Southern Ming: A boy soldier at the beginning, supporting the world

Chapter 88: The Yongli Emperor Escapes

Early in the morning of the 23rd, the dawn was just breaking. Qu Shisi was certain that Emperor Yongli would flee, so he and Cen Danchu hurried to the palace. He searched the treasury and found 300 taels of silver, which he prepared to present to Emperor Yongli as "imperial silver" during his escape.

Unexpectedly, the palace gate was deserted, with no guards, and the inside was in a mess. The two hurried into the palace and saw that it was in a mess, with dozens of rioters and soldiers rummaging through boxes and cabinets, looking for valuables.

What's going on? Did Zhu Youlang leave without saying goodbye?
Danchu was anxious and angry. He entered the palace and captured two marauding soldiers. After asking around, he learned that just after the fifth drum, Emperor Yongli and his ministers had left the palace and went out of the city through the Lize Gate.

Qu Shisi's eyes went dark and he almost fell down, but was supported by Cen Danchu. He tried his best to calm down and said, "Zhuoru, you lead the battalion immediately to protect the emperor."

Danchu was extremely angry and said, "Lord, the emperor has left Guilin's army and civilians without a care and left without saying goodbye, which has greatly lost the support of the people. What's the point of protecting such an emperor?"

When the Gui Clan and the Tang Clan were fighting for the throne, Qu Shisi actively supported the Gui Clan. Unexpectedly, Zhu Youlang had the purest bloodline, but was the most useless, and was only able to survive. The territory of the Southern Ming Dynasty continued to shrink and its strength continued to decline, and Zhu Youlang was largely responsible.

At this point, it is useless to regret. Qu Shisi sighed and said, "After all, the emperor is still the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He is the focus of the world. We cannot afford any mistakes. As long as we have a little strength, we must ensure his safety. There are chaos outside the city. You should lead your troops out of the city to find the emperor and send him on his way safely. This is an order and cannot be disobeyed."

"Yes." Danchu said with tears in his eyes, "I will go find the emperor right away. The heavy burden of Guilin City is on you, the elder."

"It doesn't matter." Qu Shisi had already put life and death aside and said, "Go quickly."

Danchu left a sentry of standard-bearers to guard the garrison, and he personally led the main force of the standard camp, preparing to go out of the Lize Gate to chase after Emperor Yongli.

At this time, Guilin was in a state of panic. The news of Emperor Yongli's escape spread quickly, and the soldiers and civilians in the city were in a panic. Some people packed their bags and prepared to leave the city for refuge, while others closed their doors and windows, praying that the rebels would not break into their homes.

Wherever the imperial carriage passed, there were crowds of carriages and horses. As Danchu approached the Lize Gate, a Jinyiwei cavalryman came galloping over.

He bowed to Danchu as if he had seen a savior, and said, "General Ti, I am so glad to see you. Hao Yongzhong is still a thief and is blocking the imperial carriage. Please go and save him as soon as possible."

It is common for rebel soldiers to block the emperor's carriage in troubled times. However, if the rebel soldiers are led by Hao Yongzhong, things will be difficult to deal with.

Danchu was relatively calm and asked, "Please be clear, is there any evidence that Hao Yongzhong committed the crime?"

"Replying to General Ti, it is true. Hao Yongzhong sent troops to block the road and asked the emperor to move to Liuzhou. The emperor wants to go to Nanning and is unwilling to go to Liuzhou. The Jinyiwei is in a stalemate with Hao Yongzhong."

Zhu Youlang was the emperor after all, and in the eyes of the army and the people, he was sacred and inviolable. No matter how foolish Hao Yongzhong was, he would not dare to kidnap the emperor.

"Don't be afraid," Danchu said, having made up his mind, "I have 5,000 elite soldiers, and Xinxing Hou has also led his troops to Guilin. Go back first, spread the news, and then warn the brothers of Jinyiwei to resist Hao Yongzhong."

"Yes." Tiqi was overjoyed and thanked him before leaving.

Dan Chu calmly put on the golden armor, ordered the bows and arrows to be strung, and the fuse was lit, then he rode his horse straight to Lize Gate.

Lize Gate is located in the west of Guilin City. There was chaos inside and outside the gate. The ministers who did not follow the imperial carriage and the soldiers and civilians who heard the news all flocked to Lize Gate, hoping to get the protection of the royal family after leaving the city.

