Forbidden City, Donghua Gate.

When Niu Jinxing was about to go to the Wenhua Palace to meet Li Zicheng, he suddenly saw several soldiers outside the Donghua Gate who broke into the king and stopped a volunteer general. Jing Maocheng looked anxious, but the soldiers said they wouldn't let him in.

Niu Jinxing coughed and stepped forward to ask, "What's the matter, what's the noise?" ”

A pro-soldier clasped his fists and said: "Prime Minister, this guy said that he was a partial general in front of General Li Yan's account, and he was clamoring to see the king, but he asked him for a certificate but he didn't." ”

Jing Maocheng saw Niu Jinxing in a blink of an eye, and immediately said happily: "Prime Minister, tell them quickly, the last general is really a partial general under General Li Yan's account, and he has something urgent to face the king." ”

"In a hurry?" Niu Jinxing stroked the willow whiskers under his chin and asked, "What's the urgency?" In the past few days, the king has been in a very bad mood, and you have entered recklessly like this, and it is inevitable that it will be boring to have a meal, so it is better to talk to the prime minister first, and the prime minister will report to the king for you. ”

Jing Mao became a problem: "This ......"

"How?" Niu Jinxing said coldly, "Could it be that you can't believe your true appearance?" ”

"Ah, of course not." Jing Maocheng hurriedly said, "Actually, there is nothing urgent, but my general was seriously injured, so he ordered the general to come to Yanjing to give a message to the king, and my general said, please the king must defend Yanjing no matter what, and wait for the army of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, and Henan provinces to come to help." ”

"Oh?" Niu Jinxing said in a condensed voice, "General Li Yan was seriously injured, where is he now?" ”

Jing Maocheng said: "I have already moved to Tianjin Wei, and I plan to join the armies of Shandong and Henan first, and then come to Yanjing." ”

"Alright." Niu Jinxing said, "General Li Yan's suggestion must be conveyed to the king on his behalf, and you can go back." ”

"Thank you, Prime Minister."

Jing Maocheng clenched his fists, turned around and walked away.

■■■

Mandarin Palace.

Li Zicheng was lying on his back on the chair, closing his eyes to recuperate, a slight sound of footsteps suddenly woke him up, and when he opened his eyes, he saw that it was Prime Minister Niu Jinxing coming, so he sat up with a sigh of relief and greeted: "Prime Minister, are you here?" ”

Niu Jinxing didn't dare to slack off, knelt on the ground and sang after kneeling three times and nine knocks: "Minister, Niu Jinxing, long live my emperor, long live, long live." ”

"That's it." Li Zicheng waved his hand and frowned, "How are you preparing for the enthronement?" ”

Niu Jinxing said: "Long live Qiyue, it's ready." ”

"Well, that's good." Li Zicheng nodded, and said, "Then you go down and prepare first, the enthronement ceremony will be held tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow you will evacuate Yanjing." ”

"Commandment." Niu Jinxing turned around and took less than two steps and came back lame, and said in a low voice, "Hurray, there is something that Weichen doesn't know whether to say or not?" ”

"Say it." Li Zicheng closed his eyes and rubbed his temples while asking, "What's the matter?" ”

Niu Jinxing said: "Just now, Weichen met Jing Maocheng, a partial general in front of Li Yan's tent, outside the Donghua Gate, and said that he was ordered by Li Yan to bring a message to Long live. ”

"Oh?" Li Zicheng said, "What did Li Yan ask people to bring?" ”

Niu Jinxing said: "Li Yan suggested that long live Yanjing and wait for the armies from Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong and Henan to come to help. ”

"What?" Li Zicheng Huo Ran opened his eyes and said in a condensed voice, "Li Yan suggested that this king stick to Yanjing?" The reason? ”

Niu Jinxing said: "I didn't say this." ”

"Is there such a thing?" Li Zicheng said, "Defending Yanjing to the death, doesn't that make this king fall into a desperate situation?" What is Li Yan's heart? ”

Niu Jinxing took out a secret letter from his sleeve and handed it to Li Zicheng's case, and said in a low voice: "Long live, you can look at this again." ”

