Autumn of the 17th year of Chongzhen

Chapter 382
After the Qing army entered Guangdong, Zhu Youlang, king of Gui who had just assumed the post of supervisor in Zhaoqing, was instigated by eunuch Wang Kun and fled into Guilin in a hurry despite Qu Shixu's obstruction.

Soon after, the Qing soldiers attacked Guangzhou, and the news that Tang Wang Zhu Yukai was embraced by Guangnan officials and gentry as the supervisor of the country spread to Guangxi. Zhu Youlang, courtier Ding Kuichu and others were shocked when they got the news.

At this time, He Gang, the inspector censor, was ordered by Su Guansheng to come to Guilin to ask Guifan for help, and asked Ding Kuichu and Qu Shixu to send troops to rescue Guangzhou. Zhu Youlang hurriedly summoned him.

He Gang hurriedly boarded the dragon boat on which the King of Gui supervised the country. Under the glow of the lights, Zhu Youlang sat in the middle, the concubine hung behind the curtain, and Ding Kuichu stood beside him.

After He Gang saluted and visited, Ding Kuichu immediately winked at King Gui, and Zhu Youlang straightened his body slightly, and asked straight to the point: "Gu is very happy to hear that the four kings of Tang, Deng, Zhou, and Yi have come to Guang, but since Gu has already taken office Jianguo, the assistant minister Guansheng also submitted a letter of submission, why did he suddenly change his mind and go to support the king of Tang?"

He Gang was speechless for a while. The people of Guangnan expressed their allegiance earlier. Naturally, they hoped that King Gui could carry the banner of resisting the Qing Dynasty and sit in Guangzhou to stabilize people's hearts. However, the Qing army was still thousands of miles away, and King Gui fled in a hurry. Where is it?
After all, He Gang came to ask for reinforcements, so he couldn't say, "It was His Highness who abandoned the people first, so old Su Ge had no choice but to support the King of Tang to stabilize people's hearts."

After a moment of silence, He Gangang saluted and replied: "Reporting to Your Highness, the Qing army surrounded the vast area. Elder Su Ge and General Liu had no choice but to support His Highness King Tang to stabilize people's hearts. Right now, the Qing army is attacking urgently. Guangzhou It is the only fertile land left in the Ming Dynasty, and there must be no loss. I think that this is not a time when the same surnames are fighting, and I ask your highness to take the overall situation into consideration and send troops to rescue first. After repelling the Qing soldiers, it will not be too late to determine the order ~"

At this time, after Nanming lost Jiangnan and Fujian, the only relatively affluent place was Guangdong. The remaining lands of Guizhou, Guangxi, and Yunnan had many chieftains, many mountains and few lands, and they were so poor that they did not ask the court for money. Money, oh Amitabha, if Guangzhou is really lost, then Nanming's finances will never turn around again.

Once the imperial government's finances collapsed, they could only increase taxes, which would cause the people's hearts to slip away. A loss of people's hearts would definitely make the war unfavorable.

The land of Guangzhou must be saved, but Zhu Youlang didn't want to help the king of Tang who threatened his status, so he couldn't make up his mind for a while, so he looked at Ding Kuichu who was on the side. Ding Kuichu immediately stepped forward and said to He Gang: "The matter of sending troops, It's not impossible, but the king of Tang must go to the position of supervisor first before His Highness will send troops."

Seeing this, Zhu Youlang nodded and echoed: "Ding Qing's words are reasonable. He Qing can write a letter to Suge Ministry. As long as he makes Tang Wang abdicate, he will send troops to rescue him in isolation."

He Gang was disappointed when he heard what the two said. Now that the Qing army is besieging Gong on three sides, Guangzhou is all supported by one breath. How can the king of Tang abdicate at this time?

He Gang had no choice but to prevaricate and leave. He quietly left Guilin that night and went to Hunan to ask for reinforcements.

The fact that Guangzhou supports the establishment of the King of Tang is already an undoubted fact, and the regime of King Gui, who fled to Guilin, fell into chaos.

A few days later, Qu Shixu, who had gone to Nanning to rectify the army, came to Guilin, and Zhu Youlang hurriedly summoned him.

At this time, Zhu Youlang also realized to some extent how stupid he was to listen to the eunuch's words and flee in a hurry. Not only did he lose the support of the people in Guangdong, but also made some officials who were disappointed with him fall to the king of Tang. .

When Qu Shiqi entered the hall to meet him, Zhu Youlang quickly asked, "Aiqing, the fact that the King of Tang was established in Guangzhou is already certain. Since ancient times, there have been no two days in the sky, and there have been no two masters in the country. Today, if there is no war, there will be peace. The two will come out safely." ?”

