Episode 53 Under one person, above ten thousand

Eight military vehicles of the People's Guard Corps were driving along the winding mountain road, and suddenly the front one braked on the ground.

In front of him, a soldier in a steel helmet stood in the middle of the road, carrying a pistol in his right hand and a small flag in his left hand.

On the left side of the hill is an anti-tank fortification, with half a concrete bunker exposed from the rock, and inside the firing port, the 57-mm anti-tank gun glows with a cold metallic light, and the muzzle is pointed at the truck at the head of the platoon. On the right side of the road, near the cliff, there is also a small pillbox, in which machine guns are also aimed at the convoy.

The soldier ran over with a rifle, saw a stomachache in the co-pilot, saluted, and then asked:

"Sir, ahead is the fortress area, your documents, passes, and troop transfer orders, show me all the troubles."

It's hard to say that my stomach hurts, how can I have a pass and an order to transfer troops!

The driver next to him was a commando veteran, and he whispered:

"Sir, shall we clean up this card?"

Shaking his head with a stomachache, he looked at the continuous anti-tank bunkers and machine gun bunkers in front of him, and knew in his heart that even if he won this one, he would never be able to break through to the front. These fortifications were designed to hold back enemy tanks. Tanks can't get through, and just these few trucks are not enough to stuff their teeth.

He rolled down the window, handed his documents out, and said:

"We received a call from the fortress, and we came there temporarily, and there were no passes or transfer orders. Can I make a phone call? ”

The guard carefully checked his papers, looked at the photograph for a long time, and then handed it back to him, and asked:

"Sir, which lord gave you the order?"

"Hmm," said with a roll of his stomach ache eyes, "it's us to my lord." He was in the fortress, and he was ordered to transfer us into the fortress and change guards with the Praetorian Guards inside. Just give him a call. ”

When the guards heard him say that the People's Guard and the Praetorian Guard should change their guards, they were a little suspicious. He took the opportunity to say:

"Sir, Lord Xiang doesn't have an office in our Fortress, it's hard to find, I'll help you pick up Commander of Fortress."

As he spoke, he entered the bunker without looking back.

The stomach hurts and the heart complains, once it hits, it will be there, and there is a ** to show the filling. Lord Xiang was in danger inside, too.

At that time, the plan was too hasty, and I never expected that the anti-tank bunker on the side of the road would also come out to investigate. But it's no wonder that for no reason, so many military vehicles went straight to the fortress, in this extraordinary period, but whoever is responsible will come out to check it.

Inside the bunker, the soldier listened in shock to Shi Bicheng's voice in the microphone:

"Listen, we don't have anyone here to order the People's Guard to come up! It is even more impossible to change guards with the Praetorian Guard! Stop them! No matter what they say, they must not be allowed to come up! They burst into the cannon and opened fire! ”

"Yes! Be! Yes, sir! ”

He hung up the phone, directly sounded the alarm, the soldiers in the bunker jumped up, grabbed the steel helmet and put it on, the artillerymen concentrated on the anti-tank gun, and a base number of shells was carried up. In the machine gun fort, the machine gunner also pulls the bolt and prepares to shoot. A series of bunkers up the mountain from this point of view were also put on high alert.

My stomach hurts, my head "buzzes", and the sweat on my face comes down. He watched as a few soldiers ran out of the bunker in front of him, carrying deer firewood on the road. The loudspeaker in the bunker shouted:

"Warn you, don't go any further, or we'll open fire!"

With a stomachache, he stuck out of the window and shouted backwards:

"Stay in the car, don't get down!"

He was afraid that a large number of soldiers jumping out of the car would irritate the defenders in the bunker and invite machine-gun fire.

With a stomachache, he jumped out of the car, strode to the anti-tank fort, crouched down, and yelled at the gun window under his feet:

"What are you doing! Want to rebel? Open the door! ”

The artillerymen inside looked at his face almost touching the muzzle, and became more and more nervous, all looking at their squad leader. The squad leader of this fort also lay on the gun window and said to the stomachache:

"We have received an order from the Commander that you are not allowed to go up the mountain!"

