After speaking, Liu Zongmin walked out of the hall resolutely and stridely, his attitude was indescribably resolute, and when he saw Liu Zongmin go out, several lieutenants in the hall also followed him out.

"Arrogant, too arrogant!"

Li Zicheng, who was sitting in the first place, was so angry that his body trembled, and everyone on the side did not dare to persuade him.

In the end, it was Niu Jinxing who persuaded him: "King Chuang, General Liu is upright, he is just confused for a while, you don't remember the villain, just forgive him." ”

"Hmph, Jiexuan is too violent, and he doesn't obey discipline, if he still has such a temper in the future, he will inevitably suffer a big loss." After all, Li Zicheng and Liu Zongmin have been brothers for many years, and after Niu Jinxing's persuasion, most of his anger was slowly eliminated, and he took advantage of the situation to go downhill and stop talking. However, the strategist surnamed Guo who was in trouble was so frightened that his face turned a little pale at the moment, that Liu Zongmin was the most prestigious military general among Li Zicheng's subordinates, with tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, where could he, a person who followed King Chuang to eat by playing tricks, and now offended Liu Zongmin, I am afraid that some will suffer in the future.

Li Zicheng sighed, leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes, seeing that Li Zicheng was not interested, Song Xiance rolled his eyes and said with a smile: "Even if this matter is over, let's discuss the matter of King Chuang's accession to the throne after entering the capital." Although Chang'an is a thousand-year-old capital, Yanjing is the capital of the Ming Dynasty for three hundred years, and the accumulated dragon vein is not trivial, so Poor Dao thinks that it is still very suitable to ascend the throne in Yanjing. ”

Although Li Zicheng still had some doubts about Liu Zongmin's departure in his heart, Song Xiance's words really scratched the itch in his heart, so he couldn't care about being modest, and turned his head and said: "Xiance, you tell this truth and let everyone hear it!" ”

Song Xiance said with a smile: "Poor Dao obeys!" Then he turned to his colleagues at the head of the group, and continued: "In the past, I did not meet Allah in my advice, and I mixed up the rivers and lakes and sold Bu Jingshi. Occasionally, in the spring and autumn period, the clouds are light and the wind is clear, with a scholar, planning to travel, or close to the Diaoyutai area, as far as Yuquan Mountain and West Mountain, such as the Reclining Buddha Temple, Biyun Temple, Xiangshan Red Leaves, have enjoyed the scenery, and the friends outside the party to taste tea gossip. In order to offer advice, 800 miles of Taihang Mountain to Yanjing West Mountain knotted acupoint, so the West Mountain is lush and green, the king is very strong, the Ming Dynasty has exhausted the national fortune, can not keep this heaven to give the king Qi ear. My emperor is carried by the sky, and the dragon is prosperous in the west, so the "Chronicles" cloud: "Eighteen children sit down". Now Dingding Chang'an, not only because Shaanxi is the land of the emperor's mulberry, the mountains and rivers are dangerous, but also in response to the prophecy of 'sitting'. Diaoyutai is geographically connected with Yuyuan Pond, just in the exchange side of the Beijing Division, and the holy driver is stationed here, which is also the meaning of 'sitting on the exchange'. And the king of Xishan is very prosperous, the Ming Dynasty is in decline, can not enjoy, and the great Shun righteous master came from the west, this lush and vast Xishan king gas belongs to my Dashun. ”

Everyone who was discussing in front of Li Zicheng boasted that they had the merit of being a dragon, and they all smiled and nodded in respect and caution, and they were also thinking about how much benefit they could get after entering the capital.

Especially Li Zicheng, he listened to the spring breeze on his face and nodded frequently, but when he was very happy, his eyes looked around everyone, but he inadvertently saw that everyone was very happy, but only Li Yan, although he was also smiling, but he smiled with reluctance, obviously he had other thoughts.

This is what makes Li Zicheng recall that two months ago, when discussing the decision to march to Yanjing in Xi'an, although Li Yan was not the only civil and military official who advocated revitalizing Yanjing from Shaanxi and did not agree to the expedition to Youyan immediately, Li Yan's admonition was the most resolute at that time, which once made Li Zicheng very unhappy, which is why Niu Jinxing was named prime minister when Li Zicheng was called the king, and Li Yan was just a nominal sergeant.

