Chapter 4, straightforward and blunt

As he spoke, he replaced his expression with a brilliant smile. Before Chongzhen could react, he suddenly stepped forward while holding Princess Kunxing, and at the same time, the hilt of his sword struck fiercely at the back of Chongzhen's head. Caught off guard, the latter was instantly knocked unconscious. Wang Cheng'en, who was nearby, reacted quickly, exclaiming as he stepped forward to catch Chongzhen. The armed eunuchs were thrown into disarray, raising their guns, but Wang Cheng'en raised his hand to stop them.

However, the order is quite good

Do not be afraid, it is merely a flesh wound

However, the sword in his hand was not put down. At this moment, those armed eunuchs with guns also arrived. He certainly did not want to be shot to pieces; after all, a matchlock gun is still a gun. Speaking of which, Chongzhen was quite pitiful. As the ruler of a nation, at such a time, he was left with only these few dozen eunuchs by his side. In addition, there was a beautiful woman leading a little girl, presumably Consort Yuan and Princess Zhaoren. Before summoning Princess Kunxing, Chongzhen had already sent away his several sons, allowing them to seek refuge with ministers he deemed trustworthy, including his father-in-law Zhou Kui and Duke Cheng Zhu Chuncheng. Of course, at this point, he was left with only these few dozen eunuchs. Furthermore, there was a beautiful woman leading a little girl, presumably Consort Yuan and Princess Zhaoren. Before summoning Princess Kunxing, Chongzhen had already sent away his several sons, allowing them to seek refuge with ministers he deemed trustworthy, including his father-in-law Zhou Kui and Duke Cheng Zhu Chuncheng. Naturally, these individuals subsequently surrendered to Li Zicheng, and after weeping with Empress Zhou, she also found a place to hang herself, so none of these people were present here.

Wooden stakes, thick enough to be embraced by both arms, are densely arranged both inside and outside.

Yang Qing looked at Chongzhen with disdain

As for his coercion of the officials...

His burdens are already too many; adding a woman to the mix would truly be courting disaster

Hurry, everyone hurry up

Your Majesty, if you cannot even protect your own wife and daughter, whom can you punish among the nine clans?

Wang Cheng'en said in a trembling voice

Unless makeup is used to escape

Yang Qing said

Thus, the only remaining choice is to enter through the water gate. During this season, most water gates have little water. A portion of the Eight-Nation Alliance entered Beijing in formation through the water gate while being observed by the citizens of Beijing.

Yang Qing decisively pressured Wang Cheng'en to write a banner praising Li Zicheng, and then had Princess Zhao Ren, who had changed into tattered clothes and smeared her face, take it out. The adorable little girl shouted "Long live the Emperor of the Great Shun!" which undoubtedly attracted much attention. She even received a large pancake as a reward from a soldier of the Shun army, leaving Chongzhen's expression exceptionally vivid.

Yang Qing's words caused a change in Chongzhen's expression, darkening it.

They passed through the palace, circled north around Jingshan, and exited through the North An Gate, leaving the imperial city by dawn

However, the danger of climbing the city wall is too great. If Yang Qing were alone or merely carrying Princess Kunxing, it would certainly be easy. Given his current physical condition, a ten-meter-high city wall is nothing to mention; with a rope, he could easily ascend. However, even if he were to abandon those armed eunuchs, he still has Wang Cheng'en, Chongzhen, and Princess Zhaoren with him. Expecting to make four trips back and forth without being discovered would be overly confident. Once discovered, it would be very difficult to escape.

Wang Cheng'en said

Especially in cases of excessive blood loss

An armed eunuch followed closely beside, adding remarks

Just as they were preparing to flee, Li Zicheng's grand army entered Beijing through all the open city gates amidst the snowflakes and freezing rain, swiftly taking control of the city.

