Chapter 5: People and Money

  "A way out?" Lu Yong hesitated, saying blankly: "We are all guards of the National Duke's mansion. In the eyes of the big shots, we are just a bunch of ants. Even if something big happens in the world, we can only watch the excitement."

  Ostrich mentality!

  Gu Zhenhua secretly sighed in his heart, Lu Yong and the others still hadn't seen clearly the danger in front of them. But to put it another way, since they were all so clear-headed, where did he have a place to use his skills?

  "Brother Lu, come to my place, I have a few words, want to discuss with you."

  Lu Yong also nodded, Gu Zhenhua was skilled with his hands, understood medical skills, and was a man of integrity, so among these people, he quickly rose to prominence, when something happened, he also wanted to hear Gu Zhenhua's opinion.

  "Lu Dage, Zhou Yuji General is one of the few good generals in the Ming Dynasty. I heard that during Chongzhen 9 years, the Manchu invaders entered the country. Everyone avoided fighting, only Zhou Yuji won a battle and climbed to the position of Jingying Youji. A few years later, he was promoted to Shanxi General."

  "That's right, back then many people in the capital praised General Zhou for his bravery. Who would have thought that such a brave general would fall in battle? The empire of Ming is truly in danger now!"

  "Lu Dage, I'll say something bluntly, the Ming dynasty is already gone." Gu Zhenhua smiled and said: "The road to the capital has been opened up, next Li Zicheng's army will directly attack Beijing, it's likely that things will change very soon, maybe even within a month!"

  Lu Yong is no fool either, he also knows the situation is not good, it's just that he didn't think it would happen so quickly.

  "Brother Gu, the 49 City of Beijing is so solid, even if we want to attack it, I'm afraid it can't be taken down in just a few months. By then, the troops from Jiangnan will come north, and there might still be a glimmer of hope for survival."

  Gu Zhenhua shook his head with a bitter smile: "Lu Dage, don't deceive yourself either. What kind of virtue do the officials of the Ming Dynasty have? You know better than me. This time you went to Shanxi, isn't it just to help Zhu Chunshen deal with his property? These aristocrats all felt something was wrong and set up their layout in advance. The national duke who has been favored by the emperor for generations is like this, what can others do? Can they still expect another Zhou Yuji?"

  It is said that the Shanxi general Zhou Yuji was also an extraordinary figure, he really did scare Li Zicheng off. According to historical records, Li Zicheng once said that if there were another Zhou Yuji, he would not have been able to enter Beijing City.

  However, such a brave general is unique, and the Jiangshan of the Ming Dynasty has already entered the countdown.

  Lu Yong lowered his head, thought for a moment, and then said: "Brother Gu, you say that if the Great Ming is finished, what should we do? Should we honestly be subjects of the Great Shun?"

  Gu Zhenhua shook his head with a bitter smile: "Lu Dage, I'm afraid it's not that easy. Throughout history, when dynasties change, civil officials may surrender, but can nobles surrender? Zhu Chunshen won't be able to escape, and those who serve him will also be in danger."

  As soon as the words came out, Lu Yong suddenly shuddered and hastily stood up from his chair, his face turning extremely ugly. He looked around outside, then lowered his voice and said: "Brother Gu, your words have awakened me from my dream. I'll go invite Sixth Uncle and the others over, you can give us a good analysis."

  Gu Zhenhua also nodded slightly, he had this idea a long time ago, but hadn't found the opportunity to speak up. Now that Shanxi has fallen into Li Zicheng's hands, anyone with even a little bit of brains knows that the Ming dynasty is doomed. Taking advantage of this situation, it's just right to deceive Lu Yong and the others into following him.

  A dozen or so people may not be many, but didn't the wild boar skin also start with thirteen suits of armor? Am I still inferior to Old Qiu Nu?

  Just then, the door was opened and He Zhonghou, Xue Biao, including the injured Sun Cheng all walked in. Everyone felt the oppressive atmosphere and sat down one after another.