With a stomachache and pinching his epaulettes, he yelled:

"Bastard, do you see the ranks? This commander is a dignified lieutenant colonel, you are a little sergeant, just let this chief talk to you on his stomach? Open the door! I called him myself! ”

The squad leader hesitated, his stomach hurt and he yelled:

"What are you afraid of, I'm alone, and I don't have a gun in my hand, you're afraid that I'll take the bunker alone!"

The door opened, and he went down to the bunker with a stomachache, "snap", and raised his hand to shake the squad leader's big mouth.

"Ahh The squad leader took two steps back, covered his face, and put his hand on the holster.

"What? Pull out a gun? Okay, you dig it, you dig it," the stomachache pointed to his collar badge, and pressed forward step by step, "Do you recognize what this means?" People's Guard! Security Team! You know what the security team does, right? Why are we not here this time, but the security team? …… Still digging out a gun with the chief? I saw that your commander rebelled, and you all learned from it, right? ”

The squad leader was shocked by his mouth, and the words "why did you come to the security team this time" and "Commander Shi rebelled". The soldiers in the bunker also looked at him blankly, and began to chew on the meaning of these words.

With a stomachache, he helped the big-brimmed hat and said:

"We are here this time, and the time will be successful! You also called him and asked, can he let us up? You've already scared the snakes! …… Shi Bicheng is suspected of defecting to the enemy, and the explosion of the No. 6 arsenal in Dinghuaimen has something to do with him! He wants to sell the Purple Mountain Fortress and His Majesty to the Qing Dynasty, are you going to follow him? Yes? You don't think the Ming soldiers are addicted to it, and you want to be a Tartar soldier? ”

As he spoke, he grabbed the phone, handed it to the squad leader, and yelled:

"Hurry up, while the time is ripe for the fortress to be sold, quickly lift the alert!"

The squad leader's face was sweating, and he took a step back:

"I ...... The orders we receive cannot be changed at will...... My lord, we don't know so much as soldiers, and we can't afford to disobey the orders of our superiors! ”

The stomach ache is urgent, and I know that if I delay for a second longer, it will be more dangerous for adults. He kicked the shell box and asked loudly:

"Who can command you but the time will pass? …… Her Majesty? She's the supreme commander, right? ”

The squad leader was startled and stammered:

"This ...... We've never ...... It's also too ......."

Without saying a word about the stomach ache, he picked up the microphone and said:

"Pick me up at the fortress switchboard! …… Please pick up Your Majesty for me. ”

The people in the bunker all looked at the lieutenant colonel in amazement.

…… This is too awesome, a lieutenant colonel, and if he says that he will fight it, he will call Her Majesty directly...... I used to say that the People's Guard was favored, but I didn't expect it to be to this extent!

The squad leader's face was as white as paper, and his chest was beating violently, thinking to himself if he was bluffing or playing for real? …… I haven't spoken to Her Majesty the Empress yet! If Her Majesty really overturned Commander Shi's order and let herself let the People's Guard go up the mountain, would she listen or not?

Although His Majesty is said to be the supreme commander of the army, it is in name, and only the Praetorian Guard and the People's Guard can be directly commanded, and the ordinary army has not been transferred by His Majesty! I'm just a little sergeant, is I setting a precedent here?

My stomach hurts and I feel so nervous. Although he is only two levels lower than Xiang Xiaoqiang, he is not like Xiang Xiaoqiang who sees His Majesty twice in three days, and he has never spoken to His Majesty the Empress.

Zhu Yourong's voice appeared on the other end of the phone, looking very nervous:

"Hello?"

The stomach hurt and stabilized his breathing, and he said respectfully:

"Your Majesty, Commander of the Security Corps of the People's Guard, Du Teng."

He whispered a recount of what had happened here, and the defenders of the bunker were breathing together, and they didn't dare to breathe.

Then, with a stomachache, he beckoned to the squad leader and pointed to the microphone.

