The review of the Hanlin Academy glanced at Monk Zhang coldly, and did not move.

Monk Zhang's five fingers of his right hand were already clenched into fists, and he asked coldly, "What's your name?" ”

The review of the Hanlin Academy said coldly: "This official line does not change its surname, and it does not change its name, and the review of the Hanlin Academy is wise!" ”

"Fang Yizhi?"

Monk Zhang's brows tightened for a moment, this name sounded a little familiar, as if he heard the general say it.

Thinking of this, Monk Zhang couldn't help but look back at Wang Pu, Wang Pu also happened to hear Fang Yizhi's voice, and hurriedly gestured to Monk Zhang not to do anything and bring people over.

Although this Fang Yizhi is only a small Zhengqipin Hanlin Academy review, he is the person Wang Pu named and wanted at the beginning, Sun Chuanting also went to the Taoist Song to ask Emperor Chongzhen for this reason, but it is a pity that Emperor Chongzhen did not allow him to release people, but he didn't expect to meet him in the thief's prison today.

Monk Zhang shook his head and said coldly: "Our boss invites you over." ”

Fang Yizhi snorted, turned his head and ignored it.

Monk Zhang snorted, opened his big hand and grabbed Fang Yizhi's collar and lifted him up like a chicken, Fang Yizhi was thin and industrious, he was the kind of typical scholar, how could he be Monk Zhang's opponent? The whole person was lifted into the air at once, and no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free from Monk Zhang's big hand.

The remaining twenty or so Beijing officials were already frightened when they saw this, who would dare to stop it?

Monk Zhang strode in front of Wang Pu with Fang Yizhi, and threw Fang Yizhi on the grass as soon as he let go. ”

"Who are you?" Fang Yizhi's face changed, and he said in a condensed voice, "How do you know that the prince is here?" ”

In fact, Fang Yizhi knew Wang Pu, Emperor Chongzhen had twice invited officials of all sizes in Beijing for Wang Pu, Fang Yizhi attended, he had seen Wang Pu, but Wang Pu now deliberately messed up his hair and plastered his face, so he didn't recognize it at once.

Wang Pu smiled faintly, and asked instead of answering, "Who do you think I am?" ”

Fang Yizhi recognized Wang Pu after a closer look, and his face changed in an instant, and he said in a low voice: "General Wang? ”

"Fang review." Wang Pu bowed his head lightly and asked, "Apart from you, is there anyone here who knows the prince?" ”

"Almost all of them." Fang Yizhi said, "The prince often comes to the Hanlin Academy to give lectures, and each time he sits for a whole day, so most of the people in the Hanlin Academy know the prince. ”

"Oops." Wang Pu frowned and said, "Who else recognized the prince just now besides you?" ”

Fang Yizhi thought for a while, shook his head and said, "This seems to be gone, Xia Guan just had some doubts in his heart just now, and he was not sure that it was the prince." ”

"Just stay here!" Wang Pu said in a low voice, "Someone will come to pick us up tonight, and you will go with us then." ”

■■■

It's night, the Ox Venus Residence.

A confidant hurriedly entered the study and said in a low voice: "Prime Minister, before he died, Zhou Kui said that he saw the crown prince Zhu Cihong, Dingwang Zhu Cijiong and Yongwang Zhu Cijiong, they were with Princess Changping and Wang Pu, the governor of Nanjing, just outside his palace, and said that Gao Qiqian was killed by Wang Pu. ”

"What!?" Niu Jinxing was startled and said angrily, "Zhou Kui has been dead for five days, why did you come to report it now?" ”

"Prime Minister." The staff member called Qu Dao, "I just learned that the guy in charge of the torture had a few more drinks at that time, and he forgot about it the next day, and only today I remembered to tell the lowly position." ”

"Damn it!" Niu Jinxing said angrily, "It's been five days, it's been five days!" If we let the king know about this, let him know that Wang Pu and the crown prince slipped out of our palms, you and I will have to die! Do you know what Prince Zhu Cihong means to Remnant Ming? It means the continuation of the national ancestry! As long as the prince does not die, the hearts of the remnants of the old officials will not be scattered! ”

"Yes." The staff members listened to the exchange in a cold sweat and said in a low voice, "The prime minister reprimanded." ”

"Quick." Niu Jinxing hurriedly said, "Send someone to check immediately, and once you find any clues, report immediately!" ”

"Yes."

