Because Zhu Yourong had just moved into the Purple Mountain Fortress, the freshness had not worn off yet. In addition, there was a great victory from night to early morning, when the People's Guard completely wiped out the Eight Banners and Sixth Division of the Qing Army, and the situation on the riverside was also developing in a good direction. Look,
The danger of the Qing invaders conquering Nanjing was decreasing, and she was very happy. She went to bed very late last night, but woke up very early this morning.
It was the Qinglu commander who was not caught. It was reported that he also massacred dozens of villagers, which made Zhu Yourong more troubled. If it hadn't been for this incident, it would have been a perfect morning.
She had already decreed that the division commander had no choice but to identify all the other organizers and perpetrators who participated in the massacre as soon as possible, and convene an open military court in Nanjing, inviting journalists from all over the world to participate, forming a major attack on the Manchu Qing Dynasty.
Political offensive.
Zhu Yourong was having breakfast in her room. Her original plan was to have breakfast with everyone in the ordinary officers' dining room, just like her previous image of being close to the people. However, she only expressed this idea after getting up. The fortress commander was caught off guard and had no time to make arrangements in advance.
Like other key departments, there must be many Qing Dynasty spies in the Purple Mountain Fortress. It would definitely be dangerous to penetrate among ordinary officers without preparation. Zhu Yourong had no choice but to give up the idea and eat breakfast in his room instead.
But after living in the fortress, many aspects of life became much simpler. Due to limited space, Zhu Yourong only brought two royal chefs, plus the large standard military kitchen in the fortress. The conditions are really not comparable to those in the palace, which require many processes.
The exquisite snacks are much simplified. What we drink is no longer the evian mineral water shipped from France, but the groundwater taken from the belly of the Purple Mountain. Because it is also a mountain spring, the taste is okay, but it is hard water and needs to be boiled.
There is too much water and alkali, which makes drinking it taste a bit gritty.
But Zhu Yourong was still very happy. Although life in the fortress was simple, it was much more exciting than living in the palace all day.
Zheng Gongyin sat next to him and brought up an old conversation with a smile - an old conversation that he had mentioned repeatedly for more than half a month, asking his niece to be a matchmaker for his precious son Zheng Yutang.
"Rong Rong," Zheng Gongyin peeled the oranges for her with a smile, and put them on the plate one by one, while saying, "As the saying goes: There is no land for outsiders. Your cousin Yutang is already in his twenties, it's rare to see him.
To win a girl... You said that such a girl who needs good looks, talent, and status has to be chosen by our own family first... It is so cheap for outsiders, that is a
What's going on!...Hi, Rongrong, are you right?"
Zhu Yourong picked up the oranges piece by piece, ate them, and said with a smile:
"I said uncle, we are not an ordinary family, and we don't leave any land to outsiders, hehehe... Well, cousin Yutang is the same, he usually attracts bees and butterflies, hehehe... This time I have real feelings.
La?"
"No! From the first time I saw it when I was canonized, I became obsessed with it. After I got back, I pestered me and asked me to tell you... Oh, this has been wearing on me for almost a month. If I don't treat those people who usually make fun of things,
How could he be so interested in this woman? My uncle only has such a son, and the important matters of his life will be left to you, Rongrong, you can take care of it!"
Zhu Yourong frowned and sighed softly:
"Uncle, the problem is that Cousin Yutang is interested in Princess Liaoyang! Now there is a war, and it will be very troublesome... It is better to discuss it with Mr. Shen Ge and the others."
Zheng Gongyin knew that once he discussed it with the cabinet ministers, there would be a lot of opposition. He also knew that what his son was interested in was not the "original" Princess of the Ming Dynasty - it would be easier if it were. That was the Manchu Princess, the original Nian.
The big spy leader at the pole! In addition, both sides are fighting a war. If an important member of the Ming Dynasty's royal family marries such a person, who knows whether the frontline soldiers and the people of the country will feel betrayed.
But after his precious son saw her for the first time at the canonization ceremony of Princess Liaoyang, he didn't think about anything when he came back. All he could think about was Princess Liaoyang. He clamored for his father to tell His Majesty that he would grant her a marriage. Zheng Gongyin was not a fool.
, he knew the consequences of this matter. But seeing that his precious son was about to die of lovesickness, he couldn't care so much. If the impact is bad? If it's not good, then it's not good. At most, it will affect morale a little, and the war will last longer.
A little, a little more people die, but this is not as important as my precious son.
