Only later did Zhu Cixiang learn that the Dashun army that arrived outside Beijing on the 16th was not the one led by Li Zicheng himself, but the more than ten thousand cavalry led by Liu Zongmin who had detoured from the direction of Zhending.

Both Liu Zongmin and Liu Fangliang were used as partial divisions by Li Zicheng, and they advanced across Taihang one after another. Liu Fangliang divided his troops with Li Zi in Pingyang, while Liu Zongmin divided his troops with Li Zi in Taiyuan. Among the two partial divisions, the actions of Liu Zongmin's division were more important.

Quickly, we arrived in the west of Beijing on the afternoon of the 16th.

The Diaoyutai and Yuyuantan areas, about five miles away from Fucheng Gate, had built a large number of villas for the capital's dignitaries, so they had long been selected by Song Xiance, Li Zicheng's founding military advisor, as the residence where Li Zicheng would command the siege of Beijing. Therefore, Liu Zongmin arrived in the west of Beijing.

After that, they first sent people to occupy the Diaoyutai and set fire to some houses near the Diaoyutai. On the one hand, they used it to frighten the defenders in Beijing; on the other hand, they sent a signal to Li Zicheng's main force moving from the north to the south.

After occupying the Diaoyutai, Liu Zongmin led his troops to bypass the walls of Beijing and go north to Shahe to meet Li Zicheng. For some reason, there was still a Ming army stationed on Shahe, with only 3,000 people in total, and the troops were led by another Beijing battalion.

Chief Rong, Xiangcheng Bo Li Guozhen (after he left the city, Zhu Chunchen took over his duties).

How could these Beijing camp soldiers dare to fight Liu Zongmin's cavalry? They simply came and fled. However, Li Guozhen, who commanded them, was a stupid and loyal minister. He neither surrendered nor ran to Tongzhou or Tianjin, but took a few

The servant ran to Beijing.

When I ran outside Desheng Gate, I found that the city gate was blocked, so I had to go around the city. In the early morning of March 17, the 17th year of Chongzhen, I entered the Chaoyang Gate on the east side of the inner city of Beijing in panic.

But in the Wengcheng at Chaoyangmen, Li Guozhen, who had despaired of the Ming Dynasty and couldn't figure out why he wanted to enter the city, saw an incredible scene.

There is actually a real army in Chaoyangmen Wengcheng!

And he's a cavalryman!

There were not many in number, but there were more than 300 strong men - some were old men, but they looked like they had been in the killing array! Putting on the battle coats and armor, the murderous aura could not be blocked at all.

In addition to these armored soldiers, there are also a large number of carriages and horses gathered in Wengcheng. The various carriages are filled with luggage. The coachmen are guarding beside their respective carriages. There are also many pure troops around.

Get off patrol and guard the carriage and luggage.

Seeing this, even Li Guozhen, who was not very smart, understood that the brainless emperor finally got the idea and was ready to abandon the city and escape...

"But Uncle Xiangcheng?"

Just when Li Guozhen was thinking about going home and tidying up so that he could escort him to escape, a military general in his twenties, who looked quite powerful and spoke Liao dialect suddenly strode up to him and bowed his hands.

"Ah, I am Uncle Xiangcheng, you are..." Li Guozhen did not remember that there was such a hero in his own camp.

Although Li Guozhen himself did not know how to fight, he still had a sharp eye and could see the murderous aura in this guy at a glance.

"Wu Sanfu, the deputy general of the Kenan Camp under the official command! In accordance with the order of the Governor of Fujun, the Military Affairs Crown Prince, he wants to requisition the general's servants. Please ask the general to keep his servants and go to Fuchengmen Wengcheng to see the crown prince!"

It turned out that it was Wu Sanfu who stopped Li Guozhen. After announcing the requisition of Li Guozhen's servants, he handed over a copy of the prince's decree.

"What? The Governor of Fujun, the Prince of Zhili Military Affairs..." Li Guozhen, who was handsome and had very big eyes, listened to Wu Sanfu's words, and his eyes were as wide as copper bells.

The prince is only sixteen years old, and he has always been honest. I have never heard of him being cruel and cunning. How can he be the governor of the army and directly under the control of military affairs?

Could it be that... the Holy One has already run away and left the capital to the Crown Prince?

Thinking of this, Li Guozhen couldn't help complaining about Chongzhen in his heart... If you want to run away, you have to take this count with you! My ancestors were heroes in both the founding of the country and the peace and stability of the country! How loyal!

Seeing that he was in a daze, Wu Sanfu quickly reminded him: "General, please go to Fuchengmen to see us... Military affairs are urgent, don't delay."

"Oh..." Li Guozhen finally realized what he was doing. Just as he was about to greet his servants, he remembered that Wu Sanfu said he wanted to requisition his servants... Isn't this inappropriate?