The staff answered and hurried away.

■■■

Chaoyangmen is closed, and thieves are in prison.

Huang Degong entered the cell with two jars of good wine in his arms, and before he could drink it, more than 20 thieves guarding the prison immediately surrounded him like a fishy cat, to say that these thieves were also the Ming officials and soldiers who surrendered halfway, and the treatment was similar to Huang Degong's.

This met the two jars of wine in Huang Degong's arms, and the gluttonous insects had already been seduced out.

One said, "Lao Huang, where did this wine come from?" ”

Another said, "Those who see have a share, but you can't have this wine alone." ”

Huang Degong called the remaining thieves over, poured a big bowl each, and said loudly: "Damn, you can't eat a thin meal for the Ming Dynasty, and you only deserve to drink thin for the Dashun Dynasty, I didn't say it, if you want to eat and drink well, you have to rely on the brothers to find a way by themselves. ”

The thieves applauded, and they threw their necks up and dried them all.

Huang Degong poured it all over the thieves again, and then said, "Come, make another bowl!" ”

The thieves did it again, Huang Degong poured it again, three bowls of belly, more than 20 thieves fell to the ground, dare to love this wine was put under sweat medicine in advance, these thieves were all fucking poured by the medicine!

Everyone in the prison, including Wang Pu and the two dozen or so Beijing officials, all turned over and sat up.

Huang Degong took the key from a thief, opened the iron lock, and then untied the iron chain with the thickness of his arm, and the heavy prison door was opened. ”

A Beijing official knelt down, kowtowed to Huang Degong and said, "Good man, let us go." ”

"Dreaming." Huang Degong said in a deep voice, "Outside is the camp of thieves, thousands of people are guarding it, even if you escape from the cell, how can you escape from the camp of thieves?" ”

"Good man, you have a way to take us out, don't you?" The Jingguan kowtowed and begged, "As long as you take me out, I will repay you, I will give you silver, oh no, I will give you all the ancestral property of our Gong family!" and my two concubines, all of them are yours! ”

The remaining twenty or so Beijing officials all knelt down and begged, "Good man, take us with you." ”

Huang Degong's face was bitter, and he turned his head to look at Wang Pu, Wang Pu's eyes flashed with a trace of imperceptible coldness, and he glanced at Monk Zhang beside him, Monk Zhang whistled, and more than 20 officers and soldiers in the prison pounced like tigers and wolves in an instant, one person was responsible for one, and in the blink of an eye, the more than 20 Beijing officials all lay down!

Fang Yizhi changed his color and said, "General Wang, what are you doing here?" Even if you don't take them away, you don't have to kill people? ”

"They can't die." Monk Zhang said coldly, "It's just that I'll lie down for two hours." ”

Wang Pu ignored Fang Yizhi and shouted in a low voice: "Quick, everyone, hurry up and change into thief clothes." ”

■■■

Ox Venus Residence.

As soon as it was dawn, the staff hurriedly entered the study and said to the sleepy-eyed Niu Jinxing: "Prime Minister, just now the guards of Chaoyangmen came to report that a group of prisoners who were imprisoned in the prison had escaped!" ”

"Prisoners?" Niu Jinxing said unhappily, "A few prisoners run away and need to report their true appearances?" What a big deal! ”

"Prime Minister." The staff said hurriedly, "According to the people below, that group of prisoners may be officers and soldiers from Nanjing, and they have something to do with Jing Maocheng, the former general of Li Yan's tent. ”

