Southern Ming, my destiny is too abstract

Chapter 101 I will succeed to the throne in the two capitals

The civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty were busy preparing for the coronation ceremony.

Imperial edicts and sacrificial orations were easy to write, and many ministers who were Jinshi graduates displayed their literary talent.

The only trouble is the altar and the sacrificial robes.

As the legitimate emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he still had to make careful arrangements for these things.

Who would be like King Shaowu of Tang, who served as regent for only three days and then rushed to become emperor? Even the civil and military officials and the emperor's court uniforms were made from the costumes of the Cantonese opera troupe.

Even the succession ceremony of Emperor Yongli was messy and hasty.

This time, both civil and military officials planned to do a good job, in order to make up for the regret of Emperor Yongli's hasty enthronement and to eliminate the bad luck of the defeat in the Central Plains the previous year.

The ceremonial procession, costumes, crowns, and imperial seals were all crafted with great care.

Many civil and military officials felt that June was too hasty and that it would be best to move the trip to July or August, or even September. When the weather turned cooler, they could avoid the sweltering heat of Hongsawadi and head south.

But it was obvious that the Qing army would not give them enough time.

After several debates, the auspicious day for the prince to succeed to the throne was decided to be the seventh day of the sixth lunar month, the day when the Jade Emperor ascended the throne.

However, the prince suddenly said that he would not succeed to the throne.

He was going to the two capitals to proclaim himself emperor and succeed the throne.

All the civil and military officials from top to bottom felt like they were struck by lightning.

They knew that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had fallen seriously ill in Hongsavadi, causing him to lose his mind and suffer from hysterics from time to time.

Some moral gentlemen who despised Zhu Cixuan for imprisoning his father to seize power used this as an excuse to comfort themselves.

It was because the prince was so foolish and ignorant that he did such a heretical thing.

Although the process was extremely outrageous, the result was good.

But the ministers never imagined that the prince would be so crazy.

At the hastily convened cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Fu Gang was at a loss: "Your Highness, why do you need to go to the two capitals to succeed to the throne?"

"After the fall of the two capitals, Emperor Xiang and the Emperor both chose the nearest capital to inherit the throne."

"Even though you are far away in the borderlands of China, how can Your Highness not be a legitimate successor of the Ming Dynasty?"

When Fu Gang first heard such absurd remarks, he thought that the prince was looking for another reason to clean up the court.

When he saw Li Dingguo, Deng Shilian and others who were equally confused, he discovered that the prince was already arranging troops to prepare for a surprise attack on the two capitals.

Only then did I realize that the prince was not using this party to fight for power.

What a joke!

Aren’t we going to move to the southeast to join forces with Zheng Yanping?
Why did we start preparing to recapture the two capitals?

If I didn't know, I would have thought that Zhu Cixuan did not recover western and southern Yunnan, but recovered the entire western and southern parts of the world.

Fu Gang felt exhausted. Although Emperor Yongli was timid and listened to treacherous ministers, he still issued decrees and acted according to the actual situation.

Your Highness the Crown Prince, Emperor Shenwu, is not only unconventional, it is simply absurd.

Those who boast of their own achievements have ignored reality.

Fu Gang glanced at Li Dingguo, who was hesitant to speak, and Deng Shilian and Ren Guoxi, who had numb expressions.

The latter two had become accustomed to the prince's arbitrary behavior.

If he could persuade the prince, he would have persuaded him not to go to the front line in person as early as in Ava City.

Not to mention launching a surprise attack on the two capitals and proclaiming himself emperor in front of Dai Qing, Zhu Cixuan even wanted to burn down the Jurchens' ancestral temple.

The two of them also shut their mouths and followed orders.

Zhu Cixuan sat upright on the chair and said slowly, "Lao Fu, didn't we talk about this before?"

"If I claim the throne, the Thirteen Clans of Kuidong and Zheng Yanping of the coastal areas might think something has happened during the Yongli reign and refuse to acknowledge me as the emperor."

"If I inherit the throne in the two capitals, not to mention the Thirteen Families and Zheng Yanping, who in the world would not respect me as the legitimate heir to the throne?"

"Everyone in the world believed that my father was defeated and fell into exile two years ago, and that the Ming Dynasty had been completely destroyed."

"I want to step on the faces of the Eastern Tartars and tell the world clearly that the Ming Dynasty has not fallen."

"The 20th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty has returned with the Ming Dynasty."

"This will revitalize the anti-Qing resistance that has subsided among various parties in China and inspire those loyal and patriotic people who still have their hearts set on the Ming Dynasty."

