Chapter Twelve: Each with Their Own Agenda

  "...". Hearing the eunuch's words, Zhu Chunshen couldn't help but steal a glance at Gu Zhenhua.

  "Imperial Duke, you've been summoned by His Majesty, what are you hesitating for? I'll accompany you there."

  Gu Zhenhua jumped down from his war horse and closely followed Zhu Chunshen, the old man was still in a state of shock, Gu Zhenhua wasn't afraid that he would play any tricks, the two men arrived at Chongzhen's horse.

  "Your humble servant Zhu Chunsun, paying respects to Your Majesty, may you live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, and ten million years!" Gu Zhenhua also followed Zhu Chunsun in making a courtesy call to Chongzhen.

  "Cheng Guo Gong, quickly dispense with the formalities."

  A hoarse voice came over, and two people got up. Gu Zhenhua also suddenly raised his head, only to see a middle-aged man sitting on a yellow horse, thin in build, with a slightly hunched back. His cheeks were sunken, his face was sallow, and he had a layer of dead gray complexion, his eyes were also filled with bloodshot, the whole person looked like a tired bean sprout. Gu Zhenhua was greatly disappointed, this emperor fellow didn't have anything special about him.

  "My dear, the great Ming dynasty has come to an end. I am a ruler who has lost his country!" Chongzhen said with a sorrowful and mournful tone.

  "Your Majesty, perhaps there will be a relief army, no need to worry too much." Zhu Chunchen's words were spoken with little confidence, as he had been taken hostage. What could he do? However, Chongzhen seemed not to notice this and turned his head, letting the eunuchs bring over a 15- or 16-year-old boy.

  "My dear minister, among the nobles in the capital, you have the longest seniority and are also the most loyal to the Great Ming. I entrust the crown prince to you, and the last hope for the survival of the Great Ming dynasty rests on your shoulders. Please do not decline."

  "Ah!" Zhu Chunshen was also startled, at this time the prince was a hot potato, if Li Zicheng broke in, the prince would likely lose his life, and those who protected him would not be much better off. This kind of dangerous thing is best avoided.

  But just as Zhu Chun was hesitating, Gu Zhenhua whispered behind him: "Duke, the emperor's entrustment, how can you still not agree?"

  "Yes, yes!" Zhu Chunchen was thoroughly frightened and could only hastily nod his head. The old eunuch pulled along the Crown Prince Zhu Ciyan to Zhu Chunchen's side.

  Gu Zhenhua stared at the crown prince, but in fact, after Li Zicheng entered Beijing, he was not harsh on Chongzhen's children. As a Han Chinese regime, Li Zicheng had a broad mind and did not worry about the young children. However, Gu Zhenhua knew that once the Qing dynasty broke in, the Ming dynasty's crown prince would be invaluable. The Qing dynasty had risen up many times under the banner of Zhu San Taizi.

  At present, Gu Zhenhua is still weak and needs to learn how to borrow power. If he can get the prince in his hands, it will be a trump card for winning people's hearts, and it's worth taking any risk! It was precisely because of this consideration that Gu Zhenhua let Zhu Chuncan agree to accept the prince.

  "My dear, this is My Imperial Seal and Last Will... Testament. From now on, you will lead the armies and assist the Crown Prince!"

  As he spoke, Chongzhen had Wang Chengen hand a yellow cloth package to Zhu Chunsheng, who accepted it. A glimmer of brightness also flashed in Gu Zhenhua's eyes.

  Regent!

  Relying on this name, they can rally those military and civilian subjects who are still loyal to the Great Ming, firmly occupying the moral high ground. The crown prince, the seal, the will - none of these can be let go, Gu Zhenhua secretly made up his mind.

  Just then, another intense cannon fire came, and the momentum of Dashun Army's attack on the city became even more fierce.

  "Long live... but let's avoid it for the time being, I'll leave this to Cheng Guogong." The old eunuch Wang Cheng'en couldn't help but say. Chongzhen also reluctantly nodded in agreement.

  "Zhu Ai Qing, everything is up to you now."

  Chongzhen finished speaking and hastily retreated to the Forbidden City, leaving Zhu Chunshen standing there in a daze. Gu Zhenhua walked up to him with a smile on his face.

  "Congratulations to Guo Gong, who has become a trusted minister of the emperor's orphanage, it is indeed a joyous and congratulatory occasion."

  "Mr. Gu, my life is not even in my own hands, what's there to be happy about?" Zhu Chun said with a downcast expression: "I just hope Mr. Gu can keep his promise, as long as he sends me to Chaoyang Gate, I must return my freedom."

  "It's enough for the country and the public to feel at ease; I am absolutely not a person who speaks without keeping his promises."

  They mounted their war horses and rushed towards Xizhimen in the west. At this time, the sky had already darkened, but the sound of cannons continued to come from the west of the city, and the flames illuminated half of the sky red.

