Ten miles outside the city of Chuzhou.

Chongzhen's guard of honor had slowly stopped on the avenue.

Zuo Guangdou, Gao Panlong, Yang Lian and others were also released from custody and were able to go out of the city to meet the emperor.

"Your Majesty!" Zuo Guangdou knelt on the ground, his head bowed and his hands high, extraordinarily respectful, and guilty.

After all, the three patriarchs and important ministers, who were entrusted with important tasks by the emperor and the world, went to Chuzhou to negotiate with Wang Qi in person, but they didn't even see the face of the people, and were directly imprisoned.

Kneeling on the ground, not only Zuo Guangdou, but also Yang Lian, Gao Panlong and others, all of them were flushed and looked ashamed.

"Let's be flat," Zhu Youzhen's emotionless voice came from the imperial sedan chair.

It can be seen that His Majesty the Emperor is also in a very unsunny mood now.

Zuo Guangdou and others led a group of relatives, stood respectfully on the side of the road, and accompanied the emperor into the city.

In the city of Chuzhou today, everyone knows that the emperor is coming.

Even in Fengyang Mansion, which is hundreds of miles away, people from Luzhou Mansion came in the starry night to see the emperor's majesty.

At this time, both sides of the imperial road were lined with people and scholars kneeling to greet the emperor's honor, as well as government officials who had already fled.

The current Chuzhou Mansion is, to be exact, jointly managed by the parliament and the Nanjing Imperial Court.

Listening to the sound of the tsunami in the mountains outside the sedan car and feeling the enthusiasm of the people, Zhu Youzhen, who was sitting in the sedan car, was in a slightly better mood.

"People's hearts, after all, are still in my mind," Zhu Youzhen originally held the dagger in his hand, but slowly let go at this moment.

Crunch.

Suddenly, there was a muffled sound, the frame suddenly stopped, and Chongzhen, who was originally agitated in the carriage, was almost thrown off.

Zhu Youzhen just wanted to ask, only to hear a full voice outside the sedan car.

"Pass on the chief order, all those who enter and leave Chuzhou Mansion need to dismount and settle in a sedan chair and walk into the city!"

With the voice of the guards, more than 100 guards at the city gate, all holding sharp hands, stepped forward and took a sharp step.

For a while, smoke and dust rose everywhere, and the heavy armor was majestic, accompanied by a murderous aura.

These people are the real soldiers of a hundred battles!

Zhu Youzhen gently lifted the sedan curtain and saw the black-armored guards not far away.

Under the Parliament, all the soldiers were dressed in black armor and bright silver, with white armor ropes and jade circlip belts.

Very recognizable.

Zhu Youzhen naturally knows it.

But they actually let me get off the sedan chair and walk into the city?

"What a guts!" Wang Chengen was about to jump to his feet, and he took two steps forward with the soldiers behind him to theorize.

Click!!

The silver spear reached his chest, and immediately fell in front of Wang Chengen, and the commander of the guards said solemnly: "Stop, the chief lord's order, please Emperor Chongzhen get off the sedan chair!" ”

At this moment, everyone is watching this good show at the city gate.

When Wang Qi entered the city, he gave the emperor a dismount.

The dignified emperor of the Ming Dynasty, if he really dismounts and gets off the sedan chair and walks into the city, this will definitely be a heavy blow to the imperial power!

"Your Majesty?" Wang Chengen retreated and bowed down to the sedan chair to ask for instructions.

"Call Zuo Guangdou to come, call Zuo Guangdou to me!!" Zhu Youzhen's voice trembled—it was the tremor of anger and humiliation.

"The minister is here, Your Majesty, the minister is here!" Zuo Guangdou had been following Chongzhen's car, and when he heard Chongzhen's words, he immediately stepped forward: "Please give instructions from Your Majesty!" ”

"What's going on? There's no way I'm going to get out of the car and walk into the city! You go, explain this matter to Wang Qi! This matter is about the dignity of the Ming Dynasty, and I will not give in here! "It is impossible for Zhu Youzhen to get out of the car and walk into the city, if the people on both sides of the avenue see it, one will pass ten to a hundred, and when the time comes, the Son of Heaven of the Ming Dynasty will bow down to a rebellious thief, then doesn't it mean that the Ming Dynasty knelt to the parliament?

No matter what, Chongzhen couldn't let this happen!

"Your Majesty, Rong Weichen stepped forward to inquire," Zuo Guangdou nodded slightly, and then turned around and walked towards the city gate.

"Please inform the Duke of Qi Guogong, the emperor is dignified, not to be insulted, if the people are watching today, please leave a decent place for the emperor!"

Zuo Guangdou's voice was extremely low, and almost only the two of them could hear it.

The commander of the guards lightly pressed the iron helmet on his head with a scabbard, revealing a pair of tiger eyes: "A certain message is the order of the chief lord, if Chongzhen does not get out of the sedan chair today, then wait first."

In the face of the guards who did not enter the oil and salt, Zuo Guangdou felt that it was really a show to meet the soldiers, and it was unreasonable!

