When he heard that there were more than 100 ships, 1,000 cannons, 2,000 navy officers and soldiers, 2,000 sailors, and 1,000 guards, Zhu Cixiang's mood immediately improved.

"Are there still many soldiers and horses in the Tianjin Acropolis?" Zhu Cixiang asked again with a smile.

"My father has a thousand soldiers under his command, and Cao Youyi, the commander-in-chief of Tianjin, has four thousand soldiers." Feng Kaizhang replied, "When I left Tianjin, my father was reorganizing the troops and sent orders to Dagu to transfer Su Guansheng and Shen Tingyang. The navy followed the Wei River to Tianjin Acropolis."

"Well, Feng Yuanyang is indeed a loyal minister of the country." While praising Governor Feng, Zhu Cixi called to the East Palace guard Yingqian Commander Wang Qi to come up and help him dismount.

It seems that Prince Zhu still lacks training! He has only galloped for more than thirty miles, and now his legs are sore, his buttocks are sore, and he cannot dismount by himself.

"You three, come with me!" After finally getting off his horse, Zhu Cihong waved to Wei Zaode, Song Quan, and Feng Kaizhang, and then limped toward the carriage where Emperor Chongzhen and Queen Zhou were riding.

Chongzhen and Zhou Hou were riding in an ordinary two-wheeled carriage. The wheels were nailed with iron rings and were very sturdy. However, the Gai Zhen sitting in the back of the carriage looked very shabby, without any trace of luxury, just ordinary. It leads to a private carriage soliciting passengers.

Using this carriage to pull Chongzhen and Zhou Hou, it was Wu Xiang who obviously put some thought into it - in case of danger, this carriage would not only be able to run away, but also have a small target.

Standing beside the carriage were two beautiful women in their early thirties, dressed in blue cloth. They were maids from the Qianqing Palace. One was named Wei Qinghui and the other was named Wu Wanrong. They were both with Empress Zhou at that time. Those who were drafted into the palace were just unlucky and were not selected as concubines. They just acted as palace servants. However, they had served Chongzhen for more than ten years. Not only did they know the integrity of Chongzhen, they were also quite trustworthy.

They both followed him during the escape, guarding Chongzhen loyally.

Seeing Zhu Cixiang coming, the two palace officials made a blessing ceremony, and then made an announcement. Empress Zhou's voice came from the carriage: "Lift up the curtain."

Upon hearing this, a palace official named Wei Qinghui opened the curtain, and Chongzhen and Zhou Hou, who were wearing commoners, sat side by side inside.

Chongzhen's face was ugly, his eyes were dull, and there were some tears on his face. Zhou Hou was okay, there was actually a relaxed expression on his pretty face.

"My son, I respectfully wish that my father, the emperor, may be my queen." Zhu Cixiang quickly saluted Chongzhen and the Queen of Zhou.

Song Quan's eyes swept across Emperor Chongzhen's face, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

This Emperor Chongzhen is real!

He was the governor of Shuntian. He was a censor in Beijing before, so he could often see the emperor. So he recognized him at a glance... Emperor Chongzhen was really rescued by the prince, and he was still the emperor!

This shows that the Crown Prince is a truly filial son... Then of course you will be a loyal minister if you listen to the Crown Prince!

"I, Shuntian, governor of Song Dynasty, respectfully wish the emperor to pay your respects!"

"Your Majesty Wei Zaode respectfully wishes the Emperor's peace..."

Song Quan and Wei Zaode immediately kowtowed and greeted Emperor Chongzhen loudly.

This is telling the surrounding attachés and the officers and soldiers patrolling Shuntian that the emperor is still here!

Don't underestimate the significance of Chongzhen's presence! No matter how confused he is, he is still an emperor, the king and father of the people of the world, and a symbol of the great world. As long as he does not die and does not fall into the hands of Li Zicheng, even if Li Zicheng conquers Beijing, he cannot be said to have perished. Ming Dynasty.

Because the emperor was driven out of the capital by the enemy and then fought back, it happened many times in history. For example, several emperors in the Tang Dynasty were driven out of Chang'an... But no one regarded the emperor's running away as a

A sign of the end of the Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, Chongzhen left Beijing alive, which showed that the Ming Dynasty was not over yet!

For the vast majority of civil servants who came from the imperial examination, as long as Chongzhen was still there and they were not caught by Li Zicheng or the Qing Dynasty, they had to wear the brand of loyal ministers of the Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, they would be spurned by the scholars, and it would not be worth it.

What money.

Nowadays, the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty are different from the generals in charge of the army. The generals in charge of the army are basically warlords, and the servants who can fight are the ones who support the appearance. As long as you have soldiers in your hands, you will be popular and drink hot food wherever you go.

