The eunuch Xu Gao didn't say anything more, because he knew deeply that he had heard that this lord Zhou Kui was notoriously stingy, and he was definitely a person who couldn't afford to be early, and it was unprecedented to be able to get 10,000 taels from him for a useless fundraising thing like donating silver.

"Hmm... Okay, Lord Guozhang, since this is the case, then the slave will retire first and return to the palace to return to the emperor. ”

"Gonggong Xu is leaving, he must say a few good words to the emperor for his own official, the old minister really can't take out that much silver."

Hearing such a response, and looking at Zhou Kui's face again, Xu Gao didn't want to stay in Zhou's mansion for a moment, so he turned around and hurried away, but Zhou Kui showed a knowing smile, looking at Xu Gao's departing figure and disappearing into the night.

At this time, an old woman came out of the next room, with a worried face, and persuaded as she walked: "Master, isn't it good to do this?" Anyway, our daughter is also the queen of today, the emperor's life is sad, he can't take out the silver to pay the military salary, just take out 10,000 taels, and those officials in the court will definitely get less, and when the time comes, the emperor's fundraising will be equivalent to being in vain. ”

"Hmph~ What do women know? The court can't get the money to pay the military salary, what does it matter to me? There are so many vassal kings in the world, which one is not rich, why should I pay money to sponsor military salaries? Zhou Kui glanced at the old man, turned to leave, and walked towards the back room.

The next day, as the sun slowly rose, the originally relaxed atmosphere of the capital gradually became tense, full of all kinds of comments and criticism, and the streets and alleys were constantly hotly discussed.

"Hey, have you heard that the rebel army has reached the gate of Fucheng, there are tens of thousands of people, and there are countless of them, and I don't know if the imperial court can repel them?"

"Really? Fake? There was no news before, why did the rebel army suddenly hit the capital? It can't be a rumor spread by the Tartars to confuse the hearts of the people in the city, right? ”

"There shouldn't be anything wrong, the Ministry of War has just posted a list, is recruiting soldiers, recruiting young and strong men in the city, flooding the city defense battalion and the three major battalions, the news should not be false."

......

Although the atmosphere in the capital is tense, the situation is not bad, it is not chaotic, the order of the past is still maintained, and the residents still do what they should do, but their brows appear wrinkles from time to time, and they look worried and uneasy.

Forbidden City, inside the Hall of Virtue and Politics.

There are not only civil ministers and military generals in the main hall, but also many imperial relatives and relatives, Chongzhen sat upright, looking at these people, either weak and incompetent, or each with their own thoughts, he suddenly felt powerless in his heart, and felt that there was no one available under him.

However, as soon as he thought that Li Jiajun was outside the Fucheng Gate, and that there might be more chaotic troops approaching, Chongzhen had to press the impetuousness in his heart, and had to face these people in front of him with a strong spirit, and carry out all kinds of persuasion.

"According to the ancestral system, all the sons of the lords, as well as the relatives of the country such as the horses, must enter the national prince prison for further study, and at the same time study poetry and articles, they must also repair military books and practice riding and archery. Do you have children of the right age in your family? ”

However, no one responded, those royal relatives, dukes, marquises, and earls all bowed their heads and were silent, and no one responded, which meant that the dead pig was not afraid of boiling water.

At this moment, everyone's heart is very clear that at this time, sending children into the Guozijian to receive emergency military training is not used to participate in the reserves, replacing those generals who died in battle, and the big war is imminent, it is very likely to immediately lead the troops to fight and go to the city to dedicate themselves.

Zhu Youzhen's reaction was very flat, he didn't seem to be angry at everyone's cold reaction, he had a very good temper, and asked a few times patiently, and finally had to name him: "Chengguo Gong, Dingguo Gong, shouldn't your children be sent to Guozijian for further study?" ”

"Emperor Qiqi, Weichen's son is still young, and he is not yet old enough to enter the Guozijian."

