After hearing Zhu Cixiang's words, Queen Zhou said at this time.
"Didn't your father already ask General Huang Degong to stop the intruders? Isn't that enough?"
"not enough!"
Zhu Cixiang said calmly.
"The reason why I want to go to the battlefield in person is to boost morale, and also to win the battle! We need a victory so much!
If we keep retreating! Even if we can move the capital to Nanjing, so what?? The result of retreating all the way is except the country's subjugation! There is no other possibility at all! So! I must go!"
Zhu Cixi looked at Queen Zhou in front of him seriously and said.
After hearing Zhu Cixiang's words, Queen Zhou in front of her looked at Zhu Cixiang with a trace of sadness in her eyes.
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen, who had been behind the screen, sighed slightly and walked out.
"See?"
Emperor Chongzhen smiled bitterly and looked at Queen Zhou in front of him and said.
"I told you earlier! Our prince has long been determined to fight this battle!"
As he spoke, Chongzhen looked at Zhu Cihong in front of him with emotion in his eyes.
"My son has grown up! Now he has responsibilities!"
Chongzhen looked at Zhu Cihong in front of him with a look of relief in his eyes.
"It's a pity that your royal father didn't do very well and didn't create a peaceful world with you! You have to suffer!"
As he spoke, Chongzhen had a wry smile on his face.
"Father, this is not your fault."
Zhu Cixiang looked at Emperor Chongzhen in front of him and said.
"Natural and man-made disasters, my father has been diligent enough! It's a pity... destiny is like this! My father can't reverse it!"
"You don't need to give your father gold. I know what your father did poorly!"
Chongzhen sighed slightly, with a trace of emotion on his face.
Zhu Cixi looked at Chongzhen in front of him with some helplessness. To be honest, Chongzhen did have a problem with the blame for the demise of the Ming Dynasty, but if you think it was entirely because of Chongzhen.
Even if Zhu Cixiang is not recognized, Chongzhen is certainly an emperor with many shortcomings. He has a lot of affirmations, just count them.
But to say that the Ming Dynasty fell because of Chongzhen is really going too far.
It can be said that the Ming Dynasty perished due to natural disasters as well as man-made disasters. If Chongzhen was one of the man-made disasters, but if we talk about sharing the pot, he would not get much.
Yuan Chonghuan's killing of Mao Wenlong was the beginning of the complete deterioration of the situation in Liaodong.
It also makes people feel disheartened. After all, a first-class general soldier was killed by Yuandudu without any obvious mistakes!
This made many people feel chilly. Although Chongzhen killed Yuandudu in the end, Chongzhen still had to bear the consequences.
But after Zhu Cixiang thought about it, he didn't say anything to Chongzhen in these words.
"Okay! Since you have already thought about it, my father won't stop you!"
Chongzhen looked at Zhu Cixiang in front of him with hope in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but in the end he remained silent.
After the troops rested for three days, they set off for the expedition!
Naturally, it is impossible for the only 5,000 troops trained by Zhu Cixiang to go out on this expedition. Otherwise, if a king goes out on an expedition with only 5,000 troops, how can that be true?
In addition to the 5,000 troops trained by Zhu Cixiang himself, there are also 3,000 Sichuan white soldiers, as well as several southern troops that previously assisted the capital, a total of about 20,000 people!
After a flag-sacrifice ceremony, Zhu Cixiang's 20,000-strong army set off under the reluctant eyes of Emperor Chongzhen and the court officials!
The emperor personally conquers!
Prefectures and counties along the road opened roads one after another to welcome Zhu Cihong.
Zhu Cixiang was also a little panicked, because it was his first time to lead an army on an expedition. Fortunately, this army still had other commanders.
There are also some experienced generals to assist. Although Zhu Cixiang is very knowledgeable, he basically has no actual combat experience.
"Your Highness, where are we going now?"
A general next to him saluted Zhu Cixiang and said respectfully.
"Let's meet General Huang Degong first! Let's see General Huang Degong's opinion!"
Zhu Cixiang pondered for a moment and said to the generals in front of him.
"Yes! Your Highness!"
Several generals around looked at each other and nodded secretly in their hearts. It seems that His Royal Highness is not a reckless person.
If the prince decides to take these tens of thousands of people and go directly to suppress the bandits, then there will be a big problem.
After all, the army of 20,000 to 30,000 people seems to have a lot of troops. For example, the First Army of the Prince's Guards seems to be well-equipped and has high morale, but these people have never fought in a war!
Then there are other armies, many of which are pieced together.
More importantly, this army does not have a commander who is strong enough and able to overwhelm everyone.
Although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has this power, his ability is not enough!
Everyone was slightly relieved to hear that His Highness the Crown Prince was so self-aware.
"Shunde Mansion hasn't fallen into the enemy's hands yet, right! Let's go directly to Shunde Mansion! I heard that there are also traces of thieves there. If we encounter the thieves first, we will fight first!"
Zhu Cixiang said to the many generals on the side.
"As you command!"
After hearing Zhu Cihong's words, many generals around them saluted Zhu Cihong in front of them.
The army advanced rapidly.
It was March at this time, but everywhere was still dry, with only some weeds on the ground sprouting a few thin buds.
Many of the villages on both sides of the road are dilapidated.
In the farmland next to it, the wheat in some farmland is already growing green and lush, but there are still some areas where the land is still barren.
In the nearby village, no human habitation can be seen.
But Zhu Cixiang was still able to look at pairs of eyes from the corner of the house next to him, hiding behind the pile of firewood and at the back of the room, looking at the passing army with some curiosity.
Looking at the scene in front of him, Zhu Cixiang's eyes flashed with emotion.
Logically speaking, in their own land, these people should be happy to welcome the king.
but……
Zhu Cixiang smiled bitterly in his heart and sighed.
Zuo Liangyu also had some other generals. Basically, the reputation of the general army was ruined. Everywhere they went, they burned, killed, looted, and committed all kinds of evil.
Even worse than a bandit or a trespasser!
Thinking of this, Zhu Cixiang sighed slightly in his heart, but if he wanted to change this situation, he could only do it slowly, especially Zuo Liangyu's army.
He can't break now!
After all, he holds an army of 200,000 and is stationed in Wuchang, which can be regarded as stopping the intruders from going south. If the left army collapses, the intruders will definitely go south. By then, Jiangnan will be an undefended place...
Thinking of this, Zhu Cixi felt a little uncomfortable, but he had no choice. Even if he felt uncomfortable, he could only endure it now!