Fortunately, Zhu Yourong didn't seem to know him well enough, so he didn't object firmly. He just felt that his words were a bit inappropriate, so if he tried to fool him a bit more, maybe it would work.
Zheng Gongyin said:
"Rongrong, think about it, we can't just focus on her previous background. Since we have named her the Princess of the Ming Dynasty, then she is the Princess of the Ming Dynasty. If we marry her into the family, won't it make it more obvious that we don't regard her in a different light?
Can the Ming Dynasty accommodate the broad mind of the world? This will also encourage more important figures from the Puppet Qing Dynasty to come over! You see, Princess Liaoyang is 25 years old this year, and your cousin Yutang is 27 years old. This age is also appropriate..."
Zhu Yourong smiled and said:
"The problem is that the Ryukyu Crown Prince Shang Rong also fell in love with Princess Liaoyang during the canonization ceremony... I have promised the Ryukyu Princess to keep Princess Liaoyang in Nanjing, and then invite them all to attend dances and other things to create some opportunities for them...
…Actually, the Ryukyu Shang family is a royal family of a foreign country. If Princess Liaoyang marries the Shang family, the impact will be much better than if she marries the Zheng family..."
Zheng Gongyin is now angry when he mentions the Ryukyu family. They have all been exiled to the Ming Dynasty. He is still not honest and fights with his own son for women... None of the Ryukyu family is good. The current Ryukyu king Shanggui is an old pervert.
I heard that his eldest son Shang Rong was an illegitimate child at first, so he married the current princess after knowing that he was his son...
Zheng Gongyin smiled and said:
"Although we talk about it, it still depends on Princess Liaoyang's own wishes, right?"
Zhu Yourong nodded and smiled:
"Of course, it's the twentieth century now."
That would be easy to handle. Zheng Gongyin smiled and said:
"Then if you invite Princess Liaoyang to dinner or something, my uncle will also bring your cousin Yutang. In the end, Princess Liaoyang still has to see this kind of thing herself."
Zhu Yourong was startled, then laughed dumbly, lowered his head and continued eating the omelette without commenting.
Zheng Gongyin was also helpless that his son fell in love with such a person. Princess Liaoyang was so troublesome! But my precious son liked it, so my father had no choice but to fight for him desperately. He was very confident that he could win over that boy Shang Rong. That boy Shang Rong was so dark.
He is thin and looks like a heavy smoker. And like his father, he spends a lot of time drinking and gambling all day long. I heard that he stole all the family heirlooms and pawned them... can Princess Liaoyang like him?
His son Zheng Yutang is much better. Although he is also a dandy, he is handsome in appearance. Moreover, his Zheng family's wealth, power, and relationship with the Zhu family's dragon lineage are unmatched by the Shang family. He knows that Princess Liaoyang is a realistic person.
I just came to Ming Dynasty, and my background is such a big problem, I must be in panic all day long, and want to find someone to support me. Marrying into the Zheng family is undoubtedly the best choice.
At this moment, Zhu Yourong's personal maid came in with a strange look on her face. She glanced at Zheng Gongyin and did not shy away from him. She reported an important event to His Majesty.
After hearing this, the two looked at each other in astonishment, stunned on the spot.
…
As quickly as possible, the Director of the Second Bureau of Dongchang and Xiang Xiaoqiang each rushed to the fortress with a group of people. Everyone sat at the conference table and carefully watched Zhu Yourong pacing irritably.
Zheng Gongyin was also sitting at the table, holding a tea cup and scraping tea leaves dully. Just when he said that he would help his son fight for the Princess of Liaoyang, something happened to the Princess of Liaoyang. And it was a girl named Shang who caused the trouble. This is really annoying.
What's coming?
Xiang Xiaoqiang is speaking:
"Now we know that the person who kidnapped Princess Liaoyang was the escaped commander of the Eight Banners Division of the Qing Dynasty. He was the culprit who massacred more than 40 villagers in Zhangjia Village. Now he has made a request that we prepare a car to take him to the riverside, and then
Prepare a boat for him to cross the river. He said he would release Princess Liaoyang by the river. But I personally don’t think it is credible. What do you think?"
Everyone nodded hesitantly.
Xiang Xiaoqiang continued:
"Obviously, Commander Qinglu's move should have been a temporary move. The Sixth Division of the Eight Banners was completely wiped out by our troops in the southern suburbs this morning. Only the division commander disguised himself as an officer and escaped. He knew that his hands were full of blood and he was caught by our army.
