Before hanging himself, Chongzhen lifted the table

Chapter 131
However, Li Zicheng and others did not worry about what to do in the future for the Kong family. They were discussing matters and worrying about their own affairs.

After deliberation, the result was that they would no longer go north.The reason is simple. Li Zicheng was not sure that he could destroy the army led by the Ming Emperor in one battle.If the stalemate continues, food and supplies may not be replenished, which may be fatal when the two armies confront each other.

Through this campaign, Li Zicheng and others realized that without a stable rear to provide troops and food, if they continued to fight on the fly as before, they would easily be in danger once they encountered a strong enemy.

Therefore, Li Zicheng and others decided to go south to Yangzhou and other prosperous places to collect more supplies and then return to the Central Plains to join Yuan Zongdi to consolidate the territory of the Central Plains.

But one thing Li Zicheng didn't expect was that someone was trying to cause trouble for him in his hometown.

This person is none other than his former subordinate, the former star Zhang Tianlin who has abandoned him and turned to the dark side.On the second day after Emperor Chongzhen entered Guguan, he took a few confidants and hurried back to Xi'an in northern Shaanxi, which was the tentative capital of Dashun Kingdom.

The general of Dashun Army guarding Xi'an is Tian Jianxiu, the admiral general of all camps and the title of Marquis of Ze.

He was surprised when he heard that Zhang Tianlin asked for an audience. He immediately summoned Zhang Tianlin and asked, "Didn't you go on an expedition with His Highness? Why are you back?"

In the lobby, Zhang Tianlin didn't feel much embarrassment and replied directly: "His Highness asked me to guard Gu Guan, but I lost Gu Guan."

For veterans like the Dashun Army, losing the battle is a normal thing, and no one has escaped!Those who can't escape are already dead!
Tian Jianxiu was not surprised when he heard his answer, nor did he mean to blame him. He just asked, "Then why didn't you go to find His Highness? Why did you come back?"

When Zhang Tianlin heard this, she looked at the other people in the lobby and said to Tian Jianxiu: "There are some things that I can only tell you alone."

When they spoke, they were more straightforward, unlike some people who made subtle hints for such requests. Zhang Tianlin couldn't do it even if she wanted to.

After hearing this, Tian Jianxiu waved for everyone else to leave, and he and Zhang Tianlin were the only two people left in the lobby.

Then, before Tian Jianxiu asked again, Zhang Tianlin sighed and said: "Old Tian, ​​you don't know how embarrassing it is for me to tell you about my experience!"

When Tian Jianxiu heard this, she knew that he was disappointed. Just when she was about to ask, Zhang Tianlin spoke up.

"I had a smooth journey following His Highness until I attacked Ningwuguan where Zhou Yuji was stationed..."

At the beginning of this, Tian Jianxiu had actually heard that Li Zicheng's army was blocked by Ningwuguan, but he didn't know the specific situation later.

At this time, he heard that the Emperor of the Ming Kingdom led an army to ambush Zhang Tianlin's troops, and exchanged Zhang Tianlin for a Qianhu from the Ming Kingdom, and talked about the Zhonglie Hall and so on. Tian Jianxiu was suddenly surprised.

This is impossible!
What kind of person was the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty? Don't they, the rebels, not know that if they were not stupid and incompetent, the whole world would be harmed by corrupt officials?
Then, he heard Zhang Tianlin talk about the famine in Taiyuan, and heard that Li Zicheng had suffered several defeats in a row. The emperor attacked Guguan, so how could he challenge him alone...

The series of things that followed made him even more surprised.

Edit, keep editing!
Zhang Tianlin explained the matter in one breath, and then said to Tian Jianxiu sincerely: "You don't know that the emperor is extremely brave, kind to his subordinates, loyal, caring about the poor, and rushes to Jin to save people. Such Emperor, I am truly convinced, so I surrender. Then I volunteer to persuade you to join the gang, how about it? Lao Tian, ​​is this emperor worthy of our following?"

At this point, he noticed that Tian Jianxiu's expression was different, so he asked: "Old Tian, ​​what are you doing standing still? Talking? I know you must be convinced by such an emperor, so just obey, I can also establish one achievement!"

Tian Jianxiu was urged by him and came back to his senses. He still had a look of disbelief on his face and stared at him to confirm: "So, you surrendered to the imperial court and then came to recruit me?"