The two seemed to have a tacit understanding as they nodded to each other, and then they waved to the eunuchs. Thus, they left the Palace of Heavenly Purity amidst the cries of Princess Zhaoren

Then I shall first express my gratitude for the imperial grace

Suddenly, a furious roar came from behind Yang Qing

Yang Qing felt conflicted

Yang Qing said nonchalantly, "Supervisor, why aren't you hurrying to pack up the jade seal and the like? If we don't leave soon, it will be dawn!"

Wang Cheng'en said with a hint of sarcasm

They cannot leave during the day, as the army seals off all gates during daylight hours, making it impossible for anyone to go out. The remaining options are to scale the city walls at night or to sneak through the water gate.

Are you the one who wishes to escort me to Nanjing? If so, I shall not let you down

Yang Qing immediately surrendered

The only way is to go through the Water Gate

At this time, the rain was still falling, and it had turned into freezing rain. Taking advantage of the last darkness before dawn, they quickly broke into a nearby residence. Half an hour later, as the sky began to brighten, they had all changed into the clothing of ordinary citizens. At this moment, Chongzhen also woke up, but he remained sullen and did not speak, even when Yang Qing personally changed his daughter's clothes. He was likely contemplating when to execute this traitor and his entire clan. Princess Kunxing had also woken up, but she pretended to still be asleep, keeping her eyes closed and allowing Yang Qing to attend to her. After all, her injuries were also treated by Yang Qing, which could be considered as having a close physical relationship.

I just want to hit him once

In fact, the claims regarding Li Zicheng's pillaging and looting after entering Beijing are all nonsense, fabricated by later literati. Even at that time, some scholars remarked that after his entry into Beijing, order was maintained. Not only did he issue strict orders against any infringement, but he also executed two of his subordinates for robbery. Furthermore, he mandated that shops continue their normal operations. However, these accounts were soon drowned out by the sensationalized narratives encouraged by our Qing dynasty, leading to increasingly outrageous stories being concocted.

At the same time, Yang Qing also stood up while holding Princess Kunxing, and then carefully supported her to stand. The latter had actually lost consciousness, as it was inevitable for someone with her frail physique to succumb to excessive blood loss.

Can you open the sluice gate of the water control?

Chongzhen also became subdued, standing there with a sullen gaze fixed on Yang Qing. The armed eunuchs around him looked on helplessly at this scene, as none had ever experienced such a situation where the emperor was taken hostage

Wang Cheng'en gritted his teeth and shouted

Yang Qing looked at those beautiful eyes and spoke gently

Quickly put down the sword, or you will be cursed for ten thousand years and your nine clans will be exterminated

Alright, let us still climb the city wall

That has nothing to do with the common people. His act of extracting Wei Zhaode's brain matter can be said to be an act of vengeance for Chongzhen. It is said that when Chongzhen pleaded with them for donations, Wei, the top scholar, contributed five hundred taels, while Liu Zongmin extracted thirteen thousand taels of gold. Such a person should not be spared; otherwise, Chongzhen's spirit would not find peace in the afterlife. However, to say that the Shun army harmed the common people is absurd. In fact, they had no need to harm the common people. Those wealthy aristocrats had everything they could desire at home. If they wanted money, they had money; if they wanted beautiful women, they had beautiful women. They were too idle to bother with the common people who could barely make ends meet.

He added one more point

However, her injuries are not optimistic

At this moment, escaping from Beijing is not an easy task. The Shun army has completely surrounded the city. The outer city has already been occupied, and the inner city is also beginning to be taken over. However, this city is so large that even after the occupation, it will take some time. At this point, it is not difficult to avoid the Shun army when going out; there are definitely no Shun troops in the north of the city. But the problem is that they are all outside the city! ... Hundreds of thousands of troops are blocked on the other three sides of the inner city, waiting to enter. Even if they manage to leave the city, they cannot escape, as the area outside the city is filled with Shun troops. Unless ... at this moment, it is not difficult to avoid the Shun army when going out; there are definitely no Shun troops in the north of the city. But the problem is that they are all outside the city! ... Hundreds of thousands of troops are blocked on the other three sides of the inner city, waiting to enter. Even if they manage to leave the city, they cannot escape, as the area outside the city is filled with Shun troops. Unless ...

