Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 13 Tongzhou City

Zhu Youjian seemed to have heard the hooves of Li Zicheng's army.

It seemed that the shouts of killing were approaching.

Not only he is like this, but other people are also like this. Some people are already fighting with their legs in fear, while others are trembling directly.

Even some horses became restless and snorted.

At this time, everyone looked at their Emperor Zhu Youjian.

Even the chief minister of the cabinet like Fan Jingwen and the Minister of the Ministry of War like Li Banghua gathered around Zhu Youjian, regardless of the fact that this would expose His Majesty Zhu Youjian's whereabouts.

Prosecutor Zhu You breathed a sigh of relief, and could only forcefully suppress the uneasiness in his heart.

He knew that he could only act fearlessly in the face of danger, otherwise the entire team retreating south would have been frightened to death before seeing the army of thieves.

"Your Majesty, what should I do now?"

Several important ministers seemed to have lost their minds.

"What are you panicking about! You are either the cabinet ministers or the six ministers. Where is your usual composure? It's just a group of thieves approaching, so you panicked like this! If Yu Shaobao was like you back then, I would have died early in the morning! "

Zhu Youjian couldn't help scolding these important ministers.

However, Li Banghua, Minister of the Ministry of War, has always been an impatient person, and he couldn't help but blush after hearing this: "The humble minister is incompetent, not as good as Shaobao in the past, but the loyalty of the humble minister is not under the Shaobao. Today, the humble minister will protect your majesty with flesh and blood. !"

Li Banghua drew out his long knife as he spoke.

The same is true for other officials, all of whom were in a rush of enthusiasm, saying that they would escort Zhu Youjian.

Unexpectedly, some officials couldn't even wield their swords, and they accidentally fell to the ground as soon as they drew their swords.

Some soldiers couldn't help laughing.

Even Zhu Youjian couldn't help laughing in surprise: "How can a group of frail scholars escort you!"

As he said that, Zhu Youjian summoned a group of civil and military officials: "Listen, here are three points:

First, send an order to rest on the spot for half a quarter of an hour, drink water and eat something to rest your stomach, and run forward immediately after half a quarter of an hour;

Second, immediately pass on my will to Tongzhou, and order the crown prince and son-in-law captain Gong Yonggu, as well as Tongzhou Bingdao to strengthen the city defenses, prepare to pick them up, and tell them that I have brought an army of 20, or [-]. , to exaggerate a little, in order to settle the hearts of Tongzhou officials and people;

Third, except for the cavalry, all Jinyiwei and Dongchang fanzi got off their horses, and the weak and accompanying palace maids got on their horses, and those who couldn't ride a horse got on my cart. "

With that said, Zhu Youjian also got off the horse, and led the horse directly to the back, picked up a court lady, and threw it on the carriage.

The maid was so frightened that she wanted to come down, Zhu Youjian directly yelled angrily: "This is my will, anyone who dares to violate it will be killed!"

For a moment, everyone did not dare to disobey, and dismounted one after another, letting the weak mount their horses.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid this move is against etiquette and not in line with dignity," Ni Yuanlu, who has been transferred to Zuodu Censor, could not help persuading.

"Use extraordinary methods in extraordinary times. If Ni Aiqing dares to say more, I don't mind continuing to use your head to show off!"

Zhu Youjian directly pointed the Xiuchun knife in his hand at Ni Yuanlu, and Ni Yuanlu had to obey the order.

Zhou Yuji has arranged for people to go to Tongzhou to convey Zhu Youjian's will.

After half a quarter of an hour, Zhu Youjian immediately shouted: "Run!"

Suddenly, the sound of horseshoes and footsteps sounded loudly on the ground.

About two quarters of an hour later, Tongzhou City finally appeared in front of everyone.

Panting, Zhu Youjian couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw Tongzhou City, but he didn't let everyone stop, and still ordered to continue running until he ran into Tongzhou City.

However, at this moment, behind Zhu Youjian and others, there was a rumbling sound like drumming.

"Your Majesty, it's an army of thieves!"

Someone yelled, and Zhu Youjian couldn't help but look back, and sure enough, he found a dense group of intruders wearing red scarves behind a steep slope about [-] paces away.

"Zhou Yuji, take a thousand riders and block them!"

Zhu Youjian gave the order without even thinking about it.

Zhou Yuji reacted quickly, and immediately turned his horse's head: "Zhou's sons and daughters of the Jiazi Battalion, follow me to kill the enemy escort, kill!"

"kill!"

Immediately, Zhou Yuji took a thousand of his family members to roll up the wild sand and killed the army of intruders in front.

However, the army of intruders can be regarded as elite soldiers with rich experience in actual combat. When they saw cavalry rushing, they immediately shot bows and arrows to block them.

However, the cavalry on Zhou Yuji's side were also extremely fast, they rushed into the camp of the bandits despite the rain of arrows, and began to slash and kill wildly.

Zhu Youjian didn't care about the shouting behind him, but ordered the team to continue running.

At this time, the gate of Tongzhou City was also wide open, and the suspension bridge was lowered.

Zhu Youjian and others entered the city one after another.

After everyone entered the city, seeing that the defenders of Tongzhou City were about to put down the suspension bridge and close the city gate, Zhu Youjian ordered directly:
"Don't shut it down yet. Chief Zhou is a brave general. His Jiazi Battalion is his elite servant. He should be able to escape and return to the city. Beat the drums and order him to withdraw immediately!"

Suddenly, the drums rang loudly.

Hearing this, Zhou Yuji knew that His Majesty had entered the city safely and hurriedly left behind a hundred cavalry, while he quickly entered the city gate with the remaining [-] cavalry.

The gates of the city were immediately closed, and the drawbridge was closed.

The remaining one hundred cavalry were also swallowed up by the army of thieves.

When the army of intruders approached Tongzhou City, the defenders of Tongzhou City did not surrender directly because His Majesty Zhu Youjian was here, and because of the Ningwuguan officers and soldiers brought by Zhou Yuji.

And the [-] army of thieves could only watch helplessly as the gate of Tongzhou City was closed.

……

At this time, Zhu Youjian had already entered the governor's office of the warehouse.

And also changed back to the dragon robe.

Zhou Yuji, covered in blood, also appeared in front of Zhu Youjian at this time, and Zhu Youjian patted Zhou Yuji's shoulder: "Aiqing is full of courage!"

However, now is not the time for Zhu Youjian to encourage Zhou Yuji, so after Zhu Youjian said something, he directly shouted at the officials lined up outside the gate.

"Where are the governor of Cangchang and the deputy envoy of Bingbeidao?"

Two officials stood up.

"The governor of the warehouse, Xue De, has just met His Majesty!"

"Zhang Lun, deputy envoy of military preparations, has seen His Majesty!"

Zhu Youjian saw that these two people could still speak clearly, and their bodies did not tremble, which showed that they still had some courage, and felt a little relieved, and hurriedly ordered:

"Listen to the order! Governor Xue Degang of Cangchang immediately assist His Royal Highness Zhu Cihong, Prince Consort Gong Yonggu, and Admiral He Xin of the Beijing Camp to immediately ship the grain stored in Tongzhou and the supplies brought from Beijing to Tianjinwei! It will be completed within five days. At the same time, Zhang Lun, deputy envoy of military preparations, and Uncle Ning Wu, Zhou Yuji are guarding Tongzhou City together!"

After finishing speaking, Zhu Youjian also decided to hold an emergency meeting at the Governor's Office of Cangchang after half a day's rest, so as to determine the next southward evacuation route!

(End of this chapter)