There was no way for him to survive, and even if he escaped back to the Northern Qing Dynasty and the entire army was wiped out, the Qing government would not be able to spare him, so he jumped over the wall in a hurry, hoping to achieve a "unparalleled feat" here, a miracle that could compensate for the annihilation of the entire army.
After escaping back like this, he is a great hero of the Northern Qing Dynasty. If he can't escape, at least his family will not be implicated. So, what is this 'unparalleled achievement'?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang looked around the people around the conference table, and finally moved his eyes to Zhu Yourong's face, and said slowly:
"That is to assassinate His Majesty."
After saying this sentence, everyone in the room whispered, quite surprised. Zhu Yourong was also startled, pointing to the tip of his nose and asked:
"Me? He is planning to assassinate me?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang said seriously:
"It's crazy and very unrealistic. But it is entirely possible for Commander Qinglu to come up with this crazy idea when he was desperate at that time. Miss Shang Xiu, a female officer at the People's Guard Headquarters, can confirm this. Miss Shang was Qingqiu in the hospital
The division commander kidnapped. Commander Qinglu learned that she had regular access to the commander, and also knew that the commander could see His Majesty, so he wanted to kidnap the commander through her, and then hijack the commander into the Purple Mountain Fortress and wait for an opportunity to assassinate His Majesty. This plan was very complicated.
It is hasty and bold, and the possibility of success is very small, but it is possible to succeed after all. It is entirely possible for Commander Qinglu to take such a risk when there is no retreat."
After Xiang Xiaoqiang said this, everyone present, including Zhu Yourong, secretly nodded in agreement. The reason that was originally very far-fetched now does not feel so far-fetched.
"Ms. Shang had just been discharged from the hospital. She was very weak. A grenade was hung around her neck and a gun was pressed against her back. But Miss Shang was very smart and calm. She discovered in time that this person was Commander Qinglu. Miss Shang knew that even if she died,
, and she must not bring this murderer into the fortress. She must not let this executioner escape from Nanjing. She only knows that there is a heavily guarded place nearby, and a large number of People's Guard soldiers are stationed there. Once Commander Qinglu is brought in, he will
It is impossible to come out properly. Of course, Miss Shang's own life will be in danger, but she can't care about it... This place is the Princess Liaoyang Mansion."
Zhu Yourong suddenly interrupted:
"This Miss Shang, if I remember correctly, is the communications officer Shang Xiu who pretended to be the 14th Princess in Pukou and cooperated skillfully with Xiang Qing to rescue the twelve crew members... right?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang was secretly happy and replied:
"Your Majesty has a good memory, it's her."
Zhu Yourong smiled and said:
"As expected, she is calm and calm, and is not afraid of danger. After this incident, no matter the outcome, I will see Miss Shang again and give her a medal."
Well, Xiang Xiaoqiang originally just wanted to clean up Xiu Xiu's troubles, but he didn't expect that this girl was so good-natured that she even got another medal...
He coughed twice and said:
"But Miss Shang is young after all, and her thoughts are still very simple. She wants Princess Liaoyang to use her status as a fourteenth princess to reprimand and persuade Master Qinglu to put down his butcher knife. But Miss Shang underestimated Commander Qinglu's cruelty and stubbornness.
Because at this time, the Fourteenth Princess is no longer a Manchu Princess in his eyes, but is already an out-and-out Ming Princess."
Zhu Yourong said a little unnaturally:
"Well, actually it is true... Ever since the day I canonized her as the Princess of Liaoyang, she has become the real Princess of the Ming Dynasty. I have never regarded her as a Manchu Princess."
After she finished saying this, she looked at Zheng Gongyin unconsciously, and her face turned red. Zheng Gongyin had a look on his face, and said to himself: What, you said this yourself, you have nothing to say, right? Haha, what if this is the case?
After everything happened, Princess Liaoyang was still alive, so she had to go and hire her. There was nothing more to say now.
He bowed slightly to Xiaoqiang and said with a smile:
"What your Majesty said is exactly what your ministers are thinking. Now it seems that the Manchu and Qing commander just wanted to take the Ming Princess as a hostage to cover his escape back to the Beiqing... In fact, this matter had nothing to do with the Liaoyang Princess.
Yes, even if Commander Qinglu had come in at that time, she could have ordered the guards to take it down for her own safety. But she did not do that. She knew that Miss Shang and the guards would be in great danger.