Fu Gang said somewhat helplessly: "Your Highness, although the anti-Qing uprisings in the world have temporarily stopped."

"But as long as Your Highness and the Prince of Jin succeed in leaving Yunnan and destroying the main force of the Qing army, we can announce it to the world."

"In fact, your Highness's recovery of Yunnan and Yunnan, the crushing defeat of Wu Sangui, and the extermination of Shangshan, the direct descendant of the Aisin-Gioro clan of the pseudo-Qing Dynasty, have already shaken the world."

"Laozi said that governing a country is like cooking a small fish. Your Highness, if you want to restore the country and boost morale, why rush it for a year or two?"

Zhu Cixuan shook his head slightly: "It's not enough, it's too slow for me."

"It took a year to leave Yunnan. It will probably take two years to recover the southwest and Guangxi and Guangdong. It will take another three to five years to drink from the Yangtze River and restore the old capital."

"It's far from enough for my five-year Mingguang Plan."

Zhu Cixuan replied sternly: "Supporting the elder, I am not seeking ostentation."

"In fact, the purpose of moving to the southeast was to disperse the main force of the Qing army and reduce the pressure on the Ming Dynasty to leave Yunnan."

"I've thought about it and decided to move to the southeast. Wu Sangui is still difficult to break through, and Lancang Annan is difficult to cross."

"It would be better to attack Huanglong directly and launch a surprise attack on the two capitals, forcing the Qing army to return to defend the capital and the southern capital."

"This way, not only will the pressure on the King of Jin in Yunnan be greatly reduced, but it will also be much easier for me to recover the southeast."

After hearing this, Fu Gang felt a little relieved.

At least His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was not so crazy as to plan to recapture the two capitals directly.

The surprise attack on the two capitals was the same as the prince's surprise attack on Kunming.

Let the Qing troops on the front line return to support and create an opportunity for the Ming army to break through head-on.

Fu Gang thought for a moment and continued to persuade: "Your Highness, a surprise attack on the two capitals would also require a 3,000 to 5,000-li trek, with numerous obstacles from the Qing army."

"It's better to focus on the present and seek the support of Guangxi and Guangdong."

"Even if Zheng Yanping doesn't cooperate with Your Highness, Your Highness can still return to Yunnan and Yihuang if you encounter setbacks."

No one in the Ming Dynasty, from the government to the people, hoped that Zheng Yanping would cooperate in the alliance.

If the pirates who only cared about their own territory really wanted to cooperate, they would have joined forces with Li Dingguo in eastern Guangdong long ago and allowed the Yongli court to recover half of the country.

Zhu Cixuan laughed heartily, "It is precisely because Zheng Yanping is separatist and domineering that I will use the grand momentum of the succession of the two capitals to force him to submit to the imperial court."

If Zheng Yanping refused to surrender and cooperate, Zhu Cixuan would have no choice but to imprison him and seize power.

"Mr. Fu is also wrong. I don't need to go by land to defeat the Qing army blocking the road."

Fu Gang was stunned for a moment: "Your Highness, you are talking about Zheng Yanping's Donghai, who launched a surprise attack on the two capitals from the coast."

Fu Gang fell into deep thought.

Going by sea is indeed a good way.

As long as Zheng Yanping and Zhang Huangyan cooperate, at least Nandu will be fine.

Even the capital and the southern capital are huge cities.

Before entering the Pass, the Eastern Tartars bypassed the Guanningjin Defense Line several times and attacked the capital, but failed to break through the capital.

Zheng Yanping raised an army of 200,000 but failed to recapture the Southern Capital.

However, the crown prince joined forces with Zheng Yanping and Zhang Huangyan, held a few sacrifices at the ancestral tomb outside Nando, and declared his succession to the throne.

The prince's prestige will rival that of Emperor Chongzhen.

Zhu Cixuan nodded and said, "Indeed, the land route is difficult to travel. I will take the sea route and succeed to the throne in the two capitals."

Fu Gang was still hesitant: "But Your Highness, if you go deep into enemy territory, I'm afraid you'll be surrounded by hundreds of thousands of Qing troops."

Zhu Cixuan laughed and said, "Even if there are 100,000 Qing troops in the coastal provinces of eastern Zhejiang, the troops of Zheng Yanping and Zhang Huangyan are no less powerful."

"Not to mention the capital. The pseudo-Qing court sent out all its elite troops and sent Ai Xing'a to lead the troops south to Yunnan and Yunnan. Even if the capital is not a deserted city, it is almost as bad as it is."

"During the Jisi Incident, Huang Taiji used Mongolia as a route to launch a surprise attack on the capital."

