The Ming Dynasty: A bookstore sells the history of the Ming Dynasty, leaving Emperor Chongzhen bewil

In fact, from the very beginning, Emperor Chongzhen did not intend to deal with Yuan Chonghuan in any way.

Just as he told Sun Chengzong, Yuan Chonghuan was not a commander but a general. Although he has now asked Sun Chengzong to oversee the army, Yuan Chonghuan is also a sharp sword.

But at this very moment, Yuan Chonghuan couldn't shake his reckless ways and impeached Mao Wenlong.

It's not so bad to use ginseng, since many people have used it.

The problem is that he was Yuan Chonghuan, a figure who has been debated for hundreds of years, and Chongzhen happened to see the history of later generations, learning from Zhu Ziming about the controversies surrounding Yuan Chonghuan and Chongzhen himself.

In addition, the case of Yuan Chonghuan killing Mao Wenlong has been controversial for hundreds of years.

Emperor Chongzhen originally only wanted to refute Yuan Chonghuan, but as he spoke, he really couldn't stand it anymore, because Yuan Chonghuan had indeed deceived the emperor. In the original historical trajectory, the grand plan of recovering Liaodong in five years not only failed to materialize, but also cost him a heavy price.

The more Chongzhen spoke, the more agitated he became, and the angrier he got.

He was a man who was easily angered. Recalling how badly he had been betrayed by Yuan Chonghuan in the original history, and how the Manchu Qing dynasty used Yuan Chonghuan to smear him, he could no longer tolerate it and pressed his advantage, directly accusing Yuan Chonghuan of deceiving the emperor.

The decision to exile him to Pi Island was a sudden inspiration of Emperor Chongzhen.

Since Mao Wenlong was killed by Yuan Chonghuan in the original historical timeline, this time, Chongzhen exiled Yuan Chonghuan to Pi Island to see how Mao Wenlong would deal with him.

If that's the case, and Mao Wenlong was still killed by Yuan Chonghuan, then Mao Wenlong can only blame himself.

After Yuan Chonghuan was taken away, Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand once again.

"If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court is dismissed!"

This time, no one spoke; the court session had truly ended.

This time it wasn't so fast. There was a climax, it was exhilarating, but the atmosphere was a bit strange. Everyone had a serious expression and seemed to be deep in thought.

Just a few days ago, he was the Minister of War and the Governor-General of Jiliao, full of vigor. Today, he has been imprisoned for offending the Emperor for some unknown reason.

This is how political struggles arise when imperial power reigns supreme.

Moreover, the current emperor seems to be different from before.

What's wrong with the Emperor? He's becoming increasingly unpredictable...

……

After Yuan Chonghuan was captured, Sun Chengzong succeeded him as Minister of War and concurrently served as the Governor-General of Jiliao. He also appointed Yuan Chonghuan as Junior Tutor, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and Grand Secretary of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Yuan Chonghuan's position was already at its maximum. Originally, Emperor Chongzhen needed to find a reason to replace Yuan Chonghuan, but now he didn't need to find a reason at all; it was a matter of course.

Soon, Sun Chengzong went to the capital to meet the emperor and took office.

In the original historical trajectory, Sun Chengzong was appointed to a critical position during the Jisi Incident and later succeeded Yuan Chonghuan. However, this time the timing was brought forward significantly.

Because a mutiny had occurred at the front due to unpaid wages, Emperor Chongzhen ordered Sun Chengzong to go there quickly to quell the situation. He asked Sun Chengzong if he needed anything else.

Sun Chengzong was very direct: "A full stomach is all it takes to fight."

Although the words were crude, the principle was sound. In the end, Emperor Chongzhen still managed to scrape together 300,000 taels of silver from the imperial treasury to pay Sun Chengzong's military expenses.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the Little New Year, it snowed all night in the capital, and by dawn, the snow was half a foot deep.