The squad leader slowly moved over with a flushed face, held the microphone with both hands, and said in a trembling voice:

"Hey ......"

The kind voice on the other end of the phone said:

"What's your name?"

The squad leader swallowed a mouthful of dry saliva and said softly:

"Your Majesty...... Your Majesty, Your Minister...... Humble ...... Zheng Sangui ......"

"Hehe, surnamed Zheng, then we are half of our family...... Can you hear me? How about it, don't doubt it, right? ”

Zheng Sangui heard it clearly, he had heard His Majesty's voice on the radio many times, how could he hear it wrong! He "snapped" and stood upright and shouted:

"Humble ...... Humble will never dare to doubt it! ”

"Sangui," Zhu Yourong's voice whispered, "I tell you a secret...... Now Shi Bicheng is in trouble with the Praetorian Guards, and he has put me under house arrest, and he has to open the fortress and let the prisoners in...... Sangui, do you know, now the fate of me, the fate of the fortress headquarters, and the fate of the Ming Empire are in your hands. ”

Zheng Sangui's hands holding the microphone couldn't help trembling, his face twitched, two big tears flowed down, and he couldn't cry with excitement:

"Your Majesty...... Your Majesty...... Sangui is guilty...... Sangui knows what to do...... Don't worry......"

"Well, with your words, I will be relieved," Zhu Yourong said softly, "Sangui, then please leave it to you...... Come back to me and get a medal. ”

Zheng Sangui held the phone that had been hung up on the end and looked around excitedly. The whole class of brothers in the bunker looked at him with envy. Zheng Sangui wiped away the tears on his face and shouted:

"What are you waiting for? Dismiss the alarm! Move the barricades! Let the commanders of the People's Guard save Your Majesty! ”

……

After receiving a call from the bunker on the winding mountain road, Shi Bicheng, the commander of the fortress, fidgeted in his office, like an ant on a hot pot. He watched the junior officers come out and go in, carrying papers, and the paper was scattered on the ground, and his heart became even more restless. Now the high command is still directing the resistance, but it is already preparing to evacuate.

He cursed Zheng Gongyin and Mrs. Li's two relatives in his heart, the woman's opinion, fearlessness and ignorance, a palace change was made by them like a family. It's just house arrest and coercion on His Majesty, but His Majesty hasn't been forbidden to make phone calls. Now His Majesty is calling everywhere, making it known to everyone in all departments. Well, forget it, anyway, the Praetorian Guard has already taken control of the fortress, and everyone wants to leave, so it's okay for the time being. But who knows who helped His Majesty transfer the People's Guard. Fortunately, the order was blocked just now, and nothing happened.

He thought that if he had been involved from the beginning, this palace change would be much more "professional", at least the phone in His Majesty's room would have to be cut off at the beginning. But then again, if they had pulled themselves to participate, they wouldn't have dared to participate in any way.

Shi Bicheng really wanted to remind Zheng Gongyin and Mrs. Li that they must cut off His Majesty's phone, and don't think that everything will be fine if the Praetorian Guard controls the fortress. But he didn't dare. In this way, you can be involved. Even if he withdraws to the interior, His Majesty will still be His Majesty, and he still has the People's Guard in his hand, and it is certain that he will settle accounts after the autumn. Those two relatives, they are His Majesty's relatives, it won't be good. It would be foolish for outsiders to mix in. Now that I haven't participated, at most it can be regarded as "inaction", and the law will not govern the people, and it will not be good. Prevent the People's Guards from going up the mountain, that's what they lied about first, and there is no order to "change guards"!

But Shi Bicheng thought about it, but he didn't expect that Xiang Xiaoqiang was now in the fortress, and he had already taken down several levels, just waiting for a long drive straight in.

……

Xiang Xiaoqiang is the same at this moment as Shi Bicheng, and he is also in a hurry. I originally thought that the reinforcements would be able to come in 15 minutes, but after waiting for more than 20 minutes, I finally saw the reinforcements of the brigade pouring into the small hall.

