Chapter 3, it was merely because I glanced at you a moment longer in the crowd

However, it should be noted that the seemingly self-assured Wang Dehua was the one who opened the De Sheng Gate to allow the Shun army to enter the city. His contributions to Li Zicheng are precisely why he dared to be so arrogant

Yang Qing was momentarily taken aback

During this period, eunuchs were constantly rushing in to report military situations or coming out with imperial edicts. It is estimated that Chongzhen was making a desperate struggle, but this was meaningless, as all the civil and military officials outside had abandoned him. When Yang Qing entered, he encountered the last group of officials entering the palace; after them, no officials entered the palace again. Historically, the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict to the cabinet found no one there, so he placed the edict on the table and left. The order he gave to the army was for Duke Zhu Chuncheng, who had later been turned away when he personally visited. Zhu had originally surrendered to Li Zicheng, but accidentally had this edict, which appointed him to command military affairs both inside and outside, discovered. Subsequently, Li Zicheng avenged Chongzhen.

After all, he still has alternative options

Although there is still doubt about whether Cao Huachun was the one to open the door to confront the enemy, after all, he had been retired for several years, and theoretically, he should not have been in Beijing at that time. However, numerous historical records repeatedly document his presence in Beijing during this period, indicating that he was an important figure. It is unlikely that so many people would falsely accuse him. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that he was specially summoned by Chongzhen, as he could be considered a veteran figure. It would not be surprising for Chongzhen, in a state of panic due to his illness, to seek him out as a remedy.

Then the young eunuch shouted angrily

He could also switch his allegiance to Li Zicheng. Although he has just killed several soldiers of the Shun army, he has also demonstrated his value. Li Zicheng would not abandon a fierce general. Then he would find ways to help the latter win the Battle of Shanhai Pass. Ultimately, assisting Chongzhen is not the only option; it is just that this path is more challenging. After all, it is a chaotic battle involving hundreds of thousands of people, and the role of a fierce general is quite limited.

In front of the Qianqing Gate and on both sides of the white marble railings, there were at least twenty matchlock guns aimed at him, and several had already quickly ignited their fuses, while the others were also in the process of lighting their fuses. He raised his hand, replaced it with a calm smile, and then slowly began to retreat.

He has been waiting for a long time; in fact, it should be the early hours of the morning at this time. However, it is a cloudy day, making it difficult to discern the exact time. Nevertheless, the news of the army's successful breach of Xuanwu Gate has already arrived

This is the exceptional prime minister who has been promoted beyond the norm, bringing considerable glory to our ancestors

Yet, I have never received any news of being summoned.

Sitting atop the Meridian Gate wall, Li Zicheng's trusted advisor Gu Jun'en watched the monkey show and said with a smile: "Is this the Scholar Wei?"

Chongzhen looked at Yang Qing with suspicion

He immediately inhaled sharply.

Especially the splendid palace attire accentuates her beauty, making the term "national beauty and heavenly fragrance" equally fitting

Immediately, a man appeared in his line of sight, holding a sword, dressed in a red dragon robe, and wearing a winged crown on his head

He stood silently in front of the Gate of Heavenly Purity, observing the various people coming and going.

He ran down a few steps and leaped to the ground, then sprinted towards the Qianqing Palace at full speed. He quickly rushed up the steps to the platform, just as a group of armed eunuchs charged at him with knives. At the same time, a woman's scream suddenly echoed from within the closed doors of the Qianqing Palace hall. In an instant, Yang Qing's mind went blank; he did not even glance at the armed eunuchs with knives. Like an enraged bull, he charged straight ahead, knocking two eunuchs who blocked his path aside, and then he crashed through the doors of the Qianqing Palace.

Not far from him, a beautiful young girl, who did not appear to be very old, was curiously gazing at him with her beautiful eyes. Dressed in palace attire, she stood against the backdrop of the palace walls under the dim light, resembling a blooming tulip in the dark night, dispersing the blood-red atmosphere that permeated this special moment with her seemingly innate elegance and nobility

May I ask, sir, who is that woman?

In the intense gaze of Yang Qingzhuo, she shyly lowered her head and then walked into the Qianqing Gate surrounded by several palace maids. Just as she was about to disappear into the shadows, she suddenly turned back. Yang Qing instinctively raised his hand, but at that moment, a light rain began to fall from the sky. A palace maid quickly opened a bamboo umbrella, and soon her graceful figure was obscured by this maid, quickly descending the steps inside the gate and becoming invisible.

As a result, Minister Zhang was brought to tears

She is so beautiful, beautiful to the point of causing one's heart to race

Yang Qing immediately stopped, raised both hands, and stood still, gazing ahead

Yang Qing, with blood-red eyes, charged in without waiting for the eunuchs to react, and with a shoulder, he knocked Chongzhen aside. In the terrified gaze of Wang Cheng'en, he picked up Princess Kunxing, swiftly tore off her sleeve, and began to bandage her wounds in her bewildered gaze

He immediately exited the porch, only to find that climbing the wall was quite difficult, as it had not been designed with that in mind. Fortunately, his jumping ability was now far superior to before. After taking a few steps back, he sprinted for over ten meters and, with a loud shout, leaped with all his might, propelling himself over three meters high. In mid-air, his hands quickly grasped a protruding eave, and the sturdy wood easily supported his weight. Then, relying on his equally improved strength, he effortlessly climbed up, stepping on the tiles and quickly reaching the top.