"What's that?" Li Zicheng frowned and said, "Say it." ”

Niu Jinxing said: "This is a secret letter just sent over there, which says that Li Yan has led the army to Tianjin Wei without authorization, and has repeatedly claimed in front of his generals that if he had listened to his advice and not to take the enemy out of the Great Wall to fight Wu Sangui, there would have been no stone defeat!" ”

"Bastard!" Li Zicheng was so angry that he thundered, and shouted, "If Li Yan's right-wing cavalry hadn't collapsed first, how could Lao Tzu's army have been defeated by Wu Sangui and Jiannu?" This dog's Li Yan, Lao Tzu hasn't settled this account with him, he counted Lao Tzu first, it's really unreasonable! ”

Niu Jinxing said: "Long live, when it comes to the defeat of a stone, Weichen is also suspicious. ”

Li Zicheng said: "What do you think? ”

Niu Jinxing said: "Long live, the right wing cavalry corps at that time was the most elite cavalry in our army, not only well-equipped but also experienced in a hundred battles, compared to the Jiannu cavalry outside the pass, it was only strong and not weak, but the fact is that in less than half an hour, the eight thousand cavalry on the right wing collapsed on the whole line!" ”

Li Zicheng's gaze gradually became cold.

Niu Jinxing said again: "Also, what is even more puzzling is that after the collapse of the right-wing cavalry corps, the major general Li Guo was killed, and the deputy army division Song Xiance was killed, but only Li Yan was safe and sound, not only Li Yan was safe and sound, but several of his generals and five hundred cronies and cavalry were also safe and sound, long live, is this too much of a coincidence?" ”

Li Zicheng said: "What do you mean? ”

"There is only one explanation for this, that is, before the collapse of the right wing cavalry corps, Li Yan had already fled!" Niu Jinxing took a deep breath and said in a condensed voice, "Weichen thinks that it is precisely because Li Yan's escape without a fight disturbed the morale of the army, which caused the collapse of the cavalry corps on the right flank, and finally led to the defeat of our army in a stone!" ”

"This ......," Li Zicheng frowned, "Li Yan doesn't seem to be a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death. ”

Niu Jinxing said: "Of course Li Yan is not a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death, but he does it for a reason. ”

"Why?" Li Zicheng said, "What is the reason? ”

Niu Jinxing said: "Long live, there is something that Weichen has been hesitating to report to you, and now it seems that it is not possible to report it." ”

Li Zicheng said: "What is the matter? ”

Niu Jinxing said: "According to Weichen's verification, on the night when the army entered Yanjing City, Jing Maocheng, the former general of Li Yan's tent, once captured the Prince of the Ming Dynasty, the King of Yong, the King of Ding, the Princess of Changping, and the Commander of Nanjing Wang Pu and more than 20 soldiers and generals, and secretly detained them in the prison of Chaoyangmen Pass. ”

"What did you say?" Li Zicheng's face changed greatly, and he said, "Is there really such a thing? ”

"It's true! At that time, many soldiers of the rebel army witnessed this scene. Niu Jinxing said, "It's a pity that by the time Weichen knew about it, Wang Pu had already fled with the Prince of Remnant Yang and others, but Weichen was strange that Jing Mao had become why he didn't report to the king?" Now that I think about it, there must be Li Yan's instigation behind this matter. ”

"You mean......" Li Zicheng gritted his teeth and said, "Is it Li Yan who let go of Prince Remnant Ming and Wang Puyi?" ”

Niu Jinxing said: "Although it's just a guess, Weichen thinks it should be like this." ”

"Why?" Li Zicheng said angrily, "Why did Li Yan do this? ”

Niu Jinxing said: "If you connect the two things of letting go of Prince Remnant Ming and suggesting that you live Yanjing, Li Yan's conspiracy will be revealed!" He wants our rebels to fight with Jiannu in Yanjing to defeat both sides, and then let the remnants of Ming sit and reap the benefits of the fisherman! There are all kinds of signs that Li Yan has already secretly hooked up with Remnant Ming, and even as early as Datong, Li Yan has already taken refuge in Daming. ”

"Damn, this eats something inside and out!" Li Zicheng clenched his fists angrily and roared, "Send someone to Tianjin Wei to arrest Li Yan immediately, if you dare to resist arrest, you will be killed on the spot!" Then let Li Hu lead his army to Yanjing to converge! ”

Niu Jinxing lowered his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Weichen commands." ”

■■■

Nanking.

