On March 12, 17th year of Chongzhen, cigarettes were scattered and lights were bright, and the Forbidden City was holding a grand dynasty meeting.

The grand dynasty meetings are usually held only on special days such as the New Year, the emperor’s birthday, the winter solstice, and the Lantern Festival. Today is not a special day, nor is it a festival, but Emperor Chongzhen held a grand dynasty meeting. It was not clear, and the sedan chairs outside the Forbidden City were lined with strings of lanterns, and the neatly dressed officials gathered together, waiting for the court meeting. However, the color of the faces of the officials was either dead gray or ashen, as if they were preparing to go to the execution ground.

Bad news came one after another. Last night, news of the emergency came. Emperor Chongzhen issued an edict overnight, urgently dispatching Liaodong General Wu Sangui, Ji Liao Governor Wang Yongji, Changping General Tang Tong, and Shandong General Liu Zeqing to Beijing to serve the king. However, the edict was issued, and it would have to wait until the morning court today to send it out.

Today's grand dynasty meeting was actually Emperor Chongzhen not only discussed the matter of mobilizing troops to Beijing to serve the king, but also prepared to discuss the matter of hunting the south again. The situation in the north has been decayed, and the capital is in danger. There are Jiannu outside and thieves inside. No matter which side, they may threaten the safety of the capital at any time. What a bullshit emperor guards the national gate, how can he defend it? The position of the capital is too prominent, and the external defense power is too weak. When the country is strong, the emperor guards the national gate can stimulate morale, inspire soldiers to fight bloody battles, kill the enemy and make contributions. But now, the emperor is in danger in the capital.

Emperor Chongzhen had the idea of ​​rushing to Nanjing in the south. If the court meeting could be passed today, he would decide to run away.

"Your Majesty, things are urgent. If you don't go to Nanzhong's home, you may regret it." Zhou Hou also advised Chongzhen to run away quickly.

"Oh, let's wait for the court meeting to see it. If it really doesn't work, just follow the ministers' words and send the prince away first." After all, Emperor Chongzhen could not let go of this face.

A few days ago, on the fourth day of March, Emperor Chongzhen proposed it once, but was blocked by the ministers, especially Chen Yan and Wei Zaode, who firmly opposed it. Chen Yan also signaled the military department to serve the military department. Guang Shiheng. Guang Shiheng stood up at that time and severely condemned Li Mingrui, threatening: "If you don't kill Li Mingrui, it will not be enough to calm the hearts of the people. If you don't kill Li Mingrui, how can you rule the world!"

The southeast was stable, without bandits, no enemy, no vassal kings, no major disasters, and even the pirates were pacified by Zheng Zhilong. It was a scene of a peaceful and prosperous era. The southern hunting was the best choice. However, the ministers went to stop Chongzhen and did not allow Emperor Chongzhen to go south, and advised Chongzhen to send the prince away first.

However, the case of sending the prince away was strongly opposed by Guang Shiheng. He reminded Chongzhen not to forget the story of Emperor Suzong of Tang, Li Heng, ascending the throne. As a result, Chongzhen hesitated again, and he was worried that he would be usurped by the prince like Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

At the beginning of the dynasty meeting, Emperor Chongzhen summoned Wu Xiang and asked for his opinions on letting Wu Sangui go to Beijing to serve the king.

As soon as Wu Xiang spoke, he said that Emperor Chongzhen still owed Guanning Army military pay without paying, hoping to make up for one million taels of silver. Wu Sangui's army naturally gave up Ningyuan and went to Beijing to serve the king.

In desperation, Chongzhen asked again: "How about the imperial edict to order the General of Changping Tang Tong to enter Beijing to serve the king?"

Zhang Jinyan, Minister of War, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Tang Tong has only five thousand soldiers under his command, and it is easy to defend and difficult to attack at Yongguan. If Tong is ordered to enter the capital to serve the king, it is better to let him defend Juyongguan. Zhou Yuji of Ningwu Pass only had three thousand soldiers to block the thieves for ten days, and ordered the thieves to break thieves of 70,000 or 80,000. Tang Tong guards Yongguan and prevents the thieves for one month."

Chongzhen secretly thought in his heart that if Tang Tong could stop the thief army for a month and gain a month, no matter which army of kings was in charge, he should have arrived. So he asked again: "How about Liu Zeqing, Shandong?"

Zhang Jinyan said: "Go back to Your Majesty, Liu Zeqing rejected Li Laoer's thief in Shandong and could not escape for the time being."

The ministers in the court immediately discussed:

"Wu Weibo said he wanted to lead his army north to fight against the thieves as early as February? Why did he become a thief army?"

"Don't say, this person is probably malicious!"

"If this thief enters Beijing, it may be even more thief!"

