In fact, on the day of the release of the Northern Expedition, the Taiping army fired a large number of leaflets and shells towards the city of Beijing. Leaflets are said to be the new invention of Captain Xiao He, who has just arrived in the artillery unit, placing the leaflets in a porcelain jar, and then wrapping them in the position of the warhead, and pushing the warhead into the air through guò projectiles, the fuse that has been lit bursts in mid-air, and the amount of explosives only cracks the wrapping layer and the porcelain jar, and then the leaflets in the sky are like snowflakes flying in the head of Sijiu City.

Since the siege of Sijiu City by the Taiping Army, the common people in the city rejoiced, but the Manchu nobles were frightened, but fortunately the two palaces and the emperor were still in the Forbidden City, and I heard that the Taiping army was from the sea alone, there was no backup and no smooth supply line, before the Qing army in the capital launched several attacks on the Taiping army outside the city, although they failed to break through the Taiping army camp, but those Manchu nobles therefore fantasized that the Taiping army outside the city could not survive the cold winter in the north, and wait until the winter passed, Outside the city, the Taiping army had no food and clothing, and it would inevitably be broken with one blow.

It is precisely because of this little fantasy that the Manchu nobles saw the hope of sticking to the capital, their wealth and wealth are in the capital, but 20,000 long-haired sieges, and the Qing Dynasty still has more than 100,000 soldiers and horses on the side, and most people hope that the imperial court can hold on. And those few sober people put forward the strategy of letting the city not go, all of which were criticized by these people as traitors, and later Prince Gong and Seng Lingqin exposed the shocking case of the intention to hijack the two palaces and the emperor's holy tour to the north, no one dared to mention the strategy of letting the city go.

The case of the two kings dashed the Manchu Qing's hope of finally surviving. and the monk Gelinqin were given to die separately, perhaps their mood before death was the same as that of Li Xiucheng, who had asked the king of heaven Hong Xiuquan to let the city go away in history. This court can no longer be supported. And the reason why Hong Xiuquan didn't want to let the city go in history may be the same as those Manchu nobles. Thinking that there were more than 100,000 soldiers and horses around him, and there were only 20,000 or 30,000 thieves besieging the city. But his net worth and wealth are all in the capital, so he fantasizes that if he sticks to it, there will be a miracle.

After the month of Lap, bad news came one after another, the fierce winter offensive of the Taiping army made the northern form take a sharp turn, Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Hubei, Guanwai, everywhere is the news of the loss of division and land, and the more serious thing is that the Taiping army along the road in Shandong has almost opened the canal supply line, and the cold winter in the north has not become the time of the Manchu Dynasty, but has made the death knell of the Manchu Qing Dynasty sound in advance.

The day I received the Northern Expedition document. The whole capital was in chaos, and the Manchu nobles suddenly realized that it seemed that it was a good idea to let the city go at that time, but now no one even dared to mention it.

On the day that the text was transmitted to the capital, it didn't take long for the text to be placed on Xingzhen's desk, and after reading the text, Xingzhen couldn't help but smile bitterly, and said secretly in her heart: "It seems that he has opened up the supply line and received a steady stream of backup and supplies. It was the prelude to his massive attack. ”

After reading it, Xingzhen asked the Manchu clan and ministers present: "The long-haired thief sent this text, it seems that a large-scale siege of the city is imminent, what can I do?" ”

Prince Su Huafeng, Prince Qing Yixuan, Dingjun Wang Zaiquan and other clan ministers. Wen Xiang, Bao Jun, Li Tangjie, Li Hongzao, and others, ministers of the Military Aircraft Department, are all speechless when you look at me, and I look at you. However, Prince Yiyun, who was dismissed from his authority, said: "Queen Mother." For now, it is better to let the city go, and the two palaces and the holy car will go north to tour Mongolia. Or there may be room for turning, and more than 100,000 soldiers and horses in Beijing are on the side. Presumably it is not difficult to go north. ”

As soon as this remark came out, a group of Manchu ministers actually echoed it again, which was diametrically opposed to the time when Seng Lingqin and Prince Gong raised yì. Yi Xun was involved in the case of King Gong, and he no longer had any duties at this time, and he dared to say things that others did not dare to say, which just said the hearts of those Manchu nobles, and now they are really afraid.

Xingzhen was noncommittal when she heard this, and looked at the three important ministers Yuan Jiasan, Li Hongzhang, and Peng Yulin who were leading the army on the side, and saw that the three of them were all with a little ridicule on their faces, and after thinking about it, they already understood, these three people were laughing at those Manchu nobles, and they were against it when it was best to let the city go, and now that the Taiping army was about to attack the city on a large scale, they thought of escaping, and asked how the more than 100,000 soldiers and horses of the Manchu Qing Dynasty could calmly let the city not go under the siege of the Taiping army's tiger and wolf army? Maybe as long as the Queen Mother wills, the first thing these Manchu nobles think of is how to run first. When the time comes, don't say anything to let the city go, even if you want to go, the Taiping army will not agree.

Yuan Jiasan didn't care about this, but stepped forward and said: "Empress Dowager Qi, although there are more than 100,000 soldiers and horses in the capital to protect the city, but there are many soldiers and horses stationed in the outer three mountains and five parks. ”

Yi Xun echoed: "What Lord Yuan said is reasonable, if the Queen Mother decides not to let the city go, and more than 100,000 troops will escort the two palaces to set off, and everything must be arranged in advance, otherwise it will be a big chaos." There are still 50,000 soldiers stationed in the northwest garden of the capital (that is, the Old Summer Palace), and the soldiers of this department can guard here, protect the wings from the flanks of the city army, and the rest of the peripheral soldiers should be all gathered, and leave together with the soldiers in the capital to protect the holy car of the two palaces. ”

Xingzhen waved her hand and said: "This palace is a little tired, you can discuss these things, whether you want to leave or stay, after you negotiate a charter, please come up." After that, Xingzhen stroked her forehead and asked Li Lianying and others to escort her away, leaving only all the ministers in the room looking at each other.

