In front of the gate of the Guangqu of the Beijing Division, the dust was flying, the war horses were neighing, the lively shouting and killing were overwhelming, and the roar of cannons and muskets could be heard from time to time.

It seems that these days have been quite satisfied with the results of the scattered and broken through the gates of the Beijing Division, on this day, Li Zicheng once again gathered the main force to attack the Guangqu Gate in the southeast, and Wu Sangui also gathered the remaining 30,000 or so Guanning troops together, launched a desperate fight, and the battle situation was surprisingly anxious.

Wang Dehua, the eunuch of the supervising army, and Zhao Tiqian, the staff of the Ministry of War, watched the two armies fighting from afar with a telescope in shock.

"Report!"

Just as they were engrossed in watching, a herald suddenly strode over, fell to his knees fiercely, and shouted with his head kowtowed.

"Father-in-law! My lord! General Wu sent an envoy to report that the left flank was not supported, and he implored the Beijing camp to come out to support!"

"Tell General Wu that the Beijing camp is to protect the Jingshi and protect the emperor, and he can't send it, let him support it himself!"

Without piercing his eyelids, Zhao Tiqian snorted coldly, and the herald who drank hurriedly kowtowed again.

"Mark and obey!"

With the order, the soldier hurriedly descended, but it was not long before he hurried over again and knelt down and kowtowed again.

"Father-in-law, my lord, General Wu is here to report that the Guan Ning army can no longer support it, please open the city gate and let the Guan Ning army enter the city for temporary refuge!"

"No! Absolutely not!"

This time, it was Wang Dehua who bared his teeth and shouted, and then he shouted like thunder: "Go back to Wu Sangui, let him have to resist, dare to take a step back, and engage in military law!"

"Mark and obey!"

Again, the herald ran away.

People were really forced out, under the threat of Wang Dehua's strict orders, the originally crumbling Guanning army front actually supported, and the battle lasted until the evening.

The exhausted Guan Ning army also dragged his body and retreated to Guangqumen, but this time, a few heralds who made Wang Dehua tired came again.

"Father-in-law, my lord, General Wu sent an envoy to report that the food and medicine in the army have been exhausted! In addition, the army has been fighting hard for many days, and the morale is low, and I hope that the imperial court will distribute the first level of silver to boost morale!"

"Didn't the military rations just be distributed the day before yesterday? Is Guan Ningjun a pig? Eat so fast! Tell him no! The battle is not over, what kind of reward will be given!"

The messenger was once sent down by Wang Dehua, but this time, the entire Guangqu Gate suddenly became noisy, so angry that Guan Ningjun scolded around the city gate, smashing and smashing things, this whole army was clamoring, and finally scared a civil official and a lieutenant official, and this time it was their turn to take the initiative to send someone down.

It wasn't long before the herald, who was tired and thin, came back again, and fell to his knees again.

"Father-in-law! My lord! General Wu reported that even if he was beheaded and there was no reward, he would not be able to control the troops. ”

"Wu Sangui's guy is supporting the army and self-respecting, and he wants to blackmail the imperial court!"

Suddenly angry, Wang Dehua scolded loudly, but compared to the eunuchs, the civil officials were a little less courageous, and looked at the noisy Guan Ningjun below in horror, and he discussed cautiously.

"Princess, why don't you go to the Zhang Bingbu and ask for some silver, and send these poor soldiers away! It's not a way to make trouble like this, in case the emperor is shocked, how can we take it? ”

"They dare! We don't believe they can still turn around!"

Still shouting so domineeringly, but after thinking about it, it's okay to ask for silver, so that another routine has fallen into the pocket, and as soon as the tone changed, Wang Dehua nodded reluctantly.

"But Lord Zhao's worries are also reasonable! In this case, our family is here to stare at these poor soldiers, and I bother Lord Zhao to run away! ”

Turning back, the prince waved his face at the herald like a fly.

"Go down and tell my Wu Sangui that our family has rewarded him, and tell him not to make a fuss! If you dare to make a noise, you will not be spared!"

"Obedience!"

…………

With the promise of this head reward, the Guan Ning army below seemed to have finally stopped, and left the city one after another, setting up a fire and cauldron in groups of three or five to cook dinner.

The night also began to thicken, and the darkness slowly shrouded the outer extension of the Jingshi in the mist, and the whole world seemed to shrink to the narrow part of the Jingshi City.

Behind the Zhengyang Gate, the Yamen of the Ministry of War.

"What, you still have to pay silver, it's only been a few days?"

Almost exactly the same as Wang Dehua's performance, listening to Zhao Tiqian's report, Zhang Jinyan, the secretary of the Ministry of War, was full of color, and jumped up while slapping the table.