"That's not the case!" Zhang Tianlin nodded without hesitation after hearing this, took out Emperor Chongzhen's imperial edict from her arms, and took the initiative to show it to him, "This is the emperor's edict of recruitment. The emperor has already said that we had no choice but to rebel before. , are all bad things done by corrupt officials, so he forgives us."

Tian Jianxiu received the imperial edict, but did not read it. He just looked at Zhang Tianlin and said: "You said that the army led by the emperor will not only receive military pay, but also pay off the arrears. So where does this money come from?"

The imperial court was notoriously short of money. It was normal to owe wages, but it was a big deal to pay them off.

After hearing this, Zhang Tianlin happened to ask this question, so she immediately answered: "Where else can it come from? It's just like chasing stolen money and stipends!"

They robbed the homes of rich people, even several hereditary princes, a lot of money!
After Tian Jianxiu heard this, he sneered in his heart and didn't even make up a new reason. But on the surface, he didn't show it and just asked again: "You said that when the emperor captured Zhending, he also captured [-] defenders. Have all the people in Hejia Xiaoying been released?"

"Yes, I asked, this is true!" Zhang Tianlin nodded after hearing this.

When Tian Jianxiu heard what he said, he lowered his head and looked at the imperial edict, barely able to recognize all the words and the emperor's seal.

While he was watching, Zhang Tianlin said again: "Brothers in the past were just those who were recruiting officials. Do you remember breaking into the sky? Old Liu, when he was caught by His Highness, look at how proud he was. Your Highness At that time, I persuaded him to become brothers again, but he said, "Ruo and I were both thieves at first, but now we are the king's ministers, so why should we surrender to thieves?"

At this point, he "tsk tsk" twice, and then said: "Now we are the emperor recruiting people, don't we have more cards than him? Let me tell you, Lao Tian, ​​there is absolutely nothing wrong with following the current emperor! How about it?" "

Zhang Tianlin felt that she had almost said it, so she confirmed it to Tian Jianxiu.

Tian Jianxiu didn't answer immediately. After looking at him for a while, he suddenly shouted: "Here comes someone!"

After hearing the shouting, several Tian Jianxiu's personal guards came in from outside the lobby, looked at the situation in the hall, and then asked Tian Jianxiu to stand by.

Tian Jianxiu pointed at Zhang Tianlin and shouted: "Arrest him, put him in prison, and hand him over to His Highness for punishment!"

When Zhang Tianlin heard this, she was surprised and immediately said loudly to Tian Jianxiu: "Old Tian, ​​don't you have thick eyebrows and an honest face? I believed you and kindly gave you a future, and you treat your brothers like this? "

Before coming, or to be precise, before he asked Emperor Chongzhen for orders, he was actually sure that at least Tian Jianxiu felt that the current emperor would obey him regarding his temper.

Unexpectedly, the things he usually showed to be good to the people and benevolent to his brothers were all fake. Not only did he not accept his kindness, but he was also arrested and waited for Li Zicheng to come back to deal with him!

"Tian Jianxiu, aren't you talking about when the world will be peaceful and people won't starve to death? Are you following His Highness to rebel? Don't you see what Taiyuan has become? Is this what you want?"

"..."

Seeing Zhang Tianlin being arrested by his personal guards, but still struggling to speak, Tian Jianxiu said loudly to him: "Guo Tianxing, do you think I am a fool and come here to lie to me like this? Are you treating me like a brother?" ?”

Zhang Tianlin was a little surprised when she heard this, stopped struggling, looked at Tian Jianxiu and asked: "Where did I lie to you?"

Tian Jianxiu heard that he dared to deny it, so he asked him: "You said that the current emperor is so brave that he can shoot the arm of the three highnesses on the top of the city from two hundred steps away. If he is really sure of the top of the city, he can carry a thousand-jin artillery and smash it." Man, under Guguan City, I challenged you to a duel, and captured you with one move?"

"Yes!" Zhang Tianlin nodded immediately after hearing this and responded immediately.

When Tian Jianxiu heard this, he became very angry and asked again: "You said that the emperor said in front of the two armies in Daizhou that a hall of loyalty and martyrs should be set up in front of the Ancestral Temple. As long as you are loyal to the country, you can coexist with the country, even if Is it the same for ordinary soldiers?"

