The timeline goes back to the third day of the ninth lunar month, that is, three days before Fang Ziling arrived in the capital, and it is also the day when Yang Sichang's dying watch was sent to the capital.

The entire Forbidden City seems to be shrouded in a cautious and terrifying atmosphere because of the emperor's bad mood.

Chongzhen has been depressed for a whole month, and he can't slow down.

More than a month ago, he heard that on the Huguang battlefield, Zhang Xianzhong suddenly fought out of the mountains controlled by the Miao and Turen in Xiangxi and attacked Changde, Changsha, and Hengzhou. It was enough to kill King Rong and King Ji successively, and in the end, even the family of the emperor's uncle King Gui was also wiped out.

Guiwang Zhu Changxuan went to Hengzhou in the seventh year of the Apocalypse, and Chongzhen was already seventeen years old that year. So it can be said that King Gui is the most familiar with Chongzhen among all his uncles, and he often walked around when he was a child and went to play at Uncle Seven's house.

In contrast, those uncles who did not have a good relationship with Chongzhen's father left Kyoto much earlier. For example, the third uncle and Fuwang Zhu Changxun, who was suspected of seizing the throne, became a vassal in the forty-second year of Wanli, and Chongzhen was only three years old at the time, so he didn't remember it at all.

When the other fourth and fifth uncles took office, Chongzhen was still young and not impressed. Because the seventh uncle was young and had no threat to the imperial power at all, he was most familiar with Chongzhen, but he didn't expect to be killed by Zhang Xianzhong like this.

When he got the news, Chongzhen really cried and grieved, much more sincere than when his third uncle Zhu Changxun was killed last year. After grieving, his anger at the local officials and guards in Huguang became more and more intense, and he wanted to increase the punishment for them.

It's just that after the fall of Changsha and before the fall of Hengzhou, Chongzhen had already sent envoys to severely hold accountable the officials of Huguang, and ordered that the governor of Huguang, Fang Kongzhi, be reduced to the people and taken into Beijing for questioning.

Therefore, just seven or eight days later, when he heard that King Gui had been killed again, it was inconvenient for Chongzhen to immediately temporarily increase the punishment. I had to endure my anger, hoping that after Fang Kongzhi and the others were escorted to the capital, they would be investigated in detail according to the latest situation.

Anyway, the Huguang war situation has eroded like this, maybe there will be worse bad news every few days, it is better to save a piece of money to settle the account! If the Holy Decree is repeated every time there is bad news, the Holy Decree is too worthless and too unserious.

Since then, Chongzhen has chosen not to look at the bad news of Huguang for the time being, and wants to save up, but Fang Kongzhi will talk about it when he arrives.

Soon, the Henan battlefield also broke out a series of new bad news, Li Zicheng plundered Huaiqing, Wei Hui, Zhangde, Daimyo and other Kaifeng surrounding prefectures, killed King Zheng, King Zhao, Yang Sichang, Sun Chuanting, Zuo Liangyu was forced by the holy decree to advance, and was defeated by Li Zicheng in Zhuxian Town.

These bad news are far more serious than Huguang Zhang Xianzhong's problem, especially the Daimyo's mansion is already Beizhili, which means that Li Zicheng's tentacles have stretched into the edge of Beizhili!

So in the next half month, all Chongzhen's attention was attracted by Li Zicheng, and he no longer had time to care about what happened to Zhang Xianzhong.

The country has fallen to this point, and Chongzhen has been completely confused.

This year, all fronts of Daming have been completely shattered!

Hong Chengchou has clearly sent back the news that it has been cleared, most of the hundreds of thousands of elites on the nine sides have been destroyed, and the Tartars in the summer and autumn have not been idle outside the pass, and they continue to attack, and all the strongholds of Wu Sangui outside the Shanhai Pass have been uprooted one by one, and the remnants of Liaodong are losing blood day by day.

Recently, as winter approaches, it has stopped a bit, but according to Jinyiwei's inquiry, it seems that it is not that the Tartars are not strong in battle, but that Huang Taiji is finally critically ill, and the Tartar banners seem to be turning their energies to waiting for an opportunity to seize power.

The only hope of the Ming outside the gate can only be to count on the death of Huang Taiji, the power transition of the Tartars will not be smooth, and there will be a civil war.

Li Zicheng disrupted the entire Henan, plus a corner of Hebei, Shaanxi, and Shanxi, and Zhang Xianzhong eroded Huguang.

Chongzhen almost felt that he was completely hopeless.