But civilian officials do not directly control the army, so it is difficult to become a warlord. They rely on their prestige and reputation among scholars. If their reputation is bad, unless they are outstanding people like Hong Chengchou, they will not be of much value. Surrendering is just to save lives.

Just make a living, don't expect to be reused.

Therefore, most of the ministers from various places who were not captured by Li Zicheng or the Qing soldiers would be loyal to Emperor Chongzhen, which is equivalent to being loyal to Zhu Cixiang, the prince of Fujun. After all, Zhu Cixiang's surname was Zhu, and he was the legal heir to the throne, but he could not be the same as Cao Cao.

Compared to a warlord who threatens the emperor and orders the princes...

Looking at Song Quan who was bowing to him, Emperor Chongzhen just said two words "Ping Shen" and then had no chance to speak again.

Because Zhu Cixiang has already hurriedly interrupted: "The bandit pursuers are twenty miles away. How many soldiers and horses are there in Tongzhou? Have dry food been prepared? When can we set off? In addition, are there any water ships available in Tongzhou?"

When Song Quan heard this, he didn't want to say anything more to Emperor Chongzhen. He quickly said to Zhu Cixiang: "Your Highness, I have 1,000 people to pay for the bids. I have prepared tens of thousands of kilograms of dry food. They are all baked flour cakes. In addition, there are also

Meals were prepared for the emperor, empress, queen mother and prince.

As for the canal boats, they are not prepared..."

In fact, there were originally many water boats in Tongzhou, but on the 17th and 18th, they were all hired away by the noble and royal officials who ran out of Beijing. So when it was Zhu Cihong's turn to leave the city, there were no water boats.

Available.

"Then there is no need to provide meals," Zhu Cihong said, "the car will go around the city without stopping... Huang Dabao! Take Governor Song to get 10,000 taels of silver. This is a reward for the Fubiao soldiers, 10 taels per person.

, I will give you another ten taels after arriving in Tianjin."

Song Quan was stunned and couldn't help but glance at Emperor Chongzhen and thought: Your son has so much money! Is this a reward of 20,000 taels?

While he was in a daze, several loud-voiced guards around Zhu Cihong yelled: "The Crown Prince has decreed that the officers and soldiers of Shuntian Fubiao will be rewarded for their meritorious service in escorting him. Each of them will be rewarded with ten taels of silver. When they arrive in Tianjin, they will be given another ten taels!"

Hearing these people shouting, Song Quan's brows tightened. Does Zhu Cixiang not believe in himself? Is he worried that he is corrupt?

At this time, Zhu Cixiang stepped forward and took Song Quan's right hand. While walking towards his horse, he explained: "I don't believe in the governor, but I use extraordinary methods at extraordinary times just to inspire the troops."

After listening to Zhu Cixiang's explanation, Song Quan hurriedly replied: "With the reward from the prince, Shuntian Fubiao and his subordinates will definitely serve loyally."

Zhu Cixiang nodded and said: "Don't talk to anyone about the emperor and empress' affairs when you see them!"

"I obey the decree."

After Zhu Cixiang finished explaining, he got on his horse with the help of Wang Qi, and then did not enter the city. Instead, he went directly along the moat, bypassing the south of Tongzhou City, and then along the canal, heading south without stopping.

…

Chen Yongfu stood on Xisanlihe Street in the outer city of Beijing. This is a street parallel to the southern city wall of the inner city of Beijing. The street is very wide, with shops on both sides, and is built relatively tall, just enough to cover the city wall from the inner city.

Bow arrows and bullets shot from above. As for the solid bullets fired by the red cannons, they cannot be blocked. However, the red cannons placed on the top of the city of Beijing do not have mounts that can adjust the high and low shooting angles. In addition, they are all mounted on

There is no way to fire downwards from behind the crenels. Therefore, it can only shoot far away, not close, and it poses no threat to targets close to the city wall.

Chen Yongfu, who was ordered to attack the city, was a general from the Beijing camp. He had fought many battles to defend the city and was very aware of the shortcomings of the cannon's firing angle. So after receiving Li Zicheng's military order, he moved his troops close to the city wall before dawn.

On Dongxi Sanlihe Street.

His troops are a combination of half-new and half-old, with the backbone being all veterans who followed him when he served as Kaifeng's deputy general. At the same time, he has also recruited many recruits in Henan. Now, both recruits and veterans are eager to try.

Their target today is Zhengyang Gate! Zhengyang Gate in the inner city of Beijing! If you break in, you can capture the city of Beijing, capture the Emperor Zhu alive, destroy the Ming Dynasty, and create the Dashun Dynasty at the same time!

All of them are founding heroes!

Passing by the soldiers with high morale, Chen Yongfu arrived at the junction of Xisanlihe Street and Zhengyangmen Street with a somewhat complicated mood. He leaned against the wall and took another look at the Zhengyangmen Archery Tower.
Chapter completed!