In Changping City, there is a Qiao Tower, which is three stories high. The governor-general's residence, Lu Xiangsheng's office, is located in this Qiao Tower in Changping.
This Qiao Tower is the tallest building in Changping City. It can be climbed high to see far away during the war, which is very convenient for commanding the battle. Because the emperor has ordered Lu Xiangsheng to governor the troops of King Qin from all over the world. In the future, the soldiers of King Qin from all over the country will gather here, so he can do it.
Here, with a high perspective, we can observe the formations of various armies and command and dispatch them.
Therefore, the governor Lu Xiangsheng set up his governor's headquarters here.
The governor's residence hall is located on the first floor of the Qiao Building. A huge desk is placed in the middle of the hall. Governor Lu Xiangsheng is sitting firmly in his seat with a solemn expression on his face.
At the bottom position on the left side, there are three general soldiers, Yang Guozhu, the chief soldier of Xuanfu Town, Hu Dawei, the chief soldier of Shanxi Town, and Wang Pu, the chief soldier of Datong Town.
There are slightly more people on the right, and they are all close associates of the governor Lu Xiangsheng in the shogunate.
Supervisor Lu Xiangsheng's general from the Supervisory Biao Camp attacked Chen An. He stood beside Lu Xiangsheng, holding in his hand the Shang Fang Sword given by the current emperor.
"The three generals must restrain their subordinates and must not lose morale or disrupt military discipline." Lu Xiangsheng said while sitting in his seat.
The three generals agreed loudly, and Lu Xiangsheng added: "The infantry will arrive in three days. We must prepare the camp. At the same time, we must not neglect the sentries to prevent Donglu's cavalry from disturbing our infantry."
Yang Guozhu stood up and replied: "Please rest assured, Governor, the general will definitely strengthen the sentinels and will not give the Tartars any opportunity to take advantage of them."
Hu Dawei and Wang Pu also stood up and said loudly: "Please rest assured, Governor."
Lu Xiangsheng sat there, nodded, and then said: "In addition to the sentry soldiers in each town, we can take a short rest to relieve the fatigue of our sergeants and recharge their spirits before looking for the enemy for a bloody battle."
Yang Guozhu and others stood up again to accept the order and thanked the governor for his concern for the soldiers.
At this time, a close aide of Lu Xiangsheng knew that the emperor would definitely summon him in the next two days, so he stood up and asked: "Supervisor, if Mr. Yang Ge and the emperor ask whether the governor is in peace or war with Donglu,
What do you think, and what reply will the governor give?"
After hearing these words, Lu Xiangsheng's face darkened. He stood up from his seat, gripped the handle of his sword tightly, and said: "I, Lu, have been deeply favored by the emperor, and I wish I could repay my country by giving my body to the country."
The emperor's kindness is so great. Today the Donglu have invaded the territory, and they can only talk about war, but not peace!"
After discussing some matters such as allowing the army officers and soldiers to rest for a while, prepare to find the enemy for battle, and plan the campsite for other troops and horses that will arrive one after another, the generals and staff dispersed one after another.
…
In Xu's time, the city of Beijing had begun to implement quiet streets, which is what we call martial law in modern times. Soldiers were stationed at all major street intersections to check the occasional pedestrians, and it was impossible to pass without a sign.
There is a red or white paper lantern hanging in front of the door of every house along the street. The light is slightly dim, swaying in the night wind under the eaves of each house, and the already dim light becomes even brighter.
The darkness flickers from time to time, as if to set off the suffering that the capital city of the Ming Dynasty is suffering today.
Under the flickering dim lights, one could still vaguely see the martial law notices posted on the walls of various street intersections, which only added to the tense atmosphere in Beijing where people were preparing for war.
On the wide streets and in the long and narrow alleys, from time to time there will be a watchman carrying a small red lantern and beating the clapper or gong feebly. Once their shivering figures appear occasionally, they will soon disappear again.
Disappearing into the darkness, the sound of bangs or gongs also gradually fades away in the wind, like a death knell suggesting that the Ming Dynasty is not as good as one day.
Since the second year of Chongzhen's campaign, the Tartars have broken through our border walls more than once and invaded important areas of the Ming Dynasty's capital. This is the third time that they have approached the city of Beijing. It is as if they are entering uninhabited territory. They can come and go as they please.