"How can this be true? How can it be otherwise!! Zuo Guangdou trembled all over, and his speech was a little unclear.

"Zhizhi," Gao Panlong stepped forward and pulled Zuo Guangdou's sleeve: "We may be able to change the way, not only to save His Majesty's face, but also not to violate the military orders of the Duke of Qi." ”

"Huh?" Zuo Guangdou was stunned: "What way?" ”

"Find a red carpet from the city gates. Spread it directly to the temporary palace mansion, and don't let His Majesty's feet fall to the ground, no, it's okay," Gao Panlong winked.

"What does Your Majesty mean?" Zuo Guangdou took two steps back, away from the guard.

"Your Majesty, I don't want to spend it here. If you can get into town, do so as soon as possible! Gao Panlong frowned, obviously anxious.

"Okay, I'll go look for the red carpet, and I'll bother Mr. to persuade Your Majesty!" Zuo Guangdou had no other way but to give up his hand and turn away.

Not long after, under the amazed gaze of everyone, a red carpet that I didn't know where to find it rolled straight out of the emperor's chariot, rolled directly into the city gate, and went to the temporary palace.

And the emperor, also under the escort of the royal guard of honor, slowly got out of the car, stepped on the red blanket with pointed thick-soled mille-feuille boots, and walked towards the city gate step by step.

Walking step by step, the incomparable sense of humiliation rose in Zhu Youzhen's heart.

From ancient times to the present, how can an emperor be so humiliated by the ministers who stole the country?

————

"My lord, Chongzhen has already entered the city, spread the red carpet on the ground, and arrived all the way to the palace." His own personal guards informed Wang Qi of the situation at the city gate at any time.

Buckling the book in his hand, Wang Qi rinsed his mouth before instructing: "After Chongzhen enters the city and stays in the palace, the people in the city should be free to isolate themselves. Let them see too, how is the emperor? How are the princes? They are just ordinary people who come and go. ”

"Subordinates understand."

Not long after, when Chongzhen arrived at the palace and had not yet rested, Wang Qi's warrant arrived again.

"Pass on the Chief Warrant!"

Standing at the gate of the palace, he read to Chongzhen, who had not yet entered the door: "Emperor Chongzhen stays in the palace, and the people should not be isolated, but they can visit at any time, and at three o'clock in the afternoon tomorrow, the chief lord will meet with His Majesty to discuss the substantive political affairs of the unification of the north and the south." ”

"Your Majesty, please rest," the retinue received the warrant, did not kneel on the ground, did not salute, nodded slightly, and rode away.

"Heaven wants to die, and it will make it !!"

Chongzhen stared at the guards who were leaving, his lips and teeth opened and closed, and his hatred was monstrous.

Chongzhen's entry into Chuzhou Mansion made the world look sideways, and everyone's eyes were staring at the small Chuzhou City.

But at this moment, in the city of Nanjing, which no one pays attention to, on the bank of the Yangtze River in the west, at night, the water is surging.

Qin Erbao and others led more than 1,000 people in the pioneer battalion, and took advantage of the moonlight to arrive at the city of Nanjing.

"This Nanjing city wall, visually measured to be more than 30 meters high, are all rammed with loess, 10 meters up, is the blue brick base, three-layer brick wall, even if it is artillery, it is not easy to break!" Liu Yu, who was familiar with the situation of guarding Nanjing City, was sent out by Wang Shouxin to answer Qin Erbao and others.

"On the city wall, every ten meters, there are three guards, every fifty meters, there is a patrol team, every three hundred meters, there is a garrison flag officer, two shifts every two hours, a total of two shifts."

"It's time for the next shift change," hiding his body among the green trees, Qin Erbao kept using a clairvoyant mirror to check the situation in the city.

"There are still three quarters of an hour to go," Liu Yu looked up, looked at the direction of the wind, and added: "The west wind is blowing today, and the guards on our side of the city wall may be defended in advance, and we can take advantage of this opportunity to take advantage of the favorable terrain."

"After three quarters of an hour, the deputy commander of the king will meet us in the city, and when the city gate is opened, everyone will enter the city without delay!" Qin Erbao turned his head and instructed the adjutant behind him: "Pass the order, this time to capture the city, the first to land, the bounty is 10,000 taels, and the one who captures the flag is also 10,000 taels!! ”

Whew.

The moon is dark and the wind is high, and the northwest is howling.

As November approaches, the weather is getting colder.

The guards on the city wall were now hiding at the battlements, leaning against the charcoal fire, trying to keep warm.

Nanjing City has been accompanying Beijing for more than 200 years, although it is an important financial and tax place of the Ming Dynasty, but its political function is constantly suppressed by Beijing City, and even the salary and armor of the Nanjing garrison have been reduced a lot.

So, how many people can actually defend the city faithfully?

Sleeping on the city wall is enough to be called loyal and patriotic.

"Damn, this emperor is out of the city, and I have to defend the city here dryly, who will I watch it for?" The fire at his feet was about to go out, and Lao Zhao felt that his body was about to freeze.

