Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 443 Looking North to the Ancient Capital (Part )

Jiang Xiang was about to march to the city. When Dorgon received the news that Baiyintu's troops were destroyed and only a few hundred people escaped back to the capital, Dorgon cried out: "It is God's will!"

Dorgon's tone was somewhat sad. The defeat of Baiyintu had proved that the Qing Dynasty had really declined. They could not even defeat such a fickle person as Jiang Xiang, and instead their entire army was wiped out.

In the Qing army camp, Suksaha was shocked when he received the news that Baiyintu was defeated and barely escaped. Just when Suksaha was hesitating about whether he should continue to contain Zhou's army or quickly return to Beijing, Dorgon sent an urgent order, telling Suksaha to stop hesitating.

Dorgon ordered: "Retreat to Shanhaiguan!"

At this time, the city of Beijing was in chaos. Most of the Eight Banners' families had already evacuated the capital, leaving only the palace servants, some yamen runners who maintained basic order, and the 3,000 Eight Banners cavalry who followed Dorgon back to Beijing.

At this point, there was no need for Beijing to hold on any longer. Dorgon stood outside the Forbidden City, took one last look at the magnificent palace from afar, then lay down in the carriage and headed out of the Great Wall.

On July 24, the fourth year of the Yongli reign, at dawn, Jiang Xiang led the vanguard of his army to the edge of the capital. Looking to the east, the ancient city walls looked solemn yet somewhat peaceful under the morning sun.

The Qing army had already evacuated. Jiang Xiang's troops passed through Guang'an Gate and entered the outer city, and marched all the way to Xuanwu Gate. There was no obstruction. The city gate was open, and he did not encounter any resistance.

When he arrived at the imperial city, Jiang Xiang immediately issued a series of orders to protect the imperial city, maintain order in the capital, and send his personal soldiers to patrol the streets.

In the capital city, there was a backyard of a writing shop.

Lu Ping was sitting and drinking tea with the shopkeeper Song next to him.

Unlike Lu Ping who was calm and composed, Song Zhong was nervous. Seeing Lu Ping's calmness, Song Zhong said with some admiration: "No wonder everyone says that Shopkeeper Lu is a good businessman. Even when the dynasty is about to change, Shopkeeper Lu still remains calm. He is really an extraordinary person!"

After saying this, Song Zhong gave Lu Ping a thumbs up to express his praise.

Lu Ping smiled slightly, and couldn't help wanting to brag a little, but his many years of career as a spy immediately suppressed this little desire to the lowest level.

Then Lu Ping laughed and said, "What does this major event of changing dynasties have to do with a coffin seller like you?"

Song Zhong shook his head repeatedly and said, "Every dynasty has its own way of killing people. It has nothing to do with what I sell. They told me to go out and fight. With my body, can I still resist?"

As they were talking, Liang Sanjin hurried in and said to Lu Ping, "Boss, there's a customer looking for you."

Lu Ping glanced at Song Zhong, nodded, and said, "Manager Song, please sit down. I'll be back soon."

Song Zhong hurriedly said, "Manager Lu, please do as you please and don't worry about me."

A moment later, in the shop, Lu Ping listened to the messenger's words, feeling a little bit in disbelief and a little bit ecstatic. He never thought that this day would come.

At this moment, Lu Ping finally felt the famous words of the King of Chu: If you don't return home when you are rich and powerful, it's like walking in the night in brocade clothes. Lu Ping couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "The King's words are really very good!"

This was an urgent order from Meng Bian, ordering Lu Ping to immediately raise the name of Qingluan Guard in the capital to stabilize the people's hearts, and to enter the Forbidden City as soon as possible to protect this imperial city with great symbolic significance.

Lu Ping immediately ordered Liang Sanjin to gather the spies in the capital. In response to Liang Sanjin's doubts, Lu Ping said loudly: "The commander has ordered that from today on, we will switch from secret spies to open spies!"

In fact, Lu Ping had always been worried that Commander Meng would send him outside the Great Wall again. After all, Mao Xiang and Wu Weiye were taken away by the Qing court again. But later Lu Ping changed his mind and thought that there were so many Han officials who secretly defected to the Qingluan Guard. He had also worked hard and made great contributions. He had found out a lot of information for the king, including some important military and national secrets. Now that the two capitals were about to be completely recovered, it was time for him to have a few days of leisure.

Lu Ping spoke so loudly that Song Zhong in the backyard came out curiously.

When Lu Ping saw Song Zhong, the corners of his mouth turned up, as if he was smiling, and then he said to Song Zhong: "Shopkeeper Song, you can put your mind at ease, and you can continue to sell coffins in peace! I, Lu Ping, am the deputy commander of the Qingluan Guard!"

"what!"

Lu Ping laughed and then strode out.

On the 27th day of July in the fourth year of the Yongli reign, Zhou's army arrived at the capital.

With the help of Yu An, Meng Jun put on the chain mail. Hundreds of scales made of fine steel scattered cold light under the candlelight. He tied the leather belt around his waist, then the breastplate, shoulder armor, a patterned scabbard, and a refined sword.

Meng Jun suddenly drew out his sword, and the blade was shining with the luster of a cold blade. Even in this hot summer day, the air around him seemed to be a little lower when the cold sword was unsheathed.

At this time, Meng Jun suddenly asked Yu An beside him, "Yu An, do you know why I started the uprising in Suzhou, and why I was able to create such a great momentum in more than five years?"

Yu An replied respectfully, "The reason why Your Majesty started the uprising in Suzhou is that Suzhou is the place where Your Majesty rises and the place where the dragon soars. As for Your Majesty's invincibility, it is all driven by Your Majesty's military strategy."

Meng Jun was speechless for a moment, and after a while he said, "In the future, listen less to what Taoist Li says, he just talks nonsense."

Yu An scratched his head and smiled, saying, "Isn't that what everyone is saying these days?"

Meng Jun was still unsure what Li Wendao wanted. An official position? Money? Or the promotion of Taoism? But Meng Jun had tried all these things. Li Wendao seemed to have no interest in financial power, and he did not seem to be particularly interested in promoting Taoism.

Everyone has selfish motives, but Meng Jun simply couldn't figure out where Li Wendao's selfish motives lay. Either he didn't see what Li Wendao wanted, or Li Wendao's cultivation was comparable to that of a saint. Meng Jun knew that Li Wendao's actions in the military camp these days were most likely preparations for persuading him to ascend the throne after entering Beijing.

Seeing that the king was really asking him again, Yu An immediately said solemnly: "Back then, the king was inspired by the scholars' spirit, so he raised the banner of justice and gathered people's hearts. But now the army is approaching the northern capital, all because of the king's great talent and strategy."

Meng Jun shook his head gently and said, "You also think that all this is due to me? Actually, it's not. It's this era, and people's hearts chose me!"

Yu An was a little puzzled, but Meng Jun did not explain too much. After getting dressed, he strode out of the military tent and looked at the tall capital city in the distance. Meng Jun whispered, "Beijing City, here I come!"