"Back to the emperor, Weichen's son has dull qualifications, and it is a fool to enter the Guozijian."

Hearing the words of the two dukes who were delayed, and then looking at the appearance of the two of them who were afraid of tigers, Zhu Youzhen only felt that it was both angry and funny, the descendants of the dignified founding fathers, and the descendants of the ancestors of the ancestors, are now like this, afraid of war like tigers.

Chongzhen shook his head secretly, did not continue to hold on to the two of them, nor did he expose their lies, and turned his head to look at the other lords or concubines, like Chengguo Gong and Dingguo Gong, these people came up with reasons for postponement one after another, either because they were not in good health, or because their qualifications were dull and so on.

Just when Zhu Youzhen was disappointed again and again, a person walked out of many horses, his whole body was heroic, and while holding his fists with both hands, he bowed down and said loudly: "Your Majesty, Weichen is willing to enter the country to study, do his best for the emperor, and serve the court." ”

Hearing this, Zhu Youzhen's face showed a look of relief, and he was not surprised, this brother-in-law Gong Yonggu is a native of Wanping, Hebei, and has the chivalrous style of Yan Zhao, and he is deeply loved by himself and has always been with him.

"Okay, Gong Yonggu, he deserves to be my good brother-in-law, and he didn't rely on me in vain!"

Between loud shouts, Zhu Youzhen glanced at those princes and nobles, as well as other horses, and there was a faint mockery on the corner of his mouth.

Obviously, this court discussion is destined to end in nothing, and it will not achieve the result desired by Emperor Zhu Youzhen of Chongzhen.

Everyone left one after another, Gong Yonggu followed Zhu Youzhen to the imperial study, there were only two people in the room, talking in a deep voice.

"Gong Luma, if you are asked to escort me out of Beijing and assist in the relocation of the capital to Nanjing, will you be able to do it?"

"Your Majesty, if it was at the beginning, Weichen would still have some confidence, but now...... People's hearts are scattered, just trying to protect themselves, I have no choice, and we can't recruit a single soldier. Gong Yonggu shook his head again and again, his face showed helplessness, and he smiled bitterly.

Although Zhu Youzhen's expression dimmed a few times, he was still unwilling, he groaned slightly, and asked in a hoarse voice: "So, can you take your own family and escort the prince to the south?" ”

At this moment, Gong Yonggu heard the almost pleading meaning in the other party's words, more like the final explanation of the aftermath, as if moved, but more powerless and helpless, shook his head again, and asked instead of answering: "Your Majesty, how can the family resist the robbers?" ”

Moreover, Weichen has always adhered to his duty and never supported his family. Don't talk about the family, even Weichen himself has always been by the emperor's side, in order to avoid suspicion, he doesn't have half a weapon in his hand. ”

Although the words are exhaustive, the meaning is endless, although he did not answer Zhu Youzhen's inquiry positively, he answered all the questions that have not yet been asked.

For a while, the two looked at each other without saying a word, only crying separately.

At the same time, in the harem, Empress Zhou was doing her father's ideological work.

"Father, now is the time when the emperor needs your help, and he needs you to take the lead in order to raise more money from hundreds of officials. Moreover, the emperor has also lowered the standard, and it would be better for you to donate 10,000 taels more and donate 20,000 taels of silver, isn't it? ”

"But, daughter, for a father, you really don't have so much silver..."Zhou Kui was still unwilling to let go, making a final effort.

"Father, you have to understand one thing, the skin will not exist, and the hair will be attached? If there is a change of dynasty and there is no Ming Dynasty, if the rebel army invades the city, your gold, silver, jewelry and family property will not be able to be preserved at all. ”

Queen Zhou sighed and beckoned again, and a palace maid walked up, took the things handed over by the palace maid, handed them to Zhou Kui, and said earnestly: "Father, my daughter has accumulated some silver over the years, this is a silver ticket of five thousand taels, you take out some more, make up enough for 20,000 taels, so that the emperor can get by on face~!" ”