Originally, Li Zicheng planned to let Li Yan concurrently serve as the secretary of the military administration, but later Li Zicheng changed his mind and only appointed him as a sergeant in the newly established military division's office, but although he was in the main position, the actual authority was under Song Xiance. At this moment, Li Zicheng's mind was like lightning and remembered this unpleasant past, and he couldn't help but secretly think in his heart:

"Strange! My Dashun army has won all the way, and at this moment it has arrived outside Yanjing City, hundreds of thousands of soldiers are all rejoicing, why is Li Yan the only one who has other thoughts, isn't he happy that I have ascended the throne earlier? ”

It's just that Li Zicheng's surname is quite deep, although he is very dissatisfied with Li Yan, but he does not reveal this dissatisfaction on his face, and then looks at the military advisor and says:

"Advice, your good opinion hasn't been finished yet, keep talking, keep talking."

Song Xiance continued: "Moreover, in the area of Diaoyutai and Yuyuan Pond, there are not only springs gushing out from the ground, hence the name Yuyuan, but also Yuquan Mountain and water from other places also flow here, rippling blue waves, lush vegetation, rare places near the city, if the king of Chuang is stationed here, it is the most appropriate." ”

"Good!"

Everyone praised one after another, and the flattering words poured out as if they didn't want money, and Li Zicheng shook his head and was happy when he heard it.

Li Zicheng asked again: "Everyone, everyone is talking about what palace it is appropriate to live in the Forbidden City, some people advocate that it is natural for the lonely to live in the Qianqing Palace, and some people suggest that the Wenhua Hall living in the Donghua Gate should be a sign of purple coming from the east, and the advice is to advocate living in the Diaoyutai, what do you think?" ””

"Ahh

The rest of the people are looking at each other, although they like to pat on the back, but now this matter has been involved in the dispute between the two military advisors and Prime Minister Niu Cheng, who of them dares to talk nonsense, if they don't do it, it will be unlucky.

Seeing that everyone didn't speak, Li Zicheng couldn't help but feel a little unhappy in his heart, and asked in a deep voice: "Why, don't you all speak?" ”

After a long time, Li Yan bowed down and said: "King Chuang, in fact, according to the student's simple opinion, where you settle in the city is a trivial matter, and the most important thing now is to draw up a charter after entering the city, to restrain all the soldiers, not to kill the people and officials in the city without authorization, and not to plunder the property in the city, this is the most important thing." ”

Li Zicheng said very displeasedly: "Li Yan, you are not a good husband and wife, why are you unhappy when you are cheering for victory in this civil and military force?" When you were in Xi'an, you insisted on presiding over the throne and discouraged the lonely king. Fortunately, he refused to listen to the admonition and insisted on becoming the king. How about now? As expected, I conformed to the luck of Longxing, the sky and the people returned, and the Ming Dynasty was destroyed and decayed, and now it is said that it has successfully arrived under Yanjing City. If I listen to your admonition, will I not miss the great thing of Lonely! ”

Li Yan just bowed his head and said nothing after being reprimanded by Li Zicheng, obviously still insisting on his own opinion, Li Zicheng was even more displeased when he saw it, and he was not in the mood, so he immediately stood up and walked to the back hall with his sleeves and sleeves, leaving only everyone who was still stunned.

That night, after Li Yan returned to his room, his wife Tang saw that her husband was in a bad mood, and couldn't help but come forward to ask, Li Yan told what happened today, Tang couldn't help but persuade: "Husband, you are now a military advisor of Dashun, everything is naturally for the sake of King Chuang, King Chuang is called king that is a good thing, why do you want to dissuade it, and now everyone is persuaded to join the throne and become the emperor, why do you want to persuade King Chuang to restrain all the soldiers and strengthen military discipline." Aren't you giving everyone eye drops? No wonder King Chuang reprimanded you. ”

Li Yan's wife, Tang, was born in a wealthy family in Qixian County, is knowledgeable, virtuous and virtuous, and is a lady in the show. Li Yan respected her very much, but now Li Yan said angrily: "What do you know? You don't look at today's actions, although we Dashun has come to Yanjing City, but the main force of the Ming border army is still in Xuanda, Shanhaiguan, Guanning line, if Chongzhen will transfer those soldiers and horses back to fight to the death with us, it is not yet known who will die!

And there is still that Pang Gang in Shandong, Henan area eyeing the tiger, people occupy the rich land of the five provinces did not dare to ascend the throne, our Dashun just in the barren place in Shaanxi to find a foothold, King Chuang can't wait to ascend the throne and call the emperor, if it spreads out, isn't it a joke for others? King Chuang, he's too anxious! ”

When Tang heard this, he felt that it was very reasonable, but he didn't know how to comfort his husband, so he had to sigh lightly and said to Li Yan: "Husband, the concubine is just a daughter's family, and she doesn't know about the major affairs of the family and the country, but the concubine knows a sentence, which is "If you are proud, you must turn back early, and let go if you are happy", and "Enli is harmful, so you must look back as soon as you are happy; After defeat, it may be successful, so don't let it go. "Xianggong, you have always been reused by King Chuang, but I don't know how many people have been jealous for this, Xianggong, let's retreat bravely!"

