Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 35 The Fake Prince

In the Fengyang City Government Office, the 38-year-old Prince Fu Zhu Yousong had just eaten and drunk his fill and was in a very happy mood. He had been wandering all the way and had no one to rely on for food and clothing, but after being found by Lu Jiude, he finally lived a rich and worry-free life again.

Even thanks to him, his uncle, Prince Lu Zhu Changxun, and the eldest son of Prince Zhou Zhu Gongyao, Prince Chong Zhu Cihui, were able to live in the luxurious manor of the Huai'an salt merchant as guests of honor.

Three years earlier, Li Zicheng's army had captured Luoyang, and the Prince of Fu's mansion, once home to millions of acres of fertile farmland and the wealthiest of the land, was destroyed overnight. His father, the old Prince of Fu, Zhu Changxun, was found by Li Zicheng's men in Ying'en Temple, and rumor had it he was even served with several deer in a "Fu Lu Banquet."

If it were not for the help of two eunuchs, Zhu Yousong would have successfully escaped from the city wall and sought refuge in Huaiqing. He would probably have died in Henan long ago.

By the first month of this year, the situation was completely out of control, Huaiqing was also captured by the Shun army, and Zhu Yousong had no choice but to continue fleeing westward and enter Weihui.

But a month ago, news came from Weihui that the bandits were approaching, so he continued to flee south and came to Huai'an, accompanied by his vassal kings and relatives.

If it weren't for his father's trusted eunuch Lu Jiude who suddenly appeared and immediately arranged accommodation for him, Zhu Yousong might still be outside Huai'an City, on the boat that Lu Zhenfei had temporarily arranged for him!

Of course, what excited him the most was the news that Lu Jiude brought to him two days ago - "Chongzhen and the prince died for their country", and his words kept revealing his intention to support him as the new emperor.

The throne should have been his. If it weren't for the Donglin Party members who did bad things, he wouldn't have fallen to his current state.

At this moment, a eunuch suddenly came to report that Lu Jiude wanted to see him. Zhu Yousong smiled when he heard it. Lu Jiude came at this time, so he must have some important news.

Soon, he saw a familiar figure appear outside the door. It was Lu Jiude, followed by several fully armed soldiers.

"Is there any accurate news from the north?" When Zhu Yousong saw Lu Jiude wearing a red cloak, he immediately twisted his fat body and stepped forward, asking impatiently, "That's the throne of the emperor!"
Seeing the ruddy Zhu Yousong approaching, Lu Jiude was very happy and even said with a little excitement: "Young Prince, this old servant has come to pay his respects to you!"

Whenever he thought of Zhu Yousong standing outside Huai'an City a few days ago, like a frightened bird, tears almost came out of his eyes.

Speaking of being a slave, Lu Jiude really did it to the bone. However, this slave was also strong-willed and courageous, and was loyal to the lineage of the old Prince Fu.

Zhu Yousong looked at Lu Jiude's bright eyes, hooked nose, and unusually resolute face, and felt more at ease. This eunuch guarding Fengyang had served him for a period of time when he worked under his father thirty years ago.

"Eunuch Lu, I feel at ease as soon as I see you." Zhu Yousong grabbed Lu Jiude's hand and said in a friendly tone, "If you hadn't appeared in time, I don't know where I would have fallen!"

"Young Prince, please don't say that. This is what this old servant should do." Lu Jiude quickly bowed to express his gratitude, then changed the subject and said impatiently:

"Your Highness, the world is in turmoil now, with rebellion rampant. The Ming Dynasty cannot remain without a ruler for a single day. Now that you have inherited the title, you must not refuse. You must take the initiative to shoulder this responsibility!"

"Is there really news from the north?" Zhu Yousong asked excitedly, his fat body shaking. Lu Jiude had rushed over, of course not just to pay his respects. Zhu Yousong was not so foolish as to make such a move, and he had already made preparations.

Lu Jiude nodded, and suddenly smiled sinisterly, saying word by word:

"Your Highness, your guess is correct. A few days ago, news came from the north that the capital was captured by the rebels on the 19th of last month. Chongzhen, the Crown Prince, Prince Ding, and Prince Yong have all fallen into the hands of the thieves. Since then, the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince have all died in the capital.