"General Wu Shen," Li Guozhen said with a frown, "all of my servants have been with me for many years... If the prince wants to use it, I'm afraid he won't be able to use it, right?"

"It doesn't matter!" Wu Sanfu waved his hand, "Brother Xiangcheng, please go to Fuchengmen. Your old servant will comfort you."

As he spoke, he took another edict from his entourage and shouted loudly to the entourage behind Li Guozhen: "The governor of Fujun directly under the command of the Crown Prince of Military Affairs has issued an edict. All capital commanders are brave and willing to serve in the army, and their martial arts skills

Those who are superb, good at riding and shooting or skilled in handling fire guns will all be awarded the title of hero for overcoming difficulties, and will be incorporated into the East Palace Pro-Army Overcoming Difficulties Camp. They will be given fifty acres of farmland in the south of the Yangtze River, rewarded with twenty taels of silver and ten taels in advance, and will be sent to Tianjin.

Then I will give another ten taels, and those who have official status will be immediately increased by two levels of official status..."

The benefits that should be given are all given at once! Boxes of white money were brought out, and when the lid was opened, the silver light was dazzling immediately!

When he saw the silver, Li Guozhen was even more dumbfounded. Where did the silver come from? He first gave away ten taels for every brave move... He brought more than 200 people and immediately gave away more than two thousand taels! Where did the prince get the silver?

"Uncle Xiangcheng!" Wu Sanfu roared again, "Hurry up and give your people the order! Do you want to disobey the prince's order? The Holy One has given Shang Fang the sword. Princes and below must behead first and then report!"

Princes and below... Li Guozhen took a breath and became even more convinced that there are only princes in Beijing now, not saints!

Since the prince was the eldest, he did not dare to resist the order, so he quickly handed over his servants to Wu Sanfu, and then took only a few followers and flew towards Fuchengmen. When passing by Huangqiang North Street and Fuchengmen Street,

At that time, Li Guozhen saw a large number of brave men from the capital lining up to recruit soldiers.

How is this going?

There are people actually recruiting to be soldiers!

Could it be that the people in the capital suddenly remembered the two hundred years of benevolence of the Ming Dynasty?

With a lot of questions, Grand Earl Li Guozhen quickly rushed to Fuchengmen, but he did not see Zhu Cixiang immediately, but saw Zhu Chunchen, who was wearing a helmet and armor and was panting while walking. Zhu Chunchen was now wearing the clothes of his ancestor Zhu Nengliu.

The armor underneath was so heavy! It weighed dozens of kilograms and he could hardly walk!

Even if you can’t walk, you have to walk! Because Zhu Cixiang issued an edict, asking him to take his servants, all put on armor and weapons, and patrol the west wall of the inner city of Beijing!

While patrolling, he also loudly announced the good news that Prince Zhu Cixiang was coming to the battle to support the army and distribute heavy rewards!

If he dares not to execute it, kill him with Shang Fang’s sword!

After a few hours, his calves and calves were cramped. Now that he saw Li Guozhen coming, Zhu Chunchen even cried.

"Uncle Xiangcheng, it's great that you're here! You're still wearing armor... That's great. Please patrol the city for me! I'm almost exhausted... You are also the commander-in-chief, so you can patrol the city for me."

As he spoke, Zhu Chunchen sat down on the ground, breathing heavily.

"This, this, this... what's going on?" Li Guozhen looked at Zhu Chunchen in surprise, "Is Duke Cheng Guo going to the city to kill the bandit himself?"

"What kind of thief are you killing?" Zhu Chunchen wiped his tears, "It's all my fault that my life is miserable. I was sent by the Holy Master to assist the prince... The prince is on the tower, what else can I do? I can only risk my life to accompany him? And he is still

We sent out a mission to patrol the city to distribute rewards. I have been busy since last night and am almost exhausted..."

Of course he was tired! Zhu Cixiang was waiting for him to generously donate two to three hundred thousand taels! But this Duke is a hard-core man who never gets rid of anything. It would be strange if he didn't die of exhaustion!

"Wait a minute, you said the reward...how much reward will be given?" Li Guozhen asked hurriedly, "When I entered the city just now, I saw brave men queuing up to apply on the north wall of the imperial city and Fuchengmen Street. By the way...I

The servants who were brought back were also detained by a Chaoyang ginseng general with the prince's decree. What's going on?"

"Oh, what else can happen?" Zhu Chunchen said with a mournful face, "It's just a gangster under the heavy reward! If you can get it, I will give you a reward of 20 taels of silver, and what kind of meritorious title will you give me, Jiangnan Farm, and be incorporated into the Kenan Camp?
Chapter completed!