  Gu Zhenhua quietly calculated that it was now the evening of March 18th, which means that in just one more day, Li Zicheng would break into Beijing and Chongzhen would hang himself on Coal Hill. He had to seize the time!

  "Your Excellency, as the guardian minister of the state, it shouldn't be a problem to mobilize a few hundred people. Quickly issue an order and let my brother and his men wait at Chaoyang Gate for an opportunity; otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."

  Zhu Chunchen smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. Gu, your words are not wrong, but don't forget that there is still the Ming army at Chaoyang Gate. It's easy for hundreds of people to leave the city like this?"

  Gu Zhenhua furrowed his brow and asked coldly: "What are you planning?"

  "It's simple, first go to Xizhimen, then use the excuse of the tense war situation to mobilize troops from Chaoyangmen, and let Lu Yong take over the city defense, so you can leave whenever you want, without any obstacles."

  Gu Zhenhua nodded slightly, indeed this was a good idea, but in his heart, he had a thread of doubt, when did Zhu Chunchen become so kind-hearted, and actually consider the robbers?

  Gu Zhenhua's mind was filled with question marks, and at this time they were getting closer and closer to Xizhimen. The roads on both sides were all wounded soldiers, wailing incessantly. Shells fell on the city wall, like muffled thunder, shaking people's hearts and making their flesh creep.

  At this moment, a general hurriedly ran over and saw Zhu Chunshen, saying urgently: "Report to the Duke, the bandits are attacking the city urgently, my brothers can't hold on anymore, we need reinforcements!"

  Zhu Chun Chen reluctantly nodded and said: "Alright, go and pass on the order to let the garrison at Chaoyang Gate come over and provide support."

  "Your Majesty, this...this won't do, what if Chaoyang Gate falls, wouldn't that..."

  "Don't worry, Chaoyangmen is not the main direction of the bandits' attack. I have already sent our family guards over there to ensure everything will be alright."

  This general was naturally unclear about the situation and still thought that Zhu Chunchen had made arrangements in secret, having full confidence in his grasp of the situation, and thus hastily went to transmit the order.

  Zhu Chun looked at the distant back of Can Jiang, then stared at Gu Zhenhua and smiled: "Mr. Gu, I have fulfilled my promise, now it's up to you!"

  "Haha, don't be in a hurry, wait until the person leaves the city. Then you can escort him to Chaoyang Gate, and at that time I will naturally let go of Guo Gong."

  "Hmph!" Zhu Chunshen let out a cold snort. He also knew that Gu Zhenhua wasn't so easy to deal with, and could only remain silent.

  After a while, Zhu Chunshen suddenly said: "Mr. Gu, I have something to discuss with you, don't know if you are willing to listen?"

  "Alright, what instructions does the Duke have? I will certainly listen."

  Two people walked into a shop beside the street, one in front and one behind. The owner inside had long since fled. Xue Biao stood guard at the door and window with his men, while Gu Zhenhua and Zhu Chunchen sat facing each other.

  "Mr. Gu, you are a wise man, to be frank, the Ming Dynasty is beyond salvation, and Li Zicheng's rebellion will succeed, it is the trend of the times. Everything should follow the trend, cannot go against heaven."

  Gu Zhenhua smiled slightly: "Duke Guo, you have just received the emperor's entrustment of his orphaned child, is it suitable to say this now?"

  "Alas, those who know the times are heroes. I am also helpless. Mr. Gu, I have a proposal: the prince and the imperial seal are in my hands. If we offer them to the rebel king, we will surely enjoy wealth and glory. I won't monopolize the credit; if you're willing, we can present them together and open the Xizhimen gate at the same time. When the dynasty changes, we'll be colleagues under the same emperor, sharing wealth and honor. Isn't that good? I think you shouldn't insist on leaving the city either. With your courage and charisma, Mr. Gu, I'm sure the rebel king will make use of you. Who knows, in a few years, you might even surpass me, and I'll have to rely on your support."

  Gu Zhenhua heard this and let out a faint cold laugh: "Duke, hearing you say that, I can only give you two words: scum! Your family has been favored by Zhu Ming for generations, holding the highest positions for over 200 years. Don't you have even a bit of gratitude?"

  Scolded by others as a scoundrel, Zhu Chunshen was also filled with anger, but he still controlled his emotions and secretly thought that after surrendering to the bandit king, he would be a dignified national duke, and his official position would not be too small. At that time, he would go and deal with Gu Zhenhua, this insignificant person, and it would be easy to capture him without any effort. The old man suppressed his anger and still had a smile on his face.

  "Mr. Gu, you are still young after all, if I live on, maybe I can still take care of the imperial family of Da Ming, but if I die, nothing can be done!"

  Gu Zhenhua nodded slightly and looked at Zhu Chun with a hint of amusement, then suddenly smiled: "The Duke is indeed wise, I'll go out and discuss it with the brothers."