Ming Empire

Chapter 198 No.40 The Queen's Request
After Sun Chuanting heard this, he didn't answer right away, but stared at the confident and resolute Cao Yue for a long time, and finally showed a faint smile: "Boy, you are more ruthless and courageous than I thought. , You have to think about the long-term, but I believe that what you can do can be seen from your performance in Datong and Nanjing during this period. Well, you have won, and you have the support of me, an old man!"

"Old man Sun, you will soon find out that your choice is correct!" Cao Yue patted Sun Chuanting on the shoulder with a smile, "Old man Sun, I am going to tell you a big secret, when you know this The secret is gone, and you will find out the truth!"

"What secret, tell me quickly!" Sun Chuanting suddenly became interested, grabbed Cao Yue's arm, and asked repeatedly: "Boy, don't hide anything from me, tell me, or I won't help you in the future! Hmph Hmph, tell me quickly, don't deceive this old man!"

"Old man Sun, don't worry, I will tell you this secret on the day you die!" Cao Yue smiled secretly, and patted Sun Chuanting's hand off his shoulder: "When you are about to die, I will tell you again." Let me tell you this secret, and then you will die without shaking! Haha!"

"Stinky boy, how dare you play tricks on me!" Sun Chuanting looked extremely angry, his old face couldn't hold back, and he was a little crazy!
"Old man Sun, I didn't fool you. There is really a big secret. I plan to tell you before you die. When you know this secret, you can go to another world without shaking!" Cao Yue took two steps back. , showing an unpredictable look, "At that time, you will understand everything that happened to me. What you have to do now is to help me achieve great things. I believe that the two of us will be able to create a A prosperous and powerful Ming Dynasty. This is my wish, and it is what you, Old Man Sun, want to do the most, isn’t it? Now God has given us the best chance to control the situation in the world, we must not give up!”

Listening to Cao Yue's last words, the anger on Sun Chuanting's face disappeared, replaced by a rare solemnity, he stared at Cao Yue for a while, then lowered his voice and asked solemnly: "Boy, old man Let me ask you one more question, do you really...want to be Cao Cao?!"

"It doesn't matter who you are, Cao Cao. The important thing is to take care of the chaotic situation in the world, save Daming from the dire straits, rebuild a strong Ming, and bring peace to the people of the world!" Cao Yue said coldly. Staring at Sun Chuanting intently: "Old man Sun, I thought you were enlightened just now, but you still play like this. Let me ask you, is the safety of the Ming Dynasty, the life and death of the people, or a false name important? Looking at the world today, do you think it is still important?" Is there anyone who can save the world more than me, the admiral of Nanjing with a hundred thousand elites in hand?"

Sun Chuanting stared at Cao Yue for a while, then quickly changed his complexion, put away his solemn expression, and said with a few giggles: "Okay, boy, I won't ask such boring questions anymore, just listen to you!"

"I said, you will be grateful for today's choice in the future!" Cao Yue smiled triumphantly, and stretched out his hand to Sun Chuanting.

Sun Chuanting hesitated for a moment, but finally reached out his hand and shook hands with Cao Yue.After holding hands together, the two looked at each other for a while, and finally burst out laughing.

Before Cao Yue led the navy fleet to Yanziji Wharf, he had a secret chat with Sun Chuanting and Empress Zhou several times, and had a preliminary plan for the court affairs after the new emperor ascended the throne.

On the eighth day of November in the 16th year of Chongzhen, in the cold wind and bleak weather, the naval fleet arrived at Yanziji Wharf smoothly.

Officials from the Six Ministries of Nanjing who received the report from Cao Yue, led by Shi Kefa, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, Gao Hongtu, Shangshu of the Ministry of Households, Zhu Tongxi, Duke of An, Xu Hongji, Duke of Wei, Zhao Zhilong, Uncle Xincheng, and Liu Kongzhao, Uncle Chengyi, went to Yanziji Wharf to meet them. He Xiongxiang, Minister of the Ministry and Minister of Rites, died of illness shortly after Cao Yue left Nanjing and went north to King Qin, and had no chance to appear in front of Cao Yue again.

Just after the naval warships arrived at the Yanziji Wharf and the soldiers on the warships landed one after another, Cao Yue announced to the officials who came to greet them that Beijing had fallen, Emperor Chongzhen committed suicide and the prince died of serious injuries. .Although there were already rumors about this in Nanjing, the officials in Nanjing were not sure about the news without getting the exact news. Today, after listening to Cao Yue's public announcement, it became clear that this was really the case.

Most officials had a bad feeling when the warship arrived at the pier, because white flags were hung on the warship, and all the soldiers were wearing mourning.After Cao Yue announced the news in public, there was a burst of crying on the pier, and all the officials who greeted him knelt down towards the warship carrying Emperor Chongzhen's body.All the soldiers who were on the boat or got off the shore also knelt down straight, crying loudly for a while.

Amidst the cries and mourning that soared into the sky, the coffin carrying the remains of Emperor Chongzhen and Prince Zhu Cizhao slowly descended from the gangway under the escort of several soldiers of honor.Following behind the coffin were the Empress Zhou, Prince Ding Zhu Cijiong, Princess Zhaoren Zhu Xiong, and other members of the royal family and palace officials who were lucky enough to be rescued.

After the coffins of Emperor Chongzhen and Zhu Cizhao were lifted off the warship, they were solemnly placed in front of the officials. Then Empress Zhou and Zhu Cijiong walked up to the officials and told the whole story to the officials who came to greet them in tears. .This is what Cao Yue asked Empress Zhou and Zhu Cijiong to do. He knew that the officials in Nanjing must have doubts about the death of Emperor Chongzhen and Prince Zhu Cizhao, and they might even have doubts.The most authoritative ones are the personal narrations of Queen Zhou and other members of the royal family.

Before and after Empress Zhou tearfully captured the rogues, how did Emperor Chongzhen be deceived by Zhou Tingru and others, and finally missed the opportunity to recruit the king's army to defend Beijing? The people who escaped under Cao Yue's desperate rescue all told the truth.At the end, Empress Zhou took out the blood book written by Emperor Chongzhen before his death from her bosom, showed it in front of all the ministers, and roared angrily: "This is the last writing of the Lord Long Live. Before he died for the country, he never forgot to protect the people. Innocent people. My family hopes that the officials in Nanjing and the remaining soldiers and civilians of the Ming Dynasty must avenge the Lord Long Live, put down the bandits, slaughter the slaves, and wipe out all the enemies who destroyed my Ming Dynasty. Restoration, Aijia dare not die!"

Then, in the midst of everyone's surprise, Empress Zhou plopped and knelt down in front of all the officials, "Aijia begs you, unite as one, fight against foreign enemies together, and avenge the Lord Long Live, Aijia is here to beg you!"

(End of this chapter)