"If the enemy goes there, I can go there too."

After the Manchu Jurchens entered the Pass, they did not change their habit of sending out their entire army in Shengjing at any time.

Zhu Cixuan was planning to give them a reverse entry.

Experience the pain that the Ming Dynasty suffered when its capital was attacked during the Chongzhen period.

Who says [Lightning Return] is a late-game skill? During the Qing Dynasty, the sea was closed and the people were relocated, and the coastal areas became the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Even though Zhu Cixuan had never used monsoon and typhoon currents, he knew that in the face of the Golden Destiny, they would only help the Ming fleet.

That is to say, the two capitals had only been occupied for sixteen or seventeen years, and the Ming Dynasty could not be as fast as lightning.

Otherwise, Zhu Cixuan would have taken away 100,000 Qing troops in one wave.

The first choice is definitely Beijing.

The political significance is extremely important, and it can reverse the offensive and defensive situation of the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty.

Not to mention the principal's [Speed ​​Pass Citywide].

Where is the most exciting city?
Even with the Dai Qing Jingying, Zhu Cixuan could still rush into the Forbidden City and sit on the throne.

Even if Dai Qing later mobilized more than 100,000 troops to encircle and suppress him.

Zhu Cixuan also had ten flash cards left, enough for him to escape to the coast, board a ship and go into the sea.

But apart from this, there is nothing else about the succession of the capital.

Since the Southern Capital could not be captured, Ming Xiaoling's succession to the throne was also of great significance. He could take the troops of Prince Lu as regent and re-establish roots in eastern Zhejiang.

There are also scholars from Jiangnan.

Even Qian Qianyi, who was known for his cold attitude, secretly funded anti-Qing patriots. The vast majority of literati must still have their homeland in their hearts.

By gathering together the three great thinkers of the late Ming Dynasty and a group of civil officials, not to mention party struggles, Zhu Cixuan gained no less than three million taels of gold.

Ultimately, it depends on Zheng Yanping's attitude.

Seeing that the prince had made up his mind, Fu Gang became increasingly powerless: "So, Your Highness wants to move with us to Ava City."

"Your Highness is sailing from Siam to the Min Sea again."

Fu Gang couldn't persuade him anymore.

What can be said?
Prince, your surprise attack on Kunming was successful because Yunnan and Yunnan were full of the remnants of the old ministers.

The two capitals had been occupied for sixteen or seventeen years, and the local people and old ministers had already become like the Eastern Tartars.

Fu Gang knew that if he continued to persuade the prince, he would come up with some twisted ideas again.

Faced with this prince who repeatedly behaved in absurd ways and had a lot of absurd ideas, Fu Gang sometimes really wanted to resign and retire.

He remains as numb as Ren Guoxi and Deng Shilian, and will die of anger sooner or later.

Zhu Cixuan nodded and said, "That's exactly what I'm planning, but before we set off, let's meet the envoy from Guangdong first."

A moment later, two messengers with braids entered the meeting hall.

Although both of them came from eastern Guangdong.

But the direction and purpose are not consistent.

Chang Jinyin, who claimed to be a descendant of Chang Yuchun, wanted to come to the southwest to join the court in the fight against the Qing Dynasty.

Entering Guizhou from Guangdong, he happened to enter the Shuixi Tusi in western Guizhou and heard that the Ming Dynasty had once again fought back from the barbarians in the south to Yunnan and Yunnan.

He contacted the Shuixi chieftain and the former ministers of the Ming Dynasty, intending to launch an uprising in response.

Wang Zide, a native of Huizhou, was Zheng Yanping's envoy.

When Zheng Yanping heard that Zhu Youlang and Li Dingguo had fled to the wilderness after their defeat, he ordered them to go through Guangxi and Guangdong and then into Hongsha, hoping that Emperor Yongli would sail to Fujian and stay there temporarily.

But by the time he arrived at the Thai-Myanmar border, Zhu Cixuan had already returned to Yunnan.

After paying a visit to Emperor Yongli in Ava City, he rushed to Dali Prefecture and happened to arrive in Dali Prefecture with Chang Jinyin.

If he had been two days later, he would have missed Zhu Cixuan who was going to Siam.

The Ming Dynasty's emperor and his ministers followed the principle of proximity and first exchanged information with Chang Jinyin who came from Qianxi.

Zhu Cixuan asked curiously, "King Pi Xiong of Qianyang?"

"He's actually still alive?"

Zhu Cixuan had heard of this scumbag who established his own territory, bullied the people, and fought against his colleagues.

In order to prevent the Dashi Army from leaving Yunnan, Wu Sangui made a private oath with them when he entered Guizhou.

