Chapter VII Rise and Fall of the People's Suffering Part 2
"Your Majesty, let's take a rest. This old slave is really in trouble." Wang Chengen gasped and sat down on the ground, holding his waist.
"Why are you calling me Your Majesty again? Didn't I ask you to call me Brother Huang?"
"Ahem, this is not in the wilderness, slave, that's what it's called."
Chongzhen didn't blame him anymore and found a slightly flatter tree stump to sit down on.
Since leaving Beijing, the two of them walked for a day and a night without sleeping, eating or drinking. And because they were worried about being interrogated by intruders on the road, they did not dare to take the main road, so they chose rugged trails. Not only did they walk slowly, but they were also strenuous.
.
"Master Huang, Juyong Pass is more than a hundred and twenty miles away from the capital. If we walk like this, when can we get there?" When Wang Chengen saw Chongzhen sitting down, he ignored his own sore legs and feet and trotted up behind Chongzhen and lifted his shoulders.
Chongzhen was also very tired, his face showed signs of exhaustion.
As Wang Chongen squeezed and kneaded his hands, he seemed to feel relieved, and then he replied: "I walked for a day and a night without eating or drinking. We should be more than ten miles away from Beijing now. Based on the strength of my legs, I would have to walk for half a month."
"
At this point, someone's stomach growled twice, and the two looked at each other helplessly and smiled.
Before the capital city was besieged, as usual, the surrounding area for dozens of miles was to be fortified and cleared, with no living animals or food. The result was good, the invading army was not starved, and the two Chongzhen who escaped were so hungry that their chests were pressed against their backs.
.
"Let's get on our way. It's wet and cold in this forest, so we can't stay too long. No matter what, there is hope only if we move forward."
After that, the two drank some rootless dew in the forest and set off again. The master and the slave kept each other company. Although the journey was difficult, it seemed not so lonely.
Wang Chengen followed Chongzhen in a hurry and said as he walked, "Master Huang, didn't the intruder say that he would not harm the lives of the poor? In my opinion, it is better to take the official road. If we encounter thieves, we will say that we are fleeing from the capital."
People affected by the disaster should go to Shanxi to seek refuge with their relatives. In this way, you might meet some other people on the way to order some food. Even if you don't, it will be easier than taking the small road."
Chongzhen weighed it carefully and found it reasonable, so he listened to his suggestion. The two of them walked up the official road and walked from east to west towards Juyongguan.
--
As the Shun army took over the capital, things were happening to Li Zicheng one by one. Ever since he entered the palace, he had never had a moment of peace. He didn't even have time to enjoy the beauty he had fallen in love with. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel itchy.
, Alas, this troublesome emperor is not worthy of mentioning it!
"Why are you two looking for me?" Li Zicheng sat in the main hall with his head in one hand, looking at the noisy two people in front of him, feeling upset for a while.
One of them is Gu Ying, the deputy general under General Quan Liu Zongmin, who was also the first to follow King Chuang.
The other person couldn't be named, but what stood out was a black armor.
At this time, Gu Ying spoke first, "Your Majesty, this boy framed me."
"What kind of bullshit is this for me, tell me clearly!"
After hearing this, Gu Ying shrank her neck and did not dare to speak.
Another man cupped his fists and saluted, and said: "Reporting to your Majesty, I am the commander of the camp. I am in charge of military matters and have been ordered to supervise the soldiers entering the city."
"Then why did you start a quarrel with General Gu?"
"Your Majesty is unaware of something. When his subordinates inspected the city's security, they discovered that some people in the army were secretly pursuing stolen goods for payment. What's more, they killed people, exterminated their families, and raped their wives and daughters. These people have been captured by your subordinates. After interrogation, the leaders were all
There are thousands or hundreds of households under the command of General Gu. Moreover, the stolen property was not checked and put into the treasury, but was instead kept in General Gu's courtyard."
Li Zicheng was furious when he heard this. He stood up and scolded Gu Ying angrily, "Is this the case with your grandmother?"
Gu Ying shouted: "Your Majesty, those below were placed in my house without permission. I didn't know about it!"
"Come here, drag him down and give him a beating. He will be chopped off tomorrow."