"Yes!" Zhang Tianlin nodded immediately after hearing this. Although he was not there at the time, he confirmed afterwards that it was true.

So, Tian Jianxiu asked again: "You also said that when the emperor laid down Zhending, he captured [-] soldiers of our Dashun Army and the family camp, but not only did he not execute them, but he also released them all?" Xiaoying!" "Yes!" Zhang Tianlin nodded immediately after hearing this. He had also confirmed this and it was correct.

"You said that when the emperor heard about the great famine in Jinzhong, he didn't even go to save the vassal kings and Qufu. Instead, he brought food and grass to save the people in Jinzhong first, or the people who belong to our Dashun people?"

"That's right!" Zhang Tianlin nodded again, and then said, "How else could I lose Gu Guan?"

Tian Jianxiu saw that he still gave him affirmation, and couldn't help but said angrily: "I usually thought that you were just a good person, but you were still loyal and an honest person. Unexpectedly, now you have lied a lot, and even after being exposed, you still lied I refuse to admit my fault! Yes, this is also about saving face, right? It’s quite like you!"

After saying that, he no longer wanted to talk to Zhang Tianlin, and immediately ordered: "Take him down and put him in prison!"

When Zhang Tianlin heard this, she became angry and immediately shouted: "Tian Jianxiu, you are a stupid ass, you can't even tell the truth from a lie, stupid pig, stupid donkey, stupid..."

After watching Tianxing being dragged out of the lobby, Tian Jianxiu was also very angry. He didn't expect that he was being treated as a stupid ass. He couldn't even tell such an obvious lie, so he came to trick him!

It really makes no sense!

The current emperor has become a wise and mighty good emperor in the mouth of Guo Tianxing. Will the world still be in chaos for so many years?
The most ridiculous thing is that if the emperor really captured Ji Xiaoying, it was the family of his brothers. To the emperor, he was the leader of thieves. He wanted to kill the nine tribes, so how could he let him go?

Thinking about it with your toes, it’s all impossible!

This Guo Tianxing, whose brain was caught in the door, actually thought he would believe such nonsense?He also said that he was a stupid ass, but he himself was the big stupid ass!

Tian Jianxiu was angry. Suddenly, he saw his subordinates rushing in and reported to him: "The empress has returned with the army, and she is less than five miles away from the city."

Upon hearing this, Tian Jianxiu was surprised.

There is only one empress, Gao Guiying. Why did she lead the army back?
Without any time to think about it, Tian Jianxiu stood up quickly and prepared to greet the driver.However, he lowered his head and glanced at the imperial edict on the table. After thinking about it, he hurriedly rolled up the edict, stuffed it in his arms, and hurried out.

Outside Xi'an, Tian Jianxiu led the left-behind personnel to welcome Gao Guiying.He was naturally a little curious, why did he come back?

Therefore, after the ceremony, while walking back with Gao Guiying, he asked about the situation.

After Gao Guiying heard this, he naturally would not hide it from him, so he said to him: "I have lost the truth about hoarding food and grass. In order to save food and grass, Your Highness asked me to lead my small camp back. When big things can be done, I will bring my small camp back." It’s not too late to lead the camp!”

Hearing this, Tian Jianxiu's heart moved, and he asked with a little curiosity: "I, Lao Tian, ​​admire your empress's abilities. How could she lose her true determination?"

Hearing this, Gao Guiying couldn't help but sigh. This must be the biggest setback in her life!

Turning back, she looked at the team behind her, then turned to look at Tian Jianxiu, and said a little bitterly: "It's really hard to describe in words!"

When she said this, Tian Jianxiu became even more curious and looked at Gao Guiying waiting for the next step.

Seeing him like this, Gao Guiying had no choice but to continue: "You may never have imagined that all the men led by the emperor were like lunatics. Everyone was able to fight to the death for their emperor. That day, it was pouring rain, and it was not supposed to be raining. We should have attacked the city, but as a result, the imperial officers and soldiers went crazy and attacked the city. It was truly a scene I have never seen in my life!"

"Ah!" When Tian Jianxiu heard this, he was immediately surprised and said, "How is this possible?"

Does he still know what the imperial officers and soldiers are like?It's okay to fight with a tailwind, but once it's a tough battle, which soldier can't run faster than others?