There was originally a palace building modified during the period of Emperor Hongwu in the imperial city, and it has been kept to be taken care of by eunuchs, after a little repair, the prince, Yongwang, Dingwang and Changping princess moved from the Yanziji military camp to live in the palace.

Zhang Zi'an, the eunuch left behind in Nanjing, became the eunuch of the master of ceremonies, Han Zanzhou, the eunuch of Fengyang and Han Zanzhou, the eunuch of Yangzhou, became the eunuch of the ceremonial eunuch Bingbi, and more than 100 little eunuchs were also recalled from the yamen of various mine supervisors, tax supervisors, and salt supervisors in the south of the Yangtze River to take care of the daily life of the four sisters and brothers of Princess Changping.

In fact, the four sisters and brothers of Princess Changping are quite pitiful, the eldest Princess Changping is only sixteen years old, the prince is fourteen years old, King Yong is twelve years old, and the youngest King Ding is only six years old, but they lost their father and mother at the same time, and they have no relatives in Nanjing, only a group of eunuchs who are not men and women, and they are accompanied day and night.

Since childhood, the four sisters and brothers have tasted the taste of the country's ruin, and Princess Zhu Weiru of Changping grew up almost overnight, in addition to supervising the homework of the prince and King Yong every day, she also coaxed the king to play and sleep, and took on the responsibility of taking care of her three younger brothers with her immature shoulders.

Wang Pu accompanied by Zhang Zi'an, Han Zanzhou and Lu Jiude to the palace to invite the prince to the court, Princess Changping is personally wearing a dragon robe for the prince, today is the Ministry of Rites selected Ji said, only 14-year-old prince Zhu Cihong will ascend the throne and become the seventeenth emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

"The Prince." Zhang Zi'an knelt down in front of Zhu Cihong with a few folds, and said in a flattering voice, "Several adults in the Ministry of Rites have drawn up a few era names, and ask the prince to choose." ”

The young prince said hesitantly: "Read! ”

"The slave obeys."

Zhang Zi'an agreed, opened a local excerpt, and read up, "Hongli, Yongli, Longping, Yongxing, Longwu......"

"Okay, this one." The prince said, "Longwu is good, it's Longwu." ”

■■■

Tianjin Wei, Li Yan Xingdi.

Looking at Li Yan on the soft couch with a gray face and a withered description, the red lady couldn't help but break her bowels, and tears fell like rain.

Li Yan opened his sour eyelids, looked at the red lady indifferently, and said, "Since you have left, what are you doing when you come back?" ”

The red lady sobbed and said, "The slave family heard that you were injured......"

"You don't have to worry about it." Li Yan said coldly, "I have already given you the letter of resignation, you and I have lost the name of husband and wife, and the grievances and grievances are clear, and the life and death of this general has nothing to do with you." ”

The red lady said sadly: "But ......"

"Nothing." Li Yan snorted and shouted, "Old Seven! ”

Li Jun flashed into the account and said gloomily: "Big brother, little brother is here." ”

Li Yan glanced at the red lady coldly, and said in a muffled voice: "Don't let irrelevant people in the future." ”

"Big brother." Li Jun hurriedly said, "He's a sister-in-law......"

"Shut up!" Li Yan said angrily, "Your sister-in-law is dead!" ”

The red lady looked miserable, and hid her face with a sad cry.

Looking at the direction where the red lady left for a while, Li Jun said gloomily: "Big brother, you shouldn't treat your sister-in-law like this, the younger brother can see that the sister-in-law has you in her heart." ”

"That's enough." Li Yan breathed a long sigh of relief and said lonely, "I'm tired and want to sleep." ”

"Ugh."

Li Jun sighed softly and bowed his head and exited Li Yan's room.