After Xingzhen left, Yi Xun said strangely: "Queen Mother, what is this Yizhi?" Do you agree that we should let the city go? Or not to go? ”

Prince Su Huafeng smiled and said angrily: "Didn't the Queen Mother say it?" Let's watch and do it, whether it's going to go, whether it's staying, she listens to the big guys. The king of the rank even feels uncomfortable, and he wants to go first, anyway, the big guy discusses what way to come, and the king has the same opinion as everyone, in short, he must go quickly. With that, he yawned and left.

Yiyun looked at Hua Feng's back with disdain, knowing that this prince was an opium addict and wanted to go down to smoke a cigarette or two, but his words still didn't decide anything, and they all pushed it on the heads of others.

Prince Qing Yixuan, Dingjun Wang Zaiquan and other clan ministers also said that they listened to Prince Alcohol's idea, which suddenly made Yi Xun panic, although Yi Xun had led the soldiers and horses in the capital before, but at that time there were monks and King Gong behind the back, but now that the two are gone, Yi Xun alone has to plan more than 100,000 soldiers and horses to go north, it is not easy, fortunately, the Minister of Military Aircraft Wen Xiang, Bao Jun, Li Tangjie, Li Hongzao and others did not say anything to shirk, Wen Xiang said: "Lord, at this time, let the city go, it seems to be too late." ”

Bao Jun also smiled bitterly: "Yes, Lord Wang, now that Longhair's large-scale siege of the city is imminent, leaving the capital at this time is the way to take chaos." ”

Li Hongzao said bluntly: "At first, King Gong's case was because of the need to admonish the army, but now I still want to let the city go, but I am afraid that the face of the court will not be able to let go." ”

Hearing this, Yi Xun's body was like falling into an ice cave, and he looked at Yuan Jiasan and the other three as if asking for help, but Yuan Jiasan said: "The prince, the ministers and the other three are responsible for commanding the soldiers and horses in the garden and the west of the city, as the prince said, whether you go here or stay is a key place, since the long-haired invasion is imminent, I and the other three should go back immediately to arrange to meet the enemy." As for the matter of going and staying, if the court has a decision, it can be ordered, and the ministers and the other three will obey the order. After saying that, after saluting everyone, the three Hanchen also left first.

Yi Xun was completely dumbfounded at this moment, and finally Wen Xiang said with a wry smile: "Lord Wang, don't think that the army can move at this time, if you can hold out for a few months, it will be a great luck to be hit by Mongolia or the arrival of reinforcements from outside the Guan, otherwise the society will be in danger......"

Yi Xun himself didn't know how to leave the palace in a daze, and returned home to sit down, the whole person was still dazed, he couldn't figure out why the Qing Dynasty had become like this, could it really be that the national fortune was exhausted, and there was no way to reverse the situation?

After dinner, Yi Xun locked himself in the study, and didn't want to see anyone, but when he arrived, he heard someone outside the house: "Master, someone is in the palace, and the Queen Mother has summoned you to see you." ”

Yiyun hurriedly changed into court clothes and went out, followed the eunuch who came to deliver the decree into the palace, and saw Xingzhen in the Dongnuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.

Xingzhen saw Yi Xun coming, walked out from behind the screen, stepped back left and right, looked at Yi Xun and asked faintly: "Do you still blame me for the matter of the sixth master?" ”

Hearing this, Yi Xun hurriedly knelt down and said, "The slave doesn't dare." Xingzhen said bitterly: "Since my sister had a stroke and couldn't be a director, all the things in and out of the palace have fallen on my shoulders alone." The sixth master also committed a crime at that time, no matter how he was, he couldn't give birth to such a kingless and fatherless thing as kidnapping the holy driver. Now that I think about it, although the sixth master is pitiful, it is unforgivable. ”

Xingzhen said a word, Yi Xun responded, and finally Xingzhen sighed and said: "The situation after the palace left today will also be known to the palace, Seventh Master, it's not that the palace doesn't want to cheer up, but the people's hearts are scattered, so it's embarrassing." ”

Yi Xun's heart trembled when he heard this, and said: "Queen Mother, is it possible that the foundation of our love for Xinjueluo for more than 200 years has been cut off?" ”

Xingzhen wept and said: "The shape is difficult to reverse, unless there is a miracle." Yi Xun was also stunned to shed tears when he heard this, Xingzhen said again: "Seventh Master, I summoned you to come late at night today, I want to tell you one thing, whether the capital is to be defended or abandoned has actually been defeated, but the first emperor is the only one who left the emperor's blood and bones, and the palace does not dare to take the slightest risk, only hope that if the sky changes in the future, others can't count on it, I only hope that the seventh master can support the face of the heavenly family, and maneuver more in front of the long hair, trying to preserve the blood of the first emperor." ”

Yi Xun also wept and said: "Queen Mother, if it is really the day the city is broken, the little brother will definitely protect the Queen Mother and the Emperor." ”

Xingzhen shook her head and said: "No, Seventh Master, this palace doesn't want you to be crushed, as long as you contact Changmao in advance, do you think if the emperor abdicates and makes way for Xian, can Changmao promise to save the lives of the royal family?" ”

Yi Xun was taken aback when he heard this, and there was only one thought in his heart to turn around: "The Queen Mother is going to leave a good way back......" (to be continued......)