My father Zhu Gaoxu

Chapter 957 The troops are approaching the city
Zhu Zhanhe captured Tianjin without losing any blood, and then he asked Zhang Zhong to stay and take over Tianjin with Zhang Fei. After all, this was the bridgehead for his attack on the Ming Dynasty. As long as Tianjin was not lost, the Han army could advance and retreat freely.

As for Zhu Zhanhe and Chang Wei who led the troops, they did not stop at all. After their elite troops landed, they immediately came to the railway station in Tianjin, got on the train and headed towards Beijing as quickly as possible.

The railway from Tianjin to Beijing was built by the Han Dynasty with the help of the Ming Dynasty. At the beginning of the construction of this railway, Zhu Zhanhe foresaw that this railway might be useful one day. Unexpectedly, his prediction came true.

With this railway, the army led by Zhu Zhanhe reached the gates of Beijing in just a few hours.

However, although Zhu Zhanhe's movements were fast, the news spread faster, especially when Zhu Gaoxu once made a surprise attack on Beijing from Tianjin, and he succeeded. Therefore, the Ming Dynasty also learned a lesson later, and the Jinyi Guards stationed in Tianjin were specially responsible for it. A warning to the city of Beijing.

So when the army led by Zhu Zhanhe arrived at the city of Beijing, Beijing had already received the news that Tianjin had fallen, so it immediately closed the upper city gate. Given the solidity of Beijing, even if Zhu Zhanhe brought the most powerful artillery, it would be impossible to blow down the city gate in a short period of time.

When he came to the city of Beijing, Zhu Zhanhe was not in a hurry to attack the city, because he knew very well that Zhu Qizhen's imperial conquest had already mobilized all the troops around Beijing. For example, in Tianjin, in addition to the navy, all troops were stationed on land. Most of the Tianjin Guards were deployed, which was also an important reason why Zhang Fu was able to capture Tianjin so easily.

Even for such an important place as Beijing, there are currently no more than 30,000 defenders in the city.

Historically, after the Tumubao Incident, Zhu Qi Town was first held hostage to attack Beijing. At that time, under the auspices of Yu Qian and others, it took Beijing a month to recruit an army of 220,000, of which only two had armor. More than 10,000 people, more than 20,000 people are the real defenders of Beijing City, and the rest are all temporarily recruited troops.

As the troops approached the city, the city of Beijing was also in chaos. After all, Zhu Qizhen was not in the capital, and the only one who could make the decision was Queen Mother Hu.

Speaking of Empress Dowager Hu, we must also thank Zhu Zhanhe. Historically, she was deposed by Zhu Zhanji and died in her forties. But now that history has changed, she not only lives well, but also remains firmly in the position of Queen Mother. Although Zhu Qizhen is not her biological child, he still respects her.

Empress Dowager Hu has a gentle personality and is far less powerful than Empress Dowager Zhang. She usually lives in the deep palace and rarely pays attention to affairs outside the palace. Now that the Han army is pressing down, the remaining ministers have to invite Empress Dowager Hu to preside over the situation. The overall situation, because Zhu Qizhen has no other brothers and his only son is only two years old, he cannot take on the overall situation.

In the Wuying Palace, Queen Mother Hu looked panicked and asked the ministers outside through a curtain: "You are all ministers of the Ming Dynasty. Now that the army is approaching the city, do you have any countermeasures?"

Hu Xi, Wang Zhi and other ministers outside the curtain were also speechless. After all, no one expected that the Han Dynasty would raid Beijing at this time, and they deliberately sent people to notify Zhu Qi Town to withdraw troops and return reinforcements, but now they even Zhu Qi Town is not here. I don't know where, not to mention that there is an army of Wala in Zhu Qi Town. If the troops withdraw at this time and Wala takes the opportunity to attack, Zhu Qi Town will be in danger.

"Queen Dowager, although the Han army is at the gates of the city, they did not attack immediately, so I think it is best to send people out of the city first to understand the Han intentions before making a decision!"

At this time, Hu Hui was the first to stand up and suggest.

"I second my opinion. The Han Dynasty has always been on good terms with our Ming Dynasty. This time they sent troops for no reason, which is really puzzling. I wonder if there is any misunderstanding in this?"

At this time, a minister immediately stood up and said, and then other ministers also expressed their agreement.

But at this moment, an official in his fifties stood up and said loudly: "Queen Mother, you can send envoys out of the city, but the city must also be prepared. The city is empty of troops now, but there are many people in the city, so we can definitely recruit civilians." "You are young and strong, strengthen the defense of the capital!" "Yu Shilang, the situation is unknown now. If we strengthen the defense, will it anger the Han army outside the city, and it will end badly?"

When Hu Hu heard the middle-aged official's suggestion, he frowned and asked.

This middle-aged official is the famous Yu Qian, who is currently the left minister of the Ministry of War.

"Hu Gong, the Han army has already reached the capital. The navy guarding Tianjin has rebelled under the leadership of Zhang Fu. Obviously the Han people are well prepared, so we must be prepared for the worst!"

However, Yu Qian insisted that he instinctively felt an unprecedented crisis regarding the Han Dynasty's raid. If he failed, he might repeat the humiliation of Zhu Gaoxu's surprise attack on the capital and the capture of the palace.

"I think what Yu Shilang said makes sense. Let's do it this way. Yu Shilang, you are responsible for gathering the young people in the city to strengthen the defense of the capital. Hu Shangshu, you are old and virtuous, and you have been on many missions to the Han Dynasty. Why don't you leave the city? , ask about the purpose of the Han army’s visit!”

At this time, Queen Mother Hu from behind the curtain suddenly said that as a woman, she was most worried about the Han army entering the city, so it was still important to strengthen the defense.

"Queen Mother, there is Wang Shangshu in the Ministry of War. Why don't you ask him to be responsible for recruiting young people? I am willing to go out of the city with Hu Shangshu to meet the general of the Han army!"

However, Yu Qian took the initiative to ask for help. Until now, the city of Beijing does not know that the leader of the Han army is Zhu Zhanhe.

Other ministers also looked at Yu Qian in surprise. After all, the situation was unclear. Although the Central Plains had a tradition of not killing envoys during war, the Han Dynasty had been separated from the Central Plains for many years. No one was sure whether the envoys would be in danger?

Hearing that Yu Qian actually asked to go out of the city with him, Hu Hui also frowned and immediately said: "Yu Shilang, you are from the Ministry of War, and you have no experience of being sent as an envoy, let alone contact with the Han people. Why don't you stay here?" In the capital, I can just leave the city!"

"Hu Shangshu, as the saying goes, only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you be victorious in every battle. Now we know nothing about the Han army. If we fight, we will definitely suffer a great loss. That's why I want to take this opportunity to go to the Han army's camp in person to take a look. Look at their reality!”

Yu Qian still insisted.

Hearing what Yu Qian said, Hu Bi couldn't object anymore. Other officials also felt that what Yu Qian said was reasonable. Finally, even the Queen Mother Hu said: "That's fine. Since Yu Shilang has this idea, then I'll thank you and me for your hard work." Hu Shangshu will go out of the city together, but then Hu Shangshu will be in charge!"

"I obey your orders!"

Hu Hui and Yu Qian saluted at the same time.

(End of this chapter)