  "Zhenhua, everyone is going through thick and thin together, no one dares to speak out of turn. Whatever you want to say, just say it straight." He Zhonghou spoke up first: "I heard that General Zhou's army was defeated, and I felt uneasy in my heart, thinking that the situation is not quite right."

  "Sixth Uncle, the downfall of the Ming dynasty is inevitable. The Cheng Guogong family has followed the Ming for over 200 years and enjoyed wealth and glory. Once the bandit king enters the capital, the meritorious officials will definitely be the first to lose their heads. If they are not killed, what about those generals in Li Zicheng's hands?"

  It is said that one day the emperor, one day the minister, reality is so cruel. He Zhonghou is a kind and generous elder, but it doesn't mean he's stupid. On the contrary, he can manage accounts for Guo Gong, which shows that this old man is quite shrewd and quickly grasped the key point.

  "Zhen Hua, are you saying that Guo Gong Ye is definitely going to die?"

  "That's right!" Gu Zhenhua said firmly.

  "This... won't implicate us, will it?" Xue Biao couldn't help but say: "We're just doing our job, even if the dynasty changes, there should still be a way for us to survive."

  Gu Zhenhua said: "Li Zicheng is called a bandit, they rely on robbing officials and the rich to maintain their military expenses. The silver in the capital city is not enough to cover their feet, what can they do? I'm afraid it's not necessary for me to say more. When killing the rebels, it's hard to avoid implicating innocent people, I think everyone should be careful."

  Several people heard Gu Zhenhua's analysis and nodded one after another, thinking carefully. He Zhonghou said: "Zhenhua is right, it seems that the big tree of Chengguo Gong is really going to fall, we should also find a way out, can't be buried with him."

  Lu Yong also asked: "Brother Gu, can you enlighten us and show us the way out? Where is our path to survival?"

  Gu Zhenhua was also waiting for them to ask this question, so he smiled and said: "Let's analyze the situation in front of us first, clarify the situation, and then make a decision."

  Lu Yong furrowed his brow and said: "Gu brothers, didn't you all say that Li Zicheng was going to attack Beijing? Is there still some variable?"

  "Of course." Gu Zhenhua said: "Starting from Chongzhen 2 years, the Tartars invaded the Central Plains four times, plundering countless wealth. Not long ago, Hong Chengchou surrendered to the Qing court. The Tartars are greedy and well-known to all. There are also guides, everyone says that there will be sudden changes in Guannei, and they will take advantage of the fire to loot."

  "Of course they will," Sun Cheng said, "These Tartars outside the pass do not engage in production and rely on plundering for a living. At this time of making easy money, how can they let it go?"

  He Zhonghou furrowed his brow, with a bitter expression: "Zhenhua, if what you say is true, then the Tartars will invade again, and with Dashun and Ming, won't the world be thrown into chaos?"

  "That's right, Beijing is already a place of life and death. No matter who wins or loses, if you're caught in the middle, there's only one dead end. Even if Li Zicheng doesn't kill us, there's still the Qing dynasty. So for now, our best bet is to head south, it's best to escape to Southern Zhili. I say we shouldn't return to Beijing this time, let's all head south together. You brothers are all skilled in archery and horseback riding, why bother being someone else's bodyguards? Once we're in the south, no matter who recruits soldiers, as long as we join the army, with our skills, can't we become a leader?"

  Everyone present nodded in agreement with Gu Zhenhua's analysis, knowing that his approach was the safest. However, Lu Yong smiled wryly and said: "Brother Gu, there are some things you may not know. We are not free either, we have family members in the National Duke's mansion. In recent years, the situation has become increasingly chaotic, and some of our guards who went out on business trips took the opportunity to escape. Zhu Chunshen established a rule of collective punishment to prevent escapes, our families are being monitored, if they don't obey his orders, our households will be threatened, we are also helpless."