Soon, Li Jun went and returned, and Li Hu, Jing Maocheng and the three volunteer envoys came in, these three volunteer envoys were sent by Li Zicheng, and the leader was Li Zicheng's trusted general Li Yi, Li Yi and Li Yan, Li Hu, and Jing Maocheng all knew each other, and said loudly: "The king has an order, and Li Yan and Li Hu receive the order." ”

In front of him, Li Hu didn't dare to slack off, so he had to kneel in front of Li Yi.

Li Yan hurriedly said to Li Jun: "Seventh, help the eldest brother up." ”

When Li Jun stepped forward to help Li Yan kneel down, Li Yicai glanced at Li Yan coldly, and shouted in a deep voice: "According to investigation, Li Yan secretly colluded with the remnant Ming, and secretly connived with Zhu Cihong, the prince of the remnant Ming Dynasty, and Wang Pu, the governor of Nanjing, and other cadres, and the crime is unforgivable. ”

"Huh?"

"This?"

Li Yi's words fell, and Li Yan raised his head to the sky and spit out a mouthful of blood, and immediately fainted to the ground.

Li Jun and Jing Maocheng were shocked, and Li Hu's expression was also shocked, but there was a trace of coldness in his eyes.

"Why?" Li Jun hurriedly stepped forward to help Li Yan up, glared at Li Yi with angry eyes and shouted, "Why do you say that my eldest brother is secretly colluding with Remnant Ming?" Is there any evidence? ”

"That's it!" Jing Maocheng also roared angrily, "Could it be that this is how the king treats his loyal subordinates? ”

"Hmph." Li Yi said coldly, "This is the king's order, why, you dare to disobey the order?" ”

"Disobedience is disobedience!" Li Jun said angrily, "If you want to take my eldest brother, you have to ask the young master if the knife in his hand agrees!" ”

Li Yi's expression eased slightly, and he persuaded: "Don't be impulsive, isn't it still inconclusive?" As the saying goes, it can't be fake, and what is fake can't be true, did General Li Yan collude with Remnant Ming, and didn't he find out when he arrived in Yanjing? ”

Saying that, Li Yi slowly paced in front of Li Jun, and just when Li Jun relaxed his vigilance, Li Yi suddenly drew his sword and pierced Li Yan's throat like lightning, and after piercing Li Yan's throat, the remaining momentum was inexhaustible and stabbed into Li Jun's body.

Jing Maocheng was far away, and it was too late to draw his sword to save him.

Li Yi glanced at Jing Maocheng coldly, and shouted: "Why, you also want to rebel......"

Before he finished speaking, Li Yi suddenly felt a chill in his throat, and he couldn't make any sound, and lowered his head with some difficulty, only to see that a bloody sword blade had already pierced his throat.

There is no need to look back, Li Yi knew that he was poisoned by Li Hu, his eyes showed strong unwillingness, he never thought that Li Hu would be behind his back! He really wanted to go back and ask Li Hu, why did he break his promise? It's a pity that he will never have a chance.

Li Hu stabbed Li Yi to death with one sword, and stabbed the other two messengers with two swords, while roaring at Jing Maocheng: "Brother Maocheng, my eldest brother is so loyal to the thief, this bastard actually let people hack him, such a person is not worthy of our loyalty to him, anti-fucking!" ”

"yes, it's fucking it!"

Jing Maocheng roared angrily and stabbed his sword at one of the messengers.

Although the remaining two envoys had good martial arts, they were not the opponents of Li Hu and Jing Maocheng, and in less than three rounds, they had been stabbed to death on the spot.

Jing Maocheng and Li Hu looked fixedly, who else would come if it wasn't a red lady?

"Xianggong!" The red lady saw Li Yan lying in a pool of blood at a glance, squatted down and gently stroked Li Yan's pale face with her hand, and said sadly, "Xianggong, wake up, wake up, don't scare the slave family, don't ......"

"Sister-in-law!" Li Hu knelt down in front of the red lady and cried loudly, "It was the thief who killed the eldest brother, our Li family in Qixian County and the thief swore that they would not stand together, sister-in-law, you wait, the younger brother must avenge the eldest brother, one day, the younger brother will break the thief's body into pieces, howl and how......l."

……

(To be continued)