He suddenly shouted in alarm and then rushed straight towards the Qianqing Gate

It is evident that this is His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

Yang Qing stood before the Qianqing Gate, gazing at the final moments of the Chongzhen era as if he were looking at an elderly man in a dying state

But he cannot just wait like this

With a furious shout, the armed eunuchs guarding the door immediately raised their matchlock guns

The magnificent view of the Palace of Heavenly Purity immediately unfolded before him

Watching the palace maids and eunuchs around him begin to flee, he gritted his teeth in turmoil

There were even eunuchs carrying food boxes inside, presumably for the final supper

Yang Qing exclaimed in astonishment

Is it Princess Kunxing? Isn't it Princess Changping?

At this moment, the only words that Yang Qing could think of were "stunningly beautiful".

Yang Qingshun hastily grabbed a fleeing young eunuch and asked impatiently

Where did it come from

Then the young eunuch said

Then the young eunuch said

Yang Qing asked again with a pleasant expression

In this grand drama, which can be described as a manifestation of the times, the eunuchs are no better than the civil officials; in fact, no one is more loyal than the other. Civil officials, military officials, eunuchs, the Jinyiwei, and the nobility are all the same. Civil officials are indeed notorious for their shamelessness, yet there are also many who sacrificed their lives for Chongzhen, such as Zhou Fengxiang, a reader in the Hanlin Academy, who, after witnessing the aforementioned farce, returned to write "Blood on the Nine Plains for the Holy Lord" and "The White-haired Elder Longing for the Loyal Soul," before committing suicide. Among the eunuchs, there are indeed those like Wang Cheng'en who followed Chongzhen through life and death, but there are also many who sold him without any sense of integrity. Yang Qing would not be naive enough to believe in the loyalty of eunuchs, unless it is someone like Wang Cheng'en, whose loyalty is beyond doubt.

And beneath his feet lay Princess Kunxing, her left arm already stained red with blood

In fact, it was opened by the eunuch Wang Xiangyao

However

Old Wang is ineffective in handling matters

He looked conflicted as he gazed at the brightly lit Qianqing Palace beyond the grand door

At this moment, Scholar Wei hurried forward to provide assistance

Do not think that the grand eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty were truly loyal to Chongzhen; there were many supervising officials and military inspectors who surrendered to Li Zicheng

Yang Qing felt conflicted

The Grand Eunuch Wang Dehua, after an audience with Li Zicheng, exited through the Wumen gate and happened to encounter Zhang Jinyan, the Minister of War, who was waiting for an appointment.

The armed eunuchs maintained their aiming posture, watching his retreat

However, his furious shout came to an abrupt halt as Yang Qing lifted him. Immediately after being raised by the latter with one hand, he replaced his expression with a fawning smile, and Yang Qing also smiled as he set him down.

What face does Mr. Wei have to come here?

If you cannot break through, then crawl

Among the other high-ranking eunuchs, Wang Zhixin, Wang Huamin, and Du Zhizhi did not play any good roles; they all knelt before the rebel leader with great eagerness.

Wang Dehua scolded

Wei Zaode's face turned red

Does General Lian Kun recognize the princess?

Are you still there? You are ruining the national affairs with Lord Wei!

This means that the inner city has already been breached

Next to Minister Zhang was Lord Wei, who had just told Li Zicheng that His Majesty pardoned the minister, and he would naturally repay this with utmost loyalty. In reality, he was the top scholar Wei Zaode, whom Chongzhen trusted the most. After uttering the aforementioned words, he was directly thrown to Liu Zongmin for imprisonment by the disgusted Li Zicheng. As a result, he leaned against the window and shouted, "If you need me, any official position will do, but why must I be imprisoned?"

Yang Qing continued to retreat for thirty meters, smiling as he waved goodbye. Suddenly, he made a standard right turn and began to sprint. It is worth mentioning that there is more than one entrance to the Qianqing Palace; the eunuchs who had just delivered food had left through a small door not far away. Amidst the puzzled gazes of the armed eunuchs, Yang Qing, having run several dozen meters, immediately dashed into that small door which they could not see, continuing forward along a corridor. Soon, a side door appeared on his left, but it was tightly closed. He exerted all his strength to crash into it, yet it did not budge. Amidst the puzzled gazes of the armed eunuchs, Yang Qing, having run several dozen meters, immediately dashed into that small door which they could not see, continuing forward along a corridor. Soon, a side door appeared on his left, but it was tightly closed. He exerted all his strength to crash into it, yet it did not budge.

After speaking, he ordered his attendant to slap Zhang Jinyan in the face

Princess, do not go in!

Thus, there was an extremely humorous scene in front of the Meridian Gate

Who is that person

If it were another supervisor, Yang Qing would truly find it hard to believe, but with Wang Cheng'en, there is no issue at all

Bold!

Giving up is not out of the question

But unfortunately, Princess Kunxing is already missing

At that moment, a strange glimmer suddenly illuminated his vision

This is the only instance of unwavering loyalty to Chongzhen.

The subordinates of Li Zicheng around him all laughed happily

"Changping? Our Great Ming has never had a Princess Changping. There are only three princesses with titles. Princess Kunyi has long since passed away, and then there are Princess Kunxing and Princess Zhaoren. Princess Zhaoren is only five years old!"

Gu Jun'en said

Given his personality, he was very eager to barge in, but with Chongzhen's notoriously foul and stubborn temper, such an action would indeed lead to trouble. He was not a trusted confidant, merely a captain of the Jinyiwei. If he forced his way in, Chongzhen's only response would likely be to have the guards shoot him on sight, without even giving him a chance to speak. It is worth mentioning that there were also a group of armed eunuchs around Chongzhen. While he indeed possessed exceptional combat skills, he was still vulnerable to bullets. Whether he could even meet Chongzhen by barging in was uncertain, and it would also pose a life-threatening risk. In that case, it would have been better for him to have taken Wang Cheng'en hostage and entered that way; he must have been deceived by Old Wang.

Wang Dehua scolded him along with others