has been in the imperial study for so many years, and there are really not many ministers who have been received in the imperial study, and it is really an honor.

But this honor made this old officer of Liaozhen feel only apprehensive, entered the palace in the evening, and entered the imperial study under the guidance of Wang Chengen, Wu Xiang didn't even dare to raise his head, and directly kowtowed heavily and fell to the ground.

"Minister Wu Xiang, long live your majesty, long live, long live!"

"Aiqing, please get up! Companion, give the seat! Come on, serve tea!"

Full of smiles and moved the stool, Wang Chengen bowed almost flatteringly, and in Wu Xiang's apprehension, the palace daughter presented fragrant Jiangnan tribute tea, and the atmosphere was almost set off, and Emperor Chongzhen coughed lightly.

"Now that the Jingshi is in crisis, I want to transfer your father and son to guard the Jingshi, how about it?"

"Your Majesty, the land of the ancestors, not an inch of land can be abandoned!"

Immediately stood up suddenly, holding his fist Wu Xiang knelt on the ground, banging his head, looking like a great loyal minister.

Emperor Chongzhen's face also became unpleasant, once upon a time, the Ming Empire, which called for wind and rain, now even had to discuss the transfer of troops with his courtiers, and the decline of the empire can be seen.

"The thieves are approaching the Beijing Division, and I am forced to transfer the Guanning army, and the Jiannu outside the Guanwai has died, and the Liao State is also a member of the Ming Dynasty, and the ancestor Yongle once said, in my hands, in the rule of the other, without it, the land of Guanning is managed by the King of Liao, and it is not considered to be abandoned! I have made up my mind, how much military salary does Ning Yuan's soldiers need to enter the customs!"

"Your Majesty, a million taels!"

Wu Xiang's asking price made the negotiation reach an impasse again in an instant, and his face turned pale, Chongzhen Huoran stood up and asked in astonishment.

"How much?"

"Back to Your Majesty, a million taels!"

I really didn't expect Guan Ningjun's price to be so ruthless, Emperor Chongzhen was shaky in front of him, afraid that he wouldn't believe it, Wu Xiang, who was kowtowing, also pulled his fingers and counted it.

"The number of soldiers in Guanning is 60,000, the rules of the military department, the transfer of troops to fight to the death, you need to pay ten taels of settlement fees, otherwise Daliao will take over Ningyuan, and the sergeant's family will have no whereabouts, even if he arrives in Beijing, he has no intention of fighting, plus military salaries, grain purchases, ordnance and war horse costs, one million taels is already the lowest, Your Majesty!"

His ears rang for a long time, and his face was extremely ugly, but Emperor Chongzhen was surprisingly not angry, but shy and embarrassed, and said in a sloppy manner.

"There are only 70,000 silver in the inner library, collecting gold and silver in the palace, and still gathering 200,000 taels of silver, Aiqing ......"

"Your Majesty, the million-dollar military salary really can't be missing! Otherwise, the army's heart will fluctuate, and once the thieves come to the city and make a mistake, Your Majesty might as well behead the old minister now!"

Kowtowing, Wu Xiang couldn't stop begging for mercy, but his next words, Emperor Chongzhen didn't listen to it anymore, sat down heavily on the dragon chair, his eyes straightened, and he kept shaking his head.

"Millions! Millions! ”

…………

The Ming Empire, the first dynasty of the East, was in a critical situation because it couldn't spare a million military salaries to defend its capital! Strange breath, desolate.

After sending Wu Xiang away, Emperor Chongzhen was like an ant on a hot pot, staying in the imperial study all night, but looking at the piles of twists and turns, he couldn't read a book anymore, and his mouth had been sluggishly muttering millions, millions, in the second half of the night, he wanted to go to Concubine Tian to take a nap, but as soon as he walked out of the imperial study, it suddenly occurred to him that even the woman he loved the most died of illness more than a year ago.

It is also because of the matter of military salary, Chongzhen fifteen years, he ordered hundreds of officials and nobles to help pay, but no one responded, even if there were only a few taels, dozens of taels to deal with things, in a fit of anger, Chongzhen ordered to arrest a few sincere uncles, and forced the anxious Xungui to buy the old palace maid in the palace to pretend to be a ghost, pretending to be the soul possession of the Empress Dowager Xiande'an, and angrily reprimanded Chongzhen for treating Xungui harshly, and as a result, the young son of Concubine Tian, the seventh son of the emperor who was only two or three years old, was scared to death.

Concubine Tian's four sons, except for Yongwang Zhu Cihuan, all died young, the death of the youngest son to the mother can be imagined, dragging the sick body to entrust the Yongwang to Yi'an Empress Zhang Yan, Concubine Tian closed the door to thank the emperor, and died of illness in more than a month.

