golden scales

Jiang Yueguang finally met Emperor Chongzhen. .

Wu Zhen had a long discussion with Jiang Yueguang that day, and Jiang Yueguang didn't hide anything, and told the truth about the attitude of the important ministers in the south.Naturally, these news were quickly sent to Dengzhou, because Zhu Cihong landed in Dengzhou and returned to Laizhou.

Since Zhu Cihong didn't want to be a rebellious minister like Mao Mang, of course he couldn't deliberately prevent Jiang Yueguang from meeting His Majesty the Emperor.Otherwise, with the IQ of the Nanchens, maybe they would really do something like "Qingjun's side".However, after grasping the trend in the south of the Yangtze River, Zhu Cihong felt relieved. Apparently, the south was still struggling with low IQ. The Donglin Party was clamoring to send troops north to meet Shengjia, but Fengyang Governor Ma Shiying, who held military power, was not a fool.

So Ma Shiying sent Song Yingxing to Laizhou with Jiang Riguang to see what happened to the emperor.

Emperor Chongzhen wanted to see Jiang Riguang a long time ago, but he didn't agree immediately because of his son's emotions.In order to appease Jiang Riguang, Chongzhen asked someone to find a singer in the palace and sang a Kunshan accent.Jiang Yueguang was among a group of honorable relatives, and he also attended and listened to the music, and saw Chongzhen from a distance.

This undoubtedly shows that the emperor is now in good health and emotionally stable.

When Jiang Yueguang returned to the official post, he immediately ordered someone to send a letter to Nanjing to report the news.It's just that he also mixed in some private goods, explaining that Emperor Chongzhen's arrangement of Kunshan accent means that "the emperor may have a wish to go south but it cannot be done."This undoubtedly greatly stimulated the Donglin Party, which prides itself on its loyal ministers, sending memorials one after another, expressing their willingness to spend all their wealth and welcome the emperor to go south.

"It's nothing more than a show of loyalty. At this time, I still don't forget to impeach Ma Shiying for supporting the army and refusing to serve the king." Zhu Cihong couldn't help laughing after reading these memorials.

Sun Chuanting said: "Your Highness, Donglin is nothing to worry about. The ones who should be worried are the generals under Fengdu." He said with a lot of emotion: "Song Yingxing is the envoy of Fengdu, but even the guards are borrowed from Jiang Yueguang. This is Ma Shiying. I intend to tell the imperial court: It is difficult for him to dispatch another soldier."

Zhu Cilang said with a smile: "I have ruled the military with literature and martial arts for 200 years, but the current governor does not even dare to put up a badge. Do you still need to use such code words?"

Sun Chuanting didn't seem to be joking, and said seriously: "Your Highness, if it is on the list, I'm afraid someone will rebel immediately."

Zhu Cihong was excited, and said seriously: "Suspicion has been a taboo for monarchs and ministers since ancient times."

Of course, Sun Chuanting knew how serious it was to accuse someone of treason, but he couldn't ignore it both publically and privately.Sun Chuanting was about to say something, but Zhu Cihong said again: "Of course I believe in Governor Sun! When the country is peaceful, there are people who rebel, let alone in today's troubled times. Some people think that it is nothing if they have thousands of soldiers in their hands. It’s also commonplace.”

Sun Chuanting heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that he would be wrong, and felt a warm current in his heart.

"Liu Zeqing's soul was broken by Luo Yukun; Gao Jie fled all the way, but his foundation is not stable. These two teams must not dare to mess around. As for Huang Degong and Liu Liangzuo, does Sun Du know?"

"Huang Degong is a man of bravery and little strategy. He is a general rather than a good commander." Sun Chuanting said, "If it is said that he will commit rebellion, I don't think so. But if someone deceives him with righteousness, he is very easy to be fooled."

Zhu Cihong smiled and said, "It seems like a reckless person."

Sun Chuanting also laughed and said: "Exactly." After a pause, Sun Chuanting said again: "I don't know much about Liu Liangzuo, but he is an important general under Feng Du's command and has hundreds of thousands of troops. If Ma Shiying is afraid, he should It's on this person."

Zhu Cihong asked, "Where are you stationed now?"

"Shou County."

Zhu Cihong stood up and said, "It's beyond the reach of the whip."

"I'm also at a loss in how to separate myself." Sun Chuanting said: "Now that the Qing soldiers occupy Yanjing, Li Zicheng fled to the west. Our army still needs to consolidate Shandong, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to cope with the south."

Zhu Cihong asked again: "If someone really has a heart of rebellion, what will he do?"

Sun Chuanting pondered for a while: "Support the new master."

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, it was not easy to become a king on your own.Only poor and white rebels like Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong would do it as a last resort.Even so, Li Zichengfei also hoped that there would be a canonization from the imperial court and a smooth transition, which would help him gain righteous support and reduce the resistance of scholars.