Each time they went deeper than the last time, plundered a large amount of gold, silver, wealth, and people, and left in a show of force. The Ming Dynasty, which once had great martial arts, and the prosperous city of Beijing can withstand several such hardships.
The Tartar general Dorgon was ordered to destroy the wall at Qingshan Pass in Jizhen and join the invaders. General Yangwu Yue Tuo was ordered to destroy the wall from Miyunqiangziling and join the invaders. The two armies of 100,000 Tatars were already in force for more than 40 years in the eastern suburbs of Beijing.
Tongzhou joins forces inside and outside.
Not long after two groups of Tatar soldiers broke through the border wall and invaded, Wu Aheng, the governor of Jiliao in the Ming Dynasty, and Lu Zongwen, the commander-in-chief, were killed in battle one after another. Zheng Xizhao, the guarding eunuch, even left his job without authorization and fled. The Qing army then marched straight in. At this moment, they were at the Tongzhou section of the Grand Canal.
The two sides of the Taiwan Strait are raging, smoke is everywhere, and lives are in ruins.
Because the Tartars Dorgon and Yue Tuo have led two armies to join forces in Tongzhou not far from Beijing, which seriously threatens the safety of the capital, the fighting is now most intense in the east of Beijing in the direction of Dongzhimen and Chaoyangmen.
The lanterns here are also more densely packed than elsewhere, and there are also many bonfires set up outside the city, with the light of the fire extending far and wide.
More than 100,000 landless refugees outside Beijing fled into the city, and the government had no place to take them in. Many people huddled in the corners of various streets and alleys in the lee of the wind. Many of them were crowded together without distinction.
Men, women, old and weak, all rely on their body heat to keep each other warm and endure the cold nights together. Even so, many people will die of cold and hunger every night.
…………
On the evening of the third day of October in the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, in the Wenhua Hall of the Ming Dynasty Palace in Beijing, the current Emperor Chongzhen first summoned Eunuch Gao Qiqian, the eunuch who was in charge of the troops of King Qin of the World, and now he also summoned the Minister of War, the Assistant to the Cabinet of the Dynasty
The minister Yang Sichang paid an audience.
Wenhua Hall, a palace building built in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1420), is located to the east of the Meridian Gate of the outer court, opposite Wuying Hall in the east and west. In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, it was once used as the "residence hall for the prince of the dynasty."
"So", according to the "Five Elements Theory", the east belongs to wood, and the color is green, which means growth, so the roof of the palace used by the prince is covered with green glazed tiles. Later, because most of the princes in the Ming Dynasty were young, they could not directly participate in political affairs.
, since the 15th year of Jiajing (1536), it has been used as the emperor's banquet hall. The building was subsequently changed to a yellow glazed tile roof, and the famous sutra banquet ceremony was also held here.
At this moment, in the Dongnuan Pavilion in the back hall of Wenhua, the two monarchs and ministers who decided the future fate of the Ming Dynasty were sitting and asking questions, while the other was standing and answering. The contents of what they talked about were all important matters that could be classified as secrets of the country.
Emperor Chongzhen was lying on a dragon-carved armchair covered with yellow cushions. His face looked slightly haggard. He asked his cabinet minister Yang Sichang warmly: "Is Lu Xiangsheng sure to come tonight?"
Yang Sichang stood with his hands folded, his face as calm as a pool of stagnant water, without any expression. When he heard Chongzhen's question, he replied in a calm and respectful tone: "Lu Xiang, the governor-general, led the announcement, Da, Shanxi King Qin's reinforcements have arrived in Changping at noon. Tonight
We can definitely make it to the capital."
Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly, already looking a little tired. Years of hard work had made his physical condition worse and worse. He seemed to be thinking quietly about something at this time.
Seeing that the emperor was not asking questions, Yang Sichang could only stand respectfully with his hands down, but he did not dare to take the initiative to say anything to the emperor.
"How are the various departments in the capital camp assigned?" Chongzhen asked suddenly.
Yang Sichang did not dare to reply directly. He briefly thought about the recent deployment and arrangements in his mind, organized his words, and then replied softly: "The battalions in Beijing were originally divided into three parts, one is responsible for defending the city, and the other is stationed in the city.
Guard against prisoners outside Dongzhimen and Chaoyangmen. Originally, there was still a troop stationed outside Deshengmen to prepare for Changping. Now that troops and horses from King Qin have arrived one after another from various places, Changping should have nothing to worry about. This troop is
, has now been transferred to garrison outside Chaoyang Gate."