"In the past few days, I have sent out troops to find the officials who fled from the north. They can all confirm that the rebels have surrounded the capital. This news is almost true." "Well, well..." Zhu Yousong finally received this good news and was so excited that he was speechless.

"Your Highness, I have already contacted General Gao Jie stationed in Xuzhou, as well as his two generals Huang Degong and Liu Liangzuo, and the Fengyang Prefecture's standard camp. They are all willing to escort you south." Lu Jiude looked at Zhu Yousong's expression, and then said in a firm voice.

Hearing this, Zhu Yousong felt a surge of blood rushing to his heart, and his fat face immediately turned red. He held Lu Jiude's hand tightly, leaned forward, as if he wanted to say something, his lips trembled violently, but he was trembling and couldn't speak for a while, and even his whole body was shaking.

Emperor Chongzhen and the Crown Prince died, and the other two princes also fell into the hands of Li Zicheng. Now the first heir to the Ming Dynasty is him, the new Prince of Fu, Zhu Yousong.

"Well, well..." Zhu Yousong thought about it for a long time, but for a moment, he still stuttered and couldn't speak directly.

This is the throne, the throne that originally belonged to his father and him. It represents the supremacy of the world, the supreme authority and wealth. How could he not be excited?
However, a dignified prince is so incompetent that his energy-cultivating skills are not even as good as a eunuch. He really has no spirit of a ruler!

"Then, when will those troops arrive?" Zhu Yousong finally asked. Although he was incompetent, he also knew that only a strong army could make a true emperor.

"Huang Degong and Liu Liangzuo have already led their troops to Fengyang early this morning. Gao Jie has just sent someone to report from Tang that they will be arriving in two days." Lu Jiude smiled and said confidently.

These days, he sent his trusted men to Fengyang, Xuzhou, Huai'an, Yingtian and other prefectures to spread the news that Chongzhen and the prince died for their country, and that the two princes were captured by Li Zicheng. He has successfully won over the three military leaders in Jiangbei. Gao Jie hurried south because of his enticement.

Not only that, to be on the safe side, Lu Jiude also sent people to spread Li Zicheng's conspiracy to send a fake prince south to usurp the power of the court, which caused an uproar in Nanzhili.

Zhu Yousong was overjoyed when he heard this, and even laughed out loud. But as he laughed, he seemed to have thought of something else, and asked with a worried look on his face:
"Is the news from the north really correct?"

As soon as Lu Jiude saw it, he knew that Zhu Yousong's old habit of hesitation had come back again. This 38-year-old prince had always been so timid and weak.

"It's absolutely true, there's absolutely no mistake. If there was a group heading south, they were definitely fakes sent by the rebels to disrupt people's hearts and usurp the throne!"

After hearing this, Zhu Yousong was slightly stunned, but it only took a moment for him to understand. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the capable and cold Lu Jiude in front of him, then the corners of his mouth slowly rose.

The meaning of Lu Jiude's words was clear enough. Whether it was true or false, true or false, was irrelevant. After all, the capital had been captured by the bandits, the emperor, empress, and crown prince had all died, and the princes had been captured. All of this was understandable.
"But don't we have other troops in Nanzhili?" Zhu Yousong asked excitedly, frowning, "Shi Kefa, the commander of the Nanjing Imperial Camp, and Lu Zhenfei and Liu Zeqing in Huai'an, will they support me then?"

"Don't worry, Your Highness. The Beijing Camp is just a hollow shell. It has less than 3,000 combat-capable soldiers. Shi Kefa knows nothing about military affairs and is a hesitant waste. Lu Zhenfei and I are close friends, and he is a man of great righteousness. As long as I persuade him, he will definitely support Your Highness.

Now, Gao Jie and Huang Degong, the two most powerful troops in Nanzhili, are in the hands of Laonu. Liu Liangzuo is also a veteran under Laonu. Liu Zeqing came from Shandong and has not yet established his foothold, so he definitely dare not act rashly.

Moreover, of his four generals, Ma Huabao and Bai Tianfu have both fought under me before. If he doesn't know what's best for him, I'll kill him with my sword!"

Lu Jiude said confidently that almost all the troops in Nanzhili were in his hands, and seizing the throne was a sure thing!
　Thanks to the book friend Yueken Road Dazhuang, 20181107124212127 for the reward

　　
　
(End of this chapter)