Sometimes there is really no difference between this literati and a woman, and he was a little frightened at the city gate, and this Zhao Tiqian added fuel and vinegar to depict the arrogance of the Guan Ning army at the city gate.

"Isn't it! Lord Dutang, don't you know, that Wu Sangui is now very tight, relying on a bit of military exploits, no one cares about it, this time he wants to enter the city to drink, I and the prince and I are not allowed, he sent someone to beat the messenger of the military department, and let the whole army make noise, threatening to return to Liaodong if he does not give the silver, and will not fight this battle!"

"Alas! Now that the martial arts are domineering, the etiquette is broken! The imperial court can still send these rough people with silver, I really don't know what to do in the future!"

"How can it be!"

Bang dang smashed his fist on the table, Zhang Jinyan is Huo Ran stood up, and roared out exactly the same words as Wang Dehua: "The old man doesn't believe that this Wu Sangui can still turn against the sky!" If you don't give a penny of silver, the old man will enter the palace and join him!"

"Alas, my lord! This reward ...... silver"

I'm still waiting to make an example! Seeing Zhang Jinyan angrily leave Shangshu's signing room, this Fang Shilang patted his head depressedly.

"I hope these ruffians don't make too much trouble!"

"I shouldn't dare to make trouble!"

…………

The Western clock ticked and ticked, and the time of the empire passed little by little with the bell.

In the past few days, Chongzhen has finally learned to let go, the imperial court is in charge, let the ministries support, he himself takes the concubine to the ancestral hall every day to pray, and this is only now to drive back to the palace, without waiting for him to take a look at today's battle report, Zhang Jinyan, who was full of anger, actually came to the door to ask to see.

"What's the matter with the military department?"

Or the Linfu Palace where prayers can bring good luck, Chongzhen was a little stunned and looked at the military department Shangshu who was kneeling on the ground, a few days ago, when he asked the plan, the eight sticks didn't hit half a fart, Chongzhen was really a little puzzled, what did he do.

"Your Majesty, I am in danger! The minister has to admonish!"

One head slammed on the ground, and before Chongzhen could speak, Zhang Jinyan was already gushing like the mouth of the Yellow River.

"Today's elite soldiers are all in the hands of Liaodong Pingxibo! Jingying is dim! Now that the war is scorching, the enemy is still fine, but once the thieves are repelled in the future, the Guanning family will be dominant, and it will be difficult for the ministers to check and balance! And people's hearts are fickle, today Wu Sangui is obedient and loyal, it is difficult to ensure that he will not have dissent in his power in the future, the old minister thinks, should plan as soon as possible!"

It is worthy of being a son of heaven and a courtier, Zhang Jinyan said a few words, Chongzhen's suspicion that he finally suppressed was turned out by him again, his brows were tightly locked, and after a while, Chongzhen asked again.

"What does the military department think, what should I do?"

"Divide Wu Sangui's military power!"

"Tang Tong, the chief soldier of Jizhen, has always been obedient to the imperial court, and there are eight thousand thistle soldiers under his command, which can be divided into Wu's left and his army, and the soldiers of Guan Ning, Tang Tong must be grateful to the imperial court and blame Wu Sangui, which can restrict the balance!"

"Tonghai Bozhu Yizhen, after the hero, is good at the art of war! You can enter the Guanning Army in the name of the Ministry of War, and take charge of Youtun!"

“…………”

This dialogue between the monarch and the minister lasted for half an hour, full of satisfaction, Zhang Jinyan took advantage of the night and strode out of the Linfu Palace, this party battle was a big victory for him! Now the important ministers of the court also need the support of local generals, and the waist pole is hard! He is kind to Tang Tong and Zhu Yizhen, and they naturally rely on the party under him Zhang Jinyan.

As for whether Wei Zaode can react and whether he will stop it, Zhang Jinyan is not worried at all, he knows Emperor Chongzhen's character too well, and he is suspicious of him today, so the separation of powers will definitely continue, if Wei Zaode dares to obstruct it, he will only offend Tang Tong in vain.

Just when he wanted to be beautiful, a stream of irrepressible appeared on his old face, making him laugh out loud.

But when Zhang Bingbu returned to the central government office in front of Zhengyang Gate with a ruthless smile all the way, he was standing at the entrance of the military department, but Zhao Tiqian, the prison soldier who had just come, had a pale face and stood there waiting for a long time!

It was completely different from the high-spirited two hours ago, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead, and his right hand was not respectfully resting on his left shoulder, Zhang Jinyan couldn't help frowning, and just wanted to scold, but the words were suddenly blocked back into his mouth, and where Zhao Tiqian was covering, a Hessesen arrow shaft was inserted there.