But I also have to praise Concubine Tian's cleverness, since she became ill, she has never seen Chongzhen's side, even if she is dying, Chongzhen has not seen this woman he loves the most, Tian Xiuying knows that the emperor is a lover, once he sees his sick face, decadent and declining, he must be favored suddenly, after she dies, the emperor will not miss her, it is better to leave his best side in Chongzhen's heart, only in this way, the emperor occasionally thinks of her, can continue to take care of the Tian family.

However, this virtuous helper of Chongzhen before his death, and finally helped his husband after his death, holding the porch to tear a little, and suddenly Emperor Chongzhen was like grabbing a life-saving straw, and hurriedly went out of the door, shouting outside.

"Someone!"

…………

A familiar edict was issued from the palace, although he did not get a good royal education in his childhood, Emperor Chongzhen was a hard-working person, a handful of edicts were symmetrical, catchy, and quoted from the classics, however, the nobles who received the edict were all three points big, without him, the content of the edict was as always, calling on everyone to help.

The empire is weak, even the eunuchs can't stand up, and they feel embarrassed, Chongzhen didn't come, and Wang Chengen, who summoned the big guy to the inner palace, nodded and smiled and made a circle.

"Ladies and gentlemen, now that the empire is hard, the emperor and his old man are also forced to do so, as long as you support for a while, you will repel the invading army, and this autumn will be harvested, and double the reward will be returned to you!"

This is already a heart-to-heart, however, in exchange for the sympathy of the noble clan.

No one is reluctant, now the empire is declining, once the dynasty is changed, the former privileges are not there, they still want to count on this worth to live, not to mention that the credit of the imperial court has gone bankrupt, if you donate it today, what if the emperor who sees the wealth road in the future is addicted?

was silent and did not speak, and for a moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on the head of the nobles, the father of the current queen, Jiading Bo Zhoukui.

Zhou Kui also lived up to expectations, trembling and trembling for a long time before he drew three fingers.

"Father-in-law, the old man is willing to donate thirty taels of silver!"

The dignified ruler of the Ming Empire, under the emperor's pleading, was willing to donate thirty taels of silver!!

He has set an example, and the rest of the nobles have a clear understanding in their hearts, this one donated ten taels, that one made a big effort to donate fifty taels, dozens of people added it, and donated two or three thousand taels, listening to the number, Wang Chengen's face turned green.

After holding it for a long time, the loose muscles on his face twitched, and Wang Chengen slammed again.

"Old countryman, it's too little, you can donate at least 10,000 taels! The emperor has rewarded you with tens of thousands of taels every year, and now that the empire is difficult, you are the head of the nobles, how can you not set an example? ”

"Father-in-law, don't talk nonsense! How could the old decay have so many silver taels? ”

Immediately like stepping on his tail, the dozens of years old guy jumped up with a snort and shouted with bared teeth.

"My father-in-law doesn't know! The old mansion has a large population! That little bit of thin field is really not enough to supply! These thirty taels have to be taken back by the old man to take the set of flower porcelain bowls rewarded by the emperor as a set, so that he can take it out!"

"Yes! Oh, yes! Father-in-law, it's really difficult in my house! Ask for a clear understanding from the father-in-law!"

"I have to sell the personal girl next time I go back to make up these silver taels!"

"Father-in-law!"

…………

The absurd donation meeting ended with this shameful result, looking at the emperor's relatives who knelt on the ground, not only Wang Chengen was stunned, but even Emperor Chongzhen was stunned.

"Two thousand six hundred taels? Thirty taels!"

In the afternoon, he was still thinking about the debt to Zhou Kui, and at this time, his mouth was a little crooked, and Emperor Chongzhen kicked the table in anger, roaring loudly in anger.

"As the head of the royal family, he is so ignorant! I'm ......, I'm ......, here! Take Zhou Kui down!"

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty is angry! The old country's relatives don't know the general situation, but the queen is not guilty, His Majesty arrested the old country's relatives, so how can the queen deal with herself in the palace? ”

It was like a jump in his head, and he turned around more than a dozen circles with his hands behind his back, Chongzhen held back a breath of anger and sat back in front of the imperial case, and his brows were locked for a while, and then he waved his hand helplessly.

"Pass the decree to Kunning Palace, let, let Zitong go home and save his relatives!"

"The old slave obeys!"

This can be regarded as a room for turnaround, since Zhou Kui is not enlightened, he can only let Zhou Hou go home to persuade him, Xungui will take his queen family as a benchmark, as long as Zhou Kui pledges, the rest of Xungui will also donate.

However, knowing the son is better than the father, and knowing the father is also more than the daughter! got the decree of the internal supervisor Xu Gao, and wanted to go home to save his relatives, even after the week, he smiled helplessly for a long time, frowned and gritted his teeth, and waved his hand to his personal palace maid to order.

"Go and clean up the jewelry on the dresser of the palace, and then pack up all the money rewarded by the emperor in the treasury, put it in the box, and follow the palace out of the palace!"

A big box was heavy, and in the sigh of the queen, Feng Yiluan drove out of the palace in a dull manner......

(End of chapter)