Chapter Fifty-two: The Imperial City

  Huī Méi came out of the Wu government office in Guanning, and as she looked around, she deeply felt the unbearable scenery of the end of the world. On the streets of the city, everywhere were people with unsightly faces, everyone was in a hurry, no longer having the leisurely and satisfied attitude they had when they first arrived in the capital last year.

  "Older brother, how is your family?"

  "We have stocked up on three months' worth of rice, pickled vegetables, salt, and a large stone to block the door... everything that needs to be done has been prepared!"

  "Couldn't be better! But what about the incense and yellow paper?"

  "Alas, the yellow paper and incense sticks have also been prepared. There's nothing left in the house, I'm afraid it can't be helped?"

  "Well, it shouldn't be a problem. However, words like 'obey the people' should only be written when the city is surrounded by the rebels, writing them too early may lead to being reported."

  "Is that so!" The person being rebuked seemed unconvinced, the situation had deteriorated to this point, the Imperial Guards were nowhere to be seen, not a single Jin Yiwei cavalryman could be spotted patrolling the streets.

  Ruo Zhongfan, the commander-in-chief, was no longer as arrogant and domineering as he had been in the early years of Chongzhen. He had long since retired to his home to fast and recite Buddhist scriptures, ignoring external affairs. Even if this person was good at pretending, after the "Great Qing" came, Ruo Zhongfan became the Governor-General of Tianjin, then faced the emperor, several times remonstrating against actions that harmed the people. From being the leader of the Ming dynasty's eagle dog special agents, he suddenly transformed into a capable and honest official of the Great Qing!

  At this time, everyone knew that the old system was collapsing and the old court was no longer qualified to represent heaven. At the beginning of the Ming dynasty's demise, whether it was Li Zicheng or "Qing", they were able to quickly sweep across the country, which had a great deal to do with the fact that the intelligent class had abandoned the old court.

  "Despicable wretch."

  The dialogue between the two scholars fell into Huimei's ears without a single word being missed. For some reason, this girl seemed to be in a state of anxiety and confusion, her eyes wide open, her lips tightly pursed together, showing an anxious and confused expression.

  ……

  ……

  To be honest, their business has been going very smoothly lately!

  Li Zicheng's army is getting closer and closer to the capital, and the thoughts of these corrupt officials in the capital are becoming more and more apparent. Everyone is waiting for the day when Li Zicheng's army arrives, and those who still remain in the capital without leaving at this time are undoubtedly waiting to pledge allegiance to the new dynasty.

  When everyone gathered privately and talked about these things, Huimei said with a sharp tone: "Our King of Bandits will not treat those scoundrels kindly."

  Lao Wang and the others also nodded in agreement, saying: "Old Liu's temper is such that once he enters the city and sees these officials, he'll be furious and won't let them off."

  "They have no way to govern the people, but they have a way to disturb the people. We are all from peasant families, and these corrupt officials and scholars join forces to bully us. Now that we have gained power, we must teach them a lesson!"

  A young man shook his head and questioned: "But now that the government has been established, Niu Jiren has become the prime minister. How can he get along with those Ming dynasty officials who surrendered?"

  "I've heard that Song Junshi and Li Fu Junshi also said to treat the surrendered troops well... Those who are educated, they're not of the same mind as us common folk."

  "Hum!" Hui Mei was furious at the time, shouting: "Although my family's young master is from an official background, he has never colluded with those officials!"

  She was personally trained by Hong Niangzi, with great kindness and teaching her martial arts. Normally, Li Yan often came to the Jianfu Camp, smiling and without any arrogance, unlike General Liu and other old generals who would leer at the female soldiers, Li Gongzi was someone that all the female generals admired from the bottom of their hearts.

  Especially when she heard that he was generous with his wealth, and had risen up to help the people on his own initiative, unlike Zhang Xianzhong and General Liu, who were forced into rebellion. For someone like him, if anyone spoke ill of him, Huimei would certainly strongly oppose it, even if it meant making enemies, she wouldn't mind at all.

  The one who spoke nonsense was Xiao Liu, a native of Shaanxi Province, who used to be a shepherd boy. The more Hui Mei defended Li Yan, the less convinced he became, and his face also showed a mixture of emotions, as if he wanted to say a few more words.

  "Alright, alright!" Old Wang timely interrupted, saying: "Everything has a leader in charge, what are we doing blindly interfering? Let's focus on our own proper business and gather intelligence information properly!"

  Dispersing the crowd, that day, Old Wang pulled Huimei aside and instructed her: "With your temper, going to a wealthy family as a servant, I am extremely worried."

  "Don't worry!" Hui Mei said resolutely: "Even if someone bullies me, spits on my face, I'll still smile and return it to him. Wait until the bandit king enters the city, we'll settle the accounts then."

  "Good!" Old Wang was delighted: "You have this idea, what else can I say? The woman on the city wall is actually the most favored concubine of General Guanning. I'll arrange for you to be by her side, and she knows your identity. These wealthy families, the more it gets to this point, the less they dare to make things difficult for us, and even take the initiative to show kindness. As long as we guard against those who don't understand the situation below, at this time, you'll have to endure a bit."

  "Good!"

  Huī Méi readily agreed, but then furrowed her brow and said: "What's the big deal about a small general? Why are you taking this Wu family so seriously?"

