In the midst of seven days and seven nights of fighting.

The Qing army attacked the city tower thirty-seven times, but was beaten down by Qi Li.

Deng An was also cut off an arm by the Qing army during the seven-day battle.

The corpses of the people and soldiers on the city tower are innumerable, and they have blocked the aisles on the city tower.

But the war was tight, and Qi Li couldn't spare troops at all to clean up the corpses in the aisle.

Everywhere there was the stench of blood and decomposing corpses.

The soldiers of the Ming army vomited and fought at the same time.

After another day of fighting, the city tower gradually became unable to hold, and even under the city wall, several large holes had been smashed out by the cannonballs of the Qing army.

The Qing soldiers rushed into the city in the big cave.

Seeing that the castle tower could not be defended.

Qi Li made a quick decision.

"The whole army retreats into the city and starts street fighting!"

Qi Li covered the new wounds on his body and commanded the soldiers and people on the city tower.

Then the soldiers and civilians withdrew into the city.

"This group of Han people is really stubborn, they are all fighting like this, and they still refuse to surrender! In that case, we have to kill them all! ”

After Duoduo rode into the city slowly on a tall horse, he looked at the Ming army and people who were hiding in the houses and alleys and constantly fighting against the Qing army, and couldn't help but sigh, and then said.

"Prince Yu, leave it to me, I will definitely kill them all!"

Guo Shou stepped forward and took the initiative to ask.

"Soldiers, come with me!"

Guo Shou led 2,000 Qing soldiers to kill not far away.

The city was in the midst of scuffle.

The picture turned and came to the Fengtian Hall of the Nanjing Imperial Palace.

At this time, the hundred officials were already apprehensive and anxious.

can only wait for the new army to rescue Yangzhou.

That's when a piece of news came.

A minister in charge of communications from the Ministry of War came to the Fengtian Temple to deliver new news.

"Your Majesty! The New Army... The new army was supposed to go to Yangzhou, but who knew that the Qing army led by Asimu took a shortcut and was intercepted, and it was difficult to get out for a while. ”

Said the minister in charge of delivering news from the front line in the Ministry of War.

"What!"

The civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty fell into a panic.

At this time, Yangzhou City has been holding on for a long time.

If this continues, Yangzhou City must fall.

"Report! Yangzhou flying pigeons come to report! Yangzhou City Tower has fallen, the Qing soldiers have entered the city, Qi Inspector led the people and soldiers with the help of private houses and alleys, and the Qing army started a street battle. ”

At this time, another minister from the Ministry of War came to pray.

Shi Kefa, the secretary of the military department, was shocked, and said with a panicked face: "Da Ming is in danger!" ”

"How many soldiers and horses are there in Nanjing City?"

Zhu Cihong asked Shi Kefadao.

"There are about 10,000 people, but they are all miscellaneous armies with little combat effectiveness!"

Shi Kefa, the secretary of the military department, said.

"Pass the order! Within an hour, prepare the grain and grass and set off for Yangzhou, and after an hour, I will personally lead these 10,000 people to rescue Yangzhou, so as to ensure that Yangzhou can hold out until the arrival of the new army. ”

Zhu Cihong immediately said to Shi Kefa.

"Ahh The emperor can't! ”

"Your Majesty! It is the foundation of the nation! Where the world is! If the emperor is wrong, then the world is not in danger! ”

"Yes! Emperor! At this time, you must not drive in person! ”

“.....”

When all the officials heard this, their faces were full of shock, and they immediately knelt down and persuaded them.

"Now that Yangzhou is fighting hard and morale is low, I need to go in person to boost morale so that Yangzhou soldiers and people can continue to fight against the Qing army! Support until the new army comes to help, and there is no other way! ”

Zhu Cihong immediately said.

"Your Majesty! Shi Kefa is not talented, and he is willing to go to Yangzhou with the emperor to rescue! ”

Shi Kefa, the secretary of the military department, said.

Zhu Cihong is still jealous, history repeats itself, for fear that Shi Kefa will pass and history will be old early.