  Xue Biao also said: "Gu brothers, it's not just that they are not free to act, but everyone has been working in the government for so many years, and there is some emotional connection, which makes it somewhat inconvenient."

  Gu Zhenhua's eyebrows also furrowed, he seemed to have found himself being a bit too presumptuous, and could only say: "What does everyone think of the Duke's residence?"

  "What else can be said, it's just a matter of eating and serving. Sun Chengman said nonchalantly: "I'm from the border army, originally I was supposed to fight enemies and serve my country, but in the end I became a household slave. If I could eat well and live comfortably, I would have accepted it, after all, it's just about living. But now, if one doesn't take care of oneself, heaven and earth will be destroyed. I still want to live a few more years."

  Lu Yong also said: "A few years ago, He Fang's brother died miserably, and the result was that the government only rewarded ten taels of silver. In people's eyes, we are nothing!"

  He Zhonghou's face was also filled with regret, and he sighed: "It's all because I'm useless, my son died unjustly, I should have left early, but I insisted on staying, it's all my own fault."

  These people all have some grievances against Cheng Guo Gong Zhu Chun, and Gu Zhenhua's mind has relaxed a lot. If there were any die-hard guys, it would be troublesome. Now it's just right to take action. In Gu Zhenhua's mind, a plan gradually formed.

  "I have an idea that can safely escort everyone's families out of the capital, and at the same time, it can also help everyone get a sum of money to settle down, but I don't know if everyone is willing?"

  "Of course, Brother Gu, what is it? Please speak quickly." Old Sun said anxiously.

  "Everyone first returned to the capital in an orderly manner, and then told Zhu Chunchen about what they saw on the road, urging him to move his family out. In this way, everyone's relatives can escape smoothly. We stayed in the capital, even if Li Zicheng's army broke in, relying on our skills, without being dragged down, we could also escape smoothly and take advantage of the chaos to make some profits."

  "Zhen Hua!" He Zhonghou angrily shouted: "Relocating your family, I do not object, but you want to take advantage of the fire to loot and harm the people, this is a matter of losing one's conscience. I advise you to dispel this idea as soon as possible, otherwise, old man will not agree!"

  Gu Zhenhua saw the old man's furious expression and hastily said: "Sixth Uncle, you've misunderstood me. I didn't mean to harm the common people. But those officials can't even be bothered with a little bit of corruption, they're so corrupt that they're ruining the country. Can't we just take a little interest?"

  "Brother Gu is right!" Xue Biao also said: "We risk our lives, and the little money we get is not even enough to cover the cost of a banquet at the Duke's mansion. I think that if there really comes a day when we can rob Zhu Chunshen, then so be it. The old man is stingy and deserves it anyway."

  "Shut up." He Zhonghou said loudly: "I agree that everyone should plan a way out, and it doesn't matter if some means are used, but this kind of thing that harms the master's household is absolutely not allowed."

  Lu Yong was aware of Lao Tou's temper and hastily said: "Sixth Uncle, Gu brothers are also gentlemen who absolutely will not do anything that goes against their conscience."

  Gu Zhenhua said: "I can guarantee that as long as Zhu Chunshen is still alive for one day, I will never take his life."

  He Zhonghou's face finally eased up, while Gu Zhenhua thought to himself in his heart, being still doesn't mean being dead, for the first fight after crossing over, he absolutely wouldn't show mercy!

  Everyone discussed the details again, and then Sun Cheng and Xue Biao went to understand other ideas. Lu Yong pulled Gu Zhenhua and said: "Brother Gu, Liu Shu is too nostalgic, you don't have to mind."

  "I know," said Gu Zhenhua: "I'm not a wicked person, but in this era, without money or connections, one can't survive, so I have no choice but to do so."

  Lu Yong's eyes suddenly lit up: "Brother Gu, speaking of people, there are several hundred guards and servants in the Duke's mansion. Those who are loyal to the death can be counted on one hand. What do you think if we could pull over a few more?"