Li Zicheng didn't waste any time, and directly ordered the pro-army guards to drag Gu Ying out. Gu Ying was dragged backwards, with a look of panic on his face, and shouted: "Chuang Wang, Chong Wang!"
"What's your name?"
"Your Majesty, my surname is Wu, and my single name is Cai."
"What a good Wu Cai, you did a good job, go down, I will remember you."
After Wu Cai left, Song Xiance, who stood next to Li Zicheng, reminded: "Your Majesty, although peace of the people is the first priority, it would be inappropriate to kill the deputy general of the Chinese army because of this. Moreover, the army spends money on food and food.
They are all in urgent need of supplements, and the matter of recovering stolen property and providing subsidies should indeed be put on the agenda as soon as possible."
Li Zicheng's face was uncertain, and he replied: "How could I not know this? Gu Ying has been with me for so many years and has been loyal. If he were to kill him like this, I would not want to say that his brothers in the army were dissatisfied. As for chasing the stolen money and paying him,
,Mr. taught me before when I entered the city..."
Seeing Li Zicheng looking at him, Song Xiance pretended to be an old god and kept shaking the feather fan in his hand. Niu Jinxing was not here at the moment, so he must perform well.
"It's easy." After saying that, he said no more.
Li Zicheng was impatient and said with a smile: "Sir, please don't be so pretentious and just say it quickly."
"Without him, Your Majesty only needs to pick out a few of the rebellious soldiers, kill them, and spread the word to the capital. This will not only clarify the canonical punishments and calm the people's minds, but also allow the arrogant soldiers in the army to fight with their hands and feet."
Be more restrained. As for General Gu Ying, I will think of a way to arrange for him to leave the city and let him return to Shanxi. After leaving the capital, His Majesty will not be bothered if he can't see but has a heart."
"That's fine, let him go back to Shanxi. But as for the food and salary matter, sir, you also know that there is not even a hair left in the palace's treasury, and all the warehouses in the city are empty. The army will be here soon.
Leaving, when I think about this, I feel worried."
"I knew that Your Majesty was worried, so I have already drawn up the charter. The high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital, merchants and merchants will buy their lives on a per-head basis, one hundred thousand in the middle hall, seventy thousand in the ministry, fifty thousand in the capital, and so on. If you can't pay it,
He must be hiding dirty money in an attempt to cause trouble, just by ransacking his home."
Song Xiance paused for a moment, then continued: "As for these ordinary people, your Majesty will let them get a benefit and exchange the fertile fields outside the city for their household grain, rice, oil, salt and other supplies. Wouldn't it be the best of both worlds?"
Li Zicheng was overjoyed, caressing the Song military advisor's back, and said with appreciation: "Mr. Song is really the reincarnation of Wolong, and it has solved a big problem in my heart. I have to say that Prime Minister Niu is not as good as Ru Yuan in terms of strategy. After the grand ceremony of my enthronement is held,
, Mr. Dingfeng is the founding military advisor of the People’s Republic of China!”
Song Xiance was born short and ugly, and he often felt inferior because of this behind his back. But Li Zicheng compared him to the reincarnation of Wolong, which made him feel so proud that he shook his feather fan even more diligently.
"Then I will leave these things to you, sir. I will keep your achievements in mind. Alas, my energy is not what it used to be. I just stayed up all night and my back hurts. I think back then..."
"In this case, I will take my leave first." After saying this, Song Xiance quietly exited the palace.
After Song Xiance left, Li Zicheng got up and started moving around. He called his personal guards and asked, "Has Chongzhen been found?"
"It has not been found yet, but I heard from those who surrendered in the former Ming Dynasty that Chongzhen was stopped when he wanted to leave the city earlier. Later, he seemed to have gone to Meishan. I have sent his men to search."
"Well, remember, if you want to see people alive, you want to see the corpse if you die. In addition, if you spread the word and find Chongzhen and his heirs, I will reward them greatly. Go down, and I will handle this matter well.
It’s very important to me.”
"yes!"
After Li Zicheng finished giving all the instructions, he walked to the palace with a relaxed look and a contented look on his face. He didn't know what Chongzhen's daughter's woman was like. He needed to learn more about it this time. This chapter has been completed!