……

Chongzhen was depressed, stayed up all night to review the recitals, and was busy and fell asleep directly on the eucalyptus. Queen Zhou saw that he didn't return to the palace very late, so she took the palace maid and took a supper to visit the Wenhua Palace.

Chongzhen hadn't spoiled her for more than a year, so much so that Empress Zhou didn't dare to disturb her at night for a long time. In the past half a month, I have occasionally come to her place to spend the night, but there is absolutely no favor between men and women, and that is only because Chongzhen's favorite Tian Guifei just died of illness in July.

When Tian Guifei died, the news of the fall of Changsha came back from the Huguang battlefield, almost at the same time, the double sadness and anger were superimposed, which also caused Chongzhen's mood to be more unstable, and the punishment of relevant officials was also increased.

After the death of Tian Guifei, Chongzhen dropped out of the dynasty for three days, fell seriously ill, and only eased up a little in August, and then changed his mind a little and allowed Queen Zhou to serve the illness.

Empress Zhou is not greedy for favor, she knows that she is old and decrepit, and she is very satisfied to be able to show her face beside the emperor and serve the decoction.

As an aside, in history, after the death of Tian Guifei, Tian Guifei's father, Tian Hongyu, a relative, in order to maintain the influence of the family in the palace, widely searched for beauties at the end of that year, and wanted to send them to the palace to replace his daughter's original status and get the emperor's favor, so he found Chen Yuanyuan.

Of course, all of this has long been completely shattered by the butterfly effect of the Sinking Tree Man. Chen Yuanyuan has been admitted to the back house by Shen Shuren for two and a half years, and he has played all kinds of tricks.

When Empress Zhou came to the Wenhua Palace, she wanted to go straight to the inner hall, but she met Chongzhen's henchman Wang Chengen at the door. Empress Zhou was curious, so she asked, "Why is Wang Daban here?" Could it be that Your Majesty is asleep again? ”

Wang Chengen saw that it was the queen, and hurriedly saluted, and then said: "Niangniang came just in time, Your Majesty has just been tired and slept again, and the slave and maid dare not disturb."

However, Chen Shangshu of the Ministry of War sent Huguang Yang Ge Lao's 'testament', Yang Ge Lao seemed to be sick and in danger, but the content of this table was really good news, Chen said that Shen Shuren, the governor of Anlu, defeated Zhang Xianzhong.

Killed Zhang Xianzhong's puppet governor Wang Shangli, Zhang Hualong, and Ma Weixing, annihilated tens of thousands of enemies, recovered Changsha and Hengzhou, and captured the generals Yin Xianmin and He Yide.

There are also other captured thieves who will report back, saying that Zhang Xianzhong himself was also in the battle of Hengzhou, and he injured his face with the firearms of the officers and soldiers, his appearance was completely ruined, one ear was cut off, and he was even poisoned by lead, which was a great joy. The slave and maid hesitated, and did not know how to disturb the holy driver's report......"

Empress Zhou looked happy, then frowned, and first made a gesture: "Wang Daban, how many times have you said it!" The palace is just a female stream, the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics, and the affairs of foreign dynasties, don't mention it in the future! ”

After the posture of the virtuous queen was finished, Queen Zhou changed her slightly kind face again: "But forget it this time, this palace knows Your Majesty too well, how can you be stable when you sleep on the imperial eucalyptus like this?" I woke up in the middle of the night, and I was afraid that I would have to blame myself again for dealing with government affairs, and I would have to toss in the end.

It is better to shout and tell the good news, and when Your Majesty is happy, you can put down government affairs and go back to the palace to sleep all night. The main palace went to deliver the decoction first, and after waking up, you can talk about business. ”

Queen Zhou knows Chongzhen too well, and she knows that her husband can't sleep well if she is so scared, so it is better to give him good news and let him be happy for a few days.

And with the blessing of good news, Queen Zhou even walked in a stiff posture, paced into the inner hall generously, touched her husband's forehead with her own hands, and watched her husband's body move slightly, then said softly:

"If Your Majesty is tired, go back to the palace to rest, and it will not be comfortable here. State affairs are hard, and we must take care of the dragon's body. Come, first drink this bowl of medicinal food Ning Ning Shen, the sister of the Tian family is in the spirit of the sky, and she must also hope that Your Majesty will always be healthy. ”

Chongzhen was confused between the lakes and lakes, and subconsciously opened his mouth, Queen Zhou had already fed him with a silver pick, and the warmth entered his throat, and Chongzhen became more and more sober.