The stomach hurt and simply said to Xiang Xiaoqiang. Xiang Xiaoqiang patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction and boasted:

"It's handled well, it's worthy of Ziteng!"

Then he looked at his watch and said:

"We can't delay any longer, now we are losing ground every second, let's take the fortress first, and then go to defend Nanjing! Begin! ”

Two doors opened, revealing the central command hall.

Xiang Xiaoqiang looked coldly at the noisy command hall, it was no longer the hot command scene before, but a chaos, only a few high-ranking generals were deploying troops in front of the big map, and everyone else was running around, carrying documents to burn. Several large boxes were placed on the ground, and stacks of papers were thrown in, and two soldiers carried them away after they were full.

Xiang Xiaoqiang's anger rose: We are fighting bloodily on the front line, and the command is already preparing to run. They no longer care about the lives of the people of Nanjing.

Xiang Xiaoqiang held the fortress blueprint, pointed to the left and right, and the People's Guard soldiers behind him immediately poured in, the soldiers were divided into three ways, each with a submachine gun, each team held a map, and the two teams advanced to the left and right passages, going deep into the fortress, leaving the control hall all the way in the middle.

Only then did an officer discover them and exclaim:

"Hey, what are you guys doing!"

On the side of the hall, a Praetorian Guard opened fire without saying a word.

The People's Guards immediately fell to the ground, several submachine guns returned fire, and the Praetorian Guard fell to the ground with his waist clutched.

There was chaos in the hall, and the little female officers were screaming and lying on the ground.

The other dozen or so Praetorian Guards in the hall began to fight back against the large conference table, sand table, sofa table, and chairs. But outnumbered, the People's Guard left three times as many people in the hall as they were, and more than thirty submachine guns weighed down their heads.

Because there were still many high-ranking officers lying on their stomachs in the hall, neither side dared to use grenades. That's the shootout. The sound of submachine guns echoed through the hillside hall, deafening.

The People's Guards, on their part, kept shouting:

"The commander of the Praetorian Guard rebelled and held His Majesty hostage, and the People's Guard was ordered to save him! Only the first evil will be punished, and the rest will not be left alone! …… Brothers put down their guns, Your Majesty is not to blame! ”

The soldiers of the Praetorian Guard over there also guessed in their hearts, and their commander followed two relatives to coerce His Majesty, and it was all rumored, but the Praetorian Guards were disciplined and acted according to orders. Now that the People's Guards shout such words, they all know that it is others who follow the order, and it is themselves who correct the order. The heart is empty first.

One of the Praetorian Guards, with his back against the sand table, shouted:

"Don't blame the past, does Your Majesty really say that?"

Xiang Xiaoqiang raised his head and shouted:

"This brother, I am Xiang Xiaoqiang, the commander of the People's Guard!"

The Praetorian Guard shouted over there:

"The little ones have seen the adults! …… I can't salute you in the war! ”

shouted to Xiaoqiang:

"Listen! You have all been commanded to do so, what is the sin? On behalf of Your Majesty, I now send you a decree: lay down your arms at once and obey the command of the People's Guard! …… Now you know, if you resist again, it's really a mess! Your Majesty is generous! Now put down the gun and you'll be fine! ”

Her Majesty the Empress has always been generous, and this is recognized. The Praetorian Guard was moved, and one of them shouted:

"Don't shoot, we're out!"

A dozen or so Praetorian Guards raised their hands and slowly stood up.

Xiang Xiaoqiang raised his head on the ground and waved his hand forward, and dozens of people behind him immediately got up, rushed over to pick up the gun, and occupied the entire hall.

……

Li Gensheng and Stomach Ache each led a team and advanced to the officer's office and living quarters respectively. There was an exchange of fire on both sides, but contrary to what was expected, the Praetorian Guards resisted weakly, similar to the situation in the hall, and after being shouted a few words, they all lowered their guns and surrendered.

