Sima De is the person under Xia Nan who is best at figuring out his thoughts, and from the beginning of laying the groundwork to protect the prince, he guessed Xia Nan's intention of "coercing the Son of Heaven to order the princes". But the rest of the people don't think so, they most hope that Xia Nan will sit on the dragon chair and become the emperor himself.

Su Thick Legs touched the back of his head, and asked puzzledly: "General, although your subordinates have learned a lot of words, they are blacksmiths after all, and they don't understand those big truths." I just want to ask: In this troubled world, if you don't be the emperor, who is worthy? Why give up the throne to a deceased crown prince? ”

Huang Hansheng and Wei Lianheng also nodded silently, obviously Su Bu's words spoke their hearts.

Xia Nan smiled, the big truth he told Lin Weiye just now was obviously not suitable for Su Bujiao, and he explained his views in a different way.

"Chutu, it's normal for you to think so, but I also have a reason, let me tell you this: this emperor of the Ming Dynasty is like the owner of a shop, I am a buddy in the store, and now the owner is dying of violence, his son is young, and there are a few shop owners next to him who want to annex this shop, if this guy starts an infighting at this time to drive out the orphans and widows, trying to replace them, but other shops take advantage of the situation and swallow up the store, is this right or wrong?"

"Wouldn't that be a notoriety for bullying orphans and widows, taking advantage of people's dangers, and finally making a bamboo basket for nothing?" Su blurted out with thick legs, and then came to his senses, "The subordinates understand, at this juncture to replace the prince as the emperor himself, the general will become the greedy and unkind guy in the eyes of the world, and the people will sympathize with the prince and others, and at the same time, the infighting among their own people will give the Tartar a chance......"

Xia Nan nodded: "The son can be taught......"

Su slapped his thigh heavily and said, "Then help the young owner deal with outsiders first, and then make the business of the store prosperous, and the neighbors know that this guy is a loyal and capable person, and everyone praises him." Slowly replaced the people in the store with their own people halfway, and finally let the young owner retreat and give the store to the guy, so that the name is justified, and the neighbors will not gossip, and they have face! ”

Sima De praised: "The words are not rough, not bad at all." first support the crown prince to be the nominal emperor, control the government, and wait until after the Tartars and Liukou are exterminated, and force the emperor to abdicate and make way for Xian - this is called Chan Rang above the court. ”

Su Thick Legs, Huang Hansheng, Wei Lianheng and others nodded in unison: "The subordinates understand the general's good intentions!" ”

"Now that we all understand, let's go about our own things. Han Sheng and Lian Heng were responsible for blocking the four gates of the inner city, Chu Tu was responsible for the search and capture, and Ji and Mengjia were used as mobile forces to support everywhere at any time. I'll give you a day, and by this time tomorrow, I don't want to see a rogue in the capital! ”

"Yes!" And they all took their command.

After unifying the minds of his subordinates, Xia Nan stretched out.

"Lao Lin, let's freshen up and go see the prince, shall we?"

Lin Weiye hesitated and said: "I won't go, there are ordinary people, and they are not officials......

"Where are you an ordinary person?" Xia Nan glared at him, "We are friends of life and death who have crossed together, and there is no more ironclad relationship in the world." This world is mine and yours. After the crown prince ascends the throne, he will immediately give you an official and gag your mouth, so as not to always scold me......"

Lin Weiye was helpless, he was dragged by Xia Nan, and under the service of the maids of the Wen Mansion, they bathed and burned incense together, took off their clothes full of traces of gunsmoke, changed into a clean robe, and came to the main hall to wait for the prince.

The two of them sat precariously, and after a short time, Wen Tiren and Fang Zhenghua came in with a teenager (Note 1) in their arms. This young man is dressed in brocade and jade robes, with a fair complexion, and at first glance he grew up in a pampered environment. It may be that he has been hiding in the secret room for many days, frightened, his face is not very good, and there is a bit of panic in his eyes.

Fang Zhenghua introduced: "Your Highness, the slave maid will introduce to you: This is the first emperor to give the general Yin, the governor of Zuodu, the prince and the young master, the marquis of Pingnan, and the general of Qionghai Town......

The crown prince Zhu Cihong couldn't eat well and sleep restlessly during these days, hiding alone in the secret room and having no one to communicate with, he imagined every day that he was grabbed and slashed by the Dashun army, and became very fragile and sensitive. Now hearing the introduction of Fangzhenghua, it is like a shot of heart booster - the savior is finally here!

He didn't care about the etiquette of the monarch and the minister, took a few steps forward, grabbed Xia Nan's hand, and burst into tears.

"Aiqing save this palace...... Li Zicheng invaded the capital and forced his father, mother, and Empress Yi'an to death, and the imperial sister and two younger brothers of the palace did not know where to go, leaving only the palace alone...... Aiqing hurriedly ordered the soldiers and horses to drive the rogues out of the capital! ”

Xia Nan was grabbed by the wrist and struggled slightly, but he didn't break free. He frowned and said, "Didn't you tell Your Highness the news outside?" ”

Fang Zhenghua hurriedly replied: "For the sake of safety, His Highness has been hiding in the secret room, except for a deaf and dumb old servant who sends three meals a day and drinking water every day, even the slaves and elders dare not contact His Highness, so as not to expose his whereabouts." No, when I saw the Hou Ye coming, I dared to take His Highness out, and the news from outside had not yet had time to be informed......"

"I see...... Xia Nan's face softened, gently patted Zhu Cihong's arm, and said comfortingly: "Please rest assured, Your Highness, the minister was ordered to serve the king, the army entered the city, Li Zicheng has been ambushed, and the rest of the leaders and routs, the minister also ordered someone to search and arrest, at most one day's work, and he will definitely return the Beijing division to a Lang Lang Qiankun." ”

Zhu Cihong was surprised and delighted, Li Zicheng was such a vicious person, and the Dashun army was defeated like this?

"When this palace listened to the lectures of several Hanlin in Zhan Shifu, I had already heard of Aiqing's great name, and I heard that the Qiong Navy was the strongest army in the world, and it really deserved its reputation!"

Xia Nan smiled faintly and bowed slightly: "Your Highness praises falsely, and the ministers dare not be." ”

After the external troubles were eliminated, Zhu Cihong let go of the burden in his heart and turned to care about his own fate. He asked tentatively: "Several Aiqing are here, and they are all in the cabinet, the celebrant supervisor, and the army, and they can be described as the best among the civil and military generals." You say, after the situation stabilizes, can the main palace go back to the palace? ”

Wen Tiren stroked his beard lightly and said with a smile: "Your Highness doesn't need to worry, and if you deign for another day in the minister's mansion, tomorrow the Marquis of Pingnan will definitely send heavy troops to escort His Highness back to the palace." In addition, the country cannot be without a king for a day......" said this, deliberately paused, looked at Xia Nan, and left the words to him.

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Note 1: Zhu Cihong was born in the second year of Chongzhen (1629), the real age at this time was 8 years old, and for the needs of the plot, it was set to be about 12 or 3 years old, and in the same way, Zhu Yujiao's age was set to be about 14 or 5 years old.