For two days in a row, His Majesty did not show his face and allowed everyone to petition at the gate of the palace. Whether they were civil servants or nobles, almost everyone guessed Zhu Cihong's wishful thinking.
There is no turning back arrow when the bow is fired. If Zhou Yuji has trained his troops and Wu Sangui returns to the army, everyone will have to shed their skin even if they don't die, so after some deliberation, we decided to add more weight.
He continued to expand the petition team to put pressure on His Majesty, so he targeted Tang Tong and Wu Xiang.
If the two of them are brought together, great things can be decided.
Tang Tong had nearly 10,000 soldiers and horses, including 4,000 old soldiers.
Not to mention Wu Xiang, not only was he in charge of more than 100,000 young men, he was also able to influence the attitude of his son Wu Sangui.
However, Wu Xiang was not stupid. Regardless of whether the Duke of Dingguo offered land to a beautiful woman or the Duke of England offered mansions and shops, he refused them all. In the end, he simply pretended to be sick and refused to see the guests.
Obviously don't want to get involved.
The Wu family is now prosperous. Even if the Supreme Emperor is restored to power, his son's unrivaled achievements and the Guan Ning cavalry in his hands will definitely continue to be respected.
So unless he is stupid, he would follow the civil servants and nobles to do something that is tabooed by the emperor.
However, Tang Tong was very moved, and in the end he was defeated by the nobles' mansions, beautiful women, land, gold and silver, and the promises of the civil servants.
In fact, the main reason that made Tang Tong decide to participate was jealousy.
As the saying goes, without comparison, there is no harm.
He and Zhou Yuji were both the general soldiers who entered the capital to defend the capital.
He brought eight thousand men and horses, while Zhou Yuji brought only one thousand, but the treatment they received was completely different.
Not only was Zhou Yuji worshiped as the Grand Governor and the Crown Prince's Taibao, but he was also summoned to the palace every three days. After Chuang's army was defeated, all the surrendered soldiers were given to him.
As for Tang Tong, he only made one earl, and only added 6,000 young men afterwards. The weapons and armor were leftover from Zhou Yuji's selection.
I had been holding back a lot of resentment in my heart, but after all the provocations and promises, I couldn't hold it anymore.
Anyway, they are not forcing the palace to rebel. They are just picking some soldiers to go to the palace gate and shout a few words to point the finger at Zhou Yuji. There are noble civil servants standing in front of him. He is afraid!
As a result, on the third day, the group heading to the palace gate grew to nearly ten thousand people. Zhu Cihong could sit still, but Zhang Yan and Queen Zhou could no longer sit still.
"Hong'er, my mother is begging you, please agree. My mother is really scared..."
Queen Zhou started sobbing at the end of her speech and almost knelt down.
Obviously, he was always worried that those nobles would directly remonstrate with him. Once they invaded the palace, his son might not even be able to save his life in the end, let alone go to Shandong.
"Hong'er, just listen to your mother. My aunt and your mother have already discussed it with your father. He agreed and promised to pass the throne to you again in three years."
Zhang Yan also knew that if the situation continued like this, it would be a matter of time before the soldiers remonstrated, and once the soldiers met, things would be out of control, so the worry on her face was not much less than that of Queen Zhou.
"Oh? Father really promised to pass the throne to me in three years?"
Zhu Cixi didn't believe it.
He still understands his father's temper.
"If you are worried, you can ask him to write the edict of passing the throne to you first. If he does not abdicate by then, my aunt will make the decision for you. What do you think?"
In fact, in Zhang Yan's heart, Chongzhen's status is higher than that of Zhu Cixiang, which is why she sides with Zhu Cixiang.
Firstly, she didn't want Chongzhen to work too hard, and secondly, she also saw that Zhu Cixiang was more suitable to be emperor than Chongzhen.
"Child, let's think about it again!" Zhu Cixiang was also upset by the two women and waved his hands.
Just as the two women were about to persuade them, a report came from outside the door.
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Fan is back and is asking for an audience outside the door."
"Quick, tell him to come in."
Zhu Cixi stood up quickly, with excitement on his face, and did not let the two women avoid him.
"This servant comes to see Your Majesty!"
"Meet the two Queen Mothers..."