In the officer's office area, Qiao Zhongchu, the commander of the Praetorian Guard, sat in the office, listening to the gunshots that were getting closer and closer in the corridor, as well as the constant shouting, and knew that the general trend had gone.

He didn't mean to make a mess, but he was just greeted by Zheng Gongyin's "understanding with reason and moving with affection", and he didn't want to see His Majesty fall into the hands of Qing Yu, so his mind was hot, and he followed them once.

According to common sense, after this palace change, Zhu Yourong's imperial power was basically controlled by Zheng Gongyin and Mrs. Li, so even if His Majesty was dissatisfied with himself, he couldn't do anything to himself. What's more, Zheng Gongyin also promised: After withdrawing to the rear, he will be transferred to a higher position.

But now I never expected that the People's Guard would fall from the sky and appear in a well-defended fortress. In this way, the power will return to His Majesty in an instant, and he will really become a chaotic minister and thief.

Qiao Zhongchu's pale face was covered with beads of sweat, and he trembled and took out his pistol, put it on the table, and took out a piece of white paper with his last words.

But my hands trembled so much that I couldn't write a word. He tore the paper to shreds, grabbed the gun and stuck it in his mouth.

The index finger couldn't be buckled, and the beads of sweat on the earth rolled down and soaked into the eyes, which was very painful.

Qiao Zhongchu shouted, slapped the gun on the table, opened the door and rushed to the corridor, shouting:

"Stop resisting! I order to stop resisting! …… I, Joe, do things alone, and I ask Your Majesty for guilt! ”

……

Zhu Yourong was in the room, listening to the gunshots getting closer and closer, and the shouting to Xiaoqiang was also heard clearly.

"Do you hear that? Did you hear that? ," she said happily to the two Praetorian Guards at the door, "Xiang Qing is here!" Xiang Qing really came to save me! ”

The two Praetorian Guards looked at each other worriedly, and one of them whispered:

"Your Majesty...... We are guilty...... Don't hold a grudge against us, we'll be ......"

"How so!"

Zhu Yourong waved his hand generously and ate a piece of cake on the coffee table. Now my heart is full of joy and I feel hungry.

"Bang!" The door opened, and Jung Kyung-in and Mrs. Li broke in. Zhu Yourong turned around and looked at them in surprise.

One of them had a face as white as earth, and the other had tears on his face, and both fell to their knees:

"Banyan Flower, ......"

"Rong Rong, my uncle has made amends to you! …… Uncle is all for your good! You can't hold a grudge against your uncle......"

Zhu Yourong looked at them like this, and his heart felt like he had knocked over the five-flavor bottle, and he was extremely uncomfortable. She sighed and slowly paced back to her bedroom, closing the door, not wanting to hear them cry anymore.

When the two saw Zhu Yourong close the door, they were frightened all of a sudden, and they jumped up and knocked on the door, crying loudly:

"Banyan Rong! Open the door! I'm my uncle! ”

"Rong Rong, I'm a wet nurse! Good boy, open the door, we are all for your good! ”

After a while, Zhu Yourong opened the door and came out, and they knelt at her feet all of a sudden, with a handful of snot and tears.

Zhu Yourong wanted to put the cold face to the end, but finally couldn't help it, and burst into tears, squatting down to hug them, but they all lay on the ground and refused to get up. Zhu Yourong simply sat on the ground, hugged them and cried:

"Uncle, nurse...... What are you doing here, breaking the banyan banyan...... Don't worry, it's nothing...... It's a thing, but we'll always be a family...... You will always be my uncle and nurse......"

Zheng Gongyin and Mrs. Li seemed to have picked up a life at this time, hugging Zhu Yourong and crying:

"Banyan Flower, ......"

"Good boy ......"

……

After a while, the gunfire outside had stopped. The voice of Xiaoqiang came from the door:

"Commander of the People's Guard, Xiang Xiaoqiang, beg to see Your Majesty! Is Your Majesty well? ”

The two Praetorian Guards at the door didn't wait for Zhu Yourong to speak, they immediately opened the door and threw their guns on the ground. Xiang Xiaoqiang walked in respectfully. The stomach ache behind him and Li Gensheng also followed, and when he saw that there were still two Praetorian Guards, he said "ah" and was about to pull out his gun.