"Li Yan?" Niu Jinxing suddenly came to his senses when he heard this, and said in a condensed voice, "Does this group of prisoners have anything to do with Li Yan?" ”

"Yes." The staff nodded and said, "The humble post has been verified, there is a monk named Zhang among the prisoners, who should be a general under Wang Pu, the commander of Nanjing in the Ming Dynasty, Jing Maocheng, the former general of Li Yan's tent, seems to be quite familiar with him, and he has already agreed to release him, but Li Yan's brother Li Hu came again, so he detained the person again." ”

"Wait." Niu Jinxing frowned, "When did this happen?" ”

The staff said: "It was the night our army entered Beijing." ”

"The night our army entered Beijing?" Niu Jinxing muttered, "Why did this Monk Zhang appear at Chaoyangmen that night? Could it be that Wang Pu sent him? Why did Wang Pu send him to Yanjing? Is it to save Chongzhen, or to save ...... Hey, I remember that Wang Pu seems to be Princess Changping's concubine, right? ”

"That's right." The staff said, "Wang Pu also resisted Chen Yuanyuan's decree, and the whole world knows about it." ”

"Yes!" Niu Jinxing slapped his thigh and said categorically, "It seems that this Monk Zhang was ordered by Wang Pu to save Princess Changping, and the crown prince Zhu Cihong, King Yong, and King Dingwang Bacheng are also with this guy...... Ah, wait, didn't you say that Zhou Kui's old thing saw that Wang Pu also came to Yanjing? ”

"That's right." The staff slapped their heads and exclaimed, "Isn't this the reason for the investigation?" So Wang Pu should also be in this group, when they were about to leave the city, they were intercepted by that Jing Maocheng, and then detained by Li Hu...... Ah, Prime Minister, you have to send someone to chase after you! ”

"Wait." Niu Jinxing shook his head and said, "No need to chase." ”

"No need to chase?" The staff was stunned and said, "Why is that?" ”

Niu Jinxing's face suddenly flashed with a trace of gloomy murderous intent, and he sneered: "Because this matter has already involved Li Yan!" ”

Regarding Li Yan and Niu Jinxing's festival, the staff knew about it, and they recalled it at that time, and suddenly said: "The prime minister is saying...... Take the opportunity to get rid of Li Yan? ”

Niu Jinxing is not Li Yan, Li Yan regards Wang Pu as a big problem for the righteous army, but Niu Jinxing regards Li Yan as his own henchman, for Niu Jinxing, Wang Pu is not a problem, but Li Yan is a stumbling block that directly threatens him to enter the cabinet in the future, in the thief army, there are really not many people who can be regarded as a threat by Niu Jinxing, and Li Yan is the first one.

In order to cause Li Yan to die, Niu Jinxing did not hesitate to let Wang Pu and Zhu Cihong go.

Let go of Wang Pu and Zhu Cihong, Niu Jinxing doesn't think that the remnants of the Ming can still set off any storms, in his opinion, the Dashun Dynasty to replace the Ming Dynasty is already the will of heaven, as long as Wu Sangui of Shanhaiguan is solved, and then send a general to lead the southern expedition, he can sweep the leaves of the autumn wind to level the south of the Yangtze River.

■■■

North Tongzhou, Caoyun Wharf.

Although the thieves have captured Tongzhou and left 2,000 defenders, this group of defenders is implementing the "sports spirit" of Dashun Zheng Axe chasing dirty salaries, and most of the men have been sent out to arrest the local tyrants and inferior gentry in the four miles and eight townships, and only a few dozen people are left on the dock to guard them, and the guards are very lax.

The more than 200 officers and soldiers left by Wang Pu and ten large Cao boats were stranded at the Cao Yun Wharf, because their current identity was the boatman of the Cao Gang, and the thieves did not embarrass these hard-working "Cao Gang" men, but all the 2,000 stone grain on the Cao boat was taken away by the thieves.