Gao Guiying knew that Tian Jianxiu would be surprised. He didn't want to say anything at first, because saying it would only boost the morale of the officers and soldiers.But she also thought about it, if she didn't make it clear, if Tian Jianxiu encountered the imperial army led by the emperor and was unprepared, he would definitely suffer a big loss.

So, she continued: "This is true. There is another thing that you may not believe. Originally, Cihou had organized troops to drive off the officers and soldiers who were attacking the city. Unexpectedly, The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty actually lifted a Franco machine gun and smashed Cihou's gun array! Although I didn't see this with my own eyes, Cihou and others said that it shouldn't happen Fake."

Speaking of this, Gao Guiying noticed that Tian Jianxiu's expression was different, but she didn't think much about it and continued: "The emperor is really capable. When he was in Daizhou, he once shot Zi Jing's arm with an arrow. He was injured, and if it weren't for the quick eyesight and quick hands of his personal guards, he would have to answer for it. When he was really determined, he also shot and cut the rope of the suspension bridge in front of the formation, which greatly boosted the morale of the imperial officers and soldiers!"

Tian Jianxiu: "..."

He suddenly realized that he seemed to be the stupid donkey.So what Tianxing said turned out to be true?At least what he said was the same as what Gao Guiying said in several aspects!
This...isn't possible?
A little hard to accept, Tian Jianxiu couldn't help but ask: "The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty broke through Zhending, so all of our people... escaped?"

As he said this, he looked at the team behind him. Isn't the small camp behind him?
But according to Gao Guiying, the imperial army's attack in the rain was beyond Gao Guiying's expectation. In other words, the city was completely unprepared, so it was impossible for everyone to escape!
Based on his experience, it was raining again, so most of the people would not be able to escape from the city!
When Gao Guiying heard this, he sighed again and said, "At that time, it was impossible to escape. Most of the people were captured by the imperial officers and soldiers!"

Having said this, she turned her head and looked behind her, knowing that even if she didn't say anything about it, there would always be tens of thousands of people behind her, and almost everyone would know what was going on.

Therefore, Gao Guiying turned to look at Tian Jianxiu and said, "The emperor is kind and let them go when His Highness led the army to the point where they were really sure."

When Tian Jianxiu heard this, his heart moved, and he asked: "But His Highness has arrived with the army, so the Ming Emperor is afraid and wants to negotiate terms for peace?"

If only this were the case!After hearing this, Gao Guiying sighed in his heart, and then said: "No, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty just said that we were forced to rebel, so he wanted to pardon us."

Tian Jianxiu was stunned when he heard this.

Unexpectedly, everything Zhang Tianlin said was true!
Then the emperor has changed too much, right?

Before, the emperor was a stupid donkey who was deceived by treacherous ministers, leading to chaos in the world; but now, no matter how you listen to it, you feel that this emperor is wise and powerful!
How can a person change so much?

To be honest, Tian Mixiu couldn't believe it.

However, he could not believe what Zhang Tianlin said, but Gao Guiying had no reason to panic, so he had to talk about the current emperor, okay?
In the end, he couldn't remember how he welcomed Gao Guiying back or what he said along the way. He returned to his mansion in a hazy state, his mind still in a blur.

Tian Jianxiu sat alone, unconsciously took out the imperial edict, opened it and read it again. The figures of Zhang Tianlin and Gao Guiying flashed in his mind, slowly overlapping, and finally turned into a person wearing a dragon robe.

I don’t know when Tian Jianxiu finally came to his senses. He immediately hid the imperial edict, then went to the prison. After sending everyone away, he looked at the wall and turned his butt towards him without saying a word. It was obvious that Zhang Tianlin said in anger: "Why did the emperor change so much before and after?"

After asking, he added another sentence: "I don't understand, can you give me an explanation?"

Hearing this, Zhang Tianlin quickly turned around, walked up to him, looked at him through the fence, and said with a slightly mysterious meaning: "I'm telling you, Emperor Taizu appeared and reminded the current emperor."

When Tian Jianxiu heard this, he was immediately speechless. This answer was something he did not expect.

Not to mention whether Tian Jianxiu could finally figure it out, Emperor Chongzhen at this time received another Kuai Ma Memorial from the capital.

(End of this chapter)