The meaning of Shicai Tang's words was to persuade Li Yan to leave Li Zicheng quickly, either to find another master, or simply to retreat to the mountains and forests, Rao is Li Yan has always been known for his boldness, but he was also frightened for a while.

Li Yan stared at Tang Shi in shock and fear: "Lady, it's okay for you to say this here for your husband, but you must not let other people hear it, otherwise you and I will not be far away!" ”

Not to mention Li Zicheng's preparation to attack Yanjing City, Chongzhen in the Forbidden City of Yanjing City is like an abyss, whether it is inside the city or outside the city, the news that comes from him makes him almost desperate.

On the evening of July 1 in the thirteenth year of Chongzhen, Chongzhen sat in front of the dragon case in the Nuanxiang Pavilion, looking at the secret music sent from inside and outside the city, and his heart was sad. He never thought that the Beijing camp that he relied on as the Great Wall would all disperse in a few days, and Wang Chengen, who was ordered by him to inspect the defense of Yanjing City, came to report that more than 100,000 Beijing camps are now all gone, and the current defense of Yanjing City depends on thousands of eunuchs and Yanjing's young men to defend, this news is no less than a bolt from the blue for Chongzhen.

"Is the city defense really so unbearable?"

Chongzhen's voice was like a voice coming out of a lonely grave in the night, it was so gloomy.

In front of Chongzhen's dragon case, Wang Chengen knelt on the ground and kowtowed to him, choked up: "Your Majesty, it's true, there are no soldiers to send in Yanjing City at this moment!" ”

"Hahaha"

Chongzhen laughed miserably, and two lines of tears flowed out, "Hundreds of thousands of Beijing camps cost hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to the imperial court every year, but they all ran cleanly, is this our Ming soldier?" ”

"The emperor takes care of the dragon's body!"

After a long time, Chongzhen suddenly asked, "What about Cao Huachun and Hong Chengchou?" Did they have any news coming over? ”

Wang Chengen silently shed tears, shook his head gently, and Chongzhen said sadly: "In the second year of Chongzhen, the Tartars invaded and came to the suburbs of Yanjing, how dangerous. However, as soon as Yuan Chonghuan received the edict of King Qin, he left a part of the men and horses to guard Ningyuan, and he himself led Mangui, Zu Dashou and other generals and 20,000 or 30,000 elite soldiers, quickly entered the pass, marched at night, and quickly came to the Beijing Division, camped outside the Guangqu Gate, and turned Yanjing City into safety. Taking Yuan Chonghuan as an example, Hong Chengchou knew that the Beijing division was in danger, and he led the elite of Jiangnan to arrive in Yanjing by boat from Nanjing in only six or seven days, some of which defended the city, and some of them were stationed outside the city to fight against the traitors, and Yanjing could be foolproof. Do you think Hong Chengchou and Cao Huachun will come within six or seven days? ”

mentioned Yuan Chonghuan, Wang Chengen did not dare to answer. In recent years, due to the collapse of the war in Liaodong, there are more people in the Yanjing government and the opposition who talk about Yuan Chonghuan in private, and they all say that Yuan Chonghuan is a rare talent. He knew that in recent years, the emperor had also heard a little about the enemy's counter-plot from the secret performance of Jinyiwei and Dongchang and the private discussions of the government and the opposition, and he felt remorse, but he refused to admit that he had killed Yuan Chonghuan by mistake, so he had no intention of showing the truth about Yuan's unjust case.

Chongzhen saw Wang Chengen bowing his head and was silent, and asked, "Do you also think that Yuan Chonghuan died unjustly?" ”

Wang Chengen kowtowed and said: "Slaves and maids don't dare to speak falsely, and it has been heard that there has been such a discussion among the government and the opposition for a long time. Hong Chengchou is indeed a capable person, but in terms of loyalty and strategy, he cannot be compared with Yuan Chonghuan. But the slave maid had also heard that another person had talked about Yuan Chonghuan, but what he said was a little different from what some people said. ”

When Wang Chengen said this, Chongzhen was a little curious: "Oh, who is it?" ”

Wang Chengen kowtowed and said, "The slave doesn't dare to say." ”

"Say, I forgive you for your innocence!"