The two important civil officials of the imperial court seemed to be stupid for a while, looking at each other and froze there, for a minute or two, and Zhao Tiqian, who suddenly came back to his senses, suddenly knelt on the ground with a crying voice.

"Governor! Wu Sangui he, he's reversed! The Guan Ning army blew open the Guangqu Gate and led the thieves into the city, and the city wall has fallen!"

"This ......, this ......, this ......, how is this possible!"

The dream of glory and wealth, the uneasiness in his heart was confirmed, and in an instant, Zhang Jinyan's face became bloodless at all, and he couldn't help shaking his head in disbelief.

"Wu Sangui, he, he is deeply favored by the emperor, he, how can he rebel? How can he be !!"

…………

What's not to do?

If Wu Sangui still had some guilt and anxiety in his heart when he contacted Li Zicheng to open the city gate last night, at night, these guilt and uneasiness completely disappeared.

Lao Tzu traveled thousands of miles south to fight for the dynasty! But you well-dressed old men really don't treat Guan Ningjun as a person!

When Zhao Tiqian was full of arrogance and shouted the news of the refusal of the military department to give a reward of head silver, the dissatisfaction of the Guanning troops, who had just been appeased, broke out completely and irrepressibly.

Guangqumen, the place where Yuan Chonghuan once desperately surrounded, is now full of torches and wolf smoke.

"Damn, didn't you let Lao Tzu into the city? I'll come in!"

On the city wall, his face was full of hideousness and cruelty, shouting and scolding loudly, Li Benshen kicked over, and the officer who knelt in front of him directly kicked him off the city wall, screaming and falling down, looking at this scene, the defenders of Guangqu Gate in Beijing were full of thousands, and they did not dare to resist at all in the face of Li Benshen, but lowered their heads lower, and around them, piles of firearms, birds, guns, iron cannons, and broadswords were thrown to the ground.

On the street, the vanguard of the Guanning army with torches rushed in first, controlling the street entrances one by one, the chaotic soldiers were like Pandora's magic box, the disaster erupted, and the Guanning army, who had been fighting hard for many days and abandoned their homes and businesses, began to be unable to control the beast in their hearts, and they didn't know which team started, and kicked open the door of the Jingshi residents on the side of the street that they had to protect, and in the frightened scolding of its master, they looted fiercely.

Rape, arson, murder, everywhere!

However, they were only the beginning, following behind the Guanning army, Liu Zongmin, Tian Jianxiu, Li Guo, and Li Yangchun's troops rushed into the city one after another.

Many modern historians in later generations portrayed Li Zicheng perfectly, a great peasant rebel, a leader who rebelled against feudalism, and the dawn of the people! It's a pity that this leader obviously doesn't have such a high consciousness, and even if he does, the poor and white subordinates under his command who don't have other trouser belts on their heads don't have them, and the mob is like a plague, quickly passing the first Guan Ning army, and a cluster of bright fires blooms in the streets of the largest and most prosperous city in the world at that time under the complete release of their desires.

Indeed, under the cannibalistic rule of the greedy bureaucrats of the Ming Dynasty, the common people were so miserable that they could not eat the last meal, but all the rules of the past were broken, and then only hell descended on the world.

And the opener of this gate of hell knelt respectfully at the gate of Guangqu Gate.

"Sinner Wu Sangui, long live my emperor, long live, long live, long live!"

Turning a deaf ear to the terrible screams in the city, kneeling on the ground and respectfully holding the Pingxi Boyin given to him by Chongzhen on his head, Wu Sangui, the general of the three armies, who wept and wept all the time, and was full of anxiety waiting for the fate of the new master.

Without those national enemies and family hatred as an excuse and as a fig leaf, he still surrendered.

The fire also drove a strong wind, and the strong wind that blew from the Guangqu Gate blew Li Zicheng's big red cloak to hunt, and he strode in front of Wu Sangui in a triumphant stride, and looked down at this fierce general who was still wantonly mocking himself a few days ago, and he grabbed the two seals wrapped in yellow silk casually.

Wu Sangui immediately knelt down and let go, holding the seal letter in his hand, and carrying the Shang Fang sword that Wu Sangui came to surrender to Cheng yesterday and mortgaged here, with his subordinates, he walked into the city gate in a conqueror posture, leaning on the houses near the Guangqu Gate that had been burned red by the fire of the military disaster, and the blazing heat came to his face, and the sky-high flames were reflected in one of his eyes.

The spectacular Jingshi City that he was looking up at a few days ago was now completely trampled underfoot, looking at the sea of fire in front of him, Li Zicheng couldn't help but raise his head, laughed hideously, and grabbed the chaos in front of him with one fist.

"The world is all in the palm of my Lao Li!"

(End of chapter)