On the Zhengyangmen city tower, Zhu Youjian, wearing a black sable fur coat, stood alone by the battlements, without any ceremonial guards or officials, and even his guards were sent ten paces away.

Beneath the city walls, Sun Chengzong, clad in brand-new mountain-patterned armor and a slightly worn scarlet cloak, led twenty-four elite cavalrymen, galloping swiftly through the snow. The 65-year-old man was once again heading to the battlefield.

Emperor Chongzhen watched Sun Chengzong walk further and further away, lost in thought.

The wind whipped up snowflakes, which landed on Chongzhen's face.

"Your Majesty, let's go back to the palace. You're catching a cold..." Wang Chengen whispered from behind.

"Do you think," Zhu Youjian suddenly asked, "he might be able to come back this time?"

Historically, Sun Chengzong never returned to the capital after going to rescue Tongzhou, which was approaching by the Later Jin army, until his entire family died for their country. How could Wang Chengen possibly answer what would happen this time?

"This servant does not know," Wang Chengen replied, trembling with fear.

Emperor Chongzhen chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "I don't know either. Let's go back to the palace."

Wang Chengen stared blankly at Chongzhen's retreating figure for a moment. In fact, he wanted to say that he didn't know if Sun Chengzong could come back, but he knew that the emperor was really different now.

The Lunar New Year is just after the Little New Year. The first year of Chongzhen's reign is coming to an end, and a new year is about to begin.

With the court about to come to a standstill, Emperor Chongzhen was able to relax a little, which was a rare treat.

Since my last visit to the bookstore, everything seems to have improved. The Ming Dynasty seems to be moving in a new direction, no longer just cutting down a locust tree, but actually changing some aspects of history.

Emperor Chongzhen had been extremely busy lately, and now that this matter was settled, he was finally able to relax. He wanted to take some time to visit Zhu Ziming at the bookstore again.

Although there are no problems at the moment, he remembered that Zhu Ziming once said that the lifespan of a dynasty is no more than three hundred years. This is a rule, a rule dominated by the means of production. No dynasty in history has been able to break it. Now, Chongzhen is at the point when the Ming Dynasty is about to reach its three hundredth anniversary. Can he do it?

Even Emperor Chongzhen didn't know...

……

On the official road outside the city.

Because of the wind and snow, there were hardly any pedestrians on the road, but a fast horse was galloping through the snow.

On the horse was a messenger wearing a straw raincoat and hat, covered in dust from his journey, and the fast horse beneath him was also panting heavily, showing signs of exhaustion.

"drive!"

"drive!"

The messenger urged his horse onward, speeding along the snow-covered official road towards the capital.

at last……

The messenger could see the tall city gate of the capital in the distance, getting closer and closer, clearer and clearer.

The messenger secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but then...

"hiss--"

The horse beneath him suddenly let out a mournful cry, its legs buckled, and it slid forward on its knees, crashing heavily onto the snow, foaming at the mouth.

The courier was also thrown to the ground and fell into the snowstorm.

However, he didn't have time to check on the horse's condition or brush off the wind and snow. He immediately opened the pack on his chest to check.

Fortunately.

The memorial with the feather inserted remained intact.

The messenger took out the memorial, held it high, and then, with the last of his strength, ran towards the city gate.

He ran while shouting.

"Urgent dispatch! Urgent dispatch...!"

The messenger stumbled and fell outside the city gate.

Fortunately, the garrison commander spotted him.

The captain, accompanied by two guards, stepped forward to inspect the memorial with the feather inserted in it, and his expression immediately changed drastically when he took it from the messenger's hand.

The feathers indicate that it is urgent.

The memorial had three sticks inserted at the top, and below it was written in red ink: "Emergency dispatch over 800 li".

This is an urgent memorial sent over an express courier!

"quick!"

"Quickly escort them to the Meridian Gate!"

The captain held the memorial aloft, two guards supported the messenger, and the group hurriedly ran into the city...