"Stop being so nagging, tell me quickly, how did things go?"
"Your Majesty, I am incompetent and failed to recruit the red lady and Li Yan. Please forgive me!" Fan Xian knelt on the ground and said carefully.
"How is that possible?"
"They are desperate and have no other choice but to surrender..."
"Have you explained clearly the conditions I set out?"
Zhu Cixiang looked unbelieving and then stared at him.
"Slave... this slave didn't see Li Yan and Lady Hong. She just expressed her intention and was kicked out." Fan Xian looked worried.
"how so?"
"It's impossible. Even if the red lady is angry that I'm plotting against them and doesn't want to submit to them, that Li Yan is definitely not a person who is driven by impulse! Could it be that..."
Zhu Cixiang muttered softly, and finally his expression changed.
The two women looked at each other, obviously guessing his plan.
Seeing that he was in despair, she was also heartbroken. Queen Zhou had no choice but to say softly:
"Hong'er, then Li Yan and Madam Hong are unwilling to surrender, and the road to foreign aid is blocked. It's better to follow the mother's advice and go to Shandong!"
"All right!"
"That's all we can do. Go tell your father and ask him to send someone to inform the nobles and civil officials to come to the Imperial Palace tomorrow to hold the throne handover ceremony!"
Zhu Cixiang looked at the two women and finally nodded helplessly.
The two girls were immediately overjoyed. They didn't care whether there was a throne handover ceremony in Ming Dynasty or not. They comforted him well and then left.
Watching the two girls leave.
The decadent look on Zhu Cixiang's face gradually disappeared. His delicate face became distorted and ferocious, his eyes also flashed with a cold light that chose others to eat, and his fists were clenched involuntarily.
If the two women saw this ghostly appearance, they would be frightened to death.
After the two women returned to Kunning, Chongzhen breathed a sigh of relief and immediately asked Wang Chengen to notify those noble civil servants. Apparently they had been in secret contact.
When the civil servants and dignitaries saw that Zhu Cixiang finally compromised and agreed to abdicate, they all trembled with excitement and almost couldn't hold back their cheers.
"Brother Wei, victory is in sight, why are you still looking sad?"
Chen Yan looked at Wei Zaode who had been silent and seemed to be still frowning in thought and wondered.
Others also noticed it and looked over.
"Yuanfu, everyone, I just feel that victory comes too easily. Logically speaking, His Majesty's temperament should not compromise so quickly."
Wei Zaode raised his head and said solemnly.
Everyone couldn't help but frown when they thought about it.
Then Chen Yan smiled and waved his hand: "Brother Wei is worrying too much. Now even Tang Tong has joined in, and together with the troops and horses in the hands of various nobles, the total is no less than one hundred thousand. What can happen if His Majesty does not compromise?"
"Is it possible that he really wants to force everyone to fight against each other? In the end, he will bear the eternal infamy of killing the king and killing his father?"
"Yes, according to the news from the palace, the two queen mothers have tried hard to persuade each other several times in the past two days. Although your majesty has a stubborn personality, he is still young after all!"
"Um!"
Everyone nodded frequently, feeling that Wei Zaode was unfounded.
"Having said that, don't be afraid of anything but ten thousand. After all, today we do things without any scruples and use whatever means necessary."
Wei Zaode still frowned and spoke in a low tone.
"Brother Wei, what do you mean by this?"
"Do you doubt...?" Chen Yan's expression changed.
"Yes, don't forget, everyone, those nobles stayed in Jianji Hall for a whole night last time."
"Isn't it possible? The 80,000 soldiers in the Beijing camp are now firmly in the hands of those noble disciples, and the generals at all levels are also descendants of the descendants.
Once your Majesty really dares to risk the rule of the world, 80,000 soldiers will be furious and besiege the palace." Zhang Jinyan, Minister of War, shook his head.
"Brother Zhang, you also said that generals at all levels are descendants of collateral families. If His Majesty promises to let them ascend to the nobility, and then divide the shops, land, and even family property under the names of each noble among the collateral families, do you think they will still do it?
Are you going to besiege the palace with your troops and horses?"
"hiss!"
After Wei Zaode finished speaking, everyone gasped and felt chills running down their spines. They were obviously frightened by the little emperor's madness.