He also knew Queen Zhou too well, seeing that her eyebrows were full of spring, he was very confident, and he was not afraid that he would be woken up and angry, so he asked tentatively: "Could it be that there is any good news?" Eager to let me know? ”

Queen Zhou's heart froze, she didn't expect her husband to react so quickly, or that the old husband and wife were too familiar with each other's style, and they were actually seen through.

Queen Zhou hurriedly shy: "How can there be, but just now I saw Wang Daban waiting outside the palace, and I didn't dare to disturb, saying that there was good news, and the concubines didn't understand the affairs of the foreign court, so I didn't ask in detail." Your Majesty has the energy, call in and ask, if you are tired, go back and rest. ”

Chongzhen didn't break it, the old husband and wife, a little inquired about the war situation, it was not considered to be a political interference, so he gently uncovered it, called Wang Chengen to come closer, and asked about business.

Wang Chengen's tone was very strict, and he skipped the answer with Queen Zhou just now, and didn't mention a word, but concisely said the content of Yang Sichang's testament.

Chongzhen listened, Tong Kong suddenly zoomed in a few times, and his hands stretched out like thin chicken paws: "Quickly bring it to me!" Has the Ministry of War verified it? ”

Wang Chengen hurriedly handed over another fold: "This is Chen Shangshu of the Ministry of War, who temporarily verified his military exploits when he was on duty at night just now. Yang Ge Lao's testament was also sent with the head of some thief generals and some prisoners, and the military department had checked them. It's just that Yin Xianmin and He Yide have not yet arrived in Beijing. ”

The folds that can be sent to Chongzhen here, of course, cannot be handed in casually, and all relevant responsible departments in each link will check them layer by layer to ensure that there is no false report, and of course Chen Xinjia of the military department has stayed up late and worked overtime.

Chongzhen's eyes widened and he looked at it carefully, and it took a long time to close the fold that was crumpled by him: "Zhang Xianzhong dog thief!" You also have today. It's a pity, it's a pity, why didn't Shen Shuren pursue it to the end, and took advantage of Zhang Xianzhong's main force to lose it, and wiped it all out! Why withdraw troops and return north! ”

Wang Chengen and others were on the side, listening to the emperor's regret and emotion, so they could only be anxious, and it was not good to help the ministers speak.

However, Empress Zhou did not have the possibility of colluding with foreign ministers, and she saw that the emperor's mood was not completely comfortable, so she said carefully: "Your Majesty, the local governor has withdrawn his troops, and there should be another appointment and transfer?" Didn't Yang Ge write it? ”

Chongzhen took a closer look at it, and found a few reasons from the follow-up texts that had nothing to do with the good news: "...... It turned out that Shen Shuren had already agreed with Yang Sichang that after repelling Zhang Xianzhong, he would draw troops to deal with Li Zicheng, which was a pity.

But there is no way to do it, the war situation in Henan is so erosive, if I am in Xiangyang, I will definitely let the people of Henan endure it again, let Shen Shuren completely kill Zhang Xianzhong, and destroy the family first, and then talk about ......"

Beside him, whether it was Queen Zhou or Wang Chengen, they didn't dare to squeak when they heard this, and secretly thought: It is your previous will to force Yang Sichang and Sun Chuanting to concentrate all forces at all costs and step up the siege of Li Zicheng to rescue Henan......

How did it come to the end, when I heard that Zhang Xianzhong had the opportunity to be hunted down and beheaded, he suddenly heard that it was one and the other?

Chongzhen felt that the atmosphere was a little cold, and he also recalled that it was indeed his own order that had changed, and hurriedly ordered: "That's it, seeing that Yang Sichang's expression is sincere, and he finally has some slight efforts to redeem the past, let him invite it."

After Fang Kongzhi was imprisoned, Huguang was indeed in chaos, and he urgently needed someone to go up. Shen Shuren had the credit of breaking Zhang Xianzhong, recovering the three mansions, and beheading three puppet governors in a row, so he was reappointed as the governor of Huguang. However, it is still the same as before, and Fuxinyang, Jiujiang, and Anlu Chitai. When the court meeting is held in a few days, after discussing with Zhou Yanru and Chen Xinjia, let's make it clear to the world.

This Shenshu man is really my Ming Dynasty's supernatural giant, a model of loyalty and righteousness. I hope that after he is promoted, he can help Yang Sichang recover his decline and curb Li Zicheng's eastward march southward. ”

Although the official title of Shen Shuren is set as the governor of Huguang, he can also take care of the six prefectures bordering Huguang in the three neighboring provinces, all of which are located in a circle of dangerous and poor places around the Dabie Mountains.