Iron

Chongzhen said slowly

Thus, Yang Qing and his companions, hiding in this commoner's home, did not encounter any trouble. After all, the troops were busy seizing the mansions of the wealthy, with only a small squad of soldiers making a symbolic patrol through the streets outside.

After speaking, he took Princess Zhaoren into his arms with one hand and exchanged a glance with Wang Cheng'en

You are clad in brocade, and should serve loyally to protect the state. How dare you seize the imperial carriage? Put down your sword at once. Considering your concern for the princess, if you can turn your offense into merit and help His Majesty escape, His Majesty will surely grant you nobility for generations to come

"General, please take Zhao Ren away; I shall die to uphold my loyalty."

Taking advantage of the moment when no one was around, Yang Qing quickly re-examined her wound. He could only ensure that the bleeding was stopped, but there were no medications available, and whether it would become infected was left to fate. After all, her entire arm had been severed from the middle of the upper arm. The fact that Yang Qing was able to stop the bleeding so quickly was already a testament to his quick reflexes, and just as inexplicably as he possessed extraordinary combat skills, he also had some rudimentary first aid knowledge. However, there was no time to attend to her injury now, as the Shun army had officially entered the city. In particular, the gates of Chaoyang, Dongzhi, and Anding had all been opened one after another. Next, Li Zicheng would enter the city amidst the cheers of the citizens and officials, and then he would search the entire city for Chongzhen, offering a reward of ten thousand gold and titles.

You are truly audacious

Yang Qing said

Bold Madman

Thank you, thank you!

Beside him, Consort Yuan looked at him with hopeful eyes

They must leave the city as soon as possible

Those armed eunuchs were likely the last loyalists. They quickly packed up the imperial seal, the ceremonial robes, and even some jewels belonging to Chongzhen, especially handing the imperial seal directly to Wang Cheng'en, while the unconscious Chongzhen was carried by a strong eunuch. As for Yang Qing, he naturally carried Princess Kunxing.

Yang Qing said

Well, Imperial Concubine, there is no need for you to take your own life. Go and persuade the Empress and the other concubines not to do so either. Li Zicheng will not harm you; he is not as terrifying as you might think. In any case, no matter what happens outside in the future, you should try your best not to leave the palace. There will be even greater turmoil ahead, and it will be difficult for you to survive once you leave the palace.

Yuan Guifei said

Princess Kunxing said with difficulty

Wang Cheng'en shouted without hesitation

Now that the method is determined, the remaining task is to prepare, mainly to find some sturdy ropes and the flying tiger claws, which will definitely be difficult to find suitable ones. Fortunately, there are those matchlock guns, which are already useless; if we really get blocked, these few matchlock guns are not as good as a knife! Yang Qing, relying on his strength, quickly disassembled this and bent the gun barrels into a hook shape, then tied three gun barrels together, which is almost usable. After all, it is just about hooking onto the female wall; it is not like we are really going rock climbing.

How to escape

Yang Qing looked at Chongzhen

A faint blush appeared on her pale face. She instinctively wanted to leave Yang Qing's embrace, but suddenly touched the wound that was being bandaged, immediately letting out a painful moan. Then, as if she had exhausted all her strength, she weakly collapsed against Yang Qing's chest

Just as Chongzhen was helped up by Wang Cheng'en, he broke free and picked up the sword, stabbing it unhesitatingly towards Yang Qing's back. However, Yang Qing did not even glance back; while sidestepping, he carefully completed the final step of bandaging for Princess Kunxing. At the same time that Chongzhen withdrew the sword, Yang Qing's right hand shot out like lightning, grabbing his wrist. With a slight exertion, the sword was in his hand amidst Chongzhen's scream, and before Chongzhen could react, the blade was already pressed against his neck. At the same time that Chongzhen withdrew the sword, Yang Qing's right hand shot out like lightning, grabbing his wrist. With a slight exertion, the sword was in his hand amidst Chongzhen's scream, and before Chongzhen could react, the blade was already pressed against his neck.