One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. Song Taizu said "how can others sleep soundly on the side of the couch", which has already expressed the thoughts of all the superiors.

Qu Shixu heard that King Gui had already intended to compete with Guangzhou, but now that the enemy was at hand, it was not the time to tear up his face with Guangzhou.

"Your Highness, the Qing army has not retreated at the moment, and it is definitely not a time of disputes of the same surname. I think that Your Highness should return Zhaoqing first, and take the throne to belong to the hearts of the people." , the Ming Dynasty is orthodox, as long as you return to Zhaoqing, tidy up the people's hearts, and ascend to the throne as soon as possible, you will surely make Guangnan return. Regarding the matter of the Tang Dynasty, Your Highness does not have to worry about it. He is trapped in Guangzhou, and he is acting as your Highness's captive! After your Highness returns to Zhaoqing, you can First win over many governors and ministers and get the approval of the local officials. Don't have any conflicts with Guangzhou for the time being. If the Qing army retreats, His Highness will get the support of the provinces. Guangzhou, a city, naturally cannot compete with His Highness. If the Qing army does not retreat, Guangzhou If you are in danger for a long time, you must ask His Highness, and His Highness can order Tang Wang to abdicate and return to the vassal, and the position of Datong also belongs to His Highness!"

"Good~" After listening to Zhu Youlang, he suddenly realized, and said happily: "The Qing family is really a minister of the country! I have decided to go back to Zhaoqing according to the Qing family's wishes~"

On the outskirts of Guangzhou, on the grassy field, the autumn wind blows, blowing the waist-high wild grass and swaying with the wind. Among the grass, there is a piece of newly turned land with a radius of about ten miles. On the fresh soil , filled with summoning flags and spiritual flags, and pieces of paper money with round holes scattered on the ground.

In Guangzhou in September, it seemed that there was a heavy snowfall. The spiritual flag was like a tree branch covered with snowflakes, and the paper money blown by the wind was like heavy snow flying all over the sky.

"The soul is back~ The soul is back~"

Hundreds of thousands of Guangnan soldiers and civilians died in the battle of the Qing army's invasion of Guangdong in August of the second year of Longwu.

His Royal Highness Tang Wang and Su Guansheng, together with the Guangzhou gentry, came to the cemetery where tens of thousands of people were buried together after the war, to pay homage to the souls of the dead and to comfort people's hearts.

There are more than ten cemeteries like this outside the city of Guangzhou. In the cemetery in front of Tang Wang and his party, soldiers and civilians who died in battle were buried. There are more than [-] new graves on the newly turned ground.

At this time, more than a dozen upright Taoist priests were ringing bells, shuttling between the tombs, chanting the words of transcendence, "Death and death on and off the battlefield, the hero who is destined to return to the camp, and the hero who is not destined to throw himself into the nine springs, sacrificed his life for the country." Bamboo and silk, the name of the universe, the filial piety and loyalty of the generation, the night is hard to escape, the lonely soul is the most pitiful, the fragrant flowers welcome back to the imperial altar ~ the soul returns to its original place after thousands of miles ~"

Tang Wang looked at the scene in front of him, and couldn't help saying to Su Guansheng: "This battle has seriously damaged the vitality of the eastern part of Guangdong. I'm afraid it will take a few years to recover to its original appearance~"

Su Guansheng's thinking was much more complicated than that of the Tang king. "Guangnan has been peaceful for a long time. Before the Qing soldiers entered Guangxi, except for some scholars, most of the country gentry and great merchants were not concerned about the war. They felt that it was very far away. Now they have experienced This battle is also good, although many people died, but it also woke up the Guangnan people~"

King Tang nodded, instead of continuing the topic just now, he asked, "I heard that King Gui is planning to return to Zhaoqing. I don't know what the old man is going to do with it?"

Su Guansheng's face grew angry and said: "Your Highness, don't worry about this matter. Your Highness led the army and people to fight against the Qing army. King Gui didn't do anything for the Guangnan people. Now even if His Highness doesn't want to fight with him, the Guangnan people will not agree~"

Tang Wang heard the words, with a worried expression on his face, "I don't know, how is your majesty's situation? If your majesty is safe and sound, I don't have to fall into such a dilemma!"

(Two updates today, before eleven o'clock in the next chapter, thanks to Qin Songwang, Yuedong Woxin for the reward, Xiao Xiaoan, whj7105, book friend 55524 for the monthly pass, and thanks to the descendants of Ziye Sanlang for the gift.)
(End of this chapter)