"You don't have to complain," the old man nestled under the battlement mouth carefully took out the wine jug in his arms, took a sip gently, and then closed his eyes slightly, as if he was savoring the sweetness that entered his mouth

"I have something to do in a while, go first, and when you change the guard, cover up for me," Lao Zhao really couldn't bear it anymore, the fire at his feet had been completely extinguished, and if he stayed like this, he was afraid that he would freeze to death in the city.

"Looking for a good friend again?" The old pawn glanced at Lao Zhao enviously: "The little money on your body, I'm afraid that all of it will be given to that Liu Ruhua, and you won't leave some behind you?" ”

"When a soldier eats food, don't take advantage of this time to be cool and cool, do you regret it when the old brother in the lower body can't be called up again?" Lao Zhao stood up and spat at the city, and in a trance, he seemed to see a group of figures flashing by.

"What the hell?" Lao Zhao frowned slightly, and then untied his brows with relief, and scolded secretly: "Guan Laozi's ball matter? ”

"Let's go!" Lao Zhao nodded to the old soldier, and then tightened the shabby jacket on his body, picked up the long knife, and walked towards the city.

Along the way, the city wall was full of staggering and sleeping, or it was just an old pawn who sneaked away.

Is there any difference between this imperial city and those who don't defend it?

Lao Zhao seemed to be relieved: "Tonight, let's leave early."

Click.

Lao Zhao, who had just walked to the base of the city wall, seemed to really hear the footsteps of a group of people, and hurried towards the city gate.

"From within the city?" Lao Zhao immediately looked like a cat, clinging to the green bricks of the city wall, and then a pair of ears were long erected, listening to the sound of the city gate not far away.

Almost instantly, before Lao Zhao could react.

Suddenly,

A loud bang came from the direction of the drum tower, and then the fire suddenly rose in the sky.

Half of the city of Nanjing was reflected as if it were daytime.

Lao Zhao, who was hiding under the city wall, was like a big girl who had been stripped naked, and was really exposed to the present.

"What's that?"

At this moment, the entire city of Nanjing was awakened, and almost everyone was already in a state of panic and panic.

A voice sounded in everyone's heads: Liaodong called?

"Leave a team of men and horses, and the rest of the people support the drum tower!"

At the position of the city guard, a voice sounded, as if the city defenders were asked to go to the drum tower to rescue.

"Gou Shoufu has an order, and he must not leave his post at will!"

The other spoke out against it.

"I'm an infantry yamen guard! Now I command you to take people to the rescue at once! Something happened, and a certain burden was !! ”

The one who spoke earlier gave an order that could hardly be questioned.

After a few breaths, the one who spoke later seemed to have compromised.

Before Lao Zhao could move, at the entrance of the city gate, a team of soldiers guarding the city had already begun to move, running towards the fire.

Only more than 30 people were left to guard the city gates.

At this time, a team of people had just left, and Lao Zhao looked at the position of the door: more than 100 soldiers in black armor walked out of the darkness, holding bright blades, and killed towards the location of the doorway.

Just a few breaths.

A sneering sound came

It was the sound of a blade entering the body.

In the dark night, it was so harsh, and so palpitating.

"Lisuo, the location of the drum tower can't be delayed for too long, you are ready to open the city gate!!" It's still that familiar voice.

"Collaborator ???" Lao Zhao's eyes widened, not daring to move.

Thundered.

With a heavy sound, the gates were slowly opened.

"Who is opening the gates ????"

At the moment when the city gate sounded, someone on the city tower immediately reacted and wanted to go down to the city to block it.

"Kill Kill Kill !!!"

Outside the city, the matter was already full of murder.

Black armor and bright silver helmet.

The Liaodong army immediately killed.

"Mom," Lao Zhao's legs and stomach were weak, and he couldn't participate in such things.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one found it, he hurriedly ran towards the fireworks alley in the distance.

The old friend is still waiting for him there.

In this matter, Gou Ying, as the first assistant of the cabinet, has naturally woken up from his sleep.

Fang Cai's loud bang could be heard almost in the entire city of Nanjing.

"What's going on? What happened? ”

Gou Ying was a little flustered, and questioned the subordinates who came to report.

"My lord, yes, yes, yes, it was the rebels who killed !!"

"Rebels?" When Gou Ying heard this, he felt that the world was spinning in an instant: "Aren't the rebels in Chuzhou Mansion?" Why did you suddenly appear in Nanjing? ”

The men knelt on the ground and did not speak.

However, anyone with a discerning eye knows that this is Wang Qi's plan to divert the tiger from the mountain.

"Hateful !!" Gou Ying didn't have time to get dressed: "Go, immediately gather all the general-level generals and commanders, and go to the city gate to stop the rebels!" ”

"My lord, there are rebels in the city, and now the Dinghuai Gate and Qingliang Gate have been breached, and the rebels have poured into the city!"

"What?"

When Gou Ying heard this, there was a tingling pain in her brain, and then she didn't react before she fell on her back. (End of chapter)