Wang Chengen trembled and said, "It was Pang Gang who said it." ”

"Pang Gang!"

At the mention of this name, Chongzhen was silent, in recent years, with the continuous expansion of Pang Gang's power, the name Pang Gang has become more and more taboo for Chongzhen, whether in the palace or outside the palace, no one dares to mention him in public, but now Wang Chengen said it in front of Chongzhen.

Chongzhen didn't get angry, he was just silent for a while before he whispered: "Big companion, you tell me the truth, what did Pang Gang say about me and Yuan Chonghuan?" ”

Wang Chengen, lowered his head and said, "That Pang Gang said that he said that Yuan Chonghuan was a madman, and he dared to say to the emperor that the Liaodong problem would be solved within five years, and the emperor was a fool, and he even believed it, and finally the madman broke his promise, so the fool got angry and finally killed the madman." ”

After speaking, Wang Chengen knelt on the ground and cried loudly, crying very sadly with a handful of snot and tears.

Chongzhen rarely didn't get angry, he just asked in a low voice: "Can you go and inspect the situation of the city's guards?" ”

Wang Chengen cried and said, "Your Majesty! So far, the slave and maid have no choice but to risk their lives to play. There were only 3,000 eunuchs in the city, and there were not many common people and the old and weak soldiers of the three battalions who went to the city. The people defending the city only paid a few pieces of money every day, and could only buy a few baked cakes to satisfy their hunger. It was very cold in the city, and everyone was hungry and cold, and they complained and had no intention of defending the city. ”

"Will the rebels attack the city tonight? If you attack a city, how to deal with it? ”

"The rebels have come from afar, and they have come to the city one after another, and they have surrounded the capital, but the slaves and maids estimate that they are still deploying troops. According to the slave and maid, the rebel thief should attack the city tomorrow. Tonight is safe and sound, but beware of changes in the city. ”

Chongzhen laughed miserably: "Could it be that my Da Ming really wants to die in my hands? ”

Wang Chengen knelt down again and cried: "Your Majesty, this is the number of qi and the fortune of the country, the emperor doesn't have to be sad." ”

Chongzhen choked up and said: "Although it is the fortune of the country, if it is not for the mistake of destroying the ministers, how can the fortune of the country come to this!" It is only said that in the 20 years since the apocalypse, the country has not had talents and generals. It is because most of the ministers in the court hinder merit and ability, deceive the lord, obstruct the plan, and frame the loyal and good, so that talents are not only often useless, but also cannot be killed. Starting from Xiong Tingbi and Sun Chengzong of the Apocalypse Dynasty, to Lu Xiangsheng and others in this Dynasty, they all attacked the Khan without showing their ambitions, causing the imperial court to destroy the Great Wall, and there is now a disaster. I am not the king of the dead country, but when I encounter the death of the country, I will not be blind to death! After speaking, another burst of tears welled up, hiding his face and whimpering.

Chongzhen cried bitterly there, Wang Chengen knew that the tragedy of the country was coming, and the city fell only within one or two days, so he couldn't help crying on the ground, but he didn't know what to say to comfort the emperor. And the eunuchs who were originally waiting on the side also wept one after another, some of them secretly wiped their tears, and some walked away gently, crying elsewhere.

After a long time, Chongzhen slowly said to Wang Chengen: "That's it, since the sky is going to kill my Ming, what is there to say, you all retreat, let me be quiet." ”

Just when Wang Chengen retreated, he heard Chongzhen's faint sigh: "I didn't expect that I would be conscientious and conscientious in the end, and I didn't dare to slack off. ), after thirteen years of hard work, he has come to such an end! ”

Listening to Chongzhen's words, Wang Chengen's heart was like a knife, the cool breeze that was originally refreshing in summer was blowing on him at the moment, but he felt as if it was as piercing as the cold wind, at this moment he had only one thought, that is, he must not let the emperor he grew up watching die, even if he was broken bones, he must protect the blood of the Zhu family.

Wang Chengen returned to his celebrant room, lit the oil lamp, and hurriedly wrote a letter on the bookcase, which he wrote quickly, and wrote it in less than two cups of tea.

He hurriedly packed the letter and sealed it with vermilion lacquer, and then called a sturdy eunuch to whisper a few times and handed him a letter of silver, the eunuch understood, and after taking the envelope, he quickly opened the signing room, and then disappeared in the night, looking at the henchmen who disappeared in the night, Wang Chengen muttered: "Your Majesty, even if the slave maid dies, you will not be humiliated by those thieves."

(To be continued)