Those generals who hold military power, even if they really want to rebel, they have to weigh their own weight, so that they can think about what will happen if they are defeated.Considering these two aspects, instead of raising the flag to rebel by yourself, it is better to set up a puppet, which is simple and safe, and has a lot of room for maneuver. At critical moments, it can be thrown out as a substitute for the dead.

Thinking of those messy things in Nanming, Zhu Cilang lamented in his heart.If it wasn't for Nanming's wasting his strength in internal fighting, how could the Manchu Qing occupy this great country?Unexpectedly, Emperor Chongzhen was still in power, and the dark tide was so turbulent.

The two were falling into silence, Wu Zhen walked over quickly and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, Your Majesty has come out."

Only now did Zhu Cihong check the crown prince's uniform, stretched his facial muscles, and greeted him.

Chongzhen came out of the inner palace with King Ding and King Yong. When he saw Zhu Cihong, he walked straight forward without saying a word.Zhu Cilang knew that the imperial father had a grudge against him, so he could only follow behind, ranking above the second king.Chongzhen seemed to be able to feel a pressure coming from behind, but he regretted in his heart: whether it was because he brought his sons to attend the court meeting that the eldest son was so early-witted.

In the lobby of Laizhou Mansion, the original yamen servants were replaced by the ministers who fled here with Shengjia, and they were divided into two shifts.Following Wang Cheng'en's shout, all civil servants bowed to the ground and greeted the emperor.Chongzhen sat on the throne in the middle, looked around, and saw Jiang Riguang.

Zhu Cihong also looked at the old man, but more energy was on how to develop and utilize these accompanying ministers.These educated people have somewhat higher comprehension than the illiterate, not to mention that they are all two-ranked Jinshi and have been in the officialdom for so many years.Sometimes he really hopes that he has enough evidence in his hand to send them one by one to teach in villages and elementary schools.

But even if he did, the emperor would not agree.In the eyes of the emperor, these courtiers are his last supporters, and they are also loyal and talented people, how can they be released easily?

"Your Majesty is also requested to return to the court and return to the throne as soon as possible, so as to calm people's hearts." Jiang Yueguang stepped forward and said.

Emperor Chongzhen's face was radiant, and he asked immediately: "All the ministers in the southern capital are already preparing to welcome you? Are you going by land or by water?"

Zhu Cihong sneered in his heart: With those talkers in Nanjing, you still expect them to organize an army to welcome the king?It would be nice if you don't rush to surrender.

Sure enough, Jiang Yueguang's face froze, and he said: "If Your Majesty Nanxing is lucky, as long as there is an imperial edict, all the ministers in Nanjing will naturally focus on the matter."

Chongzhen's face darkened, and he said: "So, there are no soldiers and horses to welcome you."

Jiang Yueguang hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Zuozhen has 20 soldiers, and Fengdu has another 20 soldiers! If Your Majesty is fortunate in the south, how can there be no soldiers?"

Chongzhen looked at Zhu Cihong.Although he didn't want to believe that his son was coercing the emperor to command the princes, he had to believe in one fact: if the crown prince didn't nod, Sheng Jia would never be able to leave Laizhou mansion.

"Your Majesty Father issued an order to the king of Qin, the soldiers and horses of the world as early as February," Zhu Cihong coughed dryly. "Leaving Beijing in March, he even issued an order to the officials of the southern capital to welcome King Qin and guard the key passes. Now, even the soldiers of the Southern Army The pawns didn’t even see it, so how can I announce the luck of the south? It’s a last resort to take the water route, so how can I take the risk again? If I take the land route, there are no soldiers to guard, no palace to stay, no food and grass to support, and there are many bandits along the way, how can I get there? ?”

Jiang Yueguang was taken aback by the crown prince's question, and said: "I'm going north along the way, and the road is fairly safe."

Zhu Cihong laughed.

At this moment, there was no need for the crown prince to say anything, all the officials standing in the hall raised their voices one after another, which immediately made Jiang Riguang red-faced and embarrassed.If it wasn't for his physical and mental health, he might have been blocked and died of a sudden heart attack long ago.

"It's too rough." Zhu Cihong said in a low voice, but deliberately let the emperor hear clearly.

Chongzhen was immediately extremely disappointed with Jiang Riguang, and felt that it would be a waste of time to sit down any longer.

"Father," Zhu Cihong suddenly said to the emperor who was about to pull away, "Jiang Yueguang's words are also reasonable. As long as Father is not in Nanjing to discuss politics, the people of the world will be restless."

The hall suddenly fell silent.

"However, the roads are impassable and the guards are insufficient, so His Majesty the Father can't hurry up to drive. My son thinks that we can send a reliable eunuch to serve as Nanjing's garrison eunuch to coordinate the meeting." Zhu Cihong said.

Jiang Yueguang didn't expect that the crown prince would speak for himself, but after thinking about it, he suspected that this was the crown prince's intention to install cronies in Nanjing.