Zhang Yanlin and Li Ang, the sailors under Huang Degong, fought with the thieves on the dock every day, begging them to return the grain, saying that their bitter "Cao Gang" was only responsible for transporting grain, and if the grain was intercepted before it reached the ground, their "Cao Gang" would have to pay double the amount of grain.

When Wang Pu and them fled to the Tongzhou wharf by land, the thieves guarding the wharf were disturbed by Zhang Yanlin and Li Ang, and the surname Suo hid, out of sight, Wang Pu and they got on the boat without much effort, and when the ten boats left, the thieves guarding the wharf finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this group of annoying things was finally gone, and the world was clean.

On the boat, Wang Pu ordered 300 officers and soldiers to give up their strength to support the boat to the south, and at the same time released carrier pigeons to send a message to Nanjing, saying that the prince had been rescued, and he would definitely return to Jiangnan within half a month!

■■■

Nanking.

Ma Shiying, the governor of Fengyang, has already expressed his position, claiming that the country cannot be left without a king, and urging Nanjing officials to support the new monarch as soon as possible and distribute food and salary to the 200,000 troops stationed in Jiangbei as soon as possible! Ma Shiying's public statement greatly encouraged the fighting spirit of the Donglin Party, and the concerns in Shi Kefa's heart were also swept away.

The day after Ma Shiying's statement, Lu Daqi, Jiang Yueguang, Qian Qianyi, Zhang Pu, Zhou Bi, Chen Zhenhui, Wu Yingji and other Donglin Party crowds gathered the Yamen of the Military Department (Fushe is known as Xiao Donglin, which is in the same vein as the Donglin Party), and discussed with Shi Kefa and Ma Shiying about supporting the new monarch.

With Ma Shiying's support, it is already imperative to support the new monarch, even if Gao Hongtu and Sun Chuanting oppose it, it will be useless, unless Sun Chuanting dares to risk the world's condemnation to launch a military admonition, but Shi Kefa understands Sun Chuanting's personality, Sun Chuanting is not a person who does not know the general situation, and the national disaster is at the head, he will not do this kind of thing that relatives and enemies are happy.

Shi Kefa found that Gao Hongtu and Sun Chuanting were not present, so he looked around and said, "Why haven't Gao and Sun arrived yet?" ”

Left and right replied: "My lord, I have already sent someone to invite you, but the family members of the two adults said that Lord Gao and Lord Sun are sick. ”

Shi Kefa was stunned and said, "Are you all sick? ”

"How can it be such a coincidence?" Zhou Bi, who had just been added to the Ministry of Rites as the main matter, said coldly, "Sooner or later, the two of them fell ill at the same time today, hmph, Gao Hongtu and Sun Chuanting are clearly deliberately pushing the committee!" At the time of this national crisis, it is really shameful that these two people do not want to serve the imperial court, but ignore the overall situation for their personal interests. ”

"Lord Zhou." Shi Kefa frowned and said, "Please don't blame behind your back, Lord Gao and Lord Sun's character officials still know, they are by no means such people." ”

Ma Shiying said: "Since this is the case, then we won't wait for Lord Gao and Master Sun." ”

"Master Ma is right." Qian Qianyi, the waiter of the new Ministry of Supplementary Rites, held his willow beard in his hand and said happily, "Lord Gao and Lord Sun have fallen ill from working state affairs, and we should take on the burden of state affairs." ”

"Okay." Shi Kefa nodded and said, "Right now, there are two vassal kings living in Nanjing, namely King Fu and King Lu......

"Of course, I want to establish King Lu!" Before Shi Kefa finished speaking, Zhou Bi hurriedly said, "King Lu is well-known to everyone, but King Fu has few good names, and the lower officials think that Lixian is the best." ”

Zhou Bi's voice fell, and Qian Qianyi, Zhang Pu and other Donglin party members nodded one after another.

Is King Lu Zhu Changshu really more virtuous than King Fu Zhu Yousong? It's hard to say!