"Princess Liaoyang made a decisive decision and took all dangers on herself. She ordered the guards to take Miss Shang out of the house, and she stayed behind to deal with Commander Qinglu... Your Majesty, please tell me more, Princess Liaoyang can do this.
One step, another so-called "real" Ming princess would not be possible. Now, even the Qing captives no longer regard her as a Manchu princess. If we, the Ming subjects, do not regard her as a Ming princess, then Liaoyang
The princess is too pitiful."
Zhu Yourong was very moved when he heard this and couldn't help but nod.
Hearing what Xiang Xiaoqiang said, she also felt that Princess Liaoyang was too pitiful. After the canonization, she was "thrown into the warehouse". In addition to allocating her annuity expenses, etc., she was not treated as the princess of the Ming Dynasty at all.
. He has never invited her to dinner or participated in a royal event. When he first persuaded her to come over, he also said that he would play tennis with her. Now she has not even touched the racket. Zhu Yourong secretly made up his mind that after this incident
, we must pay more attention to Princess Liaoyang and interact with her more.
Zheng Gongyin was very satisfied with what Xiang Xiaoqiang said. This is what he wanted now. He looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang and couldn't help but smile and nod. He had already made a plan in his heart. If his precious son could really fulfill his wish and marry Princess Liaoyang, then he would go home.
I really want to prepare a generous gift for Xiang Xiaoqiang and thank him very much. No matter how his People's Guard needs to develop in the future, I will support him in front of His Majesty.
After Xiang Xiaoqiang's words and clearing both Xiuxiu and Shi Shigege, it was time to get to the point and propose a solution. He said:
"Your Majesty, gentlemen, now Commander Qinglu is asking us to send him across the river, which is obviously impossible. Princess Ming will never allow her to be robbed out of Nanjing by Qinglu. And this executioner, whose hands are stained with the blood of my innocent people, we will not
He will never be allowed to leave alive."
He looked around with a fierce look in his eyes.
Liu Shuping, director of the Second Bureau of Dongchang who had been silent, leaned on his chair and asked:
"Master Xiang, do you have any ideas?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang coughed and said:
"Now Princess Liaoyang has asked everyone to evacuate outside the house. Now the only one in Master Qinglu's hands is Princess Liaoyang. Princess Liaoyang did this in a timely manner, which can be said to have minimized the difficulty for us. Now
It’s our turn to rescue her. Commander Qinglu relies on both a pistol and a grenade. But I think the most important thing is the pistol. It is much more dangerous than the grenade. It can be said that if the pistol is lost, Princess Liaoyang will
saved."
Everyone looked at each other. In everyone's opinion, the most dangerous thing was the grenade. The pistol may not hit, and the hit may not be fatal. Once the grenade is fired, many people will be dead.
Xiang Xiaoqiang turned to Li Gensheng who came with him:
"Commander Li, you used to be in the commando team and are most familiar with weapons. Please tell us how long the fuse time is for the wooden handle grenades currently used by the Qing army and our army."
Li Gensheng stood up, coughed and said:
"Your Majesty, gentlemen, the current Qing army's Type 1921 grenade, the time from pulling out the fuse to the explosion of the projectile is 6 seconds. Our army's Tokunaga Type 8 grenade, this time is 7 seconds."
Xiang Xiaoqiang nodded and said:
"In other words, as long as you find a way to get rid of the pistol, even if Commander Qinglu pulls the grenade, Princess Liaoyang will have 6 to 7 seconds to escape from the house. According to my understanding of Princess Liaoyang, with her skills,
This is enough time.”
There was silence in the conference room for a while, and there were whispers. Many people nodded, thinking that this principle is both simple and feasible.
Liu Shuping from Dongchang asked again:
"What if Master Qinglu is determined to die with Princess Liaoyang, and after pulling the string, what should he do if he chases after Princess Liaoyang?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang said:
"It's up to us to find a solution. As long as he doesn't have a gun in his hand, we can just hit him with a gun and knock him to the ground. Even if he pulls a grenade while dying, it will only blow him up."
Zhu Yourong put his hands behind his back and walked around behind the chair for a few times. He felt that what Xiang Xiaoqiang said was very good. In this way, Princess Liaoyang's chances of escape were greatly increased.
She was very excited, holding the back of the chair with both hands, and asked:
"Xiang Qing is confident, but do you have a solution?"