"Nanjing still needs you, Lord Shi is not only the first assistant of the cabinet, but also the secretary of the military department, and the imperial court needs you to coordinate the overall situation here!"

Zhu Cihong said euphemistically.

"Your Majesty!"

Shi Kefa burst into tears, and he hated to go to Yangzhou with Zhu Cihong.

Soon after, Zhu Cihong came to the imperial study.

and sent the Jinyi guard to command Luo Yangxing to bring the former Tang King Zhu Yujian over.

"The criminal minister Zhu Yujian visits the emperor!"

Zhu Yujian clasped his hands into fists and bowed.

This man is both civil and military, he is the famous Emperor Longwu in the history of the Southern Ming Dynasty, known as the first Ming Emperor in the history of the Southern Ming Dynasty, but unfortunately he has been controlled by Zheng Zhilong in history, although he is virtuous and strong, but he does not have the slightest military power, and he cannot mobilize a soldier.

In the end, he could only watch Zheng Zhilong miss the opportunity, resulting in the loss of the southeast.

"Back then, in order to avenge your father, you killed your uncle because of your pleasure? In the ninth year of Chongzhen, the Qing army entered Serenke Baodi, and approached the north [Beijing], you disregarded your life, recruited troops, gathered thousands of guards, and went north to King Qin, what kind of hero is it? Why is it so decadent now? ”

Zhu Cihong looked at the Tang King Zhu Yujian in front of him, who was only middle-aged but extremely decadent, with empty and empty eyes, and said in surprise.

"Please forgive the emperor, time has passed, and the old ministers are a little older, and they don't have the ambitions they had when they were young."

Tang King Zhu Yujian has been in Fengyang's captivity in the past few years, his face is full of vicissitudes, and he even seems powerless to speak.

"Now that the country is in danger, I hope you can cheer up and regain the courage of the past!"

Zhu Cihong walked up to Tang King Zhu Yujian and said.

"Minister... is old, I'm afraid to disappoint the emperor! ”

Zhu Yujian hesitated.

"I know that you are still resentful of Emperor Chongzhen's imprisonment of you, and you have a grudge!"

Zhu Cihong looked at Zhu Yujian and said.

"I still hope that you will take the Ming Society as the priority, from today onwards, I will restore your title of Tang King, and I will announce you as the prison to the hundred officials, if I lose this trip to Yangzhou, the Ming Dynasty will be handed over to you!"

After Zhu Cihong finished speaking, he patted Zhu Yujian's shoulder and turned to leave.

"Your Majesty...."

After Zhu Cihong left, Zhu Yujian suddenly lost control of his emotions, knelt on the ground, and couldn't stop crying.

It can't be calmed down for a long time.

An hour later.

Zhu Cihong commanded tens of thousands of soldiers and horses and 3,000 brocade guards and bid farewell to hundreds of officials.

"From today I announce the restoration of Zhu Yujian's title of Tang King, if I go to Yangzhou if I lose, you need to follow Zhu Yujian as the emperor, there must be no mistake!"

Zhu Cihong looked at the officials and said.

"Obey your orders!"

Hundreds of officials led by Shi Kefa and others obeyed the order.

Subsequently, Zhu Cihong rode his horse and personally commanded tens of thousands of soldiers and horses and 3,000 brocade guards to Yangzhou to support.

In a corner of the Nanjing City Tower, Tang King Zhu Yujian was drunk and hazy, looking at Zhu Cihong who was gradually moving away.

muttered to himself: "Your Majesty.... The minister won't let you have any trouble. ”

Zhu Cihong traveled day and night, about seven days later.

Appeared under the city of Yangzhou.

Seeing that above the city tower, there were all Qing soldiers.

Everywhere the Qing army flags were planted.

Zhu Cihong was suddenly shocked and said: "Could it be that Yangzhou has fallen?" ”

"Your Majesty! Looks like we're late! ”

The commander of the Jinyi guard on the side made Luo Yangxing very regretful.