Xiao Xuan had estimated many dangers, among which the Tongzhou area was the most likely to encounter a large-scale attack. If there is no attack in this area, and the reconnaissance range of your outpost can reach the area of the capital, it should mean that it is safe. As long as you take a short rest in Tongzhou, you can arrive in the capital within one day. In order to prevent problems with the goods, Xiao Xuan still planned to occupy Tongzhou first and then gradually mobilize local manpower to transfer the goods.

Hesitating and worrying about what would happen in the capital, before the army returned to Beijing, Xiao Xuan first selected two cavalry and horse teams with more than 1,000 soldiers from the teaching brigade and Li Zicheng's department, which were each with good and reliable soldiers, to rush back to the capital as quickly as possible to investigate the situation of the guards at each gate, and of course, some situations in the capital.

At this time, the 12 brigades of the newly established Guards and the Yongwei Army, as well as about 3,000 or 4,000 troops in the teaching brigade, were responsible for the defense of the nine gates of the capital and even the area around the Imperial Horse Prison, and the core strength was only about 30,000 people. The remaining tens of thousands of troops immigrated from Shandong, and the relevant military dependents were Ding Zhuang, who was outside the school-age soldiers, that is, with firearms and ammunition and even the abundant resources to defend the city, there were not too many problems in defending the nine gates of the capital, except for the city wall and the imperial horse prison and some important places in the Forbidden City, there was not enough strength for the security of the city.

After initially getting some information in the capital, what Xiao Xuan didn't expect was that at this time, in addition to the military and military family related groups with a population of about 300,000, the other idle people in the capital not only did not decrease, but also increased somewhat. Although there is no way to make a more accurate count of the other populations in the city, not counting the previous 100,000 eunuchs and palace maids and even a few nobles and related servants, there are more than 200,000 people who choose to stay in the capital, which makes Xiao Xuan feel a little uneasy.

Because according to his own orders, at least for a long time before, he did not restrict the people in the capital from leaving, but carried out a certain degree of expulsion. As the saying goes, small chaos lives in the city, and big chaos lives in the countryside. Could it be that almost the whole world is against it, and this level of chaos has not made some people feel the pressure and even the danger of staying in the capital? What Xiao Xuan didn't expect was that at this moment, although a conspiracy and turmoil in the city had not yet completely broken out, it was also brewing.

In the west of the city, in a noble mansion that is not too small, it is the residence of the original noble officers of the Imperial Horse Prison Warrior Battalion. Because of the meritorious work of the original team of the Imperial Horse Supervisor, they were the least damaged among the many previous calamities, and they were almost not affected by torture. Not only that, but the mansion was crowded with many people who had come to evacuate.

It's just that in an underground corridor that has just been built, which is not quite a small area, there are many people who are not dignitaries at all, and they are not even ordinary residents. Two hundred people on the ground in the city of Forty-Nine who had frightened many people gathered together to listen to the speech of a former officer of the Imperial Horse Prison who was not in a small position.

"It has been a while since Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, and the situation and situation that the city is facing now, you characters should not have heard of it, right? Our Emperor Chongzhen is really ambitious. Not only to make the whole Ming Sun and Moon change the sky, but also to make the entire capital a world of Shandong Lao and those outsiders in Beizhili. Guess what, if this Emperor Chongzhen wins, or even just keeps one acre and three points of land in Beizhili. Where are you people going from here? Will you regain your authority in front of those new immigrants from Shandong? You should have all heard that those outsiders in Shandong and some of the northern Zhili are all relatives of the pro-army around the Son of Heaven. Think about it, will there still be a place for you people to eat meat? ”

"Official! You don't have to say it. If you have any instructions, or if you need help, just say it! Whether it is to rebel or seize the door, we people risk our lives to save the jobs of the brothers below! A leader of the flower pat business, who was also very respectful to many beggars and even those who picked and cut them, said bluntly at this time, as if he was full of loyalty.

However, the former officer of the Imperial Horse Prison was also a well-informed person, and was not bluffed by this kind of "show of loyalty".

"Hehe, the hero laughed. You have seen it all these days. They only trust the people around them and their relatives, not to mention you, even we and the eunuchs in the former palace are not very trusted. However, if the war to defend the city is urgent in the future, some of the lower beggars and even the common people in the city may still be used. When the time comes, you will arrange some of your own people who can stand out and dare to fight. In order to prevent the leakage of news, the number of people should not be too large, and it must be fine, and after having a certain status of defense on the city wall, it should cooperate with the outside to protect the country in order to make immortal achievements. Of course, contact and password are very important. To gather you today is to prepare you ... ”

After the meeting, many felt that it was time to make a final decision. At least if the entire capital is completely changed by those Shandong outsiders, and because of this, the dynasty is completely changed, then the way out for these people may be really a problem.

It's just that Qiao Er, who still has some insight among these people, is still hesitating in his heart. It is different from those ordinary beggars and even roosters and dogs, thieves and bullying the market. In a place like Beijing, the leader who is responsible for the abduction and trafficking of flowers has more contacts with many upper-class and even wealthy families, so he has more knowledge. Qiao Er also knows a lot of relevant news in the army in the past, and even a lot of the essence of the Battle of Yumajian, the Battle of the North Gate, and the Battle of Tongguan Nanyuan since the seventh year of the Apocalypse. Even some of the general development of the New Army of the Son of Heaven in the past two years. Qiao Er didn't think that when today's son was in a situation where the whole country was in rebellion, it must mean that he couldn't win. Whether he is on King Gui's side or on today's side, but he has to think carefully.

Not long after Qiao Er returned to his mansion, one of the relatives who delivered the news also came from outside the city gate some news and insider information about the Battle of Xianghe.

"What? More than 100,000 Liaodong troops were repulsed only in the outpost artillery battle? Is the information reliable? ”

"It shouldn't be wrong, it's absolutely reliable...

(End of chapter)