The emperor Zhu Youlang often left without saying goodbye. As he left without saying goodbye, he gradually lost his popularity and his ministers left him one after another. This would deal a fatal blow to the Yongli court in the future.

Hao Yongzhong's rebellious soldiers were looting outside the city. When they saw the soldiers and civilians carrying their luggage out of Lize Gate, they were just what they wanted and started to rob. Seeing this, Dan Chu secretly said to Feng Lin, the deputy battalion commander of the Biaoying Battalion, "Hao Yongzhong's soldiers are busy looting, and their military discipline has collapsed. They can't be brought together. Our army can bluff, but we can't fight him. You quickly go to each team and inform them to gather their troops. Without my order, they are not allowed to fight with the rebellious soldiers."

Feng Lin took the order and left.

The city gate was in chaos. The civilians who escaped from the city were robbed by Hao Yongzhong, and were killed by the chaotic soldiers if they put up a little resistance. There were also many thugs, wearing their uniforms and masks, who took the opportunity to rob.

The gate was crowded with common people, but they were still unaware of the situation outside the gate, and they were scrambling to get out. Some wealthy families were unable to move in the crowd with their carriages and horses. Common people were also carrying large and small bags, thinking that it was safe outside the city, but they didn't know that it had become a battlefield.

The refugees called out for their children, the soldiers shouted and cursed, the women and children cried, and three or five children sat on the street crying, wondering if they had been lost or abandoned by their families.

Danchu was filled with grief when he saw this. Without a wise ruler, the people suffered. In the future, if he could really be independent, he would get rid of the evildoers, rectify the internal affairs, and let the people live in peace.

At this rate, it wouldn't be long before the rebels rushed into the city. Danchu acted decisively and ordered the golden gong to be struck to attract the refugees' attention.

He said loudly: "My fellow villagers, there are rebels outside the city, and they dare to stop the emperor. You must not leave the city, otherwise you will be robbed by the rebels. Go home quickly, close the doors and windows, and let me go out of the city to protect the emperor."

The gatekeepers had said many times that there were rebels outside the city, but the refugees didn't believe them. Danchu's troops were strong and well-organized, and the soldiers were armed with weapons, which was intimidating.

The refugees voluntarily made way for the Biao Battalion to pass through the city gate. The gatekeeper stood on the top of the city wall and thanked Danchu from afar.

Danchu told him, "The situation is chaotic. After my troops pass by, you must close the city gates tightly and do not let the chaotic soldiers enter the city."

After leaving the city gate and crossing the suspension bridge, the road became easier to walk on. A mile ahead, there was a dazzling procession of ceremonial guards and a large number of people and horses. This must be where the imperial carriage was.

Danchu took out the telescope and saw that it was the emperor's ceremonial guard. There was another group of people with very bright armor and weapons, and a large flag with the word "Hao" fluttering in the wind. They were Hao Yongzhong's people.

Several cavalrymen came and urged Danchu to rescue the emperor. Danchu asked, "Is Hao Yongzhong ahead?"

Without hesitation, the imperial guard replied, "Yongzhong is at the front, trying to persuade the emperor to move to Liuzhou. The court officials are trying to persuade him, but Yongzhong is weak inside and has run out of tricks."

Danchu looked back at his men and saw that they were still relatively calm. The large flag with the word "Cen" fluttered, and the soldiers in the standard camp were in bright armor and weapons, and their momentum was not inferior to that of Hao Yongzhong's troops.

Hao Yongzhong was brave but not wise, and had no way to control his subordinates. Danchu was confident that he could deal with him, so he turned around and said to his subordinates: "I am here to protect the emperor by order, so you all just follow me and obey the military orders."

"promise!"

Regardless of whether what the imperial guards said was accurate or not, Danchu had to go up and stroke Hao Yongzhong's tiger whiskers. He led the standard battalion to the imperial carriage, and then went to see Emperor Yongli under the leadership of Ma Jixiang, the commander of the Jinyiwei.

Emperor Yongli and his ministers were in a dilemma. When they heard that Danchu was leading the army to protect the emperor, they immediately summoned him. Danchu, wearing golden armor, strode to the emperor's presence and said loudly, ignoring Hao Yongzhong's presence:
"Your Majesty, Xinxing Marquis Jiao Lian led 30,000 elite soldiers to Guilin, and sent me with 5,000 elite soldiers to protect you. I am late in protecting you, and I deserve to be put to death."

(End of this chapter)