  "Guanning will be led by Wu's family now. Once Wu's family surrenders, we don't have to worry about Guan and Ning anymore, what's there to fear?"

  Actually, Old Wang didn't have this understanding before entering the capital. Recently, he has been getting intelligence very smoothly, sometimes it's as if it's being delivered right to his doorstep, especially news about Dongyue, which has also been gradually increasing.

  Chuang Wang and Liu Zhangye didn't know how to react, but Song Junshi and Li Yan both attached great importance to this intelligence. They sent people several times to bring instructions, requiring them to make further inquiries about the situation on the Guanning side, especially the movements of the Eastern Rouran.

  If it were in the past, Old Wang would not have thought much of this trivial matter, but after being in the capital for a long time and chatting with people, there were many wealthy families from Shandong who had fled to Beijing to escape disaster, mentioning several times when the Eastern Barbarians invaded the pass, mentioning the cruelty and ferocity of the Eastern Barbarians, as well as the bravery and strength of the Eastern Barbarian's braided soldiers. Gradually, in the heart of this Shaanxi Han man, he also became increasingly vigilant towards the alien great enemy that he had never met before.

  There has always been a sentence hidden in his heart, Lao Wang never dared to tell anyone... Chuang Wang was probably greatly wrong about the Dong Yu matter and will regret it later!

  In Xi'an, Li Yan had advised Li Zicheng to advance slowly, clear the surrounding areas of the capital, and then gather a large army to conquer the north with overwhelming force. At that time, even if the Eastern Barbarians entered the border, they would have no chance, and after consolidating their foundation, they could only harass for a while before retreating.

  Now it's like this, using a fist-to-heart fighting method, Ming Dynasty can't withstand it, but I also have no foundation to speak of.

  Li Zicheng once said: "I have never had any feud with the Eastern Barbarians, and now that our dynasty is newly established, our military strength is more than enough. How dare the Eastern Barbarians come to offend us?"

  The various generals of Shaanxi also had the same idea as Zhang Liang, so after advancing with high spirits and fierce momentum, no one dared to say anything that would spoil the mood.

  But a minor actor, had already far surpassed Li Zicheng and others in insight!

  How could he possibly tell Hui Mei about all the twists and turns? However, as far as Hui Mei was concerned, once Old Wang entrusted her with a task, she would see it through to the end, even if it meant sacrificing her own life!

  ……

  ……

  This time she mixed out of the house, and actually also sensed that something was wrong.

  In the past, someone would come to contact her at a fixed time every day, but for the past two days, no one has come, as if she had been completely forgotten. As far as she knew, there was always a large invisible net covering the scouts, and many pieces of intelligence were obtained and sent out under this net. Everyone's heart was clear that if this net continued to be cast, they would probably not be able to stay for long.

  At this time, the city was already in such a state, and Lao Wang's group had disappeared. This situation was really too strange!

  According to the rules, she shouldn't have left the house without being summoned. But this time, she had a good reason for coming out.

  When she first entered the Wu household, that beautiful woman who had been kidnapped was shocked to see her and almost revealed her true identity. Later, she quickly regained her composure and ordered someone to bring this newly purchased maid to her side.

  Then, in the midst of mutual vigilance, there was a probe. By today, it was finally this Mrs. Chen who invited herself to the back house. Then, that Wu master, who had already been named as the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guard, an old man with white hair and beard, normally extremely dignified, was unusually polite to this little servant girl.

  As soon as they sat down and started talking, the old man expressed his admiration in a roundabout way. Huimei had been in the capital for a long time and also understood what he meant... This was an invitation to surrender.

  It's said that this old man also led tens of thousands of soldiers and horses outside the pass, a first-class military officer of the Ming dynasty for generations. Now he looks timid and cowardly, which makes Huimei look down on him very much.

  But there is one thing that doesn't even need an excuse to swagger into the lair of a certain someone who has been causing trouble along the East River.

  These days, staying in the Wu family's official residence, everything has to be addressed with courtesy and respect to the madam, but it also makes this beautiful and bold female general feel stifled.

  ……

  ……

  Everywhere along the way, people are preparing incense, candles and yellow paper, or stockpiling supplies, a scene of panic and chaos has appeared in the capital city of this benevolent region for the first time in over 200 years.

  "General, spare the lives of my whole family... This little food was borrowed from over a dozen households... General, general, have mercy!"

  Walked to the west of Zhengyangmen and Dashilan, where it was usually the most lively, passing by the earthen city wall and Guandi Temple, is the east riverbank where Old Wang and others lived.

  However, I can't move on from here.

  The whole street was filled with officials and soldiers wearing red robes and conical hats, carrying rusty iron spears or worn-out waist knives. They walked in groups of three to five, swaggering through the streets, robbing pedestrians of their silver coins. Anything useful - chickens, ducks, fish, meat, rice, flour - they would seize, not even allowing a single blade of grass to be taken away.

  "Is your family's life more important or is the fate of the great Ming dynasty more important?" Several soldiers cursed and scolded, using their spear handles to beat the pleading man until his head was bleeding. They then cursed: "We are about to go out and fight a war, why should we care if you have a few bags of rice? If you speak again, we'll take you to the camp as a prisoner!"