Ok.

If a local vassal general were a true gentleman and had fought against the Qing Dynasty, he would not have survived to this day.

Aren’t Li Dingguo and Zheng Yanping not much different from Pi Xiong?

Chang Jinyin bowed slightly and said, "Yes, two years ago, upon hearing the emperor's tragic news, Prince Qianyang shaved his head, became a monk, and lived in seclusion in Shuixi Mountain."

"When I arrived in Shuixi, the King of Qianyang heard that Your Highness had reclaimed Dian, and he began to gather his old subordinates and prepare to raise an army."

"On the contrary, An Kun, the chieftain of the Shuixi Tusi, is still wavering and his attitude is ambiguous."

Zhu Cixuan nodded without comment.

Shuixi was heavily surrounded by the Qing army, so it would be strange if they dared to rise up against the Qing.

Zhu Cixuan discussed with several ministers and they all agreed that now was not the time for Pi Xiong to start a rebellion.

After the main force of the Qing army withdrew, they cooperated with Li Dingguo to attack the Qing army occupying the exit of Yunnan and Yunnan.

Zhu Cixuan hesitated for a moment and then asked about the situation in eastern Guangdong:
"How are Guo Zhiqi and Lian Chengbi doing now?"

Chang Jinyin felt a little dejected when he heard this. He sighed deeply and said,

"Reporting to Your Highness, General Lian was left alone in eastern Guangdong two years ago after General Wang Xing was defeated and killed for his country. With no one to turn to, he fled into the mountains in despair. Despite repeated attempts by the pseudo-Qing officials to surrender, he refused with his life."

"And Minister Guo contacted the Guangxi and Guangdong Anti-Qing Volunteer Army. After the Guangdong and Guangxi border areas fell, he fled to the mountains of Annan. His life or death is currently unknown."

In the meeting hall, the Ming emperor and his ministers fell into a long silence after hearing about the situation in eastern Guangdong.

Zhu Cixuan felt something stuck in his throat and said hoarsely, "Help the elder."

"I am alone in Ava, and I always say that time waits for no one."

"We can't follow Lord Ren and Lord Deng's advice and first pacify the southern barbarian nations before attacking Yunnan."

"Because the Minister Lei of Yunnan, Gong Shangshu, and you, the Minister Fu, are waiting for the Ming Dynasty."

“It’s still these four words today.”

"If we don't quickly pacify the Eastern Tartars, how can we repay those patriots who were loyal to the Ming Dynasty, and how can we comfort those who died fighting the Qing Dynasty?"

Fu Gang, feeling melancholy for a moment, bowed and shook his head in silence.

This time, he somewhat agreed with the Crown Prince's impatience.

It took a long time for Zhu Cixuan to calm down and turn to look at Zheng Yanping's envoy.

"Is the Prince of Yanping currently recovering Yizhou?"

After a brief moment of daze, Wang Zide replied:

"Your Highness is wise. After the defeat of Koxinga in Nandu, food and fodder are scarce. He intends to use Yizhou as a base for his rear base and then attack and retake the coastal areas."

"Before I came here, I had heard that Koxinga was preparing to launch an attack on Penghu."

Zhu Cixuan waved his hand and said, "I learned this from the Dutch in Southeast Asia."

"Let me ask you, if the Ming Dynasty were to move its campaign to the southeastern Guangxi and Guangdong, would Zheng Yanping be able to send troops to support us?"

Wang Zide was stunned again, hesitated for a moment, and spoke cautiously:
"So that His Highness knows that after Koxinga's defeat in Nandu, he suffered heavy losses, and his troops became demoralized."

"If we hadn't defeated the invading Qing army in Kinmen and Xiamen, perhaps..."

"Perhaps the Minhai Army will be on the verge of collapse."

"Even when Koxinga turned to attack Yizhou, he overcame numerous difficulties before successfully launching his rebellion."

"In the next year or so, I'm afraid Koxinga won't have the energy to assist Your Highness in reclaiming eastern Guangdong."

Seeing the prince's expressionless face, Wang Zide felt a chill in his heart:
"Your Highness, the Lord Koxinga has asked me to persuade you to stay in Hangmin temporarily. If Your Highness and the Emperor can go to Hangmin."

"It will definitely boost the morale of the army. We only need to rest for another half a year before we can march inland."

Zhu Cixuan nodded again without comment.

"I am about to sail from Siam to Fujian. Please be my guide."

however.

Just as Zhu Cixuan and the Ming Dynasty court were heading south to Ava City.

Suddenly I received an incredible news.

(End of this chapter)