Emperor Chongzhen was anxious and shouted: "It's nonsense! Wu Wei Bo is loyal to serving the country. He has reported that he was going north to suppress the thieves. A few days ago, he reported that he wanted to go to Beijing to serve the king, but Liu Zeqing blocked the canal and could not go north! He quickly ordered Liu Zeqing to clear the canal and ordered Wu Wei Bo to enter Beijing!"

The ministers fell to their knees:

"Your Majesty, think twice!"

"Your Majesty, Li Laoer looks at the wolf. If you have the appearance of Cao Mengde and Sima Zhongda, you must not let him enter the capital."

"Your Majesty, if you order Li Lao Er to enter Beijing, I am afraid that the Ming soldiers will be relieved!"

"Your Majesty, this person refuses to obey the order. He then went to Zuo Liangyu and Liang Zheng, and now he is attacking Shandong. Everyone knows this thief and unjust minister!"

Just when the court was quarrel, someone came outside to report: "Your Majesty, Zhang Shuheng, the chief flag of Xuanda Jinyiwei, asked for a meeting!"

Emperor Chongzhen turned to Wu Mengming and asked, "Wu Aiqing, is this Zhang Shuheng yours?"

Wu Mengming quickly stood up and knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, it is my husband's person. I sent him to Shanxi to spy on the military information of the thieves."

"Then call him in."

"Zhang Shuheng, the general flag of Xuanjin Yiwei!" The Han generals on both sides shouted in unison.

Zhang Shuheng walked into the square in front of Huangji Gate, and according to the guidance of the little eunuch, he walked to the steps of Emperor Chongzhen and knelt down: "My minister Zhang Shuheng kowtowed to Your Majesty! Long live my emperor!"

"Zhang Aiqing, I heard that you were from Shanxi to spy on the bandits and returned to the capital. Today, you entered the palace. What are the important things to report?"

Zhang Shuheng kowtowed and said, "I reported to Your Majesty that the bandit army has broken Xuanda, and the general of Datong Jiang Xiang surrendered to the enemy! The general of Xuanfu, Wang Chengyin, surrendered to the enemy, and the guerrilla general Wang Fuchen was unwilling to follow the bandits and fled from Datong. Now he is under the control of Weichen. The bandit army is divided into two groups, one by one, one by one, and one by one, and the other goes east to Guguan. The prefect of Zhending Qiu Maohua, the guerrilla Xie Sufu surrendered to the enemy, and the Grand Secretary stationed in Baoding Li Jiantai also surrendered to the enemy! Even if Tang Tong can defend Juyongguan, the bandits from the south come from Baoding, and Juyongguan will not attack and defeat him! I beg Your Majesty to make a quick decision and inspect Jiangnan in the south. If you don't leave, it will be too late!"

"Bold!" Guang Shiheng stood up, pointed at Zhang Shuheng's nose and cursed, "The little Jinyiwei General Banner dares to slander Your Majesty to give up the country and the country! Where is your intention!"

After saying that, Guang Shiheng turned his head and knelt down to Emperor Chongzhen: "I beg your Majesty to kill the thief Zhang so as not to shake the morale of the army!"

Chen Yan also knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the General Banner of the Jinyiwei in the District, has slandered the capital, and I still hope that Your Majesty will not believe his slander!"

"Your Majesty, the bandits are approaching the capital. After returning to the capital, I heard that the plagues in the capital were rampant. Every time there were many dead, the plagues had spread to the Beijing camp. There were many officers and soldiers in the Beijing camp, and I am afraid that the capital would be difficult to defend! Please think twice." Zhang Shuheng said.

At this time, Li Mingrui, who was scared by Chen Yan and Guang Shiheng a few days ago, heard a soulmate and immediately stood up: "Your Majesty, I feel that what Mr. Zhang said is very true! Your Majesty should make a quick decision, give up the capital, and hurry up to the south to hunt Jiangnan."

Zhang Shuheng also said: "Your Majesty, there are three benefits to hunting the south of the Yangtze River. First, the north is in ruins, and the thieves should be allowed to compete with Jiannu; second, the south of the Yangtze River is stable, there are no bandits, no enemy, and there are natural dangers in the Yangtze River to protect the Ming Dynasty. If Your Majesty is not at ease, you can adjust Zheng Zhilong Navy to resist the bandits Jiannu crossing the river! Third, the south of the Yangtze River is rich, and you can hunt Nanjing in the south, and you can have wealth in the south of the Yangtze River and wait for an opportunity to attack the Central Plains in the north."

"Your Majesty, don't believe slander!" Guang Shiheng kowtowed desperately, and then shouted loudly, "The city walls of the capital are as solid as gold, even if the plague is plague, it is not a thief who can break it! If the thief soldiers come to the capital, I am willing to lead the officers and soldiers to the city to resist the enemy!"
Chapter completed!