"Don't!" Zhu Yourong shouted, "The two of them are not guilty!" ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang faced Zhu Yourong, bowed deeply, and said softly:

"Your Majesty, the minister's rescue is late, please forgive your majesty."

Zhu Yourong gently wiped away her tears, stood up, looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang who was standing in front of her, and suddenly a huge joy spread throughout her body from the bottom of her heart, and even she didn't know what was going on.

…… No, this is by no means the ecstasy of being saved. In this incident, his life was not in danger. …… Regaining power yourself? Not like that. …… Can you continue to defend Nanjing and save the people from being slaughtered? No, after seeing Xiang Xiaoqiang, what he thought of was obviously not the people.

Xiang Xiaoqiang took a step forward, looked at Zhu Yourong for a long time, and grinned:

"Your Majesty, I received your letter and came. You...... You're alright. ”

Zhu Yourong's heart was beating fast. She bit her lip, smiled, and nodded:

"I'm fine."

Xiang Xiaoqiang caught a glimpse of Zheng Gongyin and Mrs. Li who were huddled in a ball, and saw that they were looking at him with fear and resentment.

He was stunned for a moment, remembering the scene he had just seen Zhu Yourong hugging and crying with them, so he immediately stepped forward and squatted down, picked them up, and comforted:

"Oh, Master Hou and Mrs. Li are frightened...... As soon as the last general heard that Qiao Zhongchu had rebelled and held His Majesty, Hou Ye and Mrs. Li hostage, he was very anxious and hurried here...... Are Hou Ye and Mrs. Li alright? ”

Zheng Gongyin and Mrs. Li were stunned. They thought they would see Xiang Xiaoqiang's domineering face, but they didn't expect this young man to give face like this.

Zheng Gongyin thought about it, he and Xiang Xiaoqiang had no grudges or hatreds, and it can be said that the relationship was not bad. It's just that this time it was a big step forward for Xiaoqiang to seize the opportunity and step on his shoulder. Now that he has lost in his hands, there is no need to think about the power or anything in the future. Now that His Majesty doesn't care, Xiang Xiaoqiang has given face like this again, he should be content......

He smiled kindly, a trace of gratitude flashed in his eyes, and he grabbed Xiang Xiaoqiang's hand and smiled:

"Oops, Xiao Xiang...... Lord Xiang, thanks to you for coming in time this time! …… Alas, I will need to take care of it in the future! ”

He patted the back of Xiang Xiaoqiang's hand and said with a pun. Mrs. Li was stunned for a moment, but also understood, and hurriedly said a lot of thanks to Xiang Xiaoqiang.

Zhu Yourong looked at the faces of his uncle and nurse, and there was a trace of disgust. But she is also very grateful to Xiang Xiaoqiang for preserving the dignity of her uncle and wet nurse, which can be regarded as preserving the dignity of the royal family.

……

"Proposed calling."

Zhu Yourong said lightly.

Zhu Yourong's royal secretary, Miss Xia, hurriedly lined up the pen and paper, waiting for the record.

Xiang Xiaoqiang, Li Gensheng, and Stomach Ache all stood aside with their hands down, guessing in their hearts how to reward them. Zheng Gongyin and Mrs. Li sat on the sofa next to them, looking at Xiaoqiang with jealousy in their eyes.

Zhu Yourong said slowly:

"Xiang Xiaoqiang was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, and the People's Guard was temporarily expanded to 100,000. All armed forces of the Ming Empire, unless they receive a contrary will from me, are under the control of the People's Guard. The Praetorian Guards were merged into the People's Guard and directly under the command of Xiaoqiang......"

After a few words, everyone in the room was stunned.

Zheng Gongyin jumped up and shouted:

"Your Majesty, by all means!"