But one thing is certain, if the crown prince Zhu Cijiong, Yongwang Zhu Cijiong, and Dingwang Zhu Cijiong all suffered misfortunes, then Fuwang Zhu Yousong should be the first heir to the throne of the Ming Dynasty!

Emperor Hongwu has clear regulations on the imperial succession system: the father dies and the son succeeds, the brother dies and the brother dies.

In terms of bloodline, Fuwang Zhu Yousong is the grandson of Emperor Wanli, and King Lu Zhu Changshu is just the nephew of Emperor Wanli, and he is a generation older than Emperor Chongzhen.

There is a reason why the Donglin Party supports Zhu Changshu, the king of Lu, because Zhu Changxun, the old Fu King, had a grudge with the Donglin Party.

Emperor Wanli originally planned to set up Zhu Changxun as the crown prince, but the Donglin Party led by Gao Panlong and Zuo Guangdou fought on the basis of the ancestral system of "having a grandson and no grandson", and had to force the Wanli Emperor to set up his eldest son Zhu Changluo as the prince.

If Zhu Yousong, the king of Xiaofu, became the emperor, the Donglin party people were worried that he would overturn the case for the old Fu king, and take out the old case in the Wanli period to embarrass the Donglin party, so they proposed to establish the king of Lu, Zhu Changshu, and also weaved a "virtuous name" for the king of Lu, whose intentions are actually ulterior.

■■■

When the Donglin Party and Ma Shiying gathered at the Yamen of the Ministry of War to discuss the establishment of a new monarch, a carrier pigeon flapped its wings and flew into the attic of the backyard of the Governor of Yanziji, and got into a delicate pigeon cage, a pair of snow-white Hao wrists stretched out, gently untied the small bamboo tube from the pigeon's leg, unscrewed the lid, and took out a small paper roll from it.

The master of Hao's wrist unfolded the scroll and hurriedly read it, and shouted excitedly: "Yu'er, let people set up the car and go to the governor's mansion immediately." ”

Of course, the owner of Hao's wrist is Liu Qingyan, who has been waiting for more than ten days and finally looks forward to Wang Pu's news, and Liu Qingyan's heart hanging in his throat finally fell to the ground.

Without waiting for Liu Qingyan to leave the Admiral's line, Sun Chuanting came to the door by himself.

Wang Pu told Sun Chuanting before leaving, if there is any news, Liu Qingyan will convey it to him as soon as possible, Sun Chuanting has come to supervise the governor almost every day in the past few days, and he is almost crazy when he waits for Wang Pu's news!

Just now, someone secretly came to the news, Ma Shiying and the Donglin Party gathered in Shi Kefa's military department Yamen, and were discussing the matter of supporting the new monarch, it seems that this time the Donglin Party is determined to support the new monarch, if Wang Pu has not sent the news back, let the Donglin Party and Ma Shiying cook this pot of raw rice into cooked rice, then it will be too late.

"How?" Seeing Liu Qingyan, Sun Chuanting asked urgently, "Is there any news from the stinky boy?" ”

"There's news." Liu Qingyan said happily, "Master Ma has just sent back the news, saying that he has rescued Her Royal Highness the princess, the prince and the two little princes, and now that Tongzhou is rushing back to Nanjing day and night, he will be back in about half a month!" ”

"Another half a month?" Sun Chuanting frowned and said, "The stinky boy is really disadvantageous this time. ”

Liu Qingyan said: "I'm afraid that something went wrong in the middle, so it's delayed." ”

"Nope." Sun Chuanting said, "The old man has to relay the news to Shi Kefa and them immediately, and let them know that the prince is still alive and on his way to Nanjing!" ”

After that, Sun Chuanting turned around and was about to leave.

At this time, a pleasant voice came in from outside the door: "Lord Sun, if you reveal this news to the Donglin Party at this time, not only will you not be able to stop them from supporting the new monarch, but I am afraid that it will also endanger the lives of the concubine and the prince, don't forget that now the entire Jiangbei is under the control of Ma Shiying." ”

(To be continued)